Chapter 273: He Daqing Returns Home

"Comrade Wang Xia speaks so well!" He Yuzhu praised.

Wang Jiazhi beckoned to him.

He Yuzhu followed her out, fawning, and asked, "What are your orders, Comrade Wang Xia?"

"There are quite a few empty houses in this alley of yours. When you have time, investigate them for us. If the owners have run off, we need to reclaim them quickly; many comrades in the Military Control Commission still don't have a place to live!"

"Sister, that's quite difficult. Just because a house is empty doesn't mean it's unclaimed..." He Yuzhu said, feeling troubled.

"I know you have ways, don't try to bargain with me. If you bargain again, I'll have you transferred under my command, make you do this job, and you'll have to fix up all the houses for me too!" Wang Jiazhi's mouth curled up slightly.

"Fine, you lot are the capable ones. Tell me why you changed your name, and I'll handle it for you!"

"Lao Zhou said my original name sounded too much like a bourgeois young lady, so he advised me to change it," Wang Jiazhi said nonchalantly.

"Where is Lao Zhou working now?" He Yuzhu asked curiously.

Li Xiangxiu took over the conversation: "He is serving in the Inspection Committee of the Municipal Military Control Commission."

"And my uncle?"

"He went to the Cultural Takeover Committee!" Wang Jiazhi replied.

"Alright, you two are busy, I'll head back first," He Yuzhu said, taking the hint to excuse himself.

Wang Jiazhi nodded and followed her colleagues toward the next courtyard.

Yan Bugui, who had been listening with his ears pricked up the whole time, hurried over: "Zhuzi, do you know this Comrade Wang?"

He Yuzhu brushed him off casually: "She used to run a grocery store; I went there often to buy things. We're just nodding acquaintances, not really close."

Yan Bugui lowered his voice mysteriously: "Zhuzi, what do you think about what Comrade Wang said just now?"

"Whatever she says, we do; that's the surest way."

"But I feel that Big Oceans are more reliable than paper money! What if the People's Currency ends up like the Gold Yuan Coupon? Wouldn't we lose a fortune?" Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses.

"Then you just keep them; no one is stopping you!" He Yuzhu couldn't be bothered to say more to him.

Yi Zhonghai also came over and asked: "Zhuzi, you're always running around outside and have seen a lot. Tell us, should we really exchange this money?"

Seeing the neighbors gathering around, He Yuzhu simply raised his voice and said: "Listen up, everyone! If you have Big Oceans, gold, or US dollars in your hands, don't rush to exchange these hard currencies, but you'll have to exchange them sooner or later. If you have old currency like Gold Yuan Coupons, don't delay for even a second! Go exchange them now; in a few more days, this stuff won't even be good enough to use as toilet paper!"

"Is it really that dire?" Yan Bugui smacked his lips.

"Believe it or not, just don't regret it when the time comes," He Yuzhu laughed.

Jia Zhangshi curled her lip on the side: "I don't believe Big Oceans can be invalidated. Even if they really are, I'm keeping them."

Wang Zhifu said loudly: "What Zhuzi says is definitely right. I'm going to exchange mine first thing tomorrow morning!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said: "The Bald Party's money really can't be kept. The new government is willing to exchange it; that's already benevolent enough."

When the night was deep and quiet, He Yuzhu quietly put on a disguise and headed straight for the black market.

He knew full well that if he didn't spend the hundreds of thousands of Big Oceans that Liu Rusi had given him in his space, he wouldn't have anywhere to spend them later.

As soon as he arrived at the black market, he found it full of people using Big Oceans to buy up old currency, but the exchange rate was far worse than at the bank; it was clearly scalpers flipping money.

After walking around, he barely saw anyone trading gold for Big Oceans.

With no other choice, he had to use the Big Oceans to buy antiques and supplies.

That whole night, he bought whatever good items he saw—he bought quite a lot of rosewood furniture, porcelain, rare ancient books, and famous calligraphy and paintings, spending several thousand Big Oceans.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly saw five masked people walking over.

He Yuzhu recognized them at a glance as Xu Damao's gang. He immediately understood: this group had said they were going to Jixian to take refuge, but in reality, they had gone grave robbing. He wondered which large tomb had met with misfortune.

Fortunately, he was disguised and not afraid of being recognized, so He Yuzhu followed them quietly.

Hu Yunbin found a quiet spot, spread out a cloth, and started taking out goods one by one.

He Yuzhu stepped forward to look; there were indeed quite a few jade pieces. It seemed they had robbed a large Han Dynasty tomb.

