In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

The father and son parted ways at the entrance of the alley, with Yang Guangming walking in another direction.

He was going to visit Teacher Zhu.

In recent days, as rumors of impending war have intensified, the atmosphere in the city has become increasingly strange.

Espionage activities were noticeably more rampant than before. Plainclothes officers with sinister expressions and looking around could be seen on the streets from time to time, and an invisible, suffocating sense of tension permeated the air.

He hasn't been to Teacher Zhu's place for two days.

It wasn't laziness, but rather out of caution.

He hasn't gone these past two days, mainly to avoid frequent contact that could bring additional risks to Teacher Zhu.

Yang Guangming walked along the familiar street with steady steps and a natural expression, but his eyes, like the most sophisticated radar, silently scanned everything around him.

Pedestrians, vendors, beggars squatting in corners, rickshaws rushing by... every face, every subtle movement, is quickly analyzed and filtered by his extraordinary observational skills.

The closer he got to the area where Teacher Zhu lived, the more meticulous his observations became.

The street seemed quieter than usual. Several shops had their doors boarded up, and only one or two vendors selling roasted sweet potatoes and candied hawthorns were huddled up in the cold wind, barely managing to set up their stalls, with very little business.

Sunshine Ming's steps did not stop; he continued forward.

Just as he was about to reach the street corner leading to Teacher Zhu's house, he caught a glimpse of several unusual figures out of the corner of his eye.

There were three men.

A man squatted under the shed of a shoe repair stall across the street, holding an old newspaper in his hand. He seemed to be reading the newspaper intently, but he held it very low, and his eyes would occasionally peek out from the top edge of the newspaper and cast a sharp and wary look toward the alley entrance.

Another vendor, disguised as a cigarette seller, carried a wooden box and paced slowly about ten meters from the alley entrance. His calls were weak and his attention was clearly not on business. He also occasionally glanced at people entering and leaving the alley out of the corner of his eye.

The third one leaned against a mottled wall further away, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking like an idle man with nothing to do. But his posture was too upright and his eyes too clear, making him stand out from the truly numb homeless people around him.

The three people, seemingly unrelated and located in different places, subtly formed a loose triangular surveillance network, bringing the alley entrance and its surrounding area into their field of vision.

They disguised themselves well and tried to imitate the behavior of ordinary people, but in the eyes of Yang Guangming, who had experienced countless storms and had a beast-like intuition for danger, their flaws were as obvious as ink spots on a blank sheet of paper.

That overly deliberate "naturalness," that tension hidden beneath the relaxed posture, that seemingly casual yet highly regular frequency of observation...

They're spies!
And they weren't the kind of ordinary action team members who charged around recklessly.

These three are more like experienced stalkers—patient, discreet, and with a clear purpose—they are waiting for someone, or rather, confirming the specific location of a target.

Yang Guangming's heart sank suddenly.

He guessed that it was very likely that Teacher Zhu was being followed when she handed over the task, and she was unaware of it, otherwise she wouldn't have been chased to the vicinity of her home.

Each time he returned from a mission, out of caution, Teacher Zhu would not go straight home, but would take a detour. It is likely that this caution is why he did not reveal his exact address.

The teacher was cautious enough not to go straight home, or perhaps these spies hadn't had time to confirm the specific address, only knowing that the target had entered this area, so they set up a stakeout here, waiting for the target to come to them.

Danger was lurking right outside the teacher's doorstep!
Yang Guangming did not stop walking at all, and did not even glance in the direction of the three people.

He walked straight through the alleyway like an ordinary young man who was just passing by, even turning his head slightly to avoid being seen too clearly by the person "reading the newspaper".

He must not show any abnormality, so as not to alert the hunting dogs.

After walking a few dozen meters past the entrance of the alley, he turned into another alley diagonally opposite. This alley was narrower, quieter, and had fewer residents.

He quickly walked to a corner in the middle of the alley where there was a pile of miscellaneous items. The view was relatively open here, and he could use the miscellaneous items to cover his figure.

He hid in the shadows, his gaze passing through the alleyway and landing on the three spies across the street.

He now needed to confirm a few things: Were they really watching the alley where Teacher Zhu lived? How patient were they? Were there any changes in their accomplices? Most importantly, had they already passed the intelligence out?
Time passed little by little.

A cold wind swept through the alley, stirring up dust and withered leaves. The sunlight seemed to blend into the shadows of the walls, motionless, except for a pair of eyes that gleamed with a calm light in the dimness.

He observed that the "cigarette seller" and the "newspaper reader" would occasionally exchange extremely brief glances, almost imperceptibly.

