Seizing the Initiative at the Start

The cleaning of the west wing was nearing completion. The windows were bright and clean, the tables and chairs were arranged neatly, and even the dust in the corners of the walls had been swept clean by Sha Zhu with a feather duster.

He patted the dust off his hands, his rough palms brushing against his faded coarse cloth jacket, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, before turning and walking toward his small side room.

The side room was located to the side of the main house. It was a tiny space, but it was the place he had lived in since he was a child.

Sha Zhu raised his hand and pushed open the peeling wooden door. He thought it must be full of dust and cobwebs, since he had been away from home for so long and no one had thought to take special care of the little house.

But when he opened the door, he was stunned – the room was spotless, the floor was swept clean, the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) was polished to a shine, and the cabinets in the corner were neatly arranged, without a trace of dust.

Sha Zhu walked slowly to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and gently stroked the neatly folded quilt and mattress. His fingertips felt the soft and dry texture, and it carried the warm fragrance of sunshine. It was clear that it had been frequently taken out to air in the sun when the weather was nice.

A sudden pang of emotion welled up in his heart, an indescribable surge of feeling coursing through his body.

It's obvious that his mother, Chen Lanxiang, comes over every day to clean, thinking about him every day, hoping that he will suddenly come back one day and have a comfortable place to stay, without having to suffer any grievances.

This tenderness hidden in the smallest details made Sha Zhu's eyes slightly warm after his rebirth.

In his past life, he was confused and confused, trapped by love, and schemed against, failing his parents' hard work. In this life, he is determined to protect his family, make their lives prosperous, and never let his parents suffer any more grievances.

Suppressing the pounding in his heart, Sha Zhu turned and went back to the main room. He skillfully started a fire, stuffed dry firewood into the stove, and sparks crackled as flames quickly ignited, the warm heat instantly dispelling the chill in the side room.

After getting ready, he took the timid but obedient and sensible Xiaoman by the hand, and called over Xu Damao, who was idling nearby. The three of them walked together to the backyard.

Reaching the backyard gate, Sha Zhu patted Xu Damao on the shoulder, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable force: "Damao, thank you for your help today. You should go back now; there's still a lot to do at home."

Xu Damao had his own plans, intending to go in and get some benefits, but seeing Sha Zhu's look, he didn't dare say a word. He just smiled and nodded, "Alright, Zhu, I'll head back now. Call me if you need anything!"

After saying that, he turned around and slunk back to his house in the front yard.

After seeing Xu Damao off, Sha Zhu, holding Xiao Man's hand, gently pushed open the door to the old lady's back room.

The back room was warm and cozy, with the kang (heated brick bed) burning hot. Wang Cuiping was resting by the kang when she saw Shazhu and Xiaoman come in. She immediately smiled and spoke first, her tone full of concern.

"Zhu Zi, Xiao Man, are you done with your work? You've been running around all day, aren't you tired?"

Sha Zhu waved his hand, a hearty laugh on his face, and said in a loud voice, "Not tired at all! This is nothing, this little bit of work is no problem for me!"

Xiaoman also clutched the hem of Shazhu's clothes, nodding her little head and saying softly, "I'm not tired, Uncle is amazing, Xiaoman isn't tired either."

Seeing that the two of them were in high spirits, Wang Cuiping breathed a sigh of relief and thought about getting up to say goodbye.

"Then I'll go back to my room first, sister-in-law. Don't disturb the old lady's rest if I stay here too long." With that, she lifted her foot to get off the kang (a heated brick bed), her movements swift and decisive.

"What's the rush!"

Chen Lanxiang reacted quickly, grabbing Wang Cuiping's wrist with such force that Wang Cuiping couldn't break free even after struggling.

"Your room was just cleaned up, the stove isn't even warm yet, it's freezing cold like an icebox. What if you catch a cold? Besides, this is the outer room, the old lady is sleeping in the inner room, it won't bother you at all! Xiaoman, you should hurry up and get on the kang too, you've been freezing outside all day, get some warm rest!"

Wang Cuiping was stunned for a moment, a sense of surprise rising in her heart.

She knew all too well how strong she was. Back in the guerrilla days, even strong young men might not be able to break free from her grasp. Yet Chen Lanxiang, this seemingly ordinary housewife, possessed such incredible strength.

