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

evening.

As is customary, the courtyard houses hold their year-end summary meetings in the central courtyard.

It was freezing cold, and the north wind felt like knives cutting into our faces. The neighbors were all wrapped in thick, old cotton-padded coats, their hands tucked into their sleeves, their necks hunched over, huddled together in the yard.

One of the older men, Yi Zhonghai, sat at the central eight-immortal table, holding a chipped enamel teacup. The second older man, Liu Haizhong, and the third older man, Yan Bugui, sat on either side. As usual, there were several dishes of melon seeds and peanuts on the table, but no one dared to reach for them—everyone hoped the meeting would end soon so they could go back to their beds.

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat and unfolded the few pages of manuscript paper in his hand:

"Dear neighbors, the main reason for calling you all out today is to summarize what has happened in our neighborhood this past year."

"This year, the effects of natural disasters are still lingering, and everyone is facing difficulties. However, we must see that the situation is very good and the future is bright. As long as we unite closely, help each other, and overcome difficulties, we will surely get through this tough time."

He rambled on and on in official jargon, all platitudes from the newspapers. The neighbors below yawned as they listened, some even stamping their feet to keep warm.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Liu Haizhong added a few words about strengthening the discipline within the institute, attempting to highlight his leadership position. Yan Bugui, meanwhile, was tapping on an abacus, reminding everyone how to split the institute's public expenses next year, calculating every penny.

By the time the three old men finished speaking, it was almost completely dark.

Yi Zhonghai picked up his teacup and took a sip of water. Suddenly, he glanced at Zhang Dabiao, who was sitting behind the crowd warming himself by the fire. In that fleeting moment, Yi Zhonghai instinctively felt a pang of guilt.

Before he could even think it through, he blurted out, "Da Biao, you're a role model for the young people in our department. Why don't you say a few words at the year-end meeting?"

All eyes immediately turned to Zhang Dabiao.

Zhang Dabiao stood up, pulled his military overcoat tighter around himself, and walked to the table. He didn't bring any manuscript, nor did he put on any affected manner.

"Master Yi asked me to say a few words, so I will say a few words."

He glanced at his shivering neighbors and spoke crisply and decisively:

"Just make sure you have enough to eat and wear, study hard, and don't cause trouble for the country."

"I'm done speaking. Meeting adjourned. Everyone go back to your warm beds; it's quite cold."

Three sentences, and that's it.

The young people in the courtyard immediately cheered. Sha Zhu, standing nearby, shouted at the top of his lungs, "Da Biao's right! Why all the fluff? Filling our stomachs is the real issue!"

Yi Zhonghai's expression stiffened for a moment—he had been hoping Zhang Dabiao would launch into a long speech in agreement, but it was all glossed over with a single sentence. Liu Haizhong felt that Zhang Dabiao's attitude wasn't serious enough, but he didn't dare to reprimand him.

Why the hell did I ask him to speak?

Just as everyone was about to leave, Zhang Dabiao suddenly raised his hand and pressed it down.

"Um, members of the Youth Mutual Aid Association, please stay. Our Youth Mutual Aid Association will also hold a small internal meeting. Other neighbors who wish to go back can go back first."

"Guangqi, Jiecheng, move our things out."

Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng were already waiting nearby. The two agreed and led several young men quickly into the east courtyard.

A few minutes later, they came out pushing two carts.

The cart was piled high with bulging burlap sacks, several large dried salted fish, and a piece of pork that was frozen solid.

As soon as the supplies were displayed, the entire Intermediate Court became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's breathing quickened, their eyes fixed on the grain and meat. In those years of extreme food scarcity and ever-decreasing rations, the sheer volume of supplies piled together was visually striking—like watching the national treasury open for the Lunar New Year.

Hiding behind Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi's eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets, and she unconsciously swallowed, making a "gulp" sound in her throat.

"Good heavens... so much flour and meat, how long will it take to eat this?"

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses, his Adam's apple bobbing as he felt a sharp pain in his heart. Why hadn't he let Jie Kuang and Jie Di follow Zhang Dabiao back then? Look at his own boss, Yan Jiecheng, now following behind Zhang Dabiao, how impressive he is!

