Tianjin is liberated

After chatting for a while, the knot in the mother and daughter's hearts was finally untied. Wang Cuiping's tense brows and eyes relaxed completely, and she slumped back onto the soft couch, regaining her usual lazy and relaxed appearance.

The nausea and vomiting had just passed, and she was now in a phase where she could eat and sleep well. Her stomach always felt empty, and her eyelids were heavy; she wanted to take a nap as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She deftly picked up the gleaming Mauser pistol from beside her pillow and stuffed it into the camphor wood chest under the bed. The lock clicked shut, her movements swift and efficient, showing no sign of the clumsiness that comes with pregnancy.

She turned and waved at Sha Zhu, her tone languid and reproachful: "Alright, you can go now. I'm tired and need to lie down for a while."

Seeing the weariness in her eyes, Sha Zhu didn't linger and quietly closed the door behind him before leaving.

He and Wang Cuiping spoke while Xiaoman was washing clothes in the yard.

Pushing open the door, I saw the little girl bending over and washing clothes by the stone basin in the courtyard. Her little hands, red from the cold, were repeatedly rubbing in the cold water, and the stray hairs on her forehead were wet with sweat and stuck to her smooth forehead.

Xiaoman is a thoughtful child. Ever since she was rescued by Shazhu, she has always been afraid that she is a burden who eats for free. Whenever there is chores at home, she always rushes to do them, washing clothes, sweeping the floor, wiping the table, and she can't stay idle for a moment.

Sha Zhu's heart softened, and he stepped over, squatted down, and touched the water in the basin. The icy coldness instantly pierced his fingertips.

He immediately frowned, and softened his voice: "Xiaoman, the water is so cold, why don't you boil some hot water? Why don't you rest for a while, lest your hands get cold?"

Xiaoman's hands didn't stop moving, her little head shook like a rattle drum, her cheeks were pink from the cold, and she raised her head to give him a well-behaved smile.

"It's not cold, Brother Zhu. I've already added hot water. I'll be done washing soon."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at the door and asked in a low voice.

"Just now... just now you were arguing with Aunt Wang in the house? I heard it was quite loud inside."

Sha Zhu was amused by her cute appearance, reached out and ruffled her fluffy head, speaking with certainty.

"No, that's not true. Aunt Wang is pregnant right now, so her emotions are a bit unstable. She was just speaking a little loudly. We didn't argue."

"Oh, that's good."

Xiaoman breathed a sigh of relief and then lowered her head to vigorously rub the clothes.

"Brother Zhu, go inside and rest. I'll come in as soon as I'm done washing these things. It won't take much time."

"Okay, then don't tire yourself out. If you can't finish washing it, just leave it and I'll do it when I get back."

Sha Zhu gave a few instructions before turning and walking slowly toward the side room, careful not to disturb Wang Cuiping who was resting inside.

The days flowed by silently like the water in the alleyway of Tianjin, and before we knew it, it was December.

The north wind whipped up snowflakes that pierced people's necks every day. Fewer and fewer people were on the streets, and every household closed their doors and windows tightly and stocked up on food.

During this period, Yuan Taihong and Li Baoguo came to visit one after the other.

Both men looked anxious. As soon as they entered the door, they grabbed Sha Zhu's arm and pleaded with him, saying that they knew he was trapped in Tianjin and couldn't go back to Beijing. They said he couldn't just sit around and do nothing. They urged him to hurry back to Huifanglou and Hongbinlou to take charge of cooking. With his skills, no matter how chaotic the situation was, he could stand firm and earn enough money to support his family.

Sha Zhu shook his head and politely declined each offer. It wasn't that he didn't want to earn money, but he was genuinely worried about Wang Cuiping and Xiaoman in the courtyard.

Wang Cuiping was pregnant and couldn't withstand the slightest bump or fright. Xiaoman was young and timid, so she needed someone to take care of her.

But he didn't expect the situation to deteriorate much faster than he anticipated.