She stopped insisting and nodded with a smile: "Alright, then I'll bother you a little longer."

"That's right, why are you being so polite with us? Just treat us like you're at home!"

Chen Lanxiang pulled Wang Cuiping back to sit on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and then waved to Xiaoman.

"Little Man, come sit here with me, I'll give you some candy."

Xiaoman's eyes lit up, and she obediently climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down next to Chen Lanxiang, looking adorable.

Looking at the harmonious scene before her, Wang Cuiping couldn't help but smile gently, feeling even closer to the He family.

At first, when Chen Lanxiang told her to treat this place as her own home, she took it as just a polite remark. She knew in her heart that the He family and this old lady had an extraordinary relationship, but since the other party didn't say anything, she didn't ask too much. After all, some things are better left unasked about than asked, and that's the way to get along.

The group sat idly for a while. Sha Zhu didn't get on the kang (heated brick bed), but stood by it. He picked up a large, rough porcelain bowl from the kang table, gulped down two mouthfuls of warm water to moisten his dry throat, then turned to Wang Cuiping and asked bluntly, "By the way, Auntie, you rented that west wing room from the old lady, right?"

Wang Cuiping rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "Otherwise what? Do you think I'd just stay in the old lady's house for free? We're not going to take advantage of that."

"That's not what I meant!" Sha Zhu quickly waved his hand, his tone becoming more serious.

"What I mean is, don't you have some money saved up? Why don't you ask the old lady if she's selling the west wing? You could just buy it and live there more peacefully!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang, who was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), perked up and leaned over to ask, "Zhuzi, why are you suddenly bringing up buying a house? This house is perfectly fine to live in; isn't renting it the same?"

Wang Cuiping, however, was a perceptive person. After a little thought, she immediately realized that something was amiss.

She was involved in the "land reform" movement in the west back then, and she is very sensitive to policy trends.

He frowned, leaned closer, and asked in a low voice, "Zhu Zi, have you heard something? About the house, about this Beijing?"

Sha Zhu's eyes darkened slightly. He didn't say anything explicitly, but simply said, "When I was in Tianjin, I heard some people who had been there mention it, but it was all vague and there was no definite answer."

He knew that the policy had not yet been officially issued, and speaking too specifically would only arouse suspicion. After all, he was just a teenager who had returned from Tianjin and shouldn't know so much inside information.

"What exactly is the news?"

Just then, an old but powerful voice suddenly came from the inner room, followed by the steady and weighty sound of a cane being used to prop up the ground.

The group turned to look and saw an old woman with a full head of silver hair, wearing a dark blue cotton jacket and leaning on a jujube wood cane, slowly walking to the door of the inner room, her sharp eyes sweeping over them.

Sha Zhu quickly stepped forward and reached out to help the old lady, his tone respectful: "Madam, are you sober now? Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

"Hey, I don't usually drink, but I suddenly drank a bit too much and my head was a little foggy. Back in the day, I could drink half a jin of baijiu, no problem!"

The old lady patted Sha Zhu's hand, her face showing a hint of pride that refused to admit she was old, and waved her hand to indicate that she didn't need help.

"You little rascal, you even dare to tease my wife! Tell me, you said you heard some news, about the house, what exactly is it?"

"Yes, yes, yes, you have such a generous capacity, no one can compare to you!" Sha Zhu coaxed the old lady, then said seriously.

"I can't say the specifics, but I just feel that your yard is really too big, and you have too many houses."

The old woman's heart skipped a beat, her brows furrowed instantly, her fingers gripped her cane tightly, and her voice deepened: "You mean, the new government even regulates private residences?"

As she spoke, the old lady's gaze did not fall on Sha Zhu, but instead went straight to Wang Cuiping.

She knew perfectly well that Wang Cuiping came from the western Red Area, and she knew the policies there better than anyone. Her family's courtyard had been passed down from the Qing Dynasty to the present day. Only the main house had been given to the He family. As for the other properties, no matter if officials tried to take advantage of them or local thugs caused trouble, they either spent some money to settle things or He Daqing stepped in to deal with them. Nothing had ever happened.

But now that there's a change of dynasty, no one can be sure what the new government's rules will be.

Wang Cuiping met the old lady's gaze without flinching, nodded firmly, and spoke with a resolute tone.

