Chapter 8: Yan Bugui Schemes Against He Yuzhu

Yan Bugui saw He Yuzhu, grabbed his arm in one go, and said, "Zhuzi? Didn't you get arrested by the Military Police? How come you're back looking like nothing happened?"

He Yuzhu rolled his eyes: "Are you saying they should have executed me?"

"Look at what you're saying, your uncle here is just happy, as long as you're fine, as long as you're fine!"

"Those devils were after the Communist Party! A little brat like me, do I even reach that 'level'? But those bastards were nasty enough; as soon as they came out, they asked what my old man did, and I told them my dad was just a lousy cook! In the end, these grandsons even wanted to extort our house, and I told them it was rented. They didn't believe it at first, so I let them take a look at my getup, and finally, these grandsons believed it."

"Is what you're saying true? It seems those devils really aren't very bright."

"You said it! Once they saw they couldn't squeeze any oil out of me, they let me go! You tell me, what kind of world is this, not even sparing a nine-year-old kid like me." He Yuzhu looked indignant.

As Yan Bugui listened, he felt something was off. He suddenly remembered and said, "Zhuzi, actually, I was waiting for you here because someone entrusted me with something. Principal Feng asked me to send word to your dad. He wants your dad to go over and talk to him about you skipping school every day."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately said: "Uncle Yan! Let's make a deal, how about that!"

Yan Bugui's eyes darted around, and he feigned difficulty: "Zhuzi, you definitely don't want me to tell your dad about you skipping school, right? But if I don't mention a word of this, when the principal asks later, I... I won't be able to explain myself! It would make me look unreliable, wouldn't it?"

He Yuzhu said: "Fine, fine, fine! Uncle Yan, you're really something! I'll give you two steamed buns to plug your mouth, how about that? My mom is sick, and I'm afraid she'll worry! Otherwise, I wouldn't be making this deal with you at all!"

When Yan Bugui heard there were two steamed buns, his eyes lit up immediately, and he nodded hurriedly: "Deal! Deal! No problem! As long as I get to eat these hot buns, I guarantee I won't let a single word slip out!"

"You keep your word?" He Yuzhu looked suspicious.

"That's a must! A man without credibility cannot stand!" Yan Bugui said righteously.

Only then did He Yuzhu reluctantly take two steamed buns out of an oil-paper bag and hand them over.

Yan Bugui took them, his eyes darting craftily, and added: "But Zhuzi, this matter... that kid Xu Damao knows too! That big mouth of his has no gatekeeper! If he lets it slip, you can't blame me! Oh, right, that Dongxu kid from the Jia Family seems to have seen it too..."

"Hey!" He Yuzhu almost jumped up upon hearing this, "Yan Laoxi! You're really something! This secret has become a sieve! Then these buns..." He reached out to snatch them back.

"A gentleman's word is as good as a team of horses! How can you take back something you've already given away?" Yan Laoxi trotted back into his room.

"Liar!" He Yuzhu shouted at Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui looked at Yang Ruihua with a victor's smile and said, "Ginger really is spicier when it's old!"

He Yuzhu lifted his feet and walked toward home.

Just as he entered the moon gate, he saw that kid Xu Damao bouncing over like a firecracker, wearing a smug, punchable grin, shouting with his raspy voice: "Yo! Isn't this He Yuzhu? Didn't the Imperial Army invite you to 'have a special meal'? How come you were released so fast? Hurry up and take off your pants, let your buddy have a look, see what your butt looks like after being whipped with 'cold-water-soaked lashes'?"

"Go home and look at your own dad's butt!" He Yuzhu had been holding in anger all day and was looking for a place to vent. Seeing this grandson offer himself up as a punching bag, he didn't say a word, grabbed Xu Damao's arm, and put him in a standard "airplane" hold!

"Ow, ow, ow... it hurts, it hurts!" Xu Damao immediately let out a pig-like howl, tears and snot streaming down his face.

At this time, the adults in the courtyard hadn't finished work yet, and only Jia Zhangshi's mean old face squeezed out from a crack in the window. Her triangular eyes rolled, and she cursed foully: "You two little thousand-cuts! What are you making a racket for! It's making my head ache!"

Seeing He Yuzhu dealing with Xu Damao, Shen Guizhi was anxious and shouted from inside the room: "Zhuzi! Let go! Hurry up and come back to me!"

Only then did He Yuzhu let go.

Xu Damao let out an "ouch" and collapsed to the ground, clutching his arm and gasping for air.

He Yuzhu leaned down, got close to his ear, and said in a low voice: "Xu Damao, you grandson! You listen to me! If you dare let my mom hear a single word about today, I'll make sure you never get to pee standing up again in your life! Understand?"

Xu Damao was startled by He Yuzhu's gaze, and he felt a chill in his crotch. He begged for mercy with a crying voice: "Brother Zhuzi! I was wrong! I swear! I won't run my mouth again."

He Yuzhu then let him go.

Xu Damao ran to the corridor and shouted at the top of his lungs: "He Yuzhu! You just wait! When my dad comes back! I'll have him deal with you!"

He Yuzhu clapped his hands dismissively and said: "Xu Damao, if you dare to tell anyone, I'll beat you every time I see you from now on!"

"Keep bragging, I'll find someone to beat you up later!" Xu Damao threatened.

"If you've got the guts, go find them!" He Yuzhu said.

He Yuzhu returned home, and Shen Guizhi looked at him with worry and asked: "Did you get into trouble outside?"

"Mom, it's nothing! Just some trivial school matters. Xu Damao has a foul mouth, so I wanted to educate him on behalf of his parents."

"It's really nothing, but ever since you brought that milk powder home, I've been feeling panicked." Shen Guizhi said as tears fell.

"Mom, actually there is a bit of trouble. The person who sold me the milk powder was caught by the devils, and they even accused him of stealing from a devil-owned trading firm. We need to hide those two cans of milk powder in our house quickly."

Upon hearing this, Shen Guizhi's face turned pale instantly, and she asked: "Then... then what do we do? Will... will they trace it back to our house?"

"Mom, don't panic. I'll hide the milk powder first. Even if the devils really come to search, they won't find it."

"It's really nothing, then you hide the milk powder first, otherwise my heart keeps beating so fast."

"Mom, I'm going to hide the milk powder, eat the buns first, they're still hot!"

After He Yuzhu finished speaking, he went to the Erfang and put the milk powder into his space.

When he came back, he saw her already eating two big steamed buns.

"Mom, your appetite is pretty good today, your illness is basically completely cured."

Shen Guizhi nodded.

As the two were talking, the door curtain was lifted with a "whoosh," and He Daqing returned, smelling of kitchen grease.

He caught sight of the half-eaten bun in Shen Guizhi's hand, then looked at the remainder in the oil-paper bag on the table. His eyes widened, and he cursed at He Yuzhu: "You little rabbit! You get a few coins in your pocket and you don't know who you are anymore, right? You dare to sneak off and buy buns to eat all by yourself? Hurry up! Hand over all the remaining money to me! Not a single cent is allowed to be kept!" As he spoke, he reached out to grab He Yuzhu's ear.