Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

These past few days, He Yuzhu has been working non-stop at night, as if he's been injected with chicken blood.

While others were busy hiding from the Japanese, concealing their belongings, and worrying about food, he, on the other hand, plunged headlong into the ecosystem provided by the system and focused all his energy on farming.

Forget about seeds, let's just fill those three and a half acres first.

He scattered all kinds of grains he could get his hands on—corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, soybeans—into the fields.

Even common vegetables like cabbage and radish were not neglected; he arranged them meticulously, row by row and plot by plot.

Fortunately, he doesn't need to bend over to dig holes, water, or fertilize the plants in this ecological space. With just a thought, the seeds automatically enter the soil, take root, and sprout.

Otherwise, with those hands that he only knows how to wield a ladle and punch people, he would be completely helpless if he really had to do farm work.

Looking at the space that had become lush and vibrant overnight, He Yuzhu felt incredibly relieved.

In chaotic times, only those with guns in their hands, money in their pockets, and food on their feet can stand tall.

He then remembered the batch of things he had casually retrieved from the abandoned compound that day, and having nothing else to do, he thoroughly examined them as well.

Inside the chests and cabinets, besides gold, silver, valuables, and bonds, the most conspicuous items were several long and short guns.

The guns were not standard Japanese weapons; they were a motley collection, including homemade firearms, captured Nationalist army rifles, and two pistols that clearly came from dubious sources.

He Yuzhu touched the gun barrel and sneered.

It's obvious without even thinking that the original owner of this courtyard was most likely a powerful traitor with connections to various factions.

Otherwise, which ordinary citizen would dare to hide so many guns?

If it were an ordinary family's yard, given the wolfish nature of Blackie, the detectives, and the collaborators, it would have been ransacked long ago, leaving not even a broken plank of wood. There would be no chance for him to come and pick up a bargain.

As for whether setting up artillery in that yard to bombard a squad of Japanese soldiers would implicate the original owner of the yard—

He Yuzhu felt no psychological burden whatsoever.

Implicated?

It's none of his business.

Those traitors who suck the blood of their fellow countrymen and cling to the backsides of the Japanese should die one less, and the more miserable their deaths, the better. Ideally, the Japanese themselves should skin them alive and tear them apart, that would be truly gratifying.

In his life, He Yuzhu didn't care about anything else; he dealt with anyone who bullied ordinary people, acted as a traitor or lackey, or helped the Japanese wreak havoc in Beijing without hesitation.

Two days passed by seemingly peacefully.

The Japanese army ultimately failed to reach the courtyard house. Firstly, He Yuzhu had covered up all traces too thoroughly, and secondly, the Japanese soldiers had been misled by false leads and were frantically attacking the outside.

But trouble from within the courtyard came knocking on our door.

The Jia family was the first to be in an uproar.

Their family has run out of food.

A few days ago, Jia Zhangshi dared to walk around arrogantly, but these past few days, the outside world is filled with fear and unease. The Japanese are searching for anyone they see, and the puppet troops are demanding bribes from every household. She went out to buy grain, and just as she reached the street corner, she saw the Japanese opening fire. She was so frightened that she scrambled back home, not only failing to buy the grain but also nearly losing her mind in the process.

With the rice jar empty, Jia Dongxu hung his head and dared not speak. Since Jia Lao Nian had no way to earn extra money, Jia Zhangshi couldn't hold back her words any longer.

After much deliberation, she set her sights on the He family.

That afternoon, with a belly full of shamelessness, Jia Zhangshi twisted her body and knocked on the He family's door.

When Chen Lanxiang opened the door and saw it was her, her face immediately darkened.

"What's up?"

"Auntie," Jia Zhangshi forced a fake smile, her voice high-pitched and thin, "look at the chaos caused by the Japanese devils, our family is really starving. The children are still young, so please be kind and lend us a few pounds of flour. I'll pay you back as soon as things calm down."

Chen Lanxiang almost laughed in anger.

Borrowing grain?

That's easier said than sung.

