Each with their own ulterior motives

Sha Zhu, looking slightly tired, gently pushed open the wooden door of the side room, which had some paint chips, and then fastened the latch tightly behind him.

The early spring night in Beijing was still chilly. He wrapped his faded coarse cloth jacket tighter around himself, walked straight to the earthen bed, and plopped down on it. The straw mat on the bed made a slight creaking sound.

He lay on his back on the kang (a heated brick bed), his head resting on a neatly folded thin quilt, his eyes staring at the mottled wood grain on the roof beam, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

In the past year or so, life has been uneventful, but his body has grown like it had been inflated. He has grown taller and his shoulders have broadened. The muscles in his arms and legs are hard and firm, and when you pinch them, they are all tight tendons. Compared with other teenagers of the same age, he looks completely different.

With a thought, a pale blue, semi-transparent panel instantly appeared before my eyes, hovering in mid-air, with the words clearly visible down to the millimeter.

[Host: Silly Pillar]

Age: 13 (Birthday: February 28, 1935)

[Height 178CM]

【Weight 70KG】

[Physical fitness: 16.5 (Due to the use of enhancement drugs, it far exceeds that of its peers, equivalent to the level of a strong adult male. The drugs do not affect the host's development. The maximum value is 30)]

Skills: Bajiquan (Max Level), Liuheqiang (Max Level), Pistol Shooting (Intermediate), Artillery (Advanced), Culinary Arts (Advanced - Sichuan Cuisine, Shandong Cuisine, Halal Cuisine), Monkey Tongbeiquan (Advanced), Cherry Blossom Language (Beginner), English (Intermediate), Korean (Intermediate), Lockpicking (Advanced), Sniping (Advanced), Car Driving (Advanced), Motorcycle Driving (Advanced), Small Ship Driving (Advanced), Aircraft Piloting (Proficient), Tracking and Counter-tracking (Advanced), Motor Vehicle Repair (Beginner), Photography (Advanced)

[System space: 5,000 cubic meters (constant, space is indestructible and matter is immortal, cannot contain living things), 2,000 square meters of ecological space, 1 mu of fishpond]

Items: Several

[Check-in progress: Changed to monthly check-in.]

[Long-term random mission: Eliminate enemy agents!]

Sha Zhu stared at the panel for a long time, unable to help but mutter to himself.

This system is so lazy. The panel hasn't changed much in almost a year. It's just grown a bit taller and stronger. The only change is that the random missions have been replaced with enemy-slaying missions. There aren't even any newbie rewards or daily missions.

He pursed his lips and muttered to himself: "The country hasn't even been established yet, and they've already assigned me the task of eliminating enemy agents. Could it be that my thirteen-year-old body has already been targeted by the higher-ups as a monster and placed under their control ahead of time?"

Shaking his head helplessly, Sha Zhu had a sudden thought and shut down the panel. His consciousness then sank into the system's built-in ecological space.

In the 2,000-square-meter ecological space, a warm breeze blows and the temperature remains just right, without any of the chill of early spring outside.

Looking around, the entire land was planted with lush green wheat. The wheat stalks grew straight and tall, and the tops had already formed full ears of wheat, but it was not yet time for them to fill out, and the grains still had a tender, green smell.

Beside the fishpond, the fruit tree saplings he had casually planted earlier—apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, and hawthorn—had all sprouted tender branches and grown a few new leaves. Although they were still thin and weak saplings and wouldn't bear fruit in a short time, looking at that touch of new green made him feel at ease.

In the one-acre fishpond, the water ripples and is crystal clear. The fish fry that were initially released have long since multiplied and filled the pond. Fish of all sizes swim around in the water, splashing up tiny droplets.

He had already caught the fish weighing over five pounds and stored it in the 5,000 cubic meter still space. Unlike those fishermen who would show off their catch of fish weighing tens of pounds, freshwater fish that grow too big have tough and dry flesh and are not tasty at all.

After exiting the ecological space, Sha Zhu entered the static space. Various supplies were neatly stacked in the space. He tiptoed and rummaged through the pile of items, his fingers rummaging through wooden boxes, cloth, grain and oil, finally stopping at a wristwatch.

