Chapter 105 Confronting the Military Control Commission

"Let's go then. Your Comrade Wang should have recovered by now."

He Yuzhu glanced sideways at Wang Shunzi, who was slumped to the side, his tone as indifferent as water, but a hint of coldness was hidden in his eyes.

He tapped the seam of his pants lightly with his fingertips, his nonchalant demeanor sending a chill down Wang Shunzi's spine.

"it is good."

Meng Yutang said in a deep voice, raising his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. He Yuzhu's words just now were like daggers to his heart, and his heart was still in his throat.

"I'll go too."

Wang Cuiping quickly stepped forward, gently touched her slightly protruding belly, and frowned slightly.

The words and expressions of He Yuzhu and Meng Yutang during their confrontation gave her a strange sense of familiarity.

That calm and decisive demeanor was just like when she first arrived in Tianjin, and Yu Zecheng patiently taught her manners and pointed out her limits. A strange sense of confidence welled up from the bottom of her heart. She had to go and demand an explanation for this matter.

"Comrade Cuiping, is it convenient for you? You're pregnant and can't take any more stress."

Seeing this, Meng Yutang quickly tried to dissuade her, his eyes full of worry. Wang Cuiping's identity was special, and he couldn't bear the responsibility if anything went wrong.

"It's okay, just drive slowly on the road. If you really can't manage, have Zhuzi give me a ride on his bike."

Wang Cuiping waved her hand, her tone unusually firm, her fingertips clenching the hem of her clothes.

"This matter must be resolved today, otherwise no one in this family will sleep peacefully tonight!"

"Alright." Seeing her resolute attitude, Meng Yutang stopped trying to stop her and could only nod helplessly in agreement.

Upon hearing that they were going to the Military Control Commission, He Daqing's legs instantly felt like they were filled with lead, so weak that he could barely stand. His face paled, and he instinctively wanted to shrink back.

He Yuzhu reacted quickly, grabbing his swaying arm firmly and leaning close to his ear to tease him in a low voice.

"Dad, didn't you always pat your chest and say you've traveled all over the country and seen a lot of things? Back when the Japanese invaded the city, you were cooking in a restaurant and your legs didn't even tremble. Why are you so cowardly today?"

When He Daqing's son exposed his secret, his face turned red. He tried to pull his arm away but failed. He glared at He Yuzhu with a hint of annoyance, his voice trembling slightly.

"You little brat, what do you know! How can that be the same? Back then, I was just a cook. No matter how fierce the Japanese devils were, they wouldn't bother with a cook like me! But now we're going to the government office, that's the government's place. Have you ever seen an ordinary person enter the government office without their legs going weak?"

"I."

He Yuzhu raised his chin, his tone crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"You think you can do that!"

He Daqing spat angrily, but as his son steadily supported him, the panic in his heart subsided somewhat.

"Dad, listen to me. You'll understand once you go there. It's not as scary as you think. The new government is different from the old one."

He Yuzhu patted his father's hand, his tone resolute.

"You're just trying to fool your father! I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice, how could I not tell the difference between good and bad?"

He Daqing was sharp-tongued, but inwardly he was apprehensive and followed along with the others with a mixture of belief and doubt.

In fact, He Daqing was holding back a lot of anger, especially after Wang Shunzi pointed a gun at He Yuzhu just now.

He wanted nothing more than to rush up and strangle this soldier—he only had one son, and he almost lost him!

But he dared not. If he acted impulsively, his He family would be completely ruined, and his wife and children would be implicated.

Thinking of this, he suddenly turned his head and glared fiercely at Wang Shunzi, his eyes filled with hatred that was almost overflowing.

Wang Shunzi was already dejected, like a defeated rooster, walking forward with his head down, not daring to meet He Daqing's gaze at all. He knew in his heart that he had really kicked a hornet's nest this time, and his fate would definitely not be good.

