Chapter 217: Feudal Remnants

The news of Lin Xueqing's pregnancy, like a gentle spring breeze, quietly brushed Xi Kua Yuan, adding an indescribable warmth and hope to the usually tranquil courtyard.

Li Ping'an became more meticulous; the once stern lines of his brows occasionally flickered with a barely perceptible softness. He calmly wrapped the edges of some angular furniture with old cloth bags, started coming home earlier in the evenings, and even began helping Lin Xueqing with whatever chores he could manage.

Lin Xueqing remained composed, continuing to go to Yi Yuan for work as usual, but moving with a bit more caution; the serene glow of an impending mother on her face made her appear even more gentle and charming.

The news was not loudly spread throughout the Siheyuan, yet the observant could still sense the unusually restrained and warm atmosphere in Xi Kua Yuan.

Sha Zhu and Ma Dongmei brought a small basket of fresh eggs; Ma Dongmei also tugged Lin Xueqing aside to discuss many pregnancy precautions. He Yushui also often came over, looking at Lin Xueqing's still‑flat belly with curiosity and anticipation.

However, this harmony nurturing new life could not last long. A malicious wind from the city's dark corners was silently spreading into ordinary streets.

That afternoon, Li Ping'an was handling paperwork in the Security Department when Wang Dahu entered with a grave expression, pulling the door shut as he came in.

"Director, there's a situation," Wang Dahu lowered his voice, placing an internal notice on Li Ping'an's desk. "The City Bureau just issued an emergency notice: the feudal remnants have become active again in our Nan Cheng area, allegedly holding several illegal gatherings, using Feudal Superstition to rally uninformed crowds, spreading rumors, and swindling money from the people!"

Li Ping'an picked up the notice, his eyes scanning it quickly. It clearly listed the feudal group's numerous misdeeds: a massive organizational network with seven clearly tiered altar mouth levels; a reactionary nature of colluding with the Japanese puppet regime and the Military Statistics; staging incidents like "the Drum Tower smoking" to disturb public sentiment; and siphoning public wealth under various pretexts, with staggering amounts of embezzlement…

His brows knit tightly. He had long heard of worshiping gods as a malignant tumor, but never expected that after so many years of liberation, its residual forces would dare to surface again, and that their area of activity was not far from the Steel Rolling Mill nor from his Siheyuan.

"Have you pinpointed the exact locations?" Li Ping'an's voice carried a chill.

"We're still investigating; they're very cunning, frequently changing venues, often choosing remote residences or abandoned temples for night activities," Wang Dahu replied. "Based on current intel, their most recent gathering may have been near the shantytown area south of our factory."

The southern shantytown… Li Ping'an tapped his fingers on the desk. The area has a complex populace and relatively weak management, truly a breeding ground for such illegal activities.

"Those parasites!" Wang Dahu fumed, "They hide behind worshiping gods, but all they do is wreak havoc on the nation! Many families were ruined by them before liberation, and now they want to rise again!"

Li Ping'an set the notice down, his gaze sharp. He knew that this reactionary sect‑like organization was no less dangerous than armed secret agents. They exploit the masses' ignorance and fear, undermine grassroots governance, and destabilize society, especially given the still complex domestic and international situation, making their destructive power not to be underestimated.

"Immediately assign personnel, coordinate with the Police Substation and City Bureau comrades, to conduct covert investigations in the Nan Cheng area, especially the shantytown district. Focus on identifying unfamiliar faces, irregular gatherings, and those spreading superstitious rumors privately," Li Ping'an ordered decisively. "Pay attention to methods; don't stir the grass and scare the snakes—ensure you uncover their core members and activity patterns."

"Understood!" Wang Dahu acknowledged, turning to make arrangements.

"Wait." Li Ping'an called him back, pausing briefly. "Also, inform all Workshops and the family committee in the factory, under the pretext of strengthening fire and theft prevention publicity, to remind workers and families to stay vigilant, avoid any illegal Feudal Superstition activities, and report any suspicious situations promptly."

"Got it! I'll handle it right away!"

After Wang Dahu left, Li Ping'an walked to the window, gazing at the low, dense shantytown beyond the plant; his eyes were heavy. The warmth that had just arisen from his wife's pregnancy was now replaced by a weighty sense of responsibility and vigilance.

Worshiping gods… these Poison Snakes hidden in the shadows have even extended their tendrils here. Is their activity at this moment mere coincidence, or have they sensed some special aura? Are their goals only to swindle money and spread rumors, or do they have deeper motives? Perhaps waiting to sabotage factory production, or… targeting certain personnel in the plant?

He recalled the captured "Old Cat" Deaf Old Lady; enemy agents spare no means, using the guise of Feudal Superstition for cover and operations, a precedent not without example.

An intangible pressure once again enveloped Li Ping'an's mind. The joy of Lin Xueqing's pregnancy now felt like a heavy burden, compelling him to be even more vigilant and thorough in eliminating all potential threats.

That night, upon returning home, Li Ping'an did not mention the worshiping gods matter to Lin Xueqing, merely asking as usual whether she felt well and if anything was lacking at home. Yet the deeper gravity in his eyes was still noticed by the attentive Lin Xueqing.

"Trouble at the plant again?" she asked softly, handing him a cup of warm water.

Li Ping'an took the cup, not hiding the truth but not elaborating: "Well, some scum in society are restless and need to be dealt with. Don't worry; just take care of yourself."

Lin Xueqing looked at the fatigue in his brow, asked no further, and gently said, "You also take care, don't overexert yourself."

Outside the window, night deepened. The lights in each household of the Siheyuan went out one by one, as if everything had fallen asleep.

But Li Ping'an knew that beneath this tranquil night, an evil undercurrent was stirring somewhere in the city. He had to cut it off completely before it brewed into a greater disaster.

He glanced at his sleeping wife beside him and her still‑unremarkable belly; his resolve to protect them grew ever stronger. Whether faced with overt attacks from enemy agents or covert arrows from the feudal remnants, he would never allow them to harm anything he cherished.

The crabapple tree in Xi Kua Yuan swayed gently in the night breeze, its bare branches seeming to gather strength. A silent showdown against the reactionary forces cloaked in superstition had already begun, and the road ahead was destined to be anything but smooth.