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

The next morning, the sky was clear and the breeze of early summer swept through the alleyways, carrying the warmth of early summer. The old locust trees in the courtyard swayed gently, scattering sunlight like shattered gold.

Zhou Ye changed into a clean blue long gown early in the morning, shedding his usual sharp demeanor and becoming more gentle and refined. Today he was attending Lou Zhenhua's family banquet, both to fulfill his promise of gratitude and to finalize the follow-up cooperation with Lou's steel rolling mill, so he naturally wanted to be properly dressed and presentable.

Little Grass was waiting at the door of the east wing early in the morning, clutching the little rag doll that Lou Xiao'e had given her yesterday. Her little face was full of anticipation. She tugged at Zhou Ye's clothes and shook it gently: "Brother, can I go to the Lou family with you? I want to play with Sister Xiao'e."

Seeing the undisguised joy in his younger sister's eyes, Zhou Ye smiled and ruffled her hair: "Okay, I'll take you with me. It'll be good for you to keep Xiao'e company and chat with her."

Xiao Cao immediately beamed with joy, skipped and hopped back into the house, took out her cleanest blue floral shirt to change into, and even specially put two extra fruit candies in her pocket to share with Lou Xiao'e.

Zhao Hu strode over, a short stick tucked into his waistband, his expression calm: "Brother Zhou Ye, should I take two brothers and secretly follow you for protection? The city of Beiping is a mixed bag these days, and Zhang Huai'an's gang is still lurking in the shadows; I'm afraid something might happen."

"No need to worry," Zhou Ye waved his hand. "The Lou family is a legitimate industrial family in Beiping. The family banquet is just for family members, so there won't be any accidents. You stay in the courtyard and keep a close eye on the guards of the South City warehouse and the secret passage. Zhang Huai'an has suffered a loss, so he will definitely not let his guard down. We must not relax our vigilance."

"Don't worry, I'll stay by your side every step of the way!" Zhao Hu nodded emphatically.

The deaf old woman under the eaves leaned on her cane and slowly spoke, her voice aged but strong: "Young Zhou Ye, when you're out in the world, harmony comes first. We don't seek to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy, we only seek to stay true to ourselves, associate with reliable people, and do reliable things."

"Don't worry, Grandma, I remember." Zhou Ye smiled and agreed, then put his arm around Xiao Cao's shoulder and stepped out of the courtyard.

A rickshaw sent by the Lou family was already parked at the entrance of the alley. The rickshaw was polished to a gleaming shine. When Zhou Ye saw him coming, the driver quickly bowed. Zhou Ye led Xiao Cao into the rickshaw, and the driver walked briskly towards the Lou residence in the west of the city.

As they traveled, the streets of Beiping gradually came alive. In the markets controlled by the Shou'an Association, people set up stalls to do business, and neat queues formed in front of grain stores. The looting and chaos of the famine were gone. Looking at the peaceful scene outside the window, Zhou Ye felt a warmth in his eyes. This was the human warmth he had tried so hard to protect.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the rickshaw stopped in front of a mansion that blended Chinese and Western styles. The black lacquered gate was adorned with a brass door knocker, and the courtyard walls were neat and elegant. There was no extravagance or ostentation, but rather a sense of composure and dignity befitting a family of businessmen. This was the Lou family mansion.

Lou Zhenhua and his family were already waiting at the door. Beside him stood a gentle and dignified woman, Mrs. Lou; behind her were two teenagers, both with handsome features and modest demeanor. They were Lou Xiao'e's two older brothers, Lou Wenbo, eighteen, and Lou Wenhao, fifteen, both of whom were of school age. And hiding behind Mrs. Lou was a little girl with her hair in a round bun and wearing a pink dress, who was Lou Xiao'e.

Upon seeing Zhou Ye, Lou Zhenhua quickly stepped forward and greeted him with clasped hands: "Mr. Zhou, it is an honor to have you here! Please come in, please come in."

"Director Lou, you're too kind." Zhou Ye returned the greeting with a cupped hand and led Xiao Cao forward.

Upon seeing the little grass, Lou Xiao'e immediately broke free from her mother's hand, ran over with her short legs, and called out with a beaming smile, "Sister Little Grass!"