"Master! Madam, Beijing has been liberated now. The new government's policy is to ensure that everyone has a place to live. With so many empty rooms in your large mansion, you're bound to attract attention sooner or later."

She no longer needs to hide anything; her status speaks for itself, and she has more confidence in her words.

The old lady took a deep breath, looked at Wang Cuiping with complicated emotions, then at Sha Zhu, her voice trembling slightly.

"Wang family girl, let me ask you a honest question: can this new government last?"

"Yes! It's definitely possible!"

Wang Cuiping's answer was without the slightest hesitation, resolute, and her eyes were full of faith.

The old lady turned to look at Sha Zhu, her gaze intense: "Zhu Zi, Madam is also asking you, what do you think?"

Sha Zhu met the old lady's gaze and uttered a single word, brief yet unwavering: "Yes!"

He was reborn and knew the future better than anyone else. The new government would not only last, but would also lead the people to a better and better life. This certainty was unmatched by others.

Upon hearing this, the old lady breathed a long sigh of relief, her tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and most of the worry on her face dissipated.

She was a decisive person who had seen many ups and downs in her life. Since she was convinced that the new government could hold onto power, she didn't hesitate any longer.

Leaning on her cane, she slowly moved onto the kang (a heated brick bed), sat cross-legged, and waved to Sha Zhu: "Alright, then tell me what the plan is. I want to hear it. As long as it's reasonable, we'll do it your way!"

Seeing this, Sha Zhu moved a wooden chair over, sat steadily opposite the kang (a heated brick bed), and began to analyze the situation in a calm tone.

"Madam, I truly don't know the specific policy details. I only know one principle—your courtyard is too large, and you have too many houses. In the future, the population of Beijing will only increase, and there will be many people without a place to live. With too many people and too few houses, how do you think the government will handle this?"

The old lady raised an eyebrow, stared at Sha Zhu, and asked a question.

"How can you be so sure that the population of Beijing will increase? Are you just guessing?"

"I may not be a fortune teller, but this is probably true in the most likely cases!" Sha Zhu said confidently.

"Our old city, Beijing, was once the imperial capital, the place where the emperor rose to power. The new government will most likely establish its capital here! When that happens, government offices, factories, and shops will all move here. How can there not be a large population?"

"Why can't we do what the old Nationalist government did and establish the capital in Nanjing?" the old lady asked, unwilling to give up.

Sha Zhu chuckled and casually made up a story: "How can the feng shui of Jinling compare to that of our Beijing? The dragon energy is all here; making Beijing the capital is a sure thing!"

The old lady loved to hear that, and her eyes crinkled with a smile: "I love to hear that! The feng shui of our Beijing is the best in the world! But I still don't understand, if the government can't solve the housing problem, why does it keep putting so many people into the city?"

"I can't say for sure, it's just a guess." Sha Zhu flattered him.

"You've lived to such an old age and are very knowledgeable. You must understand the ins and outs of this better than I do. I'm just a kid, only scratching the surface."

The old lady sighed, her eyes filled with vicissitudes, her tone wistful.

"Hey, Zhu Zi, your wife is getting old and can't keep up anymore. Think about it, in this city of Beijing, she has experienced the Qing Dynasty, Yuan Shikai, Marshal Duan, Zhang Xiaoliu, General Song, the Japanese, General Feng, and now the new government. The world is changing too fast, so fast that she can't understand it anymore and doesn't know who to believe."

"Grandma, please don't say that..."

Chen Lanxiang, who was listening nearby, glared at her son and scolded him for making the old lady sad.

The old lady waved her hand to indicate that everything was alright, and her eyes regained their firmness.

"It's alright, people get old and like to ramble on. Zhu Zi, don't worry about that, just tell me, what should we do about Madam? It's better to make a decision sooner rather than later than to be caught off guard."

"The solution is actually quite simple: sell off any extra houses in advance, put them in your own hands, and you'll feel more secure!"

Sha Zhu spoke his mind without reservation.

"However, the new government's policies haven't been clearly stated yet, so we don't need to rush. Let's just sound out the situation first and make preparations accordingly."

Upon hearing this, the old woman immediately grasped the key issue, leaned forward, and asked anxiously, "Will the new government recognize our old property deed? If not, won't we lose our house for nothing?"