Everyone in the courtyard knows that the Jia family never returns anything they borrow. They used to bully He Daqing because he was honest and He Yuzhu because he was impulsive, but ever since the He family father and son showed their ruthlessness and taught them a lesson, who would tolerate them anymore?

"Sister-in-law Jia, I'll be frank," Chen Lanxiang said coldly, leaning against the doorframe.

"Our family isn't well-off either. We have elderly parents to support and young children to raise. Our whole family is waiting to be fed, and we have to save every grain of food we have. We don't have any extra to lend to others."

Jia Zhangshi's smile froze: "It's just a few pounds of grain! Your family is so generous, you can't even give us this much face?"

"Respect is earned, not given by others," Chen Lanxiang said, raising her voice slightly.

"Our grain was earned by the men through hard work and sacrifice, not by a windfall. We would never lend it to someone who only knows how to take advantage and hurl insults. How dare you come to my house asking for grain?"

One sentence left Jia Zhangshi speechless, her face turning pale and then red.

She wanted to throw a tantrum, but when she thought of He Yuzhu's fists and He Daqing's eyes, she didn't dare to make a scene. She could only flick her sleeves and slink away.

Unable to borrow from the He family, Jia Zhangshi set her sights on the Xu family.

She knocked on Xu Damao's door and bumped into Xu Damao's mother, Zhao Cuifeng.

Who is Zhao Cuifeng?

She was even more shrewd and shrewd than Jia Zhangshi, and she never suffered a loss.

One look at Jia Zhangshi's appearance and you could tell she had ill intentions.

Before Jia Zhangshi could speak, Zhao Cuifeng said first, "Sister-in-law Jia, please don't ask. My family is also very short of food. Damao is still growing, and we can't afford to miss a single bite. If you're coming to visit, you're welcome, but if you're here to borrow something, then please don't ask."

Before Jia Zhangshi could even speak, her words were choked off.

She was so angry that her teeth itched, so she turned around and ran to Li Guihua's house.

But as soon as she reached the door, she heard a "click"—the door was bolted shut from the inside.

Li Guihua had long heard that Jia Zhangshi was borrowing grain everywhere in the courtyard, and she guessed that she would come to her house, so she simply locked the door and pretended that no one was home.

Jia Zhangshi knocked on the door for a long time, but there was no response from inside. She was so angry that she jumped up and down and cursed at the door, but no one paid any attention to her.

After running a lap, he didn't get a single grain of food, but he was filled with anger.

When Jia Zhangshi returned to the central courtyard, she sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and began to wail.

"This is outrageous! This is bullying! Our family is starving to death, and no one is helping us!"

Her voice was loud and shrill, and her howling could be heard clearly throughout the entire courtyard.

The old lady, who was resting inside, was annoyed by the noise and slowly came out with her cane.

The old lady's eyes turned cold, and she slammed her cane hard on the ground.

"Stop howling!"

Jia Zhangshi was taken aback, but still wanted to continue her tantrum.

The old lady didn't tolerate it at all; she raised her cane and gently tapped her arm and back.

"I'll teach you to howl! I'll teach you to make a scene! The yard is so quiet, but you're always causing trouble! If you howl again, I'll have someone throw you out of the yard and let the Japanese devils take good care of you!"

What Jia Zhangshi feared most was the old lady and the Japanese soldiers. After being hit a few times with her cane, she trembled in fright, her crying stopped abruptly, and she scrambled back to the front yard.

When Jia Laonian returned home in the evening, he saw the state of the house and listened to Jia Zhangshi's tearful complaints. His face turned ashen.

He knew that his wife had really offended everyone in the neighborhood this time.

Having no other choice, Jia Laonian had to bite the bullet and go door to door, smiling, saying nice things, and apologizing.

They offered cigarettes and slipped him change, and with great difficulty, he managed to get a little bit of mixed grains from the He and Xu families, barely managing to get through this ordeal.

The turmoil in the courtyard has temporarily subsided, but outside Beijing, the world has already been turned upside down.

The Japanese army has gone completely mad because they can't find anyone to fire the cannons.