Xiao Cao quickly took out some fruit candies from her pocket and stuffed them into her hand: "Little sister Xiao'e, here's some candy for you."

The two little girls held hands and chattered away, showing none of the awkwardness they had shown yesterday, and were as close as sisters.

Seeing this, Madam Lou smiled and said gently to Zhou Ye, "Mr. Zhou, please come inside and sit down. Tea and refreshments are ready. Xiao'e is usually spoiled, so it's rare for her to meet a friend she likes."

The group entered the Lou residence. Pomegranate trees lined the courtyard, and fresh fruits and pastries were laid out on the stone table, creating a warm and elegant ambiance. After taking their seats, the brothers Lou Wenbo and Lou Wenhao respectfully bowed to Zhou Ye, their eyes filled with admiration. They had already learned from their father that this young Mr. Zhou had single-handedly founded the Shou'an Society, stabilized grain prices in Beiping, and saved countless lives—a true young hero.

"Mr. Zhou, if it weren't for your help yesterday, my Lou family's steel rolling mill would probably not have been able to survive." Lou Zhenhua raised his teacup, using tea instead of wine, and solemnly toasted Zhou Ye. "More than two hundred workers and more than two hundred families owe you a great debt of gratitude."

Zhou Ye raised his hand, took a sip of tea, and said, "Director Lou, you flatter me. In times of chaos, industry is the foundation of a nation. By protecting the steel mill, Director Lou is protecting the livelihoods of the people. I am merely going with the flow and doing my part."

Upon hearing this, Lou Zhenhua's admiration for Zhou Ye grew even stronger. At such a young age, to possess such skill, yet remain humble and compassionate towards the common people, is truly rare.

"Don't worry, Mr. Zhou. I've already given instructions regarding the steel parts and farm implements you asked me to make. All the lathes and blacksmiths in the factory are on standby. As soon as the blueprints arrive, they will be processed immediately without charge!" Lou Zhenhua assured him, patting his chest.

Zhou Ye shook his head slightly: "Director Lou, let's keep things separate. The grain is at a fair price, and the processed parts will be settled at the market price. I, Zhou Ye, never take advantage of others. Besides, the steel mill has more than two hundred workers who need to make a living, so I absolutely cannot let you suffer a loss."

He knew that although the Lou family were industrialists, they also had to struggle to survive in the chaos of the world. If they only took from them, they would lose sight of the original intention of cooperation.

Seeing Zhou Ye's resolute attitude, Lou Zhenhua no longer declined, and in his heart, he was even more convinced that Zhou Ye was a true friend worth making: "Good! Mr. Zhou is upright and honest, Zhenhua admires him! In the future, if there is anything that my Lou family can do to help, if it can contribute to the people and the country, I, Lou Zhenhua, will not hesitate!"

During the Japanese occupation, he would rather give away all his wealth than cooperate with the Japanese invaders, showing the integrity of a Beijing merchant at heart. Now, seeing Zhou Ye doing great things to protect the people and benefit the country, he has long wanted to follow him, but he just doesn't want to say it out loud.

The two men chatted amiably, discussing everything from the grain market order in Beiping to the production and operation of the steel mill, and then to the livelihoods of ordinary people in turbulent times. The more they talked, the more they found common ground. Zhou Ye was completely relieved. Lou Zhenhua was an upright man with a heart for his country, and was by no means a profit-driven unscrupulous businessman. The Lou family was an absolutely reliable ally.

At the stone table nearby, Xiaocao and Lou Xiao'e huddled together, sharing pastries and playing with small dolls. The Lou brothers were also there, occasionally handing the two girls fruit. The room was filled with the joyful laughter of children, which eased the oppressive atmosphere of the chaotic world.

Looking at the harmonious scene, Madam Lou said gently to Zhou Ye, "Xiao'e grew up in the mansion without any brothers or sisters to accompany her. Now that she has met Sister Xiaocao, she talks about her all the time. If you have time in the future, please bring Xiaocao to the mansion for a visit."

"Of course," Zhou Ye agreed with a smile. "The two children get along well, so it's good for them to visit each other more often."

The family banquet began, with dishes typical of Beijing laid out on the table: braised eggplant, stewed pork ribs, and fried meatballs—all simple yet plentiful home-cooked meals, devoid of extravagance but brimming with sincerity. Lou Zhenhua frequently urged Zhou Ye to eat more, and the Lou brothers also took the initiative to serve food to Xiaocao and Lou Xiao'e. The family's warmth and kindness made Zhou Ye feel deeply touched.

