Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

As the morning light began to spill over the gray tiles of the courtyard house, Xu Damao's heavy breathing came from the east wing.

He stood in a horse stance, his legs trembling slightly as if they were filled with lead.

Sweat rolled down his forehead and cheeks, splashing onto the blue brick floor and leaving small wet spots. The back of his jacket was already soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his body.

"Brother Zhu, I... I really can't take it anymore."

Xu Damao clenched his teeth, the muscles in his arms throbbed, and the veins bulged out.

"This standing meditation is more tiring than carrying water. My legs feel like they don't belong to me anymore. If I keep doing this, I'm afraid I'll be crippled."

Sha Zhu leaned against the door frame, twirling a bright red apple in his hand, and said leisurely.

"You're already chickening out after just one morning of practice? Who was it that cried and begged me to teach them kung fu so they wouldn't be bullied?"

As he spoke, he lifted his foot and gently tapped Xu Damao's knee. Xu Damao cried out "Ouch!" and fell forward, landing face-first in the mud, scraping his chin.

"There are no shortcuts to learning kung fu. My father made me stand in a stance for three hours straight, and if I dared to move even slightly, I'd get whipped. You've only been doing this for two hours, where are you going?"

Xu Damao lay on the ground, unable to get up despite trying to prop himself up with his arms. His face was full of grievance, and his eyes were red.

"How can I compare to you? You're a natural-born martial artist, you've been training with your master since you were a kid, I'm just an ordinary worker, I've never even done any heavy work before."

He struggled to sit up, rubbing his aching and swollen thighs, wincing in pain.

"If I keep practicing like this, I'm afraid I'll have to crawl back to my room, and I might not even be able to go to work tomorrow."

Sha Zhu chuckled, flicked his wrist, and the apple landed precisely in Xu Damao's arms.

"If you're feeling weak, take a break. Stop whining like a little wife."

He turned and walked towards the main room, paused for a moment, and added, "Once you've rested enough, continue practicing on your own. Kung Fu is something you can't master if you don't practice for a day."

But in his mind, he was thinking about the Mitsui & Co. business—the things that were moved that night numbered in the truckloads, including countless gold and jewelry, as well as a lot of confidential documents. The Mitsui & Co. business would certainly not let it go so easily, and the martial law would probably not be lifted so soon. He would have to be more careful when going out in the future.

At lunchtime, Chen Lanxiang stewed a pot of cabbage and tofu, and also poached two eggs, serving it steaming hot.

Sha Zhu picked up a piece of soft tofu with his chopsticks and put it in Xu Damao's bowl: "Eat more, then continue practicing this afternoon. This tofu is good for your health and will give you energy."

Xu Damao shoveled rice into his mouth, his head almost buried in the bowl, mumbling incoherently.

"I'm not eating anymore. I need to go back and take a nap after I finish eating, otherwise I won't even be able to stand properly this afternoon."

As soon as he finished speaking, he ate the rice in his bowl in a few bites, wiped his mouth, and rushed back to his house without even washing the dishes. He slammed the door shut.

Watching Xu Damao's hurried departure, Chen Lanxiang smiled and said to Shazhu, "Don't always bully Damao. His health isn't as good as yours to begin with. It's better to proceed gradually."

Sha Zhu picked up a piece of cabbage with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and said, "Mother, I'm not bullying him. You have to be tough when practicing kung fu, otherwise he won't learn his lesson and will never amount to anything."

He Daqing took a sip of wine and nodded: "Zhu'er is right. A strict teacher produces outstanding students. If you are soft-hearted, you won't be able to learn this skill."

As night fell, the courtyard gradually quieted down, with only a few insect chirps remaining.

He Daqing returned home as dusk fell. As soon as he entered the door, he threw his hat on the kang table. His face was frighteningly gloomy, and his eyebrows were furrowed into knots.

At the dinner table, he ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice and couldn't help but grumble.

