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

"Cripple this brat! How dare he laugh at his young master? He's got a death wish!"

Ma Gang stood not far away, his brocade robes exuding arrogance, his finger pointing intently at He Yuzhu in the middle of the street, spittle flying with his roar.

He had come out today to show off his new jacket, but He Yuzhu's casual glance had enraged him so much that he now only wanted to kill him.

Ma Wu stood to the side, his legs trembling, and subconsciously glanced around.

Pedestrians on the roadside were already frightened and scrambled to get out of the way. The area under the big willow tree was deserted, but it was no small matter to hurt someone in broad daylight.

He lowered his voice and advised, "Young Master, this...this isn't a good idea! With so many people watching, if things get out of hand, it'll be hard to handle."

"If anything goes wrong, I'll take care of it! I'll hold the sky up even if it falls, what are you afraid of!"

Ma Gang glared, his tone extremely arrogant.

His father was the township head in Tanggu. In his eyes, the lives of ordinary people were no different from those of grass.

Ma Wu opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time, his face full of hesitation.

"What the hell is this! Are you deaf? Get him!" Ma Gang got angrier and angrier, and kicked Ma Wu hard in the lower back, making him stagger.

He Yuzhu was leaning against his bicycle, his expression calm, not wanting to get involved in this mess at all. He had just come from the fish market, still smelling faintly of fish, and just wanted to get back to the city as soon as possible. But the words "cripple this kid" made his face darken instantly, and his eyes turned as cold as ice.

He slowly released the little girl who had been protecting him, gently pushed her back with his palm, his voice low but firm.

"You'd better hurry and run towards where there are more people, or they'll block your way again."

The little girl, her face covered in dirt, looked up, her eyes filled with panic and worry, clutching He Yuzhu's clothes tightly and refusing to let go: "Grandpa, what about you? You'll be at a disadvantage fighting so many of them all by yourself!"

"You'd better take care of yourself." Without waiting for a reply, He Yuzhu gently pried her fingers apart and gave her a light push. "Don't look back, run!"

The little girl gave him a deep look, her clear eyes seeming to want to etch He Yuzhu's image firmly into her heart.

She knew that staying would only cause trouble, so she gritted her teeth, turned around and ran wildly towards the alley entrance, not even bothering to pick up the tattered bag and wild vegetables that had fallen on the ground. Her small figure quickly disappeared around the street corner.

He Yuzhu watched her run away before slowly turning his gaze away. He held the handlebars with one hand and kicked the bicycle stand away with a loud bang, the sound of metal hitting the ground crisp and jarring.

He turned slightly to the side and beckoned to Ma Gang and his group with his finger, the movement slow and deliberate, yet utterly provocative.

Ma Wu was just in a dilemma, his reason telling him he shouldn't act rashly, but He Yuzhu's contemptuous gesture instantly ignited all his anger, and his last remaining concerns vanished in an instant.

He roared, his face contorted with rage, "Attack him! Cripple him! If anything happens, the young master will take responsibility!"

The words had barely left his lips when an excited voice immediately rang out from the crowd, the tone devoid of any fear, more like someone watching a spectacle: "Yeah! I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong, hurry up!"

He Yuzhu narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint flashing in them. He slightly parted his feet, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, and quietly assumed a fighting stance.

Tianjin is a place where hidden talents abound, and skilled martial artists are everywhere. He could tell that besides Ma Wu, there were several other men on the other side who exuded a fierce aura. They were clearly seasoned fighters who had been fighting for years. As for what school or style of kung fu they practiced, he couldn't tell for the moment.

The two sides were not far apart, only a few steps apart. With a shout, the group pounced like hungry tigers, and in a few breaths they rushed forward, their fists and feet whistling as they struck He Yuzhu.

The bald man was burly and strong, like an iron tower. He swung his fist first, the wind whistling as he punched with tremendous force.

He Yuzhu lightly touched the ground with his feet, nimbly sidestepping the attack and narrowly avoiding it.

Before the opponent could stop, he grabbed the opponent's wrist with his other hand, and with a sudden burst of force, used the opponent's momentum against them, and pulled hard.

The bald man's massive body instantly lost its balance and was thrown out like a broken sack, crashing heavily into a large willow tree by the roadside with a "bang." The tree trunk shook violently, startling a bunch of sparrows on the treetop, their wings flapping incessantly.

Before He Yuzhu could regain his footing, a gust of wind came from the side. The lean, long-faced man had somehow produced a short stick and was smashing it down on He Yuzhu's head.

He Yuzhu touched the ground with his toes, suddenly leaped up, and his knee struck the other's wrist precisely.

"Clatter!"

The short stick fell to the ground with a thud, and the long-faced man cried out in pain. He Yuzhu, still in mid-air, twisted his waist and delivered a powerful elbow strike near the man's temple. The man's eyes rolled back, and his body went limp to the ground, instantly losing consciousness.

