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

The autumn wind carried a chill, swirling locust leaves through the courtyard and landing on the windowsill of the east wing. Zhou Ye sat at the table sorting herbs, his fingertips twirling a dried blood-nourishing herb, but his gaze was fixed on the dappled light and shadow on the courtyard wall outside the window, his expression carrying a hint of barely perceptible solemnity.

A few days ago, when he went to the cultural relics receiving point, he not only noticed the traces of antique dealers, but also saw a group of heavily armed soldiers hurrying past at the entrance of the alley. He vaguely heard them talking about "troop redeployment" and "preparing for war." These fragmented pieces of information were like a stone thrown into a lake in his heart, creating ripples—he knew clearly that the shadow of civil war had quietly fallen, and the ancient city of Beiping would soon be swept into a new conflict.

"Brother, what are you thinking about?" Xiaocao walked in carrying a glass of warm water and asked softly when she saw him staring out the window in a daze. She was wearing a faded coarse cloth dress, her hair was neatly combed, and her face had the innocence unique to children, completely unaware of the impending storm.

Zhou Ye snapped out of his reverie, took the water glass, and gently placed the herbs from his fingertips into the bamboo basket. His tone was calm: "It's nothing, I was just thinking about how the herbs are drying." He didn't want Xiaocao to be exposed to these conflicts too early; he only wanted her to enjoy a few more years of peace and tranquility in this courtyard.

Yet, anxieties crept into his heart like vines. Once civil war broke out, the situation would inevitably be turbulent. Soaring prices and widespread panic were minor concerns; his greatest fear was that the war would spread to Beiping. Not only would the transfer of the national treasures be affected, but even the peace of this courtyard would likely be jeopardized. What worried him even more was that if his Golden Core strength and spatial abilities were accidentally exposed during the war, they would inevitably attract the covetous eyes of various forces. At that point, let alone protecting the national treasures and Xiaocao, it would be difficult to even protect himself.

"I must keep a low profile," Zhou Ye silently told himself. His goal was clear: to avoid attracting attention as much as possible, to live a peaceful life until the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, when the situation stabilized, and then to complete the transfer of the national treasures and truly live a quiet life. Therefore, apart from necessary cultural relic exchanges and helping his neighbors with their health, he wanted to minimize going out, avoid all occasions that might attract attention, and completely disguise himself as an ordinary craftsman.

"Brother, Aunt Xiulan just came to ask again. She said her appetite has improved a lot these past few days and she wanted to ask when you're going to prepare the next batch of herbs." Xiaocao's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Have her drink the existing herbs for a few more days. Once she finishes this two-week supply, I'll prepare a new one for her," Zhou Ye instructed. "Tell her to keep a cheerful mood and not let the rumors outside affect her."

Xiao Cao nodded: "I understand. By the way, He Yuzhu just said that there are a lot of people queuing at the grain store at the entrance of the alley today. It seems that the price of grain has gone up again. His dad told him to hurry up and buy some grain to stock up."

Zhou Ye's eyes darkened slightly. Rising grain prices were a sign of political instability. He stood up and walked to the cabinet, opening a wooden box containing some silver dollars—copies he had seized while dealing with remnants of the Japanese army, which he hadn't used much. "Xiao Cao, go tell Uncle Yi and Uncle He to stock up on more grain and commonly used medicines. Things aren't peaceful outside lately; it's better to be prepared." He took out a few silver dollars and handed them to Xiao Cao. "While you're at it, go check out the grain store. If there's a long line, buy some first, but don't fight with the crowd."

"Okay." Little Grass took the silver dollar and obediently left.

As Zhou Ye watched her figure disappear through the doorway, his resolve hardened. He not only wanted to protect himself and Xiao Cao, but also to do his best to safeguard the neighbors in the courtyard. These days, the bonds between the neighbors in the courtyard had grown stronger; they were his anchor in this chaotic world, and the warmth of everyday life he wanted to protect.

Just as Zhou Ye was pondering this, he heard Yi Zhonghai's voice coming from outside the courtyard gate. He seemed to be talking to someone, and his tone was somewhat serious. Zhou Ye walked to the window and looked out through the gap in the curtains. He saw Yi Zhonghai and He Daqing standing in the middle courtyard, talking with their brows furrowed.

"I heard that martial law has been declared in the west of the city, and many shops have closed." He Daqing lowered his voice. "I went to buy goods today and heard that the fighting in the south has intensified and may soon affect Beiping."

"Sigh, when will this end?" Yi Zhonghai sighed. "We finally survived the war and had just enjoyed a few days of peace, and now we're going to fight again. Food prices are skyrocketing. If this continues, ordinary families will soon be starving."

"Yes," He Daqing nodded, "Fortunately, Zhou Ye reminded us to stockpile food, otherwise we wouldn't know what to do if we encountered an emergency. That kid is not only skilled, but also meticulous and considers things much more thoroughly than we do."

Zhou Ye withdrew his gaze, a sense of melancholy washing over him. This was all he could do: remind his neighbors to stockpile food for safety, help them recover, and try to maintain the stability of the courtyard house. As for the changing political landscape, he was powerless to alter it; he could only try to avoid conflict and act discreetly.

At this moment, Xiulan came over with a bowl of decocted medicine, her face beaming with a smile: "Zhou Ye, I've finished decocting the medicine, and I also brought you and Xiaocao a bowl of sweet soup. Thank you for always thinking of us." Behind her followed Yi Zhonghai, who was carrying a cloth bag containing some dried red dates.

"Auntie, you're too kind." Zhou Ye quickly took the sugar water. "Just take your medicine on time, you don't need to worry about us all the time."

"Of course, of course." Yi Zhonghai handed the cloth bag to Zhou Ye. "These red dates were bought from the countryside through someone. You and Xiaocao can soak them in water to drink and nourish your bodies. The situation is not peaceful lately, so you should also pay attention to safety and try to go out as little as possible."

Zhou Ye felt a warmth in his heart and accepted the red dates: "Thank you, Uncle Yi, I will. You and Auntie should also avoid going out easily. If anything happens, you can tell me."

Xiulan took her medicine and chatted with Zhou Ye for a few more minutes about her health before heading back with Yi Zhonghai. Watching their retreating figures, Zhou Ye felt a warmth in his heart that dispelled some of his worries. With the mutual support of these neighbors, perhaps life in this chaotic world could be a little more peaceful.

He returned to his desk, picked up a pen, and wrote the word "low-key" on a piece of paper. He then pasted it on the wall in front of his desk to constantly remind himself. Next, he opened the storage space and looked at the neatly stacked national treasures inside. His eyes hardened. No matter how turbulent the times, he would protect these national treasures and hand them over to the country intact in 1949.

The wind outside the window grew stronger, rustling the locust tree leaves as if foretelling the coming storm. Zhou Ye sat by the window, a faint wisp of spiritual energy swirling around his fingertips, sensing the movements in the courtyard and observing the whispers of the wind outside. He knew the days to come wouldn't be easy, but as long as he remained low-key and true to his principles, he would surely weather this difficult time and usher in true peace and tranquility. The aroma of herbs in the courtyard and the warmth of the neighbors would become his most precious solace during this period.