Courtyard House: Ten-year-old Master Zhu reorganizes the entire courtyard

Days flowed by peacefully.

While quietly managing his "youth intelligence network" at school, He Yuzhu also underwent various training programs arranged by the organization. His life was divided into two completely different parts: one was a taciturn student, and the other was a warrior codenamed "Apprentice".

That day, taking advantage of her trip to Xidan to buy things, Xu Zhao found Rongxian Hutong. She brought the He family a basket of eggs and a message.

"The old lady is sick and hasn't been eating properly for some time. She keeps saying she misses you all," said Madam Xu Zhao with a worried expression.

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang immediately became anxious and prepared to pack her things to visit him.

He Yuzhu stopped her. He saw that Xu Zhaoshi had secretly slipped a folded piece of paper into his hand while she was speaking.

After seeing Xu Zhao off, He Yuzhu unfolded the note.

There were only five words on it, written in a strong and vigorous hand: "Return immediately, there is urgent business."

It's the handwriting of a deaf old lady.

Messages spoken are for outsiders, but written notes tell the truth. Something big must have happened in the courtyard.

"Mom, you and Dad are at home, I'll just go back and check on you by myself," He Yuzhu said to his mother, putting the note away.

"Are you sure you can manage on your own?" Chen Lanxiang asked, worried.

"Don't worry, nobody's watching us now."

That afternoon, He Yuzhu changed into inconspicuous clothes, quietly slipped out through the back door, circled around several times, and only returned to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang after confirming that no one was following him.

The courtyard was quiet.

He first saw Xu Damao, who was squatting in the corner playing with the cat. When he saw He Yuzhu, Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he was about to come closer when He Yuzhu forced him back with a cold look.

He saw Yi Zhonghai again. The old man was sitting on a small stool in front of his house, leisurely sipping tea, but his eyes kept glancing towards the backyard. When he saw He Yuzhu return, he immediately put on a fake smile: "Oh, Zhuzi's back? Go see the old lady, she's missed you so much."

He Yuzhu nodded, said nothing more, and walked straight to the backyard.

A faint smell of medicine filled the deaf old lady's room.

The old lady lay on the bed, her face indeed looking somewhat haggard and her spirits low, but when she saw He Yuzhu, a glint of light flashed in her cloudy eyes.

"They're here."

"Madam, I'm back." He Yuzhu walked to the bedside and took her withered hand in his.

"Close the door," the old lady instructed.

He Yuzhu closed the door as instructed and even bolted it.

"Is everything alright at your place?"

"Everything is fine. My dad is doing well at the restaurant, and my mom is taking care of my younger sister at home. Everything is stable."

"That's good." The deaf old lady nodded, took a breath, and then got to the point, "Child, I called you back because I wanted to entrust you with something after I pass away."

He Yuzhu's heart tightened: "Madam, you're in good health."

"When you get old, you know your own body best." The old lady waved her hand, her gaze becoming distant. "There are some things that, if you don't do them now, it will be too late. Those wolves in the yard are all eyeing this old body of mine."

He Yuzhu knew that the jackal she was referring to was Yi Zhonghai.

"You know my dead old man. He followed Mr. Sun in the revolution in his early years and was an old member of the Tongmenghui." The old lady's voice was low, but every word was clear. "He passed away early, leaving me some things. Besides this courtyard, there are several land deeds and some tokens, all hidden in a very secret place."

He Yuzhu listened quietly. He knew that what the old lady was about to say was a shocking secret concerning the future of the entire courtyard.

"I have no children in my life, and my only wish is to protect this courtyard. But I'm afraid that one day when I close my eyes, I won't be able to keep this courtyard." The old lady looked at He Yuzhu, "either it will be occupied by those ill-intentioned neighbors, or it will be confiscated by the government outside."

"So, I want to entrust this yard to you."

He Yuzhu was stunned.

"I know that your three main rooms were passed down from your grandfather and have land deeds. But the remaining side rooms and rear rooms are nominally still in my name," the old lady continued. "I want to do a 'deal' with your family while I'm still of sound mind."

"Transfer all the property deeds of the entire courtyard to your name. Give me a sum of money, not much, just enough for my old age and funeral. That way, even if I die, this courtyard will still be the private property of your He family, and no one can take it away."

This proposal was like a boulder thrown into He Yuzhu's heart, stirring up huge waves.

The ownership of the entire three-courtyard siheyuan!

In Beiping in 1945, this represented an immeasurable fortune and the foundation for a stable life.

Any normal person would probably be overjoyed upon hearing this news.

But He Yuzhu did not.

Looking into the old lady's eyes, which were full of trust and entrustment, he felt a heavy sense of responsibility.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Madam, I understand your intentions. But this cannot be done this way."

The deaf old woman looked at him with some surprise.

Why?

"The bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow against it," He Yuzhu calmly analyzed. "Our family just moved away, escaping the Japanese's sight. Now, suddenly we've become the owners of the entire courtyard house. What do you think the people inside will think? What will Yi Zhonghai think? How will outsiders investigate? Isn't this like putting our family back on the hot seat?"

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, this courtyard belongs to you, and it's the longing of everyone in the courtyard for decades. Transferring it directly to my family would cause enormous trouble and envy. Then, our family would become the target of everyone's hatred, and we would never have a peaceful day again."

A glint of approval flashed in the deaf old woman's cloudy eyes.

She had lived a long life and seen too many relatives turn against each other over inheritance, and too many greedy and ruthless people. She had thought He Yuzhu was just a smart kid, but she never expected him to see so deeply and so far ahead, and to remain so calm and clear-headed in the face of enormous profits.

"Then tell me, what should we do?" the old lady asked. She had completely come to regard He Yuzhu as an adult with whom she could discuss things.

"I need to go back and discuss this with my parents," He Yuzhu said in a deep voice. "Moreover, I need to think of a more secure solution. A solution that can protect the house, allow you to enjoy your later years in peace, and avoid putting my family in a difficult position."

"Okay." The deaf old woman looked at him, nodded slowly, and a relieved smile appeared on her face. "You're a promising child. I believe in you."

After leaving the deaf old lady's room, He Yuzhu was unable to calm down for a long time.

He knew that from this day forward, protecting this courtyard house had become a responsibility he had to shoulder. And how to break this deadlock would test all his wisdom and abilities.

He walked out of the backyard and saw Yi Zhonghai carrying a teacup, pretending to walk over casually.

"Zhu Zi, have you finished chatting with the old lady?" Yi Zhonghai asked with a smile.

"Yes, we're done talking," He Yuzhu replied expressionlessly.

"How is the old lady's health? What did she say to you?" Yi Zhonghai asked, seemingly concerned, but in reality, every question was an attempt to probe.

He Yuzhu looked at his calculating face and suddenly smiled.

"My wife said she wants to eat my dad's cooking."

After saying that, he ignored the bewildered Yi Zhonghai and strode out of the courtyard.

A storm surrounding the ownership of traditional courtyard houses is quietly brewing. And he must be the one to control that storm.