Chapter 392: New Mission

When He Yuzhu returned to the dining table, He Yushui was still pouting there, grumbling to her little friends about Xu Huizhen.

"Yushui, you have to learn to be considerate," He Yuzhu began. "Your second aunt is raising her daughter all by herself; it's not easy for her to keep this shop running. Things are sold cheaply here, and she doesn't make much money in a day. If she were a bit more loose with her hands, she might end up losing money."

"Is that really true?" Xiaoqi asked, blinking her eyes.

"Of course, didn't your dad ever mention at home that making money isn't easy?" He Yuzhu asked with a smile.

"In the past, Mom always nagged about saving money so she could afford a wife for my younger brother, but now that she's working, she doesn't say that anymore!" Xiaoqi said.

He Yuzhu had always looked after these families in the courtyard; he had arranged for Xiaomi, Dahua, Xiaoqi, and Ding Li's mother to work at the Military Factory, and with their decent incomes, every family's life had become more comfortable.

"You girls, why don't you try doing a little business before the New Year to experience how hard it is to earn money?" Although he gave his younger sisters whatever they wanted, he didn't want to spoil them into people who didn't know the value of daily necessities.

He Yushui's eyes darted around, and she said, "Brother, if you help us make candied haws, we'll go sell them, okay?"

Beside her, Xiaoqi immediately exposed her: "Forget it, you just want to eat candied haws!"

"I do not!" He Yushui's face turned red as her true intentions were revealed.

"Fine," He Yuzhu said with a smile, making the decision. "I'll make you some candied haws tomorrow, and you can take them to the hutong to sell and experience for yourselves what it's like to earn money."

"Yay! Yay!" The little girls immediately cheered, chattering away in excitement.

At this moment, the gray-bearded man at the corner table watched the lively scene at He Yuzhu's table and shook his head with a smile. He pulled out a toothpick to pick his teeth, his eyes scanning the people at every table.

He Yuzhu understood perfectly—this was an observation to see if there were any "tails."

The white-bearded man stood up and strolled to the counter, smiling at Xu Huizhen: "Boss, the wine is strong and hasn't been watered down, and the side dishes are authentic, especially this pickled vegetable, which is particularly delicious. I'll be coming here often from now on. That contract... shall we sign it now?"

Xu Huizhen took the prepared contract from under the counter and handed it over.

The gray-bearded man read it through carefully, pulled a fountain pen from his breast pocket, signed it neatly, and stamped it with his personal seal.

He Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief—since they were opening a shop here, this place would likely become a fixed contact point, so there was no need to move against him for now.

Chen Xueru saw through He Yuzhu's thoughts; she dipped her fingertip into the wine in her cup and quickly traced five characters on the tabletop: "Tian says don't move him."

He Yuzhu nodded slightly, turned his face to continue chatting and laughing with the children, while keeping an eye on the man's movements.

"Ding Li, you're starting your second year of middle school, right? Do you want to go to high school or apply for a specialized secondary school in the future?"

Ding Li's eyes were bright: "Brother Zhuzi, I love drawing, I want to apply to the Fine Arts Academy."

"That's great. Before applying to the Fine Arts Academy, you could try applying to their Affiliated High School first."

"Brother Zhuzi, how do you know everything! I've already asked; the Fine Arts Academy is opening an Affiliated High School next year, and I'll be graduating just in time."

"That's even better. Since you like traditional Chinese painting, I'll take out some of my collection later so you can copy and study them."

"You have a collection of traditional Chinese paintings? How come I haven't seen them?" Ding Li asked in surprise.

"I've collected quite a few good things, but I've had my Siqiang hold onto them for me! I'm even planning to open a museum in thirty years. When you've finished your studies, will you come be my curator?"

"That would be amazing!" Ding Li clapped her hands in delight.

At this time, the gray-bearded man finished paying the bill and walked out unhurriedly.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu stood up quietly.

He Yushui was just about to open her mouth when Chen Xueru covered it: "Your brother has serious business."

He Yuzhu stepped out of the shop, quickly applied a fake beard, and put on black-rimmed glasses.

At the street corner, he exchanged a glance with Tian Dan and gave a "follow" signal.

After turning the corner, he took a black trench coat from his backpack and put it on; in the blink of an eye, he looked like a different person.

The gray-bearded man was extremely alert, wandering aimlessly the whole way and going in and out of several shops.

He Yuzhu kept a distance of about a hundred meters, tailing him from afar.

After wandering around for half an hour, the white-bearded man stopped at a cigarette stall at the entrance of a hutong, bought a pack of cigarettes, and lit one slowly. He appeared relaxed, but in reality, he was checking to see if he had a tail.