The group walked out in a grand procession. Meng Yutang waved his hand, telling the two young soldiers accompanying him to keep a close eye on Wang Shunzi.

There was no concept of overloading in this era. The military jeep was already quite spacious, and several people could squeeze in comfortably. He Yuzhu helped He Daqing and Wang Cuiping get into the vehicle first, and then climbed in last, keeping a steady position next to Wang Cuiping, afraid that the bumpy ride would hit her stomach.

The car drove smoothly toward the military control commission, its wheels making a dull thud as they rolled over the stone pavement.

He Daqing sat in the car, his palms sweating, his eyes fixed on the outside of the car window, barely daring to breathe.

He Yuzhu leaned back in his chair, looking indifferent, as if he were just going to visit someone.

Wang Cuiping closed her eyes to rest, pondering in her mind how to explain the situation to the organization and protect the He family's rights.

Before long, the jeep stopped at the gate of the Military Control Commission. The guards on duty stood at attention and saluted as soon as they saw Meng Yutang's car.

Meng Yutang got out of the car first and ordered the guards at the door in a deep voice: "Take Wang Shunzi away and put him in solitary confinement! Await further processing!" He was secretly planning to let Wang Shunzi suffer some punishment first, and then perhaps he could be given a lighter sentence when the higher-ups came to investigate.

The guards responded and stepped forward, lifting the listless Wang Shunzi and carrying him towards the solitary confinement cell. Wang Shunzi's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground, but the guards dragged him inside.

After dealing with Wang Shunzi, Meng Yutang turned around with a cautious smile on his face and led He Yuzhu, He Daqing, and Wang Cuiping into the office building, giving them instructions in a low voice as they walked.

"Gentlemen, when you meet the minister later, watch your words. With me here, I will definitely give you justice."

He Yuzhu glanced at him but didn't reply. He knew that Meng Yutang was afraid of making a big fuss and losing his job.

The group went straight to the office of the Minister of Public Security. Minister Fang was reviewing documents at his desk. When he looked up and saw Wang Cuiping, a gentle smile immediately appeared on his face. He put down his pen and stood up to greet her.

"Comrade Cuiping, what brings you here? Are you having some difficulties at work, or do you have something to discuss with the organization?"

He had worked with Wang Cuiping before and knew she was a reliable comrade. Now that she was pregnant, her sudden visit must mean she had something urgent to attend to.

Before Wang Cuiping could speak, Meng Yutang rushed to tell her the whole story, without daring to hide anything.

From Wang Shunzi's trespassing and pointing a gun at He Yuzhu, to He Yuzhu's self-defense and his mishandling of the situation, every word he uttered shifted the blame onto himself and Wang Shunzi.

Upon hearing this, Minister Fang's gentle expression vanished instantly, replaced by overwhelming rage. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups to bounce and spill tea all over the table.

"Meng Yutang! How dare you!" Minister Fang pointed at Meng Yutang's nose and launched into a tirade of abuse, his voice so loud it made the windows rattle.

"The Central Committee has repeatedly emphasized that we must strictly abide by discipline and treat the people kindly, especially since the Central Committee is about to move into Beijing. Every action represents the image of the organization! And what you've done is condone your subordinates threatening the people with guns and abuse your power to punish innocent civilians. How can you be a cadre like this?!"

Meng Yutang lowered his head, his face flushed red, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He didn't dare to breathe loudly and could only keep apologizing.

"Minister, I was wrong. I deeply realize my mistake and am willing to accept any punishment from the organization!"

"Is it over just because you made a mistake?" Minister Fang's anger hadn't subsided, and his chest heaved violently.

"The people are our foundation, and you are shaking that foundation! If everyone acted like you, how could we face the people who trust us?"

After berating for a full fifteen minutes, Minister Fang finally caught his breath, waved his hand, and spoke in an icy tone.

"Get out and write a self-criticism! A profound self-criticism! Don't come back to see me until you've written at least 50,000 words!"