Within a month, business at Huifanglou and Hongbinlou plummeted. The once packed halls were now deserted, and most of the staff had left. The managers were constantly sighing in worry, but there was nothing they could do.

By late December, the massive army had completely surrounded the gates of Tianjin, making the entire city feel as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, unable to breathe.

Overnight, all the shops in the city closed down—cloth shops, grain shops, restaurants, and grocery stores—their doors nailed shut.

There wasn't a single vendor to be seen on the street; only the howling north wind swirled withered branches and fallen leaves, creating an empty and desolate atmosphere.

A few days later, late one night, Li Baoguo, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, braved the cold wind and ventured over. His face was blue with cold. As soon as he entered the door, he grabbed Sha Zhu's hand and said urgently.

"Zhu Zi, whatever you do, don't go out! The city is in chaos, with deserters and thugs running rampant everywhere. Going out will only bring trouble!"

Seeing Li Baoguo shivering from the cold, Sha Zhu felt sorry for him and immediately took out half a bag of cornmeal that he had stored at home, wrapped it in coarse cloth, and forcibly stuffed it into Li Baoguo's arms.

"Your family has a lot of people and not enough food. Take this and use it sparingly; it will last you a while."

Li Baoguo pushed and refused, his eyes reddening: "How can I do this? You have two mouths to feed too, I can't take your life-saving food!"

"Just take it!"

Sha Zhu's tone turned serious, leaving no room for refusal.

"I still have some food here, enough to last until we get out of this predicament. You have many children, they can't go hungry. I'll take you home, be careful on the road."

The night was pitch black, and the two walked unsteadily through the alley. Even the streetlights were off, with only a few specks of moonlight falling on the ground, and the cold wind felt like knives cutting their faces.

Sha Zhu escorted Li Baoguo home, repeatedly reminding him to lock the doors and windows before turning back.

He knew in his heart that this siege would last at least a month, and the price of grain in the city would only skyrocket, making life difficult for ordinary people.

Sure enough, a few days later, the booming sound of cannons came from outside the city, making the paper windows rattle and even the ground tremble slightly.

The people of Tianjin were terrified. Every household kept their doors tightly shut, bolted them, and hid inside, not daring to peek out or even breathe loudly.

Xiaoman had never heard such a deafening noise in her life. When the cannon exploded, the little girl turned pale with fright, screamed, and rushed into Wang Cuiping's arms.

The little body clung tightly to her, trembling, tears welling up instantly: "Aunt Wang, I'm scared... It was so loud..."

Wang Cuiping quickly hugged Xiaoman in her arms and gently patted her back to comfort her, but a hint of relief flashed in her eyes.

Luckily, she moved to this courtyard with Sha Zhu. Her original courtyard was spacious, but it was in a remote location with low walls. In the current situation, it was not safe at all. It was much more secure here.

The fighting outside the city was fierce and chaotic, and the city itself was thrown into complete disarray.

Those idle thugs and ruffians, along with scattered soldiers, took advantage of the chaos of war and the lack of supervision to loot the homes of wealthy families in groups.

They specifically targeted houses with only guards and no master, smashing doors, picking locks, robbing money and food, causing chaos and disorder.

These were all things that Sha Zhu witnessed when he went out to gather information. When he returned, he told Wang Cuiping everything in detail, which terrified her.

What reassured Wang Cuiping even more was that Sha Zhu seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of ingredients, cooking them different dishes every day.

Braised fish, braised pork hock, stewed ribs, steamed buns—every meal had both meat and vegetables, and the aroma filled the entire yard.

She had lived with Yu Zecheng for more than two years and had seen plenty of fine clothes and delicacies, but she had never eaten such delicious and abundant food. Even she wondered where Sha Zhu had found so many good things in these chaotic times of war.

She didn't stand on ceremony with Sha Zhu, after all, she was pregnant and needed nutrition.