The one leaning against the wall maintained the same posture and angle of observation.

They were very patient and not impatient, clearly prepared for a protracted battle.

This further confirms Yang Guangming's judgment—they are waiting for a target, or for further instructions from their superiors.

If they had the exact address, they probably would have arrested them already, instead of just waiting here.

This is good news for Professor Zhu for the time being, but it also means that the crisis is far from over. As long as these people don't leave, Professor Zhu could be exposed at any time.

We kept monitoring the area until almost noon, when there were a few more pedestrians on the street.

The three agents seemed somewhat tired, but remained at their posts. They didn't change shifts, nor did any of them leave to report, suggesting it was an independent team operation, or perhaps the agreed-upon contact time hadn't arrived yet.

At this point, the man who was "reading the newspaper" seemed to be getting impatient. He put away the newspaper, stood up, dusted himself off, and gave a subtle gesture to the other two. Then the three of them slowly gathered together and whispered a few words to each other.

Then, they stopped and walked together in the direction away from Teacher Zhu's house. Their pace was slow, but their direction was clear.

Did they give up? Or did they change their surveillance strategy? Or perhaps they went to eat or changed shifts?
Yang Guangming dared not let his guard down. He keenly realized that this could be an opportunity, but also a huge risk.

If they are allowed to leave, they are likely to report the surveillance situation of the past few days to their superiors. Even without a specific address, as long as the scope is narrowed down to this area, and the superiors send more people to conduct a thorough search or question people door-to-door, Teacher Zhu's identity will still be in danger of being exposed.

In particular, if they mention seeing suspicious people in the area during their report, or even describe Mr. Zhu's general physical characteristics, the consequences could be disastrous.

We can't let them take the message back!
A chilling thought rose in Yang Guangming's mind: He had to eliminate them silently before they could report back, cutting off this possible lead to Teacher Zhu.

He quickly assessed the surroundings. This was a residential area; although there were few people around at midday, it wasn't completely deserted. The three of them were now walking on a relatively bustling street, and making a direct attack would be too risky.

He needed to wait, wait for them to move to a more secluded, more suitable place to strike. At the same time, he also needed to disguise himself.

Yang Guangming quietly withdrew from his hiding place and quickly made his way in another direction along the alley. He wanted to get around to the front, predict the route of the three men, and find a suitable ambush point.

At the same time, with a slight thought, he took out a dark gray wool scarf from his spatial storage. This was one of the many everyday items he had prepared in his space; it was of ordinary quality and unremarkable. He quickly wrapped the scarf around his neck, pulled up one end, and covered his mouth, nose, and chin.

In the cold winter, this kind of clothing is perfectly normal, as it can keep you warm and effectively cover your face.

He quickened his pace, navigating the maze-like alleyways. Thanks to his familiarity with the terrain, he soon found himself on a street in front of the three spies.

He slowed his pace and blended into the sparse crowd.

Soon, the three spies appeared at the end of the street. They maintained a certain distance, one in front and two slightly behind, moving forward in a loose triangular formation, communicating with each other through eye contact and subtle gestures.

They were very vigilant, truly professional surveillance personnel. This made Yang Guangming's operation more difficult. He had to find an opportunity to get close enough, and ideally, separate them and deal with them one by one.

Yang Ming walked at a leisurely pace, always positioning himself slightly to the side or parallel to the other person, avoiding entering their main line of sight. He was just like countless ordinary young people on the street, struggling to make a living, completely inconspicuous.

The three men seemed to have no specific destination, simply walking along the street, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones as they passed each other, their eyes still warily scanning their surroundings. They might have been conducting a routine patrol or observation, or perhaps searching for better surveillance positions.

After walking about two streets, the number of pedestrians gradually decreased. The shops on both sides of the street became increasingly deserted, with some doors and windows tightly closed, as if they had been abandoned long ago.

The three of them turned into a narrower alley. The alley was lined with high walls, and most of the doors of the houses were closed, making it seem secluded and quiet.

A thought struck Yang Guangming. An opportunity had arrived.

He followed them in, but deliberately slowed his pace, keeping a distance from the three ahead. He needed to judge their route and pace.

The alley is long and winding.

The two in front walked a little faster, turned a corner, and disappeared from sight for a moment. The agent who lagged behind was about twenty or thirty meters behind the two in front. He was not walking fast, his hands were still in his sleeves, and his ears seemed to be slightly perked up, listening to the sounds around him.

Yang Guangming quickened his pace, silently shortening the distance between himself and the last person.

