Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

After returning from Hong Kong, Zhang Dabiao went to the ministry again. The Lou family deposited US$100,000 and a share of US$60,000 (Zhang Dabiao and Zhang Yaoyang split the profits 55/50, meaning half was kept in Hong Kong) into the ministry's designated account, which the ministry then converted into RMB for him. However, the policy of overseas remittance certificates had been discontinued, and now it was all industrial vouchers. But Zhang Dabiao didn't lack these; the ministry distributed them to him proportionally every month when he paid his salary. Besides, Director Zhao had also said, "If you, Zhang Dabiao, need industrial vouchers, just ask!"

How much do you want? The ministry will provide it all! How incredibly generous!

最后兑换又存款再计算下来，张大彪在内地银行累计102W、侨汇券还剩3W、工业券2K多。累计给国家赚了外汇41W美刀（目前已经到帐），外面（香江娄家）还欠82万美刀，一个人赚了全国外汇储备的2%左右！

He also donated 10 RMB in remittance certificates. In addition, he received various awards from different departments, including a banner of appreciation from the public security department, and so on…

It's safe to say that as long as Zhang Dabiao doesn't break the law, he can do whatever he wants in this era! Nobody can touch him!

A legitimate millionaire in 1962—try touching him.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, his accumulated savings amounted to HK$155 million and US$6. That seems like a lot, but in Hong Kong these days, Repulse Bay and Mid-Levels are considered top-tier luxury residential areas. A detached house with a garden costs approximately HK$80 to HK$150 million. HK$150 million is just enough to buy an entry-level villa, but the location won't be ideal.

It won't cause any trouble at all.

The most crucial issue is that Zhang Dabiao cannot spend all his time in Hong Kong. He is still in school, and he doesn't have many trusted confidants, so he can't dominate Hong Kong.

For Zhang Dabiao, money is just a number. It seems like a lot, but it's not enough for actual investment. Plus, he doesn't have the manpower or time, so for now, this is the only option.

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After the year-end summary for 61 was completed, we chose an auspicious day to help Mu Wanqing and Aunt Mu move.

The Sesame Alley area was finished by the end of December, but January was filled with new song developments at school, awards from the ministry, Qin Huairu's locust blossoms, Sha Zhu's blind date, Zhang Dabiao's year-end inventory in Hong Kong, and reconciliation with the ministry.

So the move was delayed again and again. On January 16th, which was the eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Dabiao, along with a group of cronies, helped Mu Wanqing and her aunt move. Today is an auspicious day for moving.

They even invited Sha Zhu and the others to the new house in Sesame Alley. They cooked a meal for them, and everyone ate together, having a good time and adding some liveliness to the new courtyard.

This is a small courtyard with two sections, not the standard courtyard house, but a converted tenement. The rooms are all very small and a bit cramped.

There are 3 rooms in the front yard and 4 rooms in the back yard, plus a side room. Two of the rooms have been converted into separate bathrooms and kitchens, and the bedrooms all have kang beds. There are also clothes racks and flower beds in the small yard. It looks like there are a lot of rooms, but the actual area of ​​the rooms is 120 square meters and the yard area is 80 square meters, totaling 200 square meters, which is about half the size of Zhang Dabiao's small courtyard.

It's not a huge place, but it's not small either. Anyway, the people in the courtyard are all envious and jealous.

But Zhang Dabiao bought the courtyard and registered it under Mu Wanqing's name, so no matter how much they envied, were jealous, or resentful, it was useless.

Zhang Dabiao complained that the place was too spacious and deserted, and told Aunt Mu that he would get her two dogs to guard the house when he had time—do you think that's something a human would say?

Everyone's struggling to afford food, and Zhang Dabiao still has to raise dogs!

We need to raise two more!

This is infuriating!

As for the shack belonging to the Mu family in the No. 97 courtyard, it's a house under Aunt Mu's name, so naturally it has to be kept. Even if it's just used as a storage room, it has to be kept. In another ten years or so, most people won't be able to afford a shack.

