1952: Walking through Nantongluo Alley

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In the early morning, soft sunlight gently penetrated the layers of dappled leaves, scattering like golden threads across the center of the courtyard. Lin Yu stood there like a statue, motionless, his gaze fixed on the ground beneath his feet, as if he could find the key clue he had lost in this familiar land.

At the crack of dawn today, when the sky was just torn open by the first rays of dawn, the once peaceful and harmonious Lin family suddenly suffered an infuriating event - the incredibly plump old hen that Lin Yu had carefully selected and purchased at great expense yesterday had disappeared! It should be noted that this chicken was no ordinary one; it was a treasure that Lin Yu had bought specifically to nourish his body.

At this moment, Lin Yu's fury surged like a volcanic eruption. Rage, regret, and doubt intertwined, plunging him into a state of extreme anxiety. His eyes, wide open and nearly popping out of their sockets, fiercely scanned the surrounding neighborhoods, wondering: Who on earth was so audacious as to steal his prized hen in broad daylight, before so many eyes? Even more bizarre, not even a single feather was left at the scene, as if the hen had vanished without a trace overnight.

This old hen is more than just a poultry; it's the main egg-laying source for the Lin family! Every day, it lays fresh, delicious eggs, bringing joy and benefits to the family. Now, it's disappeared inexplicably, how can one not be distraught? Lin Yu gritted his teeth, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, and secretly vowed to find the despicable thief and make him receive the punishment he deserved. He was gone, and he had to get to the bottom of it. He took a deep breath, secretly determined to start his inquiries at Uncle Zhang's house, the one closest to his humble chicken coop. Filled with anticipation and trepidation, Lin Yu walked with a determined step to Uncle Zhang's door. He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door. A few knocks sounded, and soon, the door slowly opened.

The moment the door opened, the aroma of chicken soup, so rich it seemed to drown a person, surged in like a tide and penetrated Lin Yu's nose. The aroma was so familiar, carrying the warmth of home and the unique delicacy of his mother's cooking. Lin Yu could tell without thinking - it was the unique aroma emanating from the plump old hen that they had raised for many years!

Suddenly, Lin Yu's heart felt like it had been struck by a heavy hammer. He was startled, and a sense of foreboding quickly enveloped him like a dark cloud. That old hen was the family's treasure. Not only did it lay fresh, delicious eggs every day, but more importantly, it had become an indispensable part of the family. Now, the familiar aroma of chicken soup suddenly appeared. Could it be...

Yet, at that moment, despite the turbulent waves within Lin Yu, threatening to consume him whole, he still strained to control his untamed, unruly emotions. He clenched his teeth so tightly that his cheeks bulged slightly from the exertion, and the veins on his forehead became faintly visible. Meanwhile, he desperately forced a smile, but it seemed so stiff and forced, as if it had been coerced.

Then, Lin Yu spoke to Uncle Zhang, who had just opened the door, in an extremely polite and gentle tone, "Uncle Zhang, I'm so sorry to bother you so presumptuously. I want to ask you, have you seen the old hen I raise at home? It's our family's treasure!"

When he heard Lin Yu's question, Uncle Zhang's body trembled slightly, as if struck by a sudden gust of cold wind. His eyes, which were not very large to begin with, narrowed rapidly into thin slits, like those of a frightened mouse, revealing an indescribable tension and uneasiness. His gaze flickered, darting left and right, never daring to meet Lin Yu's piercing gaze head-on.

After a long pause, Uncle Zhang's lips began to move slightly, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat, making it difficult for him to express them smoothly. Finally, after a difficult struggle, he slowly squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "No... I didn't see it." However, as he said this, his voice was not only slightly trembling, but also his tone was particularly stiff, sounding extremely awkward and making people feel puzzled.

At the same time, Lin Yu, who had been closely watching Uncle Zhang's every move, suddenly noticed that a few tiny, crystal-clear beads of sweat had quietly appeared on his forehead. Under the bright sunlight, those beads of sweat shone with a faint but eye-catching light, as if silently telling a secret.

Such unusual behavior fueled Lin Yu's suspicions and unease. Uncle Zhang was usually a kind, honest, and warm-hearted man, so why was he acting so strangely today? Could it really be related to the aroma of the chicken soup? With this in mind, Lin Yu decided to test Uncle Zhang further. Suspicion immediately grew within him, his intuition telling him something was definitely amiss. Despite Uncle Zhang's attempts to stop him, he resolutely strode towards the kitchen. The moment he entered, he was stunned by the sight before him—a large pot of simmering soup perched on the stovetop, bubbling with steam, and a few conspicuous chicken feathers casually discarded beside it.

At this very moment, the scene unfolding before him undoubtedly confirmed all of Lin Yu's previous assumptions. His body, already trembling slightly with anger, began to tremble even more violently, his chest rising and falling as if it would explode at any moment. His eyes, usually filled with gentleness and a smile, were now as wide as bells, their eyeballs threatening to pop out of their sockets. His face was filled with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, and a deep, furious roar emanated from his throat: "Uncle Zhang, please tell me, what exactly is going on?!"