"Yes! Yes!" Meng Yutang felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He bowed and quickly left the office without even turning his head back.

After Meng Yutang left, Minister Fang suppressed his anger, rubbed his throbbing temples, and turned to walk quickly toward the office of the deputy director in charge.

This matter is serious and must be reported. After hearing the report, the deputy director's face darkened, and he immediately took Minister Fang to find the director.

The three leaders held a closed-door meeting in a small conference room. Their expressions were serious. They discussed for more than half an hour and finally finalized a solution.

First, Wang Shunzi and Meng Yutang should be dealt with seriously. Wang Shunzi should be discharged from the military and severely punished; Meng Yutang should be dismissed from his post and investigated, and should make a public apology.

Second, convene a meeting of all cadres and employees in the system to publicize this incident as a typical case and warn everyone to learn from it.

Third, properly appease the He family, meet their reasonable demands, and restore the organization's reputation.

After all, the central government's move into Beijing was a done deal. If such acts of oppressing the people were to get out, it would inevitably have a bad influence. If it reached the central government, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Despite repeated emphasis from above on working methods and discipline among the masses, Wang Shunzi and Meng Yutang stubbornly chose to walk into the line of fire. Without making an example of them, they simply couldn't control the people below.

After the meeting ended, Minister Fang received the order, turned around and went back to his office, and had someone invite He Yuzhu and the other two who were waiting in the reception room in.

In the reception room, He Daqing was already restless, pacing back and forth, muttering to himself.

"Why haven't they called us yet? Are they really going to detain us?" Wang Cuiping sat to the side and gently reassured him, "Uncle He, don't worry, the organization will handle this fairly and won't wrong innocent people."

He Yuzhu leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, his expression calm and collected. He knew perfectly well that they were going to win this matter.

Upon hearing the guard's message, the three followed into the minister's office. Minister Fang, with an apologetic expression, stepped forward and shook He Daqing's hand, his tone sincere.

"Uncle He, we are truly sorry. Our men were ignorant of the rules, disturbed you, and almost hurt the child. On behalf of the Ministry of Public Security, I sincerely apologize to you!"

When the minister shook his hand like that, He Daqing froze on the spot, at a loss for words, and stammered.

"Sir, sir, please don't say that. We are just ordinary people..."

This was the first time in his life that such a high-ranking official had taken the initiative to shake his hand and apologize. The fear in his heart was instantly replaced by a feeling of being flattered.

Minister Fang smiled, gestured for the three to sit down, and then had his guards bring tea before slowly speaking.

"Uncle, comrade, please feel free to make any requests. As long as they are reasonable, we will definitely meet them. We will never shirk any compensation that is due."

He Yuzhu sat forward a little, straightened his back, and spoke clearly and firmly.

"Minister Fang, we don't want monetary compensation, we only have two requests. First, please provide a written certificate from the organization proving that my father, He Daqing, was just an ordinary cook who worked for the old government out of desperation and did not commit any illegal or disciplinary violations, thus clearing him of suspicion; second, we hope that Meng Yutang and Wang Shunzi can publicly apologize to our He family, admit their mistakes, and restore our innocence."

Minister Fang's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he nodded repeatedly: "Young comrade, you're right! These two requests are reasonable! I'll arrange for someone to prepare the supporting documents immediately, conduct interviews, investigate, and verify the situation. They'll definitely be delivered to you within three days! As for the public apology, let Meng Yutang handle it. He was going to make a self-criticism at the conference anyway, and apologizing to the people in person is what he should do!"

He admired He Yuzhu more and more. This young man was organized, honest, and reasonable, more insightful than many adults.

"In addition, we may ask Uncle He for some details later to cooperate with the investigation, but it won't take up too much time," Minister Fang added.

He Daqing nodded hurriedly, "I'll cooperate! I'll definitely cooperate! I'll do whatever the commander tells me to do!"