The dial is simple and understated, without any unnecessary patterns, and the steel strap is polished to a shine. It's a practical and unassuming design.

He then pulled out a nearly new 28-inch bicycle. The rims were shiny, the chain was smooth, and apart from some wear on the seat, everything else was in perfect condition.

He planned to give this to his father openly in a while, so that he would have a reason to do so and it would be more convenient for him to ride his bike when going out to run errands.

Today, the old city walls of Beijing have not been demolished. The city is neither too big nor too small. To go to a place further away, you have to walk, and your feet will be burning from exhaustion.

Sha Zhu touched the handlebars of the bicycle, secretly regretting that if he weren't afraid of being too conspicuous, he would have liked to get a few more. These days, no matter when, there are always envious and jealous people.

There isn't even a single bicycle in this courtyard house now. If he were to pull out several at once, who knows how much gossip would spread about him.

As for the cars and motorcycles in the space, they can only gather dust in the stationary space.

He did have a dozen or so barrels of gasoline and diesel stored up, enough to last a long time, but these days, cars and motorcycles couldn't be driven around at all. Driving one on the street would make him a target of public criticism, and it would only make things difficult for him.

After exiting the system space, Sha Zhu finally felt a deep sense of exhaustion. This day had been filled with traveling, cooking, and cleaning; even the strongest body couldn't withstand such a relentless schedule.

He shrank back onto the kang (a heated brick bed), pulled the thin quilt over himself, and soon drifted off to sleep, his even breathing softly echoing in the quiet side room.

The He family was overjoyed and living a lively life, but the other two families in the courtyard felt suffocated and couldn't feel happy at all.

Back in the afternoon, when Wang Cuiping's family was tidying up the west wing of the courtyard, the Yi family was the first to notice the commotion.

Standing at his own door, Yi Zhonghai watched helplessly as Chen Lanxiang and Wang Cuiping chatted and laughed while directing people to move things into the previously empty west wing. His face instantly darkened, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

Without saying a word, he turned and went out the door. As he passed the front yard, he happened to see Jia Zhangshi sitting on the threshold twisting hemp rope. Her face was crooked and twisted, and the neighbors secretly called her "Big and Small Face".

Yi Zhonghai paused, a malicious smile creeping onto his lips. He deliberately raised his voice and uttered a seemingly random statement: "Sister-in-law Jia, things are getting lively in the Central Courtyard right now! There's going to be a good show!"

After saying that, without waiting for Jia Zhangshi's reaction, he flicked his sleeves and strode out of the courtyard gate, his back view full of calculation.

Jia Zhangshi may not be good at anything else in her life, but her curiosity is boundless. She also has a short memory and never learns from her mistakes. As soon as she heard the words "exciting" and "good show," the hemp rope in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and she didn't even care about the work she had only half-finished.

She nimbly stood up from the threshold, dusted herself off, tiptoed, and stealthily made her way to the moon gate of the central courtyard, peeking inside with her head tucked in.

This sight was enough to make Jia Zhangshi's eyes turn as red as a rabbit's, her chest heave violently, and she trembled with anger.

That west wing of the central courtyard was where the Jia family lived for seven or eight years!

Although she later moved to the front yard of the house because her family was too big and there was no room, in her heart, that house was born to belong to the Jia family. She looked forward to moving back to live there when her son Jia Dongxu grew up!

Now that my son is growing up, he will be getting married in two years. The front house is dark and damp and in a remote location. What girl would want to marry into such a dilapidated house?

The central courtyard is a proper family home. Even if the west wing isn't the main house, it's still respectable. When the son gets married, it'll be a presentable place to show off!

But now, the old lady has decided to give the house to Wang Cuiping's family, who are from out of town. All the hopes I've held onto for so long have been shattered in an instant!

Jia Zhangshi gritted her teeth, clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, and cursed viciously in a low voice.

"You old hag! That's the Jia family's house! What right do you have to let others live there? And that little bitch surnamed Wang, what right do you have to occupy our house!"

