Courtyard House: Home Alone

After Chen Gongshu left, Lin Yifan finally saw the three maids standing in the courtyard with red eyes. He smiled helplessly and then beckoned, "Come, all of you, come with me to the main room."

Yu Wenxiu and the other two followed them into the main room. Before they could speak, Lin Yifan spoke first: "You heard what happened just now. This time we went to Wudu to pick someone up and also to visit my parents and sister."

I'll be gone for about a month, but I'll be back soon. The three of you take good care of yourselves at home, don't worry about me.

Knowing the gravity of the situation, Yu Wenxiu's eyes reddened even more, and she choked out, "Brother Xiaofan, you must be careful. We'll wait for you to come back."

Xia Yan and Tian Xinyi nodded vigorously, their eyes filled with reluctance.

Lin Yifan felt a warmth in his heart, reached out and patted Yu Wenxiu on the shoulder, then looked at Xia Yan and Tian Xinyi separately: "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Please take care of things at home."

Wenxiu, keep a close eye on things at home. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, call Grandpa Tang. Don't let your studies fall behind. Xinyi, take good care of everyone's well-being.

He paused, then took out some money from his pocket and handed it to Yu Wenxiu: "This is for household expenses. Let me know if you need more."

Yu Wenxiu took the money, but clung tightly to Lin Yifan's clothes, reluctant to let go. Lin Yifan gently pulled away and laughed, "It's not like we're parting forever, why are you crying? When I come back, I'll bring you some local specialties from Chongqing."

He tried to speak in a light tone, attempting to ease the sadness of parting. Xinyi sniffed and forced a strong expression, saying, "Young master, remember to eat on time on your journey, don't overwork yourself."

Xia Yan also whispered, "We'll miss you."

Lin Yifan felt a pang of sadness and nodded, "I understand. You guys have just finished eating, go and rest for a while too."

He watched the three girls' retreating figures as they went back to their rooms and sighed softly. The journey to the Misty City was long and the situation complex. He was not without concerns, but in order to bring back the families of his brothers and to put their minds at ease, he had to go.

Early on the third day, Lin Yifan arrived at Lugou Bridge, the starting point of the Beijing-Hankou Railway. Although Beiping was surrounded by Japanese-controlled areas, transportation and logistics between Beiping and the outside world remained unimpeded due to an agreement signed between "Ghost" and the Japanese.

He boarded the train to Wuhan. The carriage was crowded with people, mostly travelers in a hurry, and the air was filled with a complex smell of tobacco, sweat, and cheap food.

There were no sleeper berths on this train, so Lin Yifan chose a window seat, put down his luggage to avoid being noticed, and closed his eyes to rest, but his mind was racing with plans for the details of the trip.

As the provisional capital of the Nationalist government, Chongqing was a place where various forces were deeply entrenched, including the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, local factions, and even Japanese spies.

His trip required him to secretly meet with his family and visit his parents and sister, so he had to be extremely careful not to reveal his identity or bring them any danger.

Therefore, he restrained himself along the way to avoid revealing his whereabouts.

The train rattled along the North China Plain, and the scenery outside the window gradually transitioned from the bleak northern landscape to the slightly humid southern scenery.

As they passed through towns ravaged by war, the occasional ruins weighed heavily on Lin Yifan's heart.

He had long been aware of the cruelty of war, but every time he witnessed it with his own eyes, he still felt heartbroken.

He clenched his fists, his desire for a strong nation growing ever stronger. Only a powerful nation could resist foreign aggression and ensure a peaceful life for its people.

After two days and two nights of bumpy travel, the train arrived in Wuhan. This important city, a transportation hub connecting nine provinces, was still bustling with activity and full of vitality, even though it had been occupied by the Japanese.

Lin Yifan didn't linger there, knowing that this place was also rife with trouble. As planned, he stayed at an inconspicuous inn near the dock, rested briefly, and then boarded a passenger ship bound for Chongqing.

On the Yangtze River, the waters stretched endlessly. The passenger ship sailed upstream, the scenery on both banks breathtaking, with rolling green hills stretching as far as the eye could see. However, Lin Yifan had no heart to appreciate this magnificent view.

He spent most of his time in the cabin or in a quiet corner on the deck, observing the passengers around him.

The people on the ship were a diverse bunch: businessmen, students, and others whose identities were unclear. Lin Yifan remained highly vigilant; he knew that the more mixed the people in a place, the more dangerous it was.

After several days of sailing, they finally arrived at their destination—Chongqing, the "Foggy City." Upon disembarking, Lin Yifan immediately sensed the unique atmosphere of this mountain city.

The perpetual fog, the stilted houses scattered at varying heights, and the faint smell of coal smoke in the air... He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement and trepidation, and began to act according to the plan.

He hailed a rickshaw and arrived near the small building where his parents rented. He then used his mental energy to "check" out the situation inside the building.

He discovered that his parents were not in the house. Inside, there was a woman in her thirties who looked like a maid, holding a beautiful little girl in her arms.

The little girl looked to be less than a year old, and the two were babbling incoherently. This must be their younger sister.

He didn't rush over, but carefully observed the surroundings of the small building. After checking, he found nothing unusual. So he prepared to walk towards the small building.

Suddenly, he remembered that he should buy some toys and food for his sister. He used his mental power to "look" at the watch in his space, and it was already past ten o'clock in the morning.

So he asked a passerby for directions and then turned to head towards the nearest German trading company.

The storefront of this trading company wasn't particularly grand, but the clocks, telescopes, and exquisite mechanical gadgets displayed in the window exuded a meticulous German style.

Lin Yifan pushed open the door and entered. A crisp sound rang out from the brass bell on the door. A German shop assistant, dressed in a sharp suit and with his hair meticulously combed, greeted him and asked in slightly broken Chinese, "Sir, how may I help you?"

Lin Yifan nodded, his gaze sweeping across the shelves before being drawn to a wooden music box in the corner.

The music box was exquisitely carved, featuring a twirling ballerina on top, her figure elegant. He thought his sister would like it.

Next, he saw several beautifully packaged cans of imported milk powder and some exquisitely made cookies on the counter, all of which are suitable for babies.

He pointed to the items and said to the shop assistant, "I'll take this music box, these cans of milk powder, and that box of biscuits." The shop assistant's eyes lit up and she quickly replied, "Okay, sir, please wait a moment."

He quickly packed the items and tied them securely with rope. Lin Yifan paid, picked up the packed items, and felt much more at ease before turning to walk towards the small building where his parents rented.