Courtyard House: Home Alone

Chunxing choked, her ears turning red. She was sixteen this year, almost nine years older than Lin Yifan, but the way this person spoke and acted was nothing like that of a seven-year-old child. Everyone in the Tang family addressed him respectfully as "Young Master." Even Old Master Tang only called him "Xiao Fan" after Chunxing's repeated requests.

Lin Yifan took out a pocket watch from his spatial storage. It had a brass case and a small scratch on the dial—it was a Japanese-made watch that he had taken from Matsui Iwane's adjutant. It was extremely accurate.

"Take it."

Chunxing dared not accept it.

"You can take care of things in the backyard. When I go out, the three of you can eat and sleep as you please; you don't need to guard the door."

"I told you yesterday, there's nothing much going on at home. You should hurry up and make your own cotton-padded coats and clothes. If there's anything you don't know how to do, go to Uncle He's house next door and ask Aunt Han." Lin Yifan stuffed the watch into her hand.

Chunxing looked down at the pocket watch in her palm and suddenly felt it was burning hot. She had seen many "big shots" with Butler Zhang, and all those masters and young masters treated their servants like objects. But this man before her…

"Young master," she mustered her courage and looked up, "why are you so kind to us?"

Lin Yifan had already gotten up and was walking towards the inner room when he heard this, he paused slightly.

"My mother once said," he muttered softly, his back to Chunxing, "that in this world, human life is cheaper than paper. But the more this is the case, the more we must treat ourselves and others as human beings."

The curtain fell, blocking out the morning light. Chunxing stood there, clutching the pocket watch that still held her body's warmth.

Suddenly, Xia He exclaimed from outside, "Young Master! The hot water's here—Ouch, Qiu Ju, why did you bump into me!"

"I...I want to see if the young master is awake yet..."

"I woke up a long time ago! Sister Chunxing has been inside for half a day..."

Chunxing quickly hid the pocket watch in her sleeve, pushed open the door, and scolded sternly, "What nonsense are you talking about! I'm giving orders. Xiahe, bring in the hot water, Qiuju, go to the kitchen and watch the fire. I haven't had breakfast yet."

The two younger ones were so busy being bossed around that they forgot to ask any questions.

After having breakfast, Lin Yifan returned to the courtyard where the supplies were stored. Overnight, Shi Tou and his men emptied the supplies from two courtyards, and guards were also assigned to the other courtyard.

Lin Yifan first put the food from his spatial storage into the two empty courtyards, then went to the third courtyard and said to the guard, "Someone go and call Shi Tou here. Tell him I'm looking for him."

"Okay, young master, I'll go right away."

The guard responded and left, his footsteps hurried on the bluestone slabs.

A moment later, the sound of stone footsteps could be heard in the distance.

"Young Master!" Stone's booming voice preceded the figure. The curtain was lifted, and he burst in, radiating a chill, frost still clinging to his hat brim. "You were looking for me?"

Lin Yifan looked Shi Tou up and down: "Brother Shi Tou, you didn't sleep last night, did you?"

Shi Tou subconsciously touched his bruised eyes, tried to grin, but instead forced a tired expression: "I slept for two hours, it's nothing. The brothers took turns, so it didn't delay anything."

"Two hours is considered sleep?" Lin Yifan picked up an enamel mug from the side, poured a cup of hot tea, added two drops of spiritual spring water, and pushed it over. "Drink this to warm yourself up."

Shi Tou took the teacup, and as soon as he touched it, he felt a warmth spread through his palm, making his frozen knuckles feel a little more active. He didn't stand on ceremony and tilted his head back to take a big gulp. He found that the tea had an indescribable refreshing sweetness as it went down his throat, and his fatigue seemed to have been drawn away from his bones by something.

"Young master, this tea..." He stared wide-eyed.

"Don't ask," Lin Yifan waved his hand. "Sit."

Shi Tou sat down as instructed, his back ramrod straight. He had studied martial arts with Master Tang for many years and had seen many scenes, but every time he faced this seven-year-old boy, he felt an indescribable awe—not fear, but the feeling of standing on the edge of a deep pool, knowing that the bottom is unseen yet aware of the danger.

"Have all those supplies been delivered to the pharmaceutical factory?"

Shi Tou quickly put down his teacup, wiped his mouth, and said, "It's been delivered. It was unloaded before dawn. Zhao Gang personally counted it, and he was so excited he kept rubbing his hands together, saying that the supplies were more than enough, and there would be even more if we followed your request."

"That's enough! Brother Stone, another batch of grain has arrived in those two courtyards. Arrange for someone to transport it to our grain store immediately. The Japanese have been blockading us for so long, and many families have already run out of food."

Remember, the price remains the same. Also, have the guys keep an eye out for anyone deliberately raising prices, and get rid of them.

Also, you need to assign a reliable person to be in charge of transporting these grains and supplies. Pick one hundred men from our guard unit; I'll take you to the outskirts for some training. Starting tonight, I'll lead you to fight the Japanese devils.

The teacup in Shi Tou's hand froze in mid-air, the tea rippled outwards. He stared at Lin Yifan, his bloodshot eyes slowly widening, as if he hadn't heard clearly, or as if he had heard clearly but couldn't believe it.

"Young master, you mean...?"

"I said, pick one hundred people. Starting this afternoon, I'll personally lead your training," Lin Yifan said calmly, as if discussing what to eat for breakfast. "Once you've trained, come with me to kill the Japanese devils."

The teacup slammed onto the table with a thud, and Shi Tou jumped up, his knee slamming against the stool leg with a creak.

He opened his mouth, a few incoherent syllables rolling out of his throat, before finally slapping his thigh hard. He winced in pain but laughed out loud: "Good! Good! Young master, I've been waiting for this day for ages!"

"sit down."

Lin Yifan glanced at him. "What's the rush? Fighting the Japanese will kill people. You need to talk to them beforehand. Don't force anyone."

Shi Tou nodded emphatically, his excitement fading slightly. He sat back down on the stool, his back straighter than before. He clasped his hands together on his knees, his knuckles white from the force, as if he were suppressing something.

"Young master, the guards are all from humble backgrounds," he said, his voice lowering and becoming somewhat hoarse. "Some are refugees, some were killed by the Japanese, their families destroyed. Give them a bite to eat, and they'll give you their lives. Don't force them. I, Stone, guarantee that even with a hundred spots, people will fight tooth and nail for them."

Lin Yifan didn't say anything, but took out a hand-drawn map from his spatial storage and spread it on the table.

"At one o'clock this afternoon, take your men to the mass grave outside Xizhimen." He pointed to a depression on the map. "Also, arrange for a truck to go to the courtyard in Dongjiaomin Lane. I've left thirty crates of weapons and ammunition there; take those weapons to the mass grave as well."

Stone leaned closer to the map, his rough fingers tracing the route Lin Yifan had drawn, his brow furrowing into a knot: "A mass grave? That place... it's filled with yin energy; even beggars wouldn't go there."