She hid behind the moon gate, her eyes fixed on Chen Lanxiang and Wang Cuiping chatting and laughing at the entrance. Her hatred was churning like a raging storm. She hated not only the old lady, but also the He family and Wang Cuiping's family to the core.

After observing him furtively for half an hour, Madam Jia Zhang didn't dare to rush up and cause trouble.

She knew in her heart that Chen Lanxiang was not someone to be trifled with, and if things really got out of hand, she wouldn't get the better of her. So she could only suppress her anger and curse all the way back to the back room in the front yard.

As soon as she entered the house, Jia Zhangshi opened her mouth and yelled at Jia Laonian, who was puffing on his pipe by the kang (a heated brick bed). Her voice was so shrill it could pierce the roof.

"Old Jia! You useless coward! Our house is gone! It's been robbed!"

Old Jia was squinting as he smoked his pipe, the embers flickering in the bowl, when his wife suddenly yelled at him. He choked on his smoke, coughing until his face turned red and tears streamed down his face.

He abruptly put down his pipe, glared at Jia Zhangshi, and asked gruffly, "What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean the house is gone? The old lady is going to kick us out of the yard?"

As he spoke, he grabbed the pipe bowl beside him and raised it to smash it at Jia Zhangshi. This woman always causes trouble for no reason; she won't learn her lesson unless she's beaten.

Startled, Jia Zhangshi shrank back, put her hands on her hips, and shouted with her neck stiff.

"Old Jia, haven't you had enough? Let me tell you, the city gates are open now, you can leave the city. If you dare hit me again, I'll immediately go back to my mother's house and find my brothers to deal with you!"

During the Chinese New Year, Jia Laonian beat her up badly, specifically targeting places on her body that were not visible. She was in so much pain that she had to lie in bed for several days, and she still hadn't gotten over it.

Old Jia snorted coldly and slammed his tobacco pipe onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Go ahead and go find it! Go ahead and go find it! You've ruined our place to live. At worst, Dongxu and I will go live in the factory's dormitory, and you can go back to your parents' house. Out of sight, out of mind!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi became even more agitated, stamping her feet and shouting, "Who told you we'd have nowhere to live? When did I ever say that?"

"Didn't you say you lost your house? That you were going to be kicked out?" Old Jia was completely confused by her.

"I'm talking about the west wing of the central courtyard! The one we used to live in! Now that little bitch surnamed Wang has taken it over and moved in!" Madam Jia pointed in the direction of the central courtyard, her face contorted with rage.

Old Jia rolled his eyes, picked up the pipe again, and slowly filled it with tobacco.

"That house wasn't originally ours; it's public property of the compound. It's none of your business who the old lady wants to live in. Stop making trouble for no reason."

"How can it not be ours? We've lived in there for seven or eight years! After living there for so long, it's our Jia family's house!" Madam Jia Zhang threw a tantrum, acting completely unreasonable.

"Just because you live there doesn't mean it's yours. Why don't you go live on the moon then?"

Jia Laonian was so angry at her that he laughed.

"I've heard that those people occupying houses outside are all occupying empty, unclaimed courtyards. Our courtyard house has an owner, so how can it be the same? If you're so capable, go and occupy a courtyard yourself, and my son and I can benefit from your generosity and enjoy a peaceful life!"

Jia Zhangshi was a typical bully at home. She could throw a tantrum in the courtyard and not be afraid of anyone, but if you asked her to leave the courtyard and go outside to bully and fight with people to take houses, she would be as timid as a mouse and wouldn't even dare to leave the house.

Speechless after being choked by Jia Laonian's words, she could only mutter stubbornly.

"If anyone's going, it should be you men. What am I, a mere woman, doing going out?"

"I have a place to stay, why would I go and join in the fun? What if I don't even get a place and get beaten up and kicked out? I can't afford to lose face like that!" Old Jia took a puff of his cigarette, his tone full of disdain.

Madam Jia stood there, her chest aching with anger, but she knew in her heart that what Jia Laonian said was true. She was afraid that she would lose more than she gained by trying to steal a chicken, and that she would not only lose the west wing, but also the current back building.

