Pursued by the Heavenly Dao, first level up in the courtyard.

Within the courtyard, beneath the gray-tiled eaves, lies the warmth of daily life, and also the hidden thoughts of each individual.

Qi Bing, who was training in the recruit company, hadn't been back to the Poultry Academy for a long time. He didn't know what had happened there, and he had no way of knowing that Jia Haoyun had died.

Qi Bing trained hard in the recruit company, and during shooting training, he showed extraordinary talent, and his marksmanship improved rapidly.

In every assessment, he was the best in the recruit company, and his comrades called him a sharpshooter.

He became increasingly proficient in Xingyi Five Elements Fist, and his Sanda, grappling, and elbow techniques became more and more exquisite, with his dodging skills flowing smoothly.

That evening, the deaf old lady once again persuaded Yi Zhonghai to let He Yuzhu take care of him in his old age.

"Zhonghai, after He Daqing leaves, you'd better keep a close eye on that kid Shazhu. He's a good cook and a very honest person. If Jia Dongxu can't be relied on, Shazhu can step in."

"If you help take care of him, Sha Zhu will remember your kindness. If Jia Dongxu doesn't support you in your old age, Sha Zhu definitely won't stand idly by. With Sha Zhu as a backup caregiver, you and Gui Lan won't have to worry about your old age."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandma, I know what I'm doing."

The two hit it off immediately. One wanted to use Sha Zhu as a backup caregiver, while the other wanted to satisfy his cravings with Sha Zhu. Both were scheming against He Daqing and Sha Zhu.

In order to secure his own retirement, Yi Zhonghai decided to introduce a widow with a child to He Daqing as soon as possible.

Jia Dongxu, who usually appears to be a filial son, was a carefully selected elderly person by Yi Zhonghai in the nursing home.

Yi Zhonghai was worried that Jia Dongxu wouldn't take care of him when he got old, so he decided to add another person as a backup for his old age.

An elderly, deaf woman with a sweet tooth, who had no children and dared not spend her money, set her sights on He Yuzhu, a skilled cook who was easy to fool, and thus decided to get rid of He Daqing.

He Daqing usually appears calm and composed, but deep down he is selfish, cowardly, and lecherous. He is also easily swayed and can't resist the nagging of others.

Yi Zhonghai put a lot of thought into it and finally chose Bai Xiumei.

A few days later, Bai Xiumei found an opportunity and staged a chance encounter.

Driven by lust and overflowing with kindness, He Daqing soon ended up sleeping with Bai Xiumei.

He Daqing secretly hid his family's savings, planning to take the money with him to Baocheng with Bai Xiumei.

The beautiful, gentle, and understanding Bai Xiumei repeatedly urged him to go to Baocheng, but each time he thought of his children, he couldn't bear to leave, and he kept putting off going to Baocheng.

It was evening at the backyard of the deaf old lady.

Yi Zhonghai whispered, "Madam, as long as He Daqing is in the courtyard, we won't have a peaceful day. He's shrewd, a good cook, and well-liked. With him around, Sha Zhu won't be able to support us in our old age."

The deaf old woman said, "Zhonghai, didn't I ask you to find someone to introduce him to a widow with a child?"

Yi Zhonghai quickly replied, "I've already had someone introduce him to someone."

"What's the situation with that person?"

"Bai Xiumei is thirty-three years old this year. She is from Baocheng and has three children. She is beautiful and has a great figure. He Daqing is almost completely smitten with her."

"Since He Daqing is already in trouble, let's put in a little more effort and have Bai Xiumei continue to persuade He Daqing to go to Baocheng. If He Daqing doesn't agree, let Bai Xiumei break up with him."

"Madam, what if He Daqing agrees to the breakup? Wouldn't all our efforts have been in vain?"

"He Daqing is lustful and soft-hearted. If Bai Xiumei acts pitiful, He Daqing will definitely go with her. If He Daqing doesn't agree, let Bai Xiumei report him."

"Madam, can we scare He Daqing? Back when the Japanese were in Beicheng, He Daqing cooked for them. When Guangjun was in Beicheng, he even cooked for him."