She could only keep this profound kindness in her heart and wait for the opportunity to repay it in the future.

The cannon fire outside the city had been booming for almost half a month before suddenly falling silent. However, the troop movements inside the city became more and more frequent, and soldiers could be seen rushing through the streets and alleys. The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The common people knew perfectly well that the Nationalist army outside the city had been defeated, and that Tianjin was unlikely to be able to hold out.

By mid-January 1949.

The sound of cannons, which had been silent for many days, rang out again, and this time it was closer and louder than before.

The shaking was so intense that the dishes inside the house bounced on the table, and the ground trembled clearly within the city, especially for residents near the city gate.

You could even hear continuous gunfire, crackling and popping like firecrackers during the Lunar New Year, but with a strong smell of blood.

The gunfire lasted for two days and two nights. On the morning of the third day, a burst of gunfire suddenly rang out in the city, which then gradually subsided.

These past two days, Wang Cuiping has been taking care of Xiaoman during the day, comforting her frightened state, and managing household chores.

Sha Zhu kept watch in the darkness, sitting on a wooden stool at the gate of the courtyard, clutching a sturdy wooden stick in his hand. He stayed awake all night, vigilantly watching for any movement outside, determined not to let any danger get close to the two people in the courtyard.

Sha Zhu knew perfectly well that in this chaotic world, self-preservation was the only way to survive.

What is he getting involved in?

Outside, amidst a hail of bullets, no one recognized him. A stray bullet could kill him. He had two people at home who needed his care, and he couldn't take that risk.

The gunfire in the city finally ceased, and the sound of broadcasts came from the streets.

Propaganda vehicles with loudspeakers slowly drove through the streets and alleys, radio stations repeatedly broadcasted the good news, and notices were quickly posted all over the city walls—Tianjin has been liberated.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city, and the people, who had been suppressed for so long, finally dared to open their doors and windows, their faces beaming with smiles of relief after surviving a disaster.

A few days later, a grand entry ceremony took place, with the People's Liberation Army soldiers, dressed in neat uniforms, marching with firm steps into Tianjin.

The streets were packed with welcoming people, and the sounds of gongs, drums, cheers, and applause were deafening.

Sha Zhu, along with Wang Cuiping and Xiao Man, squeezed into the crowd to watch the excitement.

Looking at the magnificent procession before him and the heartfelt enthusiasm of the people, Sha Zhu felt his blood boil and his chest swell with emotion. This was a unique sense of awe and hope belonging to this era.

Looking at the scene before her, Wang Cuiping's eyes welled up with tears. Her emotions, which had been suppressed for a long time, finally burst forth, and tears streamed down her cheeks. These were tears of victory, tears of relief.

Xiaoman clapped her little hands until they were red, her face full of admiration, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the neat line, constantly shouting "So amazing!"

The day after the ceremony, Sha Zhu went to the train station with a question in mind, inquiring about train schedules from Tianjin to Beijing.

The station was bustling with people. The Tianjin Railway Bureau had been officially established and the local railway in Tianjin was open to traffic, but the line to Beijing was still closed, and trains could not pass through at all.

Sha Zhu's heart skipped a beat, and he could only return to the courtyard dejectedly, telling Wang Cuiping the whole story.

Wang Cuiping wasn't in a hurry; she held his hand and gently comforted him.

"Don't worry, my dad is still in Beijing. With him looking after things, nothing will happen at home. We'll just wait a little longer."

Sha Zhu knew in his heart that Beijing would be liberated in about half a month. Right now, he had no choice but to wait patiently. So he suppressed his desire to return home and settled down to live a quiet life in his small courtyard.

During this period, Yuan Taihong and Li Baoguo visited again one after another.

When Yuan Taihong entered the room and saw Wang Cuiping with a protruding belly, he was somewhat surprised. Sha Zhu gave a brief explanation of the reason. Yuan Taihong was a perceptive person, and seeing this, he did not ask any more questions. Instead, he pulled him aside to chat about the restaurant's future plans, sighing with emotion.