Seeing this, Ma Wu gritted his teeth and charged forward, throwing a straight punch at He Yuzhu's face. Instead of retreating, He Yuzhu advanced, pressing his body forward, his left hand swiftly grabbing Ma Wu's wrist, while his right hand clenched into a fist, aiming straight for his opponent's throat.

Ma Wu's expression suddenly changed drastically, his soul almost leaving his body. He hurriedly leaned back desperately, barely managing to dodge the fatal blow.

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, He Yuzhu suddenly hooked his ankle hard, causing his legs to give way. He was tripped and thrown more than two meters away, his head hitting the hard ground with a thud. He saw stars instantly and was in so much pain that he grimaced and couldn't get up for a long time.

Seeing this, the remaining henchmen hesitated noticeably, fear showing on their faces; none of them wanted to be the first to go up and die.

Watching from afar, Ma Gang was furious. He screamed in a shrill voice, "Who the hell dares to back down! Go back and get the hell out of here! I'll make sure his whole family can't find work in Tanggu and they all starve!"

Under threat, the men turned pale and had no choice but to grit their teeth and charge forward.

Just as everyone hesitated, He Yuzhu suddenly moved. With a single step, his figure shot forward like an arrow, instantly closing in on the nearest bowl-cut man, his palm strike as sharp as a knife, aimed straight at the man's shoulder.

The man with the bowl cut instinctively raised his hand to block, but as soon as he raised his arm, He Yuzhu grabbed his wrist and twisted it sharply.

The other person bent over in pain, and He Yuzhu took the opportunity to lower his waist and deliver a clean and decisive over-the-shoulder throw, slamming the person hard into Ma Gang, who was not far away.

"ah--!"

Ma Gang had no time to dodge and was knocked to the ground by the bowl-cut hairstyle, curling up in pain. He watched in horror as He Yuzhu approached step by step, each step feeling like a blow to his heart. An overwhelming fear swept over him, and a dark wet patch instantly seeped into his crotch, filling the air with a foul stench.

He scrambled backward, bracing himself on the ground with his hands, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "You, you stay away! My dad's the township head! The township head of Tanggu! If you dare touch me, my dad won't let you get away with it!"

He Yuzhu stopped and looked down at Ma Gang, who was sprawled on the ground. A cold sneer curled at the corner of his mouth: "Heh, township head."

Before he finished speaking, he stomped down hard.

"Snap—!"

The crisp sound of bones cracking was extremely piercing.

"Ah—! My leg! My leg is broken!" Ma Gang screamed in agony, tears and snot streaming down his face. "My dad's the village head! If you dare touch me, I'll make you wish you were dead! I'll kill your whole family!"

"Township head, what a display of official power." He Yuzhu's tone was calm, but he showed no mercy with his foot, stomping down again.

"Snap—!"

Ma Gang's arm was twisted at an unusual angle and completely severed.

"Aaaaaah—! My dad... my dad will definitely kill you..."

He Yuzhu didn't even frown. He reached out and pinched his chin, applying a little force.

"Thud—!"

His jaw was completely severed. Ma Gang's screams stopped abruptly, and he could only let out groaning sounds of pain, his whole body convulsing in agony, his eyes filled with despair.

"Young Master! Young Master!" Ma Wu struggled to his feet, ignoring the pain all over his body, and rushed towards them like a madman. "You dare to hurt my young master? I'll fight you to the death!"

He Yuzhu didn't even turn his head, but turned and kicked out.

"Thump!"

Ma Wu was struck as if by a heavy hammer; his body flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He could no longer get up and could only lie on the ground groaning.

Just then, the sharp sound of a police siren came from afar, "beep beep beep—" growing clearer and clearer as it approached.

He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold. Not wanting to get entangled with the government, he raised his foot and kicked Ma Gang hard in the lower back.

"Snap—!"

Another sound of bone cracking.

Even if Ma Gang survives this blow, he will never be able to stand up again for the rest of his life and will become a complete cripple.

He Yuzhu didn't give the groaning crowd on the ground another glance. He quickly walked to the bicycle, kicked up the stand, flipped himself onto the bike, and pushed off with both legs. The bicycle sped away from the scene.

"Stop him! Stop him now! Don't let him get away!" Ma Wu lay on the ground, shouting hoarsely, his voice filled with despair.

But how can two legs outrun two wheels? Moreover, the remaining people were already terrified by He Yuzhu's ruthlessness, and none of them dared to chase after him, fearing that they would end up like Ma Gang. They could only watch helplessly as He Yuzhu disappeared at the intersection.

He Yuzhu had only ridden his bicycle a few hundred meters when a small, thin figure suddenly rushed out from the intersection ahead, spreading his arms and blocking the middle of the road.

It was the little girl who had just run away.