Liu Haizhong looked at his eldest son, Liu Guangqi, who was distributing supplies with a complicated expression. As the second uncle, he couldn't even get this many good things all year round, but his son was showing off by following outsiders.

Zhang Dabiao stood beside the cart, holding a list in his hand:

"Everyone, this is the result of our mutual aid association's hard work this year. Brothers whose names are called, come up and collect your year-end bonus."

"Each person - ten catties of cornmeal, five catties of wheat flour, two catties of salted fish, one catty of pork, and half a catty of nuts."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the courtyard.

The neighbors buzzed with gossip, their voices filled with undisguised envy and jealousy.

"My goodness, these benefits are even better than those of the factory manager at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill!"

"Who says otherwise? I should have had my eldest son join the mutual aid society back then."

"Your son is not old enough."

Regardless of what others said, Zhang Dabiao started calling out names.

"Xu Damao".

Xu Damao ran forward happily, took the grain and meat, and didn't forget to show off to those around him: "In our mutual aid society, I help everyone, and everyone helps me. This is all the fruit of everyone's labor!"

"Yan Jiecheng".

Yan Jiecheng rubbed his hands as he walked up, his eyes a little red: "Brother Biao, I won't say anything more, it's all in my heart." These five catties of flour and one catty of pork are enough to nourish his wife and children.

One by one, members of the mutual aid association stepped forward to receive the supplies, each with a genuine smile on their face.

Seeing this bustling scene, Jia Zhangshi finally couldn't hold back any longer. She abruptly pushed Qin Huairu aside and rushed to the front:

"Zhang Dabiao! Where did you get so many supplies? Have you been speculating and profiteering?"

"Our hospital is struggling so much, and you're all lavishly eating meat and fish here. Don't you have any conscience? You have to share with everyone!"

"Everyone needs a share! There are five of us in my family, so we need five shares!"

Her shout prompted several envious neighbors to join in the commotion.

Zhang Dabiao's face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the cart, making a loud "bang" that sent dust flying from the sacks.

"Bullshit!"

He pointed at Jia Zhangshi's nose, his voice as cold as ice: "Jia Zhangshi, you ask me where I came from? Fine, I'll tell you."

He pointed to the mutual aid society members standing beside him and spoke each word clearly:

"In the dead of winter, we went to the Yongding River to break holes in the ice and fish."

"What are you doing? You're sewing shoe soles on the kang (heated brick bed)!"

"I'll sew those soles of your shoes that will never be finished!"

"When spring comes, we go to the suburbs to dig for wild vegetables, what are you doing? You're throwing a tantrum in the yard."

"We're using scrap wood to build scaffolds for vertical farming in the courtyard, and what are you doing? You're hoping someone will give you a handout."

"These things were all done by us, penny by penny, over our weekends! We used the vegetables we grew and the fish we caught to legally exchange for coarse grains with the commune in the suburbs, and every single transaction was accounted for clearly."

"In addition, each member contributed their own provident fund; in 62, the entire mutual aid association contributed 300 yuan!"

He took a step forward, his eyes like knives: "What, do we have to use the fruits of our labor to support a lazy bum like you?"

"On what grounds?"

"I'm asking you the fuck—"

"Why should I?!"

Jia Zhangshi's face turned a deep purplish-red from the rebuke, and she opened her mouth but couldn't utter a single word.

Moreover, Zhang Dabiao's imposing aura completely overwhelmed him, scaring him so much that he stumbled backward and almost fell to the ground.

Qin Huairu quickly stepped forward and grabbed Jia Zhangshi tightly, pulling her back: "Mom, stop making a scene, aren't you embarrassed enough?"

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Da Biao is right, labor is glorious. Since the children earned it themselves through hard work, they should be able to use it as they see fit."

Although he said that, looking at the white pork, he felt a pang of envy.

After the supplies were distributed, even Sha Zhu received some. Putting aside everything else, he had done a lot of work in the past two years, helping with cooking, marinating fish and meat, and processing ingredients—he even donated 20 yuan.

But where these supplies will be used once they get back is hard to say. Zhang Dabiao didn't care anyway, as long as the portion that got wet in the rain wasn't touched.

The 14 young members of the mutual aid society, each carrying their belongings, happily went home.

The people left behind in the courtyard watched helplessly in the cold wind, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.