An extraordinary life journey through old Beijing courtyard houses

Since he was already there, Jiang Baobin drove to the main entrance of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Sure enough, that honest and simple Yang Lao Er is still selling pancakes at his stall.

Business seems to be doing well; hospitals are never short of patients.

Jiang Baobin led Jiang Daya, who was looking around, over there.

She usually stays at home, only venturing out occasionally, and everything she sees is new and exciting.

I must say, the pancakes smell pretty good.

Jiang Baobin picked up a piece and started eating it, then handed one to his younger sister.

Jiang Daya hesitated for a moment, then smiled sheepishly at Yang Lao Er and started eating as well.

After all that fuss, I'm really hungry.

Seeing that he was eating with relish, Yang Lao Er quickly picked up another one and handed it to him.

Jiang Baobin took the stall and asked directly, "How much money can this stall make in a day?"

"It's alright, I can get a little over a dollar," Yang Lao Er replied truthfully.

"There's no future in this, quit!"

This guy's casual remark startled Yang Lao Er.

With a troubled expression, he said, "Master Jiang, this is just a small business; it can't afford any losses..."

Jiang Baobin revealed a mischievous smile.

This guy is usually bullied by Rose and Elizabeth, but today he finally has someone honest to bully:

"Come work for me, instead of staying here exposed to the wind and sun, I'll give you 2 yuan a day."

Yang Lao Er was startled: "Master Jiang, really? What's going on?"

"To keep watch over the place."

Yang Lao Er was almost in tears: "Master Jiang, I'm just an ordinary citizen, I can't do that kind of thing..."

Jiang Baobin blinked in confusion, then smiled knowingly: "Hey, what are you thinking?"

"It's about watching over the coal yard. I think you're an honest and reliable person, so you can go and keep an eye on it for me."

"Don't worry, there's definitely no one stealing things here in the past; my place is special."

"I'm afraid someone might sabotage me, like starting a fire or something, so you go and keep an eye on things."

"Oh, okay, this job is easy, just give me 1 yuan."

Jiang Baobin looked displeased: "Do I look like someone who's short of money? I say 2 yuan, and it's 2 yuan, settled monthly."

Yang Lao Er was overjoyed: "Then, Master Jiang, I'll accept your thanks."

Jiang Baobin grinned mischievously; he was just teasing Yang Lao Er.

A month later, when Yang Lao Er gets his salary, if he doesn't cry, Jiang Baobin will take his surname.

After finishing their business, Jiang Baobin took out his wallet and started pulling out banknotes.

Jiang Baobin had initially intended to give Yang Lao Er more, but seeing his honest and unassuming nature, he changed his mind.

If you give him too much, he will inevitably accumulate it, and eventually it will end up as waste paper.

"Here's twenty yuan, as a settling-in allowance. Go back and tidy up your things, and I'll pick you up tomorrow."

Clutching the money in his hand, Yang Lao Er looked completely bewildered: "Clean up the house? You guys? Does that mean all six of us have to go over there?"

Jiang Baobin was unwilling to waste words, because saying more would be useless; he would only obediently submit if he saw the tangible benefits.

Once in the car, he remembered something else, leaned out and shouted to Yang Lao Er:

"Buy a dog, pick one that barks a lot! Those things have sharp ears and are better at guarding the house than people."

He couldn't bear to use Four-Eyes at the coal yard; he used it to protect himself.

After saying that, Jiang Baobin drove off without waiting for Yang Lao Er's reply.

The honest man, still not fully recovered, was left bewildered.

"Brother, you also have a coal yard?" Jiang Daya asked curiously.

"That's right." Jiang Baobin's eyebrows danced with excitement.

"Your brother's made it big now, so behave well and you'll be a little rich girl someday too."

Jiang Daya said with a grin, "The term 'little rich woman' sounds awful. I just need enough money to spend."

Jiang Baobin glanced at her: "You haven't saved up any gold yuan notes, have you?"

"Ah! Yes, a little."

Jiang Baobin found it amusing; he guessed the little girl had a few yuan.

Forget it, forget it. Even if it depreciates, it's no big deal. Let's not discourage the kids from saving money.

He then frowned and asked, "You said Wang Wenshan left early this morning."

Jiang Daya pouted and said, "That's right, he makes me buy him the Kyoto Daily every day."

"He left in a hurry right after watching it today, and I couldn't stop him."

Jiang Baobin understood then that the newspaper must contain messages from their organization.

Telling him to hurry back to his unit is a cliché that has become commonplace in spy dramas of later generations.

Jiang Baobin asked, unwilling to give up, "Didn't he leave any message?"

"He said thank you for your help, and that he wouldn't forget it and would repay you in the future."

Jiang Baobin curled his lip, "After all that talk, it's still just an empty promise?"

Although penicillin wasn't as expensive as he'd imagined, it still cost him several tens of yuan.

And that doesn't even include the favor I did for Rose. If it weren't for my own reputation, why would Rose have helped me?

Now look what's happened, they just pat their behinds and walk away so easily.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, so he cursed, "You ungrateful wretch!"

"Third Brother, don't say that about him. Actually, Brother Wang is a good person. He even taught me to read."

Jiang Daya began to defend Wang Wenshan.

She got along well with Wang Wenshan, so she didn't want him to leave a bad impression on Jiang Baobin.

Jiang Daya now greatly admires her third brother, believing him to be incredibly capable.

If he holds a grudge, you're definitely in for trouble.

She didn't want Wang Wenshan, whom she had taken such good care of, to end up becoming enemies with her third brother.

Jiang Baobin glanced at her but didn't say anything more.

Jiang Daya changed the subject, asking about things that interested her:

"Third Brother, do you think Madam really left the house to us?"

"No, it's just for us to stay temporarily. She rented that place; it's the property of the consulate, and the lease expires next year."

Jiang Daya said happily, "I'd love to stay for a few months, no matter how big or comfortable! From now on, I'll be in charge."

Jiang Baobin immediately poured cold water on her hopes: "Don't get your hopes up too high, foreigners are unpredictable."

"They might find out Rose moved out and come kick her out in a few days."

He knew, of course, that Rose wouldn't tell the consulate in advance that she wasn't coming back to live there.

However, there's no harm in giving them a heads-up beforehand; the higher a child's expectations, the greater their disappointment.

Jiang Daya pouted and compromised, saying, "Alright then, staying one more day is a bonus."

Taking the opportunity, Jiang Baobin said, "When we get back, we'll start packing."

"Everything except what we absolutely need has been disposed of. As for what we can use in the future, we've packed it all up."

"At the slightest sign of trouble, move everything out immediately!"

"Ah!" Jiang Daya exclaimed in surprise, "Is that possible? Evacuate the entire house?!"

"Don't worry, Rose has already explained that this little building was originally an empty house."

"Everything inside was purchased by Rose later, and from now on it all belongs to us."

Jiang Daya was overjoyed: "Oh! That's wonderful! We still have so many good things at home! Third Brother, we're going to be rich!"