Twenty meters, fifteen meters, ten meters... His breathing was steady, but his pace was slightly faster, which did not alert the people in front of him.

Five meters, three meters!
It's now!

He focused his mind on a shard of ice in space, and in the instant the spy was completely unaware, the shard appeared out of thin air and pierced the spy's brainstem with unparalleled precision.

The agent's body stiffened abruptly, all movement ceasing instantly. Before he could even utter a sound, before a trace of surprise or pain could appear on his face, his eyes quickly dimmed, and his body slumped forward.

Yang Guangming strode forward and, just before his body hit the ground with a thud, reached out to support him and dragged him to a dark corner by the wall where old baskets and miscellaneous items were piled up.

The whole process was swift and silent, with only the mournful sound of the cold wind blowing through the alley.

He shoved the rapidly cooling body deep into the pile of junk and simply covered it with a tattered mat. For a short time, unless someone specifically searched for it, it would be difficult to find.

He didn't have time to search them; his immediate priority was dealing with the two men in front of him.

The two people in front didn't seem to notice their companion's disappearance. Perhaps they thought their companion was just behind them, but the curves of the alley blocked their view.

Yang Guangming took a deep breath and continued forward.

After rounding the bend, he saw the backs of two people not far away, about ten meters away. They were still one in front of the other, about seven or eight meters apart.

Yang Guangming quickened his pace, rapidly closing in on the second person who had fallen behind.

Eight meters, six meters, four meters...

The second person seemed to hear faint footsteps behind him, and his shoulder twitched slightly, as if he wanted to turn around and check.

We can't let him turn back!

A flash of cold light appeared in the bright sunlight, and the second ice shard shot out silently.

The man's body jolted, and then he collapsed.

He fell slightly off-center, his arm hitting a protruding brick on the wall beside him, making a dull thud that wasn't loud but was remarkably clear in the quiet alley.

The first person walking in front, the one who was initially "reading the newspaper," clearly heard the strange noise.

He abruptly stopped, turned around instantly, and reached his right hand swiftly into his robes—where a pistol was undoubtedly hidden. His face was filled with surprise and vigilance, and his gaze swept behind him like lightning.

He immediately spotted his companion collapsed on the ground, and Yang Guangming standing a few meters away, his face hidden by a scarf.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

A fierce glint flashed in the agent's eyes!
"You..." he hissed, already halfway drawing the pistol from his chest.

The moment he turned around, the sunlight had already moved.

Without any hesitation, he held a shiny black Mauser pistol in his hand in an instant.

Raise your gun, aim, and pull the trigger!

The entire movement was so fluid, as if it had been practiced a thousand times, without the slightest hesitation.

"boom!"

A sharp gunshot shattered the deathly silence of the alley.

The bullet pierced precisely between the agent's eyebrows.

His movement to draw his gun froze in mid-air, the ferocity and astonishment in his eyes instantly solidified, and he fell backward with a thud onto the cold bluestone pavement, the pistol slipping from his hand and sliding far away.

Gunshots echoed through the narrow alley, particularly jarring.

Yang Guangming's heart tightened suddenly. Firing was a last resort, but the sound of gunfire would inevitably alert those nearby.

He had to clean up the scene immediately and leave quickly.

He rushed to the body that had been killed with icing and quickly searched it.

He pulled out a Browning pistol, two magazines, a small stack of gold coins, three heavy small yellow croakers, and a dozen silver dollars. He quickly stored the weapon and precious metals in his spatial storage, and stuffed the gold coins into his inner pocket.

Next, he ran to the spy who had been shot dead and searched him quickly as well. He found a Mauser pistol, two magazines, and some loose gold and silver coins. He disposed of those as well.

Two pistols, some bullets, three small yellow croakers, a total of more than thirty silver dollars, and a stack of gold yuan notes. This was all the "value" these three spies possessed.

Yang Guangming didn't have time to count everything; he simply packed everything away.

He listened intently to the sounds around him. After the gunshot, the alley was deathly silent, but faint voices and commotion could be heard in the distance. Soon, someone would likely come to investigate.

He dared not go back to search the first body he had hidden in the pile of debris. There wasn't enough time, and the risk was too great.

He glanced one last time at the two gradually cooling corpses on the ground, and at the hidden corner deep in the alley, then turned without hesitation and strode away in the opposite direction from Teacher Zhu's house.