"Master! Master! Take me with you! Please take me with you!" The little girl's face turned bright red, her voice trembling with tears, as she stared intently at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu gripped the brakes tightly, bringing the bicycle to a sudden stop. His brows furrowed. "Get home right now! I don't have time to joke around with you!"

"What nonsense! I have no home!" The little girl's tears fell instantly.

"You crippled the young master of the Ma family, they'll definitely take their anger out on me. If they can't find you, they'll kill me! I'll die!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand impatiently: "Why are you so difficult, girl! Let go of me right now, I want to go back to the city! Besides, I'm not a good person either. Didn't you see I just crippled Ma Gang? You'll get what's coming to you if you follow me!"

"It's precisely because you crippled the young master of the Ma family that you're a good person!" The young girl retorted, her eyes resolute. "He committed countless atrocities in Tanggu, harming countless girls. You're ridding the people of a scourge!"

He Yuzhu was speechless for a moment, so he could only change the subject: "Where are your parents? You must have relatives."

"They're all dead! They're all dead!" The little girl's voice choked with sobs, and her tears fell even harder.

"So where do you live?"

"The seaside...a cave by the sea."

He Yuzhu rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling a headache coming on: "Then you should go back to the cave. In the future, avoid the Ma family when you go out. Ma Gang is already crippled; he won't be able to cause you any trouble for a while. I don't have time to take care of the child either, so don't come with me."

"Grandpa, Ma Gang's father is even worse than him! He's more ruthless! They won't let me go!" The little girl hurriedly took a step forward, grabbed the front wheel of the bicycle, and refused to let go. "I'm not a child anymore, I'm ten years old! I'm very obedient. I can help you wash clothes, cook, and clean. I can do any kind of chores, I'm very capable! Grandpa, please take me with you!"

He Yuzhu looked at the little girl clinging to the wheel and felt utterly overwhelmed.

He himself is still all alone and struggling to make ends meet. Now he has to take care of a half-grown girl. In these chaotic times of war, he is simply asking for trouble.

Moreover, he himself was not exactly a virtuous person; he had a history of dirty work, and having a child to care for made things very inconvenient.

The sirens were getting closer and closer. If he delayed any longer, he would definitely be arrested. Then, he wouldn't be able to explain himself, and he would only be going to jail.

He Yuzhu gritted his teeth, ultimately unable to bear abandoning her at this moment, and said in a deep voice, "Get in the car!"

The little girl paused for a moment, then looked up blankly: "Get on the bus? How do I get on?"

"Ugh! I just can't do anything with you!" He Yuzhu sighed helplessly, bent down, picked her up, and gently placed her on the back seat of the bicycle. He then straddled the frame, pedaled halfway around, and turned back to remind her, "Hold on tight, don't let go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he stomped his foot hard, and the bicycle shot off like an arrow.

"Aaaaaah—!"

The little girl was clearly riding a bicycle for the first time. The sudden speed and bumps frightened her so much that she screamed and instinctively hugged He Yuzhu tightly around the waist, burying her face in his back.

He Yuzhu dared not stop and rode for more than five miles in one go. Only when the sound of the police sirens behind him could no longer be heard did he slow down slightly. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his chest rose and fell slightly, and he was panting a little.

He braced himself with one foot on the ground, turned around and said to the little girl in the back seat, "You can get out of the car now. They can't catch up with you. Find a place to hide."

"No! I want to go with you, Master!" The little girl hugged him even tighter, shaking her head like a rattle.

"Get out of the car!" He Yuzhu got out of the car directly, propped himself up on a footrest, and reached out to help her out. "Don't be silly, I can't take you with me."

"Waaah... I won't get down! You've already held me, you have to take care of me!" The little girl burst into tears instantly, looking at him with teary eyes, feeling extremely wronged.

He Yuzhu glared at her, annoyed, and said, "You little brat, what's wrong with a hug? You have nothing, why should I care what you do?"

"You despise me!" The little girl cried even harder, her shoulders shaking.

"Yes, I just don't like you!" He Yuzhu decided to throw caution to the wind and deliberately said harsh words to force her to give up. "You're filthy, dark, and ugly. Whoever wants to be with you can be, but I don't!"

"I'm not ugly! I'm really not ugly!"

The little girl immediately stopped crying, stared with red eyes and retorted, her face turning bright red.

"You little brat, you bumped into me, and I haven't even made you pay for your clothes yet, and you're already blaming me!" He Yuzhu said sternly, trying to scare her. "I'm not a good person, or I'll sell you to a brothel!"

The little girl stopped talking, just silently shedding tears, looking at him quietly with her eyes full of stubbornness and dependence.

That look instantly touched the softest spot in He Yuzhu's heart.

He thought of his younger sister, He Yushui. When they were little, Yushui would ask him to buy her candy or stand up for her, she would look at him like this, without saying a word, yet he just couldn't bring himself to refuse.

Supporting a person is nothing to him; he has space at his disposal and has no worries about food and drink.

