Chapter 104 The Era of Silly Pillar

As he approached his house, Sha Zhu quickly glanced left and right to make sure the alley was empty before deftly pulling a large, bulging burlap sack from the back seat of the car.

The edges of the burlap sack were stretched taut, and the heavy objects inside, their neat outlines visible through the fabric, were three clocks that he had carefully packed in advance.

He bent down and firmly tied the sack to the iron frame on the back of the bicycle, his fingers gripping the rope tightly, tying two knots repeatedly to ensure it wouldn't loosen on the bumpy road.

Immediately afterwards, he took out a small blue cloth bag, about the size of a palm, from the basket of his bicycle and stuffed it with all the odds and ends of snacks and rare items he had bought along the way.

After tying the bag closed, I hung it directly on the hook of the bicycle handlebars.

With his fingertips hooking the handlebars, he gently pushed the wheel, and the bicycle wheel began to turn steadily. He pushed the bicycle briskly into the depths of the courtyard, his shoes making a soft "tap-tap" sound on the bluestone pavement.

As soon as I pushed the cart through the gate of the courtyard house, a sharp and sarcastic gaze pierced me like a needle.

Jia Zhangshi leaned against the base of the screen wall, her triangular eyes fixed on the large sack on the back of Sha Zhu's cart, sniffing incessantly, a malicious smile playing on her lips.

She tiptoed closer, her dry lips parting as she prepared to bombard him with questions.

Sha Zhu didn't even lift an eyelid. He pushed the cart straight through the hanging flower gate without pausing for a moment, leaving her standing there.

Sha Zhu loathed Jia Zhangshi from the bottom of his heart. This old woman was like a piece of chewing gum that he couldn't shake off. Once she got on him, she wouldn't let go. She was good at being stingy, greedy for small gains, and gossiping. He felt like he was sulking if he talked to her.

"You ill-mannered brat! Sneaking around like that, who knows where you went to steal some dirty stuff!"

When Jia Zhangshi saw that Sha Zhu was completely ignoring her, she puffed out her cheeks in anger and shrieked behind him in a low voice. Her voice was very low, but it still revealed a sour malice.

She kept sniffing, and could clearly smell the enticing aroma of roast duck from the small pocket that Sha Zhu had hung on the handlebars. Her heart was itching with jealousy.

Passing through the front yard and just entering the middle yard, I saw Li Guihua squatting by the bluestone basin under the eaves, washing clothes.

Her figure was as thin as a sheet of paper, her hands were red from being soaked in the cold water, her brows were tightly furrowed, and her face was full of unyielding sorrow.

Sha Zhu stopped and called out in a clear voice, "Hello, Aunt Li!"

The greeting startled Li Guihua, causing her to freeze mid-air while holding the washboard.

She looked up, her cloudy eyes filled with astonishment, as if it had been a long time since anyone had greeted her so gently.

She forced a stiff smile, trying to make it look normal.

But the muscles in his face wouldn't obey him, and in the end, they only formed a dry arc as he replied in a hoarse voice, "Pillar... is back."

She hadn't laughed in so long; the weight of life had worn down all her emotions, and even the simplest smile had become a luxury.

As soon as she finished speaking, she hurriedly picked up the unwashed clothes from the basin, lowered her head, and quickly went into the house. After the door creaked shut, the sound of suppressed sobbing immediately came from inside the house. It was intermittent and made people feel heavy-hearted.

Sha Zhu sighed softly, said nothing more, and continued pushing the cart toward his own door.

As soon as the car stopped, Chen Lanxiang, the mother, heard the noise and lifted the curtain to come out.

She still had an apron covered in flour tied around her waist, and she saw the bulging burlap sack in the back seat of Sha Zhu's car.

His eyes lit up, and he noticed a strange little blue cloth bag hanging on the handlebars. He immediately leaned forward in confusion, gently poked the burlap sack, and pointed to the little bag.

"Zhu Zi, you've brought everything back so quickly? I know the bell on the back seat is a bell, but what's in this little pocket on the handlebars? It's not what we agreed to buy today."

Sha Zhu bent down, took off the small pocket from the handlebars, and handed it to his mother, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Mother, let's go inside first. Take this in first, I guarantee you'll like it."

Chen Lanxiang took the bag, feeling its weight. She touched it with her fingertips through the fabric, then brought it to her nose and took a sniff. She immediately exclaimed in surprise.

"Wow, it's quite heavy! And why does it smell like Peking duck?"

"Hehe, just go inside and open it to see for yourself, I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised."

Sha Zhu scratched his head, smiled, and kept everyone in suspense.

Chen Lanxiang entered the house with a half-believing and half-doubting expression. As soon as she opened the bag, she saw a shiny roast duck lying inside, as well as a large, plump, and lively carp with silvery scales and a frighteningly thick body.

As she took things out, she playfully patted Sha Zhu's arm.

"You silly child, all you do is waste money! This fish is huge, look at its size, it must weigh at least five pounds!"

Sha Zhu leaned against the door frame and replied with a smile, "Mom, it's not five jin, it's more than seven jin! I just happened to run into an old farmer from the countryside who came to town to sell it. It was very fresh, and I didn't spend much money."

As he spoke, he turned around and walked to the back of the bicycle, gripped the two corners of the large sack with both hands, and with a slight exertion of his waist and abdomen, steadily lifted the sack.

The clocks in the sacks clattered together, making a soft "clang." Hearing the noise, Chen Lanxiang rushed out of the house, her face turning pale.