After the business was finished, Minister Fang's gaze fell on Wang Cuiping's slightly protruding belly, and his tone instantly softened considerably.

"Comrade Cuiping, you are pregnant now, so you must take good care of your pregnancy. There's no rush to work. Your job is dangerous, and it's really not suitable for you to be so pregnant. Today's incident is a lesson. It's not too late to come back to work after you give birth and recover."

Wang Cuiping stood up, gave a standard military salute, and her eyes were firm.

"Thank you for your concern, Minister. I will return to work as soon as possible after giving birth and contribute to the organization!"

Minister Fang smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, alright, take care of your health."

As the group stood up to leave, Minister Fang suddenly called out to He Yuzhu, his eyes filled with inquiry and appreciation: "Young comrade, your name is He Yuzhu, right?"

"Yes, Minister Fang," He Yuzhu replied respectfully.

"I see you have a thorough understanding of our policies and working methods, your logic is clear, and you remain calm under pressure. Have you had any experience in revolutionary work before?"

Minister Fang asked with great interest, as he really didn't want to let such a promising talent slip by.

Wang Cuiping smiled and reminded him, "Minister, have you forgotten? The Dongcheng District Secretary of the Sijiu City Working Committee specifically asked for the certification documents to be issued to Uncle He. It was this young comrade who ran around arranging it."

"Oh! It's you!" Minister Fang suddenly realized, and looked at He Yuzhu with even more fervor.

"Young man, would you be interested in joining our Public Security Department? With your abilities, you'd definitely be able to make the most of your talents!"

He Yuzhu paused for a moment, then scratched his head and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"Minister, thank you for your high regard, but I'm not even fourteen years old yet...can you really accept me?"

"Yes, I can! Of course I can!" Minister Fang blurted out, but as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized what he meant, his eyes widened in shock, "What? You're only fourteen?"

"Yes, I'll be fourteen in a few days," He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

Minister Fang was stunned for a moment, looking He Yuzhu up and down. This boy was tall and straight, with a calm and composed demeanor. He was extremely mature in his speech and actions. People would believe he was eighteen years old, but he was only fourteen!

He patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder with regret and sighed repeatedly.

"What a pity! What a real pity! You're too young and don't meet the recruitment requirements. Young comrade, you should go back and study hard, learn more knowledge, so that you can make a greater contribution to the country when you grow up!"

"Yes, Minister Fang, I understand." He Yuzhu nodded respectfully, without the slightest regret. He had never intended to join the Ministry of Public Security; living a peaceful life with his family was what he truly wanted.

Minister Fang personally escorted the three to the door and specially arranged for a military jeep to take them back. Watching the car drive away, he kept sighing. Such promising talents, but they are too young. It's such a pity.

The car drove back to the courtyard house and had just stopped at the entrance when it was spotted by the sharp-eyed Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi was sitting on the threshold eating melon seeds when she saw He Yuzhu and the others get out of the military control committee's car. She was so frightened that she dropped the melon seeds on the ground, stood up abruptly, pointed at the group, and shouted in a shrill voice.

"Weren't you all arrested? How... how come you're back?"

When Jia Zhangshi saw He Yuzhu and the others being taken away by the soldiers, she was overjoyed. She gossiped to Old Master Jia, saying that the house in the middle courtyard should not be left to that little girl He Yushui. She hoped that the He family would collapse completely so that she could take advantage of the situation.

Seeing the group return unharmed, they looked as if they had seen a ghost, their faces filled with disbelief.

He Daqing, who had been in a good mood, was instantly annoyed by Jia Zhangshi's shout. He stopped in his tracks, pointed at Jia Zhangshi's nose, and angrily shouted, "Jia Zhangshi! Watch your mouth! Who was arrested? We went to the Military Control Commission to reason with them! Get back to your home and stop talking nonsense. I don't have time to waste with you!"