But this girl's origins are obviously unknown; she doesn't even have a household registration. If we bring her back to the city and she gets questioned, it will be a huge problem.

After a moment of silence, He Yuzhu finally spoke and asked softly, "What's your name?"

"I...I'm Qiao Lingyi!" the little girl answered immediately, her voice hoarse from crying.

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow slightly. This name was elegant and refined, clearly not something an ordinary family in the countryside could come up with; it exuded the air of a scholarly family.

"Did your father name you this?"

"It was my maternal grandmother who named it."

"Grandma?" He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat. In the north, people mostly call her "Laolao," while only southerners are used to calling her "Waipo." It seems this girl really is from the south.

"Yes, I've never met my father. I took my mother's surname, Qiao," Qiao Lingyi said softly.

"Your family isn't from Tianjin, are you?"

"No, my mother said our family is from Jiangnan."

He Yuzhu nodded, then asked, "What about your grandmother? Is she still alive? Why don't you go look for her?"

Upon mentioning her family, Qiao Lingyi broke down instantly, and tears streamed down her face once again.

"My mother said that when the Japanese invaded, my grandparents fled north. After the Japanese surrendered, my mother brought me to find my grandmother. As soon as we got off the ship, our luggage was stolen, and all our money and documents were gone... Later, my mother fell ill, but we had no money for medical treatment, and then my mother... she passed away... Wow—it's all my fault, I couldn't save my mother!"

She threw herself into He Yuzhu's arms and burst into tears, wiping her tears and snot all over his clothes.

He Yuzhu stood stiffly in place, his hand raised for a long time, but in the end he gently placed it on her back, patting her softly, without saying a word.

The little girl cried for a long time, gradually turning into soft sobs. She even grabbed his clothes and wiped her face, not minding the fishy smell on his clothes at all. With this wipe, her already dirty little face became even more smudged, like a kitten that had just crawled out of the mud.

Seeing her like this, He Yuzhu couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Sir, what are you laughing at?" Qiao Lingyi was taken aback, and subconsciously wiped her face, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Ahem, it's nothing, it's nothing." He Yuzhu's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Do you know what your maternal grandparents' names are? Maybe I've heard them."

"My maternal grandfather's name was Qiao Haoguang, and my maternal grandmother's name was Shen Juxian!"

Qiao Haoguang? Shen Juxian?

He Yuzhu frowned and muttered to himself, feeling that the two names sounded very familiar, as if he had heard them somewhere before, but when he thought about it carefully, he couldn't remember anything, and just assumed that he had remembered them wrong.

"You know my maternal grandparents?" Qiao Lingyi's eyes lit up as she looked at him expectantly.

"I don't know, the name just sounds familiar," He Yuzhu said honestly.

The light in Qiao Lingyi's eyes dimmed instantly, her head drooped, and she was extremely depressed.

Looking at her pitiful expression, He Yuzhu remained silent for a moment before speaking again: "Are you sure you want to come with me? You won't regret it?"

"Yes!" Qiao Lingyi immediately raised her head and nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.

"Aren't you afraid I might be a bad person too?"

"I'm not afraid!" The little girl shook her head vigorously again, without the slightest hesitation.

He Yuzhu smiled helplessly and reached out to ruffle her messy hair: "Alright, then I'll just consider it taking in a maid. From now on, you'll follow me and be obedient."

"Yes, yes! From now on, I'll be Master's maid!" Qiao Lingyi immediately stopped crying and smiled, nodding vigorously with a long-lost smile on her face.

She has big eyes, snow-white teeth, and her smile is crescent-shaped. But paired with her small, cat-like face, she is undeniably comical and adorable.

"Let's go! Back to the city!" He Yuzhu shouted as he remounted his bicycle.

Qiao Lingyi obediently hugged his waist, and the bicycle started again, speeding towards the city of Tianjin.

Having ridden for more than two hours straight, and with the fight and frantic running just now, He Yuzhu was starving.

Although he had plenty of supplies in his space, he couldn't just take them out of thin air. He could only hold back his energy, wanting to get back to the city as soon as possible and find a place to have a good meal.

Along the way, Qiao Lingyi held his waist, gradually relaxed, and even fell asleep against his back amidst the bumpy ride.

Afraid of waking her, He Yuzhu deliberately slowed down, and what should have been a two-hour journey took him more than three hours to reach the city.

When I returned to my rented courtyard, it was already getting dark.

As soon as He Yuzhu parked the car, Qiao Lingyi woke up in the back seat. She stood timidly in the middle of the yard, looking around the unfamiliar place with unease and a hint of fear in her eyes.

He Yuzhu pointed to the side room next door and said casually, "Look, that will be your room from now on. Go in and take a look for yourself."

Qiao Lingyi tiptoed into the side room. The furnishings inside were very simple, with only an old wooden bed and a peeling wooden cabinet. The bed was empty, without even a straw mat. Fortunately, it was clean enough that there wasn't much dust.

