Courtyard House: Home Alone

Just then, Xiao Wang, who was operating the radio, suddenly said, "Old Zhou, we have instructions from above."

Shopkeeper Zhou and Yang Weimin immediately stopped talking and looked at Xiao Wang, who was receiving the telegram. Xiao Wang was concentrating on writing down the contents of the telegram on the telegram paper, his fingers sliding quickly across the paper.

The telegram wasn't long. After a moment, he tore off the telegram paper filled with writing, took out his codebook, and began deciphering it. Once he finished, he handed it to Manager Zhou: "Old Zhou, look, the people from above are coming the day after tomorrow. They want us to be prepared for their arrival and provide security. They emphasize that we must ensure the absolute safety of the people from above."

Manager Zhou took the telegram, quickly glanced through it, and frowned slightly: "The higher-ups are coming the day after tomorrow? It seems that the higher-ups attach great importance to the more than three hundred planes in the hands of 'Ghost'."

More than three hundred aircraft... That's no small number; it's enough to change the balance of power on a local battlefield.

Manager Zhou handed the telegram to Yang Weimin and said in a deep voice, "Young Yang, go and inform everyone immediately that from this moment on, all available forces in Beiping should be on high alert. The rendezvous the day after tomorrow must be carried out flawlessly!"

Yang Weimin took the telegram, quickly read it, and his expression became serious: "Yes, Manager Zhou! I'll arrange it immediately! But Manager Zhou, didn't the telegram specify the identity and itinerary of the person coming from above?"

Manager Zhou shook his head: "They only said it was an important leader, nothing else. This is for safety reasons. We can only make thorough preparations, and they will contact us when they arrive at the designated meeting point."

He paused, looked out the window, his eyes deep. "By the way, Xiao Fan should be back by now. Go find him and ask him to come to me. You should also tell him about this and have him inform 'Ghost'."

After all, "Ghost" is the actual controller of these aircraft, and the higher-ups' visit is most likely to discuss the terms for taking over these planes. Xiao Fan is now the most important bridge between us and "Ghost," and we'll need him to arrange meetings after they arrive.

Besides, his presence allows "Ghost" to prepare in advance and respond promptly should any cooperation be needed. When you go, be careful; once you find him, tell him there's an emergency on my end and ask him to come as soon as possible.

Yang Weimin nodded: "Understood, Manager Zhou, I'll go right away!" After saying that, he turned around and quickly left the cellar, his figure soon disappearing into the shadows of the teahouse's backyard.

Manager Zhou looked at the cellar entrance, then down at the telegram in his hand, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, his expression growing increasingly serious.

More than 300 aircraft—the interests and risks involved are enormous. The fact that higher-level leaders came in person speaks volumes about the seriousness of the matter.

He had to ensure the rendezvous went perfectly, without any mistakes. Xiao Wang, who was beside him, finished packing up the radio and asked softly, "Old Zhou, what are the specific arrangements next? Where should we choose the rendezvous point? How many people do we need to deploy?"

Manager Zhou took a deep breath and slowly said, "The location will be Baiyun Temple in the north of the city. It's a remote place with relatively few worshippers, making it convenient for us to hide and evacuate. As for manpower, mobilize all our people who are lurking in the city to closely monitor suspicious individuals."

In particular, the comrades in the action team had to set up hidden sentries within a three-mile radius around Baiyun Temple, forming a three-layered defensive perimeter.

In addition, we should also inform "Ghost's" side in advance and ask them to send some capable people to provide support on the perimeter, just in case.

He paused, then added, "Also, prepare two backup plans. If anything unexpected happens at Baiyun Temple, immediately activate the backup rendezvous point. This mission is a do-or-die situation!"

Xiao Wang nodded heavily: "Yes, Lao Zhou, I'll go arrange it right away!" The cellar fell silent again, with only the occasional faint static from the radio.

Manager Zhou thought to himself: The arrival of the higher-ups and the handling of these aircraft may be a key step in changing the entire war situation in North China.

Those of them, operating on the covert front, are like pieces on a chessboard; they must tread carefully and make each move precisely to ensure ultimate victory.

Meanwhile, Yang Weimin had already arrived at the courtyard house. Seeing that the gate was ajar, he pushed it open and went inside. Not seeing Grandpa Zhang this time, he headed straight for the backyard.

Arriving at Lin Yifan's door, she knocked and waited a while. After calling out twice and receiving no response, she prepared to leave.

Just then, the door to the deaf old woman's house next door creaked open, and she poked her head out: "Are you looking for Xiao Fan?"

"Yes, ma'am, do you know where Xiao Fan went?" Yang Weimin asked with a smile.

"Oh, him! He went out early this morning, but he didn't say where he went."

Yang Weimin's heart skipped a beat, and his brows furrowed involuntarily. He just got back and went out again; where could he be going now? That's right, Old Master Tang is guarding several important Japanese prisoners; he must have gone to the Tang residence.

Thinking this, he suppressed his doubts and maintained a polite smile, saying to the deaf old woman, "Thank you, ma'am. Do you know roughly when he will be back?"

The deaf old woman squinted and thought for a moment, then shook her head: "That's hard to say, he didn't say anything when he left."

Yang Weimin nodded, exchanged a few more pleasantries with the deaf old woman, then turned and left the courtyard, heading towards the Tang residence.

Upon arriving at the Tang residence, I knocked on the door and asked. Sure enough, Lin Yifan was there, having tea and discussing matters with Old Master Tang in the main room.

So he sent the old steward in to report. A moment later, the old steward led Yang Weimin into the main room.

"Manager Zhou has an emergency and needs you to come over as soon as possible," Yang Weimin said anxiously to Lin Yifan as soon as he entered the room.

Lin Yifan and Grandpa Tang exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of seriousness in each other's eyes. "Understood, I'll be right there."

Lin Yifan stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Old Master Tang, and said, "Old Master, I'll go check on Manager Zhou first. We'll discuss things here later."

Grandpa Tang nodded: "Go ahead, be careful in everything." Lin Yifan responded and hurriedly left the Tang residence with Yang Weimin.

The two walked quickly, their steps hurried. Lin Yifan frowned. Manager Zhou was always calm and composed; he would never have let Yang Weimin rush to find him unless there was a truly urgent matter at hand.

He quickened his pace, his mind racing, calculating what might be happening: Had the Japanese made some new move? Or was there some other new development? The two figures quickly disappeared around the street corner.

Upon arriving at the teahouse, the two did not linger in the lobby but went directly to the backyard. At this time, Manager Zhou had already come out of the cellar and was sitting in a small private room.