Jia Zhangshi trembled at He Daqing's fierce words, but she was still unwilling to give up. She took two steps forward and threw a tantrum, saying, "What's wrong with asking one question? What right do you have to curse me? What right do you have to come back? You must have gone astray!"

Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to her anymore. He Yuzhu helped Wang Cuiping up, and He Daqing walked forward angrily. The group headed straight into the courtyard, their hearts filled with the warmth of returning home. Who had time to get entangled with this shrew?

As soon as I entered the Intermediate People's Court, I heard a shrill, hoarse voice yelling at me.

"Master's wife! Master's wife! My brother Zhu and the others are back!"

It was Xu Damao. This kid had just entered puberty, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant, like a broken gong being struck. He shouted with all his might, and the sound penetrated the entire courtyard, startling everyone in the courtyard.

He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold as he keenly scanned the door of Yi Zhonghai's house. He saw that the narrow crack that had been left closed had silently shut without making a sound.

He Yuzhu sneered. Yi Zhonghai, that old bastard, had indeed been spying all along. When they were taken away, the old man hid faster than anyone else. Now that he's back, he's playing the coward again.

Immediately afterwards, a large crowd poured out of Old He's house. Xu Fugui and Zhao Cuifeng, along with the neighbors in the courtyard, all gathered around, their faces full of worry and curiosity.

"What are you all doing blocking the doorway? Have you no manners? Move aside and let Zhu Zi and the others in!"

Grandma He, leaning on her cane, walked slowly and was at the very back. Seeing that the entrance was completely blocked, she immediately shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice full of urgency.

The crowd quickly made way for him, and He Daqing walked into the courtyard first, his face filled with relief at surviving the ordeal. Then He Yuzhu carefully supported the heavily pregnant Wang Cuiping, slowing his pace so as not to let her get jostled.

"Daqing! How are you? Are you alright?" Xu Fugui quickly stepped forward, grabbed He Daqing's arm, and asked with concern.

"The Qing Dynasty has finally returned! Why were they gone for so long? We were so worried about them!"

Chen Lanxiang also came over, her eyes slightly red. She had been on tenterhooks ever since she learned that the others had been taken away, fearing that something unexpected might happen.

"It's alright, it's alright!" He Daqing patted Xu Fugui's hand, straightened his back instantly, and said smugly, as if he had seen it all before.

"Government affairs don't happen that quickly! We've met with high-ranking officials!"

"How high-ranking is he? Is he higher than the previous village head?" Xu Fugui asked curiously, his eyes wide open.

"The minister! He's a minister!" He Daqing raised his voice, deliberately making sure everyone around could hear. "He talked to us for a long time, very politely, and even apologized to us!"

"My goodness, a minister? That's an incredibly high-ranking official!" The neighbors exclaimed in surprise, their gazes towards the He family instantly changing to one of awe and envy.

"What did I tell you? Tell us quickly!"

Xu Fugui was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks. He also had something to hide. He had dealt with people from the old government before and was always worried about being purged. He was eager to know the attitude of the new government.

"Alright, alright, let's talk after dinner!" Chen Lanxiang said, pulling He Daqing aside.

"Cuiping is pregnant and starving, and Zhuzi has been running around for ages. Let's eat first!"

"Okay, okay, let's eat first, no rush."

Xu Fugui scratched his head awkwardly, suppressing his curiosity, but his heart was itching even more.

Xu Damao, that clever fellow, dashed into the kitchen as soon as the crowd dispersed, grabbed the hot food from the stove, and trotted into the main room, fawningly saying, "Master's wife! The food's here! It's hot!"

"Well done, Da Mao, you're quite clever!" He Daqing rarely praised Xu Da Mao, and he felt more satisfied with his nephew.

Chen Lanxiang quickly helped Wang Cuiping sit down and served her a bowl of hot soup: "Cuiping, drink some soup to warm yourself up. Eat slowly, don't rush."