After a lively dinner, everyone chatted and joked in the courtyard before heading back a little later. It was only a ten-minute walk back to courtyard number 95, very close. A Red Lantern brand radio sat on a small square table in the courtyard, playing the news.

"The enlarged central working conference, the 'Seven Thousand Cadres Conference,' which includes cadres at the county-level Party secretaries and above, solemnly opens today in Beijing..." The announcer's clear and resonant voice echoed in the courtyard.

Yan Jiecheng, Xu Damao, and Liu Guangqi moved small stools and sat properly next to Zhang Dabiao, smoking and eating sunflower seeds while listening intently to the news.

"Da Biao, this 'Seven Thousand People Conference' is quite a grand affair. Are all the officials from across the country here?" Yan Jiecheng asked curiously, cracking sunflower seeds.

"That's right, it's a matter of national importance, how can it be compared to the trivial matters of our courtyard?" Xu Damao glanced at Shazhu with disdain. He originally wanted to say a few words to him, but since they were at Mu Wanqing's new home today, he decided to give Da Biao some face and refrain from insulting Shazhu.

Zhang Dabiao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remained silent. Listening to the radio broadcast, he knew perfectly well that this conference was a crucial historical juncture, a prelude to subsequent turmoil. The tide of history was surging forward; compared to it, the petty squabbles and power struggles within the No. 95 courtyard seemed utterly insignificant.

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Days passed by. Before they knew it, it was the evening of January 20th.

In the stable of the east wing of courtyard number 95, a coal stove was burning brightly. Zhang Dabiao, Mu Wanqing, Qin Jingru, and He Yushui sat around the stove, where a few sweet potatoes and peanuts were roasting on the lid, emitting a fragrant aroma.

The radio on the table was broadcasting the first "Laughter Gala" live. It was broadcast simultaneously on television and radio, and it was the prototype of the later Spring Festival Gala.

"Hou Baolin's crosstalk is here!" Qin Jingru clapped her hands excitedly.

The radio played a humorous crosstalk performance by Hou Baolin and Guo Qiru, making everyone in the room burst into laughter. Mu Wanqing leaned on Zhang Dabiao's shoulder, laughing so hard tears almost streamed down her face. He Yushui, too, shook off her previous gloom and covered her mouth, laughing incessantly. The room was filled with peace and warmth.

In stark contrast to the laughter and chatter in the east courtyard was the central courtyard, separated by only a wall.

The room where Sha Zhu was sitting was cold, like an icebox, with no fire lit. He sat on the edge of the bed, holding a bottle of safflower oil, grimacing as he applied it to his bruised arm. Ever since being beaten by Liu Cheng and his daughter, he had been ostracized at the factory, living a life of utter misery. Today, for some unknown reason, several workers had found a pretext to beat him up again, most likely at Liu Cheng's behest, but Sha Zhu had no way to reason with them. Liu Cheng was one of only two level-eight workers, the kind even the factory manager had to respect—more powerful than an old man!

If Sha Zhu were to complain about this, the factory manager would probably give him a good scolding, so he can only bear it.

In the main room of the Jia family's front courtyard, Jia Zhangshi was still sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a dry, hard cornbread in her hand, swallowing it with cold water, and constantly cursing Qin Huairu for giving birth to a money-losing daughter. Banggeng was doing his homework to the side, frowning and silently enduring Jia Zhangshi's complaints.

In the west wing of the Jia family's courtyard, Qin Huairu was soothing the wailing Huaihua in the inner room, while Xiaodang, who was already asleep, was beside her. She was alone with her two daughters, her face full of exhaustion.

Zhang Dabiao peeled a crispy roasted peanut and popped it into his mouth. Listening to the laughter coming from the radio, he looked through the door frame at the dark night sky.

With Jia Dongxu gone, Huaihua born, and Shazhu's blind date ruined, all the "gods" in this courtyard have finally returned to their places. The days that follow are going to be interesting.