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

Aspirin is effective.

Half an hour after He Yushui took the medicine, her fever began to subside.

Chen Lanxiang touched her daughter's forehead, which was no longer burning hot, and tears welled up in her eyes again. This time, they were tears of relief.

He Daqing watched all this without saying a word. He walked outside the temple, found a rock to sit on, and started smoking a pipe. The smoke was choking, and he coughed a few times.

He Yuzhu came out and stood beside him.

"father."

"Hmm." He Daqing didn't turn around.

"We can't stay here forever," He Yuzhu said. "We've run out of medicine, and we need to get more. We also don't have enough to eat."

He Daqing tapped his pipe on a stone. "Father is useless."

"You're useful," He Yuzhu said. "You need to take good care of Mother and your sister. I'll take care of the rest."

He Daqing turned around and looked at his ten-year-old son. His eyes held weariness, confusion, and a hint of fear. He was afraid of his son. He was afraid of the incomprehensible energy within him.

"Zhu Zi, tell your father the truth," He Daqing said in a low voice, "How many people did you... kill?"

"Those who deserved to die, have all been killed," He Yuzhu replied.

He Daqing stopped asking.

The next day, He Daqing took the few silver dollars He Yuzhu had given him and went to the nearest town. He dared not go into the city.

He bought some coarse grains, a tattered cotton quilt, and some salt.

Life in the dilapidated temple improved somewhat.

The fire was burning, and cotton quilts were spread on the dry grass. Chen Lanxiang and He Yushui lay on them, feeling much warmer.

But He Yuzhu knew that this was only temporary.

He had a few silver dollars left in his pocket. Not enough.

He needs more money. With money, he can buy medicine, food, and even a way out.

Three days later, He Yushui finished her medicine. The fever didn't return, but she was still very weak.

He Yuzhu decided to go to the ghost market again.

He told He Daqing to go and see if there were any wild animals nearby that could be hunted.

He Daqing didn't believe it, but he didn't stop him. He simply said, "Be back before dark."

He Yuzhu nodded.

He still set off in the middle of the night.

This time he knew the way better. He quickly arrived at the mass grave.

The lights in the ghost market were dimmer than last time. There were also fewer people.

There was a tense atmosphere in the air.

He Yuzhu covered his face and went inside.

He didn't rush to find a stall. He first strolled around and listened.

"...Have you heard? Two people hanged themselves yesterday at the West Gate."

Why?

"They said they were anti-Japanese elements."

"Bullshit. They just stole some grain. Killing a person now is as easy as crushing an ant."

"Keep your voice down! The walls are listening!"

He Yuzhu walked away. He had made up his mind. The situation was getting tense.

He walked up to Old Ghost's stall.

Old Gui was still the same, sitting on the stool with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

He Yuzhu stood still.

Old Ghost opened his eyes. He saw it was He Yuzhu and lifted his eyelids slightly.

"Young man, you're here again?"

"Hmm." He Yuzhu took something out of his pocket and placed it on the stall.

A silver cigarette case. Also confiscated from a Japanese soldier. It has a chrysanthemum crest on it.

Old Gui picked it up and rubbed it for a moment.

"Good stuff," he said. He didn't look at He Yuzhu, his eyes fixed on the cigarette pack. "But lately, these things with 'flowers' on them are getting a bit too hot to handle."

"How so?"

"A few 'Imperial Army' soldiers have gone missing in the city. The military police are like mad dogs, biting people everywhere." Old Gui put down his cigarette case. "They're especially strict with kids like you. They say the killer is just a child."

After Lao Gui finished speaking, he looked up at He Yuzhu.

His eyes were like awls.

He Yuzhu did not dodge.

"I'm just a gofer," he said. "My family member is sick and needs money to save their life."

Old Ghost laughed. A silent laugh.

"Okay." He held up four fingers. "Forty large C's."

"make a deal."

Old Gui was counting his money. As he handed it over, he suddenly asked, "Young man, do you... have any other 'good stuff' in your hands?"

He paused for a moment, then added, "For example, something that makes a sound, or something that can save a life."

He was asking about guns and medicine.

He Yuzhu felt a chill run down his spine. This old guy was testing him.

"That's all." He Yuzhu shook his head. "These are all the family heirlooms we have. Once they're sold out, we'll have to go begging."

Old Ghost stared at him for a few seconds.

"Alright." He looked away. "Take the money and get going. This city isn't safe today."

He Yuzhu took the money and put it away.

Thanks.

He turned and left.

He didn't go shopping. Old Ghost's words alerted him. He had to leave immediately.

He walked to the exit of the ghost market.

My heart sank.

On the path leading to the exit, four fake policemen dressed in black leather stood, carrying lanterns and stopping everyone who tried to leave.

Check.

There was a person in front of He Yuzhu who was found to be carrying a dagger.

Without saying a word, the fake policeman smashed the man's head with the butt of his rifle.

The person fell to the ground and was dragged away.

The people behind started to stir.

He Yuzhu didn't stop. He kept his head down and continued walking forward.

It was his turn.

A fake policeman stopped him with a baton. "Stop! Kid, come here!"

He Yuzhu walked over.

"What do you do?"

"A ragpicker," He Yuzhu said in a hoarse voice.

"Collecting trash this late at night?" the fake policeman sneered. "Turn around and put your hands up."

He Yuzhu did as instructed.

Another fake policeman came up and searched them.

He touched it very carefully, from top to bottom: the cotton-padded jacket, the trousers, and the shoes.

There was nothing there.

He had just finished the transaction and immediately stored the money and cigarette pack into his system space.

"Boss, there isn't any," said the fake policeman who was searching him.

The leader was a fat man who looked like a police chief. He walked over and shone the lantern on He Yuzhu's face.

"Where are you from?"

"From Yaozi Village in the west." He Yuzhu had already prepared his explanation. "We're out of food at home, so my mother told me to bring a few family heirloom buttons here to try my luck and see if I could exchange them for some food."

As he spoke, he pulled two ordinary brass buttons from his pocket.

The sheriff sized him up, his eyes filled with suspicion.

"Yarn Village? I've never seen you before!"

"We just moved here not long ago."

The sheriff wanted to ask more questions.

Not far away, near Old Ghost's stall, a fake policeman walked by.

The old ghost said something to him and then pointed in this direction.

The fake policeman ran over and whispered a few words in the police chief's ear.

The sheriff's expression changed.

The look in his eyes when he looked at He Yuzhu changed from suspicion to apprehension.

He waved his hand. "Get lost."

He Yuzhu didn't say anything. He picked up the copper button from the ground, turned around, and quickly left.

He walked at a moderate pace.

But he could feel the sheriff's gaze fixed on him from behind.

He walked quite a distance before turning into the woods.

He leaned against a tree and caught his breath.

Old Ghost.

That old guy not only knows the fake police, but he can also talk to them.

He helped himself today.

But why?

He Yuzhu didn't think Lao Gui meant well.

He is investing.

He realized that he had greater value.

This is both protection and a threat.

He Yuzhu clenched his fist.

We can't keep going down this road to the Ghost Market. It's too dangerous.

The network of fake police is tightening. They'll find the ruined temple sooner or later.

We must find another way.

A safer and more reliable method.

He thought of Lin Wanqiu.

That woman is not simple.

The system notification indicated that the background of her photo was Yan'an Pagoda Hill.

She might be one of our own.

Even if it wasn't true, she still owed herself a favor.

He made his decision.

We must contact Lin Wan-qiu as soon as possible.