"Definitely!"

Sha Zhu spoke with certainty.

"The new government is principled and reasonable. If they didn't recognize the old property deeds, wouldn't the people of Beijing be in chaos? Rest assured, the property deeds are absolutely valid!"

"That's good, that's good!"

The old lady nodded repeatedly, her heart finally at ease.

"After construction starts in a couple of days, have your father, He Daqing, go to the government and inquire about your main house. I already gave it to your father. As for the remaining houses, let's see what our relatives think, and then we'll discuss how to handle it."

"Alright, this matter isn't urgent. I just mentioned it casually. I didn't expect to make you so anxious. It's my fault." Sha Zhu smiled and apologized.

"What's so surprising? Knowing in advance and preparing is always better than being caught off guard!"

The old lady waved her hand, completely unconcerned.

Chen Lanxiang, who had been listening for a while, also figured out what was going on. She leaned over and asked, "Zhuzi, is there any other letter you haven't mentioned? Tell us all at once, don't keep it to yourself."

Sha Zhu shook his head: "That's all. By the way, were we forced to exchange our gold yuan notes before?"

The mere mention of the gold yuan notes ignited Chen Lanxiang's anger. She slammed her hand on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and yelled, "Why haven't we exchanged them! Those people came door-to-door forcing us to exchange them, and if we didn't, they'd smash our things! Back when your father was working at the factory, he was paid in gold yuan notes too. Now look at this, sacks and sacks of them, so hard they're not even good enough to wipe our bottoms with, we can't spend a single cent!"

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "You didn't throw away these gold yuan notes, did you?"

"What nonsense are you spouting, child!"

Chen Lanxiang glared at him.

"Those were all bought with real money, a single silver dollar for a whole pile, who would be willing to throw them away? They're all piled up in the warehouse, it's an eyesore just looking at them!"

"It's good that they didn't throw them away. These things might be very useful in the future!" Sha Zhu said mysteriously.

"What use is it? Can it be used as money?" Chen Lanxiang rolled her eyes in annoyance, not believing it at all.

Sha Zhu retorted, "Mother, do you think the new government can just watch the people's money become worthless and watch them starve to death?"

Chen Lanxiang paused for a moment, then muttered, "It shouldn't be..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly realized what she had said and raised her voice eight octaves.

"You mean, these gold yuan notes can be exchanged for new money later? And still be spent?"

"We definitely can't spend it directly, but we'll know how to handle it when the policy comes out. Anyway, keeping it won't do any harm!" Sha Zhu explained.

"Ugh, sacks and sacks of them are piling up at home, taking up so much space. It's so annoying to look at them!"

Chen Lanxiang waved her hand irritably and asked again, "You didn't replace this piece of junk when you were in Tianjin, did you?"

"I didn't change it!" Sha Zhu answered crisply.

"When the gold yuan was first issued, I quit my job at the restaurant and wanted to go back to Beijing immediately, but the city gates were closed and I couldn't get out, so I stayed in Tianjin and didn't touch that rubbish money at all."

"What will you eat and drink while you stay in Tianjin? You can't just starve, can you?" Chen Lanxiang asked with concern, worried that her son might be mistreated outside.

Sha Zhu patted his chest, looking smug.

"Mother, have you forgotten what your son does? I'm a cook! With my culinary skills, I'll never go hungry, no matter where I go! Besides, I have some connections in Tianjin; I eat and drink well, and never suffer any hardship!"

"That's true!"

Chen Lanxiang nodded, her tone softening as she recalled what had happened before.

"To be honest, our family survived the days when the army besieged the city entirely thanks to the food and supplies you had saved up. At that time, food was severely cut off outside, and every household was struggling to make ends meet. The Jia family in the front yard even shamelessly came to borrow grain, but I refused. Later, they said they wanted to buy some, so I sold them some coarse grains. Then, it seems that Yi Zhonghai from the front yard helped them get some grain, which is how they managed to get through it."

She didn't say much bad about the Jia family, only mentioning it casually, but she knew in her heart that there wasn't a single good person in the Jia family; they were greedy, insatiable, and annoying.

Why bring up their family? It's bad luck!

Upon hearing the words "Jia family," the old lady's face immediately darkened, and she said irritably.