He squatted down and activated the Scanning Function. When he picked up a primitive-looking Jade Phoenix Bird, the system prompted: "This item contains energy; the host may collect it."

He Yuzhu finished looking and put it down, then asked: "Boss, I want all these things of yours. What's the price for the whole lot?"

Hu Yunbin's eyes lit up, and he immediately sized up the person: a tall man of 1.8 meters, wearing foreign-made leather clothes and pants, looking like a rich man. He then accompanied it with a smile: "Brother, these are all good things from the Han Dynasty, very rare. If you are sincere about wanting them, ten Big Yellow Fish."

He Yuzhu made a move to leave: "Boss, you aren't being honest. Do you think I'm easy to fool?"

Hu Yunbin smiled ingratiatingly and said: "Five! Can't go any lower!"

Xu Damao chimed in: "If we sold these one by one, we could sell them for several dozen Big Yellow Fish!"

He Yuzhu stopped his steps: "Three. If not, I'm really leaving."

Hu Yunbin gritted his teeth: "Fine, seeing as you're a straightforward person, it's a deal!"

He Yuzhu took three Big Yellow Fish out of his backpack and handed them over.

Hu Yunbin wrapped up the items and shoved them into his hands.

He Yuzhu didn't say another word, took the package, and quickly left the black market.

Xu Damao watched his back and shook his head.

In the days that followed, He Yuzhu worked at the Rolling Mill during the day and went to the black market to sweep up goods at night.

He arranged for Xiaomi, Dahua, and Xiaoqi's father to join the Rolling Mill's Security Team, letting them help train the security guards. With these three helpers, He Yuzhu felt much more relaxed; he just went over during the day to cook for everyone.

Good news came one after another: Nanjing was liberated on April 23, marking the end of the Bald Party's rule; Hangzhou was liberated on May 3; Hubei was liberated on May 16; Shanghai was liberated on May 27...

In the blink of an eye, it was July, and He Daqing returned.

When he appeared in the courtyard wearing a military uniform, the entire compound exploded with excitement.

People like Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui, who were quick-witted, had long guessed that he had joined the Communist Party; most neighbors had truly thought he was working as a cook elsewhere.

As soon as He Yushui saw her father, she lunged at him, hugged his leg, and burst into tears with a "waa."

He Daqing hurriedly picked up his daughter and coaxed her for a long while.

Shen Guizhi silently took his handbag.

He Yuzhu stepped forward and hugged his father: "Are you discharged, or just visiting home?"

"One piece of good news and one piece of bad news, which one do you want to hear first?"

"You've even learned how to keep people in suspense? Tell me the bad one first."

"The bad news is that I still have to continue serving in the military, and the good news is that the unit will be stationed in Tong County from now on."

He Yuzhu laughed: "If you ask me, they are both good news."

"Zhuzi's political awareness has really grown!" He Daqing patted his son on the shoulder.

"Dad, what good things did you bring me?" He Yushui pouted, looking like she was about to be unhappy again.

He Daqing pulled a Cloth Tiger out of his backpack: "I brought this especially for you."

The little girl finally broke into a smile through her tears.

At this moment, Yan Bugui leaned over and patted He Daqing on the shoulder: "Daqing, you've been gone for several years; you must have become a Cadre, right?"

He Daqing smiled: "I'm still doing my old trade, working as a cook for the soldiers."

Yan Bugui narrowed his small eyes: "Four pockets, leather shoes, and you're even carrying a gun; you must be a Cadre."

Yi Zhonghai also walked over: "Daqing, we've learned a bit about your unit's situation these days, so don't be modest. Are you afraid of having to host a treat? You don't need to spend your own money this time; everyone will chip in to welcome you back, how about that?"

He Yuzhu admired him secretly: That was a high-level remark, using retreat as a means of advance. If you really let everyone treat you to a meal, how could you refuse them when they come to you for favors later?

He Daqing was also a shrewd man and immediately took the bait: "Don't bother. Over these years, the common people have been squeezed too hard by the Bald Party, how could I let you treat me? However, I haven't earned much money in the unit all these years, but my son works for a Boss and is relatively well-off, so let Zhuzi treat everyone to this meal."

"He Yuzhu, you'd better put on a big feast; who doesn't know you have a big Boss backing you!" Xu Damao strolled in from outside the courtyard and said sarcastically.

He Yuzhu was so angry his teeth itched; this guy was causing trouble the moment he got back.

"Since my dad has spoken, tomorrow I will treat everyone to Braised Pork and Boiled Fish. Just these two dishes, but there will be plenty!"

"Great!" Everyone in the courtyard cheered.