Courtyard House: Home Alone

The deaf old woman remained silent for a moment, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, before slowly speaking: "Grandpa Tang? Tang Baolin? The Grandpa Tang you're talking about is Tang Baolin of the Xingyi School?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded repeatedly, his voice trembling with excitement: "Yes, yes, yes! It's him! Who in Beiping doesn't know the illustrious name of Old Master Tang?"

But in front of Xiao Fan, he was very humble, calling him "Young Master" repeatedly, even more respectful than when he saw his own father!

"Mrs. Long, tell me, who exactly is this Xiao Fan? How can a seven-year-old child make someone like Tang Baolin so subservient?" Yi Zhonghai said, his voice almost breaking with tears, his face filled with confusion and fear.

He now felt a chill run down his spine, thankful that he had listened to the deaf old woman's advice and hadn't dared to make any ill intentions towards Lin Yifan's house; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Xiao Fan! I understand you less and less. I just hope you won't cause too much trouble in Beijing and that you can grow up peacefully."

The deaf old woman sighed softly, gazing out the window at the deep night. Her tone carried a hint of worry that she herself was unaware of; she couldn't even describe her own feelings at that moment.

She's lived to be this old and has seen countless people and things, but she's never seen a kid like Lin Yifan before.

At the age of seven, he should have been enjoying the company of his parents and living a carefree life. However, the profoundness and ruthlessness he possessed that were beyond his years made even this worldly-wise old woman feel uneasy.

Who is Tang Baolin? He's a man who can shake the world if he stomps his feet in Beiping. The "young master" who commands such respect from him is no ordinary person.

This child is like a sharp sword hidden in its sheath; once drawn, no one knows what kind of bloodshed he will unleash.

She knew that Lin Yifan's appearance had probably disrupted the peace in the courtyard. Fortunately, he had promised her that she could spend her old age in peace.

Otherwise... I really would have to let my son take me with him, but I've lived in Beiping my whole life and I just can't adapt to life outside.

Yi Zhonghai, listening from the side, nodded repeatedly, his fear deepening: "Yes, Mrs. Long, you're absolutely right! This child is too strange! We were truly blind before, treating him like an ordinary child. Thinking about it now, it's terrifying! You tell me, if he stays in the courtyard house, what will become of us..."

He didn't dare continue, but the meaning was clear. The deaf old woman glanced at him and said calmly, "Worrying is useless; what's meant to happen will happen."

"You all better behave yourselves in the courtyard from now on, mind your own business, and especially don't mess with Xiao Fan. Just because he's not doing anything to you now doesn't mean he'll tolerate it in the future. Just keep yourselves safe."

Yi Zhonghai nodded repeatedly, but his heart felt heavy, as if a large stone was pressing down on it, making it hard to breathe. He knew that from today onwards, the entire courtyard would likely undergo a dramatic change.

Meanwhile, Liu Haizhong, ever since returning home, sat there blankly, as if he had lost his soul.

He seemed not to hear his wife, Guixiang, when she spoke to him, his eyes fixed on the roof beam, muttering to himself from time to time, "Monster... really a monster... seven years old... how could that be..."

Gui Xiang was startled by his distraught appearance and nudged him, saying, "Honey! What are you spacing out for? I called you several times and you didn't answer! Did something happen at the public trial?"

Liu Haizhong jolted awake, as if he had just woken from a nightmare. His eyes were unfocused as he stared at the locust flowers. It took him a long time to recover before he said in a hoarse voice, "No... nothing..." But his pale face and the cold sweat constantly seeping from his forehead betrayed his inner fear.

Huaihua refused to believe it and pressed, "If you're alright, why is your face so pale? And why are you talking nonsense? What did you see?"

Liu Haizhong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when he thought of Lin Yifan's cold eyes and the figure wielding a knife on the high platform, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

What could he say? That the seemingly ordinary seven-year-old child in their courtyard was a "young master" whom even Grandpa Tang treated with respect? That he was a ruthless character who could personally deal with Japanese war criminals?

If he said that out loud, who would believe him? They'd probably just think he was crazy! He could only suppress the turmoil in his heart and wave his hand: "It's really nothing, it's just... I was a little scared seeing those Japanese soldiers being dealt with. Okay, you go about your business, don't worry about me."

Huaihua looked at him with some doubt, but seeing that he was unwilling to say more, she had no choice but to give up, though she kept this in mind.

Liu Haizhong fell into a daze again, his mind replaying the scenes from the public trial: Lin Yifan's slender hand holding the knife, Old Master Tang's respectful attitude, and his previous disrespect towards Lin Yifan... Every time he thought about it, he felt a chill down his spine and the hairs on his body stood on end.

He knew that from now on, he wouldn't even have the courage to speak loudly in front of Lin Yifan. This courtyard house was truly different now.

Back home, He Daqing looked at his son, who was covered in sweat, and a thought struck him. He asked, "Zhuzi, how are you learning from Xiaofan?"

Zhu Zi was wiping his muddy shoes with a cloth as he came back from playing outside. Without looking up, he replied, "It's great! Brother Xiao Fan taught me martial arts and even taught me to read! He said I'm strong and a good candidate for boxing."

As he spoke, he proudly raised his arms, showing off his increasingly muscular arms and legs.

Looking at the proud expression on his son's face, He Daqing's doubts and shock were even more confused.

The figure he saw at the public trial today was completely different from the Xiao Fan his son spoke of, who was beaming with admiration whenever he mentioned "Brother Xiao Fan."

The "young master" on the high platform had eyes as cold as ice, and when he swung his knife, he exuded an unquestionable majesty. In contrast, the "Little Fan Brother" in his son's mouth seemed to be just a neighborly older brother who would teach him to read and play with him.

But the respectful attitude of Grandpa Tang, and the terrified appearances of Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, all told him that things were not as simple as his son thought.

He paused for a moment, then tentatively asked, "So... what else does Xiao Fan do besides teaching you these things?"

Zhu Zi paused in his shoe-shining motion, thought for a moment, and said, "Brother Xiao Fan seems very busy; I rarely see him. But every time he comes back, he brings me something delicious—sometimes candy, sometimes pastries. Oh, and he tells me lots of stories, saying the outside world is so big!"

He Daqing listened to his son's innocent words, but his heart was in turmoil. He had lived half his life and seen all kinds of people. For someone like Tang Baolin to be so subservient, the power behind Lin Yifan must be unfathomable.