Siheyuan: Being a fisherman in 1962

Yan Bugui narrowed his eyes, revealing the cunningness of an old fox: "Jie Cheng, be patient. Don't forget, we only need to act according to the time on the note, and leave the rest to fate."

He paused, then added, "Remember, don't check the middle door too often to avoid arousing suspicion."

Although Yan Jiecheng was unwilling, he could only nod and agree, choosing to trust his father's judgment and wait for the opportunity to come.

Time passed by minute by minute, and finally, the pointer pointed to half past ten.

Qin Huairu appeared under the old locust tree in the backyard on time.

The moonlight shines through the sparse gaps between the leaves, shining on her beautiful face, adding a touch of mystery and temptation.

She frowned, as if she had a premonition of something, but had no idea what it was.

At this time, Fade Chen was hiding in the dark, observing everything quietly.

The note in his hand was like an invisible net that was slowly tightening, interweaving the fate of everyone together.

He said silently in his heart: "The game has begun."

With a slight sound, the note fluttered gently to Qin Huairu's feet like a butterfly in the dark night.

She bent down to pick it up, her eyes instantly fixed on those familiar words, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart.

This is not just a letter, it is an unknown storm.

And all this is just the beginning.

Chen Fei stood in the dark, a meaningful smile on his face.

Qin Huairu was busy and nervous, holding a sharp stone in her hand, her eyes flashing with determination and fierceness. Tonight, she vowed to make Chen Fei pay the price.

The entrance to the cellar was hidden in the corner of the kitchen. As Qin Huairu gently pushed open the rotten wooden door, a musty smell hit her face.

She took a deep breath and, with the faint light coming through the crack in the door, stepped into the darkness step by step.

The cellar was pitch black, with only a few rays of moonlight from afar shining through the cracks, barely outlining the surroundings. Qin Huairu moved forward cautiously, afraid to make any sound.

At the same time, Chen Fei was quietly leaving home, his steps brisk and stealthy, like a ghost in the night.

Thinking about the good show that was about to be staged, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Tonight, he not only wanted to get rid of Qin Huairu's entanglement, but also let everyone see that he, Chen Fei, was definitely not a soft persimmon that could be bullied.

Passing through the winding alley, Fade Chen arrived at the backyard.

He deliberately slowed down his pace to create the illusion that he was about to keep an appointment, but in fact he was secretly observing his surroundings to see if anyone was following him.

After confirming that everything was safe, he flashed and quickly disappeared into the night, heading straight for Yi Zhonghai's house.

Chen Fei came to the door and took out a forged note from his pocket. It was a trap he had carefully designed. It was written in crooked handwriting:

"At midnight, under the old locust tree in the backyard, we will have a showdown."

He curled up the corner of his mouth into a sneer, rolled the note into a tube, and threw it lightly. The note fell accurately into the crack of Yi Zhonghai's door.

After completing all this, Fade Chen did not leave immediately, but pretended to move towards the toilet, but in fact he was secretly observing Yan Jiecheng's movements.

Yan Jiecheng, the neighbor who always spied on him secretly, seemed to smell something unusual tonight.

He hid in the dark, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, but he never acted rashly.

Chen Fei smiled secretly in his heart. He knew that Yan Jiecheng's caution was exactly his weakness that he could exploit.

He deliberately slowed down his pace and pretended to be leisurely. Only after confirming that Yan Jiecheng had not taken any action did he quietly turn around and quickly disappear into the night.

On the other side, Yi Zhonghai was enjoying the rare tranquility in the simple bathroom in the backyard. The hot water washed over his tired body, allowing him to temporarily forget the day's hard work.

Just then, a note suddenly slipped through the crack in the door and landed at his feet.

He bent down to pick it up, and took a look at it in the dim light, his face instantly becoming gloomy.

"Fade Chen...midnight..." Yi Zhonghai muttered to himself.

Although he didn't know why Chen Fei suddenly challenged him, the fighting spirit in his heart made him unable to refuse.

He quickly dressed himself, clenched his fists, and swore to himself that tonight, he would let Chen Fei know the consequences of provoking him.

The lights in Yi Zhonghai's room were on, and he was holding a yellowed note tightly.

Although the handwriting on the note was blurred, the information revealed between the lines pierced his heart like a sharp knife - it was an anonymous letter, accusing him and Qin Huairu of having an unspeakable secret.

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, his sense of justice and fear of misunderstanding intertwined in his heart.

He knew very well that once such rumors spread, it would not only ruin his own reputation, but might also hurt the innocent Qin Huairu.

So he made a decision and slowly moved the note closer to the candle flame, watching it turn into ashes bit by bit, as if it was disappearing along with the inexplicable stigma.

However, the uneasiness in my heart did not subside.

Yi Zhonghai thought about the recent financial difficulties of Qin Huairu's family and decided to prove his innocence and goodwill with practical actions.

He picked up more than two kilograms of flour, which he had saved by living frugally in his daily life, and prepared to bring some warmth to Qin Huairu on this cold winter night.

Wearing a heavy coat, Yi Zhonghai stepped into the night, and every step seemed particularly heavy.

The cold wind cut his face like a knife, but the faith in his heart was like a lamp, illuminating the way forward.

The cellar, the place Qin Huairu often went to to save firewood, will witness an unexpected storm tonight.

Arriving at the entrance of the cellar, Yi Zhonghai gently put down the flour bag, feeling a surge of joy at being needed.

Although Qin Huairu looks weak, she is strong inside. This help may make her feel a little warmth and strength.

Just as he was about to call Qin Huairu's name, a sudden gust of wind interrupted his thoughts, and then a cold stone cut through the air and hit the back of his head.

Severe pain instantly swept through his body, and Yi Zhonghai felt a black screen in front of his eyes, and his body fell backwards uncontrollably.

In the last moment before he lost consciousness, he heard Qin Huairu's panicked cry for help. The voice echoed in the night sky, full of fear and helplessness.

But Yi Zhonghai's heart was full of doubts. He didn't understand why he was attacked like this, and he didn't understand why Qin Huairu was so wary of him at this moment.

There was chaos in the cellar.

The stone in Qin Huairu's hand was shaking, with fear and determination in her eyes.

She thought it was the villain who had been secretly harassing her again, but she didn't expect it to be Yi Zhonghai.

However, things had come to this point, she could only make the best of a bad situation and shout for help, hoping to attract the attention of others and protect her innocence.

Yi Zhonghai was lying on the cold ground, his consciousness gradually becoming blurred.

In the dark abyss, he seemed to see countless whirlpools of questions, spinning around his relationship with Qin Huairu.

But no matter what the truth is, the despair and confusion at that moment are enough for him to remember for the rest of his life.

The night is still dark, and the wind is still fierce.

A storm caused by misunderstanding is quietly brewing in this courtyard, and its consequences will far exceed everyone's expectations.