Li Baoguo then brought important news: "Zhuzi, a comrade surnamed Zhao came to see you. He heard that you are safe and sound and said that he would personally visit your home in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu's eyes lit up instantly. He had been wanting to find Lao Zhao. He didn't care about himself, but Wang Cuiping's future status and job arrangements would all depend on Lao Zhao's help.

Old Zhao used to belong to the Sijiu City Working Committee. Now that Tianjin has been liberated, he will most likely be transferred back to Sijiu City in the future, and he is exactly the kind of person who can be of great help.

Upon hearing the news about Lao Zhao, Wang Cuiping was so excited that her palms burned and her eyes reddened.

After the comrade who was supposed to meet her sacrificed his life, she completely lost contact with the organization, like a kite with a broken string, helpless and alone.

If it weren't for that life-saving note, and if she hadn't met Sha Zhu, she probably would have packed her bags and left the city to go back to her hometown long ago. Now that she can finally see her own people, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense for so long, has finally settled down.

There's another thing: both of them specifically came to invite Sha Zhu to their homes for the New Year.

But looking at Wang Cuiping and Xiaoman in the courtyard, the two hesitated again and asked Shazhu what he thought: should they go with others or go alone?

Sha Zhu refused without hesitation, and replied with a smile, "I appreciate your kind offer. I will come to pay my respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This year, I will celebrate in my own courtyard, which will be more lively." He knew that he couldn't go back to Beijing right now. Although it wasn't his own home, Wang Cuiping and Xiaoman were in the courtyard, so it was a home in itself. He couldn't miss any of the rituals that should be observed during the Lunar New Year.

Just do it.

Sha Zhu wrapped his cotton-padded coat tightly and went out several times to sweep the house, wipe the windows, buy couplets, and prepare New Year's goods. He tidied up the small courtyard, making it clean and bright, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year was everywhere.

As for scarce goods like fish, meat, and grains and oils, they were naturally taken from his personal space.

Pork, beef, mutton, chicken, duck, fish, and goose—all kinds of meat are available, frozen in the cold wind outside the yard, so they won't spoil in the freezing weather.

He prepared extra, firstly enough for the three of them to eat during the New Year, and secondly because it was a must-have gift for visiting relatives and friends during the New Year. In Tianjin, flounder was an essential gift for the New Year, and he prepared several plump ones in advance to send to his master and Lao Zhao.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Lunar New Year, Old Zhao finally arrived.

He braved the early morning chill, riding a slightly worn bicycle with a snack box, a bag of dried fruit, and paper-wrapped fruit candies hanging from the handlebars. He rode all the way to the gate of the courtyard, propped up the bicycle, and knocked on the door.

When Sha Zhu heard the knocking, he quickly went to open the door and froze on the spot when he saw who was outside.

The old Zhao before me was no longer the ordinary middle-aged man I used to know.

Wearing a crisp military uniform, his back was ramrod straight, and his eyes under the brim of his hat were sharp and piercing. He exuded a capable and dignified aura, completely different from before.

Seeing his surprised expression, Old Zhao couldn't help but burst into laughter. He patted him on the shoulder and teased, "What's wrong? Scared? That shouldn't be the case. What haven't you seen, silly Zhu? You wouldn't be scared by my clothes, would you?"

Sha Zhu snapped out of his daze, scratched his head, and looked puzzled: "I wasn't scared, but I'm just wondering, you were actually a soldier? I never would have guessed before."

"Why can't it be someone in the military?"

Old Zhao raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with smugness.

"I'm currently helping out at the Tianjin Military Control Commission; I'm a legitimate public servant."

"Oh, so that's how it is!" Sha Zhu suddenly realized, without a trace of surprise on his face.

Old Zhao, on the other hand, became curious and stepped forward to ask, "Aren't you surprised by my true identity? Anyone else would have been asking all sorts of questions by now."