"Zhonghai, this is also a solution. The countryside is currently fighting landlords and redistributing land. Tell He Daqing that after the land is redistributed in the countryside, they will investigate the identity and past of the villagers in the city."

"Madam, you are truly amazing."

The following evening, Yi Zhonghai went out for drinks with He Daqing and took the opportunity to tell him that Xia Jun was going to investigate the past in the city.

Upon hearing this, He Daqing felt a pang of anxiety, fearing that his past actions might be brought up again and that he might be punished. Therefore, he decided to leave Beicheng as soon as possible.

Bai Xiumei's three children are all in Baocheng. Missing her children, she desperately wants He Daqing to help raise them, and she cries and begs He Daqing to go to Baocheng every day.

He Daqing's changes were noticed by Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old lady in the courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai found a private opportunity and pulled He Daqing to the old locust tree in the corner of the courtyard.

"Old He, I heard you've been getting quite close to a widow? And you often spend the night at her house?"

He Daqing was startled and asked without thinking, "Old Yi, who told you that?"

"Old He, I heard this from someone else. If you like that widow, you should marry her. If someone reports you, you're finished."

Yi Zhonghai had long seen through He Daqing. His advice to He Daqing to marry Bai Xiumei was just talk. Even if He Daqing was willing, Bai Xiumei would not agree.

Yi Zhonghai was thinking to himself that if he could clear himself of all responsibility now, he would be absolved of any future trouble.

"Old Yi, Bai Xiumei wants me to go to Baocheng."

"Old He, what are you thinking?"

"Old Yi, I used to cook for the Japanese and the Guangjun... I want to go to Baocheng, but I'm worried about Zhuzi and Yushui."

"Old He, if you really plan to go to Baocheng, I'll take care of Yuzhu and Yushui for you. I won't let them suffer any injustice."

Upon hearing this, He Daqing felt a great sense of relief and quickly said, "Old Yi, thank you for your help."

"Old He, we've known each other for years, there's no need to say these things."

"Old Yi, I'll leave three million with you, and I'll send money and letters back every month from now on."

"Old He, I will take good care of Zhuzi and Yushui."

A few days later, at midnight, He Daqing left the poultry farm quietly with his luggage and money, leaving behind a letter.

When He Yuzhu and He Yushui woke up in the morning, they didn't think much of it when they saw that He Daqing wasn't there.

Suddenly, He Yushui noticed a letter on the table.

"Brother, whose letter is this?"

Five-year-old He Yushui had not yet started school and could not read.

He Yuzhu opened the letter and was immediately enraged.

In less than half an hour, news of He Daqing's escape spread throughout the poultry farm.

Zhang Cuihua, standing at the Jia family's gate, said sarcastically, "Shazhu said a while ago that my Dongxu lost his father. Now that He Daqing has run away, neither of you has a father anymore."

"He Daqing is a terrible person. He ran off with a widow and abandoned his son and daughter."

He Yuzhu took He Yushui to the station to look for him, and finally asked around and learned that He Daqing had gone to Baocheng.

After contacting Widow Bai, Yi Zhonghai encouraged the He siblings to go to Baocheng to find He Daqing.

Just as Yi Zhonghai had planned, He Yuzhu and He Yushui went to Baocheng but failed to meet He Daqing.

As time passed, the peace and tranquility of Xia Kingdom were shattered by American planes, and war was imminent.

Despite being advised against it, Qi Bing applied to join the battle and finally got his wish to go to Lidao with the team.

Qi Bing knew very well that if he didn't fight now, he might not have the chance to fight in the future.

During basic training, he performed exceptionally well, and because he had already joined the organization, he became a squad leader before the war even began.

"If I hadn't been a member before I enlisted, even if I performed well in basic training, I wouldn't have become a squad leader because I was too young. Once you get ahead, you get ahead every step of the way."

Looking at the water beads in his hand, Qi Bing's determination to fight to the death became even stronger.

He didn't want his future son to be trampled on like Qi Tongwei.

He did not want his future daughter to be like Zhao Wenyue, whose promotion was taken by someone with connections.

Being replaced in a job, a university entrance exam, or a promotion can only be caused by two reasons: either you are too weak, or you have no powerful connections.

Most people follow the rules, but some people arbitrarily make or trample on them.