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

The morning after settling into his lodgings, just as dawn broke, He Daqing, carrying his meager savings, set off for the city to find work as a cook. Lü Bingxin, having gotten up early, baked two coarse grain pancakes and stuffed them into his hands: "Be careful on the road. If you can't find anything suitable, come back early. Don't push yourself." He Daqing nodded in agreement, then instructed Zhou Ye to take good care of his wife and children before hurriedly leaving the courtyard.

Zhou Ye wasn't idle either. After settling Zhou Xiaocao in—letting her familiarize herself with the courtyard with Lü Bingxin—he carried an empty cloth bag, using the excuse of going to the city to buy daily necessities, but actually wanting to gather information about the Japanese and traitors. Before leaving, the deaf old lady stood in the middle courtyard, leaning on her cane, and handed him a small wooden plaque: "Take this. Merchants on several streets in the south of the city all recognize this sign. They won't cheat you on the weight, and they can speak up for you if you encounter any minor trouble." Zhou Ye felt a warmth in his heart, took the wooden plaque, and thanked her. Although the old lady was hard of hearing, she was insightful and honest.

The morning in Beiping was gradually becoming lively, with streets bustling with traffic and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares. Zhou Ye walked slowly along the street, his gaze sweeping over every corner: the Japanese sentries at the city gates were conducting strict checks, and the puppet troops were arrogantly shouting at the people; most shops on the commercial street were open for business, but they seemed rather cautious; occasionally, one could see refugees begging in the corners of walls, their eyes numb, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.

Following Xiao Shitou's directions, he first went to the vegetable market in the south of the city. This place was bustling with people from all walks of life, making it an ideal spot for gathering information. Zhou Ye pretended to buy something, weaving between the stalls, carefully listening to the conversations around him—mostly complaints about soaring prices and frequent Japanese patrols. Occasionally, he'd hear a few comments about "the Japanese setting up a stronghold in the west of the city" or "a restaurant being taken over by traitors," all of which he silently noted down.

Around noon, Zhou Ye was about to inquire about He Daqing when he heard a commotion ahead. One of the familiar voices belonged to He Daqing. He quickly squeezed through the crowd and saw He Daqing standing in front of a restaurant called "Fuxinglou," being pushed and shoved by a man in a silk jacket with a mustache. Two fierce-looking thugs stood beside him.

"You think you're so great? A poor cook who's fled from war, you dare talk to me about wages?" The man with the mustache spat as he spoke, his eyes filled with contempt. "If it weren't for the fact that your cooking is barely edible, I wouldn't even let you in the door! Two silver dollars a month, take it or leave it!"

He Daqing's face flushed with anger, but he forced himself to suppress it: "Manager, I used to be a head chef in a grand restaurant, and you've tasted my cooking. Two silver dollars aren't even enough to feed a family; it needs at least four!"

"Four pieces? You're dreaming!" The mustachioed shopkeeper sneered. "There are plenty of cooks in Beiping who have fled the city. If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of others who will! If you keep arguing, I'll make sure you leave here lying down!" With that, he gestured for his thugs to strike.

Zhou Ye's eyes turned cold. He strode forward, grabbed one of the thugs' wrists, and twisted it forcefully. "Ah—" the thug screamed in pain, wincing in agony. Seeing this, the mustachioed shopkeeper roared, "Where did this brat come from, daring to meddle in my business?"

"Manager, leave some room for maneuver in your dealings, so you can meet again in the future." Zhou Ye walked to He Daqing's side, looking coldly at the man with the mustache. "My uncle's skills are worth four silver dollars. If you bully people, I'm afraid this Fuxinglou restaurant won't last long."

The shopkeeper with the mustache sized up Zhou Ye. Seeing his tall, upright figure and sharp eyes, he didn't seem like someone to be trifled with. Then, noticing the short knife faintly visible at Zhou Ye's waist, his heart skipped a beat. His eyes darted around, and he recognized the wooden plaque in Zhou Ye's hand—the very token of the deaf old lady. Immediately, his arrogance vanished: "So you're one of the deaf old lady's men. It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

The deaf old lady was quite prestigious in the southern part of the city, not only because of her wealth, but also because she had saved many lives in her younger days, and even some traitors had to give her some face. Although the shopkeeper with the mustache was snobbish, he dared not offend the deaf old lady.

"Master He," the man with the mustache immediately changed his tune, smiling as he said to He Daqing, "I was a bit harsh just now, please don't take it to heart. Four silver dollars a month, including two meals, what do you think?"

He Daqing was surprised and delighted that Zhou Ye would suddenly appear and help him out of a predicament. He quickly nodded, "Okay, boss, I'll do it!"

