He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 761 He Yuzhu explains to Ma Xiuxiu

He Yuzhu laughed heartily, his laughter so hearty that the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes shrank into a ball, and he looked smug. "Silly wife, this is all fake!" He fished a small oil-paper bag from his pocket and carefully opened it. Inside was a small blood bag sewn from pig skin, bright red, looking just like real blood. He waved it in front of Ma Xiuxiu and explained, "I asked someone to get this ahead of time. The blood I just deliberately 'vomited' was from this. I had expected them to cause trouble, so I made this preparation, pretending to be injured to let their guard down. Do you really think I'm a soft persimmon that's easy to squeeze?"

Ma Xiuxiu was still a little worried. She stared into his eyes with a serious look in her eyes, and her tone was a little trembling: "Brother Zhuzi, are you really not lying to me? Don't try to comfort me by pretending to be strong. If you are really injured, you must see a doctor immediately. Don't delay. Your body is not a joke."

"How could I lie to you?" He Yuzhu took her hand and walked towards their residence, his steps light and brisk as if they were not touching the ground. "I really am not hurt at all. You will know when you take a good look at me when we get back - from head to toe, I guarantee there is not even a scratch on my skin. It is better than a new iron pot."

Ma Xiuxiu's cheeks flushed red at the "take a good look" in his words, as if she'd applied a layer of fine rouge, and even her ears felt hot. She glared at He Yuzhu in disapproval, her voice as thin as a mosquito's: "Brother Zhuzi, what are you talking about here... In broad daylight, how can I, I not understand?" As she spoke, her steps couldn't help but quicken, wanting to shake off his hand, but her heart was beating like a frightened little rabbit, and even her steps felt a little unsteady, as if she were stepping on cotton. She felt shy and sweet at the same time.

He Yuzhu looked at her blushing ears and her shy expression, and his smile widened. He deliberately tightened his grip on her hand and quickly followed. Sunlight streamed through the leaves of the old locust tree in the alley, casting dappled shadows on the two of them. Along the way, accompanied by Ma Xiuxiu's subtle scolding and He Yuzhu's low laughter, it was like a string of light notes, slowly spreading through the quiet alley, revealing the warmth of an ordinary day.

Back at his residence, He Yuzhu changed into a clean blue cloth jacket. As soon as he walked out of the door, he saw Hu Zi pulling Ran Qiuye's clothes and acting like a spoiled child, muttering, "Aunt Qiuye, when are we going out to play?" He deliberately puffed out his chest and said loudly, "Look, am I okay? I was just pretending just now to tease them!"

Ran Qiuye patted his chest, a look of fear on his face, and said angrily, "You, you really scared me! Seeing you like that just now, my heart was in my throat. Well, since everything is fine, let's go out for a walk. It's boring to stay in the house all the time, so it's a good opportunity to see the scenery here."

He Yuzhu was still thinking about what was going on with the Fourth Brother. He wondered how his contact with the Tiger Sect was going and whether he had successfully met Qiu Guo. So he followed the conversation and agreed, "Okay, it's good to go out for a walk. It's a good opportunity to get some fresh air."

The afternoon sun was warm and comfortable. He Yuzhu walked carefully, occasionally glancing behind him. Seeing that no one was following him, he breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to relax for a moment. But he also knew that this was only a temporary calm. Now that those people had set their sights on him, they would never give up easily and might show up again at any time. So he did not dare to slack off, constantly glancing around, maintaining extreme vigilance.

He strolled leisurely through the alleys, watching vendors pushing carts hawking candied haws, the vibrant red strings a delight to the eyes; old men basking in the sun by the wall, gathering together to play chess, the occasional argument and laughter emanating; and children chasing butterflies, their noisy, angry voices filling the air. It was a peaceful, uneventful journey, with no unexpected incidents, like the calm before the storm, reassuring yet a lingering sense of unease.

The afternoon sun filtered through the layers of leaves, casting a dappled light and shadow on the ground. He Yuzhu held Ma Xiuxiu's hand and strolled leisurely through the alley, chatting casually. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a dark figure flashing by at the corner of the street, its footsteps barely noticeable. It was the unique aura of the Fourth Brother, unmistakable.

He instantly understood what was going on, but he didn't show it on his face. He turned around and smiled at Ma Xiuxiu: "Xiuxiu, wait for me under this old locust tree for a while. I'm going to the public toilet in front and will be back soon."

Ma Xiuxiu looked in the direction of his finger and saw an unremarkable public restroom entrance. She nodded obediently and said, "Go ahead. I'll wait here. It's a good opportunity to see the ivy growing on the wall. It's really thriving."

He Yuzhu responded and turned to walk towards the end of the alley, but he didn't really go to the public toilet. Instead, he turned into a narrower alley next to it. This alley was only wide enough for one person to pass through, and it was flanked by mottled earthen walls. It was difficult for sunlight to penetrate, and it was a bit cool.

As soon as he stood still in the shadows, the fourth brother came out from the deep shadows, wearing a neat shorts, with his usual capable look on his face, and glanced around vigilantly.

"How is it? Has the news been passed back? What did the Tiger Sect say?" He Yuzhu went straight to the point, with a subtle scrutiny in his tone.

The fourth brother stepped forward, bowed, and a smile appeared on his face. "Master, the Tiger Sect has replied, agreeing to depart immediately. They also asked me to bring you a message praising your thorough arrangements. By the way, I noticed when I came back that all the surveillance around you has been removed." As he spoke, his brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion. "Is this... have they completely believed our cover?"

He Yuzhu leaned against the mottled wall, twirling a freshly fallen locust leaf between his fingers, and smiled softly, "I guess so. We should have passed those few attempts just now. But don't be careless. These people are very cunning. You never know when they'll send spies again. We still have to be careful and don't reveal any flaws."

The fourth elder nodded, his eyes stern, and his tone firm: "Don't worry, Sect Master, I will come over from time to time to keep an eye on your surroundings and ensure that no strangers get close to you."

"Okay, don't worry too much about this." He Yuzhu waved his hand and changed the subject, "We haven't had any urgent matters recently, but I need you to do something."

When the fourth brother heard there was a mission, his eyes lit up immediately. He took a half step forward, rubbing his hands together, and said, "Master, your orders! Do you want me to deal with those two traitors, Zhang Qi and He Yao? Such traitors are useless. Why should the Tiger Sect take action? I can take care of them cleanly with just one trip!"