Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

"That son of a bitch Xu Damao, what are you pretending for?"

Liu Guangtian cursed angrily, while Liu Guangqi remained silent and continued working. Xu Damao's attitude further strengthened his resolve to leave the courtyard house.

There isn't a single good person in this courtyard!

The influence of the gold yuan eventually reached Beiping (Beijing).

Originally, in August, the National Government issued an order to prohibit the circulation of silver dollars and the exchange of silver dollars for gold yuan notes. This was the National Government's way of plundering the people's money. The upper echelons of Beiping were unwilling to do it. Moreover, Beiping was in chaos at the moment. The higher-ups also ordered an investigation into corruption. If they were to carry out the exchange of gold yuan notes, even a donkey pulling a millstone could not be used like that.

The exchange of gold yuan notes in Beiping was basically non-existent. The government was anxious, and the higher-ups personally communicated with the authorities. After a series of exchange conditions were agreed upon, the exchange of gold yuan notes was finally brought under strict control.

The black-skinned police officers kept a close eye on the people all day long. Whenever someone tried to spend silver dollars, they would arrest them... They called it arresting people, but in reality, they were just asking for bribes.

To ensure the smooth exchange of gold yuan notes, the black-skinned police in Beiping even swapped several districts, precisely to prevent any clandestine favors or exchanges.

He Yuzhu had no choice but to have He Daqing exchange 500 silver dollars for gold yuan as soon as possible, but then immediately used the money to buy supplies.

The situation is the same at the school. The Ministry of Education has already sent a letter. He Yuzhu can ignore the other money at the school, but the remaining silver dollars in the canteen cannot be exchanged for gold yuan notes. Damn it, those gold yuan notes will be cheaper than paper in the future. What's the point of having that stuff?

Zhang Tianyong didn't want to, so he went to the principal and told him about the dangers of the gold yuan notes, saying that they would be worth less than legal tender in the future.

So, after some negotiation, the education department in Beiping agreed to exchange the money for supplies... including He Daqing's 12,000 catties of pork.

This result is neither good nor bad; it's just a pity about all those dollars.

He Yuzhu thought to himself that it was a pity, but the situation was beyond his control, and besides, he was just a nobody, so what could he possibly be?

……

He Daqing had some reservations after learning that He Yuzhu wouldn't let Tian Zao and the others go into business.

How much money did it cost to feed more than ten children and horses?

But He Yuzhu didn't want He Daqing to worry, saying that there was enough money. The school had given He Yuzhu the money to buy meat, and He Yuzhu hadn't reimbursed He Daqing yet. That money would last until the end of January next year.

Around the end of September, all of Shandong except Qingdao was liberated, which boosted the confidence of comrades working in Beiping and made them more determined to fight against the Kuomintang.

If the Kuomintang wants to plunder the wealth of the people, we will firmly stand on the side of the people to protect that wealth.

The undercurrents within Beiping City were becoming even more turbulent.

The planning for cities like Beijing and Tianjin has already begun, and those who are rich but heartless and commit many evils won't be able to keep up their ways for long.

……

When He Yuzhu left the school that day, he saw He Daqing standing at the door chatting and smoking with a dark-skinned policeman.

He Yuzhu thought the other party was there to cause trouble, but to his surprise, the other party took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered one to He Daqing. Only then did he realize that the other party and He Yuzhu were old acquaintances.

"Come here, Pillar."

He Daqing called He Yuzhu over and introduced him to the black-skinned patrolman: "This is my son, He Yuzhu. You even held him when he was little, Grandpa."

"Zhu Zi, this is Master Duomen. His ancestors were police officers and were renowned detectives in Beiping."

Multiple doors?

Master Duo?

Wow... Is this the Master Duo from my memories?

He Yuzhu respectfully greeted, "Master Duo."

"This kid is interesting."

Duomen looked at He Yuzhu and patted his head: "You and Zao'er from the alley ahead have made quite a bit of money. I thought your dad had struck it rich and came over for a drink, but I didn't expect it was you who did it."

"My dad said I'm ruining the He family's reputation."

He Yuzhu chuckled and said to Duomen, "Master Duo, it's not that I want to make a fortune through illegal means, it's just that my family is starving. Zao'er and her brothers, more than ten mouths to feed, are waiting for us. They still have to go to school tomorrow. Relying on my father's little bit of money is simply not going to work."

"Yes, good boy."

Duomen laughed. This kid may look simple-minded, but he's very shrewd. He's worried that Duomen is here to make money, so he's preemptively shutting Duomen down.

It seems He Daqing didn't mention his relationship with him.

Duomen wasn't angry. It was a good thing that he knew how to be cautious at such a young age: "I know, the rich have money, and we're not cheating ordinary people, so what's this windfall? Just do it! If there's anything, come find me on Qianmen East Street. I can handle those thugs."

"Thank you very much, Master Duo."

He Daqing picked up the conversation, clasped his hands in thanks to Duomen, and said, "It's late tonight. Tomorrow I'll buy the ingredients, cook a good meal, and prepare some fine Fenjiu liquor. I'll be waiting for you, Master Duo."

"Alright!"

Duomen smiled and left, satisfied.

He Yuzhu asked curiously, "Dad, how do you know Blackie?"

"Duomen is no ordinary patrolman. His family has been in this position since his grandfather's generation. Three generations of police officers, and nothing in Beiping can escape his eyes."

He Daqing didn't admire many people, but Duomen was one of them: "His ancestors were Manchus, but they never bullied the common people. On the contrary, they protected their neighbors in every way. My master made his full moon celebration, and I made his son's full moon celebration... That's all the relationship we have. We're just ordinary people, and we don't usually need to trouble them. I heard that this time it's because some of the people who were close to him weren't on their side and ran away. They ran to Dongcheng to avoid trouble."

"oh."

He Yuzhu knew very well who those people were.

Zheng Chaoyang and Zong Xiangfang.

Hehe, this world is getting more and more interesting.

At first, He Yuzhu thought this was just a world of courtyard houses, but he didn't expect it to be such a hodgepodge.

That's good too; the more people who know, the more it will help me in the future.

As for the plan... it can be expanded more and more, but we must be cautious in the future. Many people know about the business we are doing, and there is no guarantee that other people with ulterior motives will also find out.

Back in the house, He Daqing took a sip of tea and said to He Yuzhu, "You made the right move by telling Zao'er and the others not to set up their stall. Duomen's words just now were both a reminder and a warning. If we continue doing business like this, someone might try to sabotage us."

He Yuzhu chuckled, knowing the general historical context and that he wouldn't make a mistake in any step he took.

If you're unsure, it's better not to do it at all than to make a mistake.

This world doesn't give He Yuzhu a chance to make mistakes.

Then, when the topic of treating everyone to dinner tomorrow came up, He Yuzhu asked, "Do you need my help?"

"Need not."

He Daqing refused outright, showing his disdain for He Yuzhu: "I have Xiao Sanzi to help me, I don't need you."

Then she began praising He Lei, implying that He Lei was a genius chef!

He Daqing has found his ideal apprentice, so his own son has to take a backseat.

"If you don't need it, then you don't need it."

He Yuzhu was happy to have some free time.