Infiltration

He Yuzhu gripped the cleaver he had just sharpened during a break in the kitchen of Hongbinlou Restaurant. His fingertips rubbed the cold, sharp blade, and the metallic chill instantly pulled him out of his immersion in culinary skills.

The flames on the stove licked the bottom of the pot, the oil sizzling, and the rich aroma of meat mixed with the fresh scent of scallions, ginger and garlic filled the corner of the kitchen. But at this moment, he had no mind to think about the heat and seasoning. His mind was full of the spy information he had pried out of Ma Wu a few days ago.

Ma Wu was a seasoned sleuth in the Tianjin underworld, possessing a lot of shady information. He Yuzhu had gone to great lengths to obtain this intelligence, and although some time had passed and its timeliness had diminished, a considerable amount of useful information could still be sifted out.

During a break from learning to cook, He Yuzhu found an empty storage room, locked the door, and took out the crumpled piece of oil paper from the still space. With the help of the faint light filtering in from the window, he carefully sorted out the words.

Ma Wu's handwriting was crooked and contained many coded messages that only he himself understood. He Yuzhu patiently deciphered it word by word, and the more he read, the more his brows furrowed.

"How could the spies in this small town be so well hidden? They've planted spies in every street and alley of Tianjin, in teahouses, shops, and even among the dockworkers?"

He cursed under his breath, his fingers tightening so hard they almost crushed the oiled paper. These remnants of the Japanese invaders, relying on disguises, infiltrated Tianjin, secretly gathering intelligence and reselling supplies, causing unrest in the area. He Yuzhu was not one to tolerate such behavior, and now that he had this list in his hands, how could he possibly sit still?

In the following days, He Yuzhu spent his days learning to cook from his two masters, Li Baoguo and Yuan Taihong. He was meticulous in every aspect, from knife skills and wok tossing to broth preparation. His fellow apprentices in the kitchen praised him for his high comprehension and said he was a natural-born chef.

But when night fell and all was quiet, he would change into a dark-colored outfit, cover half his face, and go to find the lurking spies one by one according to the addresses in the intelligence.

Without professional arrest methods, He Yuzhu relied entirely on his brute strength and agility to deal with these spies who were weak and only knew how to use underhanded tricks. It was a piece of cake for him.

He never hesitated to act decisively. He would either knock them out, tie them up, and hand them over to the guerrillas outside the city, or simply make them disappear completely, taking with them all the funds, weapons, ammunition, and classified documents hidden in the spy's hideout into his static space.

The operation was swift, precise, and ruthless, leaving no trace. In an instant, the underground area of ​​Tianjin was filled with fear and unease. The Japanese spies who had been lying in wait were all on edge, yet they had never even seen their adversaries.

That night, He Yuzhu had just finished dealing with the last spy outpost and dragged his slightly tired body back to his rented apartment at No. 18 Nanzhujia Hutong. As soon as he entered the door, a long-lost mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind—it was the system he was bound to, which had been silent for more than half a year and had finally started to move.

[Ding! Detected that the host has eliminated a large number of Japanese spies, triggering a random mission: Disrupt the main network of Japanese spies in Tianjin!]

[Task Progress: 100%! Task Complete!]

[Reward Awarded: Static Space Expanded by 1000 Cubic Meters!]

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, standing there for a long time, unable to come to his senses. He scratched the back of his head, looking completely bewildered: "That's it? I thought they just took out some small fry, I didn't expect they took down their main network?"

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, knowing full well that he wasn't a professional intelligence officer. When interrogating those spies, his methods were crude; he only asked for addresses and supplies, without delving into the underlying network of contacts. There were bound to be many who had slipped through the net.

However, since the system had already determined that everything was complete, he was too lazy to dwell on it and immediately used his consciousness to immerse himself in the still space to check.

The original static space was only two thousand cubic meters, piled full of previously collected grain, cloth, and cooking utensils. Now, with an extra thousand cubic meters of space, it is so spacious that it is refreshing. The clutter that was previously so cramped that it was impossible to move its feet has finally found a place to stand.

"Alright, now that there's more space, I can clean out all the useless junk, otherwise we won't be able to fit all the good stuff in the future."

He Yuzhu was overjoyed and immediately began rummaging through his space, picking out all the rusty scrap iron, broken tables and chairs, and expired dry food, piling them in a corner, ready to dispose of them when the opportunity arose.