After dinner, Lou Zhenhua led Zhou Ye to his study, took out the steel rolling mill's production drawings, and said in a low voice, "Mr. Zhou, whatever parts you need, whether they are thick or thin iron bars, iron frames, or farm implements like plowshares, the factory can process them. If you have any special specifications, just let me know, and I'll have the most skilled master craftsman make them himself."

Zhou Ye took out several simple drawings from his pocket, which showed iron bolts and frames for reinforcing the secret passage, as well as agricultural tool parts needed for the front-line base: "I would like to trouble Director Lou to process them according to these drawings first, one hundred of each. If needed later, we can communicate further."

Lou Zhenhua took the blueprints, examined them carefully, and understood. These parts looked ordinary, but they were definitely not for ordinary households. He guessed that Zhou Ye was doing something important and kept it a secret, but he didn't ask any questions. He simply put them away carefully and said, "Mr. Zhou, rest assured, I will definitely finish processing them all within three days and personally deliver them to the place you designate."

This tacit understanding made Zhou Ye feel increasingly at ease.

Just then, a member of the Shou'an Society whispered through the courtyard gate. Zhou Ye got up and walked to the door. The member handed him a note and whispered, "Mr. Zhou, Zhang Huai'an's men have been watching outside the Lou residence, trying to find out your relationship with the Lou family. Master Ma asked me to come and report this."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Ye's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "Understood. Tell Old Ma to keep a close eye on them, but don't alert them. I know what I'm doing."

The waiter immediately left.

Zhou Ye returned to his study, his expression as usual, and did not mention Zhang Huai'an's matter. Some underhanded battles did not need to involve the innocent Lou family; he would handle them cleanly himself.

As the sun began to set and it was getting late, Zhou Ye got up to say goodbye.

Lou Xiao'e, holding a box of pastries, tugged at Xiao Cao's clothes reluctantly: "Sister Xiao Cao, you must come and play with me next time, and I'll give you all my toys."

Little Grass nodded, "Little Sister Xiao'e, I'll come again next time."

Lou Zhenhua personally escorted Zhou Ye and Xiao Cao to the door, repeatedly instructing them: "Mr. Zhou, regarding the grain, I will have Manager Sun go to the warehouse to coordinate tomorrow. The parts will also be delivered on time, so you can rest assured."

"Thank you for your trouble, Director Lou." Zhou Ye bowed and said goodbye, then took Xiao Cao's hand and got into the rickshaw, heading towards the courtyard.

Back in the courtyard, the setting sun had already painted half the sky red, and the neighbors gathered around, curiously inquiring about the banquet.

Zhou Ye smiled and said, "Having made a reliable friend means our food supply in the future will be more secure."

Everyone beamed with joy upon hearing this. Yi Zhonghai, chopping firewood, said with a smile, "Zhou Ye is capable; he associates with respectable people. Our courtyard house will only get better and better."

The deaf old woman sat on the threshold, watching Zhou Ye's figure with a smile on her lips. This child, without making a sound, had added a sense of stability to this chaotic world.

When Zhou Ye returned to the east wing, Xiao Cao was still fiddling with the pastries and trinkets that Lou Xiao'e had given her, her little face full of joy.

He sat at the table, spread out the papers, and wrote down the follow-up arrangements: Shou'an would coordinate with the Lou family for parts transportation, the South City warehouse would be reinforced with tighter tunnels, and the underground party's grain transfer would proceed as planned.

Night gradually enveloped Beiping outside the window, Zhang Huai'an's spying still lurked in the shadows, martial law by the military police could be lifted at any moment, and the storms of the chaotic world never ceased.

But Zhou Ye's resolve only grew stronger.

With the warmth of the courtyard as his backing, old friends like Zhao Hu as his support, the Shou'an Association as his shield, and now patriotic industrialists like the Lou family as his allies, his original aspiration to protect his family, safeguard national treasures, and support liberation will eventually be realized step by step.

As night deepened, the lights in the courtyard gradually illuminated the way forward in the chaotic world, like tiny specks of light gathering together.