Courtyard House: Home Alone

He knew the road ahead would be fraught with difficulties. Yi Zhonghai's greed was just the tip of the iceberg; there were far more hidden dangers and schemes lurking in the shadows within this courtyard, and even throughout Beiping. But he would not back down.

Since God has given him a second chance at life, he must live it to the fullest. Not only must he survive, but he must live better than anyone else!

Just then, shouts came from outside the courtyard gate, and it seemed that someone was banging on the doors of each house.

"Open the door! Open the door! Imperial Army is searching! Open the door now!"

Lin Yifan's heart skipped a beat. Hadn't they already searched the place today? Why were they here again? He quickly opened the curtains and mentally "looked" towards the entrance of the courtyard house.

Two Chinese traitors in plainclothes, leading two Japanese soldiers in yellow uniforms, and followed by about a dozen puppet troops, stormed into the front yard. The Japanese soldier in the lead had a ferocious smile on his face, holding a Type 38 rifle with bayonets fixed, and roared loudly.

The tranquility of the courtyard was shattered once again. A new crisis was quietly approaching. Lin Yifan took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening. He silently observed everything outside.

He had already stored all the valuables in his room into his spatial storage, but he knew that whenever the Japanese came to cause trouble, he would have to "spend" some money, otherwise he would never get away with it. Normally, it would cost one silver dollar per family. So, he put one silver dollar into his jacket pocket.

Soon, the front yard echoed with the panicked screams of the neighbors, the brutal kicking and shouting of the Japanese soldiers and their collaborators.

"Baka! All of you, come out here! Stand in the yard!" The leading Japanese officer roared in broken Chinese, his bayonet gleaming coldly in the sunlight, its sharpness hurting the eyes.

Lin Yifan could "see" that because Grandpa Zhang in the front yard was a little slow, he was shoved hard by a puppet soldier, staggered and almost fell, and even cut his lip, which was bleeding.

Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang were so frightened that they held their grandson and trembled, tears welling up in their eyes, but they dared not cry out loud.

"Search! Search thoroughly! Don't miss any corner!" The Japanese officer seemed dissatisfied with the "harvest" in the front yard and gave another order.

So the puppet troops and traitors rushed into each household like wolves and tigers. The sounds of ransacking, shattering porcelain, and overturning tables and chairs rose and fell, mixed with the triumphant laughter of the Japanese and the suppressed sobs of the people. The entire courtyard seemed to have become a living hell.

Soon, the search team approached the Central Court. Yi Zhonghai, with a fawning smile, bowed and scraped to the leader of the traitors: "Sir, Second Master Tang, we are all law-abiding citizens, truly law-abiding citizens! We don't have anything valuable in our homes, nor are we hiding anyone. Please have mercy, please have mercy..."

The traitor glanced at Yi Zhonghai with disdain, then slapped him across the face: "Good citizen? Good citizen, you want to search me too! Who dares disobey the Imperial Army's orders? Get out of the way!"

Yi Zhonghai staggered from the blow, his face burning with pain, but he dared not utter a word of complaint. He could only retreat awkwardly to the side, a hint of humiliation and resentment flashing in his eyes, but more than anything, he was worried about his own safety.

At this moment, the deaf old woman, supported by Li Cuilan, arrived at the central courtyard and said in a deep voice to the leading traitor, "Tang Ergou, tell them to stop. Tell the two Imperial Army soldiers that I am an old friend of Fujita Taijun of their Special Higher Police."

"My courtyard is full of long-time residents, there's not a single outsider here. Stop causing trouble. I'll have someone collect one silver dollar from each household right away."

Upon hearing the deaf old woman's words, Tang Ergou's arrogant demeanor immediately subsided considerably, and he glanced hesitantly at the Japanese officer beside him.

The Japanese officer clearly knew Fujita's name. He frowned and whispered a few words to Tang Ergou in Japanese.

Tang Ergou nodded repeatedly, then turned around, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, and said to the deaf old woman, "Mrs. Long, since you've put it that way, then... then we'll give you face. However, there are rules for the Imperial Army..."

"I know the rules." The deaf old woman interrupted him and instructed Li Cuilan, whose face was pale, "Cuilan, go and tell each household to prepare a silver dollar and send it to the central courtyard. Tell them it's my idea to spend money to avoid trouble."

"Okay, sure." Li Cuilan felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly responded, turning around and running hurriedly to the backyard.

Seeing this, Tang Ergou waved his hand, signaling his men to temporarily stop the search, but the Japanese soldiers and puppet troops still stared at the people in the courtyard with predatory eyes, and the atmosphere remained tense and suffocating.

As Lin Yifan "watched" this scene, he gained a deeper understanding of the deaf old woman's energy and composure. He never expected that a woman could be so calm in the face of vicious Japanese soldiers; no wonder she held such a high position in this courtyard.

Not long after, Li Cuilan returned with several silver dollars collected from various families. Lin Yifan also came out from the backyard at the opportune moment and handed a silver dollar from his pocket to Li Cuilan.

He kept his head down, trying to appear inconspicuous, but out of the corner of his eye, he vigilantly observed the Japanese soldiers and puppet troops.

The leading Japanese officer counted the silver dollars, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He muttered a strange "yes" to the deaf old woman, then waved his hand and led his men away, cursing and swearing.

Only after those people completely disappeared from the alleyway did the people in the courtyard collapse to the ground, panting heavily, as if utterly exhausted. Grandpa Zhang covered his mouth, wincing in pain, while Grandma Zhang held her grandson and sobbed softly.

"Alright, alright, everyone disperse, go home and lock the door properly," the deaf old woman said in a hoarse voice, and with Li Cuilan's help, she shakily went back into the house.

Looking at the scattered debris on the ground and the shocked expressions of his neighbors, Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale and then red. In the end, he could only sigh and silently tidy up his own mess.

Lin Yifan did not go back to the house immediately. He went to the front yard and saw Grandpa Zhang sitting on the threshold, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked over, took out two more silver dollars from his pocket, and handed them over: "Uncle Zhang, please take these, go see a doctor and buy some medicine."

Grandpa Zhang was taken aback. He looked at the silver dollar Lin Yifan handed him, then at the boy's young face, shook his head, and waved his hand, saying, "Kid, I'm fine, it's alright. Keep this money for yourself. You're all alone... it's not easy for you."

"Grandpa, take this." Lin Yifan stuffed the silver dollar into Grandpa Zhang's hand. "Consider it... a loan from me. If I ever encounter any difficulties in the future, I'll need your help again."

Looking at the silver dollar in his hand, and then at Lin Yifan's determined eyes, Grandpa Zhang's eyes welled up with tears. He nodded heavily, "Good boy, good boy... Thank you, Grandpa."

Lin Yifan smiled, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the backyard.