Chapter 205: The Beggars Have Arrived

He Yuzhu drove the truck slowly toward the city gate, where an officer in military uniform raised a hand to stop the vehicle.

He carefully inspected the documents and looked up to size up He Yuzhu: "From the Secret Service Bureau?"

He Yuzhu nodded calmly: "Don't I look like it?"

The officer hurriedly apologized with a smile: "I wouldn't dare!"

He Yuzhu pulled a pack of Camel cigarettes from his pocket and handed them over casually: "I'll be coming out of the city often from now on, remember this truck. Checking back and forth is so tedious, isn't it better to earn some benefits?"

"Yes, yes, yes, you are right." The officer hurriedly stuffed the cigarettes into his pocket and waved to let them pass.

He Yuzhu let out a secret sigh of relief; he hadn't expected to enter the city without a fight.

The truck drove into Nanluoguxiang, and He Yuzhu led a dozen people into the courtyard.

Yan Bugui walked out quickly, blocking the group from entering.

He adjusted his glasses and asked vigilantly: "What are you all here for?"

He Yuzhu walked up from behind and explained with a smile: "These are all relatives of my Siqiang. Their hometown suffered a disaster and they couldn't survive, so they came to seek refuge."

"These people are all living at your place?" Yan Bugui asked suspiciously.

"Have you forgotten? The East Cross Courtyard was bought and renovated by my Siqiang."

"Right, right, right! Look at my memory." Yan Bugui nodded repeatedly.

Yi Zhonghai also walked out from the Zhongyuan, and upon seeing Shen Guizhi, he hurried over: "Sister-in-law, it's been nearly two years, hasn't it? Why hasn't He Daqing returned? And this must be He Yushui, she looks more like you as she grows!"

Shen Guizhi hurriedly pulled her daughter over: "He Yushui, hurry and greet Uncle Yi!"

"Uncle Yi!" the three girls shouted in unison, making Yi Zhonghai tremble.

He Yushui made a face and said: "Xiaomi, Dahua, you go to my house first."

Just as He Yuzhu was opening the door, Jia Zhangshi suddenly opened her door and came out, asking in a shrill voice: "Shen Guizhi, I heard you ran into bandits?"

Shen Guizhi's face sank: "That's not true! He Daqing injured his leg and was recovering in the village. Later, with the chaos of war and He Yushui still young, he found a job in the county seat."

"Xu Damao even said you went to be a bandit's wife!" Jia Zhangshi persisted.

He Yuzhu sneered: "Jia Zhangshi, I also heard that Jia Shu tripped over a stool while running away and fell onto a bomb..."

"You little beast! You slander Lao Jia, may you die a horrible death!"

"You're allowed to talk nonsense about others, but no one is allowed to talk about you?"

Seeing that they were about to quarrel, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "It's freezing, everyone say less!"

Shen Guizhi stepped into the house, her eyes instantly moistening.

The original two-room layout had been renovated into four rooms; although the various pieces of furniture were not new and the styles were a bit peculiar, they were all very comfortable.

She sat down on a sofa with a thud.

"Son, this renovation must have cost a lot of money, right?"

"It didn't cost much, this furniture was discarded by my cousin, I just picked it up," He Yuzhu lied.

"That girl is really wasteful, throwing away such good things," Shen Guizhi sighed.

"She is quite wasteful, but her father is rich. Mother, you need to light the stove quickly, or people will freeze to death," He Yuzhu said, rubbing his hands.

He Yushui discovered there was a second floor and rushed up with her two little companions, jumping and playing on the wooden floor, their bell-like laughter echoing in the room.

"Brother Zhuzi, where do I live?" Ershuan asked, standing at the door with a sack of flour on his shoulder.

Only then did He Yuzhu notice that the Wang and Li families were still standing outside the door with large and small bags, looking just like refugees.

He hurriedly led the group toward the East Cross Courtyard.

The East Cross Courtyard was no longer the weed-choked place it used to be; the blue bricks and gray tiles had been renovated, and the two main rooms and four wing rooms were all clean and tidy.

"Uncle Wang, Li Shu, there are two rooms in each of the East and West Wings, you choose for yourselves."

Wang Qiang hurriedly waved his hand: "You decide, we don't care."

Li Lin also echoed: "Right, right, you decide."

He Yuzhu broke two branches: "Let's draw lots, the long one gets the East Wing, the short one gets the West Wing."

As it turned out, the Wang family drew the East Wing. He Yuzhu then said to Ershuan: "You stay in the main room for now."