He deliberately chose to traverse the most secluded and complex paths, his movements as swift as a ghost. As he ran, he quickly pulled off the scarf covering his face and stuffed it into his clothes. At the same time, he took out a dark blue cotton robe from his spatial storage, a style and color completely different from the long robe he had been wearing before, and put it over his own clothes. He also changed into an old felt hat and put it on.

In the blink of an eye, his appearance and clothing underwent significant changes.

After passing through several crisscrossing alleys and confirming that he was not being followed and was far away from the area where the incident occurred, he slowed down a bit, adjusted his breathing and expression, and made himself look like an ordinary citizen who had just finished running errands and was returning home.

Instead of going straight home, he took a long detour and headed back towards Teacher Zhu's house.

This time, however, he was more cautious. Two blocks away from Teacher Zhu's house, he began repeatedly checking if there were any spies behind him and observing whether there were any suspicious people around.

Like an experienced fish, he nimbly darted through the crowds and shadows of the streets and alleys, sometimes walking and sometimes stopping, sometimes pretending to linger in front of a stall, sometimes sneaking into a small shop as if to shop. It took him twice as long as usual before he finally approached the alley where Teacher Zhu's house was located.

He didn't go in immediately, but sat down at a wonton stall diagonally opposite, ordered the cheapest vegetarian wontons, and ate them slowly, his eyes taking in every detail of the alley entrance and the surrounding streets, just like the most precise instrument.

After finishing his bowl of wontons, he sat for about fifteen minutes. During that time, he saw several of Teacher Zhu's neighbors coming and going, saw vendors carrying their wares pass by, and saw children chasing and playing at the alley entrance... everything seemed normal.

There were no suspicious strangers lingering for long, no hidden surveillance eyes, and the invisible pressure in the air caused by the presence of spies seemed to dissipate.

It seems that the three agents were indeed an independent surveillance team, and they hadn't reported their findings. Their sudden "disappearance" temporarily severed this dangerous lead.

Yang Guangming felt somewhat relieved, but he did not let his guard down.

He paid the money, got up, and after confirming that the surroundings were safe again, he walked towards the familiar alley and arrived at the black lacquered wooden door of Teacher Zhu's house.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door knocker.

"Who is it?" came Mrs. Zhu's gentle yet slightly wary voice from inside.

“Master’s wife, it’s me, Guangming,” Yang Guangming replied in a low voice.

The door opened a crack, and Mrs. Zhu smiled when she saw him. She quickly opened the door and said, "Guangming's here! Come in quickly, it's cold outside." As she spoke, she habitually glanced cautiously at the doorway.

As Yang Guangming slipped inside, Mrs. Zhu quickly closed the door and bolted it shut.

"Madam, is the teacher in?"

"He's in the study. You can go in directly." Mrs. Zhu pointed towards the main room and added in a low voice, "He went out this morning and has been a little restless since he came back."

Yang Guangming felt a chill run down his spine and nodded, "Thank you, Madam. I'll go see my teacher."

He walked through the clean and tidy courtyard, reached the door of the study, and gently knocked.

"Come in." Zhu Mingxuan's voice came from inside, sounding a bit deeper than usual.

Yang Guangming pushed the door open and gently closed it behind him.

Zhu Mingxuan was sitting behind his desk, a book in his hand, but his eyes weren't focused on the pages. Instead, he was gazing at the gray sky outside the window, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were pondering some difficult problem. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

When he saw Yang Guangming wearing a brand-new dark blue cotton robe, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Yang Guangming usually dresses simply, mostly in slightly worn clothes. Today, although his outfit isn't luxurious, it's clearly new, made of thick fabric and well-tailored.

"The light has come." Zhu Mingxuan put down his book, forcing a smile, but the seriousness in his eyes hadn't completely dissipated. "What made you decide to come over today? Is everything alright at home?"

Yang Guangming walked to the desk, but did not answer immediately. Instead, he listened to the sounds outside and confirmed that his teacher's wife was busy in the kitchen and that the children did not seem to be home. Then he lowered his voice and said with a serious expression, "Teacher, I came here today because there is a new situation."

Seeing his serious expression, Zhu Mingxuan immediately became serious as well, leaning forward slightly: "What's going on? Sit down and tell me."

Yang Guangming sat down in the chair next to the desk, lowered his voice, and recounted in detail how he discovered the suspicious stalker at the entrance of the alley that morning, as well as how he followed, judged, and dealt with the three spies in the secluded alley.

He did not conceal his own analysis and speculation, nor the fact that he was forced to fire the gun, which may have alerted nearby residents.

As he spoke, Zhu Mingxuan's expression grew increasingly serious, his brows furrowed, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the table.

