Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

"You brat," He Daqing chuckled and scolded, wrapping the bath towel tightly around his hands and starting to scrub his back.

Those hands, roughened by years of tossing ladles and wielding knives, were like old sandpaper, and rubbing them against my back felt like burning hot water.

He Yuzhu grimaced as he was being rubbed, and when he looked down, he saw his naked body—his ten-year-old frame was still thin, but a solid outline was already visible. The effects of the strengthening drug had not completely worn off, and the muscle lines were beginning to take shape.

He shook his head slightly, somewhat helplessly.

"You brat!" He Daqing raised his hand and lightly patted the back of his neck. "How old are you? What nonsense are you thinking!"

A dozen minutes later, He Yuzhu was pulled out of the water, dried off, wrapped in a quilt, and carried directly to the kang (a heated brick bed) in the inner room.

He Daqing returned carrying a wooden basin and said to Yi Li, "Sister-in-law, you should go home first. I can take care of things at home. We really owe you a lot today. When our daughter turns one month old, I'll host a banquet and definitely treat you and Old Yi to a good meal."

Yi Li smiled slightly and said, "Alright, then I'll keep your words in mind."

She slowly stood up from the chair, her gaze once again falling on He Yushui, who was fast asleep on the kang (a heated brick bed), before turning around, gently pushing open the door, and walking out.

He Daqing watched her receding figure, shook his head slightly, and muttered to himself, "What a pitiful woman..."

"Da Qing, what are you muttering to yourself over there?" He Chenshi asked from behind.

"It's nothing, really nothing." He Daqing immediately put on a smiling face, walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down, looking at his youngest daughter with undisguised joy in his eyes.

Now that I have both a son and a daughter, the word "good" is finally complete.

"What are you grinning about?" Mrs. He gave him a reproachful look. "Didn't you even ask your son if he paid the doctor's fee?"

He Daqing suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing what was happening: "Right, Zhu Zi! How did you even manage to get the doctor here?"

He Yuzhu sat up, wrapped in the blanket, his eyes darting around, and deliberately teased him, "Dad, let me make up a little story for you first—"

Before he could finish speaking, He Chenshi gently patted his forehead.

"How can you talk like that!" Madam He's eyes widened.

"I misspoke, I misspoke," He Yuzhu quickly corrected himself, his tone softening immediately. "Dad, please let me explain."

"Hmm." He Daqing crossed his arms, adopting a posture of listening to a story. "I want to hear how you 'make it up'."

"I didn't make that up!" He Yuzhu shrank closer to He Chenshi, hurriedly explaining, "A few days ago, when Mother was about to give birth, I secretly went to Peking Union Medical College Hospital..."

He Daqing raised his hand again.

"Let the child finish speaking!" Mrs. He quickly shielded her son. "You hit him all the time! What if you really hurt him?"

"You just spoil him!" He Daqing glared at his wife. "He even dares to sneak out on his own! Doesn't he know how chaotic things are outside?"

"Zhu'er," Madam He Chen turned her head and asked her son softly, "Your father is right. You can't run around like that anymore, understand?"

"Okay, Mother."

"Okay, then continue."

"When Peking Union Medical College Hospital was shut down by the Japanese, I started asking around for obstetricians and gynecologists. Someone said that Dr. Lin was the most skilled doctor, so I managed to find out the address of his clinic."

"You didn't encounter any trouble on the way, did you?" He Daqing frowned, his tone full of worry.

"No." He Yuzhu shook his head vigorously, eager to prove that he hadn't caused any trouble.

"If you dare to run off again," He Daqing warned sternly, pointing his finger at his nose, "I'll break your legs!"

"mother--"

"Wow—wow—"

Suddenly, He Yushui, still in her swaddling clothes, started crying. Her cries were clear and urgent.

"The baby is hungry." He Daqing got up and checked the diaper, finding it dry. "Your milk hasn't come in yet. I'll go get some rice water to feed her."

He turned and walked towards the stove, then suddenly stopped and turned back to say, "By the way, I've decided on a name for the child. He'll be called He Yushui."

"Rainwater..." Madam He murmured twice, a smile gradually appearing on her lips. "It sounds so nice. Let's call it Rainwater then."

While He Daqing went to the stove to cook rice porridge, He Yuzhu moved closer to He Chenshi and asked in a low voice, "Mother, where is all our money kept?"

Madam He was slightly taken aback and asked in surprise, "Why are you asking this?"

"I haven't paid the doctor's fee yet; I'll deliver it to him personally tomorrow."

"Just let your dad deliver it. You stay home and don't go out and cause trouble."

"My dad's so fierce, would anyone dare open the door if he went there? These days, with war and chaos, who isn't afraid of getting into trouble?"

"You silly child, how can you talk about your father like that!" Madam He gently poked his forehead, her tone tinged with helplessness. "How about we have your father take you with him?"

"No way," He Yuzhu shook his head and refused.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Madam He stared at him, her eyes full of confusion. "Tell me, how much do you want?"

"Ten silver dollars."

"So many?" Madam He gasped, then nodded, her tone softening. "Well... after all, it saved two lives. Ten it is fine. I'll get them for you tomorrow after your father leaves. Take a rickshaw, and be very careful on the road."

"Don't let it slip later, just say it's already been given."

"I understand." Madam He looked at him, her eyes suddenly deepening, as if veiled by a thin mist. "Why do I feel... you're becoming less and less like my son?"

He Yuzhu's heart tightened suddenly, but he put on a simple and honest face: "Mother, of course I am your pillar."

Madam He gave a soft hum, her tone carrying a hint of certainty: "My Zhu'er has never been this clever before."

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "This is bad: the more I say, the more mistakes I make." The original owner of this body was a reckless child, neither bold nor thoughtful—otherwise, why would the neighbors call him "Silly Zhuzi"?

He quickly feigned a naive and honest demeanor, snuggling closer to Madam He, a charming smile curving his lips: "Hehe, Mother, aren't I amazing?"

"Amazing, amazing." Madam He gently stroked his little head with her fingertips, her eyes filled with boundless love. "My Zhu'er has really grown up."

She noticed something was wrong with her son's sudden change in intelligence and understanding. But no matter how she thought about it, she never imagined something as bizarre as "having a different soul." She simply assumed that today's fright had made her child suddenly realize something.

The family has gained a little adult they can rely on. Although she is still a teenager, she is genuinely happy.