They concluded that it was done by Nationalist government intelligence agents, so they indiscriminately arrested, killed, dismantled strongholds, and destroyed territory.

Not only did the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics in the city suffer, but the Jin-Sui Army and guerrillas outside the city, and even the Eighth Route Army guerrilla areas that had nothing to do with this matter, also suffered a great misfortune.

The Japanese soldiers swept through the area, burning and killing as they went, like a mad dog, biting anyone in their path.

The area in the Henan Second War Zone was already a mixed mess of Central Army, guerrillas, and secret agents, and now it was in complete chaos.

The people on the Nationalist government side also roughly figured out the reason why the Japanese army went crazy - there was a ruthless man in Beijing who single-handedly wiped out a special Japanese unit with mortars!

This is a momentous occasion, a cause for celebration nationwide.

However, the Nationalist government's intelligence network in Beijing was almost completely wiped out by the Japanese. What remained were just some insignificant small fry, too scared to show their faces. They were no longer able to laugh.

The news caused a nationwide sensation.

In Chongqing, President Chiang Kai-shek directly ordered a nationwide telegram to be sent:

Anyone who can find the hero who fired the shot will be awarded the Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun!

As long as a hero is willing to show up and join us, he will be directly promoted to colonel, and given money and official rank if he wants them!

For a moment, the people on the Nationalist government's side were both excited and frustrated.

What's exciting is that such an extraordinary hero has emerged.

What's frustrating is that the people aren't their people; they can't even find a single hair on their heads.

On the other hand, the Eighth Route Army's underground organization had no medals, no high-ranking positions, and no generous salaries.

However, within their ranks, they expressed great respect and goodwill towards this unsung hero.

Many underground comrades secretly passed on the message:

Regardless of who this hero is or what his background is, we welcome him to stand on the side of the people and are willing to do everything in our power to protect and help him.

Unfortunately—

He Yuzhu, the person directly responsible, was completely unaware of all of this.

He was unaware that he had become a nationally renowned unsung hero, nor that both the Nationalist government and the Eighth Route Army were frantically searching for him.

He's currently squatting alone in his room, scratching his head in worry.

The reason is simple—the system sent him a message.

Recently, Zhao Fengnian, the Party's head of the Dongcheng District of Beijing, will be going to No. 95 Courtyard to look for a rental property. The host may offer assistance at an appropriate time.

Reward: No tangible reward; its effects will only be seen after peace and stability are restored.

He Yuzhu stared at the message, his brows furrowed.

Zhao Fengnian?

Surname Zhao?

The first thing that flashed through his mind was the middle-aged man he had rescued from the Japanese guns that day.

But the city of Beijing is so big, with so many hutongs and courtyards, how did I end up finding courtyard number 95?

This is too coincidental, right?

Is it a coincidence, or was it deliberately arranged by the system?

He Yuzhu's head was getting more and more sore from thinking about it.

What he fears most now is getting involved with these underground organizations.

It's not that I don't want to help, it's that I'm afraid to help casually.

The Japanese were watching so closely that if we were exposed, not only would I die without a burial place, but the entire courtyard, from the old lady to He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang, would all lose their heads.

He wasn't afraid of death, but he couldn't bring trouble to his family.

"What a nuisance..." He Yuzhu rubbed his temples and muttered under his breath.

He thought it would take at least a day or two, but to his surprise, the person arrived that very night.

And it wasn't just one person who came.

A soft knock sounded outside the courtyard gate.

He Daqing opened the door and was stunned for a moment.

Standing outside the door was Xu Fugui.

Behind Xu Fugui were four or five other people, all wearing long gowns and hats, with calm expressions and sharp eyes, clearly not ordinary steel mill workers.

He Daqing's heart skipped a beat.

"Fugui, what are you doing bringing so many people here so late at night?"

"Uncle He, help! I really don't know what to do!" Xu Fugui said anxiously. "Can I go inside and talk to her? We need to discuss this with the old lady."

