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

In the late spring of 1946, the air in Beiping was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees. The willow branches in Nanluoguxiang had already sprouted long and slender shoots, and the Qingming Festival was only a few days away. Zhou Ye looked at the willow catkins falling in the courtyard, and the thought of returning home gradually welled up in his heart. Since the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, he had fled his old home in the countryside with his young son Xiaocao. Now that peace was on the horizon, it was time to go back to see his ancestral home and offer incense to his parents.

At dinner, Zhou Ye told Xiao Cao his idea. The little girl was helping the deaf old lady peel garlic when she heard this, and her movements stopped. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears: "Brother, can we really go back to the countryside to see our parents?" "Yes, we'll go back before Qingming Festival, repair the old house, and sweep our parents' graves." Zhou Ye patted her head and said gently, "Take a few days off from school, and we'll go and come back as soon as possible."

The next morning, Zhou Ye first went to Xicheng Elementary School to ask Xiaocao for leave, and then said goodbye to the neighbors in the courtyard. The deaf old lady held his hand and stuffed a lot of pastries into his bag, muttering, "Be careful on the road, come back soon, Grandma is waiting for you." He Daqing and his wife also came to help pack their luggage. He Daqing handed over a package of braised meat wrapped in oil paper: "Supplies are scarce in the countryside, take this to eat on the road. If the old house is damaged, I have tools there. If all else fails, I'll go back with you to lend a hand." Zhou Ye politely declined the offer: "Uncle He, no need to trouble yourself, Xiaocao and I can manage. We'll have to trouble you to take care of Grandma in the courtyard."

Squatting on the steps, Jia Zhangshi looked at the two's packed luggage and said sourly, "Xiao Ye is so filial, he even went back to the countryside to sweep the graves. Unlike some people, they don't even go back when the grass on their parents' graves is overgrown." Jia Fugui coughed twice, signaling her to say less, while Yi Zhonghai patted Zhou Ye on the shoulder: "Be careful on the road. If anything happens, have someone send a message back." Xu Wude also handed over a few movie tickets: "If you have time when you get back, take Xiao Cao to see a movie. The kids all love it."

After packing, Zhou Ye, holding Xiao Cao's hand, carrying their bags and offerings for their parents, set off on their journey back to their rural hometown. Their hometown was Zhoujia Village, near Beiping, only half a day's walk from the city. The siblings walked along the way, passing fields where rapeseed flowers were in full bloom and farmers were occasionally seen working in the fields, creating a peaceful scene that was completely different from the desolation of the war years before.

Reaching the village entrance, Zhou Ye gazed at the familiar old locust tree, his eyes welling up with tears. As a child, he would often listen to his father tell stories and watch his mother weave under this tree, while the grass chased butterflies nearby. Now, the old locust tree still stands lush and verdant, but the village's mud-brick houses bear the marks of time, and many still bear remnants of anti-Japanese war slogans on their walls.

"Brother, look, that's our house!" Xiao Cao exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the courtyard at the east end of the village. It was a small courtyard house with somewhat mottled walls, rusted brass rings on the wooden door, and weeds growing to waist height, clearly neglected for many years. Zhou Ye pushed open the door, which creaked open, startling a few sparrows. The house was covered in dust, but the tables and chairs were still intact, only covered with a thick layer of grime.

Without resting, the brother and sister immediately began tidying up. Zhou Ye found a broom to sweep the courtyard and borrowed a shovel from the village to cut down the weeds; Xiao Cao fetched well water and wiped the tables and chairs with a rag. She secretly took out some spiritual spring water from her spatial farm, diluted it, and sprinkled it in the corners of the walls, which would both sterilize and deodorize, and also fertilize the soil. Working together seamlessly, the courtyard was much cleaner and tidier in no time.

Repairing a house is hard work. Several roof tiles were broken, and the leaking rainwater had made the corners of the walls damp. Zhou Ye brought a ladder, climbed up the roof, and replaced the tiles. Xiao Cao handed him tools from below, occasionally using her spiritual energy to help lift the tiles and lighten Zhou Ye's load. After working for most of the day, the roof was finally repaired. Zhou Ye then found some wood and repaired the damaged doors and windows. The wood, soaked in spiritual spring water, had a faint fragrance and was also insect- and rot-resistant.