"Slow down! Put it down gently, be careful not to bump or knock it! This clock is meant to be a nice piece of furniture in the house, it would look bad if it got damaged!"

Sha Zhu paused, then smiled helplessly.

"Mom, don't worry, this thing is very sturdy. It's made of solid wood and won't get bumped or knocked over. I just asked, and now nobody cares when we go into the city. We can go anywhere without any problems. I didn't ask about the specific rules."

"Even if no one is watching, you have to handle it carefully! Better safe than sorry. It would be such a waste if you accidentally knocked it over and made a mark!" Chen Lanxiang kept urging him on, her eyes fixed on the sack in Sha Zhu's arms, afraid that he might slip and drop it.

"Okay, okay, I'll put it down gently, I'll be absolutely careful!"

Sha Zhu nodded repeatedly, carrying the sack, and slowly walked to the corner of the room. He squatted down and gently placed the sack on the ground, his movements as light as if he were holding a fragile piece of porcelain.

After placing it down, he patted the dust off his hands and turned to go wash his hands by the water tank.

"Wait a minute!" Chen Lanxiang suddenly called out to him, giving instructions while tidying up the things on the table.

"After you wash your hands, slice the whole roast duck, make sure it's even! I'm going to the backyard to fetch Grandma. Remember, don't you dare secretly feed the younger ones! Look at your sister Yushui, she's gotten so chubby, such a little glutton, she'll get indigestion if she eats any more!"

"Yes, Mom! I promise I won't feed him secretly!"

Sha Zhu secretly covered his mouth and chuckled, inwardly cursing.

And you're criticizing my sister? You two spoiled her since she was little, and now you're blaming me? It's too late for you to regret it.

He had barely finished speaking when he heard a series of light footsteps approaching.

He Yushui, with her short legs, followed behind Wang Cuiping, Xiaoman, Xu Damao, and Xu Xiaohui, chattering all the way as she ran over, just in time to hear his mutterings.

The little girl immediately pouted, stomped her foot in dissatisfaction, and cried out in a spoiled voice, "Mother! How could you say that to me!"

Chen Lanxiang completely ignored her daughter's coquettishness, staring straight at Sha Zhu, and repeated it again.

"Pillar, remember my words!"

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll definitely remember!" Sha Zhu quickly replied.

As Chen Lanxiang's figure passed through the moon gate in the backyard, He Yushui immediately pounced on Sha Zhu like a little sparrow, grabbing his arm and shaking it incessantly.

"Brother, brother! What delicious food did you buy? Let me have a bite first, just one bite!"

"You just wait patiently for your meal. I wouldn't dare disobey Mother's orders." Sha Zhu playfully pinched his sister's nose and refused with a smile.

Seeing that her brother wouldn't budge, He Yushui immediately turned around and threw herself into Xiaoman's arms, blinking her big eyes and acting coquettishly.

"Sister Xiaoman, you're the best! Please plead for me!"

Xiaoman chuckled and ruffled her hair, saying helplessly, "It's no use you coming to me. My word doesn't count. Who dares disobey your mother?"

He Yushui turned to look at Wang Cuiping, her little nose twitching. The aroma of roast duck filled the whole room, making her mouth water.

"Aunt Wang..."

Wang Cuiping smiled and gently pinched the tip of her nose, saying softly, "You should just sit here and wait for your meal, okay?"

"All right……"

He Yushui sat obediently on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with her head drooping like a deflated balloon, her eyes fixed on the roast duck on the table, unwilling to look away for even a moment.

As for the siblings Xu Damao and Xu Xiaohui, now that the world is at peace, their mother Zhao Cuifeng has gone to work for the Lou family, and with no one to take care of them, the siblings usually have their lunch at the He family's house.

Of course, Xu Fugui never ate or stayed for free. Every month, he would send over the full amount of food expenses on time, and he would also occasionally bring some rare items that could not be found on the market. These were good things that ordinary people would fight tooth and nail to buy, and they naturally came from the Xu family's wealth.

When eating at someone else's house, you should naturally follow the rules.

In the past two years, Xu Damao has long since shed his former arrogance and no longer pesters Shazhu for food and drink like before. He stands quietly to the side and has become much more sensible.

At first, Xu Xiaohui tried to act cute and spoiled like He Yushui, but Xu Damao punished her severely several times. When she complained, no one paid attention to her, and she gradually became obedient and well-behaved.

However, He Yushui only dared to act so unrestrainedly and coquettishly at home. Once she stepped out of the He family's gate, she immediately turned into a shy and timid little girl, speaking softly and obediently. As for whether it was an act, only she herself knew.

In fact, Chen Lanxiang had already prepared almost all the dishes for lunch, and all that was left was to stir-fry them.

Sha Zhu Jing, a skilled slicer, picked up the duck-slicing knife, his wrist flicking, and the blade swiftly sliced ​​across the roast duck, neatly placing evenly sliced ​​pieces of duck meat onto the plate. The skin was crispy, the meat tender, and the aroma irresistible.

By the time he finished slicing the duck, Chen Lanxiang had already helped the elderly woman with gray hair walk over from the backyard.

Sha Zhu immediately rolled up his sleeves, walked to the stove, lit the fire, and started cooking. As the spatula flew, the aroma filled the air. He also used the duck carcass to make a pot of delicious old duck soup, the soup was milky white and had a rich fragrance.

Roast duck is a very precious thing these days, and it's very expensive. The He family hasn't bought any for more than half a year.

