Courtyard House: Home Alone

Lin Yifan slept exceptionally soundly, not waking up until late the next morning. Upon waking, he felt much better, though his head still throbbed slightly—a lingering symptom of excessive mental exertion.

He first drank some spiritual spring water, then began to wash up in his space. After washing up, he walked towards the front yard, intending to go out and buy some steamed buns to put in his space, so that he wouldn't miss eating even while killing Japanese soldiers.

As soon as he reached the front yard, he saw Grandpa Zhang sitting at the stone table in the yard, holding a pipe in his hand, smoking with a furrowed brow, as if he had something on his mind.

Hearing footsteps, Grandpa Zhang looked up and saw Lin Yifan. He put down his pipe and greeted him, "Yifan, you're awake? Come and sit down. I just asked your Aunt Zhang to save some porridge for you. You can heat it up and eat it."

Lin Yifan walked over and sat down. Seeing Grandpa Zhang's worried expression, he couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa Zhang, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

Grandpa Zhang sighed, tapped his cigarette ash, and said in a low voice, "Sigh, what else could it be? It's all because of those Japanese devils in the city."

Yesterday afternoon, I went to Wangji Grain Store at the street corner to buy rice. The storekeeper told me that the Japanese have been checking things more and more strictly lately. They are not only checking pedestrians, but also tightening their control over the grain and cloth of each household.

They say it's about 'control,' and they say it's for the 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere,' but I think they just want to plunder everything from the hands of ordinary people!"

"Control of grain and cloth?" Lin Yifan's heart skipped a beat; this was a new situation. He had been focused on training in the mountains and was unaware of the changes in the city.

"Yes," Grandpa Zhang continued, "They said that from now on, you'll need a 'good citizen certificate' and 'ration coupons' issued by the Japanese to buy rice and flour. Each person only gets such a small ration per month, how can that be enough to eat?"

Especially for poor families like ours, who were already struggling financially, this has made things even worse.

And as for cloth, they say it's to be prioritized for their "Imperial Army," so it's going to be difficult for ordinary people to buy some cloth to make new clothes!

Lin Yifan frowned as well. The Japanese were indeed ruthless in this move. Food is the most important thing for people. Controlling the food supply is tantamount to strangling the people.

They do this partly to satisfy the needs of their war machine, and partly to weaken the people's will to resist and consolidate their rule.

"How did the people on the street react?" Lin Yifan asked.

"What else can we do? We dare not speak out against it!" Grandpa Zhang said angrily. "A few young men were not convinced and argued with the Japanese 'economic police' at the entrance of the grain store. They were arrested and haven't been released yet!"

I've heard that in some places people are already going hungry. If this continues, I really don't know how they'll survive...

At this point, Grandpa Zhang's voice was filled with helplessness and worry. The atmosphere in the courtyard became heavy.

Lin Yifan fell silent. He knew that what Grandpa Zhang said was true. The Japanese rule would only become more and more brutal; they would never allow ordinary people to have a good life.

Although I now have some ability to protect myself and fight back, my personal strength still seems somewhat weak in the face of such a large-scale economic blockade and oppression by the Japanese.

"Uncle Zhang, don't worry too much," Lin Yifan said after thinking for a moment, "There's always a way. By the way, how long will your food supply last?"

Grandpa Zhang said, "If we eat sparingly, it can only last for three or four days. I was thinking of buying more yesterday to store up, but who knew this would happen."

Lin Yifan had an idea. In his spatial storage, he had previously scavenged a lot of grain from the merchant guild and general store, as well as some canned goods and compressed biscuits, enough for him to eat for a long time.

Now that we know there's a food shortage, it's only right that we share some of it with Grandpa Zhang and the other families in the courtyard.

"Uncle Zhang, don't worry," Lin Yifan said. "I brought some food back from the countryside this time, along with what my parents had saved up, which I've hidden away. It's not much, but if you eat it sparingly, it should last you for a while. I'll give it to you in a bit."

Grandpa Zhang was taken aback, then waved his hand, "How can I do that! You're just a kid, you have it tough enough on your own, how can I take your food?"

"Uncle Zhang, please don't stand on ceremony with me," Lin Yifan insisted. "This grain was given to me by my relatives, and I can't eat that much by myself."

"Take this. Not only for you, but also for Aunt Li and the other families in the backyard. They should all get a share. We're all neighbors; helping each other out is only right."

Knowing Grandpa Zhang's temperament, Lin Yifan added, "Besides, I live alone, and storing so much food would be conspicuous. If the Japanese find out, it would cause trouble. It would be safer to keep it with you or distribute it."

Looking into Lin Yifan's sincere eyes, Grandpa Zhang hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, his eyes welling up with tears: "Good boy, you're such a good boy... Sigh, I'm so sorry you had to suffer like this."

He was deeply moved to know that Lin Yifan's parents were missing and that he was all alone, yet he still thought of everyone.

"Of course, Uncle Zhang." Lin Yifan smiled, stood up, and said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go get it."

After saying that, he turned around and went back to his room. After closing the door, he took out 100 jin of cornmeal from his spatial storage and divided it into five bags.

He dared not take out rice, flour, or canned goods. If the Japanese and traitors found out that he was eating rice and flour, he would be in deep trouble.

These things aren't much, but for the few families currently short of food, they are undoubtedly a godsend.

He kept an eye on the situation of the families in the courtyard, especially the Jia family. If Jia Zhangshi found out, she would definitely run to the Japanese to report them.

He secretly moved these things to the front yard in several trips, and Grandpa Zhang quickly stepped forward to help, carefully moving the grain into his own house and hiding it.

"So much!" Grandpa Zhang exclaimed in surprise, lowering his voice as he looked at the bag of grain. "Yifan, you..."

"Shh," Lin Yifan gestured for silence, "Uncle Zhang, you just need to know about this, don't make a fuss."

"After everyone is asleep at night, quietly send some to Aunt Li and the other families in the back, saying that you asked a relative from the countryside to get some."

Grandpa Zhang nodded and patted Lin Yifan on the shoulder heavily: "I know what to do. Good boy, thank you!"

Lin Yifan smiled and said, "No need to thank me, we're all family. By the way, Uncle Zhang, I'm going out to buy some steamed buns, would you like to get a few too?"

Grandpa Zhang said, "No need, there's still porridge at home. Go by yourself, be careful on the road, and come back early."

"Okay." Lin Yifan responded and left the courtyard. He didn't go directly to his usual steamed bun shop, but instead wandered around a few streets to carefully observe the surroundings.