"What's so surprising? I guessed it a long time ago." Sha Zhu's calm and nonchalant demeanor surprised Old Zhao.

"You brat, a guest comes to the door and you just block the entrance? Aren't you going to invite me in for a cup of hot tea and a chat?" Old Zhao feigned annoyance and rolled his eyes.

"Ah! I forgot, I'm so sorry!"

Sha Zhu then realized what was happening, quickly stepped aside, made a respectful gesture of invitation, and took the gift from Lao Zhao's hand, all the while feigning politeness.

"Hey, Uncle Zhao, you've come all this way, why did you bring anything? It's too much of a waste!"

"You're quite bold, taking it without hesitation."

Old Zhao chuckled and cursed as he stepped into the house. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he looked up and saw Wang Cuiping standing at the door, smiling at him. His smile froze instantly, his eyes widened, and his voice rose several decibels.

"Huh? Cui... Cuiping? What are you doing here?"

Wang Cuiping strode forward, and looking at the familiar face before her, her voice trembled with excitement, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Secretary Zhao! It really is you! The comrade who was supposed to meet me... sacrificed his life. I barely managed to escape and lost contact with the organization for so long!"

"I'm so glad you're alright, so glad you're alright!"

Old Zhao stepped forward, grasped her hand tightly, and spoke with a tone full of relief.

"I thought something had happened to you, I was worried about you every day. I'm so glad to see you. Ah, let's not talk about the bad things of the past, it's more important that you're safe and sound!"

"Come on in, Secretary Zhao. It's cold outside, but warm inside," Wang Cuiping said, wiping away tears from her eyes.

"Don't call me Secretary anymore. I'm not a Secretary anymore. I'm just a deputy director in charge of financial takeover work," Old Zhao waved his hand and corrected him with a smile.

"Alright, alright, Deputy Director Zhao, please come in!"

"Okay, let's go inside and talk, let's go inside and talk slowly!"

The three of them entered the main room. Xiaoman timidly hid behind Wang Cuiping, peeking out her little head to look at Lao Zhao with a hint of shyness in her eyes.

Old Zhao noticed the thin, petite girl and looked at Sha Zhu with a puzzled expression: "Who is this girl?"

"Her name is Qiao Lingyi, and her nickname is Xiaoman. I rescued her from some thugs. She had no one to rely on, so she came to live with me."

Sha Zhu casually explained.

Upon hearing this, Old Zhao immediately frowned and his tone became serious.

"Rescued? Were they thugs, hooligans, or bandits? If there's any trouble you can't handle, just tell me. The Military Control Commission is now in charge of Tianjin, and we will not tolerate these black sheep!"

"No need, Uncle Zhao, it's all minor stuff, I can handle it myself."

Sha Zhu waved his hand and changed the subject.

"But you really have to do me a big favor."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Old Zhao got interested; he had been thinking about the favor he owed Sha Zhu and was looking for an opportunity to repay it.

"Cuiping, Xiaoman, and I want to go back to Beijing. When do you think we can leave? When will the railway be open?" Shazhu asked the most pressing question directly.

Upon hearing this, Old Zhao shook his head helplessly: "There's nothing I can do about it. Negotiations are still ongoing in Beijing, and the city gates are currently closed, so no one can get in. There's nothing I can do."

"Oh? How much longer do we have to wait? The New Year is almost here."

Sha Zhu deliberately put on an anxious look, rubbing his hands and sighing.

"Wait a little longer, wait a little longer, it should be soon, we'll hear from you soon," Old Zhao quickly reassured him.

"Alright then, that's the only way." Sha Zhu pretended to be helpless, but he already had a plan in mind.

"Zhu Zi, don't worry. By the way, Cui Ping, are you also going back to Beijing?" Old Zhao turned to look at Wang Cui Ping.

Wang Cuiping nodded gently, her tone calm: "Yes, I want to stay and live in Beijing."

Without offering any further explanation, Old Zhao wisely refrained from pressing for details.