"What's going on in Beijing lately? We had just relaxed for a few days when martial law was imposed again. There are military police and police everywhere on the streets, and they keep questioning us. When I came back today, they checked the city gates three times. I almost couldn't get in."

Chen Lanxiang paused, her brows furrowed, and her eyes were full of worry.

"Martial law again? Great Qing, why don't you just stay home and rest for a while? Don't go out to work. I just don't feel at ease. Those military police are all fierce-looking, carrying guns. If something happens, how will my daughter and I survive?"

"Take a break?"

He Daqing slammed his chopsticks on the table, the sound suddenly rising and making the bowls and plates vibrate.

"My family needs to eat, and we also need to drink milk powder. That milk powder is so precious; one can is enough for us to eat for half a month. If we don't work to earn money, are we going to starve?"

"I'm just worried you might be in danger."

Chen Lanxiang also got angry, her eyes were slightly red, and her voice was trembling with tears.

"Money can be earned back, but life is gone forever. Those military police kill without blinking an eye. What will happen to me and Yushui if anything happens to you? You're getting angry? Do you think I would harm you?"

The deaf old lady sitting at the head of the table put down her pipe, tapped the pipe on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and said slowly, "Daqing, Lanxiang is right. Money is not as important as life. Tomorrow you should ask your boss if you can take a few days off and go back when things have calmed down."

"If something really happens, no amount of money can bring a life back. And with the rain still so light, how can Lanxiang, a woman, support this family all by herself?"

He Daqing took a sip of wine in silence. The wine was spicy, but it couldn't suppress the irritation in his heart.

After a long pause, she replied in a low voice, "Yes, madam. I'll go ask tomorrow. If she can rest for a few days, she can. If not, she can go out less often."

He knew in his heart that making money was not easy these days, but the situation outside was indeed dangerous. Under martial law, no one could say for sure what might happen, and the old lady and Lanxiang's worries were not unfounded.

Sha Zhu kept his head down, shoveling rice into his mouth, his mind perfectly clear.

The Mitsui & Co. case was so big that the store and warehouse were emptied overnight, and even the trucks parked at the entrance disappeared.

With so many people involved, they managed to leave no trace. Xiao Rizi must have been desperate.

This martial law is probably aimed at the stolen goods and the people involved in the operation. I'd better hide myself well and not give myself away in the slightest.

Just as Sha Zhu had predicted, someone called the police early the next morning.

Several merchants who wanted to buy goods from Mitsui & Co. knocked on the door for a long time but no one answered. When they got closer, they found a pungent smell of blood coming from the crack in the door. They were so frightened that they ran to the police station to report the incident.

When the police arrived, they first knocked on the door and called out for a long time, but no one answered. So they simply found a crowbar and pried open the lock on the back door.

Upon entering the backyard, everyone was stunned—more than a dozen corpses lay scattered throughout the trading company, all Japanese soldiers and employees of the company, each one dying a gruesome death.

The goods and money in the store, along with the items in the warehouse, all vanished without a trace. The store was completely empty, not even a single box remained. Only some bloodstains and broken packaging were left on the ground.

Upon receiving the news, the police chief was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he slumped into his chair, unable to recover for a long time.

This case was too big, involving Japanese military trading companies and so many deaths. He couldn't cover it up, so he immediately reported the situation to the military police headquarters.

Enraged, the Japanese military police commander slapped the police chief twice on the spot, causing his face to swell up instantly, his cheeks almost puffing out like buns, and blood to flow from the corners of his mouth.

"Baka! A bunch of useless idiots! Such a big case, and you haven't even found a single clue! You have three days to solve this case. If you don't find the murderer, you'll be bringing your heads to me!"

In order to find clues, the military police specially brought ten hunting dogs from the military camp outside the city. They were all tall, fierce, and had a keen sense of smell.

But a few days ago there was a heavy snowfall, and Wangfujing Street was bustling with people and vehicles again, so the traces had long been covered up.

The hunting dogs went outside the trading company's gate, sniffing around, but couldn't find their way.