The children ate until their mouths were greasy, He Yushui's little mouth was shiny with oil, Xu Damao and Xu Xiaohui also ate with relish, and even the usually reserved Xiaoman ate an extra half bowl of rice.

Wang Cuiping sat at the table, but she still felt guilty.

She and Xiaoman stayed in the courtyard house. They received a lot of care from the He family, and they never missed a meal. Chen Lanxiang refused to accept payment for her meals no matter what. She remembered this kindness in her heart, but always felt that she could never repay it.

She had tried to decline the meals, but every time she didn't come, Chen Lanxiang would have Shazhu bring the food directly to her room, hot soup and rice served right in front of her, and she couldn't refuse.

Wang Cuiping could only keep this affection deep in her heart and secretly vowed that she would find an opportunity to repay the He family in the future.

After lunch, Sha Zhu untied the large burlap sack and took out three antique-style clocks one by one, gently placing them on the octagonal table in the main room.

The clock face is clean, the hands are intact, and it runs normally after being wound up. In this day and age, it can be considered a very respectable item.

Chen Lanxiang glanced at the grandfather clock on the table and smiled at Wang Cuiping, saying, "Aunt Wang, you go first. Take whichever one you like, don't be shy!"

Wang Cuiping's gaze slowly swept over the three clocks. When she saw the old-fashioned clock on the far left with Tianjin-style patterns, her eyes lit up. Her finger trembled slightly as she pointed at it, and her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

"Sister-in-law, I want this one!"

Chen Lanxiang followed her finger and quickly waved her hand.

"No, no, no, this one is the oldest; the paint is a bit scratched. Look at some others; those two are new. I can't let you get ripped off!"

"No need to choose, I just like this one, it feels familiar."

Wang Cuiping shook her head, her eyes resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

"Alright, if you feel it's not suitable later, you can come back and change it anytime!" Seeing her firm attitude, Chen Lanxiang didn't press the matter further.

"That's fine. I trust Zhu Zi to handle things. How could he possibly fool us?" Wang Cuiping said with a smile, but there was a hint of emotion in her eyes that others couldn't understand.

Little did she know, the clock wasn't bought by Sha Zhu at all; it was the very one from her hometown in Tianjin! Sha Zhu had brought it back for her on purpose.

When he learned that Yu Zecheng had left, Sha Zhu was worried that Wang Cuiping had left in a hurry and hadn't had time to take the small yellow croakers from the chicken coop, so he made a special trip to Tianjin.

After confirming that the little yellow fish had been taken, he, not wanting to leave empty-handed, scanned the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics for any valuable items he could take. There wasn't much of value in Yu Zecheng's house, except for this clock, which Wang Cuiping used most often. He thought it would be a keepsake, so Sha Zhu took it with him.

The remaining two clocks were almost identical in style, so Chen Lanxiang decided to wait for Xu Fugui and his wife to return and let them choose for themselves. The last one would be left for the He family to use.

Sha Zhu picked up the clock, carefully set the time, wound it up, and after confirming its accuracy, bent down to pick up the one Wang Cuiping had chosen, and said with a smile, "Aunt Wang, I'll take it to you."

Following Wang Cuiping into her room, Sha Zhu gently placed the grandfather clock on the table by the window and turned to ask, "Aunt Wang, do you know how to use this? I don't need to teach you how to wind it or set the time, do I?"

"Yes, I've used it before, I know it very well." Wang Cuiping's gaze was fixed on the clock, her tone somewhat absent-minded, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Sha Zhu noticed that something was wrong with her expression and asked with concern, "Aunt Wang, you don't look well. Are you tired? I'll go back now. Xiao Man, please take good care of Aunt Wang at home."

"Okay, Brother Zhu, you can go back now." Xiaoman nodded quickly in response.

"Okay, you've been busy all morning, go back and rest." Wang Cuiping forced a smile and waved her hand.

As soon as Sha Zhu's figure disappeared through the doorway, Wang Cuiping immediately turned around, took out a clean cotton cloth from the drawer, bent down, and carefully wiped every corner of the clock, from the clock face to the body, not letting go of even a speck of dust. Her movements were as gentle as if she were wiping a rare treasure.

As she wiped, her eyes gradually reddened, and large tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the wooden casing of the clock and spreading out a small wet patch.

This scene left Xiaoman, who was standing to the side, completely dumbfounded.

She didn't understand. It was just an ordinary clock. Brother Zhu had brought back several. Why was Aunt Wang so excited about it and even cried?

Xiaoman is sensible and knows that Wang Cuiping has something on her mind and has experienced many bad things. Although she is young and does not understand the grudges of adults, she knows that she should not ask too many questions.

She stood quietly in place, neither disturbing her nor asking any questions. She just watched Wang Cuiping quietly, thinking to herself that she should be more obedient in the future and not make Aunt Wang sad.

Sha Zhu returned to his side room, saying he wanted to rest for a while, but in reality he went into his own ecological space.

All the vegetables he planted in the space had withered, so he had to turn over the soil and replant them.

This time, instead of planting ordinary vegetables, he planted only chili peppers, all sorts of varieties—bird's eye chilies, long chilies, bell peppers, Sichuan peppers…

The variety is very complete.

He had long noticed that there were too few varieties of chili peppers in the capital, and the taste was not authentic enough, so his Sichuan cuisine always fell short of expectations.

With these chilies, I can make Sichuan cuisine much more authentic in the future.

After tending to the vegetable garden in the space, Sha Zhu said goodbye to Chen Lanxiang and then rode his bicycle out the door.