With the space expanded, his mind started to wander again. With war looming, food was the only hard currency, especially pork, which was the best thing for both personal consumption and future emergencies.

With that in mind, he went to find Zhao Xiaonian at Hongbinlou early the next morning. Zhao Xiaonian was the young owner of Hongbinlou. He was a righteous man and got along well with He Yuzhu. When he heard that He Yuzhu wanted to buy pork, he immediately patted his chest and guaranteed it.

"Zhu Zi, leave this to me! I know a meat processing plant in the western suburbs; they only have genuine, high-quality pork, and I'll get you the lowest price possible!"

"Then thank you very much, Brother Xiaonian!" He Yuzhu bowed and thanked Zhao Xiaonian. To express his gratitude, he specially showed off his skills in the kitchen of Hongbinlou that night, making several hearty dishes such as braised pork knuckle, sweet and sour fish, and stir-fried shredded pork with soy sauce, which filled the table.

Zhao Xiaonian ate with gusto, his mouth greasy and his chopsticks never stopping. He gave a thumbs-up and praised repeatedly, "Zhuzi, your cooking is amazing! Even better than the head chef at my family's restaurant! Soon, you'll be a star chef in Tianjin!"

He Yuzhu smiled and waved his hand: "Brother Xiaonian, you flatter me. I've only learned a little bit from my master."

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, He Yuzhu tried to pay, but Zhao Xiaonian's face darkened, and he pushed his hand away: "Who are we to each other? It was just a meal, talking about money is too formal! If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know!"

Seeing this, He Yuzhu didn't press the matter and kept the favor in mind.

Thanks to Zhao Xiaonian's connections, He Yuzhu bought over a thousand catties of pork in one go. The pork was perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat, and it was so fresh it was practically dripping with oil. He stuffed it all into the expanded, still space. Looking at the full load of pork, he felt much more at ease.

Afterwards, he went to sweep through several strongholds based on Ma Wu's intelligence, but when he arrived, he found that many places had already been wiped out by the army, leaving only a mess. He Yuzhu missed several times and gradually lost interest. He simply let go of those small strongholds that didn't offer much profit, too lazy to bother anymore.

Just as he was about to give up, he unexpectedly stumbled upon a big deal.

He had originally gone to find a local opium dealer. Ma Wu's intelligence said that this guy had a secret warehouse in the suburbs where he had stockpiled a lot of opium. He Yuzhu hated these scoundrels who trafficked in opium and harmed the people the most, so he immediately went there. But the moment he pried open the warehouse door, he was completely stunned.

In the vast warehouse, there was more than just opium. Rows of neatly stacked wooden crates, when opened, revealed gleaming gold bars, shimmering silver coins, and countless antiques, paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, and porcelains—all priceless cultural relics.

Even more outrageous, there were piles of weapons in the corner of the warehouse, all of them individual equipment made by Bald Eagle, including brand-new uniforms, rifles, pistols, light and heavy machine guns, and even recoilless rifles. A rough count showed that they were enough to equip a complete infantry battalion.

"Good heavens, this isn't a cigarette vendor, he's clearly a major traitor colluding with the enemy!"

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up. Without any hesitation, he activated the Still Space and swept away all the opium, gold, weapons, and cultural relics in the warehouse, leaving not even a scrap of paper behind.

To avoid being discovered immediately, he piled all the junk he had previously cleared out of the space—scrap iron, broken tables and chairs, and tattered sacks—into the warehouse, disguising it as it was before leaving quietly.

After returning and counting his spoils, He Yuzhu couldn't stop smiling. This batch of weapons and gold was enough for him to make a living in the chaotic world. As for those cultural relics, they must not fall into the hands of outsiders. He must hand them over to the country when he has the opportunity in the future.

As for the traitor who lost the warehouse, He Yuzhu didn't care at all. With such a large quantity of contraband lost, even if he didn't take action, the Japanese and military would never let him go, and his fate was destined to be tragic.

Time flies, and September is here.

The late summer heat in Tianjin is still fierce, the sun softens the asphalt roads, and cicadas chirp incessantly in the branches.