The shopkeeper with the mustache quickly had someone lead He Daqing to the kitchen, then smiled obsequiously at Zhou Ye: "Young man, please come in, have a cup of tea?"

Zhou Ye waved his hand: "No need. My uncle works for you, please take good care of him." After saying that, he turned and left.

Leaving Fuxinglou, Zhou Ye sneered inwardly—this mustachioed shopkeeper was clearly an opportunist; he would have to keep a close eye on him in the future. He glanced at the sky and decided to go to the west of the city to inquire about the Japanese stronghold; the discussions he had overheard at the market earlier had caught his attention.

The west side of the city was much quieter than the south side. Most of the shops on both sides of the street were closed, and occasionally one could see Japanese soldiers in military uniforms patrolling. The atmosphere was oppressive. Zhou Ye pretended to be a lost refugee and wandered through the streets and alleys, gradually approaching the rumored Japanese stronghold—an abandoned granary. The walls had been reinforced by the Japanese, and there were sentries guarding the entrance. Japanese soldiers were coming and going from time to time, and it seemed heavily guarded.

Zhou Ye lay in wait in a nearby alley, carefully observing the layout of the stronghold: the granary gate faced east, guarded by two Japanese soldiers; the wall was high, topped with barbed wire; there was a small gate at the back of the granary, guarded by only one Japanese soldier, making it relatively vulnerable. He also noticed that every afternoon at three o'clock, a truck would drive out of the stronghold, presumably to transport supplies.

"System, Japanese stronghold detected. Mark it?" Zhou Ye thought to himself.

[A Japanese supply depot has been detected and its location has been marked. Defeating the Japanese soldiers inside will earn you a high amount of merit points, and destroying the supplies will grant you additional rewards!]

Zhou Ye was overjoyed; this stronghold was a perfect opportunity for him to accumulate merit points. He noted down the details of the stronghold, observed it for a while to make sure nothing was missed, and then quietly withdrew.

It was already evening when they returned to the courtyard. He Daqing had already returned and was talking to Lü Bingxin about the restaurant, with a look of satisfaction on his face—although the wages at Fuxing Restaurant were not high, they were enough to feed the family, and the manager was quite polite to him because of the deaf old lady.

The apprentices in the workshop gradually returned home after get off work. Yi Zhonghai, carrying half a jin of flour, walked into the central courtyard with a smile: "Brother He, congratulations on finding a job! I'll make pancakes tonight, let's all try them!" Liu Haizhong echoed, holding a few apples he had just bought, which he distributed to the children. Xu Wude took out a technician's manual, sat on a stone bench, and read it attentively, occasionally looking up to chat with the others.

Jia Fugui and his wife also returned. Jia Zhangshi was carrying a piece of pork. When she saw He Daqing, she smiled and said, "Brother He, I heard you're a chef at Fuxing Restaurant now? We'll have to try your cooking sometime!" Jia Fugui smiled and said, "We're neighbors. If you need any help in the future, just let us know."

Looking at the lively scene in the courtyard, Zhou Ye gradually felt a sense of belonging. These young apprentices, despite their difficult lives, still maintained their enthusiasm for life, and the neighbors looked out for each other, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The deaf old woman also came out, leaning on her cane, and sat on the stone bench. Looking at the people in the courtyard, a faint smile appeared on her lips. Yi Zhonghai quickly stepped forward and handed her a freshly baked pancake: "Grandma, please try one."

Zhou Ye walked to the deaf old woman's side and quietly recounted the information he had gathered about the Japanese stronghold—he knew the old woman was knowledgeable and might be able to offer some advice. Upon hearing this, the deaf old woman's eyes narrowed, and she nodded gently: "I know about that granary in the west of the city. After the Japanese occupied it, the nearby people suffered terribly. You must be careful; the Japanese are very cunning, don't act rashly."

Zhou Ye nodded in agreement: "Don't worry, Grandma, I know what I'm doing."

As night deepened, the lights in the courtyard gradually came on. Zhou Ye leaned against the doorframe of the east wing of the front yard, watching the children laughing and playing in the middle courtyard and the neighbors chatting about everyday things, his heart filled with emotion. In this chaotic world, such peace and warmth were so precious.

He knew that the peaceful days were only temporary, and the threat of the Japanese invaders and traitors would always remain. But he was no longer alone—he had a younger sister to protect, companions to fight alongside him, and neighbors with whom he lived in harmony. He had to improve his strength as quickly as possible, destroy the Japanese strongholds, avenge his parents and fellow villagers, and fight with all his might to protect the warmth and life in this courtyard.

Moonlight spilled onto the bluestone slabs of the courtyard, carrying a faint coolness. Zhou Ye's gaze grew increasingly resolute. His path of revenge had only just begun, and this Japanese stronghold in the west of the city would be his first target in Beiping!