Siheyuan: Buyers get rich from hunting

In this intricate courtyard, collecting information and exploring interpersonal connections is like a war without the smoke of gunpowder but with undercurrents. The third uncle, He Yuzhu and Xu Damao, each relying on their own unique advantages, work hard to dig out clues about the mysterious whereabouts of the male owner in this "war".

The third uncle is a well-known "old fox" in the yard. He has lived in the yard for decades and has accumulated a deep network of contacts with his eloquent mouth and his way of dealing with people.

He was like an invisible yet tightly knit web, connecting everyone in the courtyard, young and old. To uncover the man's secret, Third Uncle fully utilized his connections, targeting those older neighbors who frequently interacted with the outside world. Some of these older neighbors sold vegetables at market stalls, interacting with a wide variety of people daily; others ran small grocery stores at the entrance of the alley, attracting a constant stream of customers.

The third uncle would go to their place whenever he had nothing to do, chatting with them about family matters while asking about the male owner indirectly. His efforts paid off, and he was able to piece together some key information from the words of these old neighbors. It turned out that the male owner seemed to have frequent dealings with an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. From the outside, the factory was in a dilapidated state, with most of the wall paint peeling off, revealing the mottled bricks inside; the iron gate was rusty, as if it could be blown down by a gust of wind;

The surrounding weeds grew taller than people, rustling in the wind, exuding an indescribable sense of desolation and strangeness. However, this seemingly abandoned factory actually holds a secret. According to the old neighbors, mysterious vehicles can often be seen quietly entering and leaving the factory late at night or in the early hours of the morning. Some of these vehicles are tightly covered with thick tarpaulins, making it impossible to see what is inside; others have windows closed, and the drivers look hurried, as if they are afraid of being discovered. Moreover, every time the man goes to this factory, he stays there for several hours. Sometimes, the third uncle can see him riding his bicycle out early in the morning and returning exhausted in the evening. No one knows what he actually does in the factory.

As for He Yuzhu, ever since he had settled down in this courtyard, he had always been a generous and righteous man. His personality was like the hottest and brightest flame in spring. No matter where he walked into the courtyard, he could instantly ignite the surrounding atmosphere and bring endless warmth and joy to everyone.

On weekdays, whenever there was a major or minor event at any of the courtyard's homes, He Yuzhu would rush over with a single call. If a child was sick and needed to be taken to the hospital, he would unhesitatingly carry the child and rush to the clinic, comforting the anxious parents along the way. If an elderly person was home alone and facing difficulties, he would proactively visit, helping with furniture repairs, buying necessities, and simply chatting with them to ease their boredom. His hearty, resonant laughter seemed to penetrate every wall of the courtyard and echo in everyone's ears. Children loved to gather around him to listen to his whimsical stories, and the elderly loved to hold his hand and share memories of the past. His popularity within the courtyard was legendary, and everyone spoke of him with a thumbs-up.

Recently, the mysterious whereabouts of the man who owned the courtyard had become a focal point of public attention. To help investigate his case, He Yuzhu fully utilized his unique personality. He knew that if he wanted to get useful information in this complex alleyway, he couldn't rely on his own efforts alone; he needed to make friends with those who were well-connected in the streets and alleys. So, he turned his attention to the young men who wandered the alleyways all day long.

These young men are the "walking maps" and "insiders" of the hutongs. Like a group of nimble little mice, they roam the streets, forming intricate connections with all manner of people. Whether it's a street vendor, a shoe repairman at the end of the alley, or the occasional mysterious passerby, they can strike up a conversation. They're also privy to every last bit of gossip: which couple is arguing, which child has been accepted into a prestigious school, which shop is up for sale—these seemingly trivial details are instantly accessible to them.

He Yuzhu took the initiative to approach them and strike up a conversation. His warm and forthright personality quickly won the hearts of these young men. He spoke directly, without those roundabout pleasantries, like a gentle breeze, making people feel particularly comfortable. He and these young men hit it off immediately and quickly became close friends. To further strengthen their relationship, He Yuzhu often treated them to drinks and meals. He took them to the lively little tavern at the entrance of the alley, ordered a few plates of side dishes and a few bottles of soju. At the table, everyone toasted each other, the atmosphere as lively as Chinese New Year. As He Yuzhu toasted with everyone, he skillfully explained his investigation of the male host. He vividly described the male host's various unusual behaviors, such as sneaking out in the middle of the night and his erratic whereabouts, and the young men were fascinated.

After hearing He Yuzhu's words, the brothers perked up. They patted their chests and vowed to help He Yuzhu find out everything about the male owner. One tall, thin brother, his eyes sparkling with excitement, said, "Brother Zhuzi, don't worry! We've been hanging around in the alleys for so many years, and there's nothing we can't find out. Leave this to us, and we promise to get to the bottom of it!" The other brothers echoed him, and some even started discussing their plans to find out on the spot. Seeing their serious expressions, He Yuzhu was filled with anticipation. He believed that with the help of these brothers, they would be able to uncover the mystery of the male owner.

Sure enough, not long after, they returned with important news. It turned out the man was involved in reselling goods of dubious origin, and the profits were substantial. He was said to be colluding with unscrupulous traders through shady channels, purchasing the goods at low prices and then reselling them at higher prices, pocketing a substantial profit.