He knew in his heart that his mother had specifically asked him to inquire about the rules for going to the city that morning because she couldn't let go of her hometown, missed her relatives there, and wanted to find an opportunity to go back and visit.

He pedaled his bicycle all the way to the city gate of the capital. When he arrived at the gate, he saw that, just as he had expected, the city gate was wide open, with no soldiers checking people, and the people were free to enter and leave the city.

However, he was also aware that such a relaxed period would not last long. In a few months, once the situation stabilized, the rules would naturally be re-established.

He hadn't been able to find out exactly where the old lady and his mother's hometown was. It seemed he would have to go back and ask them properly, and find an opportunity to make a trip there in person to help his mother fulfill this wish.

As Sha Zhu walked back from the city gate, he looked at the sky and realized it was almost time for the steel mill to close for the day.

On a whim, he turned his bicycle around and rode straight toward the steel mill, intending to check out the situation along the way.

When he arrived at the gate of the steel rolling mill, it was just as the factory was letting out for the day, and workers poured out of the gate in droves, creating a bustling scene.

Sha Zhu stood to the side, his eyes quickly scanning the crowd, and soon spotted Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai walked hurriedly, looking flustered and furtive. He didn't head home at all, but instead turned into a secluded alley.

Sha Zhu immediately became suspicious and quietly pushed his bicycle to follow them, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far, for fear of being discovered by Yi Zhonghai.

Following Yi Zhonghai through a maze of twists and turns, we finally stopped in front of a post office.

Yi Zhonghai looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to him, then quickly pulled out several sealed letters from his pocket and swiftly stuffed them into the mailbox at the post office entrance. His movements were abnormally fast. After doing all this, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, let out a long sigh of relief, and then pretended to be nonchalant as he turned and walked towards home.

Sha Zhu saw all of this and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He knew without a doubt that Yi Zhonghai's letter was no ordinary family letter. The old man had finally made his move! He just didn't know if the person he was accusing in the letter was his own father, He Daqing.

Fine, since he wants to cause trouble, then let's wait and see what happens! You have to understand, the army has only been in the city for about ten days, and the situation is not yet completely stable. For Yi Zhonghai to jump out and make small moves at this time is simply courting death.

Once Yi Zhonghai's figure had completely disappeared at the alley entrance, Sha Zhu pushed his bicycle to the entrance of the steel rolling mill and asked the gatekeeper if Chef He Daqing from the kitchen had left.

The doorman waved his hand, telling him that He had left early in the morning.

Sha Zhu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately had a bad feeling. He jumped on his bicycle, pedaled hard, and sped off towards the courtyard house.

The wheels spun rapidly on the road, creating a gust of wind that drew the attention of passersby, who were all stunned by his reckless cycling speed.

The next few days were calm and uneventful, but Yi Zhonghai's behavior became increasingly abnormal. He was restless all day long, and would often wander to the gate of the courtyard house, craning his neck to look into the alleyway, his eyes full of anxiety, as if he was waiting for something, or as if he was afraid of something.

They endured this until after the Lantern Festival, and then on the 18th day of the first lunar month, a major event occurred.

As evening approached, every household began preparing dinner. Chen Lanxiang was busy in the kitchen, but He Daqing had not returned for a long time.

At first, she thought her husband was working overtime at the factory and didn't think much of it. But as she waited and waited, and it gradually got dark, she still couldn't see He Daqing. That's when she started to panic.

"That old man, even if he's working overtime, he should at least send a message back!" Chen Lanxiang wiped the water off her hands and turned to Sha Zhu.

"Zhu Zi, go to the factory and check on your dad. Ask him if he wants us to pick him up tonight! Last time he drank too much and staggered back home, almost falling on the road. He's a cook, I don't know what kind of alcohol he drinks at the table every day!"

"Okay, I'll go right now!" Without saying another word, Sha Zhu pushed his bicycle and headed out.

He pedaled his bicycle all the way, speeding to the gate of the steel rolling mill, whereupon he grabbed the gatekeeper and anxiously inquired about He Daqing's whereabouts.

The gatekeeper sighed and lowered his voice, saying, "Little He, your dad was taken away by some soldiers when he got off work! They were in a fancy car, but it doesn't look like anything good!"

"It's here!" Sha Zhu thought to himself. Just as he expected, Yi Zhonghai's letter of denunciation had worked!

He thanked the gatekeeper, immediately turned his bike around, and pedaled furiously toward the courtyard house.

The wheels spun rapidly, his heart pounded in his chest, and he didn't dare stop for a moment, wanting only to get home quickly and protect his family.

As soon as Sha Zhu arrived at the courtyard gate, he saw a dark green military jeep parked there. Its gleaming body was particularly eye-catching. He glanced at the license plate and was immediately startled—this car looked so familiar.

Without time to think, he pushed his cart and strode into the courtyard. Passing through the screen wall, he saw the Jia family of three, all clinging to the door frame of the hanging flower gate, craning their necks to look into the central courtyard, their faces full of schadenfreude.

Madam Jia Zhang tiptoed and whispered to Jia Laonian and Jia Dongxu, "The He family is in deep trouble now! What did He Daqing do wrong? Even the soldiers are coming to their door in military vehicles!"

"How would I know? He's just a cook, what could he possibly do?"

Old Jia scratched his head, looking bewildered.

"Oh, right! I remember now!" Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh, her eyes wide open.

"It must be because he used to cook for the Japanese commander, and that got brought up again! Traitory is a capital offense!"