In the small courtyard rented by He Yuzhu, Xiaoman was squatting under the grape trellis feeding the rabbits. The little girl had grown quite a bit in the past few days. Her originally sallow face had become fair and round, and her eyebrows and eyes were curved, just like a flower bud about to bloom. Her timid appearance, which used to wipe away tears at the drop of a hat, had long since disappeared without a trace.

Xiaoman's real name is Qiao Lingyi. She is a poor girl whom He Yuzhu rescued from the Ma family in Tanggu. Her family members were killed by the Japanese invaders, leaving her with no one to rely on. He Yuzhu is kind-hearted, so he took her in and cared for her as his own sister.

Seeing Xiaoman becoming more cheerful, He Yuzhu felt warm inside, but he also knew that in chaotic times, it was difficult to move an inch without a status.

That evening, he specially bought two jin of braised beef and a bottle of good wine to go find his master, Li Baoguo.

Li Baoguo was sitting in the courtyard smoking a pipe when he saw his apprentice carrying things over. He frowned and said, "Zhuzi, what are you doing? If you're learning to cook, just focus on learning. Why are you doing all this frivolous stuff?"

He Yuzhu chuckled, placed the items on the stone table, leaned close to Li Baoguo, and whispered, "Master, I have a favor to ask of you. I have a little girl with me named Xiaoman. She's a poor soul, orphaned and without any identification. You have extensive connections in Tianjin; could you help her get an ID card and a Tianjin entry/exit permit?"

Li Baoguo took a drag of his cigarette, squinting as he sized up He Yuzhu: "You little rascal, when did you start hiding a girl? How come I didn't know?"

"Master, I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. That girl is so pitiful, I can't bear to abandon her."

He Yuzhu embellished Xiaoman's story, from the Japanese massacre of the village to her displacement, speaking with tears streaming down her face. Even Li Baoguo, a man of steel, was moved to tears.

"What a disgrace! These scoundrels are utterly despicable!" Li Baoguo slammed his fist on the stone table, shaking his pipe off its handle. "Leave this to me! It's just an ID card, right? I'll get my old buddies at the police station to handle it; I guarantee they'll get it done flawlessly!"

"Thank you so much, Master!" He Yuzhu was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

At that time, the situation in Tianjin was relatively stable, and the war had not yet spread. The household registration review was not strict. In just a few days, Li Baoguo got Xiaoman's ID card and entry and exit permit.

On the pale red cardboard was Xiaoman's name and photo. Although simple, it became her means of survival in the chaotic world.

He Yuzhu handed the ID to Xiaoman. The little girl held the card, tears streaming down her face, not from sadness, but from gratitude: "Brother Zhu, thank you..."

"Silly girl, why are you being so polite with me?" He Yuzhu ruffled her hair and said gently, "From now on, we're people of status, and no one will dare to bully you."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Li Baoguo returned from work. As soon as he entered, he saw Xiaoman in the courtyard, and his eyes widened instantly.

The little girl was wearing a clean floral dress, with fair skin and delicate features. Standing under the grape trellis, she resembled a tender gardenia. Li Baoguo had lived most of his life and had never seen such a beautiful little girl.

He pulled He Yuzhu aside, hid in the corner, and lowered his voice, his tone full of shock.

"Zhu Zi! You're something else! When did you pick up such a pretty girl? I think you didn't just pick up a sister, you picked up a future wife!"

He Yuzhu scratched his head, looking smug, but pretended to be modest: "Hehe, just lucky, just lucky."

"Luck?" Li Baoguo glared at him and poked his forehead.

"Your luck is unbelievable! You just went out for a short trip and found such a beautiful wife? Why don't I have such good luck?"

He Yuzhu thought to himself: Master, you don't know, because of this girl, the Ma family in Tanggu was wiped out. That was a notorious den of traitors in Tianjin. Although it wasn't my achievement alone, it was the people from Guojue Temple who cleaned up the mess. I didn't get a single benefit. As for the guerrillas, I guess they didn't get much either.

Out of sheer boredom, he made a special trip to the Ma family estate in Tanggu. The once magnificent mansion was now nothing but ruins, riddled with large pits, clearly having been dug up and all valuables looted, leaving no trace of anyone. He couldn't tell Li Baoguo about this, so he could only laugh it off.

At the end of August, a major event occurred in Tianjin's culinary world—He Yuzhu graduated from his apprenticeship.