He Yuzhu finished his rice in a few bites, he was starving. As soon as he put down his chopsticks, he was pulled into the inner room by his mother and Chen Lanxiang. The mother and daughter surrounded him and asked him a lot of questions, from the appearance of the Military Control Commission to Minister Fang's attitude, and then to the fate of Wang Shunzi and Meng Yutang. They didn't want to miss any details.

He Yuzhu patiently answered each question, recounting the whole story in detail.

After listening, Old Mrs. He slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "It seems this new government is truly different from the old ones! In the past, if Zhu Zi had hit a soldier, our family would have been wiped out of business, and Zhu Zi would have been in jail! Now, not only is everything alright, but the officials even apologized to us. The world has really changed!"

"you do not say!"

Chen Lanxiang's eyes welled up with tears, and she wiped them away. "In the past, we ordinary people were afraid of officials, but now we can finally hold our heads high. There's finally hope for the future!"

Zhao Cuifeng, who was standing nearby, also came over and asked with a puzzled look, "Zhuzi, is the new government really that easy to talk to? Does that mean we won't have to worry about being bullied anymore?"

He Yuzhu raised his head and solemnly instructed, "Aunt Xu, you can't say that. The new government is reasonable, and we are in the right, so they will naturally stand up for us; but if we really make a mistake or violate the policy, they will never tolerate it. Don't think that the new government is easy to bully. Living a down-to-earth life and following the rules is the right thing to do."

"Yes, yes, auntie remembers, I didn't think it through, I didn't think it through!" Zhao Cuifeng nodded quickly, feeling much more at ease. "It's good that you're being reasonable, then we ordinary people can feel at ease."

Chen Lanxiang suddenly remembered something and asked through gritted teeth, "Zhu Zi, what happened to that soldier who pointed a gun at you? We can't let him off so easily!"

"It's unclear how exactly it will be handled, but it certainly won't be easy," He Yuzhu said calmly.

"The military control commission is very strict. He dared to threaten the people with a gun, so he should be severely punished."

"Hmph! Serves him right!" Chen Lanxiang spat fiercely, her resentment finally subsiding. "People like that deserve a good lesson!"

Grandma He took He Yuzhu's hand and asked curiously, "Yuzhu, what kind of official is your Aunt Wang? Those soldiers all seem quite afraid of her."

He Yuzhu scratched his head and mumbled, "I can't say for sure. It's not too big, not too small. It's probably the head of the security in Beijing. Anyway, it's very powerful." He couldn't explain the titles of section chief and deputy captain to the old lady. She wouldn't understand anyway, so he simply glossed over it.

After He Daqing and Wang Cuiping finished their meal, the neighbors in the courtyard gathered around, bombarding them with questions and chatting animatedly.

From the authority of the Military Control Commission to the enlightenment of the new government, and then to the triumph of the He family, the conversation continued until 10 p.m. The clock in the courtyard struck ten, and everyone reluctantly dispersed after seeing He Yushui and Xu Xiaohui asleep in their chairs.

Back in the side room, He Yuzhu soaked his feet in a basin of hot water to relieve the fatigue of the day, then took off his clothes and lay down on the bed.

I had barely closed my eyes when I heard noises coming from next door, a mix of arguing and low sobbing, which were especially clear in the quiet night.

He Yuzhu frowned, but didn't pay much attention. The courtyard house wasn't big to begin with, and all the families were crammed together. Arguments and crying among the family members were commonplace, and he was used to it.

He ignored it and, with a thought, entered his personal space, where he began tending to the several acres of fertile land, watering, fertilizing, and weeding, keeping himself very busy.

When he finally exited the space, it was past eleven o'clock at night. The noise from next door had long since subsided, and the courtyard was quiet.

After tossing and turning for a while, He Yuzhu was also a little tired. He turned over and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, He Daqing went to work at the steel rolling mill as usual. As soon as he arrived at the canteen, he was called away by the factory's security department.