Taking advantage of this moment, He Yuzhu went into the main room and changed out of his dirty and smelly clothes. When he came out in clean clothes, he saw Qiao Lingyi standing at the door of the side room, head down, asking softly, "Brother Zhu, that room... is it really for me?"

"What? Not satisfied?" He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow.

"No, no! I'm so satisfied! It's a hundred times, a thousand times better than the cave I lived in!" Qiao Lingyi shook her head hurriedly, her face full of surprise and disbelief. The cave was dark and damp, with cold winds blowing in during winter. Compared to this room, it was like heaven and earth.

"I'm glad you're satisfied." He Yuzhu nodded. "I'll go return the bicycle and buy you a quilt and some food while I'm at it. You stay home and wait patiently, and don't wander off."

Upon hearing about the new bedding, Qiao Lingyi's eyes lit up instantly. Last winter, she barely survived the cold thanks to the dry grass she slept on in the cave.

But the thought of leaving her alone at home made her panic. She rushed forward and grabbed his clothes tightly, refusing to let go.

"Sir, please take me with you! I'm very obedient, I won't run away!"

"If you're going to listen to me, then stay home obediently. This is my house, do you think I'm going to run away?" He Yuzhu was somewhat speechless.

"Sir, are you all alone at home?"

"In Tianjin, it's just me."

"Then...then come back soon, Xiaoman is scared at home alone." Qiao Lingyi's voice grew softer and softer.

"Xiaoman?" He Yuzhu was taken aback.

"It's my nickname, Grandpa... Brother Zhu, you can call me Xiaoman from now on," the little girl explained softly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Okay, Xiaoman." He Yuzhu smiled. "You don't need to call me grandpa. I'm not that old. My name is He Yuzhu. You can just call me Brother Zhu from now on."

"Okay, Master... Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu!" Qiao Lingyi imitated the address, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

"Stay home and behave yourself. I'll be back soon," He Yuzhu instructed. "Oh, and make sure you're clean. Nobody will arrest you here, don't worry."

"Oh! Xiaoman understands!"

"I'm leaving. Remember to lock the door from the inside. Don't answer or open the door unless I'm coming back."

"Got it, Brother Zhu!"

He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard. After confirming that she had locked the door, he found a secluded corner and, with a thought, put the bicycle into his static space.

After dealing with the bicycle, he headed straight to a nearby clothing store. His storage space was filled with all sorts of supplies—food, medicine, cloth, tools—but there was no underwear for women.

When we looted the Japanese supplies, we only took military supplies and valuables. The Japanese clothing stores were full of kimonos, which were useless, so we didn't touch them.

Without specific measurements, He Yuzhu could only describe Qiao Lingyi's height and build to the shopkeeper and picked out two slightly larger single-layer clothes. After all, the child was still growing, so a larger size was better than a smaller one.

When it was time to pay, the shopkeeper smiled and came up to him, trying to sell: "Sir, are you buying clothes for your sister? You're only buying the outer garment, how about getting a couple of inner layers too?"

"Inside?" He Yuzhu didn't react for a moment.

"Undergarments and panties! Every girl needs some underwear." The shopkeeper winked. "I have them all here. The material is comfortable, and the styles are nice too."

He Yuzhu was taken aback, his cheeks flushing slightly. This was the first time in his life he'd bought such things for a girl, and he felt a little awkward: "You have these too?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Not just clothes, but shoes too!" the shopkeeper shouted enthusiastically.

"Okay, we'll talk about shoes next time. And two sets of close-fitting clothes, in the same size as before."

"Okay! Please wait a moment!"

The boss quickly packed two sets of clothes: a red bib embroidered with lively carp and a pink bib embroidered with delicate pink lotus flowers. The underpants were made of pure white coarse cloth, simple and clean.

He Yuzhu paid the money, picked up his small bundle, and quickly left the clothing store, his ears still slightly burning.

Reaching a deserted alley, he took out a clay pot with a handle from his spatial storage, turned around, and walked into a donkey meat sandwich shop on the corner. He bought ten steaming hot donkey meat sandwiches in one go, and also filled a clay pot to the brim with fragrant donkey offal soup, before heading back satisfied.

As he approached the courtyard, he found himself carrying a brand-new quilt and a soft pillow. These were taken from his spatial storage; he had simply found an excuse to bring them back.

Upon reaching the courtyard gate, He Yuzhu, carrying things in both hands, could only gently kick the door with his foot: "Xiaoman, open the door!"

There was silence for a few seconds, followed by a burst of hurried footsteps.

"Squeak—Clang!"

The courtyard gate was quickly opened, and Qiao Lingyi had just called out "Brother Zhu" when she saw that his hands were full of things, so she rushed forward to help.

"Alright, I don't need you. Close the door." He Yuzhu stepped into the yard, his tone natural.

