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

Sha Zhu pulled the cart around the street corner and plunged into a narrow, secluded alley.

The alley was quiet; there wasn't a soul in sight.

He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then with a thought and a wave of his hand, the rickshaw vanished instantly and was stored in the system space.

Without stopping, he took off running wildly through the snow.

Snowflakes pelted his rosy face, and the cold wind scraped against his skin like knives, but he didn't feel cold at all.

The fire in my heart is burning brightly!

Mother survived, and my younger sister was born safely!

He Daqing, you old bastard, let's see where you run this time!

How are you going to pack your bags and leave with that widow?!

He rushed back to the courtyard house in one breath.

As soon as I arrived at the door, I saw a familiar figure hurrying across the threshold, carrying a food box in his hand.

"father!"

Sha Zhu shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice hoarse from excitement and running, echoing in the empty courtyard.

He Daqing suddenly turned around.

When he saw his son's appearance clearly, his eyes widened instantly—he was soaking wet, his hair was covered in ice, his cotton-padded coat was dripping water, and his shoes were covered in black mud and snow.

"Pillar! What did you do?!"

He Daqing rushed over in three steps, his voice trembling, his face filled with panic.

"How's your mother?! Did something happen to her?!"

Sha Zhu wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve; the snow water mixed with sweat was icy cold.

But he grinned, his eyes narrowing into slits, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Father! I've gone to take the doctor! Mother has given birth! It's a little sister! Mother and sister are both safe and sound!"

He Daqing's feet were frozen in place, as if he had been frozen in place by a spell.

He opened his mouth, but it felt like his throat was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't make a sound.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and her lips trembled.

After a long while, he couldn't utter a single word.

Large tears fell without warning.

A while later.

He then patted Sha Zhu's shoulder heavily, with an astonishing force that made Sha Zhu stagger.

"Okay...okay..."

He Daqing's voice choked with sobs, and his tears flowed even more fiercely.

"My son, Zhuzi, has grown up... really grown up..."

"Hurry home! Go see your mother and sister!"

Sha Zhu grabbed his arm and dragged him into the yard.

"Yes, yes, go home... go home to see your mother..."

He Daqing snapped out of his daze and scooped up his son.

The ten-year-old child was heavy, but he held him firmly in his arms and strode towards the central courtyard, his steps light and quick, unlike those of a middle-aged man.

We arrived at our doorstep.

The father and son shook the snow off themselves at the door and wiped their shoes on the curtain before pushing the door open and squeezing in sideways, their movements so quick it was as if they were afraid of bringing in even a wisp of cold air.

Inside the main room, only Yi Li was left to take care of things.

He Chenshi leaned against the headboard; her face was still pale, but her eyes had regained their sparkle.

He Yushui was asleep in her swaddling clothes. Her little face was wrinkled, like a little old man, but she exuded a fresh and lively aura.

He Daqing rubbed his hands together and leaned closer, his face beaming with smiles, just about to reach out and hug the child—

"He Daqing!"

He Chenshi glared, her voice weak but carrying an undeniable authority.

"How dare you! You're so cold, what will happen to my daughter if she gets chilled?!"

He Daqing sheepishly withdrew his hand, stood there, and chuckled foolishly, like a primary school student who had done something wrong.

He Chenshi turned to look at her son, her eyes reddening again.

"Pillar……"

Her voice trembled; she wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

"Mother, please don't say it."

Sha Zhu interrupted, his voice a little strained.

"As long as you and your sister are alright, everything is fine. Nothing else matters."

His eyes also reddened.

Yi Li had already told He Chen about the thrilling events that had just transpired.

If it weren't for Zhu Zi's quick thinking today, risking his life to bring Doctor Lin here, these two lives would really be in danger.

He Chenshi looked at her son—his hair was wet and stuck to his forehead, the ice crystals had melted, and water droplets were dripping down his temples.

My cotton-padded jacket, trousers, and shoes were all soaked.

A sharp pain shot through her chest, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"He Daqing!"