But she had no intention of letting it go so easily. If Jia Laonian was unreliable, she still had her brothers from her maternal family! Now that the city gates were open and they could freely enter and leave the city, which of her brothers didn't want to have a house of their own in Beijing?

The more she thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed. Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up, and she made up her mind.

Once Jia Laonian and Jia Dongxu start working at the factory, she will go back to her parents' home, call all her brothers over, and insist on taking back the west wing!

In the next room, Jia Dongxu was leaning against the headboard, the sounds of his parents arguing drifting into his ears, but his mind wasn't on the house at all. His mind was filled with the little girl, Xiaoman, who had come back with Shazhu yesterday.

That girl was beautiful and delicate, with fair and tender skin, and eyes like black grapes; she was captivating to look at.

She's a bit young, but girls change a lot as they grow up, and she'll definitely become even more beautiful in a few years.

Jia Dongxu stroked his chin, secretly pleased with himself: Sha Zhu is just a thirteen-year-old kid, and still an apprentice who doesn't earn any money. He probably came back from Tianjin this time because his master kicked him out. How can someone learn to cook for half a year and then go home?

Compared to myself, a worker with a formal job, I am worlds apart!

Xiaoman must be Wang Cuiping's relative. As long as I get along well with her family, I might be able to marry this girl.

Jia Dongxu thought to himself that he should have his mother apologize to the other party later to smooth things over. He couldn't let the house issue ruin his good fortune.

On the other side, Yi Zhonghai left the courtyard and hurried towards his godfather Wei Yidao's house.

Before the army entered the city, his business partnership with his adoptive father was forced to stop, cutting off a large portion of his income, and he was already resentful.

These days, he has become increasingly greedy. Perhaps because of his physical disability, his desires have grown ever larger, and he is no longer satisfied with being a master chef for the rest of his life.

Every time he went to the factory, seeing the foreman shouting orders and managing dozens of workers in the workshop, looking so imposing, he was incredibly envious. He dreamed of becoming a small leader, managing people and things, and finally getting his revenge.

He knew very well that if he wanted to get promoted, he would have to spend money to bribe his way out. Now that many big and small bosses had left the factory, there were quite a few vacant positions, which was a golden opportunity for him!

He rushed to Wei Yidao's house excitedly and told him his idea, but Wei Yidao scolded him harshly and he left disappointed.

"Are you out of your mind? You stupid thing!" Wei Yidao sat in the armchair, his face ashen, pointing his finger at Yi Zhonghai's nose and cursing.

"Have you figured out the nature of those in power right now? The situation in the city isn't stable yet, and you're already thinking about promotions and making a fortune? Just be a good worker, stick to your skills and earn your living. Don't think about those crooked ways, or you won't even know how you died!"

Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale and red after being scolded. He wanted to argue, but Wei Yidao waved his hand, not giving him a chance to speak.

"That's all I have to say. Who can predict the future? But right now, don't cause any trouble!"

After being rebuffed, Yi Zhonghai returned home dejectedly, closed the door, and sat alone at the table, drinking alone and downing one glass after another.

He has changed so much. He will never curse Li Guihua to her face like before, nor will he openly hit her. Those ruthless methods, I don't know where he learned them, are hidden in his heart and in his bones.

Li Guihua stood at the door, watching Yi Zhonghai drinking alone. She was trembling all over, her eyes filled with fear, like a mouse seeing a cat, not daring to even breathe.

When Chen Lanxiang passed by, she saw Li Guihua looking like this and asked her several times with concern. Li Guihua always tried to cover it up, her eyes darting away, and she stammered that she was fine, not daring to reveal a single word.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and a thin mist was still hanging over the courtyard, Sha Zhu was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

"Brother Zhu! Brother Zhu, open the door quickly!"

Xu Damao's excited shouts came from outside the door, his voice full of barely suppressed pride. You could tell from his voice that the kid was so excited last night that he didn't sleep well.

