Chapter 56: Qingyin Small Class

In the Houyuan of the He Ji restaurant, Shen Wenqing and Shen Guizhi held each other and wept bitterly for a while, while He Daqing stood to the side, wringing his hands, his face full of helplessness.

He Yuzhu felt that his mother and his eldest uncle had a bit of a flair for the dramatic; they had already met, yet they were crying again this time. Perhaps it was because his eldest uncle had just gone through a life-and-death ordeal!

Seeing that He Daqing was a bit uncomfortable, He Yuzhu hurriedly spoke up: "Dad, there are still customers out front! Daya can't cook, so you should go back and attend to them first."

He Daqing glared at his son, but with customers present, he ultimately didn't curse out loud.

Once He Daqing had gone out, Shen Wenqing grabbed He Yuzhu and said apologetically: "Zhuzi, your eldest uncle came out in such a rush this time that I didn't bring any gifts, but I will certainly make up for it another day."

"I used to call you Big Brother, but now I have to change it to Eldest Uncle; it really takes some getting used to!" He Yuzhu said with a grin.

"You brat, all you know is how to run your mouth!" Shen Guizhi scolded with a smile, though her voice still carried a trace of tears.

"Eldest Uncle, was your hideout raided?" He Yuzhu joked.

Shen Wenqing gave a bitter smile: "You're not wrong; our contact point was discovered by the enemy."

"What are your plans for now? Why don't you stay here for a few days?" He Yuzhu asked.

"I must contact my comrades as soon as possible."

"Isn't that just finding Lao Zhou? Why don't you tell me the places he might go, and I'll help you find him," He Yuzhu said, patting his chest.

"You're just a child; it's too dangerous, no!" Shen Wenqing shook his head repeatedly.

"I'm not bragging to you, but three of you wouldn't be able to beat me!" He Yuzhu raised his chin proudly.

"You little rascal, you're getting more and more out of line!" Shen Guizhi chided.

"If you don't believe me, how about this," He Yuzhu got excited, "You have a gun, right? Take out the bullets, point it at my head, and pull the trigger as fast as you can, and see what happens?"

Shen Wenqing's temper was also provoked; he truly removed the bullets and pointed the Box Cannon at He Yuzhu's forehead.

He Yuzhu said to his mother: "Mom, stand behind me, shout 'start,' and Eldest Uncle will pull the trigger."

"Start!" Before Shen Guizhi had even finished speaking, He Yuzhu's hands moved like lightning. The two felt a blur before their eyes, and the Box Cannon was already in He Yuzhu's hand.

He turned and pointed the gun at Shen Guizhi, pulling the trigger—of course, there were no bullets in the gun.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, and both Shen Wenqing and Shen Guizhi were stunned.

"I'm sorry, Mom, did I scare you?" He Yuzhu hurriedly apologized.

Shen Guizhi only then came to her senses and gave her son's backside a hard slap: "You little rascal, how dare you point a gun at your mother?"

Shen Wenqing let out a long sigh: "I've also received special training, but I've truly never seen speed as fast as yours. Sister, with skills like these, three or five ordinary experts wouldn't be able to get close to him. From now on, you don't need to worry about him too much."

"Then can I help you find out where Lao Zhou is now?" He Yuzhu asked, seizing the opportunity.

Shen Wenqing sighed: "You can. By the looks of it, I suppose your other Kung Fu is quite good too?"

"As long as it involves physical action, I'm fine; I'm a bit lacking when it comes to using my brain! My specialty is sword art!" He Yuzhu said smugly.

"Then practice it for me and your mother to see, so we can know just how much ability you really have!" Shen Wenqing said.

"Alright!" He Yuzhu turned and walked into Chen Qingshan's room, taking out the thick-backed broadsword he had used at the martial arts assembly.

The snow in the courtyard had not yet melted, and the withered tree branches rustled in the cold wind.

He Yuzhu stood in the center of the courtyard, took a deep breath, and suddenly began to move.

His form was like a swimming dragon, and amidst the flashing blade, it seemed as if silver snakes were dancing wildly; every hack and slash brought forth the sound of tearing air.

The snowflakes were whipped up by the wind of the blade, forming a white mist around his body.

Shen Wenqing was dazzled, able to catch only glimpses of afterimages.

Shen Guizhi was also seeing her son practice martial arts for the first time; she was so shocked her mouth hung open, unable to believe her child possessed such ability.

Just as He Yuzhu was finishing his form, He Daqing ran into the courtyard in a panic: "It's bad! I don't know why Boss Ma found his way to the shop. What are we to do?"

