Courtyard House: I only wiped out 30,000 Japanese pirates

When we got back to the courtyard house, it was already pitch black.

The courtyard was quiet; all the houses had their doors closed and even their lights off, just in case the Japanese soldiers came in.

When He Dajun knocked on his own door, He Daqing and Bai Ling were both there. The four of them seemed quite nervous together.

By the time we got back to the courtyard house, it was already pitch black.

The air in the courtyard was heavy and oppressive, making it difficult to even breathe.

All the doors were tightly shut, and not a single light was on. The entire courtyard was as dark as an overturned pot, creating an unusually oppressive atmosphere.

When He Dajun knocked on his own door, there was silence inside for a while before He Daqing's very low voice came through: "Who is it?"

"Brother, it's me."

A moment later, the lights came on, and He Daqing's face appeared through the crack in the door. When he saw that it was He Dajun, his expression visibly relaxed.

He opened the door a little wider, and He Dajun slipped inside.

He Liushi sat on the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed) holding Shazhu, who was already asleep.

Bai Ling sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her back ramrod straight. All four of them seemed very nervous, especially He Liu Shi, whose face was pale and whose fingers clenched tightly at the slightest sound outside.

He Dajun asked He Daqing to turn the kerosene lamp a little brighter, stood on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and briefly explained his current situation.

Upon learning that He Dajun had been promoted by Sasaki to head of security at the steel rolling mill, overseeing all the workers, He Daqing remained silent for a long while. Looking at He Dajun, his expression was complex. His lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to begin.

Finally, he said, "Dajun, this is good. You can manage the workers, and the Japanese will give you face. Our family has a layer of protection in this yard, but..."

He paused, a headache forming in his eyes: "How will you ever wash away your identity as a traitor?"

He Dajun smiled.

Completely unconcerned about his infamous reputation, he said, "Brother, it's alright. The important thing now is the safety of our whole family, especially my sister-in-law and Bai Ling. The Japanese devils are harassing women everywhere in the city, but with me, Jian, protecting our family in our courtyard, they shouldn't touch us for the time being. We'll deal with the rest later."

This statement has a profound meaning.

He Daqing understood half of the sentence, but not the other half. However, he didn't ask any further questions.

After my cousin returned from the battlefield, he was a completely different person.

He Dajun used to be a quiet, unassuming man, rarely uttering a word. Now, he's eloquent, shrewd, and even manages to thrive as a lackey under the noses of the Japanese.

He didn't know if this change was good or bad, but now He Dajun could help so many of his fellow workers earn white steamed buns.

Bai Ling, on the other hand, didn't care.

She naturally knew He Dajun's identity.

This man single-handedly blew up the steel mill last night, killing countless Japanese soldiers. From now on, whenever he mentions it, everyone will give him a thumbs up. The people of Daxia will definitely turn his story into a popular storytelling performance in teahouses.

The more this was the case, the more Bai Ling hoped He Dajun would join her organization.

Such people are so rare.

Unfortunately, he refused during the day in the tunnel.

Oh well, it's only the first day we've known each other, let's take it slow.

The Japanese have occupied Beijing, and it seems they won't be leaving anytime soon.

There's plenty of time to do underground work in this city.

He Dajun then took out a few more items from his pocket.

A bag of bread, a few paper-wrapped candies, and a tin can of beef.

Sha Zhu woke up at some point, and when he vaguely saw the candy on the table, his eyes lit up, but he didn't dare to reach out and take it. He just stared at it longingly.

"Brother, this is the prize I got today after becoming a worker manager." He Dajun pushed the canned food towards He Daqing. "Sister-in-law, use this can to make some noodles. I worked all day at the factory and only ate two cornbreads. I'm starving."

He Daqing and He Liu exchanged a glance, both surprised and delighted. Canned beef—in Beijing, only the wealthy could afford such a thing.

Not to mention that the Japanese have just entered the city, and the situation is chaotic.

