Chapter 7: He Yuzhu Causes a Ruckus in Si Jiu Cheng

He Yuzhu moved very quickly; in the blink of an eye, the two collaborators who wanted to run felt their back collars tighten. Before they could even finish shouting "Ouch," their vision blurred, and the people were gone.

That bearded leader was the most cunning; he took off running, but after about ten steps, he felt his feet sink.

A bright, gleaming Flying Knife was stuck in each of his thighs.

The pain made the bearded man let out a howl; he did a face-plant onto the ground and got a mouthful of snow.

He twisted his head, grimacing, and caught sight of He Yuzhu's small face, which still had baby fat; he regretted it so much his guts turned green. He thought to himself: Damn it! If I hadn't listened to that bastard Pangzi's "substitute for the sacrifice" scheme, I should be lying on the belly of Red Peony at the Badahutong right now! Now this is great, the road to the underworld is right before my eyes!

The bearded man immediately put on an act, his face covered in snot and tears, "Grandpa Immortal! Ancestor! Spare my life! That rotten idea to offer you to the Japanese Colonel Kameda really wasn't mine! It was all thought up by that wicked, smoke-belching bastard Pangzi! Just treat me like a fart and let me go! I have an eighty-year-old mother at home waiting to be fed, and a nursing baby on the kang waiting to call me Daddy!" He spoke with such vivid emotion, it was truly heart-wrenching.

He Yuzhu crossed his arms, curled his little lip, and laughed: "Yo? Weren't you acting all high and mighty just a moment ago, like you were the king of the world? How come you're as wilted as a frost-bitten eggplant now? Let me tell you the truth, kid! That Japanese trading firm in Wangfujing was my doing! I have to say, you bastards actually had some skills; you really managed to pin me down." As he spoke, he went up and kicked the bearded man hard in the butt, making him let out an "Ow."

"Immortal! Living God! I know you aren't a mortal! Please have mercy, for the sake of the Buddha, spare this little dog's life!" The bearded man kowtowed like he was pounding garlic, his forehead nearly swelling into a bump.

"Alright!" He Yuzhu waved his hand impatiently, "Stop kowtowing, it won't help even if you knock a hole in the ground! Actually, when I was negotiating with you earlier to give you Big Ocean to let me go, I really didn't want to kill you. I know it's not easy for you guys with families to support. But you bastards were too underhanded, actually trying to push me into that Japanese fire pit? Then don't blame me for being ruthless!" Before he finished speaking, not giving the bearded man a chance to beg for mercy, he waved his little hand, and only two lonely Flying Knives remained on the ground.

Before leaving, He Yuzhu was quite meticulous; he grabbed a handful of dirt and covered the bloodstains thoroughly, acting as if nothing had happened.

On the way home, He Yuzhu pondered as he walked. He suddenly slapped his forehead: "Damn it! Those few collaborators who searched the school have vanished into thin air. If the lackeys above them have even half a brain, they'll follow the vine and might just find their way to me!" He took a deep breath of the cold winter air of Si Jiu Cheng, a flash of cold light in his small eyes, "Heh, since you bastards are looking for death yourselves, don't blame me for going on a rampage! I might as well go all the way and stir up the waters of this Si Jiu Cheng completely! Let those Japanese turnips taste what it's like to not be able to sleep soundly!"

Having made up his mind, He Yuzhu was busy all day. He was like a miniature "Living Yama," specifically targeting those Japanese soldiers who were isolated or lagging behind. Seeing that no one was around, his figure flickered, fast as a ghost, and with a "whoosh," the target was gone! Clean and efficient, without even a sound.

Seeing the sun tilting west and dusk gathering, He Yuzhu took stock; good heavens, he had already "invited" over twenty "Japanese honored guests" into his mysterious space, almost enough to host a banquet.

Finding a desolate, deserted corner, He Yuzhu flashed into the space. Facing this group of murderous devils, he didn't have a shred of mercy. The method of disposal was simple and brutal: he reached out his little hand, and one by one, with a "crack," he twisted their necks, and the world was quiet.

While "cleaning up the battlefield," He Yuzhu laughed: "Heh! These grandsons were out looting the people's wealth, they really were oily as hell!" He scavenged ten golden Small Yellow Fish from these Japanese, plus over two hundred pieces of hard Big Ocean! This wasn't a search and arrest; it was clearly an opportunity to loot!