"Alright, when you have time, I'll have Zhuzi accompany you to the Military Control Commission. I'll get you a letter of introduction, and when we get back, I'll contact your hometown to transfer your organizational affiliation, so it won't be a hassle later." Old Zhao immediately made the decision.

"Thank you so much, Deputy Director Zhao." Wang Cuiping breathed a sigh of relief, subconsciously reaching out to gently stroke her bulging belly, a gentle smile on her face.

Old Zhao's gaze fell on her stomach, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he asked in surprise, "Cuiping, you're pregnant? Does the father of the child know?"

"He doesn't know." Wang Cuiping's tone was somewhat indifferent, lacking much emotion.

Old Zhao sighed, his face full of regret: "It's all our fault for not doing our job well. He still went to the south. We will try to contact him, but I really can't guarantee when he will be back."

"Thank you for your trouble, organization."

Wang Cuiping thanked him calmly, without the slightest excitement on her face.

She knew in her heart that if she couldn't get out of Tianjin with such a good opportunity to evacuate, it would be even more difficult to come back in the future, and she had long given up hope.

Seeing this, Sha Zhu quickly interjected, "Uncle Zhao, could you also write a letter of introduction for me and Xiaoman? Otherwise, it will be troublesome to go back to Beijing without proof."

Wang Cuiping didn't understand the intricacies, but Sha Zhu knew them perfectly well.

The position of deputy director may not sound like a high-ranking official, but this is the deputy director of the Military Control Commission, which is the highest authority in Tianjin. Their words carry great weight, and a letter of introduction from them is more effective than anything else.

Old Zhao's eyes lit up, and he looked at Sha Zhu with a smile, "Hey, you're quite the know-it-all, more sensible than many adults!"

"What do you know? Just find whoever is in charge. Didn't the Kuomintang need all sorts of certificates back then? It's the same principle." Sha Zhu casually brushed it off.

"That's right, we definitely need a letter of introduction to avoid being harassed when we get back." Old Zhao nodded, then looked at Xiaoman, "Who is Xiaoman?"

Sha Zhu reached out and pulled Xiao Man, who was hiding behind him, to the front. He patted her head and said, "Look, this is the girl. Her nickname is Xiao Man. Xiao Man, quickly call Uncle Zhao."

Xiaoman clutched Wang Cuiping's clothes, timidly raised her head, and whispered, "Hello, Uncle Zhao... Uncle Zhao."

"Okay, okay, good girl!"

Old Zhao smiled broadly, then deliberately put on a stern face and said to Sha Zhu.

"Zhu Zi, if you dare bully this child, just tell me, and I'll teach him a lesson!"

Sha Zhu immediately protested, spreading his hands and crying out, "Uncle Zhao, how can you talk like that? When have I ever bullied anyone? I treat Xiao Man better than my own sister!"

"Just kidding, just kidding, I was just saying it offhand." Old Zhao laughed heartily and waved his hand.

Sha Zhu then asked, "By the way, Uncle Zhao, will you be going back to Beijing in the future?"

"It's not clear yet. Once Beijing is liberated, we'll just follow the organization's arrangements."

Old Zhao paused for a moment and looked at Wang Cuiping.

"By the way, Cuiping, when we arrived at the scene to meet you that day, we only saw traces of a grenade explosion. How did you escape? Tell me in detail."

Wang Cuiping nodded and slowly recounted the events of that day—the danger she encountered, the desperate breakout, and her lucky escape—in detail.

Xiaoman, who was standing to the side, stared wide-eyed with admiration. She never expected that Aunt Wang, who was usually so gentle, would be so amazing.

After listening, Old Zhao couldn't help but give a thumbs up and exclaimed sincerely.

"So that's how it is! No wonder he was a guerrilla captain back then. His skills and courage are extraordinary. If it were me, I probably wouldn't have been able to escape."