When Yang Guangming told him that the three spies might have already set their sights on the area, simply waiting to ambush him, he felt a chill run down his spine. When he heard that Yang Guangming had decisively taken action, eliminating the three men and seizing their weapons and valuables, his shock was beyond words.

"You mean... all three of them... were taken care of?" Zhu Mingxuan's voice was dry and incredulous.

He knew this student was bold, meticulous, and exceptionally skilled; he had once saved him in a critical moment. But this time, he was facing three experienced, armed professional agents! And this was under duress!

“Yes.” Yang Guangming nodded, his tone calm. “For the first and second ones, I used a technique similar to concealed weapons to ensure silence. The third one heard a noise, turned around and drew his gun, so I had no choice but to fire. The gunshot might have attracted attention, but I cleaned up the scene and quickly changed my route to leave, so I shouldn’t have been exposed.”

Zhu Mingxuan took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He stood up and paced around the small study, his face filled with lingering fear and self-reproach.

"It's my fault... I was too careless!"

He sighed heavily, his voice filled with regret, "I did go to hand over some important intelligence this morning. On my way back, I was very careful, circling around several times and repeatedly checking that there were no 'tails' behind me before I went home. I never expected..."

He walked up to Yang Guangming, patted him hard on the shoulder, his eyes filled with a complex mix of gratitude, lingering fear, and relief.
"Guangming, this time... it was you who saved the teacher and our liaison point again! If you hadn't discovered the anomaly in time and taken decisive action, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

Once they confirm my address, or report the surveillance to their superiors, not only will I be in danger, but the organization's entire transportation route here could be threatened!

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, filled with deep self-reflection: "This incident has also served as a wake-up call for me. The current environment for struggle is more severe and complex than we imagined."

The enemy's methods are also escalating. I considered myself experienced and cautious enough, but I underestimated their cunning and patience. This was my mistake, and I must report it to the organization.

Yang Guangming quickly said, "Teacher, please don't blame yourself too much. These people are very professional at surveillance and they are very good at disguising themselves. If it weren't for their long stay and fixed behavior patterns, plus my... senses being more acute than the average person, it would probably have been difficult to detect them."

Your usual caution is commendable; this time, it was thanks to your extra detours that we were able to shake them off.

Zhu Mingxuan shook his head: "That's not an excuse. As underground workers, any negligence could cost us our lives and implicate our comrades and the organization. Your keenness and decisiveness are something I should learn from, and they also make me, your teacher, feel ashamed."

He walked back to his desk and sat down, his expression becoming resolute again: "I will report this matter to my superiors in detail, including your contributions and my personal self-criticism. The organization will make the appropriate judgment and follow-up arrangements."

He looked at Yang Guangming, his eyes filled with admiration and expectation: "Guangming, you have done a great service again. Not only did you resolve the immediate crisis, but the weapons and funds you captured are also an important supplement to the organization. Especially those three small yellow croakers, which are extremely valuable hard currency in the current situation."

Yang Guangming took out the two pistols, several magazines, three small yellow croakers, and the silver dollars and gold notes he had captured from his pocket and placed them neatly on the desk.

“Teacher, these are the spoils. I am now a member of the organization, and all spoils must be turned over to the public. Please handle them as you see fit.” His attitude was frank and sincere.

Looking at the items on the table, especially the gleaming gold bars, Zhu Mingxuan was filled with emotion. This young man was not only capable and courageous, but also possessed such high levels of awareness and discipline.

“Alright, I will handle these things properly. Weapons and ammunition should be given to comrades who need them more. Funds should be handed over to the organization for revolutionary activities,” Zhu Mingxuan said solemnly, carefully putting the items into a hidden compartment in his desk drawer.

"By the way, you just said that firing the gun might have alerted the neighborhood?" Zhu Mingxuan remembered the crucial question.

"Yes, the shot was fired in a secluded alley, so the sound might have carried a bit. But there aren't many residents in that alley, so I left immediately and took a detour to get here."

"We might need to keep an eye on what's happening over there, but they shouldn't be able to trace it back to us," Yang Guangming analyzed.

Zhu Mingxuan pondered for a moment and said, "Yes, I'll keep an eye on that. You should also be more careful lately and try to avoid that area. How are your family doing these days?"

“Everything is fine; they’ve been going out very little lately,” Yang Guangming replied.

Zhu Mingxuan nodded, his expression softening slightly: "That's good. Let's have lunch here today. Your teacher's wife has been talking about you several times. We haven't had a proper conversation in a long time."

Yang Guangming nodded in agreement: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Master's wife."

