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

In early spring of 1946, the cold winds of Beiping gradually subsided, and new green shoots sprouted on the blue brick walls of Nanluoguxiang. The atmosphere of daily life in courtyard number 95 grew even stronger. Zhou Ye watched as Xiaocao learned to read and write at home every day, tended the farm, and occasionally played in the yard with He Yuzhu. He began to plan to send her to school—a twelve-year-old girl should be in school making friends and learning new knowledge, rather than always guarding the yard and keeping secrets.

At breakfast, Zhou Ye told the deaf old lady his idea, then called He Daqing over and whispered in her ear, "Grandma, Xicheng Elementary School has reopened. I want to send Xiaocao there to study, so she can go to the same school as Yuzhu, Dongxu, and Damao, and they can look after each other."

The deaf old lady smiled, squinting her eyes, and took Xiaocao's hand, stroking it gently. She pulled a red cloth bag from her bosom, inside which were several brand-new Chinese banknotes, and forced them into Xiaocao's hand, muttering, "Studying is good, studying and writing will lead to a bright future." He Daqing nodded repeatedly, "Xicheng Elementary School is reliable. I asked around, and they're recruiting transfer students in the spring. Yuzhu is eleven this year and in fifth grade; Jia Dongxu is fifteen and in the first year of junior high school, in the school next to the elementary school; Xu Damao is eight years old and in third grade, so he'll be in the same school as Xiaocao but in a different class, and they can go to and from school together."

When this got around the neighborhood, the longtime residents all gathered around to chat. Yi Zhonghai, wiping his enamel mug, smiled and said, "The principal is a distant cousin of mine. I'll put in a good word for him, and I guarantee Xiaocao will be able to transfer smoothly and even be assigned to a sixth-grade class with a good academic atmosphere." He was the eldest brother in the neighborhood and also a mid-level fitter at the steel rolling mill, so his words always carried weight.

Liu Haizhong stood with his hands behind his back, adopting the airs of a deputy patriarch: "Since the children from this compound are enrolled, there must be rules. They must go to and from school together and not run around. They also need to do well in their studies and not bring shame to Compound No. 95." His eldest son, Liu Guangqi, was ten years old, and his second son, Liu Guangtian, was four years old. They were not yet of school age, but they always liked to interfere in other people's affairs.

Squatting on the steps picking vegetables, Jia Zhangshi remarked sourly, "Xiao Ye is so rich, he can afford to send his daughter to school. Unlike our Dongxu, who has to scrimp and save to get him into junior high." Jia Fugui, listening nearby, frowned and whispered, "Say less. It's a good thing for the child to go to school." He was a mid-level fitter and electrician at the steel rolling mill, and had just received a raise, but he couldn't resist Jia Zhangshi's competitive nature.

Xu Wude didn't say much, but patted Zhou Ye on the shoulder: "Da Mao is naughty. Let him follow Xiao Cao and Yu Zhu, and he'll behave better. I'll pick them up after school, it's on my way." He was a film projectionist, so his working hours were relatively flexible, and he often helped look after the children in the orphanage.

Zhou Ye thanked everyone for their kindness and took Xiao Cao to Xicheng Elementary School with Yi Zhonghai early the next morning. The principal, as expected, gave Yi Zhonghai face; seeing that Xiao Cao was articulate and knew many characters, he immediately agreed to let her transfer to Class 2 of Grade 6. At the registration, they happened to run into He Daqing taking He Yuzhu to school, Jia Fugui also arrived on his bicycle with Jia Dongxu on the back, and Xu Wude led the bouncing Xu Damao. The four children from the courtyard gathered together, creating a lively scene at the school gate.

"Sister Xiaocao, I'm in Class 1, Grade 5, right downstairs!" He Yuzhu grabbed Xiaocao's hand, her face beaming with excitement. "I'll wait for you after school, let's go home together." Jia Dongxu, more composed, nodded and said, "You can ask me if you have any questions. The junior high section isn't far from your classroom." Xu Damao, with his round eyes wide open, tugged at Xiaocao's clothes: "Sister, I want to walk with you! I don't want to play with anyone else!"

Zhou Ye instructed, "Zhu Zi, take good care of Sister Xiao Cao and Da Mao; Dong Xu, please keep an eye on them; Da Mao, don't be naughty, listen to your sister and brother." The three boys responded in unison and followed their respective homeroom teachers into the classroom.