He Liu took the can of food, turned it over and over in her hands, and couldn't hide the smile on her face.

He Liu went to the kitchen happily. A little while later, the fire in the stove was lit again.

Soon, the five people sat down around the table and began to eat.

He Yuzhu held a piece of candy wrapped in paper, unwrapped it, stuck out his tongue and licked it, his eyes widening instantly.

That expression... speechless.

The beef noodle soup was steaming hot, and the aroma of meat mixed with the fragrance of noodles filled the room.

He Dajun slurped up a big mouthful of noodles. Although the noodles were thick, they were hot and a hundred times better than cornbread or steamed buns.

He Daqing ate very slowly, chewing each bite carefully. As He Liu ate, she thought to herself that it was actually quite good for her brother-in-law to work for the Japanese.

With canned meat and noodles to eat, the Japanese wouldn't bother us.

In this world, staying alive is more important than anything else.

Survival comes first. What's the point of saving face or reputation? Can they feed you?

No one else present knew that these items were actually redeemed by He Dajun from the system using ten points.

Ten points are awarded for each traitor killed; killing a Chinese collaborator earns a hundred points, while killing a Japanese soldier earns at least a thousand.

Now that it's being brought out, it not only fills the family's stomachs, but more importantly, it puts everyone's minds at ease.

After the meal, He Dajun and Bai Ling returned to their side room.

After bolting the door, He Dajun stretched and loosened his shoulders.

Pretending that his arms were a little sore and he was a little tired, he said to Bai Ling, "I'm covered in sweat and need to take a shower. Get me some clean clothes."

Bai Ling was stunned for a moment, her face turning slightly red. She had received military training and knew how to fire a gun, how to evade capture, and how to deal with the enemy, but she had never learned to prepare a change of clothes for a man.

Standing by the kang (a heated brick bed), I felt a little lost, unsure whether to get my clothes first or fetch water.

Seeing her like that only fueled He Dajun's enthusiasm, and he started acting like a sycophant again: "What kind of wife are you? You can't even get your clothes ready? You need to learn to take care of your husband, you know?"

Bai Ling knew he was teasing her, so she didn't reply. She took the lantern and went to the wardrobe to rummage through the clothes. There weren't many clothes in the wardrobe; He Dajun only had four sets of spare clothes.

When she came over with the clothes, He Dajun took out two large meat buns from his pocket, which were already a little cold.

He handed the steamed bun to Bai Ling and said in a low voice, "Honey, this is for you. I didn't take it out when we were eating, so I'm giving it to you specifically. You can give it to them next time."

Two meat buns, with thin skins and generous fillings, glistened under the dim oil lamp.

Bai Ling was deeply moved.

This man may seem rough around the edges, but he's actually quite thoughtful. From comparing her statements in the tunnel to secretly leaving her two meat buns, these details made her realize that this fake husband cared for her just as much as her real husband.

He Dajun saw her holding the steamed buns without saying a word, smiled, and turned to go to the kitchen to take a bath. There was a large water vat in the kitchen. He filled a wooden bucket halfway with water and then used a wooden ladle to pour it over himself.

In July, it was hot during the day but still a bit cool at night. He grimaced as the cold water hit him, then continued pouring it on.

The dust and sweat from a long day flowed onto the ground with the water. He rubbed his arms and neck with soap, scrubbing off a layer of dirt. After rinsing it off, he felt much refreshed.

After showering, He Dajun changed into his dry, old short-sleeved shirt. His hair was still wet, and he dried it with an old towel before walking back to the bedroom. Bai Ling left one behind, saying, "Keep this for you."

He Dajun waved his hand: "I've already eaten. This was specially saved for you. Eat up, you'll have the energy to get down to business."

Bai Ling did not refuse again.

The two ate and chatted. After a while, He Dajun said he was going to sleep because he had to get up early to go to the factory to work the next day.

He then lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and called Bai Ling to sleep with him.