He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 751 Li Chuan is looking for someone

Li Chuan knew perfectly well that this was completely against the rules—the orders from above clearly stated that he was only to conduct surveillance and investigation, and absolutely no one was allowed to take any liberties. But the thought of having to endure this half-hearted existence, facing the boring surveillance records every day, made him feel restless: He couldn't just keep wasting time, could he? This matter had to be resolved anyway, and as long as he did it cleanly and quietly, who would know? This was the south, the emperor was far away, and he was thousands of miles away from headquarters, and they wouldn't be able to find out about him.

He leaned back in a cafe chair, eyes closed, pretending to sleep, but his peripheral vision, like a hawk, was vigilantly monitoring his surroundings. His mind raced with calculations, like the beads of an abacus: What kind of people should he target? Local thugs, quick-witted and cash-strapped, willing to work for a small bribe? Or... a local with a grudge against He Yuzhu? Which link would be the best to approach? He was alone on this mission, with no help or backup. He had to weigh everything carefully, and he couldn't afford to make even the slightest mistake. One misstep could lead to total ruin.

After an unknown amount of time, He Yuzhu slowly woke up in the clanging train carriage. He tilted his head to look at Ma Xiuxiu who was sitting quietly beside him. She was looking at the fields and villages passing by quickly outside the window. The sunlight shone through the clean glass window onto her face. Her soft outline seemed to be coated with a layer of gold, and even the fine hairs were clearly visible, making her look particularly gentle and peaceful. He suddenly sighed softly, with a hint of unspeakable guilt in his voice: "Xiuxiu, marrying me is really hard for you. For so long, you have been worrying about everything at home and the children. As a father, I haven't done much, and I always make you worry and suffer a lot."

Ma Xiuxiu quickly turned her head, her eyes filled with surprise, then gently shook her head. There was genuine warmth in her eyes, and her tone was sincere yet a bit of annoyance. "Brother Zhuzi, what are you talking about? If it weren't for you, how could I have the stable life I have today? If you hadn't helped me back then, I don't know where I would be wandering. Even Jianguo always keeps saying, 'Uncle Zhuzi is the best,' and that he will thank you and repay you when he grows up. We're family, so let's not talk about our own hardships. I'm happy to share."

He Yuzhu held her hand. Her hand was a little cold, so he wrapped it tightly with his palm. The warmth of his palm passed through her skin little by little. He said in a serious and firm tone: "Xiuxiu, let's not talk about the past. Let's live a good life from now on. Don't think about any troubles. Just hope that our family can stay together safely and happily. That's more important than anything else. Nothing else matters."

"Okay, I understand." Ma Xiuxiu nodded meekly and didn't ask any more questions. But she knew in her heart that He Yuzhu was not the kind of person who liked to say soft words. If he suddenly said these kind words, he must have something on his mind and was carrying a heavy burden. But she understood his personality too well. He was very stubborn. If he didn't want to talk about something, there was no point in asking again. So she just kept her concern quietly in her heart, gently holding his hand, and giving him strength with this silent companionship.

He Yuzhu closed his eyes and began to rest. His eyelids were heavy, but his mind was still racing: He couldn't do anything right now. After all, there were people watching him from the shadows, and his every move was under their watch. Only by getting rid of them could he free himself to do what he wanted. A faint smile played on his lips. Now that it had come, he'd just take it as it came. He stopped thinking about it and just rested his mind, gathering his strength for what was coming next.

Time passed day by day, the train ran tirelessly on the tracks, and finally it was about to arrive at the station. The scenery outside the window gradually changed from fields to houses. He Yuzhu looked at the platform outside the window and said to Ma Xiuxiu, "Xiuxiu, we're almost there."

Ma Xiuxiu nodded and rubbed her aching waist. After such a long train ride, her bones felt like they were falling apart. She looked at him and smiled, "Brother Zhuzi, you should take a good rest when you get there. You've been a little tired from the bumpy ride these past few days."

He Yuzhu smiled, his eyes filled with pity. "Of course. Let's take a good rest today and do nothing. Tomorrow I'll take you for a good stroll and let you try the southern cuisine here. I heard the dim sum here is sweet and sticky, and the soups are very fresh. They're all very unique and I guarantee they'll suit your taste."

After getting off the bus, He Yuzhu and Ma Xiuxiu, carrying their simple luggage, walked straight to their booked hotel. In the crowd not far away, Li Chuan, like an inconspicuous shadow, wore a dusty coat and a hat pulled low. He followed behind them from a distance, his pace neither fast nor slow, always keeping a distance, following silently.

He followed them all the way, watching them enter the hotel lobby and then the waiter lead them upstairs. Under the pretext of checking in temporarily, he quietly inquired a few times and found out the room numbers of He Yuzhu and Ma Xiuxiu, which gave him a clear idea. As for Ma Xiuxiu, she was just an insignificant accessory in his eyes, and he didn't care about her at all. He had only one target - He Yuzhu. It would be enough to keep an eye on He Yuzhu's residence and observe who he interacted with and what he did every day.

Li Chuan had already made plans for his trip south. Before setting off, he had spent considerable effort to gain a general understanding of the complex interplay of forces in the south, memorizing which factions had strong backers and which organizations were loosely affiliated and small-scale. As soon as he arrived, he headed straight for his goal without taking any detours.

The place he was looking for was a restaurant called "Heping." The name alone sounded like a peaceful place for business, but within it lay a small gang of thugs, who made their living collecting protection fees and acting as intermediaries for others, their methods far from being above board. If it weren't for the tight deadlines and heavy workload, and the limited manpower available, Li Chuan would never have considered targeting them—they were all about profit, and dealing with them required extreme caution; a single careless move could lead to a backlash.

As soon as he reached the entrance of the restaurant, he was stopped by two burly men in black vests. Both men had colorful tattoos on their arms and looked Li Chuan up and down with vigilance. One of them curled his lips and said with a hint of impatience, "Excuse me, brother, we have rules here. Not just anyone can come in. Do you have our business card? If not, please go back and don't delay our business here."