Two renowned chefs from Tianjin, Li Baoguo and Yuan Taihong, joined forces to assess He Yuzhu, evaluating him comprehensively from knife skills, cooking time and temperature control, seasoning to banquet plating.

He Yuzhu calmly faced the challenge, wielding a kitchen knife with unparalleled skill, slicing meat into shreds as fine as hair and fish into slices as thin as cicada wings; when tossing the wok, he remained as steady as Mount Tai, not spilling a single drop of broth.

The dishes they made were excellent in color, aroma, taste, shape, and presentation. One Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish was simmered to a rich and mellow flavor, while another Nine-Turned Intestines dish was fatty yet not greasy, which directly won over the two chefs.

"Good! Good lad! The student has surpassed the master!" Li Baoguo grinned from ear to ear, patting He Yuzhu on the shoulder and praising him repeatedly.

Yuan Taihong nodded in approval: "Zhu Zi's skills are now on par with yours and mine, Master Li's. From now on, you are the youngest head chef in Tianjin's culinary world!"

The news caused a stir in Tianjin's culinary world. No one expected that this young man from the capital would go from an apprentice to a head chef capable of working independently in just a few months. Many restaurants sent people to poach him, offering incredibly high salaries, but He Yuzhu politely declined them all.

He learned to cook not to make a name for himself, but simply to make a living. Now that he has mastered the skill, all he thinks about is his family in Beijing and the people he cares about.

One day in late September, the sky was overcast and a light drizzle was falling. He Yuzhu had just finished get off work at Hongbinlou and was walking to the entrance of the alley when he was stopped by a man in a Zhongshan suit with a calm face.

The man lowered his voice and called out, "Pillar!"

He Yuzhu took a closer look and instantly recognized the other person—it was Lao Zhao!

Old Zhao was an old neighbor of the courtyard house. He had lived there for more than a year and had a close relationship with the He family. He only came to Tianjin with the main group in June and had been busy with work, so the two had never met.

"Uncle Zhao! What brings you here?" He Yuzhu was both surprised and delighted. He quickly pulled Old Zhao to a teahouse by the roadside and found a quiet private room.

As soon as he sat down, Old Zhao grasped He Yuzhu's hand tightly, his voice trembling with emotion: "Zhuzi, I came today specifically to thank you! We owe you so much for what happened on the train!"

He Yuzhu feigned ignorance: "Uncle Zhao, what are you talking about? What happened on the train?"

Old Zhao smiled and tapped his forehead.

"You little brat, don't play dumb with me! Back on the train, you were the one who dealt with those thugs causing trouble. Don't think I don't know!"

He Yuzhu was taken aback, not expecting that Lao Zhao had actually guessed it.

Old Zhao continued, "I lived in the courtyard house for over a year. The He family had two cooks, your father He Daqing, and you, both of whom loved to experiment with seasonings. You always carried chili powder, pepper powder, and Sichuan pepper powder with you. You two were the only ones in the whole of Beijing who did that! Back then on the train, when that guy used seasonings to subdue the thug, who else could it be but you?"

He Yuzhu then smiled and stopped hiding it: "Uncle Zhao has a good eye! I just couldn't stand those people; they were acting like tyrants."

"You're still as skilled as ever!" Old Zhao exclaimed.

"I heard that you and Xu Damao practiced martial arts in the backyard. Everyone in the yard knows about it. Back then, many people wanted to send their children to your father to become his disciples, but your father only accepted those who were learning to cook. These days, cooks have low status, so the children of technicians would never want to learn this."

The two chatted for a long time, mostly about old stories of courtyard houses, and found themselves getting along very well.

He Yuzhu was overjoyed. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land was a great joy in life. He immediately pulled Lao Zhao back to the kitchen of Hongbinlou and personally cooked the dishes.

With a roaring fire, hot oil, and the addition of ingredients, the movements are fluid and seamless, completed in one go.

Stir-fried pork kidneys, braised sea cucumber with scallions, braised beef strips, and crystal pork knuckle—four hearty dishes were quickly served, their aromas irresistible and their colors enticing.

Old Zhao came from an ordinary background and had never tasted such authentic Tianjin cuisine in his life. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and his eyes lit up instantly. He couldn't stop praising it: "Zhu Zi! Your cooking is amazing! It's even better than the Eight Great Halls in Beijing!"