Faced with Lin Yu's sharp questioning, Uncle Zhang's weather-beaten face instantly lost all color, turning pale as paper. He sat limply on the ground like a deflated ball, his eyes empty and lifeless, muttering to himself, "It's over... It's all over..." After a long while, he seemed to come to his senses and sighed deeply. That sigh was like the cold wind on a late autumn night, chilling. Then, he slowly raised his drooping head, looked at Lin Yu with a look of near despair, and said in a hoarse voice with endless regret: "Xiao Lin, at this point, I have nothing to hide. My little grandson has been seriously ill recently. He cries all day and all night, and insists on drinking a bowl of delicious chicken soup. As a grandfather, I really can't bear to see my precious grandson suffer like this. But my family is so poor that we can't afford to buy a chicken. At that time, I was confused, my brain was hot, and I was blinded by greed, so I sneaked into your house and stole the old hen. Alas, I am really sinful..."

After hearing Uncle Zhang's heartfelt confession, Lin Yu's anger didn't dissipate, but at the same time, an indescribable feeling of pity welled up within him. After all, in life, who can guarantee that they won't encounter difficulties? Thinking of this, Lin Yu's tense expression softened slightly. He knelt down, gently patted Uncle Zhang's shoulder, and said earnestly, "Uncle Zhang, I understand your love for your grandson, but stealing is wrong. This time, let it go, but never do such a foolish thing again." With that, he stood up and walked back toward his yard. After careful consideration, Lin Yu finally decided to negotiate a solution with Uncle Zhang. They finally agreed that Uncle Zhang would pay a certain amount of compensation and solemnly promise never to make such a mistake again. Thus, the controversy over a single old hen was finally settled.

A few days later, the sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing across the ground. Lin Yu was busy in the yard, hammer, nails, and other tools in hand, preparing to repair the somewhat dilapidated chicken coop to prevent chickens from getting lost. Just as he was concentrating on measuring the dimensions, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Lin Yu put down his work and walked quickly to the door. He opened it and saw that it was Mr. Zhang from next door, who had come to visit with his adorable grandson. The grandson's face was as rosy as a ripe apple, and his eyes were bright and lively. He no longer looked weak and frail as when he was sick.

Grandpa Zhang smiled with gratitude and said, "Xiao Lin, thank you so much! If it weren't for your generosity, we, the grandparents and grandchildren, wouldn't know what to do." As he spoke, he handed a basket of fresh eggs to Lin Yu and said, "These are free-range eggs that our family has saved. They are very nutritious. I'll give them to you to nourish your body."

Lin Yu quickly took the eggs with a smile and politely replied, "You're so kind, uncle. Seeing my child recover so quickly is more important than anything else." As soon as he finished speaking, the little grandson ran to Lin Yu with a cheerful step, tightly grasped the corner of his clothes, raised his head and said in a childish voice, "Uncle, I'm so sorry. I was ignorant before and shouldn't have pestered grandpa to steal your chickens."

Lin Yu smiled slightly after hearing this, reached out and gently touched the little guy's head, and said softly: "It's okay, little friend, it's good to admit your mistakes and correct them. Don't make unreasonable requests to adults in the future."

However, as they were happily chatting, an unpleasant figure appeared not far away—Wang Er, the village's notorious lazy fellow, sauntered over. This fellow was usually idle and loved to gossip. He could be heard mumbling obscenely, "Wow, look at this scene! The thief and the victim are actually getting along so harmoniously. It's really strange!"

After hearing this, Lin Yu's brows, which had been relaxed, furrowed slightly, as if gently pinched by an invisible hand. At the same time, his expression changed dramatically in an instant. His once relaxed and cheerful smile vanished without a trace, replaced by a serious expression. He turned his head abruptly, staring intently at Wang Er, and sternly and bluntly declared, "I was forced to do what I did. After all, the situation was urgent, and I didn't have much choice. Furthermore, this matter has long been properly resolved. The compensation that was due has been paid, and the apologies that were due have been made. So, it's not your turn to come here and sneer and talk too much!"

Wang Er was clearly caught off guard by Lin Yu's harsh rebuke. He froze for a moment, then his already unattractive face flushed crimson. He stammered a few words in rebuttal, but ultimately snorted and walked away dejectedly, like a defeated rooster.

Looking at Wang Er's receding figure, Grandpa Zhang beside him couldn't help but sigh deeply, and then said with deep emotion: "Alas, there are still many good people in this world. If it weren't for people like you who are sensible and willing to help, I, an old man, really don't know what to do this time."

Lin Yu listened to Grandpa Zhang's words, smiled, and nodded in agreement. Then, he raised his head, casting his gaze toward the vast expanse of fields in the distance. It was the golden autumn season, and the rice in the fields had already ripened. From afar, the fields were a vibrant golden scene, like a beautiful painting. A gentle breeze rustled the rice ears, a sound that seemed to convey the joy of a bountiful harvest. Looking at this scene, brimming with vitality and hope, Lin Yu was filled with emotion. After all these setbacks, the village seemed to be in a better place. Instead of the suspicion and intrigue of the past, people were learning to understand and tolerate each other, to consider others' perspectives. Even the Lin family's small courtyard had regained its former tranquility and warmth. Every evening, curls of smoke rose from the chimney, accompanied by bursts of laughter and joy, drifting into the air, giving one a strong sense of home.