Ershuan walked into the room and stared blankly at the peculiar furniture filling the space: "Brother Zhuzi, this... this is too fancy, is it appropriate for me to live here?"

"What are you thinking about? Once things are settled at the restaurant, you'll have to move there to live anyway."

"That would make me feel more at ease," Ershuan said.

"Ershuan, the city isn't peaceful, the safety of these families is in your hands. When I'm not here, you must keep a close watch on the house."

"Zhuzi, don't you worry."

"The people in this courtyard aren't as honest as the villagers; they are all very shrewd, and if you're not careful, you'll be schemed against..."

Ershuan listened to He Yuzhu's instructions, and the more he heard, the more afraid he became.

He Yuzhu saw his timidity and said: "Actually, dealing with them is simple. Whatever they ask you, just blow your nose, wipe it on your shoe sole, and smile foolishly at them, that's all."

"This, this I'm good at!" Ershuan giggled foolishly.

He Yuzhu took three Box Cannons and some ammunition out of his backpack and handed them to Ershuan: "Distribute them to Uncle Wang and Li Shu later."

He Yuzhu settled everyone in and returned home, only to find the living room already crowded with neighbors.

Jia Zhangshi hadn't come over, but was peeking through the door crack and muttering: "The He Family is all back, why is He Daqing the only one missing? Could he have died out there?"

Jia Dongxu hurriedly pulled his mother inside: "Say less! Nowadays, the He Family is the most powerful in the courtyard. The job for the Lao Wang family in the front yard was arranged by Zhuzi, and they even got a hundred catties of grain for free. Now two more families have been added, plus the Deaf Old Lady who protects him... we can't afford to offend them."

When He Yuzhu saw the living room crowded with people, he hurried upstairs and found the three little girls making a scene in the darkroom, their eyes fixed on the photos covering the walls.

"Brother! Take one for us too!" He Yushui tugged at his sleeve and acted spoiled.

He Yuzhu took the group photo he had taken of them last time out of the drawer: "Look, I already had it prepared for you."

Seeing the photo, the three little girls danced with joy.

Seeing that it was almost mealtime, the people in the living room showed no signs of leaving.

Shen Guizhi went upstairs and asked: "Zhuzi, these people weren't this enthusiastic before I left; did the sun rise in the west today?"

He Yuzhu curled his lip: "Prices are skyrocketing now, and everyone is gnawing on corn buns every day; they're just waiting to sponge off us. Forget it, I'm going to buy steamed buns, five for each family."

Just as He Yuzhu stepped out of the courtyard gate, he noticed three little tails sneaking along behind him, with a little black dog following at the very back.

"Stop hiding, I saw you all a long time ago." He smiled and picked up his younger sister.

The steamed bun shop was filled with steam, and Xu Damao was sitting with his legs crossed, treating Liu Guangqi and the others to steamed buns.

Seeing He Yuzhu enter, he leaned over to his ear and whispered: "I saw your portrait on Qianmen Street."

He Yuzhu's heart tightened, but he forced himself to stay calm: "How could I be that famous? You must have seen it wrong."

Xu Damao chuckled: "Don't worry, I'll keep your secret."

"If I get caught, you'll be the first one I snitch on." He Yuzhu lowered his voice.

"I'd better stay away from you!" Just as Xu Damao was about to slip away, He Yuzhu suddenly raised his voice: "Damao, you're being so generous treating everyone today, shouldn't you pay back those ten Big Ocean coins you owe me?"

"Talking about money hurts our friendship! How about this, today's meal is on me!"

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow and smiled: "I'll take one hundred steamed buns."

Xu Damao was about to object, but He Yuzhu glared at him: "Then pay back the money immediately."

"Fine... fine! One hundred it is!" Xu Damao's spirit instantly deflated.

While waiting for the buns, the three little girls each gnawed on three large meat buns, making Xu Damao click his tongue in surprise: "Your sisters can really eat! They were quite pretty when they were just born, how did they grow up to be such scrawny girls?"

"Go to hell, you never have anything human to say; my sisters have a healthy, rosy glow!"

Four workers carried four large steamer baskets of buns into the courtyard, and the neighbors immediately cheered when they saw the steaming hot buns.

Jia Zhangshi immediately opened the door and walked outside.

Jia Dongxu grabbed her, "Mother, you just had an argument with someone, don't go."

"No, it was Lao Jia who saved He Daqing, they all owe me."

Just then, several Police suddenly rushed in from outside.

He Yuzhu immediately handed the buns to Shen Guizhi and said: "Mother, please help distribute the buns first, I'll go see what's going on."