Chapter 117: Wang Jiazhi Returns to Her Old Trade

"Since it was that bunch of Americans who hit the little beggar, let's leak this matter—leak it to the newspapers, and then spread it among the students..." Wang Jiazhi clenched her fists, impassioned, looking exactly like a progressive youth.

He Yuzhu watched her like this, truly a bit mesmerized.

"The main headline will be 'American Military Vehicle Speeds Through Busy Streets, Innocent Beggar Dies Under Wheels!'" Wang Jiazhi continued, "Around 4:00 PM yesterday, a hair-raising tragedy occurred on Caishikou Street in this city. An innocent little beggar, about ten years old, was suddenly struck by a speeding American military vehicle while begging on the street and died on the spot... Not only did the offending vehicle not slow down or stop afterward, but it accelerated and sped away. A chivalrous hero from the martial arts world couldn't stand it... and took decisive action... Those American soldiers actually wanted to kill to silence witnesses, but this hero was even faster..."

"Great, Sister, just write it like that," He Yuzhu encouraged.

"I've heard it for a long time; ever since the little devils left and the Americans came in, their reckless driving and accidents have never stopped! But the authorities don't dare to manage it at all... We must rely on public opinion to force those spineless people in power to weigh things carefully!" Wang Jiazhi said with burning eyes.

"Sister, finish it tonight, and I'll have the manuscript in the papers tomorrow," He Yuzhu said.

"Who are you submitting it to?" Wang Jiazhi asked.

"You write a few more copies, and I'll post them everywhere! I don't believe that with public opinion, those newspapers won't publish it!"

"You really know how to order people around! Copying so many, you'll work me to death!" Wang Jiazhi curled her lips and glared at him unhappily.

"I want to help you too, but I can't even recognize all the big characters, how can I write!" He Yuzhu waved his hands with a bitter face.

"Fine, consider it a favor I owe you," Wang Jiazhi relented.

In the dead of night, He Yuzhu took the dozens of manuscripts he had written, stole a military vehicle, and began posting them in the most prosperous areas of the city.

It was already nearly four o'clock when He Yuzhu returned home; he only slept for three hours before getting up and heading to Liugongguan.

Led by Liu Rusi, He Yuzhu went to meet Shen Shichang in all seriousness.

The study in the Shen Mansion was very imposing, with mahogany bookcases reaching the ceiling. The wide Italian sofa was polished until it shone.

As soon as Shen Shichang saw He Yuzhu, he was as warm as an old friend he hadn't seen in years, personally pulling his arm and leading him to sit on the sofa.

"Xiao Si is always praising your capability in front of me; I've long wanted to see you, but unfortunately, I never found the time. This time you saved Xiao Si, I'll keep this favor in my heart," Shen Shichang said, pulling a brocade box from the coffee table drawer. Opening it, a jade pendant lay inside—the texture was translucent, and the carving was exquisite.

He Yuzhu said thank you, didn't decline, and accepted it generously.

Shen Shichang held his teacup, his smile still warm, and asked seemingly casually: "Zhuzi, where are your parents from?"

He Yuzhu was clear in his heart; with Shen Shichang's ability, checking on him was like child's play, so there was no need to hide it. "My father's ancestral home is Handan. I heard my great-grandfather was an imperial chef, and my grandfather and father were also in this line of work; it can be considered a family trade. As for my mother's side... I only know it's the Shen Family of Wuxian, Jiangsu. My maternal grandfather opened a cloth shop in Qianmen in his early years; I don't know anything else."

Shen Shichang's hand, which had just picked up the teacup, paused. A flash of surprise appeared in his eyes, and he pressed on: "Do you remember your maternal grandfather's name?"

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat—why was this old fox asking so specifically? But his face showed no abnormality, and he answered honestly: "My maternal grandfather passed away early; I was too young to understand things then. It seems... his name was Shen Maocai?"

As soon as these words fell, Shen Shichang's eyes lit up, and he slapped the sofa armrest, laughing loudly: "Oh! I was wondering why you looked familiar the first time I saw you. This is truly the water from the Dragon King Temple washing away the Dragon King Temple—family not recognizing family! To tell you the truth, Shen Maocai is my cousin! This is too coincidental!"