"Oh! Okay!" Qiao Lingyi quickly responded. After He Yuzhu came in, she quickly locked the courtyard gate, her little face full of joy.

He Yuzhu first placed the earthenware pot and oil paper package on the table in the main room, and the rich aroma of meat instantly filled the air. Then he carried the bedding and pillows into the side room and gently placed them on the bed.

Turning around, I saw Qiao Lingyi standing at the door, peeking inside with a look of surprise in her eyes.

The little girl had already washed her face, but her skin was tanned dark by the sea sun, with a noticeable color difference between her neck and cheeks, clearly showing signs of years of exposure to the elements. Her hair was messy, like a clump of weeds, but her eyebrows and eyes were delicate, her nose was straight, and her lips were small, clearly indicating that she was a beauty in the making.

He Yuzhu looked at her, and those two names flashed through his mind again—Shen Juxian and Qiao Haoguang. He had some guesses in his heart, but due to the long time that had passed and the chaos of the world, many people and things had become blurred, and he was too lazy to delve into it.

After all, even Wang Cuiping had wandered around the courtyard house; in this chaotic world, anything could happen.

"Brother Zhu, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Qiao Lingyi saw him staring at her blankly and subconsciously wiped her face with her hand, thinking that she had gotten dirty again.

"It's okay, no need to wipe it, it's clean now." He Yuzhu came back to his senses and pointed to the small bundle on the bed.

"Here, these are the clothes I bought for you. Take a look and see if they fit. If not, I'll go exchange them tomorrow."

"There are...there are new clothes!" Qiao Lingyi's eyes widened in disbelief as she covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes instantly. Ever since she could remember, she had always worn old clothes discarded by others, patched up, dirty and tattered, and had never worn a single new piece of clothing of her own.

"Of course, if my maidservant were dressed in rags and went out with me, it would be embarrassing for me," He Yuzhu joked, deliberately keeping a straight face.

"Mmm!" Qiao Lingyi nodded vigorously, looked down at her dirty and tattered clothes that exposed her toes, and her cheeks instantly turned red. She nervously clutched the hem of her clothes.

"Alright, take your time looking around. I'm going out now." He Yuzhu turned and walked out of the side room, closing the door behind him to give her plenty of private space.

As soon as he returned to the main house, he heard low sobbing coming from the side room, a sound that was both suppressed and aggrieved.

Not long after, with a "bang," the little girl rushed out, threw herself into his arms, and burst into tears.

He Yuzhu patted her back gently, knowing in his heart that this girl had suffered too much hardship and injustice in her life, and even the slightest bit of warmth at this moment was enough to make her break down.

"Xiaoman, what's wrong? Don't you like your clothes?"

"No, no!" Qiao Lingyi sobbed, unable to speak coherently. "Xiaoman hasn't worn new clothes for so many, many years... No one has ever bought me new clothes..."

"If you like it, then put it on."

"Xiaoman, you're so dirty..." The little girl let go of him, lowered her head shyly, and looked embarrassed.

"Let's eat first, then boil some water so you can take a shower and change into new clothes."

"Oh!" Qiao Lingyi wiped away her tears reluctantly and nodded obediently.

"Alright, you've cried your face all over again. Go wash your face."

"good!"

When Qiao Lingyi returned after washing her face, she immediately saw the stack of donkey meat sandwiches on the table and the steaming donkey offal soup in the earthenware pot. Her eyes widened instantly, and she stopped breathing.

That's meat! Delicious-smelling meat!

She was so excited about the bedding and new clothes that she completely ignored the rich fragrance.

"Is this...is this for me to eat?"

Qiao Lingyi pointed at the table, her voice trembling. In all her life, she had only ever received a small piece of meat from kind people during the Lunar New Year; she rarely even saw a speck of oil.

"If you're not going to eat, I'll eat by myself. I'll go buy you some cornmeal and sorghum flour later, and you can drink the porridge yourself," He Yuzhu teased her on purpose.

"Are you really going to let me eat this?" Qiao Lingyi asked again, her eyes fixed on the donkey meat sandwich.

"If you're not going to eat, go back inside and go hungry."

"No way!" Qiao Lingyi immediately rushed to the table, grabbed a donkey meat sandwich, and took a big bite.

Crispy crust, fragrant donkey meat, and rich braised sauce melt in your mouth.

This was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten in her life.

One bite, and tears welled up again, mingling with the salty and fragrant sauce at the corners of my mouth.

He Yuzhu shook his head helplessly as he watched her wolf down her food. He really wondered if this girl was made of water, since tears could come out of her mouth so easily.

Qiao Lingyi ate extremely quickly, swallowing a whole baked bun in the blink of an eye, leaving not even a crumb. But she didn't take a second one, just staring longingly at He Yuzhu, her understanding nature heartbreaking.