It just kept circling around in place, occasionally barking at the air, which infuriated the military police, who stomped their feet and beat and cursed the hound.

Upon learning of the news, the North China Expeditionary Army Commander, Miao Wai Sang Er, personally ordered that the case be solved within three days.

It was also revealed that the stolen items included not only a large amount of gold, but also several extremely valuable cultural relics and an important military deployment document.

As soon as the news came out, all Japanese troops and police in Beijing were mobilized.

The city gates were sealed off immediately, and a house-to-house search began, not even sparing the beggars in the alleys.

However, their target was clear: such a large amount of wealth and confidential documents could not be hidden by ordinary civilians, and their aim was to target major trading companies and gangs.

Police trace experts found several large footprints on the roof of the trading company building. The footprints were steady and the gait was clearly that of a gangster.

Now, gangs have become the focus of investigations, and people are in a state of panic.

Over the next ten days or so, Beijing was in complete chaos.

Japanese troops and police used searches as a pretext to extort money from people everywhere.

Almost every business with a decent amount of wealth was targeted by them. They either had to pay a "protection fee" to avoid trouble, or they were accused of "colluding with bandits" and their property was confiscated. Many merchants were left penniless.

Several prominent gangs suffered even worse fates, being besieged and attacked by the Japanese army several times, resulting in heavy casualties. Their leaders were captured and tortured at the military police headquarters, eventually dying tragically in prison.

Meanwhile, the military police and police officers were making a fortune, their pockets bulging, and their faces beaming with joy.

For the past ten days or so, Sha Zhu and Xu Damao have hardly left their home.

Sha Zhu secretly took out the fish and pig's trotters he had previously obtained from the Mitsui Trading Company and cooked them in various ways. One day it was braised fish, the next day it was braised pig's trotters, and the aroma filled the entire yard.

Upon seeing this, He Daqing couldn't help but ask, "You rascal, where did you get all this good stuff? I haven't seen you buy any before. This fish looks very fresh; it doesn't seem like it's been stored for a long time."

Sha Zhu didn't even look up as he stir-fried the fish in the pan, the oil sizzling and the aroma filling the air.

"I bought a lot of vegetables when the market was having a sale, and I was afraid they would spoil, so I hid them in the snow outside to freeze. Now it's perfect to take them out and satisfy my craving." He sprinkled some chopped green onions on top, making the aroma even stronger.

He Daqing was skeptical, frowned, and wanted to ask more, but was interrupted by the deaf old lady.

"It's good that the child has something to eat. What are you asking? Sit down and wait for your meal."

She picked up her pipe, took a slow puff, and said, "Zhu'er is thoughtful, knowing to improve the family's meals. You should be happy."

Chen Lanxiang chimed in, "Yes, Daqing, Zhu'er is so kind. As long as our family can have a good meal, that's enough. Don't ask so many questions."

Seeing this, He Daqing had no choice but to swallow back the words that were on the tip of his tongue, but he was still somewhat puzzled.

After eating good food for two days, Chen Lanxiang's breast milk finally came in.

The amount was small, just a few grains of rice, not nearly enough for He Yushui to eat, and the little guy cried from hunger.

Chen Lanxiang was extremely anxious and could only rely on milk powder to supplement her diet. Seeing this, Sha Zhu "got" another can of imported milk powder that very night. The packaging was exquisite and covered in foreign languages.

Chen Lanxiang looked at the milk powder can, then at Sha Zhu who hadn't left the house, her heart filled with doubt. She couldn't help but ask, "Zhu'er, where did you get this milk powder? There's a curfew outside, all the shops are closed, you can't buy it even if you want to."

Sha Zhu scratched his head and laughed, "I asked a friend to buy it for me before, and I've been hiding it. I forgot to tell my mother."

Chen Lanxiang looked into his eyes and knew he wasn't telling the truth, but she didn't press him further—she knew that Sha Zhu was sensible and wouldn't get into trouble, so if he didn't want to talk about it, he must have his reasons.