Sha Zhu rubbed his eyes, sat up from the kang (a heated brick bed), stretched, and his joints made a soft "crackling" sound. He slowly walked over and opened the door.

Xu Damao stood at the door, dressed in a clean outfit, looking energetic, with an undisguised smile on his face.

"Brother Zhu, let me tell you, my boxing skills have improved again! I practiced all night last night, and I'm determined to spar with you today and show you what I'm made of!"

Sha Zhu couldn't help but laugh at his eager expression. This kid couldn't stand not showing off for a day.

"Sure, since you're so interested, I'll practice with you and fulfill your wish."

After breakfast, the sunlight in the yard gradually warmed up. Sha Zhu led Xu Damao to the backyard, and He Yushui, Xu Xiaohui, and Xiaoman, the three little girls, followed behind, hopping and skipping, ready to watch the excitement.

In the open space of the backyard, Xu Damao assumed a fighting stance, his fists clenched, looking confident: "Brother Zhu, I'm about to make my move! You'd better watch out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Damao clenched his fists and charged towards Shazhu. His punches and kicks were powerful and he actually looked quite formidable.

Sha Zhu stood still, motionless, calmly watching Xu Damao rushing towards him, as if looking at a kitten baring its teeth and claws.

Just as Xu Damao's fist was about to touch his chest, he simply turned slightly to the side, casually placed his right hand on Xu Damao's side, and gently pulled and pushed him along with Xu Damao's force.

"Thump!"

With a muffled thud, Xu Damao lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground, sprawling on his back in a disheveled state.

It all happened in less than a second, and he was down in one move!

"Hahaha! Brother Da Mao is hilarious!"

"Brother, you're so useless!"

The three little girls next to her burst into laughter instantly. He Yushui laughed so hard that she clutched her stomach and squatted on the ground, unable to straighten up. Xu Xiaohui laughed so hard that she was doubled over. Xiaoman also pursed her lips, her eyebrows and eyes curved, and she was overjoyed.

Xu Damao got up from the ground, dusted himself off, his face flushed red, so embarrassed he wanted to disappear into the ground.

He always bragged at school about how great he was, saying he could take on several people at once. But in Sha Zhu's hands, he couldn't even last one move. He was humiliated in front of the three little girls, especially with Xiao Man watching. It was incredibly embarrassing!

He Yushui laughed until she was breathless, and didn't forget to add insult to injury.

"Brother Da Mao, you're not up to it. Did you skip breakfast? Don't have the energy to fight? Why don't you go back and eat something before you come back?"

Hsu Hsiao-hui immediately came over to help, stretching out her small hand and making an exaggerated gesture.

"Exactly! My brother ate so much more this morning than usual! He's so strong, it must be because you didn't eat, Da Mao!"

"Can you two please shut up? No one will think you're mute if you don't talk!" Xu Damao was both ashamed and angry, glaring at the two girls, but he couldn't do anything about it.

If it were just his own family, he wouldn't mind losing face, but with Xiaoman beside him, he really couldn't bear it.

Xu Xiaohui made a big face at him, sticking out her tongue and shouting, "Hehehe! Brother can't take a loss! He gets angry even after losing!"

"I think you need to be taught a lesson!" Xu Damao raised his fist, pretending to hit someone.

Startled, Xu Xiaohui quickly hid behind He Yushui, clutching her clothes tightly.

He Yushui is just four years old this year. She is round and chubby, like a little lucky baby. But at this moment, she is acting like a little adult, with her hands on her hips, her little belly sticking out, and glaring at Xu Damao.

"Xu Damao! If you dare lay a finger on Xiaohui, I'll have my brother beat you up every day, making you fall on your butt every single day!"

Sha Zhu, standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh as he watched this scene. He chuckled and scolded, "You little brat, how dare you try to scare your brother Da Mao with me? Don't you have any manners? You think you can just call Xu Da Mao by his name?"

He Yushui tilted her head, stuck out her tongue at Sha Zhu, and haughtily snorted, "Hehehe! If you don't help me, I'll tell Mom and Aunt Wang! Let's see if you're scared!"

