Courtyard House: Home Alone

Lin Yifan leaned closer to the map and nodded: "Hmm, these two locations are well chosen, taking into account resources, transportation, and security."

We need to be careful in Shijingshan. Although there are iron ore deposits, we can't rely on them alone. We need to send people to explore the surrounding area as soon as possible to find larger iron ore veins.

Steel is the cornerstone of industry, and especially now, there's never too much of it.

Also, have Brother Stone arrange for people to go to those two locations; our equipment should arrive in the next couple of days. You should also contact Commander Kong and his team beforehand, and ask them to send people to help guard those two locations once the equipment arrives.

"I understand. Qin Zhirong has already been instructed to arrange manpower. The Red Party has the talent resources in this area, and I expect to receive news in the next few days."

Tang Baolin said, his tone full of anticipation for the future, "Once the power plant and steel plant are built, the industrial base of Beiping will be established. At that time, we will be able to produce our own weapons and ammunition and will no longer have to depend on others."

Lin Yifan smiled slightly: "This is just the beginning. What we need to do is far more than this." His gaze went through the window to the deep night, as if he could already see a powerful and independent China rising from the ruins.

As night deepened, the lights in Tang's study remained bright, illuminating two figures busily planning their upcoming confrontation. The wind outside the window seemed to carry a hint of tension, quietly sweeping across the skies above Beiping.

It was already 11 p.m. when Lin Yifan left the Tang residence. When he got home, he wanted to teleport back to his room, but he found Wenxiu waiting for him alone in the main room, so he had no choice but to knock on the courtyard gate.

Upon hearing the knock on the door, Yu Wenxiu rushed out of the main room, still clutching a Browning pistol in her right hand. Only when she heard Lin Yifan's voice did her tense nerves relax.

She quickly stepped forward, opened the door, and said with a smile, "Young master, you're back! Come in quickly." As she spoke, she stepped aside, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over him to make sure he wasn't injured before she felt relieved.

Looking at her slightly haggard face and the undisguised concern in her eyes, Lin Yifan felt a warmth in his heart and said softly, "What are you worried about in Beiping? Just go to sleep early."

Yu Wenxiu shook her head and pulled him towards the main room: "It's only right that I wait for you. Xinyi and Xiayan are already exhausted, so I let them go to sleep first. There's still some food left for you in the pot; you can just heat it up and eat."

The light in the main room was still on, and a heat-insulating cloth covered the table, with a cup of tea that had gone cold beside it. Lin Yifan sat down, and Yu Wenxiu turned and went to the kitchen to busy herself.

Soon, a steaming bowl of egg drop soup was served, along with a plate of five meat buns and a plate of braised beef.

"Eat quickly and warm yourself up."

Yu Wenxiu sat down opposite him, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him with gentle eyes. Lin Yifan picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily. The beef was stewed until tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of savory sauce. The meat buns had thin skins and generous fillings; with each bite, the rich broth burst in his mouth, mixing with the tender meat filling, filling him with pure satisfaction.

The egg drop soup was sprinkled with chopped green onions and sesame oil. The warm soup slid into my stomach, dispelling the chill of the night and soothing the fatigue of the past few days.

As he ate, he talked to Yu Wenxiu, asking about Xinyi and Xiayan's day. Yu Wenxiu then recounted in detail how they had practiced calligraphy, read books, and learned self-defense from Grandma Long during the day, her words filled with affection for the two girls.

As Lin Yifan listened, a smile played on his lips, and the tension in his heart caused by dealing with various forces quietly eased at that moment.

Wenxiu is already seventeen, and Xia Yan and Xinyi are already fifteen. Perhaps it's time to consider their future, Lin Yifan thought, looking at Yu Wenxiu in front of him.

The three girls have been here for more than half a year. With his ample meat and the nourishment of Er'er's spiritual spring, they have all grown taller. Their originally thin bodies have become sturdy and well-proportioned. The timidity and fear they had when they first arrived have faded from their eyes, replaced by a bright and composed demeanor.

Yu Wenxiu, in particular, not only took meticulous care of the two young girls, but also learned a lot from Lin Yifan. Whether it was her orderly handling of housework or her calm and composed demeanor in the face of emergencies, she impressed Lin Yifan.

She went from being unfamiliar with the Browning to being able to skillfully disassemble and maintain it, and even perform precise shooting under Lin Yifan's guidance.

Lin Yifan swallowed the bun in his mouth, looked at Yu Wenxiu's gentle profile, and thought to himself: In chaotic times, it is not easy for women to survive.

While their presence with me offers temporary security, it's not a long-term solution. The path I will walk in the future is bound to be fraught with thorns and dangers; I cannot leave them in this uncertain environment indefinitely.

Perhaps, once the situation stabilizes a bit, we should send them to a safer place, where they can receive a better education and live ordinary lives.

"Young master, what are you thinking about?" Yu Wenxiu asked softly when she saw Lin Yifan stop eating and look away.

Lin Yifan snapped out of his reverie and smiled, "It's nothing, I was just thinking how capable you girls are becoming. By the way, how's your self-defense training going?"

Mentioning this, Yu Wenxiu's face showed a proud expression: "Xinyi is a smart girl, she learns the fastest and remembers the moves well, but she's a little weak."

Xia Yan is calm and composed. Although she learns slowly, her every move is solid and she has a tenacious spirit. Grandma Long praised them as promising talents.

"That's good."

Lin Yifan nodded. "It's always good to learn more, at least to protect yourself in critical moments."

He paused for a moment, then said, "After some time, I'll see if I can find you a suitable school so you can systematically learn cultural knowledge."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenxiu's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, but it quickly dimmed again. She lowered her head and whispered, "With our status, can we even study? And if we leave, who will take care of you, young master?" In her heart, taking care of Lin Yifan's daily life had become the most important part of her life.

Lin Yifan put down his chopsticks and looked at her seriously: "Wenxiu, you are not my servants, you are my family. Family should have a better future."

As for taking care of me, don't worry, I can manage on my own. Besides, studying and taking care of me don't conflict. You can go to school during the day and come back in the evening to help with household chores. The key question is, are you yourselves willing to go?"

Yu Wenxiu raised her head, her eyes sparkling. She looked at Lin Yifan, and then seemed to see Xinyi and Xia Yan's joyful faces when they heard the news. She nodded vigorously: "We're willing! Thank you, young master!" Her voice was slightly choked with emotion, filled with excitement and gratitude.

In this era, for orphaned girls like them who had once lived under the roof of others, having the opportunity to study was an unimaginable luxury.