Courtyard House: Home Alone

She carefully hid the money close to her body, then picked up Ya Ya, while Xiao Bao obediently followed beside her, carrying the small cloth bag in his hand.

Lin Yifan picked up the old wooden box. Although it wasn't heavy, he could feel the weight of the expectation it carried.

The group left the thatched hut and locked the simple wooden door. Under the crooked willow tree, the woman looked back one last time at the place where she had lived for so many years, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

But soon, she turned around and followed Lin Yifan and Master Yao toward the intersection where the trucks were parked.

In the narrow alley, the other shantytown dwellers cast curious glances at them.

The woman walked quickly with her head down, as if afraid others would see her excitement and joy at leaving. The children, on the other hand, were full of curiosity about the outside world, their little heads looking around curiously.

Soon, they returned to the truck. Master Yao opened the door, and Lin Yifan first placed the wooden crate on it, then carefully helped the woman onto the back of the truck, followed by Xiao Bao and Ya Ya. Although the truck was simple, it was much more comfortable than the thatched hut they lived in.

"Are you all seated? We're about to leave!" Master Yao started the truck and asked, turning around.

"Sit tight, thank you, Master Yao," the woman said gratefully, holding Ya Ya in her arms.

The truck started again and slowly drove away from the dilapidated shantytown. The woman looked out the window, watching the low houses and familiar figures recede into the distance, and tears blurred her vision once more.

But this time, her heart was filled with hope. She knew that her family would soon be reunited, and that the future would surely be better.

Lin Yifan looked at the tears in the woman's eyes and the barely perceptible smile on her lips, and sighed inwardly. In this chaotic world, being able to reunite a family was the greatest happiness.

He glanced out the window; the sky had cleared, as if the terrifying explosion had never happened. He hoped this brief peace would last.

With passengers in the back, Driver Yao drove even slower on the way back. Looking at the shantytown receding into the distance, Lin Yifan said to Driver Yao, "Driver Yao, are you familiar with a place called Xinqiao Town in the countryside outside the North Gate?"

Master Yao gripped the steering wheel, turned his head to think for a moment upon hearing this, and frowned slightly: "Xinqiao Town? The countryside outside the North Gate... Oh, I seem to remember that. Isn't it not far from the Qingshui River?"

I heard that place is quite remote, just one main street with a few houses, and you rarely see anyone except at market days. Why is Mr. Lin asking this?

Lin Yifan looked out the window at the rapidly receding fields and said slowly, "I have a friend whose family is in Xinqiao Town. We'll go pick them up tomorrow."

Oh, and you should tell Boss Li when you get back that I'll need the car for the next few days; we also need to go to Nanchong the day after tomorrow.

"Nanchong? Nanchong is not close. It takes three or four days to get from Chongqing to Nanchong by water. If you take the land route, there are many mountain roads and the road conditions are poor. It will take five or six days to get there!"

Moreover, the journey is far from safe; bandits roam some sections of the route, and Japanese planes frequently conduct reconnaissance and bombing raids along the way, making it quite risky!

As Mr. Yao spoke, he subconsciously loosened his grip on the accelerator, clearly feeling apprehensive about the long journey.

He glanced at the woman quietly holding her child in the car through the rearview mirror, then at Lin Yifan. "Mr. Lin, are you sure you want to go? Or... how about discussing it with your friend and having them figure out how to get here themselves? Besides, you... you're still a child yourself!"

"Yes, I must go. It's a promise, and I have to go and bring them out."

Lin Yifan's tone was firm and without the slightest hesitation, "Master Yao, you don't need to worry about the payment. I'll double it, no, triple it. As for the risks along the way, I'll arrange manpower to ensure our safety as much as possible."

Seeing Lin Yifan's resolute attitude, Master Yao knew that further persuasion would be useless. He sighed and said with a wry smile, "Mr. Lin, why are you doing this? In this chaotic world, why not live a peaceful life instead of running to dangerous places?"

However, to be fair, you seem like a very loyal person. There's no need for triple pay; just pay according to the rules. Even though I, Yao Laosan, am just a driver, I know what chivalry is.

"Since I've taken your job, I'll accompany you. But in Nanchong… I need to go back and say hello to Boss Li first, and also prepare some supplies for the journey, like water and dry rations, and preferably some weapons for self-defense, just in case."

Lin Yifan nodded: "Okay, I'll follow Master Yao's arrangements. We'll settle down in Jingya Lane tonight, go to Xinqiao Town early tomorrow morning to pick up the people, and then set off for Nanchong the day after tomorrow. Time is tight, thank you for your hard work, Master Yao."

"Hey, what's so hard about it? This is what we do for a living."

Master Yao waved his hand, his eyes filled with more respect for Lin Yifan. "But Mr. Lin, your friend in Xinqiao Town, his family is also like Brother Qi's family..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident.

Lin Yifan paused for a moment, recalling what Shen Jingbo had said when she entrusted him with this task, and felt a heavy weight in his heart: "The situation is probably similar, they are all ordinary people, struggling to survive in chaotic times."

Master Yao didn't ask any more questions and just focused on driving. The car fell silent again, with only the roar of the engine and the rustling of the wheels on the road.

Lin Yifan leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and his mind raced, calculating the rest of the trip. Although Xinqiao Town was remote, it should be relatively safe, and picking up the person shouldn't be too difficult.

The biggest challenge was the journey to Nanchong. Master Yao's concerns were not unfounded; bandits and enemy planes could each pose a deadly danger.

He had to prepare himself mentally in advance to ensure that Master Yao and his comrade's family could arrive in Chongqing safely.

As the sun set, its golden rays bathed the fields, casting a warm glow on this war-torn land. The truck finally entered Fog City, heading towards Jingya Alley.

At the back of the carriage, the woman held Yaya in her arms, while Xiaobao nestled beside her legs. The two children were initially a little reserved, but they were quickly drawn to the unfamiliar scenery outside the window.

Ya Ya asked her mother softly, "Mom, are there this many trees where Dad is?"

The woman gently stroked her daughter's hair, her eyes filled with longing: "Yes, definitely. Father will find us a place with lots of trees and clean water to drink."

Her voice was soft, yet carried a firm strength, as if she were encouraging herself and painting a bright future for the children.

Master Yao seemed tired too, only occasionally humming a few off-key tunes. The carriage was quiet for a moment, with only the roar of the engine and the rustling of the wheels rolling over the ground.

Lin Yifan could sense that the woman's arms holding the child tightened slightly, clearly showing that she was both full of anticipation and a little uneasy about the unknown road ahead.

He opened his eyes and glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting the woman's gaze, which held both gratitude and inquiry.

Lin Yifan nodded gently to her, indicating that she could rest assured.