Ma Liu shook his head. "No need. It's actually more convenient for me to be alone here. Brother, you can just have some tea and chat with people near the inn these next few days. Just keep an eye on the people around you. As long as no one is watching us, I can make my move."

Jiang Qiao glanced at the two of them with amusement. "It's like we're doing something clandestine. Alright, let's find a place to rest."

Jiang Qiao walked and observed. Not all hotels were the same; some were nice, and some were not. She didn't want to make herself and the old man feel uncomfortable. Besides, there were many intricacies involved, and she had to be careful.

She felt a strange unease about the hotel she had just passed, so even though it looked nice, she didn't choose it.

Instead, he took Qiao Jie and the others to another nice hotel to stay in. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the two brothers rested first.

Jiang Qiao changed her clothes, dressed up, and went out through another door.

She strolled over to the Houhai area; her father had said that her courtyard was in this area.

Following the address, Jiang Qiao wasn't in a hurry. She strolled around the neighborhood at a leisurely pace. Her father had told her that someone was currently living in her house, but she wasn't sure who it was. Gu Zhengfeng hadn't said either, so she needed to find out the situation first.

When she arrived, she only wandered around her house for a while. She could see that people lived there, but she didn't know how many families lived there.

This led him to mingle with the beggar children in the neighborhood. Giving them food and asking them for information was easy and convenient.

"The people in that courtyard are all quite scary, but they are also very kind-hearted. When we used to beg for food, they would give us some if they had any, but they also had a hard time making ends meet."

Jiang Qiao glanced at the little beggar, who was about the same age as herself, but seemed mature and worldly-wise.

"What do you mean, scary? Are they bad people?"

The little beggar shook his head. "They don't look like it. They're all wearing patched old military uniforms. They should be good people. Judging from their appearance, they must have been wounded on the battlefield. That's what everyone says. They say they're homeless and are sticking together for warmth. As for whether that's true or not, I don't know. Several of them are missing limbs. You'll find out when you go in."

Hearing the little beggar's words, Jiang Qiao understood somewhat. They were probably soldiers who had been discharged due to injuries or illnesses, and they didn't have many family members left. They didn't have much hope of going back, so it was better for them to get together and take care of each other.

After learning about the other beggars' situations from the little beggar Erping, Jiang Qiao decided to go in and take a look herself, since she was dressed like a beggar anyway.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw several people of different ages and with physical disabilities, wearing faded military uniforms with patches of varying sizes. An old soldier was sitting on a stool, pounding something with a mortar and pestle.

Besides the clothes they wore, Jiang Qiao could tell from their posture and demeanor that they must have been soldiers. They were different from ordinary people; the mannerisms of soldiers were ingrained in their bones, and even after retiring, some things could not be changed.

Hearing footsteps, everyone in the courtyard looked up and saw Jiang Qiao. One of the elderly people spoke up.

"Child, are you hungry? Wait a moment, we'll cook right away, you can stay here for dinner."

Jiang Qiao shook her head. "Grandpa, could you give me a bowl of water? Thank you. What are you doing?"

The old man sighed, "I'll grind some tree leaves and mix them into the rice. That way we can save some money, and you kids can eat some too."

Someone got up to get water for Jiang Qiao, and Jiang Qiao immediately followed, asking, "Uncle, what happened to your arms and legs?"

The veteran turned around and looked at Jiang Qiao. It wasn't that children had come begging for food before, but no one cared about their physical disabilities. But this little girl was different. She didn't come in for food; instead, she just wanted a drink of water.

He gave a bitter laugh. "They were all blown up by bombs on the battlefield. Sigh, those of us with arms take care of those without legs. This way, we can reduce the burden on the country. We are already very fortunate. The country takes care of our food, and the organization arranges our accommodation. Compared to those comrades who sacrificed their lives, we are already very lucky."

People like us are all in similar situations; we don't have much family, so anywhere is home. When we get together, it's more lively.

Jiang Qiao immediately felt a deep respect for the veterans in the courtyard, her expression filled with admiration. "Uncles, you are the true unsung heroes. Without you, we wouldn't have such a peaceful life now," she said.

The veteran was quite curious about Jiang Qiao, this little beggar who didn't look like a beggar at all.

"Girl, tell your uncle, why are you begging? Where are your parents? Don't they care about you anymore?"

Jiang Qiao smiled and shook her head. "They are very busy. I live with my grandfather. He brought me out. I am a little girl, so this is the only way I can dress. My grandfather said it would be more convenient to go out this way."

The veteran smiled and nodded. "That makes sense. It's not very convenient for a girl like you. What about your grandfather?"

“My grandfather is asleep, so I came out for a walk.”

The veteran looked at Jiang Qiao in surprise. He had a bad feeling. Could it be that the child's grandfather had starved to death?

"Asleep?"

Jiang Qiao nodded seriously. "I was asleep, so I came out to check on things. I got thirsty when I got here, so I came in to ask for a bowl of water."

After finishing her water, Jiang Qiao didn't rush to leave, not because of the things in the house, but because she was very interested in these admirable veterans and wanted to know if they were living well now.

"It's great. We have disability allowances, which are enough for us to eat. Besides, we have brothers with good legs who help us. The leaders also send people over from time to time to check on us and give us a physical examination. What more could we ask for? Compared to those who can't afford to eat or dress, we're already doing very well."

Jiang Qiao felt that these veterans were the most lovable and genuine. They did not give up on themselves because of their physical disabilities, nor did they feel sorry for themselves or rest on their laurels because of their past contributions. Even so, they still had a pure heart and used their meager strength to help others. This was what Jiang Qiao admired the most. She really couldn't do that.

"Uncle, can I talk to you about something? Can I stay here for a few days? Don't worry, I can pay the rent. I can help you with chores, do your laundry, and cook for you. I'll only stay for a few days, and then I'll leave."