Courtyard House: Home Alone

"Who taught you all these tricks?"

"Does this even need to be learned?"

Lin Yifan gave a perfunctory reply, got up and walked to the charcoal brazier to warm his hands, "Grandpa, let Brother Stone handle the kidnapping. Let him do it in a big way. I want everyone to know that this is the work of 'Ghost.' If they want to make a name for themselves in Beiping, they'll have to see if they have the capability."

At the same time, have Brother Stone warn them to have the Military Intelligence Bureau withdraw their hideouts, telling them that if they don't, the next target of "Ghost" will be them.

I want to see if that guy surnamed Dai has the guts.

After a long silence, Old Master Tang slowly spoke, twirling the purple clay teapot three times in his palm: "Xiao Fan, you're putting the Tang family in a very difficult position."

"Old man,"

Lin Yifan turned around, the warmth of the charcoal brazier warming his back. "The fire has been burning for a while now. Xu Zheng was able to step into the Tang residence today, and he can bring people to seal off the pharmaceutical factory tomorrow."

If we don't show our claws, he'll really think Beiping is the Military Intelligence Bureau's backyard. With "Ghost" backing you up, what are you afraid of?

"Stone!" Tang Baolin suddenly shouted.

The curtain was lifted, and Shi Tou entered, his back ramrod straight: "Old Master."

"Go and call Shunzi and Tiezhu, and also two unfamiliar young men." Old Master Tang placed the purple clay teapot back on the tea table with a crisp sound. "There's work tonight."

Stone didn't ask what kind of work it was, he just clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around and left.

"Xiao Fan, what I mean is,"

Old Master Tang stood up, walked to the window, and stood with his back to him. "You need to be ruthless, but you also need to leave yourself a way out. Tying up Xu Zheng is to establish authority; but once that's done, you need to let people know that the Tang family isn't a mad dog, but someone who follows the rules."

"Old man, have Shi Tou and his men investigate the Kuomintang's hideouts in Beiping. Once they find them, don't act immediately; give me the list first."

I'll send the 'Ghosts' to dig it up. Their methods are unique, and your people can't imitate them. That's how we can get rid of the Tang family."

"collaborate with each other?"

Old Master Tang gave a meaningful smile. "With Xu Zheng in our hands, the Military Intelligence Bureau won't dare to make any rash moves."

But if the 'Ghosts' also attacked their strongholds, they would have to think twice—just how many forces in Beiping were watching them?

"Also," Old Master Tang walked back to his chair and pulled a sandalwood box from under the coffee table, "you can take this back with you."

The box was opened, and inside lay a Browning M1900, its body gleaming, the walnut wood grain on the grip clearly visible, and two rows of bright yellow bullets stacked beside it.

"I bought it in 1923 from a down-on-his-luck Fengtian Army officer."

The old man tapped the gun barrel with his knuckles. "I've never used it before, because I thought it was too noisy. But if you're going to play around with it, you need a handy tool."

Lin Yifan picked up the gun, weighed it in his hand, and then put it back in the box: "Thanks, old man. Do you think I'd need these while I'm with 'Ghost'?"

Grandpa Tang was taken aback after hearing this, and then said with a self-deprecating smile, "It seems I'm getting senile. I didn't even think of this. The weapons that Shi Tou and the others have were all given to them by you."

By the way, Xiao Fan, what should we say if Xu Zheng asks who the 'ghost' is?

"What's there to answer? There's no need for him to answer anything. Have Stone find a dark room and lock him up. Every day, besides giving him a bowl of water and a steamed bun at set times, let him spend the rest of his time alone in there to reflect on his actions. Let's see if he dares to come to Beiping to cause trouble again."

The two looked at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter at the same time. The magpies outside the window chirped even more merrily, and the old plum tree's crimson buds seemed to have opened slightly, their vibrant color, like a drop of congealed blood, set against the backdrop of the remaining snow.

"Go back."

Grandpa Tang waved his hand, "Have Chunxing make you a bowl of ginger tea. You've walked all this way in the snow, don't catch a cold."

Lin Yifan walked to the door, then suddenly stopped. "Grandpa, I've given them new names. Chunxing is now Yu Wenxiu, Qiuju is Tian Xinyi, and Xiahe is Xia Yan. Also, I just decided on my own courtesy name."

"Oh?"

“‘Huaijin,’ he said, ‘Lin Yifan’s courtesy name is Huaijin. Holding jade and embracing precious stones symbolizes virtue.’”

Old Master Tang paused for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, startling the sparrows under the eaves: "Good! What a fine name! Xiao Fan, your name is worthy of your ambition."

Lin Yifan didn't turn around, but simply pushed open the door, letting the cold post-snow wind rush in for a moment. As he stepped out, he heard the old man murmur behind him, "Huaijin... Huaijin... is more like a decent person than 'Ghost'."

When he returned to the east courtyard, Yu Wenxiu was indeed waiting under the eaves, holding a hand warmer. Seeing him enter, she quickly went to greet him: "Young master, come in quickly. The ginger tea is warming on the stove. Xia Yan and Xin Yi are stewing radish and beef brisket on the stove, saying it's to nourish you."

Lin Yifan took off his cotton-padded coat and suddenly felt that this small courtyard was more reassuring than the study in the Tang mansion. He looked at Yu Wenxiu's busy figure and remembered the mother in the gray cheongsam in his dream and the little girl he held in his arms.

Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in the foggy city of Beiping, in a heavily guarded villa, Director Dai of the Military Intelligence Bureau stood bowing before the bald man.

"Principal, I just received a call from Xu Zheng. He said... he said he can't get an appointment with 'Ghost' at all. According to his spokesperson, even he himself has never seen 'Ghost'."

Furthermore, he denied any cooperation with the Communist Party, claiming it was all arranged by "ghosts." You see, there's more to this...

The bald man put down his teacup, the bottom of which made a soft sound as it touched the table. He wore a dark blue long gown, but the weariness between his brows was unmistakable—the fourth year of the War of Resistance against Japan had etched its marks on his face, a testament to the pressures of the front lines and the undercurrents in the rear.

"Yu Nong! You give me money and people whenever I need them, but what about you? Last time you personally intervened and even had 'Ghost' detain everyone. Let's not talk about that; let 'Ghost' do whatever he wants."

But this time? This time the Red Party is taking over Beiping. Do you think sending just Xu Zheng can solve the problem? Let me tell you, anything involving the Red Party is a matter of principle.

If this whole thing falls apart, well, I guess you won't need to show your face in front of me anymore.

Dai Yunong's back tensed instantly, his shirt under his dark blue Zhongshan suit was soaked with cold sweat. He kept his head down, but his gaze was fixed on a speck of dust on the tip of his bald cloth shoes.

"The student understands." His voice was steady as usual, but only he knew how difficult it was for his Adam's apple to bob.

The bald man didn't look at him, but simply reached out and stirred the lid of his teacup, the emerald green tea leaves bobbing up and down in the water. "Xu Zheng," he suddenly spoke, his tone casual, "this guy, he graduated from the Linli training school in 1937, was he one of your prized students?"

"Yes."

Dai Yunong's fingertips tightened slightly at the seam of his trousers. "Third place in the Special Operations Division. Marksmanship, demolition, and disguise—all excellent."