Courtyard house: Just the right amount of pressure, leaving you bewildered but not brain-damaged.

He Yushui hesitated for a moment, looked up timidly at Gao Xiaosheng, and then quickly lowered her head again.

Two seconds later, she looked at Gao Xiaosheng again, seemingly assessing whether this handsome but not-so-good older brother was lying to her.

Perhaps it was the familiar courtyard that gave her confidence. After hesitating for a while, He Yushui finally moved slowly toward the hanging flower gate.

"Don't be afraid, come in."

Gao Xiaosheng stood by the door, giving He Yushui what he considered a harmless, polite smile.

The little girl was so frightened that she took a half step back, but she couldn't help staring at Gao Xiaosheng.

The stranger's smile was even more handsome than before, but it also carried a stronger sinister aura, as if he might transform into a big bad wolf at any moment and kidnap her, this obedient and adorable little white rabbit, to sell her.

"There's nothing in the house. I can't even pour you a glass of water. Come and sit down. I'll put a piece of clothing on the bed. The bed is covered in dust."

Gao Xiaosheng led He Yushui to the bedside, opening his bundle to rummage through old clothes while explaining.

These days, you can't just move in with your belongings. The two rooms were completely empty except for a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and a built-in stove.

"This one will do." Gao Xiaosheng picked and chose, and pulled out a pullover-style summer military uniform with a stand-up collar, which he then spread out on the edge of the bed.

"Are you a soldier?" He Yushui's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"To be more precise, he was a recently demobilized soldier."

"Then why don't you wear a military uniform? A T-shirt is no match for a military uniform!" He Yushui asked with a hint of complaint.

If she had known her older brother was a soldier, she wouldn't have been so scared.

Needless to say, her timid and hesitant behavior just now must have been seen by her older brother, who is probably laughing at her in his heart now.

"A T-shirt is cooler, it's too hot in Beijing." Gao Xiaosheng shrugged, he was also helpless.

The Type 50 military uniform had no short sleeves at all; the summer uniforms all had long sleeves, and the cuffs were tight.

If he had just worn a camouflage vest, he wouldn't have scared the kids.

"Here, have a piece of candy. What's your name?"

Gao Xiaosheng magically pulled out an ABC Mickey Mouse candy from his empty pocket, handed it to He Yushui, and then sat down next to her.

"Thank you, big brother. My name is He Yushui, and I live in the main house in the middle courtyard."

Once He Yushui lowered her guard, she couldn't resist the temptation of the milk candy.

With candy in his mouth and eyes fixed on the lively and adorable Mickey Mouse on the candy wrapper, he couldn't get enough of it. He mumbled a question-and-answer session with Gao Xiaosheng, getting to know each other better.

"Brother Sheng, are you from Northeast China? You joined the army at 16? Fighting the Japanese on the peninsula?"

"..." Gao Xiaosheng's face fell; he really didn't want to talk to this brat.

Why can't we just have a normal conversation? Why do we have to rub salt in his wounds?

"Uh, our unit has other missions, responsible for clearing out bandits in South China and western Hunan, um..."

"The main problem is that the Americans are easily defeated. We just wiped out the remaining rebels, and then the war on the peninsula ended."

Who doesn't care about saving face? Gao Xiaosheng's words implied that he was blaming the Allied Forces for their incompetence.

As for the real reason, it's unnecessary for a child to know too much.

Are you suggesting he say that his unit's combat effectiveness is average, that they can't compete with other units, and that he can only vent his anger on bandits?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

He would never admit it, even if you beat him to death.

"Hmm, I didn't go to the peninsula." He Yushui was a little disappointed. She wanted to find out about the fighting on the peninsula so she could brag to her classmates at school tomorrow.

"That's impressive, Brother Sheng. Do all bandits have thick beards and look particularly fierce? Are bandit dens located in high, dangerous, and difficult-to-climb mountains? Tell me a story about fighting bandits."