"No way? Nothing happened for so many years before, why are they suddenly bringing up old grievances now?" Jia Dongxu frowned, somewhat disbelieving.

"Who knows! Times have changed. Just because things were fine before doesn't mean they'll be fine now!"

Madam Jia pursed her lips, unable to hide her smugness, wishing the He family would be destroyed immediately.

"Ring ring—"

Sha Zhu suddenly rang the bicycle bell, the crisp sound particularly jarring in the quiet courtyard.

The three members of the Jia family were startled and quickly turned around.

Just as Jia Laonian was discussing He Daqing's arrest behind his back, Sha Zhu happened to catch him in the act. Jia Laonian immediately looked embarrassed and awkwardly greeted Sha Zhu.

"Pillar, Pillar's back..."

"Why are you wasting your breath talking to him! His father has probably done something horrible, stay away from him, don't get your bad luck on him!"

With a look of disgust, Jia Zhangshi grabbed Jia Laonian and Jia Dongxu, and the three of them quickly moved aside, making way for the hanging flower gate and keeping a safe distance from Shazhu. Their behavior of avoiding him at all costs was extremely ugly.

Sha Zhu didn't even bother to glance at them. He pushed his bicycle, head held high, and walked through the hanging flower gate into the central courtyard.

The scene before him caused his pupils to shrink sharply—

He Daqing was being watched closely by two soldiers in military uniforms, his wrists bound with thick hemp ropes that were tightly pulled, leaving deep red marks.

He had his head down, his hair was disheveled, and his face was pale. He looked lost and remorseful, completely lacking his usual energy and spirit.

Chen Lanxiang slumped onto a stone bench, tears streaming down her face, her whole body trembling as she cried.

He Yushui clung to her mother's leg, her little face covered in tears, crying her heart out until her voice was hoarse.

Although the old lady was also terrified and her face turned pale, she still managed to hold on and stood by, constantly comforting her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, though her body was trembling slightly uncontrollably.

Wang Cuiping stood at the front, arguing with a man in a cadre uniform. Xiaoman and Xu Damao stood behind her, their faces full of anger, glaring at the man as if they were about to rush up and fight him.

Sha Zhu's gaze quickly swept over the direction of the Yi family. He saw that the door of the Yi family's house was ajar, with a narrow crack. Behind the door, a pair of eyes were furtively watching the commotion in the middle courtyard. Who else could it be but Yi Zhonghai!

Sha Zhu was immediately puzzled—according to the rules, if someone is reported, the investigators should first investigate the neighbors and then go to the workplace to verify the situation. Why are they now going to the door to kidnap someone?

They're not even going through the most basic investigation procedures?

"Brother Zhu! You're finally back! They're taking Master He away!"

Xu Damao was the first to see Sha Zhu, and as if he had seen a savior, he immediately shouted loudly.

He had regarded Sha Zhu as his pillar of support since childhood, and seeing Sha Zhu now greatly reduced his fear.

Xu Damao's shout instantly attracted everyone's attention, and everyone turned to look in the direction of the moon gate.

The cadre opposite Wang Cuiping slowly turned around. Sha Zhu looked up and immediately raised an eyebrow—it was someone he knew!

He remained calm, raised his hand in greeting, and spoke in a composed tone.

"Busy, Comrade Meng?"

Upon seeing Sha Zhu, Meng Yutang's face immediately showed an extremely embarrassed expression, and he inwardly groaned.

He never imagined that the traitor he was trying to arrest was actually Sha Zhu's father! How could he possibly bring this up?

With a forced smile, Meng Yutang cleared his throat and spoke in a stiff tone.

"It's good that you're back, Shazhu. Someone reported that your father, He Daqing, is a traitor. Your mother and sister can't explain the situation. I have a few questions for you."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu stopped calling him "comrade" and immediately let out a cold laugh.

He kicked the bicycle stand aside, bringing the bike to a steady stop. He strode up to Meng Yutang, his height less than Meng's, but his imposing presence was no less. His gaze was sharp as a knife as he stared directly at Meng Yutang, and he said calmly, "Go ahead and ask! Should I tie myself up while I'm at it?"

As he spoke, he stretched out his hands, raising his wrists slightly, as if he were letting the other party tie him up.

"Shazhu! How dare you speak to our section chief like that! What kind of attitude is that!"

Wang Shunzi, a young soldier standing nearby, immediately bristled. He stepped forward and sternly rebuked Sha Zhu, his face full of ferocity.

"Is there something wrong with my attitude?" Sha Zhu raised an eyebrow, turned his gaze to Wang Shunzi, and spoke in an icy tone.

"My father was framed, and you came to my door and kidnapped him without any investigation or distinction of facts. How should I treat you? Do you expect me to kowtow and thank you?"

"You're making excuses! Your father cooked for the Japanese commander and served the Japanese soldiers. Isn't that being a traitor?" Wang Shunzi retorted loudly, his neck stiff.

Sha Zhu looked him up and down, then slowly asked, "May I ask where you're from?"

"I'm from Northeast China! So what?" Wang Shunzi puffed out his chest and raised his head, looking proud.

"What year did you join the army? What did you do before joining the army?" Sha Zhu continued to ask, his tone unhurried but carrying a sense of pressure.

"You joined the army in 1946! Before that, you worked in a factory! Is there a problem?" Wang Shunzi was still aggressive.

"What factory?"

"arsenal!"

Sha Zhu suddenly laughed, his smile full of sarcasm: "According to you, I'd say you're a traitor!"

"You! You dare to frame me!"