He Yuzhu was stunned on the spot, his face full of "disbelief"—is this world too small? A "maternal uncle" appeared out of thin air; after the founding of the country, this relationship might be a disaster rather than a blessing!

Shen Shichang leaned forward, his tone even more intimate: "According to seniority, you should call me uncle. Is your mother named Shen Guizhi? You should also have a biological uncle, right?"

He Yuzhu quickly collected his thoughts, shook his head pretending to be blank: "My mother... never mentioned having an uncle to me. Maybe he's dead!"

Hearing this, a trace of disappointment flashed across Shen Shichang's face, and he sighed: "Sigh, the times are too chaotic... One year... I returned to Wuxian... I even had a simple meal at your grandfather's house; your mother was still young then..."

He Yuzhu only felt his mind was in a mess, his gaze subconsciously drifting toward the study door—just in time to see Liu Rusi walking in with a tray of fruit.

His heart was even more conflicted: he had previously had other thoughts about Liu Rusi, and now, in the blink of an eye, they had become cousins?

Shen Shichang was still immersed in the joy of recognizing a relative, waving at Liu Rusi: "Xiao Si, come here quickly! Zhuzi is no outsider; he is your real cousin!"

Liu Rusi was obviously also taken aback, looking at her father and then at the complex-looking He Yuzhu, raising her eyebrows: "Dad, your ability to recognize relatives is getting better and better, isn't it? He grew up in Si Jiu Cheng, and I was born in the south; this is completely unrelated, right?"

"His mother is my cousin, don't you think this relationship is close?" Shen Shichang explained with a smile.

Liu Rusi shifted her gaze to He Yuzhu, with a bit of scrutiny and doubt, and asked softly: "What my dad said... is it all true?"

He Yuzhu met her gaze and nodded.

Next, the three of them talked about how to handle the American Advisory Group. His opinion was that even if they searched Beiping from top to bottom, they had to catch the culprit.

Shen Shichang asked: "Zhuzi, do you have any solution for this?"

He Yuzhu pretended to ponder for a long time before speaking: "This is not easy to handle. If that person comes out to commit a crime again, we still have a chance to catch him; but as it looks now, he acted because those soldiers went too far. We have no idea when he will strike next, so we have no clue where to catch him."

Shen Shichang turned to look at Liu Rusi: "Do you think so too?"

Liu Rusi took over: "Dad, I just received news that notices have been posted in all the prosperous areas of Si Jiu Cheng, telling the story of the American Advisory Group hitting someone. Now public opinion is surging; I'm afraid no one will cooperate with us to make arrests!"

"What? This is definitely organized. I think it has something to do with the Communist Party," Shen Shichang said loudly.

"Dad, I think the most important thing right now is to use the connections above to rebuild the Beiping Secret Service Bureau. The Bureau Chief must be one of our people; otherwise, we won't be able to do anything without manpower."

"You're right. We can't let people from other factions be the Bureau Chief anymore," Shen Shichang said.

Afterward, He Yuzhu had a meal at the Shen house. At the dinner table, Shen Shichang also introduced the Seventh Concubine to him, telling him to come over and sit often when he had time, and He Yuzhu agreed with a smile.

After the meal, He Yuzhu left the Shen house with Liu Rusi.

Liu Rusi stared at him and asked again: "My little cousin? You were the one who posted the notices, right!"

He Yuzhu nodded, "We can't let them lead us by the nose."

"Today, when you follow that advisory group, don't let anything happen. I really want to see how these people will handle this matter in the face of surging public opinion!" A mocking smile appeared on Liu Rusi's face.

"With me here, what are you afraid of?" He Yuzhu leaned forward and whispered in Liu Rusi's ear, "You need to investigate carefully who the big corrupt officials are; our plan needs to be advanced."

Liu Rusi was amused by him: "You really are a money-grubber, but I have a target right now: the new Police Chief."