The Cycle of Reincarnation in the Four-Courtyard House: A Journey Through the Heavens

That evening, despite Wang Xia's objections, Qin Huairu insisted on going into the kitchen to help her cook.

Although the little girl is young, she is very capable when it comes to chores. She is extremely skilled at picking and washing vegetables and making dough, which shows that she often cooks at home.

Wang Xia's impression of Qin Huairu, who was quick-witted, efficient, and hardworking, grew stronger, and she always had a satisfied smile on her face.

"Auntie, isn't this too much food tonight? There are only three of us, so we don't need to cook five dishes!"

"Silly girl, tonight is your first time in our house, of course we should celebrate!"

Hearing this, Qin Huairu felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

Seeing the chopped and prepared vegetables on the stove, she said somewhat uncertainly, "Auntie, there are only three of us tonight. Isn't this too much food?"

Wang Xia said with a smile, "Silly girl, we'll cook extra dishes tonight to welcome you to our home."

Qin Huairu quickly said, "No...no need...there's too much food. I only need...two steamed buns a day!"

When Qin Huairu was at home, she only ate two meals a day.

When food was scarce, it was common to eat only one meal a day, and it was usually cornmeal porridge.

Only in spring can we add some wild vegetables dug up from the mountains to the porridge and cook it together, so that we can eat more.

She also learned that Li Xiao's family was quite well-off, which is why she mustered up the courage to suggest that he only eat two cornbread buns a day.

Qin Huairu was also afraid that her arrival would increase the financial burden on Li Xiao's family, since in those days, even having money didn't guarantee you could buy food.

Hearing Qin Huairu's words, Wang Xia felt a pang of sympathy for the girl.

She patted Qin Huairu's head and said, "Huairu, now that your parents have betrothed you to Xiao'er, your aunt will no longer let you go hungry. You'll have enough to eat every day!"

Qin Huairu looked up at the loving expression on Wang Xia's face, and felt a lump in her throat; her big eyes were already brimming with tears.

The dinner that evening made Qin Huairu truly understand what it meant to be full. At that moment, she felt that if she could live like this every day, she would be willing to give up twenty years of her life.

She felt even more grateful to Li Xiao at this moment. It was this handsome man in front of her who made her live a life she never dared to dream of before.

After dinner, Qin Huairu ignored Wang Xia's objections and quickly cleared away the dishes on the table, taking them to the kitchen to wash.

Looking at the quick and nimble young girl, Wang Xia felt increasingly satisfied with her.

Shortly after dark, there was a knock on Li Xiao's door. The knocking was extremely urgent, which suddenly gave Li Xiao a bad feeling.

After opening the door, Xu Fugui stood outside, panting. When he saw Li Xiao, he quickly grabbed his hand and ran outside.

"Uncle Xu, what's wrong with you?"

"Hurry up, we'll talk in the car!"

When Wang Xia and Qin Huairu came out, all they saw was the half-open door and the two of them from behind.

In the car, Li Xiao took out her makeup supplies from the back seat and did some emergency makeup.

He didn't drastically change his appearance, but simply made himself look older, around thirty years old.

While driving, Xu Fugui said urgently, "Xiao Li, today is the fifteenth birthday of the eldest son of President Lou's family, so he invited your younger brother, sister and Qianqian to his house as guests."

"Just as the banquet was about to end, a Japanese lieutenant colonel came to General Lou's house."

Li Xiao frowned slightly and asked, "What does the Japanese lieutenant colonel want with General Lou?"

Xu Fugui sighed and said, "Ever since the Japanese invaded Beijing, they have forcibly seized 60% of the shares of Mr. Lou's steel plant, and all the production equipment inside has started to produce weapons and ammunition."

"Now, General Manager Lou is only the nominal boss of Lou's Steel Plant. The Japanese have long since taken over the management of the plant."

"At the beginning, the factory could still produce some civilian steel products, but last year, all civilian production lines were converted to military use, and they started frantically manufacturing parts for all kinds of tanks, armored vehicles, and various light and heavy weapons."

"Just half an hour ago, Lieutenant Colonel Koizumi Shozo, the Japanese officer currently in charge of managing Lou's Steel Plant, came to Mr. Lou's house. Who knew that this guy would suddenly take a fancy to your fiancée Liu Qianqian and try to take her away by force."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao felt a surge of murderous intent rising within him. Even Xu Fugui, who was driving, suddenly felt the atmosphere around him become extremely tense and couldn't help but shiver.

"What was the situation before you came?"

"President Lou is currently keeping that Japanese soldier occupied, and he's had his bodyguard, Xiao Liu, secretly notify me to come find you!"

Li Xiao nodded, then asked with some doubt, "What was that little Japanese devil doing at the Lou family's place so late at night?"

Xu Fugui quickly said, "I overheard something outside. This Japanese guy came to see Boss Lou tonight, seemingly wanting to use his connections and relationships over there to find some shipping magnate in Hong Kong to transport a batch of iron ore from Southeast Asia to Tianjin Port."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao immediately understood everything.

Ultimately, the main cause of this matter lies with him.

Since he sent Jiang Hui and his wife to the island nation two years ago, he has used the Space Supermarket to completely evacuate several major arms manufacturing companies there.

The war has now reached a fever pitch, and the Japanese headquarters is in a state of chaos due to the mysterious disappearance of their military factories.

Add to that the enormous firecracker he set off at the Japanese Imperial Palace at the end of last year, and the Japanese mainland is already in chaos.

If we want to continue the war, we can only start plundering and producing in the occupied territories to ensure supplies for the front lines.

According to intelligence sent from Northeast China, the factories established by the Japanese in the four northeastern provinces have long been operating in three shifts to accelerate the production of various military equipment, and they are also constantly expanding their factory buildings.

"The Japanese devils are desperate!"

Li Xiao thought for a moment, then asked somewhat uncertainly, "I remember the Japanese have already occupied Hong Kong Island, and they seem to have taken control of shipping there. Why are we still looking for Boss Lou?"

Xu Fugui shook his head and said, "I don't know about that; I'm afraid only President Lou would know!"

As the two talked, the car had already driven to the outside of Lou Bancheng's villa.

Two Japanese sentries with guns were already standing on either side of the gate. When they saw the car approaching, the sentries immediately stopped it with their guns.

"Get out of the car and check!"

Li Xiao opened the car window and handed over an ID card.

One of the Japanese sentries was taken aback, but immediately took the identification.

Upon opening it, one could see the words "Colonel Hideo Shimada, Special Investigator of the Second Department of the Army General Staff".

The sentry's hand trembled, and he quickly closed the badge, handing it back to Li Xiao with utmost respect.

"Please come in, sir!"