She raised her voice, and although she was weak, her fierce spirit remained.

"Why aren't you giving our son a hot bath and changing him into dry clothes? If he gets cold, you can forget about ever sleeping on my bed again!"

He Daqing jumped in surprise and quickly replied, "Okay, okay, I'll go right away! I'll go right away!"

He picked up Shazhu and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

The fire was still burning by the stove, and the water in the pot was still steaming.

He Daqing put his son on a small stool so he could warm himself by the fire, then turned around and found the large wooden basin.

He mixed hot water with cold water, repeatedly putting his hand in to test the temperature, finding it neither too hot nor too cold, just right.

Turning around, they quickly stripped Sha Zhu naked.

The sudden chill made Sha Zhu hiss, and goosebumps rose all over his body.

Then, He Daqing picked her up like a chick and threw her into the warm water with a "plop".

Half a minute later.

"Mmm...that feels good..."

Shazhu leaned against the edge of the basin, humming contentedly.

"You brat."

He Daqing laughed and scolded, then wrapped the bath towel around his hand and began to scrub his son's back.

"You've got some nerve today, running off to find a doctor all by yourself? Don't you know how dangerous it is out there?"

Those hands, worn rough from years of tossing ladles and wielding knives, were as rough as sandpaper.

Rubbing it on his back caused a burning pain, but Sha Zhu felt a warm feeling in his heart.

Sha Zhu grinned, looked down, and saw his naked body—the shell of a ten-year-old, thin but sturdy.

The effects of the enhancement drug were still present; the muscle definition was already taking shape, exuding a sense of power.

He shook his head helplessly; his physique was indeed quite good.

"You brat! What are you looking at!"

He Daqing slapped him on the back of the neck.

"How old are you! What are you looking at! Close your eyes right now, or you'll catch a cold!"

A dozen minutes later.

Sha Zhu was pulled out, dried off, wrapped in a quilt like a rice dumpling, and thrown onto the kang (heated brick bed) in the inner room.

He Daqing returned with the water and said to Yi Lishi, "Sister-in-law, thank you for your hard work today. I'll take care of things at home, so you can go back now. When my daughter turns one month old, I'll host a banquet and treat you and Old Yi to a good meal to make amends."

Mrs. Yi laughed: "Look at what you're saying, we're all neighbors. Alright, then I'll be looking forward to the full moon celebration."

She got up, glanced at He Yushui on the kang (a heated brick bed), and then turned and left.

He Daqing watched her retreating figure, gently shook his head, and murmured softly.

"She's a woman with a tragic fate... Old Yi, that taciturn fellow, doesn't know how to be considerate..."

"Da Qing, what are you saying?" Madam He asked from the kang (heated brick bed).

"It's alright, it's alright."

He Daqing put on a smile, sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and stared at his baby girl in the swaddling clothes with a silly grin.

"Daughter, it's your father... Look at your father..."

He has both a son and a daughter.

The character "好" (good) is now complete.

This life is worth it.

"What are you grinning about?"

He Chenshi glared at him.

"I was so busy taking care of my daughter that I didn't even ask my son if we had paid the doctor."

He Daqing slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing, "That's right, Zhuzi! How did you hire the doctor? Did you pay him? How much did you pay?"

Sha Zhu sat up, wrapped in his blanket, his eyes darting around as he pondered how to come up with a plausible excuse.

"Dad, let me tell you a story—"

Before she could finish speaking, she received a light slap on the head from Madam He Chen.

"How dare you speak like that!"

He Chen glared at him.

"You have no respect for your father!"

"I misspoke, I misspoke."

Sha Zhu quickly changed his tune, saying with a grin.

"Father, please listen to me."

"Okay, go ahead." He Daqing crossed his arms, looking serious. "I'm listening to your version of events."

"It's not made up! It's true!"

Sha Zhu shrank closer to He Chenshi, seeking protection.