Children adjust their emotions very quickly. In just a few seconds, He Yushui raised her head again and looked at Gao Xiaosheng with anticipation.

It doesn't matter if there are no fish or shrimp, as long as it's a story that your classmates like to hear.

"Of course, bandits are very fierce..."

"Once, we were fighting our way up the mountain when a bandit who was over two meters tall, carrying a heavy machine gun, charged down the mountain path while firing. We couldn't even lift our heads."

"Seeing my troops being suppressed, I crouched in a puddle and fired a shot, hitting the bandit right between the eyebrows."

Gao Xiaosheng never needs to prepare a draft when he brags, and he makes it sound so convincing, like it's the truth.

In fact, he hadn't actually fought many battles.

In the company commander's words, it would be a waste to put Gao Xiaosheng in charge of a tough battle.

Of the entire reconnaissance company, only Gao Xiaosheng didn't seem like a good person. This kind of rare soldier was born to infiltrate the enemy and pass on intelligence.

Of course, Gao Xiaosheng didn't have the advance map, so he naturally had no chance to become the ninth leader of Tiger Mountain like Yang Zirong.

What he was good at was impersonating a fleeing Northeastern man with a mustache, using his standard Northeastern accent and devilishly handsome face to apply for a low-level position as a henchman in a bandit's den.

Although they couldn't obtain crucial intelligence, every little bit counted and they still made a significant contribution to the reconnaissance company.

Over the course of four years, he received numerous third-class merits and commendations, barely managing to become a deputy platoon leader. Just as he was preparing to challenge for the position of platoon leader, a demobilization order came from above, and he was discharged from the army.

"Wow, Brother Sheng, you're amazing!"

He Yushui's mouth dropped open, and her gaze toward Gao Xiaosheng was filled with admiration.

He didn't care about the pretty Mickey Mouse candy wrapper anymore, casually put it on his lap, and stretched out his thumbs to Gao Xiaosheng.

"Haha, so-so, third in the world."

Gao Xiaosheng beamed with joy at the praise. "Rain, let me tell you, bandits and Americans are just paper tigers. I'm not afraid of them at all."

"Let him be strong, I will remain unmoved; let him be arrogant, I will take his life with one shot."

"As long as you have good marksmanship, anyone who comes will die!"

"One comes, I slap, I take one down; two come, I slap, I take them both down. That's how domineering I am."

It's true what they say, people like to show off what they lack. Gao Xiaosheng's marksmanship was a disgrace to the reconnaissance company. Apart from practicing for a while during basic training, he used the fewest bullets during the entire bandit suppression campaign.

That's how it is when you're an undercover agent.

But no matter what, it was more than enough to fool that little brat He Yushui.

Gao Xiaosheng, through a combination of words and gestures, portrayed himself as even more impressive than Zhang Taofang, the "Sniper God of the Peninsula."

He Yushui listened with rapt attention, completely absorbed in Gao Xiaosheng's fictional heroic narrative.

"Gurgle gurgle"

The two were playing enthusiastically, one of them listening intently, and they were getting into the swing of things when suddenly an untimely "gurgling" sound came from behind them.

"Hey, it's already noon, are you hungry?"

At least Gao Xiaosheng knows what's important.

"Hmm," He Yushui said awkwardly, clutching her uncooperative stomach. "I knocked on the door earlier because I wanted to go to an older woman's house for dinner, but she didn't seem to be home."

"Brother Sheng, you're busy. I... I'll go home and find something to eat."

That's what she said, but He Yushui knew in her heart that there was no rice or flour at home, and when the mice came, they could only try to steal the oil bottle.

She went back, drank her fill of water, and then lay down on the bed to sleep, hoping to have a good meal in her dreams.

"No, I'm hungry too. Come on, I'll treat you to a meal. I need your help with something later."

Gao Xiaosheng grabbed He Yushui, stuffed the summer uniform into his bundle, and casually tossed it into the cabinet.