However, the brothers weren't entirely sure what the goods were. They only knew that these transactions were conducted in secret, often in remote alleys or abandoned warehouses. And every time a transaction took place, there would be several strong men guarding the area to prevent disruption or leaks.

Although Xu Damao had been injured in a previous conflict and still bore the pain, his fighting spirit remained undimmed. Like a stubborn donkey, he refused to give up. The more difficulties he encountered, the more he would rise to the challenge. Xu Damao remembered that he had a distant relative who worked in the transportation industry. This relative often dealt with various truck drivers and might be able to provide some clues about the man.

So, regardless of his injuries, Xu Damao dragged his exhausted body and rushed around. He first found out his relative's address, and then asked his way to his relative's house. As soon as he entered the house, he took his relative's hand and told him everything about his visit. The relative was a little hesitant at first. After all, this matter involved some illegal activities, and if he told others, he might get into trouble. But Xu Damao was relentless. He kept trying, sometimes complaining to the relative about how much hardship and suffering he had endured in order to investigate this matter; sometimes he praised the relative, saying that he was well-connected and well-informed, and that he would definitely be able to help.

After much persuasion from Xu Damao, the relative finally gave in. He told Xu Damao that he had seen the man contacting freight vehicles to transport some goods covered tightly with black cloth. From the outside, it was impossible to tell what these goods were, and one could only smell a strange odor. Moreover, the drivers kept their mouths shut and dared not say much. Every time someone asked about the situation of the goods, they would nervously wave their hands, saying that it was confidential and could not be discussed casually. After hearing what his relative said, Xu Damao became even more confused. What on earth was the man up to? He secretly made up his mind to get to the bottom of this matter.

As the three gathered clues, they felt the man's actions were more than a little complicated. They decided to investigate the abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. It was a pitch-black night, the moonlight obscured by thick clouds. Silence reigned, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects. Third Uncle, He Yuzhu, and Xu Damao, dressed in dark clothing, quietly made their way toward the abandoned factory.

When they arrived near the factory, they found the gates closed. Two burly men who looked like thugs were patrolling the gate. He Yuzhu said softly, "We can't force our way in. We have to find a way to distract them." Xu Damao's eyes turned and he had an idea: "I'll pretend to be drunk and make a lot of noise nearby to attract their attention. You can use this opportunity to sneak in." The third uncle said with some concern, "That's too dangerous! What if they catch you?" Xu Damao said firmly, "Third uncle, it's okay. I'm smart. You can go in and look for evidence."

Xu Damao then staggered to a corner near the factory and began shouting and cursing. The two thugs, alerted by the noise, immediately headed towards Xu Damao, shouting, "Who's there? Get out!" Seeing the thugs had taken the bait, Xu Damao feigned fear and turned to run. The thugs followed closely behind, quickly disappearing into the night.

Uncle Sanye and He Yuzhu seized the opportunity to quickly climb over the factory wall and sneak inside. The factory was filled with a pungent smell, dimly lit, and cluttered with debris. They searched cautiously until they heard muffled voices coming from a warehouse. They quietly approached the warehouse and peered through the crack in the door.

The man was chatting with several strangers, his table piled with cash and documents. One of them said, "This cargo is very dangerous! If it's discovered, we'll all be doomed." The man sneered, "What's there to be afraid of? As long as we're careful, no one will find out. Besides, I've bribed a few key people; they won't interfere." Another stranger said worriedly, "But it seems like someone's investigating us lately. Could it be the police?"

The man frowned and said, "Impossible! The police didn't notice us that quickly. But, just in case, you should all keep a low profile and suspend transactions for a while."

Uncle Sanye and He Yuzhu were shocked. They realized that the business the man was involved in was not only illegal, but also possibly involved in a crime. They quickly took out their old-fashioned camera and wanted to take pictures for evidence, but at this moment, they suddenly caught the man's attention. The man shouted vigilantly, "Who's outside?"

Seeing their plan exposed, the third uncle and He Yuzhu turned and ran. The male owner and the strangers immediately gave chase, shouting, "Catch them! Don't let them get away!" The third uncle and He Yuzhu dodged around the factory, using debris as cover, temporarily escaping their pursuers. But they knew this wasn't the way to go. They had to find Xu Damao as soon as possible and leave together.

After a difficult search, they finally found Xu Damao in a secluded corner. He had also escaped the thugs and was anxiously awaiting them. The three of them reunited, not wanting to delay, and immediately ran towards the factory wall. With considerable effort, they finally climbed over the wall and disappeared into the night.

After returning to the yard, the three shared the evidence they had gathered and what they had heard with their neighbors. They were shocked and outraged. They decided not to sit idly by and wait for the man's crimes to be exposed. They jointly wrote a letter of denunciation, detailing the man's illicit business practices and suspected criminal activity, along with relevant evidence, and sent it to the local police.

The day the man was taken away, the courtyard erupted in jubilation. Neighbors emerged from their homes, cheering and celebrating. Uncle San, He Yuzhu, and Xu Damao stood among the crowd, their faces beaming with relief. They knew that this battle between good and evil had finally ended with justice triumphing.

Peace gradually returned to the courtyard, and everyone became as harmonious as before. There was no more scrambling for power or competing with one another. After this incident, the neighbors in the courtyard became more united. They understood that as long as they worked together, no difficulty could be overcome.

However, external contradictions cannot overcome internal contradictions. When external contradictions disappear, internal contradictions will erupt.