Upon learning that He Yuzhu had completed his apprenticeship and become a renowned chef in Tianjin, Old Zhao was so astonished that he repeatedly gave him a thumbs-up: "Amazing! Truly amazing! Zhuzi, I'll have to come over for meals often from now on!"

"No problem! Uncle Zhao can come anytime, I'll make it for you myself!" He Yuzhu readily agreed.

During the meal, Old Zhao hesitated to speak, his brows furrowed, looking preoccupied.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu spoke up, "Uncle Zhao, we're all family. Just say what's on your mind. Don't beat around the bush; that's not like you!"

Old Zhao sighed, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Zhuzi, I saw your Aunt Wang. I told her about you coming to Tianjin to learn cooking, and she said... it's inconvenient for her to come see you. She told you to focus on learning the craft and not to worry about her."

Wang Cuiping!

He Yuzhu's heart tightened. Aunt Wang was an elder he had recognized in the courtyard. She was generous and righteous, just like his own aunt.

He immediately frowned, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Uncle Zhao, why hasn't Aunt Wang come to see me? Has her husband been bullying her? Please tell Aunt Wang that if she's having any trouble, she can come to me! As her nephew, I'll stand up for her! Can her husband even withstand a punch from me?"

After saying that, He Yuzhu waved his fist, deliberately making a fierce look.

Old Zhao blushed upon hearing this, and after a long pause, he waved his hand, both amused and exasperated.

"Don't you dare do anything reckless! Yu Zecheng is just a weak scholar, he can't even kill a chicken, how could he withstand a punch from you? Besides, your Aunt Wang is formidable, she took down Ma Kui and killed Lu Qiaoshan before, Yu Zecheng avoids her like the plague, how could he dare to bully her?"

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow. He had long seen through the fact that Wang Cuiping and Yu Zecheng, this fake couple, had already taken their relationship seriously. Now, hearing what Lao Zhao said, he felt relieved.

"I was just joking." He Yuzhu smiled, then said seriously, "Uncle Zhao, please pass on a message to Aunt Wang: if you need anything, come to Hongbinlou to find me. If you can't find Hongbinlou, go to No. 18 Nanzhujia Hutong. That's where I live. I'm always here."

Old Zhao nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Zhu Zi, thank you! I've remembered it. I will never tell a second person this address."

He knew in his heart that the situation in Tianjin was already extremely tense, with war raging in the north, and the news on the radio and in the newspapers being a mix of truth and falsehood. Anyone with eyes could see that a major battle was imminent.

The more dangerous the situation, the more desperate the spies and traitors would become. He Yuzhu's provision of a safe haven at this time was undoubtedly a timely help, and he remembered this kindness.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Old Zhao left in a hurry without leaving any contact information. He Yuzhu didn't ask any further questions. For people in their line of work, being elusive and leaving no trace is the safest course of action.

As October arrived, the weather in Tianjin grew increasingly cool. Autumn winds swept fallen leaves, swirling through the streets, and a tense atmosphere permeated the air. He Yuzhu's heart also grew restless.

He missed his family in Beijing, wondered how his neighbors in the courtyard were doing, and whether his father, He Daqing, was alright. The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. He immediately decided to say goodbye to his master and return to Beijing.

Early that morning, He Yuzhu found Li Baoguo and Yuan Taihong, bowed respectfully, and spoke sincerely.

"Masters, I have completed my apprenticeship, but I have some family matters to attend to and am worried about them. I wish to take my leave and return to Beijing, so I have come to say goodbye to you both."

Upon hearing this, Li Baoguo immediately became anxious: "Zhuzi! You've just graduated and are at the prime of your life, why are you suddenly leaving? What could be going on in Beijing?"

Yuan Taihong also advised, "Zhuzi, the war is about to break out here. It's not safe to travel. Let's wait a bit longer."

"Masters, my mind is made up." He Yuzhu's attitude was firm. "My family is waiting for me, and I must go back. I will never forget your teachings, and I will definitely come to visit you again when I have the chance."

Seeing that he was determined to go, the two masters did not stop him anymore, but repeatedly told him to be careful on the road, which He Yuzhu agreed to.