"That family is a bunch of mean-spirited, petty bastards; stay away from them!"

"We were just talking about food, so I mentioned it casually," Chen Lanxiang said with a smile, quickly changing the subject.

"If it weren't for Zhuzi's foresight in saving up food in advance, our whole family might have gone hungry. Zhuzi has really grown up and become sensible."

"Of course, my eldest grandson is the best!"

The old lady's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she turned to look at Sha Zhu with eyes full of affection.

"Zhu Zi, you guys really didn't suffer in Tianjin, did you?"

"How could I suffer? I'm eating and sleeping well, and I've even gained several pounds!" Sha Zhu grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Yes, Zhu Zi is indeed a capable child."

Wang Cuiping nodded in agreement, her eyes full of approval.

After chatting for a while, Chen Lanxiang remembered their business and looked at Sha Zhu, asking, "Zhu Zi, what kind of work do you plan to do now that you're back? You've mastered your cooking skills; do you want to continue your studies or find a factory job?"

Sha Zhu stroked his chin and said slowly, "Let's stay home for a while first, no rush. But Xiao Man should be going to school soon. Beijing has just been liberated, I don't know if schools will accept her or if she can get in smoothly."

As soon as Xiaoman heard the words "go to school," she immediately looked up, her big eyes fixed on Shazhu, her little face full of anticipation, afraid that Shazhu would say he wouldn't let her go to school.

"This is easy to handle. When your dad comes back, have him inquire at the school. It shouldn't be a big problem; you can get in now by paying money."

Chen Lanxiang's heart melted when she saw Xiaoman's expectant little face, and then she turned to glare at Shazhu.

"Are you just planning to stay home and do absolutely nothing?"

Sha Zhu looked completely innocent: "What else can I do? I'm only thirteen, a child laborer. Who would want me? The new government doesn't allow child labor either, does it?"

"Is that...is that really the case?"

Chen Lanxiang was stunned for a moment, speechless for a moment, and then she thought for a moment and said.

"If that doesn't work, you should go to school. It's always good to study more."

"I can't go to school either. I can't take the high school entrance exam until the second half of the year. If I go to school now, there won't be any suitable classes." Sha Zhu spread his hands, looking helpless.

"Alright, alright, stop nagging my grandson!"

The old lady immediately stood in front of Sha Zhu and glared at Chen Lanxiang.

"Zhu Zi can stay home as long as he wants, he can do nothing at all, his wife can support him, who dares to gossip?"

Chen Lanxiang was both amused and exasperated: "Grandma, it's not that I don't like him. Look at him, he's so tall, just like a young man. He stays at home all day, and I'm afraid people outside will gossip and ruin his reputation."

"Who dares to gossip? I'll tear their mouth off!" The old lady said, hands on her hips, exuding an imposing aura.

"I think that Zhang Ruhua in the front yard loves to gossip the most; she's the only one who dares to talk nonsense!"

Chen Lanxiang thought to herself: "Grandma, you don't know, that Zhang family's mouth is more tattered than a broken gong. Even if you tear her mouth off, she can still gossip in her heart. Besides, now that the new government is in charge, if we really kick that family out, they can go back to the government and file a complaint, which would give us leverage. It's not worth it."

He thought this in his heart, but dared not say it aloud, and just smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"I was just saying. Zhu Zi just got back and hasn't figured out the situation outside yet, so it's good for him to rest at home for a while."

"Alright, when your dad comes back, I'll have him ask his old buddies and then go to the steel mill to see if there are any suitable jobs for you. Even if you can't work, at least you'll have a title."

Chen Lanxiang was still worried, fearing that her son's reputation would be tarnished.

She remembered how her son hadn't studied properly in school, which had caused quite a stir among the neighbors. But then he quietly passed his exams and came home with his diploma, dispelling all the rumors. She knew then that her son knew what he was doing, but as a mother, she was always worried.

Sha Zhu knew perfectly well that although he said he was staying at home, he couldn't stay idle at all.

Reborn into this world, he holds countless opportunities in his hands: steel mills, restaurants, business avenues—any one of them could make him rich. However, the time is not yet ripe, and he needs to plan carefully and steadily.

Before long, it was evening. Wang Cuiping's room was tidied up, but there were no pots, pans, rice, flour, oil, or salt, so she couldn't cook at all.

