Courtyard House: Starting in 1938, kill enemies and loot equipment.

The carriage traveled through the night, the mountain breeze carrying the coolness of the grass and trees into the open carriage. Zhou Ye held Zhou Xiaocao in his arms, his fingertips repeatedly stroking his sister's tightly furrowed brows—the sound of the Japanese soldiers kicking down the door in the courtyard and the neighbors' exclamations had still left a shadow in the seven-year-old's heart, causing her to tremble slightly even in her sleep.

"Brother... don't let the bad guys catch me..." Little Grass mumbled in her sleep, her little hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.

Zhou Ye's heart tightened, and his resolve hardened. The system farm was a private space independent of reality. Apart from him and the people he had brought there, no one else could enter. There were no gunshots, no war, making it the safest haven for the moment.

Without further hesitation, he activated his mind, and a faint light emanated from his body. The next second, the two people in the carriage vanished without a trace, leaving only the slight marks of their clothes brushing against the seat cushion.

When Zhou Xiaocao opened her eyes again, she had broken free from Zhou Ye's embrace and was standing in front of a golden wheat field, her little face full of incredulous surprise. In the boundless field, lush green vegetables were neatly arranged, plump ears of wheat swayed in the wind, the pond in the distance shimmered, and colorful wildflowers bloomed on the banks. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth, without a trace of gunpowder.

"Brother! Where is this? It's like a painting!" Little Grass ran to the edge of the field, carefully touching the ears of wheat. Her fingertips were covered with tiny wheat awns, but she smiled and her eyes crinkled.

Zhou Ye walked to her side, bent down to wipe the wheat awns from her fingertips, and said in a gentle but solemn voice, "This is my brother's secret farm, a place that only the two of us know about. Bad people outside can't find this place and can't get in. Little Grass can stay here safely."

"Just the two of us?" Little Grass looked up, her eyes shining like stars. "Does that mean I won't be afraid of the Japanese anymore?"

"Yes, don't be afraid." Zhou Ye nodded and led her to the small wooden house in the center of the farm. This was an exclusive building that was unlocked after upgrading the "rapid growth" function. The house was fully equipped with a bed, table and chairs, small cabinets, and even a small dressing table, as if it was specially prepared for Xiaocao.

He pushed open the wooden cabin door and took out a rag doll, a floral dress, and several picture books from his system space, placing them one by one on the cabinet: "You'll live here from now on. Your brother will come to see you every time he comes in and bring you something delicious."

Little Grass, clutching her rag doll, sat on the soft bed, her little face full of joy, but quickly tinged with a hint of reluctance: "How long will brother be gone? Will he be back soon?"

Zhou Ye squatted down in front of her, cupped her little face, and said earnestly, "Brother is going out to teach that bad guy named Matsui a lesson. He bullied the uncles and aunts in the yard and even tried to grab Xiaocao. Brother must make him pay the price. After I'm done with him, brother will come and take you home to our courtyard house."

Little Grass nodded as if she understood, a determined look on her face that belied her age: "Brother, don't worry, I'll be good and won't cause trouble."

"Little Grass isn't being mischievous; she's going to do her brother a big favor." Zhou Ye smiled and pointed to the fields outside the window. "Look at these crops; they're all grain. When they're ripe, brother can use them to cook for the uncles and elders around here. If they're well-fed, they'll have the strength to fight the Japanese. Only the two of us know about this farm. When brother goes out to fight, he'll ask Little Grass to look after these grains for me, to make sure the birds don't peck at the wheat ears and the insects don't eat the vegetables, okay?"

"I can do it!" Little Grass immediately jumped off the bed, ran to the window, and gripped the windowsill with her little hands, carefully observing the fields. "I'll walk around the field ridges every day, chasing away the birds and catching the bugs!"

Zhou Ye then took out the exchanged fish fry, three chubby pink piglets, and a dozen fluffy chicks from his system space, and led Xiao Cao to the pond and the open space on the bank. The fish fry were gently released into the pond, happily wagging their tails as they swam towards the deeper parts; the piglets grunted and rooted in the mud, looking adorable; the chicks scattered, pecking at the grass seeds on the ground, their chirping making the whole farm lively.

The little grass squatted down and carefully stroked the piglet's back. The piglet gently rubbed against her palm, making her giggle. "Brother, they're so cute!"

"From now on, you'll be in charge of taking care of them." Zhou Ye handed her a small bamboo basket filled with special feed. "Every morning, scatter some feed for the chicks, add some grass for the piglets, and throw some wheat bran into the pond for the fish. They'll grow up plump and healthy, and when your brother comes back, we can eat fish, pork, and eggs."

"Okay! I will take good care of them!" Xiao Cao took the bamboo basket as if she had taken on a heavy responsibility, and immediately went to scatter feed for the chicks. Her small figure was busy in the field, and she had long forgotten her previous fear.

Zhou Ye stood by, watching her, his heart filled with warmth. With this concern and responsibility, Xiao Cao wouldn't be lonely on the farm, and he could fight without any worries.

He walked over to Xiaocao, took out the brass whistle the deaf old lady had given him from his pocket, and put it in her hand: "This is a life-saving whistle. Although the farm is safe, if you encounter anything that you feel is wrong—such as suddenly seeing something you don't recognize or hearing a strange sound—just blow it three times, and no matter where your brother is outside, he will come back immediately."

Little Grass gripped the brass whistle tightly and nodded vigorously: "I remember! Only blow it three times if something strange happens."

Zhou Ye carefully inspected the farm again: the crops were growing well, the animals were docile and obedient, the wooden house was clean and safe, and there was no hidden danger that could put Xiao Cao in danger. He squatted down, hugged Xiao Cao, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead: "Brother is leaving now. Xiao Cao, take good care of yourself and our farm, and wait for brother's triumphant return."

"Goodbye, brother! Be careful on your way!" Little Grass tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, then waved her little hand and watched Zhou Ye's figure gradually disappear into the farm.

Watching her brother leave, Xiaocao immediately picked up her bamboo basket and began her "work"—first adding feed for the chicks, then carrying a bundle of grass for the piglets, and finally running to the pond to scatter some wheat bran. After finishing all this, she sat on the edge of the field, watching the wheat ears swaying in the wind and the little fish swimming in the pond, her little face full of seriousness.

She wanted to help her brother guard this secret farm, wait for him to come back, wait for him to drive away the bad guys, and then they could go back to the courtyard house together and live a peaceful and stable life.

When Zhou Ye reappeared in the carriage, it had already entered the mountain stronghold outside the city. Zhao Hu and his men were already waiting at the cave entrance. Seeing Zhou Ye get out of the carriage, they immediately came forward to greet him: "Brother Zhou, where's Xiao Cao? Is she safe?"

"Absolutely safe." The gentleness in Zhou Ye's eyes faded, replaced by a chilling fighting spirit. "I hid her in a place where no one can find her. Now, I have no worries whatsoever."

He patted Zhao Hu on the shoulder and walked towards the cave: "Brother Zhao, gather all the brothers. Let's plan this carefully. This time, we must completely wipe out Matsui's lair and make him pay the heaviest price for what he's done!"

Inside the cave, the lights shone brightly, illuminating the map of Japanese strongholds on the wall with exceptional clarity. Zhou Ye's finger landed on the location of the steel rolling mill, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes—Matsui, your end has come.