He Daqing hesitated for a moment, but still let the person in.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Xu Fugui lowered his voice and said, "Uncle He, these people are from the steel mill. One of their dormitories was ransacked by the Japanese. All their belongings were gone, and they were almost arrested. Now they have nowhere to stay and are looking to rent an empty room in our courtyard."

Upon hearing this, He Daqing's expression immediately turned serious.

These days, who dares to take in people with unclear or unknown identities?

That would cost you your head.

"I can't make that decision myself; I have to ask the old lady."

"I know, I'm here to ask the old lady for help."

Soon, the group was invited to the main house of the He family.

In a traditional courtyard house, the main house is the most respectable and is the only place to receive guests.

The old lady sat upright on the kang (a heated brick bed), leaning on her cane, her eyes exuding an imposing aura.

He Daqing stood to one side, while He Yuzhu leaned against the door, silently observing the newcomers.

Xu Fugui bowed respectfully and said, "Grandma, please help us. There's chaos and the Japanese are arresting people everywhere. These people are really desperate."

The old lady didn't even lift her eyelids; her voice was slow and deliberate, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

"It's not that I'm heartless, Fugui. These days, you can't see into someone's heart. Who would dare rent out a house to someone I don't know? If I mess with the wrong person, the whole yard will be wiped out."

Xu Fugui quickly replied, "Grandma, don't worry! These people are absolutely reliable; our Boss Lou personally vouches for them!"

The old lady scoffed, "Boss Lou's guarantee? Does his guarantee work? The Japanese don't care about his reputation."

"Then... whatever you say, we'll do it your way."

"I don't want to do anything," the old lady said calmly. "I don't want to rent the house."

Xu Fugui panicked immediately: "Grandma, you..."

At this moment, a middle-aged man who had been standing at the back without saying a word spoke up.

He was wearing a slightly worn cotton robe and a top hat. His face was ordinary, but his eyes were calm and composed, and he seemed very measured.

"Director Xu, there's no need to make things difficult for the old lady, nor is there any need to speak privately." The man's voice was calm. "We'll all go outside and wait there. You can discuss it slowly."

Xu Fugui was taken aback, then clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Then I apologize for the inconvenience."

"It's alright, it's nothing."

The group was very well-behaved; without saying a word, they turned around and left the main room, gently closing the door behind them.

The room suddenly became quiet.

The old lady then looked up at Xu Fugui, her tone turning colder: "Alright, now that they're gone, tell me the truth, who exactly are these people?"

Xu Fugui didn't rush to explain. Instead, he took out a small package wrapped tightly in a blue handkerchief from his pocket, gently placed it on the table, and slowly opened it.

Three golden, heavy little yellow croakers suddenly appeared before my eyes.

In this day and age, a single small yellow croaker is enough for an ordinary family to live on for several years.

Three pieces, that's an astronomical price.

The old woman merely glanced at them indifferently, her eyes showing no trace of greed, but rather increased wariness: "Fugui, don't try that on me. Tell me, these people aren't simple, are they?"

Xu Fugui gave a wry smile: "Grandma, you are right. I really don't know the specifics. I'm just a gofer, doing exactly what our boss told me. However, our boss said that he guarantees with the Lou family's reputation over the years that these people are definitely not bad people, and they will not cause trouble for the courtyard."

"I'll ask you one more question—" the old woman leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice even further, "Are these people really from the steel mill?"

"Yes, I can guarantee that with my life." Xu Fugui said solemnly, "The one who spoke first just now, surnamed Zhao, is a new engineer in the factory. The rest are all technicians, all of them are decent people with skills and education."

The old lady was silent for a moment, then asked, "How long will they stay? How much will the rent be?"

"The boss didn't say how long you'll stay, so I didn't dare ask," Xu Fugui said. "As for the rent, I won't shortchange you; I'll give you double the normal rent. I've calculated the number of people; renting the back room by the entrance, the east and west wing rooms in the front yard, plus two connecting rooms will be enough. We absolutely won't touch the middle or back yards; we won't disturb your peace and quiet."

The old lady turned to He Daqing: "Daqing, what do you think?"