Every morning, when Sha Zhu and Xu Damao practiced their skills, the deaf old lady would sit on a small stool under the eaves and watch.

She squinted and occasionally gave some pointers: "Zhu'er, your punches need to be fast and powerful. Don't just put on airs; make sure every punch lands."

"Da Mao, make your stance more stable, straighten your back, don't be boneless, inhale deeply and focus your breath on your lower abdomen, don't just breathe through your mouth."

Xu Damao nodded repeatedly as he listened, and adjusted his posture according to the old lady's words. Sure enough, he felt much more relaxed.

In the afternoon, Sha Zhu would either set up a sieve in the yard to shoot sparrows.

Scatter some millet as bait, and you can catch a few every now and then. Roast them at night, and they smell delicious.

He could either sit by the kang (heated brick bed) and talk to Chen Lanxiang, or play with He Yushui, who was still in swaddling clothes.

The little guy is chubby and fair-skinned, with a face like a red apple and big, bright eyes like black grapes.

He especially liked to stare at Sha Zhu. Whenever Sha Zhu teased him, he would giggle non-stop and occasionally make "ah ah" noises, which made everyone laugh.

Chen Lanxiang looked at her son with tenderness in her eyes.

"This child is really close to you, even closer than to his father." Sha Zhu smiled and pinched the little guy's cheek: "Of course, I'm his older brother."

The Jia family mother and son stayed at home for three days, and only dared to go out when they couldn't stand it anymore.

Whenever the He family stewed meat or stir-fried vegetables, the aroma would waft into the front yard, and Jia Zhangshi would hide behind the door, peering out through the crack and muttering curses under her breath.

"You jinx! Eating so well, aren't you afraid of choking? You don't even share the good stuff with the neighbors. You're such a miser, incredibly stingy!"

But she only dared to mutter in a low voice, because the deaf old lady was always present at the He family's meals, and she dared not act wildly in front of her. She was hit by the old lady's cane last time, and it still hurt.

Ever since Jia Dongxu saw Xu Damao practicing kung fu with Sha Zhu that day, he had been itching to learn some kung fu himself so he could show off in the courtyard later.

Sha Zhu had already seen through his thoughts, so he simply told Xu Damao to go back to his own house to practice his stance.

As for the boxing techniques he practiced in the courtyard, Jia Dongxu was free to watch and learn as he pleased—without a master's guidance, relying solely on guesswork and incorrect power application would surely ruin his own training.

Jia Dongxu had no idea what was going on. Seeing that Sha Zhu didn't stop him, he thought he had gotten a great deal and was secretly pleased with himself.

He secretly memorized a few moves of the boxing style, and when he got home, he ran to the open space in the front yard and started practicing them haphazardly.

He was seen throwing punches and kicking, his movements erratic and completely disorganized, while shouting "Hah!" which attracted a crowd of onlookers.

In the heat of practice, he suddenly swept his leg, but lost his footing and with a "crack," he screamed and fell heavily to the ground, writhing in pain, cold sweat instantly pouring down his forehead.

Well, that's it. Jia Dongxu pulled a muscle and was lying on the bed unable to move, groaning in pain.

When Jia Zhangshi saw her son being thrown around like that, she immediately started throwing a tantrum, running to the He family's door and wailing and slapping her thigh.

"He Daqing! Sha Zhu! You owe me for my son! It's all your fault! What kind of lousy kung fu did you teach him? You've ruined my son like this! You have to pay me back and get my son medical treatment! Not a penny less!"

She was crying her heart out, spittle flying everywhere, when the deaf old woman came out of the house with her cane, her brow furrowed.

She said coldly, "Jia Zhangshi, what are you howling about? You're making so much noise I can't get any rest. Your son fell down while practicing recklessly, what does that have to do with the He family?"

"How can it be alright?"

Jia Zhangshi shouted, her neck stiff and her voice shrill.