When the factory leaders heard that he had gone to the Military Control Commission yesterday and had a conflict with the soldiers, they were terrified and feared that they would be implicated. They treated He Daqing as if he were facing a major enemy, questioning him repeatedly to verify whether he had violated any laws or regulations or colluded with enemy agents.

He Daqing patted his chest and assured them, recounting what had happened yesterday, and promising that he could take people from the factory to the military control commission to check on his situation at any time.

The security personnel repeatedly confirmed that He Daqing had no problems and that the conflict with the Military Control Commission was also in the wrong. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief and let him go back to the canteen to continue cooking.

Yi Zhonghai acted as if nothing was wrong. When it was time to eat, he deliberately carried his lunchbox to the cafeteria and casually asked the cafeteria staff to confirm that He Daqing was cooking in the kitchen.

When He Daqing saw Yi Zhonghai, he felt a surge of anger. This old man had disappeared without a trace yesterday when his family had an accident, but now he was here to inquire about the news.

He gave a wink, signaling his apprentice to give Yi Zhonghai a hard shake of the spoon, leaving the food in the lunchbox so meager that it barely covered the bottom.

Normally, Yi Zhonghai would have jumped up and started yelling, but today he was unusually silent, his face so gloomy it could drip water. Without saying a word, he took his lunchbox to the corner of the cafeteria and started eating his food.

As he was leaving, he looked up at He Daqing, his eyes filled with no remorse, but rather with sinister calculation. His gaze was like that of a venomous snake, sending chills down one's spine.

He Yuzhu observed all of this, secretly on guard. That old bastard Yi Zhonghai would definitely not let this go; he was surely plotting something wicked.

In the following days, He Yuzhu paid special attention to Yi Zhonghai's movements and found that he returned to the courtyard house very late every day. He was mysterious when he went out and had a solemn expression when he came back, which was completely different from his usual behavior.

He Yuzhu was puzzled and couldn't help but ask He Daqing, "Dad, has anything strange happened in the yard these past few days? Yi Zhonghai has been coming home late every day, and I think something's wrong with him."

He Daqing was wiping the stove, shaking his head without looking up: "There's nothing strange about it. Everything in the yard is normal. Yi Zhonghai came home late, maybe he was working overtime at the factory. Don't overthink it."

He Yuzhu frowned. His father was carefree and didn't notice anything unusual, but his unease grew stronger and stronger. He felt that something was about to happen.

Before we knew it, the Lantern Festival had passed, and the festive atmosphere had just faded when the military control commission arrived as promised.

Meng Yutang personally led the team, holding a certificate stamped with a bright red official seal, and walked into the courtyard with a respectful expression.

In the past few days, the Military Control Commission visited Fengzeyuan and the steel rolling mill, and even found the old police officers from back then to verify their identities one by one, thoroughly investigating He Daqing's background.

He was just an ordinary cook who worked for the old government out of sheer desperation. He even lost his job because of this and was extorted by the old government several times. He was a truly innocent civilian.

Meng Yutang entered the courtyard and first had the guards call out the Jia family members and Yi Zhonghai from the front yard. In front of all the neighbors, he cleared his throat and spoke solemnly.

"Dear neighbors, today on behalf of the Public Security Department of the Military Control Commission, I would like to sincerely apologize to Uncle He Daqing and Comrade He Yuzhu! Previously, it was our staff member Wang Shunzi who violated discipline and the law, and Meng Yutang himself who handled the matter improperly, which disturbed the He family and hurt the feelings of the masses. We deeply regret our mistakes and are determined to rectify them!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply, his attitude extremely sincere.

The Jia family stood aside, dumbfounded. Jia Zhangshi opened her mouth, speechless for a long time. She never dreamed that the military control commission would actually apologize to the He family and even issue an official certificate. The He family had completely turned the tables!

Yi Zhonghai stood at the back of the crowd, his face ashen, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He had originally planned to use He Daqing's relationship with the old government to his advantage, to control the He family and force He Yuzhu to support him in his old age. Now that this certificate has been released, all his leverage is gone, and his plans have completely failed.