"A few days ago, my mother was about to give birth, so I thought I'd go to Peking Union Medical College Hospital to ask. But the hospital was closed off by the authorities and they wouldn't let me in. So I asked around at the entrance, and people said there was a doctor named Lin in Dongtangzi Hutong who was very skilled, so I asked around and went there."

He Daqing raised his hand, as if to strike.

"You little brat! How far is Peking Union Medical College Hospital from here? You dare to run away? Don't you know there are child traffickers and Japanese soldiers outside?"

"Let the child finish speaking!" Madam He Chen, protective of her child, slapped He Daqing's hand away.

"You hit me all the time! What if I hurt you? Zhu Zi, don't be afraid, tell your mother."

"You're just spoiling me!" He Daqing glared.

"They dared to sneak out! What will they do in the future?"

"Zhu'er," Madam He Chen turned to look at her son, her eyes full of worry.

"Your dad is right. You can't run around like that anymore, understand? It's too chaotic outside."

"Yes, Mother."

Sha Zhu nodded obediently.

"Alright, continue," said Madam He.

"Then I found Dr. Lin. I told her my mother was having a difficult childbirth, and she came with me. I also gave her money, a silver dollar."

Sha Zhu lies without blushing.

"One silver dollar?" He Daqing frowned.

"Isn't that too little? They saved two lives..."

"That's enough, Father."

Sha Zhu quickly replied.

"Dr. Lin is a good person. He said I was filial, so he accepted a small fee for my trouble."

"We still need to make up for it," He Daqing said.

"In a couple of days, I'll personally visit to express my gratitude and give you a generous red envelope."

"No need, Dad," Sha Zhu quickly stopped him.

"Dr. Lin said it's not necessary."

Just then—

"Wow—wow—"

He Yushui, still in her swaddling clothes, suddenly burst into tears, her voice loud and clear.

"The child is hungry."

He Daqing got up and checked the diaper; there was no urine.

"Your milk hasn't come in yet. I'll go to the stove and get some rice water to feed you."

He turned to go to the stove, then remembered something and turned back, saying, "Oh right, I've thought of a name. I'll call her He Yushui."

"rainwater……"

He Chen read it twice and then smiled.

"This is a nice name. Spring rain is as precious as oil, so let's call it Rainwater."

While He Daqing went to the stove to make rice porridge, Sha Zhu moved closer to He Chenshi and whispered, "Mother, where did we put our money?"

Madam He was taken aback: "Why are you asking this? Didn't you just say it was approved?"

"That's a lie."

"Silly Pillar said in a low voice."

"Dr. Lin saved my life and my daughter's life, so I gave her ten silver dollars. I didn't have enough money on me, so I used your savings."

"What? Ten yuan?"

He Chenshi was taken aback, then nodded.

"That's true... saving two lives is worth it. I'll talk to your father."

"No, Mother."

Sha Zhu shook his head.

"I wanted to ask if there's any extra money?"

"What do you need the money for?" He Chenshi looked at him warily. "Don't go astray."

"Mother, what are you thinking?"

Sha Zhu was both amused and exasperated.

"I think that these days, it's good to have some spare money for emergencies. That way, I can be prepared if something unexpected happens."

He Chenshi looked at her son with a complicated expression.

Why has this child suddenly become so profound?

"The money is in the bottom drawer of the chest of drawers, in an iron box," Madam He Chen told him anyway.

How much do you want?

"Let me take a look first," said Sha Zhu.

"Don't let anything slip; just say that you gave the money to the doctor."

"understood."

He Chenshi looked at him and suddenly sighed.

"Zhu Zi, tell your mother the truth, are you... possessed by something?"

Sha Zhu felt a pang of unease, but put on a wronged expression.

"Mother, what nonsense are you talking about! I am your pillar! I just... after what happened today, I suddenly realized that I don't want you and my sister to suffer."

He Chenshi snorted.

"I hope so. My Zhu'er isn't that clever."

Although she said that, a warm feeling welled up inside her.

My son has grown up.

They've become sensible.

This is better than anything else.