"If Sha Zhu hadn't practiced those lousy kung fu moves, would my son have been able to learn them? He's doing it on purpose, trying to harm my son and make our family miserable!"

"fart!"

The deaf old woman struck the ground with her cane, making a dull thud that shook the ground.

"My Zhu'er didn't force your son to learn; he eagerly sought it out and secretly practiced it himself. He deserves it if he messes things up! If you keep arguing like this, I'll break your leg with my cane and let you experience what it's like to be bedridden!"

As she spoke, the old lady raised her cane to strike Jia Zhangshi.

Startled, Jia Zhangshi quickly retreated and scrambled home, muttering resentfully under her breath.

"You wait, this isn't over!"

That evening, Jia Laonian arrived at the He family's house with a fawning smile, carrying a small bag of peanuts and bowing repeatedly.

"Grandma, Daqing, Zhu'er, I'm so sorry, Zhang is just being silly and talking nonsense. Please don't take it to heart. Dongxu deserves it too, who told him to learn such nonsense? It's a miracle he didn't break any bones."

He Daqing's face turned ashen, and he said irritably, "Old Jia, keep your wife in check and don't let her run wild. If she dares to cause trouble at my door again, don't blame me for being impolite. No one's face will matter then."

"Yes, yes, I will definitely keep her in check and give her a good scolding when we get back."

Old Jia nodded repeatedly, but in his heart he cursed Jia Zhangshi a thousand times, thinking she was a troublemaker.

Back home, he grew angrier and angrier, and he slapped Jia Zhangshi twice across the face, causing half of her face to swell up instantly and her lip to bleed.

Madam Jia cried and wailed, cursing Jia Laonian for being heartless and siding with outsiders. But Jia Laonian was truly enraged this time. No matter how much she cried and cursed, he ignored her and squatted in the corner, smoking silently.

After this incident, Jia Zhangshi dared not go out unless absolutely necessary, but she harbored a deep resentment and was single-mindedly plotting revenge, especially against Sha Zhu. She knew she couldn't afford to offend the deaf old lady and He Daqing, so she could only vent her anger on Sha Zhu, and she was thinking about how to trip him up.

Jia Dongxu lay in bed for ten days before he could barely walk, and he never dared to think about secretly learning kung fu again.

But Jia Zhangshi was still up to no good. She shamelessly brought Jia Dongxu to the He family with a basket of eggs in her hand, hoping that He Daqing would teach Jia Dongxu a lesson.

He Daqing was wiping his knife in the yard. The knife was gleaming coldly and extremely sharp. When he saw the mother and daughter arrive, his face darkened.

"Teach him? I dare not teach him. What if I ruin him again? You two will tear my house down! Get out of here, you're an eyesore."

With that, he kicked them out, throwing the eggs on the ground.

A few days later, Xu Damao's father, Xu Fugui, returned.

He was dressed in a silk robe, looking very impressive. He had prepared a generous gift—two catties of top-quality Longjing tea, a bottle of imported red wine, and a piece of fine silk fabric—and personally went to Xu Damao's home to hold an apprenticeship ceremony.

This caused quite a stir in the courtyard. Yi Zhonghai and Jia Laonian both came to join in the fun, each carrying a small gift. He Daqing couldn't very well turn them away, so he had no choice but to let them stay.

The ingredients for the apprenticeship banquet were all prepared by Xu Fugui: a fat chicken, a piece of cured meat, a basket of eggs, and a few pieces of tofu, all of which were rare items.

Everyone in the courtyard knew that Xu Fugui worked for a big boss and had many connections and influence. No one dared to ask too much about the source of these ingredients, simply taking it as him seeing the world for the first time.

According to the rules, He Daqing, as the master, cannot cook himself, so the meal naturally falls to Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu seized the opportunity to show off his skills. He put on an apron and busied himself in the kitchen, chopping and stir-frying vegetables with practiced ease. Before long, he had prepared a table full of dishes.

The shredded pork with garlic sauce is bright in color and has a perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and salty flavors; the Kung Pao chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with crunchy peanuts.