Sha Zhu shook his head helplessly. This little girl, she's got so many clever ideas: "Where did you learn all this from?"

"I won't tell you!" He Yushui grabbed Xu Xiaohui's hand, turned to look at Xiaoman, and said with a smile.

"Sister Xiaoman, let's go! We're not playing with these two sore losers anymore. Let's go read comic books!"

Xiaoman was happily watching the excitement. Having grown up alone, she had never seen such a lively scene before. She found it novel and fun. When He Yushui called out to her, she didn't react for a moment and subconsciously looked at Shazhu with a questioning look in her eyes.

Sha Zhu smiled at her and said gently, "Go ahead, aren't the comic books you brought back all inside? Read them with them, it'll be fun."

"Okay, Brother Zhu!" Xiaoman nodded obediently and followed He Yushui and Xu Xiaohui, skipping and hopping back to the Central Courtyard.

"Hey! Wait for me! I want to read the comic book too!" As soon as the little girls left, Xu Damao immediately forgot his earlier embarrassment and started to chase after them, shouting, "I'll get you candy! Lots of it!"

"I don't care! My brother can buy us candy too!" He Yushui's voice drifted over from afar, her little mouth still sharp and unforgiving.

Xu Damao stopped and looked at Shazhu with a pitiful expression: "Brother Zhu, look at those two, they just bully me. I don't dare to mess with them. If I cry, my master will definitely beat me up."

Sha Zhu patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Go ahead, they're just teasing you. There's more than one comic book, you'll get to read it too."

"Brother Zhu is still the best to me!" Xu Damao immediately perked up and ran after him towards the Central Court.

Sha Zhu smiled and shook his head, then turned to return to the central courtyard. He had only taken two steps when he heard the old lady's gentle voice behind him.

"Zhu Zi, come here and talk to your wife for a while."

The old lady stood at the door of her house, wearing a brand-new cotton-padded coat. The freshly fluffed cotton inside the coat was plump and warm, and she had a kind smile on her face. She had heard all the children's laughter and chatter in the yard just now, and seeing the lively scene in the yard, her heart was filled with warmth.

Now that the little girls have all run away, she just wants to talk to Sha Zhu, the eldest.

Sha Zhu immediately hurried over, a filial smile on his face: "You're here, Grandma! It's so cold outside, the wind is biting. Why aren't you inside? Why are you out in the wind?"

"Not cold at all, Madam is dressed warmly. This cotton coat is made of freshly fluffed cotton, it's soft and warm, I don't feel cold at all." The old lady smiled and waved her hand, her legs and feet very nimble.

"Let me help you inside to sit down, it's warm inside." Sha Zhu reached out to help the old lady's arm.

The old lady gently dodged aside, smiling and saying, "No need, I'm still quite agile. I don't need anyone's help. Walking a few steps is no problem for me."

Sha Zhu followed the old lady's words and praised her with a smile: "That's right, with your legs, you could easily take a stroll around Wangfujing. How about I take you there another day? The situation outside is stable now, not so chaotic anymore, the streets are very lively."

The old lady's eyes lit up, and she immediately became interested: "Really? The streets are really not chaotic anymore?"

"Is that even possible?"

Sha Zhu nodded.

"I haven't had a chance to explore Beijing properly yet, but I saw Tianjin with my own eyes. The public security is excellent, and the streets are full of people, doing business and shopping. It's very lively."

"Alright! Let's all go take a look together another day!" The old lady was overjoyed.

"On the day the army entered the city, I wanted to go and see the excitement, but your father said there were too many people and it wasn't safe, so he wouldn't let us go. I was so tempted to go!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu knew the topic had come up and immediately took over the conversation.

"You didn't go? Then I have to tell you all about it. I saw the Tianjin entry ceremony with my own eyes, and I'll never forget that scene!"

The old lady immediately came over, grabbed Sha Zhu's hand, and said eagerly, "Really? Quickly, tell your mother what it's like!"

Sha Zhu cleared his throat and began to tell the story vividly, gesturing wildly and speaking with great enthusiasm.