"Why are you looking at me? Eat if you want." He Yuzhu picked up a flatbread, picked out the donkey meat, and handed the empty flatbread to her. "But you haven't had any meat in a long time. Eating too much meat will give you diarrhea. If you don't want to be running to the toilet all night, eat less meat. There are plenty of flatbreads."

Qiao Lingyi stared intently at the baked bun, and when she saw the donkey meat being picked away, her little mouth instantly pursed, looking like she was about to cry again.

"Don't cry." He Yuzhu stopped her tears in advance. "Be good, once your stomach gets used to it, you can have as much as you want."

"Okay, okay... can I have some soup?" the little girl asked softly, still unwilling to give up.

"Yes, but drink less."

"Um!"

After finishing another flatbread and half a bowl of donkey offal soup, Qiao Lingyi's belly was round and full. She sat on the stool, groaning "Ouch, ouch," but her eyes were still glued to the remaining flatbread and soup on the table, unwilling to look away.

"Save the rest for the next meal. Get up and move around a bit, don't overeat," He Yuzhu said irritably.

"Delicious...it's so delicious..." Qiao Lingyi murmured to herself, her eyes filled with fascination. "If only I could eat donkey meat sandwiches every day..."

"Hey, you little maid, you're ugly, but you have such beautiful dreams," He Yuzhu laughed and scolded. "I wouldn't dare eat this every day, but you dare to dream about it."

"I...I'm not ugly!" Qiao Lingyi immediately retorted, her eyes reddening again. "I...I was just thinking about it...it feels like a dream, I don't want to wake up at all..."

"Okay, okay, you're not ugly, and this isn't a dream." He Yuzhu surrendered helplessly. "The meat won't be eaten all at once; there will be more later. Don't cry. Where did your fearless spirit from the fish market go?"

"Before, no one cared about me. My mother told me on her deathbed that I had to be strong, otherwise I wouldn't be able to survive..." Qiao Lingyi said softly, "Now...now that I'm clinging to Brother Zhu, I...I just can't help but want to cry..."

"Alright, stop being so dramatic. Hold onto the stool and spin around a few times. I'll boil some water for you to take a bath and change into new clothes."

"I...I can't walk anymore..." Qiao Lingyi tried to get off the stool, but as soon as she stood up, she started to groan, her lower abdomen feeling uncomfortable.

"Then you can hold onto the stool and spin around. I'm tired, I'm going to take a nap." He Yuzhu rubbed his sore back. He had been riding his bike all day and had a fight, so he was exhausted.

He lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep within minutes.

When he woke up again, it was completely dark. The courtyard was pitch black, with only a faint light coming from the direction of the kitchen.

He rubbed his eyes, got up and walked out of the main room, and saw Qiao Lingyi squatting at the kitchen door, adding firewood to the stove. Her little face was covered with a few specks of cigarette ash, but she looked very serious.

She had changed into her new clothes, which were clean and tidy. Her hair was also washed smooth and was draped over her shoulders. She looked fresh and lovely.

He Yuzhu glanced down at the large wooden tub in the yard. The tub was still wet, indicating that the girl had taken a bath in the yard herself. It was cool at night, so she wasn't afraid of getting cold.

"Brother Zhu, you're awake!" Qiao Lingyi heard footsteps and immediately turned around. When she saw He Yuzhu, a bright smile appeared on her face, like a blooming flower.

"Did you boil the water and take a bath yourself?" He Yuzhu looked at the refreshed little girl and paused for a moment before speaking.

"Yes! You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't have the heart to wake you." Qiao Lingyi stuck out her tongue. "The bucket was too big for me to carry, so I had to wash it in the yard. I even used your scented soap, Brother Zhu, you won't be mad at me, will you?"

"So what if I used it? What's a bar of soap worth?" He Yuzhu waved his hand dismissively. He had mountains of soap in his storage space, more than he could ever use.

"I've never used scented soap before, it smells so good!" Qiao Lingyi took a deep breath, her face full of satisfaction.

"Do the clothes fit you well?"

"It fits perfectly! It fits so well! Thank you, Brother Zhu!" Qiao Lingyi lowered her head, her cheeks flushed red to the roots of her neck. It was only when she was changing that she realized she was wearing an exquisite bodice and clean underwear underneath. This was the first time in her life she had dressed so fully.

"Why are you still boiling water?"

"You rode your bike so far today, you must be exhausted. Take a shower tonight and relax," Qiao Lingyi said softly, her eyes full of concern.

He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, "Okay. Are you hungry?"

"No, I ate a lot of meat this afternoon, so I'm not hungry yet."

"By the way, can you cook? I'll be going to work from now on and won't be home during the day, so you'll have to cook for yourself."

Qiao Lingyi thought for a moment and answered seriously, "I can clean fish, shrimp and crab, and cook them. I can also make vegetable porridge and cook wild vegetables."

He Yuzhu understood immediately. The so-called "knowing how to cook" mostly meant boiling things in plain water, with hardly any flavor. However, he would be working in a factory from early morning to late at night, so the family couldn't run out of food, otherwise the girl would definitely go hungry during the day.

