Chapter 28: He Daqing Suspects He Yuzhu

The deep winter's cold wind was as biting as a knife. He Yuzhu pulled his old cotton-padded jacket tight and asked Chen Qingshan, who was beside him, "Uncle Chen, now that you've come to Beijing, do you have any plans?"

Hearing this, Chen Qingshan stopped in his tracks, his voice tinged with bitterness: "All my tools for making a living are gone! Even if I went to that Martial Arts Assembly, I'd just be staring blankly. Right now... I can only look for some odd jobs here in Si Jiu Cheng to scrape together enough for a meal and save up some travel money to go home."

As He Yuzhu listened, his dark, bright eyes rolled, and his little mental abacus clicked away rapidly: He was only 9 years old, and everything he did was hindered by his size. If he could have two people with Kung Fu skills by his side to help, or even... use the pretext of acknowledging a Siqiang as a cover, wouldn't many things become much more convenient to handle?

Having made up his mind, He Yuzhu said with a serious face, "Uncle Chen, are you feeling a bit uneasy about why I'm helping you both like this?"

Chen Qingshan nodded.

"Actually, I don't want to go to school; I just want to hang around the streets and love to fight against injustice, but my family won't have it. This time, I want to go to the Martial Arts Assembly, and my family absolutely refuses to let me. Could you take me with you? That way, my family won't have to worry."

"That's fine, I'm willing to take you!" Chen Qingshan said.

"It's a deal!" After saying this, He Yuzhu took out a small blue cloth pouch. His fingers nimbly untied the knot, and with a crisp, pleasant "clatter," twenty shiny Big Ocean coins were spread out on his palm.

"Take these twenty Big Ocean coins! Consider it me hiring you and Sister Daya as my Bodyguards for two days!"

Chen Qingshan was so startled by this sudden "windfall" that he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet. He hurriedly declined: "I can't take this! Little Master! You've already treated us to a full meal and found us a place to stay; that is already a massive favor. If you want to go, we'll just accompany you! We can't take a single cent!"

He Yuzhu deliberately stiffened his little face and said, "Uncle Chen! You're being too much of a stranger! When you're out and about, how can you manage without money in your pocket? What if you run into an emergency? If you really feel bad about it, just consider it a loan! Once you're better off in the future, you can just pay me back, right?" As he spoke, he forcibly stuffed the twenty Big Ocean coins into Chen Qingshan's pocket.

Unable to refuse any longer, Chen Qingshan had to tuck the money into his chest, his voice somewhat choked: "Little Master... this... how are we... supposed to repay you..."

Chen Daya's eyes also turned red. Those bright eyes, which originally carried a hint of wildness, were now looking at He Yuzhu, filled with gratitude and an unbelievable glow.

He Yuzhu familiarly led the father and daughter to the west wing of the 91 Hao Yuan. Although the paper on the windows was tattered, there was a kang here, and it could be heated.

When He Yuzhu looked at the thin, almost translucent, worn-out cotton quilt the two had brought, He Yuzhu frowned.

In this weather, they would surely freeze stiff at night. His eyes darted, and he made an excuse: "You two tidy up first; I'm going home to grab something and will be right back!"

Having said that, he ran out of the courtyard like a nimble civet cat.

Turning into a quiet, dead-end alley and confirming no one was around, he moved his mind slightly and took two thick Japanese military cotton quilts, two military blankets, and some daily necessities from his space.

When he handed these things to Chen Daya, it startled her.

"These things, they must be the devils' things, right?"

He Yuzhu nodded, "Just use them in this room; don't take them outside."

Chen Daya nodded, but suddenly, she looked at this kid in a new light.

He Yuzhu said, "I'll come find you tomorrow morning. In a bit, use one military blanket to block the window and spread the other on the kang. Once you light a fire, it won't be so cold."

Before the father and daughter could even finish their thousand thanks, He Yuzhu had already slipped away.

Just as he walked into the main room, he saw Shen Guizhi rushing over with a broom, grabbing He Yuzhu to beat him.

"You little bastard! You still know how to come back? Where did you die today? Do you know! Something big happened at the gate of the Rolling Mill! Several people died!" Shen Guizhi's voice was urgent and fearful, laced with a sobbing tone.

He Yuzhu took a few hits from the broom handle, which actually hurt quite a bit, but he couldn't care about that and hurriedly asked, "Mom! Did anyone in our courtyard get into trouble? Did Xu Fugui die?"

This question actually made Shen Guizhi laugh in anger. "How much do you hate the Xu family? I heard people from the courtyard say that a group of people attacked the factory and bullets were flying everywhere. How can the world be so chaotic? Every time I hear them say that, I always feel like you were at the scene! If you dare to run out and not come home like this again, I... I'll just beat you to death!" She swung the broom handle at him again, accompanied by the sound of wind.

He Yuzhu had been prepared; like a slippery loach, he twisted his waist and dodged it. At the same time, he grinned and pulled a bulging oil-paper package from his chest. "Mom! If you keep hitting me, this food I just bought will all spill on the floor and feed the rats!"

He nimbly opened the oil-paper package, and the rich, fragrant aroma of meat roasted with grease and spices instantly exploded in the small room, domineeringly dispelling the tense atmosphere from just a moment ago.

Shen Guizhi looked at the oily, enticingly colored Zhizi Barbecue and Braised Beef Strips in the oil-paper package, and half of her burning anger and shock were instantly washed away by the aroma.

She snatched the oil-paper package away unceremoniously and turned toward the stove, muttering to herself: "I suppose you brat... still have a bit of filial piety!"

The firelight in the stove reflected on her conflicted face. Her son's mysterious comings and goings made her anxious, yet he always managed to find ways to bring back delicious food. It wasn't easy. Shen Guizhi's heart churned, and she finally sighed. As long as he didn't go down the wrong path or cause a huge disaster, let him be... Thinking this, her tight heartstrings relaxed just a little.

He Daqing pushed the door open, wrapped in a layer of cold air, and his nose immediately twitched greedily a few times. Seeing the two plates of hearty dishes still steaming on the table, his eyes widened, and he opened fire on He Yuzhu: "Hah! You little bastard! You're something else! You've even got Zhizi Barbecue from Kaorouji on the table? You're putting on more airs than your old man, aren't you?"

He Yuzhu plopped down on a stool, grabbed a steamed bun, took a bite, and retorted incoherently: "Don't you mock me! This is my own money, and it's the last of my savings. From now on, I'll be relying on your cornmeal buns and salted vegetables to stay alive!"

"How could I possibly believe that! I think you, you brat, must have robbed some bank."

He Yuzhu rolled his eyes dramatically and said in an exaggerated tone: "Oh my! You really do think highly of me! If I had that kind of ability, would I still be huddled in this broken courtyard, suffering your old man's nagging every day?"

"Hey! You little rabbit! You've rebelled! How dare you talk to your old man like that! I'll beat you to death!"