Siheyuan: Game of Red Dust

Chapter 3, Chapter 3

Li Weidong sold some vegetables at the market and then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some daily necessities. While Li Weidong was leisurely shopping, a group of people stood at the gate of the Jia family's quadrangle with frowns on their faces, looking worried.

"Why did Li Weidong come back? Did he know something?"

Jia Dongxu asked with a frown.

"What's this little loser who killed his parents doing back home? He should have died outside."

Jia Zhang said with a mean look on her face.

"Old sister-in-law, be careful with your words."

Yi Zhonghai looked around and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there was no one else around.

"Sister-in-law, have you forgotten why you were arrested last time? You are still so outspoken. It's only because there are no outsiders around. If someone else reports you, you will definitely go to jail again." Yi Zhonghai said earnestly.

"They dare!"

Jia Zhang was still stubborn, but her voice was much softer.

"Old Yi, now that Li Weidong is back, is there still hope for the house issue?" Liu Haizhong asked.

"If Li Weidong comes back to work, there's probably no hope. If he just comes back to stay for a while and then leaves, there's still hope." Yi Zhonghai said uncertainly.

It turned out that these people had their eyes on Li Weidong's house.

Liu Haizhong had three sons. His eldest son, Liu Guangqi, was getting married, and Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu were also growing up. Soon, the Liu family's living quarters would be too small.

At the Jia family, Banggeng was almost five years old, and Qin Huairu was pregnant again. The family lived in one house, sleeping on a large bunk bed at night, which was both cramped and inconvenient.

Yi Zhonghai wanted to buy a better house for the deaf old lady because of her. After she passed away, wouldn't the house be his?

The three families joined forces and recently applied for housing at the neighborhood office, only to be rejected. They assumed they didn't meet the housing requirements, or that Li Weidong had been away for too long. After all, according to regulations, if a house isn't occupied for five years, it's reassigned. They had no idea Li Weidong's house was privately owned.

"Old Liu, call a meeting for the entire hospital tonight. Before Li Weidong starts work, let's see if we can get him to give up his house. Once he does, it will be even harder to handle. College graduates are cadres as soon as they start work. Oh, sister-in-law, please try not to talk tonight. Old Liu and Dongxu, please also pay attention. We're asking Li Weidong to voluntarily help those in need of housing, not to demand a house from him. You must remember this, and don't forget Li Weidong's identity as a martyr's orphan!"

After hearing what Yi Zhonghai said, Liu Haizhong and Jia Dongxu nodded, while Jia Zhangshi went home muttering to herself.

Backyard, Xu family.

Xu Damao, who had just returned from a movie screening in the countryside, came into the house carrying a chicken. Seeing his father sitting inside drinking tea, he asked, "Dad, I heard Li Weidong is back?"

Father Xu glanced at his son and said, "Well, you're back."

Xu Damao put the chicken down, sat opposite Xu's father, poured a cup of tea, and said to Xu's father:
"Dad, why did Li Weidong come back?"

"Why come back? He graduated from college, has a house and a family here. It's not normal for him to come back. Some people can't see clearly, and they will suffer sooner or later."

As Mr. Xu spoke, he glanced in the direction of the middle courtyard, with a hint of disdain on his lips.

"Dad, you are so optimistic about Li Weidong. Maybe he was expelled from school." Xu Damao said somewhat unhappily.

Father Xu gave Xu Damao an idiotic look and said, "You're smart, but that's just a little bit. You grew up in the same compound, how could you not know who Li Weidong is? He went to college at the age of fourteen. Although I don't know which university it was, his college entrance examination scores were top-notch. How could he not get into a bad university?

He only studied in high school for two years and easily achieved top grades. Only a fool like you would consider the possibility of him being expelled."

Hearing this, Xu Damao said somewhat unwillingly, "Dad, I'm not bad either. I even got promoted to a higher level as a projectionist this year. And you're so optimistic about Li Weidong. Even if he graduated from university, so what? He's still a worker even if he goes to work."

Father Xu shook his head in anger and said, "If college students choose the cadre route, they will advance one level every two or three years. After a few years, how can a worker like you compare to them?"

At this point, Father Xu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your mother and I will be moving out in a few days. Your parents will also find you a daughter of the Lou family. You should also work hard. After becoming the son-in-law of the Lou family, you can try to smooth things over with Li Weidong when you have the chance. After all, we were just children before, don't you understand?"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up at his father's words, and he said, "Don't worry, Dad. But when can we meet Miss Lou?"

Father Xu said seriously, "It will be soon. Your mother is also trying to persuade Madam Lou. It will all depend on you when the time comes. If you become the son-in-law of the Lou family, your work at the steel mill will be smoother. Although the Lou family is only a shareholder who does not take charge of the affairs, they still have some influence in the steel mill. The key is that the Lou family is rich. They only have that one daughter. After a hundred years, she will all be yours."

"Miss Lou, you've never done housework before. After marriage, you'll also have to take on household chores. It doesn't matter if you're a little tired. It's always easier than struggling for the rest of your life."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao became more excited. As for getting along well with Li Weidong, Xu Damao didn't care. He would wait and see about that matter.

After his parents moved away, Xu Damao felt relieved because no one at home was bothering him anymore.

The Xu family is different from other families in the compound. They are a dual-income family, and Xu's father works in a movie theater.

The household registrations of Xu's father and Xu Damao have been separated. Xu's father also used an independent household registration and was allocated a house near the cinema, which was big enough for the couple to live in. It was also close to the cinema, making it much easier for them to commute to get off work.

So, while others were concerned about the Li family's house, the Xu family had no such thoughts. Regarding Li Weidong's return, Xu Fugui was the most calm.

Li Weidong returned to the courtyard near dusk. His body was full of daily necessities he had bought. In one hand he was holding a bag of noodles, and in the other hand he was holding chicken, fish, vegetables, etc.

As soon as I saw the gate, I saw a skinny middle-aged man cleaning a broken bicycle.

When he saw Li Weidong coming in, he immediately put down the car cleaning cloth in his hand and walked over to him.

"Weidong, you're finally back. Why did you buy so many things?"

"Come on, let me help you carry some."

"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Three"

Li Weidong greeted them warmly and, without hesitation, handed the chicken, fish, and vegetables in his left hand to the third uncle.

"Weidong, are you coming back permanently this time? Or is this just a vacation?"

"Uncle, I've graduated and I'm going back to work. I'm not leaving."

……

Carrying the things, I and the third uncle chatted all the way back to Li Weidong's house in the backyard.

(End of this chapter)