After saying goodbye, He Yuzhu planned to see Wang Cuiping and bid her farewell. However, when he arrived at Wang Cuiping and Yu Zecheng's residence, he found the door locked. After knocking for a long time, only Yu Zecheng opened the door.

Yu Zecheng looked haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, and when he saw He Yuzhu, his eyes were full of panic.

He Yuzhu's heart sank, and he instantly realized that Wang Cuiping had been exposed and had already escaped.

He didn't ask any more questions, nodded to Yu Zecheng, and turned to leave.

In the dead of night, under the hazy moonlight, He Yuzhu changed into his night clothes and, relying on his agile skills, silently sneaked into Yu Zecheng's house. Yu Zecheng was already fast asleep. He Yuzhu tiptoed to the table, took out paper and pen, and hurriedly wrote a short message.

The letter contained only three sentences, each carrying immense weight:

1. Once the mission is completed, immediately request permission from your superiors to evacuate; there should be no delay!

Second, Wang Cuiping is safe and sound, and you will surely be reunited.

Third, if we are unable to evacuate and are forced to go south, we will seek an opportunity to go to Hong Kong Island. I will take care of Wang Cuiping and guarantee her and her child's safety.

At the end of the letter, He Yuzhu left an address in Nanluoguxiang, Beijing, which was his base of operations in the city. He wasn't being reckless; rather, he was certain that Yu Zecheng deeply loved Wang Cuiping and would never betray her. This letter was to give Yu Zecheng hope and also to leave Wang Cuiping a way out.

He absolutely could not let Wang Cuiping return to the mountains, where she would live a lonely life, burdened with her pregnancy.

After finishing the letter, He Yuzhu pressed it to the corner of the table, turned around, and disappeared into the night.

The next morning, Yu Zecheng woke up and saw the letter on the corner of the table. He opened it and was instantly terrified, his whole body covered in cold sweat, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

The letter struck a chord with him; he had long since completed his mission but had lost contact with his superiors, leaving him in a dilemma.

The person who wrote the letter actually knew all about his situation, even predicted his future, and dared to guarantee that he would take care of Wang Cuiping. This audacity and supernatural power made him shudder.

He wasn't this panicked, not even when he was stealing that top-secret intelligence.

With trembling hands, Yu Zecheng held the letter up to the oil lamp and burned it to ashes. He then rushed into the bathroom and soaked his face in the icy water for more than a minute before he could barely calm down.

He memorized the four characters "Nanluoguxiang" tightly, knowing in his heart that this was his last hope.

He Yuzhu left Yu Zecheng's house and walked on the street late at night. When he passed the Central Bank, he suddenly stopped.

Several dark green military trucks were parked in front of the bank, their lights off. Only a few soldiers with flustered expressions were guarding the area, clearly trying to avoid attracting attention.

A dozen or so porters were sweating profusely as they carried heavy wooden crates onto the truck. The crates were sharp and heavy, making a dull thud when they hit the ground.

He Yuzhu's eyes sharpened, and he instantly understood—this was gold!

With the Kuomintang regime on the verge of collapse, these corrupt officials used worthless gold yuan notes to plunder the people's wealth, exchange them for gold, and prepare to abscond with the money!

"These parasites! They dare to embezzle the people's hard-earned money!"

He Yuzhu was furious, and his original eagerness to return to Beijing was instantly forgotten.

He hid in the shadows of the street corner, waiting quietly until the truck was loaded with gold and slowly drove away. He then immediately followed silently.

The truck drove along the empty streets, unnoticed by the cover of night.

As they approached a secluded bend, before the escort vehicles behind them could catch up, He Yuzhu seized the opportunity, his figure flashing like a cat as he leaped onto the truck loaded with gold.

Inside the carriage, wooden crates filled with gold were piled up, the gleaming gold gleaming alluringly in the faint moonlight.

He Yuzhu dared not delay. He activated the Static Space and quickly stored the boxes of gold into the space. At the same time, he took out bundles of the junk he had cleared out earlier—old grain, abandoned Japanese weapons, and tattered sacks—and replaced the gold with them.

He moved swiftly and skillfully, exchanging a box of gold for a pile of junk, the weights being almost the same. The driver, sitting in the cab, was completely unaware of the changes inside the truck.

After repeatedly getting on and off the truck for most of the hour, He Yuzhu finally managed to exchange most of the gold in the truck bed before jumping off and disappearing into the darkness.