The braised pork belly is fatty but not greasy, and melts in your mouth; the chicken stew with mushrooms is fresh, fragrant, and rich in flavor, with a thick and mellow broth.

Other dishes include Mapo Tofu, Stir-fried Eggs with Chives, Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes, Stir-fried Cabbage with Vinegar, Fried Peanuts, and Cold Cabbage Heart Salad.

Ten dishes were laid out on the table, their aroma filling the entire courtyard and attracting many onlookers.

He Daqing felt somewhat displeased when he saw Yi Zhonghai and Jia Laonian joining him for a free meal.

He immediately instructed Sha Zhu to set aside a small plate of each dish and place it on the table in the outer room. He then took the rest into the inner room, leaving only himself, Xu Fugui, the deaf old lady, and Chen Lanxiang to eat together.

Everyone in the courtyard was invited, except for the Jia family mother and son.

After Li Guihua arrived, Chen Lanxiang warmly invited her to stay, and they went into the inner room to eat together, chatting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.

The Jia family mother and son stood at their own door, watching helplessly as others gathered around the table, enjoying delicious food and drinks, while they could only eat cornbread and drink plain water at home.

Madam Jia Zhang was trembling with rage. She lowered her voice and cursed, "Pah! The He family is a bunch of heartless bastards! They're rich but cruel! Why don't we just eat them alive! And that nouveau riche Xu Fugui, what's so great about him? He just has a few stinking coins!"

As Jia Dongxu gnawed on his hard, dry cornbread, he stared longingly in the direction of the He family's house, his mouth practically watering as it dripped down his chin.

"Mom, Dad is eating there too. Could he bring me some leftovers? That table full of food looks delicious. I've never eaten so much good food in my life. Just smelling it makes my mouth water."

"Hmph, don't even think about it!"

Jia Zhangshi took a big bite of the cornbread, as if it were the flesh of the He family, and chewed it with a crunching sound.

"Your dad's a good-for-nothing. He's out there eating and drinking like a king, leaving us mother and daughter at home eating cornbread. When he gets back, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind and make him kneel on a washboard!"

"Slurp...smack smack..."

As Jia Dongxu swallowed hard and chewed his cornbread, he thought about all the dishes the He family would serve.

The more I thought about it, the harder it was to swallow the cornbread in my mouth; it tasted like chewing wax.

"The entire He family, from top to bottom, is rotten to the core; they're all black-hearted!"

Jia Zhangshi cursed more and more fiercely, until her voice became hoarse.

"That old lady in the backyard is no good either. She bullies people just because she's old. She'll get her comeuppance sooner or later! And Chen Lanxiang, she thinks she's something special just because she had a son. She stays at home enjoying her retirement every day. Let's see how long she can be so smug!"

That evening, Jia Laonian returned home drunk.

As soon as he entered the door, Jia Zhangshi started nagging him endlessly, scolding He Daqing for being stingy and Sha Zhu for being arrogant. She kept repeating the same few sentences, spitting all over Jia Laonian's face.

Jia Laonian was already drunk and his head was spinning. She was getting annoyed by his nagging, so he raised his hand and slapped her two big slits.

"Shut up! Are you never going to stop? Today is the auspicious day for Da Mao to become an apprentice, what are you spouting nonsense for? The He family didn't invite you, can't you have some shame and stay away? Aren't you embarrassed!"

Jia Zhangshi was stunned by the beating. After a long while, she burst into tears, crying and cursing at the same time.

"Old Jia, you heartless bastard! They live the high life while my daughter and I suffer, and not only do you not help us, you even beat me! I'll fight you to the death!"

As he spoke, he pounced on Jia Laonian and started fighting, leaving the room in a complete mess.

On the other side, at Yi Zhonghai's home.

When Li Guihua returned home, she advised Yi Zhonghai: "Old man, get along well with the He family in the future. Look, He Daqing has now taken Xu Fugui's son as his apprentice. Xu Fugui has many connections and resources. He will definitely be of great help in the future."