He Yuzhu's heart tightened; he immediately understood that even if Boss Ma wasn't a Japanese spy, he was at least an outside operative. His Dongxing Lou had been burned down too coincidentally, and seeing He Daqing now would naturally make him suspicious.

"Dad, has Boss Ma left?"

"He's still in the shop! He gave me hypocritical pleasantries for a long time, and in the end, he even wanted to borrow money from me. I think he was threatening me!" He Daqing was sweating profusely from anxiety.

"Dad, give him twenty Big Ocean," He Yuzhu said calmly.

"This... why? We haven't even earned twenty Big Ocean in all the days we've been open!" He Daqing said reluctantly.

"We can't keep Boss Ma around; he must be backed by the little Japanese. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent you to the martial arts assembly to die!"

"Then... alright!" He Daqing walked toward the front of the shop very reluctantly.

"Zhuzi, let me go and take care of him!" Chen Qingshan said.

"Siqiang, just follow me; don't make a move unless it's the critical moment!"

Shen Guizhi was still a bit afraid and said: "Can't we just talk it out?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Boss Ma took the Big Ocean handed over by He Daqing, weighed them in his hand, and laughed sinisterly: "Brother Daqing, your savings are quite something! You can open your own shop after not working for me anymore?"

"It's all borrowed money; this little shop is in partnership with someone else," He Daqing said with a forced smile.

"As long as I know where you are, I'll come by often to look after your business. Anyway, my shop burned down, and I have nowhere else to taste your cooking!" Boss Ma said with a double meaning.

"You are welcome to come often!"

"How much for today? I'll pay you!"

"No need, you took good care of me during the years I worked for you!" He Daqing said.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony!" Boss Ma hummed the "Eighteen Touches" tune and sauntered out of the restaurant.

He Yuzhu followed quietly, with Chen Qingshan trailing behind him.

Ma Zhansan muttered to himself: "A man doesn't get rich without windfall; He Daqing, I've got you pegged!"

"Rickshaw!" he called out, waving his hand.

A young rickshaw puller pulled his carriage over: "Where to, Boss?"

"Yanzhi Hutong; today I'll experience the girls of the Qingyin Small Class!" Ma Zhansan sat on the carriage, looking at the pedestrians on the street with satisfaction, as if he had reached the pinnacle of his life.

It was snowing, and He Yuzhu sat in a rickshaw, looking at the ragged clothes of the pedestrians on the street; he felt even more hatred for the little Japanese, the puppet soldiers, and thugs like Boss Ma. A perfectly good country had been ruined by these people.

The blue brick ground of Yanzhi Hutong was covered in a layer of white snow; it creaked "crunch, crunch" when stepped on, radiating a bone-piercing chill.

Sun Qiang felt very fortunate today; he had not participated in the Military Police's operation to arrest the Communist Party, escaping a disaster. Of the thirty-five people who went out, twenty-nine died, and the six who fled back were all wounded. Life is unpredictable, so he decided to seize the day.

Two Bodyguards in black followed closely behind him, their waists bulging, clearly concealing weapons.

Sun Qiang shoved his hands into his pockets; the twenty Big Ocean coins felt heavy, clinking together and making a faint sound. That was the reward money he had just received from the Japanese, and this sound gave his walk a swagger.

The gas lamp at the entrance of the hutong swayed in the cold wind, its dim yellow light stretching the three men's shadows, making them flicker back and forth on the snowy ground.

The prostitute Xiao Hong was wrapped in a faded floral cotton-padded jacket, her face frozen bright red like a ripe apple. As soon as she saw Sun Qiang, she hurried to greet him, squeezing a smile onto her face: "Master Sun, it's been a while since you've come. Why not come to my room to rest first? The charcoal brazier is burning bright, it's very warm!"

Sun Qiang let out a "huff" through his nose, the white mist from his mouth carrying the scent of alcohol: "Rest for what? Tonight, Master is going to the Qingyin Small Class to taste what a high-class 'hen' tastes like."

Having said that, he lifted his foot and walked away, his leather boots making a "crack" sound as they stepped on the snow, not paying Xiao Hong any mind at all.

Xiao Hong watched his back, spat on the ground, a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes, and quietly followed him, her footsteps as light as a cat's.

Seeing Sun Qiang step into the vermilion-painted gate of 'Fragrant Joy Courtyard', Xiao Hong hurried toward the entrance of the alley and waved to call a rickshaw.

"Driver, go to Gongwangfu, as fast as you can! I'll give you one Big Ocean when we arrive!" She hunched her neck and ducked into the carriage hood, her voice filled with urgency.