As for how these people will explain themselves when they return home and find the gold has turned to rubbish, He Yuzhu doesn't care at all. These parasites who bring disaster to the country and its people deserve their retribution.

After robbing the gold, He Yuzhu finally calmed down and began to prepare for leaving Tianjin.

Before leaving, he wanted to take good care of his two masters.

He carried two large bags full of grain, dried goods, and cured meat, first to Li Baoguo's house, and then to Yuan Taihong's house.

When the two masters saw that he had taken so many things, their faces immediately darkened.

"Zhu Zi! What are you doing? We taught you a skill, not for your things!" Li Baoguo pushed the things away. "You've just graduated and you're not exactly rolling in dough. Take them back now!"

Yuan Taihong waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Zhuzi, you're being too polite! These things are too valuable; we can't accept them!"

He Yuzhu knew that his two masters were worried about him and afraid that he would spend all the money he had saved.

He pulled his two masters into the house, closed the door, lowered his voice, and said solemnly, "Masters, I'm not wasting money. The fighting is fierce in the north, and the flames of war will reach Tianjin sooner or later. In times of war, nothing is more precious than food! These are emergency provisions I've set aside for you, in case war breaks out and you can't buy food even with money!"

Both masters were experienced and instantly understood He Yuzhu's intention. Looking at their loyal and devoted apprentice, their eyes reddened.

"Good lad! That's very kind of you!" Li Baoguo patted him on the shoulder, no longer refusing. "I'll remember this favor!"

They also heeded He Yuzhu's advice and began secretly purchasing food and stockpiling supplies in preparation for the coming chaos.

After taking care of his two masters, He Yuzhu went to find Zhao Xiaonian.

Seeing him about to leave, Zhao Xiaonian felt very reluctant: "Zhuzi, who knows when we'll see each other again! Don't forget me when you get to Beijing!"

"Brother Xiao Nian, how could I forget!" He Yuzhu handed him the prepared cloth and cured meat. "Please accept these things; they're just a small token of my appreciation. If you have the chance in the future, you must come to Beijing to find me, and I'll cook you the most authentic Beijing cuisine!"

Unable to refuse, Zhao Xiaonian finally accepted the gifts, his eyes reddening as he promised, "I definitely will! I will definitely come to Beijing to find you!"

After dealing with all the social obligations, He Yuzhu stopped going to Hongbinlou and spent his days in the vegetable market, seafood market, and cloth shops.

He didn't need to buy many vegetables, as there were seeds in his space that he could plant anytime; he picked the best fresh fruits, crabs, shrimp, and Jinhua ham, buying them in bulk to fill every corner of his space; he bought several large bags of coarse cloth, fine cloth, and cotton, as clothing and bedding were necessities during times of war.

There were also all kinds of crop seeds, rice seeds, wheat seeds, vegetable seeds, and so on. He bought up everything he could get his hands on, filling the still space to the brim, but it made him feel incredibly at ease.

On October 1st, just as dawn was breaking, He Yuzhu took Xiaoman and hurried towards the city gate.

He wanted to try to get out of the city and return to Sijiu City as soon as possible, but when he arrived at the city gate, he found that the gate was closed and soldiers were guarding it with guns, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving. It was clear that the situation was tense and martial law had been imposed.

"Sigh, we can't get out again." He Yuzhu sighed and pulled Xiaoman back.

The two strolled slowly along the street. The street vendors had already set up their stalls, and the aroma of soy milk and fried dough sticks filled the air. Just then, He Yuzhu's gaze suddenly fixed on a figure not far away.

The woman was dressed in coarse gray clothes, with a blue headscarf covering most of her face. She was slightly plump and was hurrying along with her head down.

But He Yuzhu recognized her at a glance—it was Wang Cuiping!

"Aunt Wang! Aunt Wang! Is that you?"

He Yuzhu shouted excitedly and pulled Xiaoman along as they ran over.

Wang Cuiping abruptly stopped, looked up, and saw He Yuzhu. She was instantly stunned, her eyes widening in surprise, her voice filled with astonishment: "Zhu...Zhuzi? What are you doing here?"

