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

September 1945, Beiping (Beijing).

Heavens, it's really high.

The pigeon whistles still circled above the alley, just like before.

But the air in this ancient city smells wrong.

It's not gunpowder smoke.

It's money, moldy money, with that stench of money.

A new saying has slipped out from the mouths of ordinary people: "Hoping for the central government, longing for the central government, but the arrival of the central government will only bring more disaster."

There's an even more offensive one called "Five Sons Passing the Imperial Examination".

Gold, silver, houses, cars, women.

These five things became the most important livelihood for the newly arrived "receiving officials".

At Qianmen Railway Station, a special train bearing the flag of the Republic of China came to a stop, whistling softly.

Commissioner Li.

His full name was Li Dequan, and his business card read "Deputy Director of the Enemy and Puppet Industry Handling Office of Pingjin District." Surrounded by a group of heavily armed military police, he stepped onto the ground of Beiping.

His American-style wool military uniform was as straight as a steel plate, his hair was so oiled that even flies couldn't land on it, and behind his gold-rimmed glasses were the eyes of a refined scoundrel.

On the platform, he addressed the reporters, spitting as he spoke:

"I have come here solely to wipe out the remnants of the enemy and their collaborators, restore prosperity to Beiping, and return a bright and clear world to the people!"

The spotlights flashed incessantly.

He Yuzhu mingled in the crowd, still holding half a sesame seed cake he hadn't finished eating.

He watched.

Look at that grand spectacle on the scene.

He noticed that Commissioner Li's gaze never lingered on the cheering crowd below; his eyes were fixed intently on the black sedans outside the station.

Hungry wolf.

I saw raw meat.

It was that look in his eyes.

It will only take three days.

Commissioner Li's use of the phrase "bright and clear heavens" revealed his true colors.

Instead of going to the proper office building, he "requisitioned" a house in Dongjiaomin Lane that had once been occupied by a Japanese major general.

The pretext? "Office needs."

Then, several large trucks drove in one trip after another, carrying red wine, cigars, and bottles and jars from the previous dynasty that had been "seized" from various trading companies.

In a corner of the teahouse, He Yuzhu pricked up his ears, listening to several former Qing dynasty officials at the next table complaining in high-pitched voices.

"Have you heard? Ruifuxiang! The seal was just put up yesterday, and this morning, hey, the seal is still there, but half the material inside is gone!"

"What's this? All those rare, treasured medicines from Tongrentang were 'requisitioned,' supposedly for treating the wounded brothers on the front lines. Bah! The moment they turn their backs, they all end up on the black market!"

The tea in the bowl was gone.

He Yuzhu tossed down a few copper coins, stood up, and went to see someone.

An unassuming mutton soup restaurant.

Young Master Sun, the spendthrift son of the fake police chief, may have lost his backer, but the network of relationships he built over the years still exists.

"Master Zhu, this time, things are in trouble."

Young Master Sun's face looked like a bitter gourd.

He managed to squeeze out a few words, and a crumpled piece of paper was quietly pushed over.

"That guy in the police station risked his life to do this job."

The note contained only one line: *Key area for re-inspection—Nanluoguxiang area. Suspected of containing a large amount of unregistered enemy and puppet assets.*

He Yuzhu's brows furrowed into a knot.

Nanluoguxiang? These are all old neighborhoods, where would they get enemy or puppet assets from?

"What about the title?"

"If I wanted to pin a crime on you, I wouldn't have trouble finding the right words." Young Master Sun took a swig of his ice-cold mutton soup and smiled bitterly. "Under Commissioner Li, there's a section chief surnamed Ma. That bastard's a dog, with a sharp nose. He's been spreading rumors that quite a few 'respectable people' who worked for the Japanese lived in Nanluoguxiang, and they must have something in their homes. Especially those detached houses, or those that look newer, they're all prime targets for him."

He Yuzhu's fingers tapped repeatedly on the greasy tabletop.

Outright robbery.

The so-called "re-inspection" involved carrying a large bag and shaking out money from house to house.

They say you were born out of wedlock, so you have to pay money to buy peace of mind.

You won't give it to me?

Take the house away, and get out.

"What's the background of this Section Chief Ma?"

"A scoundrel, who got lucky and infiltrated the ragtag army of the Central Army. He climbed to his current position by sending women to Commissioner Li's bed." Young Master Sun's lips curled into a smirk that could hold an oil bottle. "This kind of scum is the most ruthless and unscrupulous."