Sha Zhu feigned surprise as he looked at Wang Cuiping, then chuckled and teased, "So, Aunt Wang, you're a guerrilla leader? I had no idea!"

"It's all old news, not worth mentioning," Wang Cuiping waved her hand dismissively.

"No way! That's an honorable thing, there must be lots of thrilling stories!"

Sha Zhu stepped forward and pulled Xiao Man to join in the commotion.

"You'll have to tell us about it properly later, right, Xiaoman? You want to hear it too, don't you?"

"Mmm! Mmm!" Xiaoman nodded repeatedly, her little face full of anticipation.

"Aunt Wang is amazing! Xiaoman wants to hear it!"

"Alright, alright, I'll talk, okay?"

Wang Cuiping was amused by the two of them and turned to urge Sha Zhu on.

"Zhu Zi, hurry up and go to the kitchen to cook. It's the eve of the Lunar New Year, aren't you going to treat your Uncle Zhao to a good meal?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Old Zhao slapped his thigh, his eyes lighting up.

"I took the day off specifically to come here, just to eat the delicious food you, silly Zhu, can't you fool me!"

"rest assured!"

Sha Zhu patted his chest, full of confidence.

"Today I'll show you something special, I guarantee you'll eat so well you'll want to swallow your tongue!"

"Then I'll be waiting to taste your delicious dish that'll make people swallow their tongues!" Old Zhao grinned from ear to ear.

"Xiaoman, come and help me. Uncle Zhao and Aunt Wang haven't seen each other in a long time, they must have something to talk about. Let's go to the kitchen and get busy," Shazhu called to Xiaoman.

"Okay!"

Xiaoman obediently responded and followed Shazhu quickly toward the kitchen.

After the two left, only Lao Zhao and Wang Cuiping remained in the room, and the atmosphere became quieter.

Old Zhao sat up straight, his tone becoming more serious: "Comrade Wang Cuiping, if you have any other requests, please feel free to make them, and I will pass them on to the organization."

Wang Cuiping shook her head, her gaze gently falling on her stomach, her tone calm yet firm.

"I have no other requests. I just want to settle down in Beijing and raise my baby peacefully."

"Have you decided what kind of job you want to do in the future? The organization can arrange one for you."

"I don't know yet, and I don't have the time to think about that right now."

"No rush, you can take your time to think about it."

Old Zhao offered gentle words of comfort.

"When we get back to Beijing, don't rush. Give birth to the baby first and take good care of your health. I'll talk to the comrades there. You can go back to the courtyard where Zhuzi and his family live. That area belongs to Dongcheng District, and I can still speak to them there. I can help you if you need anything."

"No need to trouble the organization, I can figure it out myself." Wang Cuiping quickly declined, not wanting to add any more burden to the organization.

"How can this be considered trouble?"

Old Zhao immediately put on a stern face.

"You are a meritorious person who has made contributions to the organization, so it is our duty to take good care of you. I will help you with this matter, so don't refuse. However, it can only be done after the liberation of Beijing."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Comrade Zhao."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Wang Cuiping stopped refusing and thanked him with a smile.

"That's right, don't be shy."

Old Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously.

"By the way, how did you meet Zhu Zi? Why did he take you in?"

Wang Cuiping then recounted in detail how she had met him by chance on the train, how she had been rescued by Sha Zhu, and how he had taken her back to her small courtyard in Tianjin. Old Zhao listened with repeated sighs of admiration.

"Thank goodness we met this child. We didn't want to trouble ordinary people, but we ended up troubling him anyway. Luckily, he took care of you. By the way, your old house was indeed ransacked by bandits and left in a mess. If you were still living there, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"Yes, Zhuzi is a good boy."

Wang Cuiping smiled, then suddenly remembered something and lowered her voice to say it.

"Old Zhao, you don't know, do you? Zhu Zi has known for a long time that you're one of us."

"What?"

Old Zhao was startled and almost stood up from his chair, his face full of disbelief.