As evening fell, the old house was finally tidied up. Though not luxurious, it was clean and tidy. Zhou Ye lit a fire and cooked the dried food and braised meat he had brought. The brother and sister sat by the kerosene lamp, eating their simple dinner and chatting about their childhood. "Brother, I still remember the locust flower cakes Mother made. They were so fragrant," Xiao Cao said, biting into her dried food, her eyes filled with nostalgia. "After Qingming Festival, when the locust flowers have faded, we'll pick some and take them back. I'll make them for you," Zhou Ye said, patting her head. A pang of sadness welled up inside him—he had ultimately failed to bring peace to his parents' lives.

On Qingming Festival, just as dawn broke, Zhou Ye took Xiao Cao to sweep their parents' graves. Their graves were on a hillside behind the village, not far from their old house. For many years, they had been neglected, the grave mounds overgrown with weeds, and the inscriptions on the tombstones were somewhat blurred. The siblings first cleared the weeds from the graves, then wiped the tombstones with a damp cloth. Zhou Ye took out the offerings they had brought, placing their parents' favorite pastries, fruits, and wine on the ground, and lit incense and candles.

"Father, Mother, we're back." Zhou Ye knelt before the grave, his voice low and somber. "The War of Resistance has been won, and Beiping is at peace. I've brought Xiaocao to see you. Over the years, I've taken good care of Xiaocao. She's grown up, gone to school, and is sensible and well-behaved." He paused, tears welling in his eyes. "I haven't let you down. I've protected our family, and many other homes like ours. From now on, I will always protect Xiaocao, ensuring her safety and well-being."

Xiao Cao knelt beside her, tears streaming down her face. "Dad, Mom, I miss you so much. My brother is so good to me, and the grandmas, uncles, and aunts in the yard are so kind to me too. I'm doing very well at school, and I'm even the class monitor. Don't worry, I'll study hard, take good care of my brother, and live up to your expectations." She quietly channeled her spiritual energy, causing the wildflowers in front of the grave to bloom even more vibrantly, as if responding to her longing.

The brother and sister knelt before the grave for a long time, sharing their innermost thoughts, until the incense and candles burned out, before they rose and left. On their way back, as they passed the old locust tree in the village, many villagers recognized them and greeted them warmly, inviting them into their homes to rest. The villagers said that the Japanese army had come to the village during the War of Resistance against Japan, but thanks to the protection of the anti-Japanese forces, they hadn't suffered too much damage. Now that peace has returned, everyone's lives are gradually improving.

Zhou Ye and Xiao Cao stayed in the village for two days, helping the elderly living alone repair their houses. Xiao Cao also shared the herbs from her space farm with the villagers, teaching them how to stop bleeding and ward off the cold. The villagers praised the brother and sister for being sensible and filial, and offered them eggs and grains from their own homes. Zhou Ye couldn't refuse, so he accepted them and left some legal tender as a token of his gratitude.

Before leaving, Zhou Ye went to his parents' graves one last time, added some fresh soil, and whispered to the tombstone, "Dad, Mom, we're going back to Beiping now. We'll come to visit you often in the future." He knew in his heart that no matter how far he went, this was his root, and he would always remember his parents' wishes.

It was already evening when they returned to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard in Beiping. The neighbors all gathered around. The deaf old lady held Xiaocao's hand, looking her over carefully: "Have you lost weight? Did you have a hard journey?" He Yuzhu ran over, holding up his slingshot: "Sister Xiaocao, you're finally back! I've collected so many marbles, let's play together tomorrow." Xu Damao chimed in, "Sister, I saved some candy for you!"

Zhou Ye and Xiao Cao responded to their neighbors' concern with smiles, sharing the local specialties they had brought from the countryside. Looking at the familiar atmosphere in the courtyard and listening to the neighbors' laughter, Zhou Ye felt a deep sense of peace. He knew that his parents, if they were watching from heaven, would be at ease seeing his and Xiao Cao's current life.

Returning to their ancestral home for Qingming Festival to repair it and pay respects to their parents not only fulfilled a long-held wish for the siblings but also strengthened their resolve to protect their present life. In the days to come, Zhou Ye will continue to protect national treasures, care for Xiaocao, and look after the neighbors in the courtyard, safeguarding the hard-won peace and tranquility within this traditional courtyard house, and quietly awaiting a brighter future for Beiping.