"The number of people who went was incredible, a sea of ​​people, stretching as far as the eye could see! The queue was for miles long, and you couldn't see the end of it! The streets were filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and firecrackers were going off. The people were applauding enthusiastically, and many people were so excited that they cried. They couldn't stop the tears of joy flowing, wishing they had more hands to clap. Their hands were red and swollen from clapping, but they didn't even feel the pain!"

He spoke with great emotion, describing every detail vividly. The old lady listened intently, leaning forward slightly, her eyes filled with longing, as if she were standing on the streets of Tianjin, witnessing the breathtaking scene with her own eyes.

As she finished speaking, the old woman couldn't help but wipe away tears from the corners of her eyes, nodding repeatedly and muttering, "Good, good, good! It's really good! Zhu Zi, tell me, is the Communist Party really that popular with the people?"

"I saw it with my own eyes, it can't be fake!" Sha Zhu said with certainty.

"I heard from the old people around me that when the Japanese surrendered and the Kuomintang army entered the city, it wasn't this lively, and there weren't so many people sincerely welcoming them."

The old lady nodded thoughtfully: "It seems that this is someone who can hold onto power and enable ordinary people to live a good life."

"Definitely!"

Sha Zhu nodded.

"I've been to the Military Control Commission in Tianjin. The cadres there have no airs of officialdom at all. They are all approachable and kind. They speak to the people politely, which is completely different from the officials of the past."

"That day, I, Madam, must go and experience it for myself, to see what this new government is really like," the old lady said with a smile.

"Nobody in the courtyard knows what's going on, and nobody dares to approach easily; everyone's hesitant."

"Okay, I'll go with you another day and see our people's new government!" Sha Zhu blurted out, his tone full of sincerity.

Upon hearing this, the old lady's expression changed slightly. She tightened her grip on Sha Zhu's hand, her eyes filled with doubt.

"Zhu Zi, what did you just say? A new government for the people? You didn't say something wrong, did you?"

The old lady had lived most of her life and had witnessed the changing of dynasties. In every dynasty, there were officials in power and the imperial family ruled. Although she only experienced the tail end of the Qing Dynasty, she still benefited a lot. She had never heard of the concept of a "government of the common people."

Sha Zhu knew he had let something slip, but he didn't panic. He smiled and explained, "You're right, Madam. You'll see later. This new government is different from all the previous dynasties. It truly works for the people. I can't explain it to you in a short time. Just wait and see, things will only get better and better."

Looking at Sha Zhu's earnest eyes, the old lady nodded and didn't ask any more questions, but in her heart, she felt a little more hopeful about this so-called "new government".

She paused, then changed the subject, bringing up yesterday's topic again: "By the way, Zhu Zi, what you told me about the houses yesterday, were you just trying to scare your wife? Are you really going to have so many houses that it'll be a problem?"

Sha Zhu laughed and shook his head: "Why would I scare you? It wouldn't do me any good. I'm just telling the truth."

"That's true, you've always been honest, child." The old lady nodded, a sly glint in her eyes. "Since you'll have so many houses you can't handle them all, how about I give you one as a gift?"

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up. Without standing on ceremony with the old lady, he asked directly, "Still the house in our courtyard house?"

The old lady playfully patted him on the shoulder, laughing as she said, "What's wrong? Isn't our yard nice enough? It's warm in winter and cool in summer, and the neighbors are friendly. You're complaining?"

"No, that's not it!" Sha Zhu quickly waved his hand.

"This courtyard is the best. I was just asking casually, but I didn't expect your family to be so wealthy. I underestimated you."

The old lady burst into laughter, patted his hand, and asked, "Did your mother tell you about my family's wealth?"

"No, my mother isn't the kind of person who likes to brag. I just guessed it myself," Sha Zhu said truthfully.

The old lady smiled, stopped beating around the bush, and asked directly, "What kind of house do you want? Tell your wife, and she'll reserve it for you."

Sha Zhu was startled, not expecting that the old lady really had private property. He pretended to be surprised and asked.

"So you really do have extra houses? I thought you were joking!"