Tucking away the "spoils of war," He Yuzhu waved his hand, hailed a rickshaw, and shouted: "Rubber-tire! To the train station!"

Upon arriving, his eyes darted around, and he really did find a dilapidated courtyard with a half-collapsed wall nearby. With a thought, those twenty-plus Japanese corpses all landed in the courtyard, piled up like a small hill. Before leaving, He Yuzhu didn't forget to "thoughtfully" leave a letter for the Military Police.

The stationery was swiped from a Japanese soldier, and the handwriting was crooked and messy, like it had been scratched by chicken claws:

Old Man Kameda:

You are the son of an old turtle, and I am the great Huang Daxian! I just don't like the look of you bunch of Japanese turtle bastards, so I'm here to cause you some trouble! If you're smart, tuck your tails and get out; if you dare to keep looking for your Grandpa Immortal all over the world, I'll twist off the heads of every single turnip under your command.

——Huang Daxian

After finishing this big job, He Yuzhu felt refreshed. He hailed another rickshaw outside the train station.

The rickshaw puller was an old hand; seeing that the one hailing him was just a half-grown kid in an old cotton-padded jacket, he couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids, and said in a flat, indifferent tone: "Little brat, go play somewhere else! I'm here to pull loads and make money, I don't have money to buy you candy!"

"Damn! You look down on people, don't you?" He Yuzhu put his hands on his hips, pulled out a shiny piece of Big Ocean, blew on it by his mouth with a "pfft," held it to his ear to listen to the "humming" echo, and lifted his little face, showing off: "See that? A ringing Yuan Datou! That's enough for eight rides! I'm riding today!"

The rickshaw puller's face changed faster than flipping a book! Just a moment ago he was like a frost-bitten eggplant, and instantly he was smiling like a big chrysanthemum: "Oh my! Little Young Master! Look at these eyes of mine, they should be gouged out and stepped on like bubbles! You're here on a secret inspection to observe the people's hardships, aren't you? Please, take your seat! It'll be steady!" As he spoke, he nimbly patted the seat, being extremely attentive.

He Yuzhu watched his fawning, thieving manner, his eyes rolled, and he didn't say he was going home directly: "Cut the crap, head to Dian'anmen! I'm hungry!"

"Got it! Sit tight!" The rickshaw puller started running, his feet moving as if he had wind-fire wheels.

Arriving at the entrance of "Yao's" Fried Liver at Dian'anmen, He Yuzhu jumped off the rickshaw and tossed a few copper coins to the puller: "A tip for you, keep the change!" The rickshaw puller clutched the coins, smiling until his eyes disappeared, thanking him repeatedly.

He Yuzhu lifted the cotton door curtain and ducked into the steaming, fragrant fried liver shop. He sat on a bench, slapped the table with his little hand, and called out crisply: "Shopkeeper! Four bowls of fried liver, extra garlic sauce! And give me two jin of pork and scallion buns! One jin to go. They have to be fresh out of the pot, cold ones won't do."

"Got it!" The young waiter quickly brought He Yuzhu the dipping sauce, chopsticks, and a small plate.

Before long, the table was filled with buns and fried liver.

At this moment, everyone stopped eating and stretched their necks to look at this half-grown kid.

They saw He Yuzhu open his mouth wide and dig in; it was like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds! Four bowls of thick, oily, glistening fried liver went down his throat with a "slurp," and a jin of buns went into his mouth with a "smack," he ate with such relish! The people nearby couldn't help but swallow their saliva, thinking: Whose little ancestor is this? This appetite, it's truly impossible to afford to raise him!

Full and satisfied, He Yuzhu let out a loud burp, rubbed his round little belly, and felt that life was complete.

He glanced contentedly at the diners who were still watching him, waved his little hand with a grin: "See you later!" He picked up the one jin of pork and scallion buns wrapped in oil paper and strolled toward the Siheyuan.

Just as he reached the paint-peeling gate of the Siheyuan, he saw Yan Bugui tucking his hands into his sleeves and wandering at the gate.

"Uncle Yan, are you standing here freezing like an ice lolly?" He Yuzhu mocked.