Standing at the door of Class 2, Grade 6, Xiaocao felt a little uneasy looking at her unfamiliar classmates. But she quickly composed herself and followed the teacher's instructions to sit by the window. Her spiritual energy quietly circulated within her, making her mind increasingly clear. She understood the texts and arithmetic the teacher taught immediately, and her notes were neat and tidy. Before long, she won the teacher's favor.

After school, He Yuzhu waited early at the door of the sixth-grade classroom, Jia Dongxu also rushed over from the junior high section, and Xu Damao, carrying a small schoolbag, waited by the playground. As soon as Xiaocao came out, the three boys surrounded her. He Yuzhu chattered, asking, "Sister, is class interesting? Is the teacher fierce?" Xu Damao chimed in, "Sister, I got a little red flower today!" Jia Dongxu then helped carry Xiaocao's schoolbag and said softly, "Let's go, Uncle Xu is waiting at the door."

The four walked side by side on their way home. He Yuzhu recounted funny stories from fifth grade, Jia Dongxu occasionally chimed in, and Xu Damao would chime in from time to time, making Xiaocao laugh. Passing the corner store, Zhou Ye was already waiting there, holding four sugar figurines, which he handed out to the children: "You all did well on your first day of school, this is a reward for you."

Xiao Cao took the sugar figurine, feeling warm inside. She leaned close to Zhou Ye and whispered, "Brother, the school is great. The teachers and classmates are all very kind."

In the days that followed, going to school became a daily routine for No. 95 Courtyard. In the morning, He Yuzhu, Xiaocao, and Xu Damao would gather in the middle courtyard and go out with Jia Dongxu; in the evening, Xu Wude would ride his bicycle back with the four children, and their laughter could always be heard in the courtyard.

Xiao Cao's performance at school became increasingly outstanding, consistently ranking among the top students in her class, and she was even selected by the teacher as the class's academic representative. She kept her secret, never using her spiritual energy to cheat, but relying solely on the clear thinking and photographic memory it granted her to easily handle her studies. During breaks, she would help classmates with difficult problems and play games with Xu Damao, quickly gaining many good friends.

He Yuzhu always acts as a "protector of his sister," and he's the first to stand up and defend Xiaocao if anyone dares to bully her. Although Jia Dongxu doesn't talk much, he always quietly offers solutions when Xiaocao is stuck on a problem. Xu Damao has become Xiaocao's little follower, going wherever she goes and always sharing his snacks with her.

The neighbors in the compound often talked about how sensible Xiaocao was. Aunt Li always said to people, "Xiaocao from Xiaoye's family is such a good girl. She's well-behaved and smart, and even less troublesome than boys." Yi Zhonghai also said to Zhou Ye, "Xiaocao is a promising child. She'll definitely achieve great things in the future." Only Jia Zhangshi would occasionally say something sarcastic: "No matter how much a girl studies, it's useless. She'll still have to get married in the future." No one responded to this, but instead, she was glared at by the deaf old lady, which scared her into shutting her mouth.

Zhou Ye remained busy with his work on cultural relic preservation. In his spare time, he would check Xiao Cao's homework, teach her to identify cultural relics, and occasionally take her to temporary cultural relic receiving points to help her organize the list of relics—Xiao Cao was meticulous, knew quite a few characters, and did the work quickly and well. The hidden compartment in the side room was kept in perfect order, and the newly added cultural relics were also properly stored, becoming an unspoken secret between the two.

Every day after school, Xiaocao would first chat with the deaf old lady, massage her back, and pour her a cup of hot tea, secretly adding a trace of spiritual spring water to the teacup to make the old lady's body stronger. She would also help He Daqing's family take care of He Yushui, using her spiritual energy to nourish the little guy's body. He Yushui grew up chubby and fair-skinned, and would grin whenever he saw Xiaocao.

Spring sunshine streamed into the courtyard of No. 95. Xiao Cao sat on the veranda doing her homework, He Yuzhu read a book beside her, Xu Damao played marbles on the ground, and Jia Dongxu helped chop firewood. Zhou Ye stood at the door of the east wing, watching this heartwarming scene, then looked towards the distant city of Beiping, his heart filled with anticipation.

The sounds of reading in the school, laughter in the courtyard, and the faint glow of cultural relics intertwine to create a peaceful scene. Zhou Ye knows that the dawn of peace in Beiping is drawing ever closer, and the path of protecting cultural relics is gradually improving. This courtyard house, these noisy neighbors, and this sensible younger sister are the meaning behind his protection. As time flows by, spring turns to autumn, Courtyard No. 95 will continue to witness the children's growth, the warmth of the neighbors, and the gradual march of China towards true peace and tranquility.