The person selling cigarettes was a thin, tall man with lively eyes who was also scanning the street without appearing to do so.

He Yuzhu understood—this person was an accomplice, specializing in counter-surveillance. An ordinary person following them would easily be spotted by these "eyes."

After finishing his cigarette, the white-bearded man turned into a dead-end alley.

Seeing that no one was around, the thin, tall man quickly followed him in.

From behind a wall, He Yuzhu watched from afar as the two flashed into a small courtyard at the end of the alley.

The location of that courtyard was tricky; the gate faced the mouth of the alley, and the people inside could see everything happening in the lane.

"Choosing a place like this... they really are cunning," He Yuzhu shook his head secretly, knowing he couldn't follow any further, so he turned back.

Returning to the vicinity of the Small Tavern, he waved at the spot where Tian Dan was hiding.

The two slipped into a quiet alley and found an abandoned courtyard.

"The white-bearded man lives in the first house at the head of Xiaojing Hutong. The door faces the alley, and he can monitor everyone coming and going from inside. Very cunning," He Yuzhu said in a low voice. "They rented the shop next to the Small Tavern, but their intentions are still unclear..."

Tian Dan nodded: "You go back first; we'll handle the surveillance. This time, you've made a great contribution again!"

"Chen Xueru was the one who spotted him first; the credit should go to her."

Tian Dan glanced at him, half-joking and half-warning: "If you, kid, have designs on Xueru, I'm going to report you to Liu Rusi."

"Report away, I'm not afraid," He Yuzhu grinned, waved his hand, and returned to the Small Tavern.

The little girls had already finished eating and were watching Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen bicker with smiles on their faces.

He Yuzhu hurried over to smooth things over: "Stingy Auntie, we're heading out!"

Xu Huizhen scolded with a smile: "You little bastard, get lost!"

He Yuzhu took the opportunity to take Chen Xueru's hand and walked out.

He Yushui turned back and made a face at Xu Huizhen.

"A bunch of little brats!" Xu Huizhen watched their backs with a smile. "Not one of them is as honest as Cai Quanwu!"

As soon as He Yuzhu and his group arrived home, they saw Secretary Liu sitting in the main room chatting with Shen Guizhi.

He Yuzhu hurried forward to shake hands: "Secretary Liu, why are you here? You didn't call ahead; I thought there was nothing to do today, so I took my sisters out for a stroll."

He Yushui took off the down jacket that reached her ankles and handed it to Shen Guizhi: "Mom, my brother bought this for you; it's so warm!"

Shen Guizhi took it and weighed it in her hand: "Oh, it is light; I wonder if it is warm?"

"It's very warm!" He Yushui chimed in eagerly.

He Yuzhu invited Secretary Liu to the East Cross Courtyard: "Is there an urgent matter?"

Secretary Liu's face was filled with irrepressible joy: "The 8 prototype vehicles we sent were used by the soldiers and commanders on the front lines, and the feedback is excellent! The headquarters requests that we accelerate production; the more and the faster, the better!"

Upon learning that the vehicles he helped design had been affirmed, He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart: "That's great! I brought back quite a few machine tools this time, many of which can be used for vehicle production, and they will arrive soon. I estimate that production can at least triple."

Secretary Liu nodded with satisfaction, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered his voice: "Do you... have any understanding of things like microscopes?"

He Yuzhu's expression turned stern: "Is this also urgently needed at the front?"

"Yes," Secretary Liu's expression became grave, "The people of M Country have recently started biological warfare. They have absorbed the technology of the former Japanese Unit 731, and Shiro Ishii himself has participated."

"Those animals!" He Yuzhu's fists clenched suddenly, "Secretary Liu, I apply to return to the front lines, to sneak into their rear, and let them taste this flavor themselves!"

Secretary Liu pressed down on his shoulder: "If a dog bites a person, can the person go and bite the dog back? We should just strengthen our defenses and expose their atrocities. The fact that they are using such methods only shows that they are at their wit's end."

He Yuzhu took a deep breath: "Secretary Liu, please rest assured. I will definitely get the vehicles and the anti-biological warfare equipment ready as soon as possible."

"I will wait for your news!" Secretary Liu gripped He Yuzhu's hand tightly.

No sooner had He Yuzhu sent Secretary Liu away than the courtyard began calling for a meeting. With He Daqing there, He Yuzhu couldn't be bothered to attend such trivial meetings, so he hid in his room, ignoring how much Yan Jiecheng shouted outside; he would not come out.

Suddenly, the telephone rang.

He Yuzhu picked it up, and Tian Dan's crisp voice came through:

"Zhuzi, that group of people has an activity tonight, come over quickly!"