Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 37 Victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea

December 1953, 7.

He Yuzhu set up his stall as usual.

I had just finished packing up and parked my tricycle in the courtyard when I heard someone shouting in the alley. I couldn't make out what they were shouting, but their voice was high-pitched.

He wiped his hands and went out to take a look.

"Victory! Victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea!" someone shouted as they ran over, holding up a newspaper.

He Yuzhu snatched the newspaper. The front page, in bold black characters, read: "Korean Armistice Agreement to be Signed Today."

He returned the newspaper to the man, and people in the alley came out to ask what was going on. After hearing the story, Grandpa Wang from across the street clapped his hands, and the boy from the neighboring courtyard ran out barefoot, ignoring his mother's calls for his shoes.

At 4:30 pm, He Yuzhu was wiping the set of knives under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard.

The moon gate was pushed open, and rainwater rushed in. He threw his schoolbag onto the stone table, gulping down half a tub of water. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and stray hairs clung to his scalp.

"Brother! The war is over! The Korean War is over! Our teacher said so!"

He Yuzhu continued working, smiling as he asked her, "What did the teacher say?"

"The teacher said, the armistice agreement has been signed! The American devils have been defeated! The school will hold a celebration tomorrow!" Yu Shui pulled out a small red paper star from his pocket, about the size of a palm, with rough edges.

"This is what the teacher taught me! I spent all afternoon cutting it out, and this is the best one, look!" She held up the five-pointed star in front of He Yuzhu, the red paper glistening in the sunlight. He Yuzhu took it, looked at it, and gave it back to her. She ran into the house, stood on tiptoe, stuck the five-pointed star to the windowpane, stepped back to look at it, and then went back up to press the edges.

"How did you get back today?"

"It was Brother Da Mao who answered."

"Where are the others?"

"He went home to make red flags. His school is organizing a parade to celebrate tomorrow. That's great. He'll come over. Da Mao always says he can't even swallow the food at home anymore."

In the evening, there was a knock on the main gate of the courtyard.

He Yuzhu opened the door. Chen Xiangqian stood in the doorway, wearing a worn military uniform with the collar buttoned up tightly. He looked energetic, with a smile on his face, and was carrying two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

"Uncle Chen?"

"Zhu Zi, we won the Korean War! Your Uncle Chen is so happy! He wants to invite a few old comrades-in-arms for a get-together, and you'd like to cook. Are you free?"

"Yes. If Uncle Chen asks, I have to make time, even if I'm not available."

The two sat down under the pomegranate tree. He Yuzhu went inside and brought out two teacups, then brewed some tea. Chen Xiangqian took a sip, wincing at the heat. "Also, a soldier from the military control council is getting married next week, and we'd like you to cook the wedding banquet. What do you say?"

"I definitely have to take care of it. I've been paying for every soldier's wedding these past few years. What's the standard for comrades' gatherings? I prepare the food."

"It's up to you. They've all been through the battlefield, they're not picky eaters. As long as there's plenty of meat, they're fine."

He Yuzhu nodded. "Then I'll handle it myself."

Chen Xiangqian leaned back in his chair, smiling as he looked at He Yuzhu. "Zhuzi, you've had a tough time. You haven't accepted a single penny in the past few years; you've always said you'd take it all as a wedding gift."

He Yuzhu smiled but didn't reply.

Chen Xiangqian stood up and dusted off his trousers. "I'm leaving now, I'm in a hurry to get home. I'll have someone let you know when the date is set."

He walked towards the main entrance, and He Yuzhu followed him out.

The next morning, the streets began to bustle with activity.

The sound of gongs and drums poured in from the alley entrance, booming and clanging, shaking the ground. Red flags, mostly made of red paper, stretched out from the windows of each house, fluttering loudly in the wind.

The alley was packed with people, jostling and pushing their way onto the main street. Children weaved through the crowd, holding up small paper flags with the words "Long Live the Victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea" scrawled on them.

He Yuzhu came out of the main gate of the courtyard and stood at the gate for a while. Someone took the lead in shouting slogans, and everyone followed suit. After shouting, they laughed, and after laughing, they shouted again.

Someone set off firecrackers at the entrance of the alley, the crackling and popping scattering red paper scraps all over the ground, the smell of gunpowder pungent. Children covered their ears and screamed, while adults grinned.

He turned and went back to the central courtyard. Old Li had already arrived and was chopping vegetables.

He planned to set up his stall a little later today, as the streets were crowded with people and cars and it would be difficult to move.

At 11:30 a.m., the two packed 400 boxed meals, loaded them onto the tricycle, and covered them tightly with quilts.

He Yuzhu got on his bicycle and went out of the courtyard gate, with Old Li pushing it from behind. There were fewer people in the alley, and the bicycle wheels rolled over the red paper scraps scattered on the ground, crushing them, and the wind blew down another layer.

Qianmen Railway Station. There were more people than usual. Carrying loads of goods, their carrying poles slung across their shoulders, sat in a circle, loudly discussing the victory in the Korean War. Those waiting for their trains sat on their bundles, chatting loudly about the armistice.

The cart driver parked his cart by the roadside, sat on the handlebars smoking, and chuckled as he watched the commotion. Someone started shouting slogans, and everyone followed suit. After shouting, they laughed, and after laughing, they shouted again.

The two set up a folding table and arranged the boxed lunches. As soon as the lids were lifted, a delicious aroma wafted out.

"A boxed lunch costs three cents! We've won the Korean War, so today we're having extra meat!"

People crowded around. Hands handed over money faster than usual, and hands eagerly took the lunchboxes. In less than an hour and a half, all four hundred lunchboxes were sold out. Those who arrived late were told by He Yuzhu to come back tomorrow.

They packed up and went back to the courtyard. Xu Damao sat by the moon gate, holding a straw in his mouth, and boasted to the children in the courtyard.

Seeing He Yuzhu pushing the cart over, she stood up. "Brother Zhu, Yushui's back. She's doing her homework inside."

"Hmm. Everyone got the afternoon off? Let's have some extra dishes to celebrate our victory tonight."

Xu Damao's face lit up with a smile. "Hey! Adding more dishes is great. Brother Zhu, we were released early this afternoon. Leave these tasks to Uncle Li and me, you can take a rest."

Night fell. The courtyard quieted down, broken only by the chirping of insects. The light in the west wing was off, and the red paper five-pointed star pasted on the window shone dimly in the moonlight.

He Yuzhu lay on the bed, eyes closed. Six throwing knives flew from his side, flashing silver light, striking the wooden target opposite him with a series of swift, trembling motions. He used his spatial ability to retrieve them, then threw them again. Swiftly, swiftly, swiftly. He pulled them out, then threw them again. In the past year or so, several of the target emplacements had been ruined.

After practicing throwing knives, He Yuzhu collected them one by one, wiped the blades and handles, and put them back into his storage space.

Both corpses in the space had countless needle marks, the result of practicing controlling flying needles.

He Yuzhu could already shoot two flying needles out of his hands in quick succession, instantly retract them using his spatial abilities, and then shoot them out again with both hands. He could shoot out more than a dozen rounds in a row, but after that, he couldn't do it anymore; he felt dizzy and lightheaded.

He can also use his spatial abilities to insert fine needles into various parts of the human body, including small places like the eyeballs.

The two corpses remained frozen in place. They had made a significant contribution to the rain.

"Don't worry, we'll find you a good place in six or seven years, I guarantee everyone will be satisfied..."

He Yuzhu opened his eyes.

The window was open, and moonlight streamed in, casting a white glow on the floor in front of the bed. The shadow of the pomegranate tree swayed in the moonlight, flickering intermittently.