The two exchanged views on the recent situation and the activities of enemy agents, talking for about half an hour.

At lunchtime, Mrs. Zhu prepared several simple home-style dishes. Although they were still simple, it was clear that she had put thought into them. There were a few slices of cured meat in the stir-fried vegetables, and she even fried an egg for Yang Guangming.

With all three of Teacher Zhu's children present, the dinner table became much livelier. The children were already quite familiar with "Brother Yang," who frequently came by, and chattered excitedly about interesting things that happened at school and in the alley.

Yang Guangming responded with a smile, occasionally serving food to the children. Watching this heartwarming family scene, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Being able to protect such ordinary happiness made everything he did worthwhile.

After the meal, Yang Guangming spent some more time talking with Teacher Zhu, mainly listening to Teacher Zhu emphasize the current discipline and safety precautions, and encouraging him to continue to strengthen his studies and improve his ideological awareness and fighting skills.

Seeing that it was getting late, Yang Guangming got up to say goodbye.

Zhu Mingxuan personally escorted him to the courtyard gate, and once again lowered his voice to remind him, "Guangming, be careful on your way back. Unless there are urgent missions recently, let's try to minimize direct meetings and use the backup communication method we agreed on before. Safety is the most important thing."

"I understand, teacher. Please take good care of yourselves, teacher and teacher's wife." Yang Guangming said goodbye solemnly.

After leaving Teacher Zhu's house, Yang Guangming did not go home immediately. Instead, he circled around the neighborhood a few more times to make sure it was absolutely safe before heading towards the east courtyard.

As he walked, he pondered his next steps.

My second and third uncles have already paid for their train tickets and are about to leave. My grandfather will be coming to live with us soon, which is a big deal and needs to be arranged carefully.

As for Teacher Zhu, the temporary crisis has been resolved, but the white terror will not end, and the struggle will only become more brutal. He needs to be more cautious in order to better protect the people he cherishes.

It was already afternoon when I returned to the east courtyard.

The courtyard was quiet, and the withered branches of the pomegranate tree swayed gently in the cold wind.

Yang Guangming pushed open the courtyard gate and went inside. He first went to his room in the east wing, changed out of his brand-new dark blue cotton robe, put back on his usual old clothes, and put his scarf away.

Then, he went to the main room.

Hearing the noise, Chu Yuanjun opened the door from the inside. When she saw him, a gentle smile appeared on her face: "You're back? How are Mr. Zhu and Mrs. Zhu?"

"Everything is fine. My teacher's wife even invited me to stay for lunch," Yang Guangming replied as he walked into the main room.

Yang Huai-ren was leaning against a chair by the window, reading an old book in the daylight.

Jingwan and Jingyi ran out from the inner room, surrounding their brother and asking him all sorts of questions. Yang Guangming smiled, patted their heads, and took out a few pieces of peanut candy from his pocket.

The two little girls cheered and happily accepted it.

"You spoil them so much," Chu Yuanjun said with a smile, though her eyes were full of affection.

For the next two days, Yang Guangming spent most of his time at home, except for going out occasionally, accompanying his family and helping his mother prepare the main room for his grandfather to live in.

The east room of the main house is definitely for the eldest member of the family. After Grandpa moves in, Guangming's two younger sisters will live with him in the east room. Guangming's parents will move to the west room.

People in this era value filial piety highly and will definitely reserve the best room in the house for the elderly to live in.

Yang Guangming prepared thick and comfortable bedding, new cotton-padded clothes and trousers, as well as hand warmers for the elderly, all of which were gradually added over the past few days.

On the morning of the fourth day, Second Uncle Yang Huaiyi hurriedly arrived at the East Wing.

His face carried an eagerness for an impending journey and a sense of relief at the settling of things, but deep in his eyes remained a hint of uncertainty about the future and a reluctance to leave his homeland and loved ones.

"Brother, sister-in-law, Guangming," he said as soon as he entered the door. "The tickets are booked. The train leaves the day after tomorrow afternoon. It's a freight car, a bit crowded, but at least we can get going."

Yang Huai-ren asked eagerly, "The day after tomorrow afternoon? What time exactly? From which station?"

"The bus will depart around 3 p.m. from the freight station near Yongdingmen," Yang Huaiyi replied. "The boss helped arrange the bus, but the timing is uncertain. He just told us to be there by noon the day after tomorrow and get on the bus when it arrives."

He paused, looked at Yang Guangming, and said sincerely, "Guangming, thanks to you this time. We've raised enough for the train tickets, and we have more money for the journey. Second Uncle... I really don't know what to say."