Wang Shunzi was instantly enraged, flying into a rage. He suddenly pulled out his rifle from his waist, the dark muzzle pointing directly at Sha Zhu's chest, his finger on the trigger, about to go off!

Meng Yutang was startled. He had sensed something was off about their conversation earlier, but it was too late to stop them.

Seeing Wang Shunzi pull out a gun and point it at Sha Zhu, he was so frightened that cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead. He shouted sharply, "Wang Shunzi! Put the gun down! Put it down right now!"

"I won't let him go! Section Chief, he's falsely accusing me of being a traitor without any reason, I absolutely refuse to accept this!"

Wang Shunzi roared, his eyes red, while the muzzle of his gun remained fixed on Sha Zhu, without moving an inch.

"I order you! Put the gun down!"

Meng Yutang's face was ashen, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority, and cold sweat trickled down his face.

He knew in his heart that if this shot went off, regardless of whether it hit anyone or not, Wang Shunzi would be completely finished, and he, as the section chief, would also be held responsible!

"Yes!" Wang Shunzi gritted his teeth unwillingly, slowly put down his rifle, but still glared at Sha Zhu with hatred in his eyes.

Meng Yutang breathed a sigh of relief, turned to look at Sha Zhu, and said in a deep voice, "Sha Zhu, my soldiers need an explanation, and I need an explanation too! You should know that framing a revolutionary soldier is no small crime!"

"If framing revolutionary fighters is a crime, then framing ordinary people isn't?"

Sha Zhu stared directly at Meng Yutang, his gaze sharp, his words resounding.

"Based on a baseless accusation, you went to my door and kidnapped me without even conducting the most basic investigation and verification. Is this how you handle cases?"

"We have evidence!" Meng Yutang replied, forcing himself to speak.

"What evidence? It's nothing more than an anonymous tip-off!"

Sha Zhu sneered and pressed closer.

"Where is the whistleblower? Why don't you bring the whistleblower here for a face-to-face confrontation? Did you investigate the restaurant where my father used to work?"

"Did they even check his character at the current steel mill kitchen? They did nothing, just came up and kidnapped someone. Is that what you call handling a case? That's an abuse of power!"

Meng Yutang's momentum instantly weakened, and his voice even became a few decibels lower.

"I... have no whistleblower, only an anonymous letter."

He was actually forced into this situation. He was originally supposed to deliver a certificate of organizational affiliation to Wang Cuiping at the courtyard house, but on the way, he received an order from his superiors to investigate the contents of an anonymous letter.

After making the arrest, he learned that the person arrested was Sha Zhu's father, who was Wang Cuiping's neighbor, which put him in a dilemma.

Wang Cuiping was a veteran guerrilla fighter during the War of Resistance against Japan, with more seniority than him, so he couldn't afford to offend her.

As for Sha Zhu, he was clearly not someone to be trifled with. He was eloquent, skilled in combat, and not easy to deal with at all.

As for Chen Lanxiang, she was just an ordinary housewife who had never seen the world. She could usually handle things well, but when soldiers blocked her door with guns, she was completely terrified and could only cry, unable to say anything else.

"Hmph! Just based on an anonymous letter from an unknown source, without any investigation or evidence, they dare to kidnap someone arbitrarily?"

Sha Zhu's voice suddenly rose, and his gaze swept over the soldiers present.

"Release my father right now! Otherwise, I'll report you to the military control commission! I'll accuse you of disregarding the facts, treating human life like dirt, abusing your power, and oppressing the people!"

"You're talking nonsense! That letter is irrefutable evidence! You still haven't explained why you're falsely accusing me of being a traitor!"

Wang Shunzi became excited again, raised his rifle once more, and chambered a bullet with a crisp "click" that was particularly jarring in the quiet courtyard!

Meng Yutang was so frightened that his soul almost left his body and his heart was about to jump out of his throat!

He never expected that Wang Shunzi would dare to load the gun directly!

If this goes wrong and causes a death in front of someone's entire family, that would be a terrible disaster!

Everyone was stunned by the sudden scene. Chen Lanxiang's crying stopped abruptly, the old lady's eyes widened, and Xiaoman and Xu Damao covered their mouths in fright, not daring to breathe.

At this critical moment, Shazhu made a move!

His figure blurred, moving so fast that only a blur remained.

Before anyone could see what he was doing, they heard a muffled thud. Wang Shunzi flew straight back like a broken sack, crashing heavily onto the bluestone ground. He grimaced in pain and couldn't get up for a long time.

The rifle in his hand had already landed firmly in Sha Zhu's hands!

This clean and swift movement was so fast that everyone was stunned and couldn't recover for a long time.

"Idiot Zhu! Hand over the gun!"

Meng Yutang snapped out of his daze and immediately shouted, his heart filled with both shock and fear.

Sha Zhu chuckled, not even glancing at the Type 38 rifle in his hand. His fingers moved quickly, and with two "clicks," he ejected the loaded bullet.

The bullet landed in his palm, and he casually tossed it aside, throwing the rifle to Li Ergen, a soldier standing nearby. He held the bullet between his fingertips and tossed it gently up and down.

Meng Yutang's eyes followed the bullet's movement up and down, his face extremely pale.

Only now did he truly realize that the fourteen-year-old boy in front of him was by no means simple!

Not only is he highly skilled in martial arts, but his verbal skills are also exceptional, with clear logic and every word he utters is piercing!

He had understood what Wang Shunzi had just said—before joining the army, Wang Shunzi had indeed worked in an arsenal in Northeast China, where he was responsible for reloading bullets and had done so for many years.

