Siheyuan: Sizhu starts blindly and takes a new path

Lou Xiao'e sat at the round table in Sha Zhu's house, twisting her clothes tightly with her fingers, and tears fell silently. Under the dim incandescent light, her face became even paler. Lou Xiao'e told Sha Zhu and his wife that her parents were taken away by Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao.

"What?!" The needlework in Yu Li's hand fell to the ground with a "bang". "Xu Damao, that beast! He was the son-in-law of the Lou family after all, how could he do such a thing! And the second uncle..." She was so angry that she was shaking all over and her voice changed.

Sha Zhu sat on the side, his brows knitted into knots. He glanced at the two sleeping children and lowered his voice: "Xiao'e, don't be impatient, tell me slowly, what's going on?"

Lou Xiao'e wiped her tears and told the story in a disjointed manner. When she talked about the house search by Liu Haizhong, she was shaking all over: "They turned the house upside down... My father was pressed to the ground and his glasses were broken..."

Yu Li's eyes turned red when she heard this, and she hugged Lou Xiao'e and said, "What a bunch of bastards!"

Sha Zhu suddenly stood up and took out a cloth bag from the cupboard: "Xiao'e, come with me, I'll take you somewhere."

Yu Li was surprised: "Now?"

"It's only safe now." Sha Zhu quickly changed into dark clothes, "This is an emergency. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid your father and the others..."

Lou Xiaoe stood up as if grabbing a life-saving straw: "Brother Zhuzi, I...I will go with you!"

Yu Li quickly took out a scarf from the closet and put it on Lou Xiaoe: "Be careful, if you are stopped and questioned..."

"Just say she's my cousin who came from the countryside to see a doctor." Sha Zhu stuffed the cloth bag into his arms.

The two of them tiptoed out of the door. The night wind was very cold. Lou Xiao'e hunched her neck and followed Sha Zhu closely. The alley was dark, with only the occasional barking of dogs in the distance.

"Follow me closely." Sha Zhu whispered, "Hide if you see anyone."

They walked along the alleys, making many detours and avoiding the patrols on the main streets. Lou Xiao'e's cloth shoes made no sound when they stepped on the bluestone slabs. Several times when they heard footsteps in the distance, Sha Zhu pulled her into the shadow of the corner and waited until the footsteps faded away before continuing on his way.

More than an hour later, they finally arrived at the staff quarters where the top leader lived.

The guard at the gate of the courtyard saw Sha Zhu, who often came, but usually he came during the day, and this time he came at night for some reason. Just as he was about to ask him, the secretary of the big boss, Zhang Wenliang, happened to go out.

"Director Zhang, it's me." Sha Zhu waved his hand, "I have something urgent to discuss with you, leader."

Secretary Zhang saw Sha Zhu, then looked at Lou Xiao'e behind him. He was obviously stunned for a moment, but did not ask any more questions. He led them through the dark courtyard and came to a two-story building.

"Boss," Secretary Zhang knocked on the door gently, "He Yuzhu is here and said he has something urgent to do."

The door opened, and the big boss stood at the door wearing an old cotton-padded jacket. He looked more haggard than when we met last week, but his eyes were still bright. "Xiao He? It's so late..."

Sha Zhu pulled Lou Xiao'e into the house and closed the door before speaking: "Boss, I'm really sorry to bother you so late. This is my... my cousin. Her parents were captured by the people from the steel mill."

The senior leader motioned for them to sit down and looked at Lou Xiaoe carefully: "Last name Lou?"

Lou Xiaoe fell to her knees with a plop: "Big leader, please save my parents! My father, Lou Bancheng, used to be a shareholder of the steel mill..."

The big boss sighed and helped her up: "I've heard about this. Don't be anxious, tell me slowly."

After Lou Xiao'e finished speaking, the senior leader pondered for a long time, took out a small notebook from the desk drawer, and wrote down an address: "Xiao Zhang, tomorrow morning, take this to Lao Zhao and tell him that I asked him to find out about this."

Secretary Zhang took the note respectfully. The big boss turned to Sha Zhu and said, "Xiao He, take Miss Lou back first. Come back at this time tomorrow and there should be news."

Lou Xiao'e was about to kneel down again, but was stopped by the senior leader: "Go back quickly, and be careful on the road."

The road back seemed even darker. After walking for a while, Lou Xiaoe suddenly sobbed softly: "Brother Zhuzi, I... I'm scared..."

Sha Zhu stopped, hesitated for a moment, and patted her shoulder gently: "Don't be afraid, the boss will definitely do what he promised."

The footsteps of the patrol team were heard in the distance, and Sha Zhu quickly pulled Lou Xiao'e into a narrow alley. The two of them pressed against the cold brick wall, not daring to breathe. The moonlight shone in from the alley, and Lou Xiao'e saw Sha Zhu's resolute profile, and suddenly felt much more at ease.

After the patrol team left, they continued on their way. When they were almost at the courtyard, Sha Zhu suddenly stopped Lou Xiaoe and said, "Wait, there's someone in the courtyard."

Xu Damao was standing in the yard, talking to Qin Jingru, shining a flashlight around. Sha Zhu and Lou Xiao'e hid in the shadows outside the courtyard wall, holding their breath.

"What are you looking for in the middle of the night?" Qin Jingru asked impatiently.

Xu Damao lowered his voice: "I think I saw Sha Zhu bringing people back... Strange, where can he go so late..."

The two waited for a long time, until Xu Damao returned to the house and the yard became completely quiet. Then Sha Zhu took Lou Xiao'e over the wall and returned to his home quietly.

Yu Li hadn't slept yet, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw them come back: "How was it?"

Sha Zhu nodded: "The leader agreed to help."

Lou Xiao'e finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed on the chair, tears silently streaming down her face. Yu Li hugged her distressedly: "It will be fine, it will definitely be fine..."

Li Huaide sat alone in the office, with several pieces of gold jewelry and the roll of US dollars he had looted from Lou's house spread out on his desk. He picked up a gold ring and turned it back and forth between his fingers. The golden light reflected on his glasses, but could not shine into his sinister eyes.

"That's all?" he muttered to himself, and suddenly slammed the ring on the table. The sound of "pop" echoed throughout the office.

The secretary outside the door shuddered with fear and knocked on the door quickly, "Director Li, do you have any instructions?"

Li Huaide narrowed his eyes and said, "Go, call Xu Damao to me."

After a while, Xu Damao came in, bowing and nodding, with a flattering smile on his face: "Director Li, you are looking for me?"

Li Huaide didn't say anything, but just pointed at the "trophies" on the table with the tip of his pen. Xu Damao understood immediately, and beads of sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.

"Director Li, Team Leader Liu Haizhong led the team personally... We really turned the Lou family upside down..."

"Upside down?" Li Huaide sneered and suddenly raised his voice, "Xu Damao! Do you think I'm a three-year-old child? Who is Lou Bancheng? He was one of the biggest capitalists in Beijing before liberation! Is this all you have?"

Xu Damao was so shocked by the shouting that he trembled all over and stammered, "But, maybe Lou Xiaoe took her away... We didn't see her at the time..."

"Bullshit!" Li Huaide stood up suddenly and grabbed Xu Damao by the collar. "I heard that you were the one who found the secret compartment on the day of the house search? Huh?"

Xu Damao's face turned pale, his eyes swirling around: "Director Li, I swear to God! If I hide it, I will be struck by lightning! A group of people are watching, I don't have the courage!"

Li Huaide let go of his hand and slowly adjusted his cuffs: "Da Mao, think carefully about where the Lou family would hide the things? You have been the son-in-law of the Lou family and are familiar with the Lou family..."