Yang Guangming shook his head: "Second Uncle, we're family, so let's not be so formal. The fact that you arrived safely and established yourself in the south is more important than anything else."

Lord Chu asked, "Where is Huai Li? Is he all prepared?"

“We’ve also informed Huai Li. Their luggage is even simpler, so there shouldn’t be any problems.” Yang Huaiyi paused for a moment. “Mother… Mother is coming with us too. As for Dad, we’ll leave him in the care of my eldest brother and sister-in-law and Guangming.”

His voice choked up as he spoke. Leaving his elderly father alone had always been a thorn in his side.

Yang Huai-ren said solemnly, "Huai-yi, don't worry. Father is with me, and I will take good care of him. Please take care on your journey. Once you arrive and settle in, try to send a message back."

The two brothers talked about some precautions for the journey, giving each other advice, and the atmosphere became somewhat sad.

Finally, Yang Huaiyi, with tears in his eyes, said goodbye and left, as he needed to go back to make final preparations.

The day after tomorrow will be the day of parting.

Time flew by, and the day of departure arrived.

Just after noon, Yang Guangming and his father, Yang Huairen, went together to the large courtyard where his grandfather lived.

The tenement courtyard has been vacated, and the yard looks emptier and messier than ever. Some broken and worn-out belongings that couldn't be taken with them are carelessly discarded in the corners, adding to the desolation.

The atmosphere inside the main house was somber.

The two families of my second and third uncles, along with the old lady, have already packed their bags.

The luggage was minimal, with each family carrying only two or three bundles and some simple bedding rolls. The children wore their best clothes, though they were also patched up, and their little faces showed both curiosity about the long journey and unease about leaving home.

Grandpa Yang Hanzhang, wearing his faded old long gown, sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). His back was more hunched than ever before, his face was etched with deep wrinkles, and his eyes were cloudy. As he looked at his children and grandchildren who were about to leave, his lips trembled slightly, and he was speechless for a long time.

The old lady seemed much more anxious, constantly urging him to check the luggage and muttering that he shouldn't forget anything. Her eyes kept glancing at the old man, her expression complex and hard to decipher.

When Yang Huai-ren and Yang Guangming entered, everyone stood up.

"Big brother, Guangming, you've arrived," Yang Huaiyi and Yang Huaili greeted them.

Yang Hanzhang raised his head and saw his eldest son and grandson. A glimmer of life finally appeared in his eyes, but the sorrow of parting was even more intense.

“Huai Ren, Guang Ming…” His voice was hoarse.

"Father, we're all here." Yang Huai-ren sat down next to his father. "Have you packed everything? Did you forget anything?"

"There's nothing of value left, just these." Yang Huaiyi gave a wry smile.

Yang Guangming looked at his grandfather and said softly, "Grandpa, it's getting late, we should get going. My dad will take you to our place to settle in, and I'll go to the station with my second and third uncles."

Looking at the family members about to be separated, Yang Hanzhang finally couldn't hold back his tears and they rolled down his cheeks.

He rubbed his eyes hard and stood up shakily: "Let's go... let's all go."

His luggage was even simpler, just a small bundle containing a few changes of old clothes and a little bit of his secret stash of money that Yang Guangming had insisted on giving him earlier.

Yang Guangming took the small bundle from his grandfather and helped him up.

Over there, the two families of my second and third uncles were also making a final count of the number of people and their luggage. The old lady held her two sons' hands, nagging them about what to do on the way, her eyes red-rimmed.

The group silently walked out of the main house and out of the dilapidated and empty courtyard.

At the entrance of the courtyard, everyone stopped in their tracks.

The final farewell has arrived.

Yang Huai-ren bowed deeply to his stepmother: "Mother... please take care on your journey! When you arrive, be sure to send a message back!"

"Big brother!" Yang Huaiyi and Yang Huaili rushed forward to support him, their voices choked with emotion. "You must take care of yourself too! Father... we're entrusting him to you!"

"Brother, please take care of yourselves too!" the two aunts said, wiping away their tears.

The children seemed to feel the weight of parting, and stopped playing, looking timidly at the adults.

The old lady looked at Yang Huai-ren, then at Yang Guang-ming, her lips moved, and finally she said, "Huai-ren, Guang-ming... you... are all doing well. We'll talk about it after we've settled down in the south..."

These words sound weak, but at this moment, it seems that this is the only way.

Supported by Yang Guangming, Yang Hanzhang looked at the scene before him, his throat choked with emotion, and he could only wave his hand forcefully, unable to utter a single word.