Being able to join the revolutionary ranks means that the political vetting was absolutely fine, and that the person was a true revolutionary fighter with impeccable revolutionary credentials.

According to Sha Zhu's logic, if his father was a traitor for cooking for the Japanese, then wouldn't Wang Shunzi be even more of a traitor for making guns and cannons for the Japanese and letting them use those weapons to slaughter Chinese people?

This logic, though seemingly tricky, left him speechless!

Meng Yutang knew in his heart that today's matter had completely blown up and there was no way to resolve it peacefully!

He turned to look at Wang Cuiping, his face showing a pleading expression, his tone tinged with humility: "Comrade Wang Cuiping, you see... this matter..."

Wang Cuiping had also figured out the trick, her face darkened, and she spoke sternly.

"Release Comrade He Daqing first! Your handling of the case is unfair; what right do you have to arbitrarily kidnap people?"

"this……"

Meng Yutang hesitated, feeling extremely unwilling.

I thought it was a simple case that I could easily solve and earn some credit for, but I never expected to run into a tough nut like Sha Zhu and cause such a big problem.

This young man not only understands the policies, but also seems to know the rules of the organization like the back of his hand. If he really causes trouble for the military control commission, he will be in deep trouble.

Releasing the person would be tantamount to admitting his mistake in handling the case. This was his first case since becoming the head of the investigation department, and if he messed it up, his future would be ruined.

"You handle this yourself. You've made a fundamental mistake in this case!" Wang Cuiping bluntly stated, showing him no mercy.

Meng Yutang's expression shifted uncertainly. After hesitating for a full half minute, he finally gritted his teeth and said to Li Ergen beside him, "Untie Comrade He!"

"Yes, Section Chief!"

Li Ergen immediately stepped forward, took out a dagger, and carefully cut the hemp rope on He Daqing's wrist.

As soon as the rope broke, He Daqing staggered to Chen Lanxiang's side, hugged He Yushui who was crying and trembling, gently patted his daughter's back, and comforted her in a hoarse voice.

"Rain, don't cry, don't cry, Dad's alright, he's perfectly fine..."

"Dad... I'm scared... they have guns..." He Yushui sobbed as she nestled in her father's arms, her small body trembling.

"Don't be afraid, with Dad here and your brother here, no one can bully us!"

He Daqing hugged his daughter tightly, looked up at Shazhu, and his eyes were filled with trust he had never shown before.

His son has been like a completely different person since he returned from Tianjin. He's calm, capable, and with him around, even if the sky were to fall, he could hold it up.

The old woman walked to He Daqing's side, grasped his hand, and asked in a trembling voice, "Daqing, are you really alright? You won't be arrested again, will you?"

"Mother, with Zhuzi here, everything will be fine!" He Daqing said firmly, her heart filled with confidence in her son.

Chen Lanxiang wiped away her tears, looked at Shazhu with worry, and took her husband's hand, saying, "Dad, Zhu just... just beat up a soldier and stole his gun. Will he get into trouble?"

He Daqing wasn't sure either, but he tried to remain calm: "It should...it should be alright...Zhu Zi knows what he's doing..."

He said that, but he was actually quite nervous inside.

Sha Zhu's actions just now were astonishing. He kicked a soldier away in front of everyone and snatched a gun. This is a huge deal!

"What exactly is going on with this whistleblower letter? Who is trying to harm our family?" Chen Lanxiang asked anxiously in a low voice.

"Who else could it be? It's just some old grudges in the courtyard. I know what's going on. I'll tell you the details later."

He Daqing frowned, already guessing who was behind it.

"You've been tied up, do you even realize that?" Chen Lanxiang was both angry and anxious, and tears streamed down her face again.

"I don't know, but I know our son!" He Daqing chuckled sheepishly, his tone full of pride.

"You just wait! If anything happens to our son, I'll never forgive you!" Chen Lanxiang glared at him fiercely.

"I was just released..." He Daqing muttered aggrievedly, not daring to argue further.

On the other side, Meng Yutang quickly walked to Wang Shunzi's side and checked his injuries.

After confirming it was just a superficial injury and nothing serious, he breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and walked to Sha Zhu's side, his face so gloomy it could drip water, and lowered his voice to say, "Comrade Xiao He, how do you plan to resolve this matter today?"

"Now you remember to call me Comrade Xiao He again?" Sha Zhu sneered, his tone full of sarcasm.

"Just now you were calling my father a traitor, what, now you feel guilty?"

"We acted too rashly and arrested people without investigating properly. I apologize for what happened when my soldiers drew their guns earlier," Meng Yutang said through gritted teeth, feeling aggrieved.

He had never felt so humiliated in his entire life, bowing his head and admitting his mistake to a fourteen-year-old boy.

"Is an apology all it takes?" Sha Zhu's gaze turned cold, each word piercing to the heart.

"Section Chief Meng, have you considered that if that shot had gone off, I would be a corpse by now? To be shot dead in front of my entire family, how do you plan to settle this score?"

"I……"

Meng Yutang was speechless and couldn't say a word.

"I will definitely report this matter truthfully to your superiors!"

Sha Zhu's tone was firm.

"Is this how you handle cases? You kidnap people and draw guns arbitrarily without distinguishing right from wrong. Aren't you going to turn the city upside down with all these people?"

"This... about using a gun, could we not report it to higher authorities? Wang Shunzi acted impulsively, he was young and hot-blooded..."