"Besides, Sha Zhu is a good cook and a loyal friend. It won't hurt to befriend them; our family will benefit from it in the future."

Yi Zhonghai replied dismissively, "I know, I know, I understand."

But deep down, she was consumed by jealousy.

His fitter skills were top-notch in the factory, and he could earn twelve silver dollars a month. In theory, he should have been living a good life, but he couldn't afford good food, and it was difficult for him to even eat meat.

He was drooling over the ingredients Xu Fugui brought today, and the dishes that Sha Zhu made, especially the braised pork, which looked so delicious with its bright red color.

Xu Fugui, that kind of speculator, was someone he used to despise the most.

But now that others have managed to get so many good things and have even established a relationship with He Daqing, he felt very uneasy.

He was thinking to himself that since he had no son, he would have to rely on the people in the nursing home for his old age.

Jia Laonian's son, Jia Dongxu, is weak-willed and greedy. If we give him some small favors, we should be able to control him and make him take care of us in our old age.

As for the He family, we still need to win them over. After all, Sha Zhu is capable, and He Daqing is no ordinary person. We might need them in the future.

March arrived in the blink of an eye, the weather gradually warmed up, and the willow trees in the yard sprouted buds.

Chen Lanxiang has finished her postpartum confinement and is finally able to go outside.

She first took a good bath, changed into a clean blue cotton jacket, and felt much more energetic. Then she started to take care of He Yushui's affairs, changing the child's clothes and bedding from the inside out, and cleaning the house until it was spotless.

He Yushui is growing more and more adorable, with chubby little faces and big, bright eyes like black grapes, making everyone want to tease her.

Sha Zhu and Xu Damao would often hang around her, trying to make her laugh with their little rattles.

The little guy isn't shy at all. Whenever someone teases him, he giggles nonstop, waving his little hands and grabbing Shazhu's fingers tightly.

But if anyone makes her cry, they'll be met with a beating from Chen Lanxiang's feather duster, and Sha Zhu is no exception.

That afternoon, Sha Zhu was drying diapers for He Yushui in the yard, hanging the clean diapers neatly on the rope.

Xu Damao leaned over, scratched his head, and said, "Brother Zhu, my dad said that after martial law is lifted in a while, he wants me to go with him to broaden my horizons, go to Tianjin, and do some small business. What do you think? Should I go?"

Sha Zhu glanced at him, his hands still moving, and said calmly, "Go if you want to. It's good for a man to go out and make his way in the world. But it's not safe outside, especially Tianjin. It's a mixed bag, so be careful. Don't trust others easily, and don't associate with shady people. Don't get sold out and still be counting the money for them."

Xu Damao nodded and said earnestly.

"I understand, Brother Zhu. I'll be careful and bring you back some Tianjin-style fried dough twists. By the way, Master said that after I practice for a while longer, he'll teach me swordsmanship. Then I can protect you, Master's wife, and Xiaoyu, and no one will dare to bully you."

Sha Zhu chuckled and patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, I'll wait and see what you've got. But for now, get your stance on the ground first, or you'll end up getting beaten black and blue before you've even mastered the swordsmanship."

Xu Damao blushed and scratched his head: "My horse stance is much more stable now. My master even praised me for my rapid progress."

As the sun sets, its golden rays bathe the courtyard, casting a warm glow on the gray bricks and tiles. The swaying shadows of the trees create a truly pleasant scene.

Sha Zhu looked at Xu Damao playing in the yard and Chen Lanxiang coaxing the child in the house, and felt a sense of peace.

He knew that the turmoil in Beijing was not over yet, and more troubles would come his way. But as long as his family was safe and sound, with the deaf old lady in charge and He Daqing backing him up, he was not afraid of anything.

As for those petty scoundrels, such as Jia Zhangshi and her son, he wouldn't bother with them as long as they didn't provoke him.

But if they dare to cause trouble again, he wouldn't mind letting them learn their lesson.