It's not practical to bring him food every day. Everyone knows he's all alone, and if a girl suddenly appears without a registered residence, it will cause trouble sooner or later.

"Then you stay home and behave yourself. I'm going out to buy some more food and daily necessities. Remember, lock the door. Don't answer the door or open it, no matter who knocks, unless I'm coming back."

"Yes! Brother Zhu, come back quickly, Xiaoman is scared at home alone!" Qiao Lingyi immediately stepped forward, opened the courtyard gate for him, her eyes full of reluctance.

"Okay, I'll be back soon!"

He Yuzhu turned and walked out of the courtyard. Qiao Lingyi immediately and quickly locked the door, then peered through the crack in the door, watching his figure disappear into the alleyway.

He Yuzhu walked all the way to the grain store at the alley entrance. When he pushed open the door, the owner was busy calculating accounts on an abacus. When he looked up and saw him, he immediately put on a smile: "Zhuzi, what would you like to order today?"

"Boss, give me twenty catties of cornmeal, ten catties of sorghum rice, and five catties of wheat flour," He Yuzhu said.

The shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, then joked, "Zhu Zi, can you eat this much by yourself? You used to only buy three to five pounds at a time, are you stockpiling food today?"

He Yuzhu casually made up a lie: "I've been working hard lately, so my appetite has increased. I'm stocking up so I don't have to run around every day."

"That's true, these days it's always more reassuring to have some grain stored at home," the shopkeeper muttered as he packed the grain.

"By the way, would you like some more soybeans and millet? Porridge is nourishing and filling."

"Okay, give me five catties each of soybeans and millet, and two catties of brown sugar."

"Brown sugar?" The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "What would a grown man like you need brown sugar for?"

He Yuzhu's ears burned slightly, and he mumbled, "It's somewhat useful. Don't worry about it, just keep pretending."

The shopkeeper smiled and shook his head, quickly stuffing the grain into bags and wrapping the brown sugar in kraft paper.

"That's sixty-five coins in total. We're all regular customers, so I'll round it down to sixty coins."

He Yuzhu paid the money, carried the heavy grain bag out, and turned into the general store at the alley entrance. He bought an enamel basin, a coarse cloth towel, a wooden comb, coarse salt, and a small jar of lard. These were all things that Xiaoman could use.

When he returned to the courtyard gate carrying his bags, just as he raised his foot to kick the door, he heard Xiaoman's timid voice from inside: "Is that Brother Zhuzi?"

"It's me, open the door."

The courtyard gate was immediately opened, and Xiaoman's eyes widened when she saw what he was carrying. She quickly stepped forward and took the lightest bag of brown sugar: "Brother Zhu, you bought so much stuff..."

"Otherwise, what do you think I went out to do? I can't let you eat donkey meat sandwiches every day, can I?"

He Yuzhu placed the grain sack in the corner of the kitchen and then arranged the daily necessities on the stove. "These basins and towels are all yours. From now on, you'll use separate ones for washing your face and taking a bath. The wooden comb is for combing your hair, and the coarse salt is for brushing your teeth, understand?"

Xiaoman held the wooden comb, her fingers gently tracing the smooth teeth, tears welling up in her eyes again: "Brother Zhuzi, you've been so good to me, I... I don't know how to repay you."

"What's there to repay? Just do your job well, keep the house clean, and don't cause me any trouble."

He Yuzhu waved her hand casually, but her heart softened. "By the way, keep this brown sugar. If you have a stomachache in the future, just soak it in water and drink it. A girl should take care of herself."

Xiaoman nodded vigorously, hugging the brown sugar tightly in her arms as if it were the most precious treasure: "I understand, Brother Zhuzi, I will definitely work hard from now on, keep the house clean and tidy, do your laundry and cook for you, and not let you worry about me."

He Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh at her earnest little face: "Alright, stop standing there. Is the water in the pot boiled? I'm going to take a shower. Turn on the lights in the room so you don't bump into anything in the dark."

"Okay! I'll go light the lamp right away!"

Xiaoman skipped and hopped into the main house, fumbled to light the oil lamp, and the dim light instantly filled the courtyard, making the two lonely figures look especially warm.

Standing in the lamplight, Xiaoman looked at He Yuzhu's back and secretly vowed in her heart that she would follow Brother Zhuzi for the rest of her life and never live a life of wandering and hunger again. Brother Zhuzi gave her a home, and she would spend her whole life protecting this home.

As He Yuzhu leaned against the door frame, watching Xiaoman's busy figure, a warmth he had never felt before welled up in his heart.

What was originally just a small burden picked up out of a moment of pity has somehow given this empty little courtyard the feel of a home.

He touched the spatial jade pendant hidden at his waist and thought to himself that he would never let this girl go hungry as long as he had food to eat.