Her surprise was half genuine and half feigned. She had known for a long time that He Yuzhu was learning to cook in Tianjin, but she had never dared to go to him, fearing that her identity would be exposed and implicate this kind-hearted nephew.

"I'll go to the city gate to see if I can get out of the city. Once I've mastered the craft, I want to go back to Beijing."

He Yuzhu looked Wang Cuiping up and down, frowning. "Aunt Wang, why are you dressed like this? You look completely different from before!"

Wang Cuiping looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, quickly grabbed He Yuzhu's arm and led him into a quiet alleyway by the street: "This isn't the place to talk, come with me!"

"good!"

He Yuzhu pulled Xiaoman along and followed Wang Cuiping into the alley until they reached a deserted corner before stopping.

Wang Cuiping looked at He Yuzhu, her tone grave: "Zhuzi, listen to your aunt's advice, don't go back to Beijing, stay in Tianjin! War is about to break out, the roads are too dangerous!"

He Yuzhu was taken aback: "Aunt Wang, did my uncle Yu Zecheng tell you that?"

Mentioning Yu Zecheng, Wang Cuiping's face instantly darkened, her lips pressed into a straight line, and her tone was filled with undisguised sadness: "No... I broke up with that person. Now I'm just looking after houses for others to make a living."

"They broke up?" He Yuzhu exploded instantly, her eyebrows furrowing and her fists clenching so tightly they cracked. "He dared to bully you? Aunt Wang, tell me where he is, I'm going to settle the score with him! I'll punch him flat!"

As he spoke, He Yuzhu was about to rush out, looking like he was ready to fight someone.

"No! Zhu Zi! Keep your voice down!" Wang Cuiping quickly grabbed him, her face pale with anxiety. "It's not his fault, he had no choice! Besides, you can't find him anymore, he's already gone!"

"Gone? Where did they go?" He Yuzhu asked angrily.

"They should... have headed south," Wang Cuiping whispered.

He Yuzhu understood. It seemed that Yu Zecheng and Wang Cuiping had already seen each other one last time. According to the original trajectory, Yu Zecheng was going to be taken to Taiwan.

He suppressed his anger, looked at Wang Cuiping's haggard appearance, and said with heartache, "Aunt Wang, where are you living now? No one feels as at ease as having family around when someone else is looking after your place. If you're not comfortable, move in with me. My rented courtyard is spacious, and Xiaoman will be there to keep you company. We can look after each other!"

Just as Wang Cuiping was about to refuse, a wave of nausea suddenly surged in her throat, her stomach churned, and she couldn't help but bend over and dry heave.

"Ugh... ugh..."

"Aunt Wang! What's wrong?" He Yuzhu was startled and quickly stepped forward to support her, touching her forehead. "Are you sick? Let's go to the hospital right away!"

He knew in his heart that this was morning sickness and that Wang Cuiping was pregnant, but he couldn't tell her directly and could only pretend not to know.

Wang Cuiping waved her hand, took several breaths to calm herself down, and a complex blush rose on her face. She whispered, "No need... Auntie is fine, Auntie is... pregnant."

"You got it?" He Yuzhu feigned shock, his eyes widening, his tone full of anger.

"Do you know about Yu Zecheng? He actually dared to abandon you and the child in your womb! He's a complete scoundrel!"

"He doesn't know... I only found out recently myself." Wang Cuiping lowered her head, her eyes reddening, her voice full of desolation.

Seeing her lonely and helpless appearance, He Yuzhu felt a pang of sadness and became even more determined to take her away.

"Aunt Wang, you're looking after other people's houses, how can that be as safe as your own family? You're pregnant now, you can't be left unattended! Uncle Zhao came last month, I think he just abandoned you in Tianjin and doesn't care about you at all! Come back with me, I'll take care of you!"

Wang Cuiping was hesitant. She didn't want to implicate He Yuzhu, but touching her slightly protruding belly and thinking of the child in her womb, she finally softened her heart.

She took a deep breath, looked up at He Yuzhu's sincere eyes, and finally nodded.

"Okay... Zhuzi, Auntie will go with you. You come back with me to get some things first. I'll tell the landlord that I've found a relative and won't be helping to look after the house anymore."

"Great!" He Yuzhu exclaimed with delight. "Let's go right now! Aunt Wang, don't walk, let's call a rickshaw. You're pregnant, you can't tire yourself out!"