His gaze toward He Daqing grew increasingly gloomy and ruthless, and one vicious thought after another surfaced in his mind.

Time flies, and it's already March. The weather is gradually warming up, and new buds are sprouting on the branches of the trees in the yard.

That evening, He Daqing was supposed to finish work, but he didn't come back for a long time. Chen Lanxiang looked out the door again and again, pacing anxiously.

Just then, Old Jia returned from outside and brought a message: "Lanxiang, Daqing asked me to tell you that his coworkers are treating him to drinks tonight, so he'll be back late."

After hearing this, Chen Lanxiang breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled, "That old man went drinking again. Someone must be trying to get him to host a banquet. With his cooking skills, there are plenty of people eager to invite him."

In the past, He Daqing was often invited to drinks and banquets, and he would always leave his address to avoid worrying his family. This was a strict rule that Chen Lanxiang had set for him.

But He Yuzhu keenly sensed something was wrong—his father hadn't left an address today!

This has never happened before! Chen Lanxiang is very strict. Every time He Daqing goes out drinking, he makes sure to give his address clearly, for fear that he will drink too much and not be able to come back, causing his family to worry.

The fact that he didn't mention it today, coupled with Yi Zhonghai's unusual behavior these past few days, caused He Yuzhu's unease to surge to its peak.

"Uncle Jia, wait a minute!" He Yuzhu quickly caught up with Old Jia and asked anxiously.

"Who did my dad go drinking with? Do you know his name?"

Old Jia paused for a moment, thought for a second, and replied, "It seems to be Bai Yanlang from our workshop. He said he had just received his salary and was treating his coworkers to a couple of drinks."

"Bai Yanlang?" He Yuzhu's heart sank. He had never heard of this name before. His father was not familiar with the workers in the steel rolling mill workshop at all. How could he be drinking with this Bai Yanlang? He quickly asked:

"Uncle Jia, is my father acquainted with this Bai Yanlang? Do they usually keep in touch?"

"They probably aren't close. I've never seen them speak to each other at the factory. They're practically strangers." Old Jia also sensed something was wrong. Looking at He Yuzhu's anxious expression, he began to have doubts.

"Uncle Jia, do you know where Bai Yanlang lives? Tell me quickly!" He Yuzhu's voice trembled slightly, and an ominous premonition enveloped his heart.

"It's probably in the East Street of Shizipo, but I can't say for sure which house it is. You should be able to find out by asking around there," Old Jia said quickly.

"Thank you, Uncle Jia, you should go back now!" He Yuzhu said, then turned and ran into the courtyard.

Seeing her son's panicked expression, Chen Lanxiang quickly grabbed him: "Zhuzi, what's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry? Your father just went out for a drink!"

"Mom, I can't quite put my finger on it, but something just feels off," He Yuzhu said in a low voice as he pushed his bicycle.

"My dad always leaves his address when he goes out drinking, but he didn't today. Besides, he doesn't know Bai Yanlang at all. I have to pick him up; I'm afraid something might happen if I'm late."

"what?"

Chen Lanxiang's face turned pale instantly, and her hands and feet became ice-cold.

"Then, go quickly! Be careful, things aren't safe outside right now. I've heard there are still spies active, so be careful not to get into any trouble!"

"Yes, Mother, I'll be back soon!"

He Yuzhu hopped on his bicycle, pushed off, and sped out of the courtyard. The wheels spun rapidly as he raced towards Shizipo.

Chen Lanxiang stood at the door, anxious and fidgeting, her hands rubbing together incessantly. She kept blaming He Daqing for being unreliable; he was such a grown man, yet he still caused her son so much worry.

Grandma He came out leaning on her cane and, seeing Chen Lanxiang's condition, quickly comforted her.

"Don't worry, Zhu Zi is clever, he'll definitely be able to bring the Qing Dynasty back safely."