"How did he know? I kept it so well hidden!"

"He must have deduced it himself; he's very perceptive," Wang Cuiping recalled the details of the past.

"Otherwise, he wouldn't have helped without hesitation on the train."

"No wonder! No wonder I always felt this child was extraordinary; he was more mature than his peers in his observations of people and situations!"

Old Zhao suddenly realized, nodded repeatedly, and his face was full of admiration.

"No, this is such a fine young man! He's brave, resourceful, upright, and incredibly capable. We must recruit him into the organization!"

Wang Cuiping was amused by his words, but helplessly reminded him, "It's still a bit early. Zhu Zi is only a teenager, still a child."

"Look at my memory!" Old Zhao slapped his forehead, both amused and exasperated.

"We only saw his height and strength and forgot how young he is. How can this kid be so smart? I heard he graduated from high school and is highly educated. It's really rare."

"I don't know either. He said he suddenly had an epiphany. It's said that when his mother gave birth to his younger sister He Yushui, she was frightened and suddenly became clear-headed," Wang Cuiping explained with a smile.

"This is truly an extraordinary person and an extraordinary event. I'm even a little envious of He Daqing for having such a wonderful son."

Old Zhao sighed sincerely and then asked.

"By the way, is Sister-in-law He Daqing still in Beijing?"

"Yes, I'm here. I haven't left."

Wang Cuiping nodded.

"You'll see him when you go back to Beijing. We'll visit each other more often then."

"Okay! It's a deal!"

As the two were chatting, a rich aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen, a blend of soy sauce and vegetable fragrances that filled their nostrils and made their mouths water.

Old Zhao sniffed hard, his eyes instantly lighting up as he looked at Wang Cuiping in surprise: "Zhu Zi, did you cook meat? It smells so good!"

"Yes, he cooks different dishes for us every day, and there's meat in every meal," Wang Cuiping nodded with a smile.

Old Zhao looked on with envy and clicked his tongue: "You guys get to eat meat all the time? These days, being able to have meat at every meal is a huge blessing!"

"Yes, Zhu Zi is capable. He said he uses the old channels of the old restaurants and can always get some fresh ingredients."

"Then I'm in for a treat today!"

Old Zhao couldn't stop smiling.

"The last time at Hongbinlou, Zhuzi cooked me a meal, and I still can't forget how delicious it was. It was so fragrant that I wanted to swallow my tongue!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Cuiping couldn't help but chuckle softly, her tone tinged with affection.

"Hehe, is it really as good as you say? Maybe you're just not eating enough, that's why it tastes so good."

"You eat this every day, you've gotten used to it, your palate has become discerning, so you don't find it particularly special!" Old Zhao waved his hand, his tone extremely serious.

"Anyway, I'm thinking about it. That kid will go back to Beijing sooner or later. Once he's gone, it'll be hard for me to eat his cooking again!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Cuiping immediately greeted them warmly.

"That's easy! While we're still in Tianjin, come over for a meal whenever you have time! Zhu Zi is a kind-hearted kid who respects you the most. He wouldn't mind if you gave him an extra pair of chopsticks or bowls, or even ten extra pairs!"

Old Zhao quickly waved his hand to decline, a hint of helplessness on his face.

"No, no, this meal is enough for me. You know, the city has just been liberated, everything needs to be rebuilt, there's so much work to do, and the situation isn't completely stable yet. I've been working overtime for days to squeeze out this half-day of free time; how could I come here for meals every day!"

As they were talking, Sha Zhu came out of the kitchen carrying steaming dishes, with Xiao Man following behind, holding bowls and chopsticks, her little face full of joy.

The braised pork belly is a bright red color and is stewed until tender and flavorful; the sole is pan-fried until golden brown and has an enticing aroma.

There were also cold side dishes and steaming hot steamed buns, all piled high on the table.

Looking at the table full of delicious food, Old Zhao couldn't help but rub his hands together; his mouth was practically watering.