Without saying a word, Chen Lanxiang took the mother and daughter to eat at the He family's house. The table was full of steaming hot food, with plenty of steamed buns and plenty of meat dishes. Xiaoman ate until her belly was round and full.

Feeling bad, Wang Cuiping put down her chopsticks and said apologetically, "Sister-in-law, I've troubled you all today. You've eaten here too. I'll buy some rice, noodles, and vegetables from your house tomorrow and cook for myself from now on. I can't keep troubling you."

Chen Lanxiang waved her hand, directly refuting her words.

"Why buy anything? We're all family, don't be so formal! Back in Tianjin, you and your daughter ate with Zhu Zi too, didn't you? Now it's just two more pairs of chopsticks, what's the difference? Don't be shy, being too polite will make us feel distant!"

Wang Cuiping felt a warmth in her heart and stopped refusing, nodding with a smile.

After dinner, she took Xiaoman's hand, said goodbye to the He family, and returned to the west wing.

After all, we've bothered them for a whole day; they should have a proper talk with the family.

After Wang Cuiping and her son left, Sha Zhu immediately began to be "interrogated".

During the day, he couldn't say many things clearly in front of outsiders, but now that the door is closed, his parents and grandmother are watching him closely, demanding that he explain everything that happened during his time away from home.

Sha Zhu didn't hide anything and, adhering to the principle of nine parts truth and one part falsehood, began to recount the whole story in detail from the beginning.

From learning his trade at a restaurant in Tianjin and being harassed by Boss Ma, to his chance encounter with Yu Zecheng, to saving someone on the train and getting to know Cadre Lao Zhao, he recounted each and every event in detail and vividly.

Chen Lanxiang gritted her teeth, slamming her fist on the table and cursing the Ma family for being heartless and Yu Zecheng for being a scoundrel. But when she heard that her son's cooking skills had become superb, she immediately beamed with joy and praised He Daqing repeatedly: "Look at our son, how promising he is! His cooking skills are even better than yours!"

He Daqing pursed his lips, feeling resentful, but said nothing.

When the topic of rescuing people on the train came up, He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang both frowned, feeling that their son was meddling and causing trouble for no reason.

But when Sha Zhu revealed that Lao Zhao was a Communist Party cadre, the couple's eyes widened instantly, their faces filled with shock, and they were speechless for a long time.

"Zhu Zi, you guessed his identity back then?" He Daqing leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"When you were in school, you didn't secretly join any organization, did you?"

Sha Zhu shook his head, looking completely at ease: "It's just a guess. I've only been at school for a few days. I haven't even gotten familiar with the place yet, how could I possibly join any organization?"

Chen Lanxiang took a deep breath, looked at her son, and asked the question that had been on her mind the most.

"Zhu Zi, are you really that optimistic about the new government? Aren't you afraid the world will change again?"

"Mother, I really believe in it." Sha Zhu's eyes were firm and his tone was sincere.

"They are different from the warlords, Japanese devils, and the Nationalist government of the past. They are genuinely working for the people. Only by following them can we ordinary people live a good life."

"How is it different? I'm not educated, can you explain it to me?" Chen Lanxiang asked, puzzled.

Sha Zhu chuckled, deliberately lowering his voice, and said mysteriously, "Hehe, I'll tell you a secret, but don't be too surprised!"

"You brat, still trying to keep your parents in suspense!" He Daqing raised his hand, pretending to hit him. "Speak up!"

Sha Zhu dodged the attack and said with a smile, "My Aunt Wang is actually a Communist too!"

"Huh? Really?" Chen Lanxiang's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

He Daqing froze on the spot, his eyes wide: "You're not kidding me, are you? Wang Cuiping looks like an ordinary village girl, how could she be a Communist?"

"You two should think about this carefully. Is Aunt Wang really Old Zhao's cousin?" Sha Zhu asked rhetorically.

The couple exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison: "It doesn't seem like it!"

Old Zhao was clearly an educated man, gentle and refined. When Wang Cuiping first arrived, she had dark skin and was quick and agile, clearly someone who had worked in the fields and suffered hardships. Neither of them looked like relatives, nor did they have a close relationship after they arrived. They were not like cousins ​​at all.