He Yuzhu grunted in agreement, took out a silver dollar, and pushed it over.

"Thanks. Keep a close eye on that guy surnamed Ma for me these past few days. I need to know everything: where he went, who he met, even how many sores he has on his butt."

Rongxian Hutong.

As soon as I entered, I saw Xu Fugui sitting in the main room, spitting as he talked to He Daqing.

Xu Fugui looked incredibly glamorous today.

He wore a long robe and mandarin jacket, and held two shiny walnuts in his hands, looking every bit the part of someone who had just struck it rich.

"Great Qing, let me tell you from the bottom of my heart, this is an incredible opportunity that fell from the sky!" Xu Fugui, seeing He Yuzhu enter the room, not only didn't tone it down, but his voice rose eight octaves. "That Section Chief Ma, Commissioner Li's number one favorite! I went all out, two small yellow croakers, plus a batch of film I got from the Germans back then, just to get in touch with him!"

He Daqing was completely confused: "Getting in touch...that's a good thing, but what does that have to do with our family..."

"How can it not matter!" Xu Fugui slapped his thigh so hard it cracked like a walnut. "Section Chief Ma said that Commissioner Li is incredibly picky. He can't stand the food from the chefs at the Beiping Hotel, so he wants to find a true successor of the Tan family cuisine or a master of Sichuan cuisine to cook a few family banquets. With your skills, you can't find another like it in all of Beiping! As long as you satisfy Commissioner Li's appetite, he might spare a little something for you, like a minor official position, or at the very least, a franchise license. What will we have to worry about for the rest of our lives then?"

He Yuzhu stood at the door and didn't go inside.

This Xu Fugui has the word "scheming" etched into his very bones.

When the Japanese came, he schemed against them.

Now that the person in charge has changed, he's still scheming.

"Uncle Xu," He Yuzhu spoke, his voice devoid of warmth, "Is Commissioner Li here to take over enemy property, or to take over a restaurant?"

Xu Fugui was taken aback by these words and turned his head away: "Zhuzi, what do you know, you little kid? This is called social etiquette, it's called 'getting on the upper echelons'! What do we ordinary people want? Just a peaceful life! With a powerful backer, who would dare to lay a finger on us?"

"backing?"

He Yuzhu laughed, but the laugh was chilling.

"Uncle Xu, I reckon those two little yellow croakers of yours are a waste. Those people have bottomless appetites. A few meals and a few fish and they think they can fill them up? Dream on. Don't let them end up taking away our cooking pot."

Xu Fugui's chubby face immediately flushed red, turning a deep purplish-red: "He Yuzhu! What kind of talk is that! I'm only doing this for your family's good! What's the talk outside? Your father's past... Just because the people in the compound aren't talking about it doesn't mean outsiders won't dig up old dirt! If he really becomes Commissioner Li's man, who would dare to investigate?"

That's his trump card.

First they give you a sweet treat, then they stab you in the back.

He Daqing's expression changed immediately, and the teacup he was holding trembled.

He Yuzhu walked over, reached out and pressed his hand on his father's wrist, but his gaze was fixed on Xu Fugui: "Uncle Xu, you don't need to worry about this. Our family is small and timid, we can't afford to serve such a great deity. You can walk your own path to heaven, but be careful. The door is over there, we won't see you out."

Xu Fugui suddenly stood up, his fat trembling with anger.

"Fine! Fine, He Yuzhu! You don't know what's good for you! When they come knocking on your door to raid your property, don't regret not clinging to my coattails!"

He flung his sleeves and stormed off.

He Daqing watched his retreating figure, his face full of worry: "Zhu Zi, doing this... won't we offend someone? That Section Chief Ma..."

"Dad," He Yuzhu interrupted him, "if we really go, that would be like handing our necks to their guillotine. Cooking for those people, if you do it well, it's your duty; if you don't, that's 'attempting to poison.' Besides, with our current identities, the further we stay away from those people, the longer we'll live."

He didn't explain it clearly.

Since that guy surnamed Ma has already set his sights on Nanluoguxiang, this meal is a trap.

night.

The window was open, and the night breeze was blowing in.

The coin in He Yuzhu's hand was warm from being handled.

Five sons passed the imperial examination...

He muttered those four words to himself, as if he were chewing on something dirty.

The hand reached out to me.

It extends all the way to Nanluoguxiang.

become.

Then you can forget about getting that hand back.