"Let's go, don't miss the train," Yang Guangming said, breaking the heartbreaking silence.

The troops divided into two groups.

Yang Huai-ren helped the old man home to settle in, and the two slowly walked towards the east courtyard.

Yang Huai-ren looked back every few steps, watching his younger brothers' figures grow smaller and smaller as they disappeared into the distance.

Yang Guangming, along with his second and third uncles and their families, carrying their bags and helping the elderly and children, headed towards the Yongdingmen Freight Station, merging into the flow of people on the street who were also struggling to escape or make a living.

Freight stations are more chaotic and noisy than passenger stations.

Huge warehouses, rusty rails, steam locomotives billowing black smoke, mountains of goods, and laborers scurrying, shouting, and carrying things like ants.

The platform was crowded with people waiting to be loaded onto freight trains or leave. Most of them were ragged, emaciated, with families to support, meager belongings, and their eyes were filled with fear of the unknown future and a hint of urgency to escape the war.

It was still early, so everyone temporarily gathered in a corner relatively close to the front of the car. Luggage was piled up at their feet, and the adults held their children tightly, watching the chaotic surroundings warily.

The old woman sat on a bundle, her face pale, whether from exhaustion or fright, it was hard to tell.

The wait was long and agonizing. The children began to get impatient and started crying. The adults kept looking around, afraid of missing their bus.

Finally, around 3 p.m., a long freight train, consisting of boxcars and flatbeds, slowly pulled into the platform, panting heavily.

The crowd instantly stirred, surging towards the open freight cars like a floodgate opening.

"Quick! Quick! It's our car!" Yang Huaiyi, with his sharp eyes, spotted a specific mark on the carriage and quickly called to his family.

Everyone hurriedly picked up their luggage, held their children, and squeezed forward with the crowd.

Yang Guangming helped his second and third uncles carry the heaviest bags, protecting the family as they struggled to squeeze towards the designated carriage door.

Pushing, shouting, children crying, the clattering of luggage... all blended together.

After finally squeezing to the train door, I found it already packed with people, the air was foul, and the lighting was dim.

"Go up! Go up quickly!" Yang Huaiyi pushed his wife and children up first, and then together with Yang Huaili, helped the old lady up as well.

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, take care!" Yang Guangming handed them the bundle and shouted loudly amidst the noisy crowd.

Yang Huaiyi stood at the carriage door, tightly gripping Yang Guangming's hand, his eyes red: "Guangming! The family... I'm entrusting them to you! You... take care too!"

"Have a safe trip!" Yang Guangming nodded vigorously.

Yang Huaili patted him heavily on the shoulder, everything was understood without words.

The train doors were slammed shut by railway workers with a heavy clang, isolating the inside from the outside.

Yang Guangming stood on the platform and looked inside through the narrow ventilation window above the train door, though he couldn't see anything clearly.

He waved his hand vigorously.

With a long whistle, the train slowly started moving, getting faster and faster, until it finally pulled out of the station and disappeared at the end of the tracks, leaving only a wisp of black smoke gradually dissipating.

On the platform, the people who came to see him off gradually dispersed, leaving only a mess.

Yang Guangming stood alone for a while, the cold wind blowing against his cheeks.

A tiny ripple in the torrent of an era, parting ways here and flowing in different directions.

No one knows what the future holds.

He exhaled a long breath of white air, turned around, and walked steadily away from the station filled with farewells and noise.

When he returned to the entrance of Dongkuayuan Hutong, it was already getting dark.

After confirming that no one was around, he quickly took out several items from his spatial storage and put them into the cloth bag he carried with him: ten eggs, a piece of soft tofu, and a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, weighing about two pounds.

This is the first meal to welcome Grandpa to our home, so it has to be a feast to make him feel the warmth and care of home.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, you'll see lanterns lit under the eaves, casting a warm, dim glow on the blue brick floor.

The kitchen was filled with the sounds of stir-frying and enticing aromas, along with the gentle voice of Mother Chu Yuanjun and the cheerful laughter of her two younger sisters.

Light streamed through the windows of the main room, revealing the figures of my father and grandfather sitting opposite each other, seemingly talking in hushed tones.

A sense of peace and tranquility permeated the small courtyard.

Standing at the door, Yang Guangming felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he savored this hard-won moment of comfort.

Everything he did, all the hardships he endured, was for the purpose of protecting such moments.
He carried a cloth bag, a smile on his face, and walked towards the warmly lit main room.

"Father, Grandpa, I'm back." (End of Chapter)