He Daqing hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "Mother, as long as they're not Japanese or traitors, then it's alright. I'm just afraid... it's another group of people."

As he spoke, he subtly made the number "eight" with his hand.

Xu Fugui was so frightened that he quickly waved his hands: "You can't say that! You can't say that! I've already asked around, it's really not true! Even our boss isn't afraid, so how could I not be? My whole family lives in this courtyard, would I want to bring trouble upon myself?"

He Daqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mother, I think we can rent it out," He Daqing said. "These days, money is worthless, and things are getting more and more expensive. We can't just sit around and eat our savings away. A little extra rent can help supplement our household income, as long as the people are well-behaved."

The old lady remained silent for a moment, as if making a final decision.

She looked up at Xu Fugui and pointed to the three small yellow croakers on the table: "These don't count as rent, right?"

"No, no, this is just a small token of our boss's appreciation. I brought the rent separately!"

As Xu Fugui spoke, he took out a heavy money bag from his pocket and placed it on the table, where the silver coins clinked together with a crisp sound.

"Don't accuse me of being greedy," the old woman said calmly, yet with an undeniable air of authority. "Pay three months' rent upfront, move out early, and you won't get a penny back. I need to keep the money to appease those black dogs in the yard, so they won't come and cause trouble every day."

"Don't worry, ma'am!" Xu Fugui's face immediately lit up with a smile when he heard there was hope. "Our boss already instructed that no matter how much the rent is, he'll give you an extra five silver dollars, specifically for your use!"

The old lady nodded, having already made her plans perfectly clear in her mind.

"Then I'll just say it directly."

She held up three fingers. "Two side rooms, one silver dollar each, and the other small rooms, half a silver dollar each. Three months, twelve silver dollars in total."

Xu Fugui was taken aback, then quickly said, "Grandma, you're underestimating! Even at double the rent, it would cost much more than that!"

The old lady smiled faintly: "That's enough. I'll take what I should take, and I won't take a single penny more than what I shouldn't. Just stay out of trouble and don't cause me any more problems, that's better than anything else."

Xu Fugui felt both admiration and gratitude.

He originally thought it would take a lot of effort, but he didn't expect that the old lady, who seemed tough, was actually reasonable.

"Thank you, ma'am! Thank you, ma'am!" Xu Fugui repeatedly bowed. "I'll have them move in right away!"

The old lady waved her hand: "Don't rush. Let me make this clear from the start—"

First, stay home as much as possible, talk less, and avoid gatherings.

Second, when you see Japanese soldiers or puppet troops, lower your head and walk around them; do not be aggressive.

Third, fighting, causing trouble, and gossiping are not allowed in the yard.

If anyone violates any of these rules, I will immediately kick them out without hesitation.

"Don't worry! I'll do whatever you say!"

Xu Fugui was so excited he almost jumped up.

He quickly turned around and went out, calling in the people waiting outside.

The middle-aged man surnamed Zhao entered the house and bowed deeply to the old lady, saying, "Thank you so much for taking us in, ma'am. We are deeply grateful and will definitely follow the rules and not cause any trouble for the courtyard."

The old lady glanced at him, said nothing, and simply nodded slightly.

He Yuzhu leaned against the door, looking calmly at the engineer surnamed Zhao.

Zhao Fengnian...

It really was him.

The system didn't lie.

only--

Without tangible rewards, the effects will only be seen after the world is at peace.

He Yuzhu's lips curled up slightly.

The reward sounded vague and unrealistic, yet he inexplicably felt a surge of anticipation.

In times of chaos, it might not be such a bad thing to sow a seed for future peace.

As night deepened, lights began to illuminate the courtyard at No. 95.

Some people hid grain, some hid guns, and some hid a shocking secret.

Someone is throwing a tantrum over a single bite to eat.

Some people are treading carefully just to survive.

Some people, in the darkness, quietly light a lamp for the future.

He Yuzhu, on the other hand, remained the same seemingly ordinary and harmless cook.

No one knew that beneath his calm exterior lay a cannon that could make the entire Japanese North China Command tremble.