Meng Yutang's face turned pale, and he hurriedly pleaded in a low voice, turning back to glare fiercely at Wang Shunzi.

He knew perfectly well that pointing a gun at civilians was a serious violation of discipline. If it were reported, Wang Shunzi would be dismissed at best, and punished at worst, and he, as the section chief, would also be implicated.

"No!" Sha Zhu refused resolutely, leaving no room for negotiation.

"We must learn from today's incident! He's the scapegoat, used to scare the monkeys, to show all investigators the consequences of abusing power and disregarding the lives of ordinary people! You must publicly restore my father's reputation, apologize in public, and clear his name!"

"Fine... this kid's just unlucky..." Meng Yutang gritted his teeth, cursing Wang Shunzi a thousand times in his heart.

"Public apology? How exactly should it be public?"

"It's very simple. After the Military Control Commission investigates, they should issue a written certificate to my father proving that he was wronged and did not commit any traitorous acts! Then you should take this certificate and come to the courtyard in person to publicly apologize in front of all the neighbors to mitigate the damage!"

Sha Zhu's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable force.

"This... I can't make the decision myself, I have to ask my superiors," Meng Yutang said with difficulty.

"Then let's find someone who can make the decision!"

Sha Zhu pressed closer and closer.

"In Beijing, there are many people like my father who have had special experiences. You will encounter countless people like this when you handle cases in the future."

"If this were an ordinary citizen with no ability or background, and you tied them up and intimidated them like this, wouldn't they be tortured into confessing and carry the stigma of being a traitor for the rest of their lives?"

"We... will take them back for questioning..." Meng Yutang said truthfully, his voice growing softer and softer.

"And then what? Just some random charge, and they lock the person up?"

Sha Zhu was furious, and his voice suddenly rose.

"Then our entire family's lives will be completely ruined! We'll be branded as the family of a traitor, and we'll never be able to hold our heads up high again!"

"I...I don't know..." Meng Yutang completely lost his confidence, lowered his head, and dared not look directly into Sha Zhu's eyes.

"Hmph, what a fine excuse of 'I don't know'!" Sha Zhu sneered. "But you can't hide this from me any longer!"

"Even if I don't complain to the Military Control Commission, my Aunt Wang will go and explain the situation! Section Chief Meng, you should know that you could face a severe punishment and have your future ruined because of this!"

"I know." Meng Yutang's face was ashen, and he sighed deeply, filled with regret.

"You want to protect your soldiers, but look at him! He acts without thinking, impulsively and recklessly, with no regard for discipline or the people! Soldiers like him are not suitable to stay in Beijing, much less to be police officers. Sooner or later, he will cause you a huge disaster and kill all of you!" Sha Zhu's tone was full of contempt.

"Sigh, it was my oversight and lack of experience. I guess I'll learn from this experience."

Meng Yutang gave a bitter smile.

"As for Wang Shunzi, let's just follow the orders from our superiors. I can't protect him anymore."

"You'd better be more careful next time!" Sha Zhu admonished.

"When you bring people out on cases again, make sure you keep your eyes open and choose reliable people! If there's a next time, well, you can imagine the consequences!"

Meng Yutang was stunned for a moment before he realized that this kid was actually lecturing him!

He immediately raised his head in displeasure: "You little brat, do you really think you're my boss? Trying to lecture me?"

Sha Zhu raised an eyebrow, his tone flippant: "If I were your boss, you'd be fired by now!"

Meng Yutang was speechless. Looking at the boy in front of him, whose skills, intelligence, and courage far surpassed those of his peers, an idea suddenly came to mind, and his eyes lit up.

"Xiao He, are you interested in joining our investigation department? With your abilities, you're definitely capable of great things!"

"No, I won't be fourteen until a few days later. I'm not old enough to go." Sha Zhu refused directly without the slightest hesitation.

"Age is not a problem! I can wait!" Meng Yutang quickly said.

"It would be a huge loss for our organization to let someone as talented as you go! I refuse to believe it, I'm determined to recruit you!"

"Forget it, I can't afford to associate with your place!" Sha Zhu waved his hand, looking disgusted.

"I'm looking forward to going back to school in a while!"

"Go to school? What kind of school? Elementary or junior high?" Meng Yutang said with a look of disdain. In his opinion, joining the revolutionary ranks was far more glorious than going to school.

Sha Zhu glanced at him, his tone arrogant: "Who do you think you are? I graduated from junior high a long time ago!"

"what?"

Meng Yutang was completely stunned. His mouth was agape, wide enough to fit an egg, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

"You graduated from junior high school?"

According to his understanding, Sha Zhu only went to Tianjin to learn cooking last year when he was only twelve years old. How could he have already graduated from junior high school?

He himself was poor when he was a child and didn't even finish elementary school. This boy graduated from junior high school at the age of twelve or thirteen. That's just too incredible!

Wang Cuiping, who was standing to the side, watched the two whispering to each other without reaching a conclusion, and then spoke up impatiently.

"Have you two discussed it? How are you going to handle this? Should Wang Shunzi be taken to the hospital?"

Sha Zhu turned to look at Wang Cuiping and said with a smile, "Aunt Wang, don't worry, I held back. That kid was just a little short of breath from the shock. He'll be fine after a rest. There's no need to send him to the hospital."

Meng Yutang snapped out of his daze, looked at Sha Zhu with a still shocked expression, and couldn't help but mutter, "You're amazing, I'm truly impressed!"

As he spoke, he squeezed out two words through gritted teeth and gave Sha Zhu a big thumbs up.