"So, if she's not your real cousin, why pretend to be her? And why send her to settle down in Tianjin?" Sha Zhu coaxed.

Chen Lanxiang, quick-witted, immediately realized: "You mean? Cuiping's man isn't what we think at all? She's saying that to cover up her identity?"

"It must be out of necessity, there's something they can't say about it," Sha Zhu nodded and gave a word of advice.

"If Aunt Wang doesn't want to talk about it, let's not bring it up again. Let's not rub salt into her wounds and hurt her."

"Hmm, do you even need to tell me?" Chen Lanxiang nodded, then, remembering what happened during the day, said angrily.

"Only Zhang Ruhua from the front yard would do something like rubbing salt into someone's wounds! Today, that Zhang Ruhua was gossiping and bullying Cuiping. If the old lady hadn't spoken up, I would have stood up for Cuiping on the spot!"

Sha Zhu chuckled mischievously and leaned closer to whisper, "Mother, have you forgotten? Aunt Wang's slap wasn't light; it landed squarely on Jia Zhangshi's face. If you don't believe me, go to the front yard tomorrow and see. Her face will be swollen like a steamed bun, one side higher than the other, it'll look awful!"

"Then I'll have to take a good look!"

Chen Lanxiang's eyes lit up, and she couldn't stop smiling.

"If the beating isn't evenly distributed, have Cuiping do a full treatment on the other side of her face later, to teach her a lesson and see if she dares to gossip again!"

The old lady listened from the side and nodded in agreement: "Good job! People like that deserve to be taught a lesson!"

After the laughter subsided, He Daqing remembered the important matter and asked, "Zhuzi, is your Aunt Wang planning to settle down in Beijing this time? What about her job?"

"They've definitely settled down here," Sha Zhu said nonchalantly, waving his hand.

"You don't need to worry about the job at all. Old Zhao has already given her a letter of introduction and written the necessary supporting documents. Once her organizational affiliation is transferred, the job will be secured immediately—a sure-fire, secure job!"

"I knew it! I was worried for nothing. Turns out they had everything planned out perfectly!"

Chen Lanxiang breathed a sigh of relief, her heart finally at ease.

"Hehe!" Sha Zhu laughed smugly.

"You're still laughing!" Chen Lanxiang poked his forehead.

"Cuiping took such a great risk and did so much for the country. It's only right that the organization assigns her a job. She's a meritorious person!"

"Of course!" He Daqing echoed repeatedly from the side, his face full of admiration.

Chen Lanxiang leaned closer curiously and whispered, "By the way, Zhuzi, what did your Aunt Wang do before? Did she ever tell you?"

Sha Zhu looked around, lowered his voice, and held up his hand, making an "eight" gesture.

He Daqing's eyes widened in surprise, and he exclaimed, "He really is a soldier?"

"Not a soldier!" Sha Zhu shook his head, his tone tinged with admiration.

"They're guerrillas! Have you heard of them? My Aunt Wang was a guerrilla captain back in the day, leading dozens of people to fight the Japanese and eliminate traitors. She was a heroine, incredibly capable, not an ordinary person at all!"

"A guerrilla leader? My God!"

Chen Lanxiang's mouth dropped open in shock, and she couldn't close it for a long time.

"I never would have guessed! My Wang sister, who looks so gentle and delicate, is actually a guerrilla leader who keeps her abilities hidden. She's amazing!"

In her entire life, she had only ever heard stories of guerrillas fighting the Japanese invaders; she never imagined that there would actually be such heroic figures around her.

Sha Zhu joked, "Mom, maybe Aunt Wang knows kung fu! After she gives birth and recovers, you can have a match with her and see who's better!"

"Get lost! How can you encourage your own mother to fight with someone? You have no manners whatsoever!"

Chen Lanxiang cursed angrily and slapped Sha Zhu hard across the neck.

"Oh, Mother, I was just curious, I wanted to see just how amazing this heroine was!" Sha Zhu scratched the back of his head and laughed heartily.

"You're such a smooth talker! Alright, alright, it's getting late, hurry up and go back to your room to sleep, don't get in the way!" Chen Lanxiang waved her hand, dismissing her with a look of disgust.

"Alright! Listen to your mother!" Sha Zhu said in a theatrical tone, got up and slowly walked out, his steps light and his heart full of peace.