Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

"Captain Lin, please allow me to ask... what exactly happened?"

Zhou Tielin was drenched in cold sweat, which streamed down his temples.

My body was trembling uncontrollably.

"I'll give you time. I'll take the remains of the Imperial soldiers back."

You have three days to solve this case, or... you'll all be dead!

The Japanese military police captain, Kobayashi, threatened menacingly, his eyes filled with a ferocious intensity that seemed ready to devour someone.

"Yes, yes! This subordinate will definitely investigate thoroughly and to the end!"

Zhou Tielin hurriedly stood at attention and gave a stiff military salute.

My back was already completely soaked with cold sweat.

……

"Woof woof woof! Woof woof!"

"Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!"

"Open the door! Open the door now!"

A burst of fierce barking followed by frantic banging on the door.

Like a thunderclap, it startled everyone still fast asleep in the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, the lights in several houses in the front and back yards flickered on one after another.

"Pillar, Pillar! Wake up! Get dressed and come to the main room!"

Outside the side room, He Daqing's low but extremely urgent shouts could be heard.

"Father, what's going on outside?"

Upon hearing the commotion, He Yuzhu nimbly rolled off the kang (a heated brick bed).

He quickly put on his clothes.

He had already guessed about 70-80% of it in his mind.

It was probably those corpses from last night that caused this considerable commotion.

"Don't ask too many questions, little one. Hurry up and get dressed and go to the main room. I need to go out and check on the situation!"

He Daqing urged him anxiously.

"Okay, I got it!"

He Yuzhu quickly responded.

"Crunch, crunch..."

The heavy sound of footsteps echoed through the courtyard.

That was the dull sound of someone walking on the thick snow.

"Coming, coming, stop knocking!"

Yi Zhonghai's distinctive loud voice came from the front yard, as if he were negotiating with someone outside the door.

He Yuzhu stepped out of the side room and vaguely heard conversations coming from the courtyard.

"Damn it, why are they taking so long!"

"Boss, boss, please have mercy, everyone's asleep in the middle of the night..."

"Are there any strangers in this yard? Are there any suspicious people being harbored...?"

He dared not delay for even a moment and quickly walked towards the entrance of the main house.

He turned his body to the side and carefully squeezed through the gap in the door.

Once inside, he immediately turned around and gently closed the door again.

"Waaaaah..."

A series of cries came from the earthen bed, which startled He Yushui awake, and she cried even harder.

Chen Shuxiang was frantically trying to comfort and console him, her face filled with anxiety and panic.

"mother!"

Upon seeing her mother, He Yushui's cries grew even louder, almost drowning out the surrounding noise.

"Quickly, get on the kang (heated brick bed)."

Chen Shuxiang gently comforted her daughter in her arms.

She slowly moved her body towards the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) to make room for her son.

"Your father is handling things outside, so you don't need to be afraid."

"Eh."

He Yuzhu obediently walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

He sat properly on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), trying to minimize his presence.

Not long after, the wooden door of the main house creaked softly.

The door was gently pushed open from the outside, and He Daqing walked in.

"Master Duo, look carefully."

He Daqing's face was plastered with a fawning smile as he spoke repeatedly to a man in plainclothes beside him.

"There were only the mother and her two children in the house, no one else, really."

"I swear on my life, there's absolutely no lie in this!"

"He Daqing, don't think you can just because you cooked for the Japanese for a few days before."

The plainclothes policeman, referred to as "Master Duo," gave a cold snort with a forced smile.

"I wouldn't dare touch you!"

His tone carried an obvious threat, clearly indicating that he was not planning to let the matter rest so easily.

"How could I dare? How could I dare?"

He Daqing quickly became cautious and kept waving his hands in denial.

He immediately turned around and called out urgently to Chen Shuxiang on the kang (a heated brick bed): "Mother of my child!"

At the same time, he secretly gave her a wink, signaling her to cooperate with him quickly.

Chen Shuxiang immediately understood and glanced at He Daqing without making a sound.

She reached under the pillow and carefully felt around for a while.

He quickly pulled out two gleaming, heavy silver dollars.

She handed the silver dollar to He Yuzhu, who was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and gave him instructions in a low voice.

"Zhu'er, take this to your father."

"Eh!"

He Yuzhu quickly reached out and took the two silver dollars.

He strode up to He Daqing and respectfully greeted him, "Father!"

"Go back inside quickly!"

He Daqing reached out and took the two heavy silver dollars.

She immediately waved to her son, signaling him not to say anything more and to quickly step aside.

He Daqing quickly slipped the two silver dollars into "Master Duo's" pocket.

"Alright, alright, this house has been searched."

The man, known as "Master Duo," reached into his pocket and felt a distinct heaviness.

A satisfied smile immediately appeared on his face, and his attitude softened instantly.

He waved his hand dismissively and ordered the people behind him, "No one suspicious, let's go!"

"Yes, sir!"

The policemen behind him, carrying long guns, echoed in unison.

Everyone knew that these two silver dollars were not insignificant.

It's equivalent to almost half a month's wages for them.

Besides, their leader never hogs all the benefits.

We can still share some with them when we get back.

"The Great Qing!"

Chen Shuxiang called softly from behind her husband.

At the same time, he subtly winked towards the backyard.

The intention was to remind him not to cause any further trouble, and that keeping the matter quiet was the best course of action at present.

He Daqing was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood his wife's meaning.

This was to send him to the backyard to look after the elderly lady of the Jia family.

He nodded solemnly to Chen Shuxiang.

Then he cautiously offered a reminder to Master Duo.

"Master Duo, there is an old lady living in the backyard. Please bear with her."

"Be careful not to frighten the old man."

"snort."

Master Duo let out a disdainful snort, which was a reluctant agreement.

"Let's go."

The door slammed shut with a click.

Standing inside the house, He Yuzhu could still faintly hear intermittent sobbing coming from the Jia family next door.

He couldn't help but ponder it to himself.

Given Jia Zhangshi's greedy nature...

This time, losing so much money must be incredibly painful.

Two silver dollars is no small sum.

It is placed in the homes of ordinary people.

Even if the whole family scrimps and saves, it's enough to eat coarse grains for a whole month.

They waited until the footsteps outside completely disappeared into the alley.

He Yuzhu lowered his voice and asked his mother in a low voice.

"Mother, why did we give so much all at once?"