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

boom!

The courtyard was in an uproar.

A national first prize? Even a fool knows how prestigious that is. This is a genuine "artistic gold standard," the highest level of protection!

The official handed over two gold-embossed certificates of merit, along with a thick envelope: "This is a 150 yuan bonus from the ministry and the Artists Association. We hope you will continue your efforts and create more excellent works that the people enjoy!"

Zhang Dabiao took the envelope, felt its thickness, and grinned. He didn't care about the 150 yuan; the key was the title and certificate. From now on, who in Beijing would dare to label him so easily?

"Thank you, leader, for serving the people!" Zhang Dabiao stood up straight and shouted in a clear and resonant voice.

A large red flower was hung directly on the lintel of the east courtyard, bright red and festive.

Liu Haizhong stood at the back of the crowd, staring at the big red flower, his eyes practically bleeding. He was a level seven blacksmith who had never won a national award in his entire life, and this kid thought he was all that just because he drew a few comic books?

Yan Bugui hid behind his door, pounding his chest with envy. One hundred and fifty yuan! This teacher (gardener) only earns twenty-two yuan a month! How many years would it take him to save that much?

"God has no eyes! This kid can make so much money with just a few scribbles..." Yan Bugui complained to his third aunt in a low voice, "Our family can't even afford two catties of meat for the New Year this year!"

……

After seeing the leaders off, Director Wang gave Yi Zhonghai a strict order before leaving.

"Old Yi, Da Biao has brought honor to our entire street and the entire Jiaodaokou area! We must hold a hospital-wide meeting tonight to properly commend this exemplary figure! Let's create an atmosphere where everyone strives to be a role model!"

Yi Zhonghai's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, but in front of Director Wang, he could only nod and bow in agreement.

At 8 p.m., the Intermediate People's Court set up a table for the three elderly men.

It was freezing cold; everyone was shivering with their hands in their pockets and stamping their feet, yet Yi Zhonghai still managed to gather them for a meeting.

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat, picked up the enamel mug, and took a sip of hot water, trying to make his voice sound less awkward.

"Everyone, please be quiet. A great event has happened in our institute today. Comrade Zhang Dabiao has won first and second prizes in the national comic strip competition. What does this prove? It proves that our institute has good feng shui and high moral character!"

Yi Zhonghai forced himself to continue reading, feeling as if he had swallowed a fly with every word of praise. He had gone to great lengths to regain his title of Grade 8 worker, but compared to Zhang Dabiao's national first prize, he was nothing.

Liu Haizhong chimed in sarcastically, "Da Biao, even though you won the award, you can't be arrogant. Artistic creation is ultimately a side job; we working class are the real bosses."

Zhang Dabiao sat on a long bench, legs crossed, holding a hand warmer in his hands, completely ignoring Liu Haizhong.

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai quickly tried to smooth things over: "Da Biao, as an outstanding role model in our institute, why don't you say a few words and share your acceptance speech?"

This was just a formality; Yi Zhonghai was hoping that Zhang Dabiao would just exchange a few polite words and the meeting would end.

To everyone's surprise, Zhang Dabiao stood up, dusted off his cotton-padded coat, sighed deeply, and looked worried.

"Sigh, to be honest, this award is really meaningless," Zhang Dabiao said, pouting with a troubled look.

The entire room fell silent, everyone staring at him.

"You know, the Ministry of Culture and the Artists Association, they just had to give me a first prize. I really don't want it at all." Zhang Dabiao shook his head. "Go look at my house, there's not even room to step on the walls, it's covered in certificates and banners! I don't even know where to hang this new first prize, I can't exactly stick it on the outhouse door, can I? It's so frustrating!"

The audience was silent.

Xu Damao was the first to burst out laughing, quickly covering his mouth.

Sha Zhu stared wide-eyed for a long time before finally managing to stammer out, "Da Biao, you're too mean."

Yi Zhonghai was so angry his chest heaved. He pinched his nose and praised you, "You've gotten a good deal here and you're still acting innocent?!"

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses, which were covered in adhesive tape, and trembled with anger: "Da Biao, what kind of talk is that! This is an honor! You...you're wasting a precious resource!"

"Uncle, if you like it, how about I lend it to you for a couple of days?" Zhang Dabiao retorted with a grin. "But you'd better be careful, or you can't afford to pay for it with your meager salary."

Wrapped in a tattered quilt, Jia Zhangshi sat under the eaves, muttering curses under her breath: "Those heartless bastards! They have money but don't even know how to help our family. They'll get their comeuppance sooner or later!"

Zhang Dabiao, with his sharp ears, immediately turned to stare at Jia Zhangshi: "Jia Zhangshi, what did you just say? Who got their comeuppance? Bang Geng got beaten three times in a row a few days ago, wasn't that retribution fast enough?"

Jia Zhangshi shrank back in fright and shut her mouth tightly, afraid that she would make another oath that would come true.

The conference ended hastily in an extremely eerie atmosphere. The birds were so enraged by Zhang Dabiao's Versailles-like remarks that they almost vomited their dinner.

------------

December 31st arrived in the blink of an eye.

Although supplies were still scarce this year, the situation had improved considerably compared to the previous two years.

As the behind-the-scenes boss of the Youth Mutual Aid Association, Zhang Dabiao had Liu Guangqi take the lead in organizing an end-of-year accounting and welfare distribution.

Sunday morning, the Intermediate People's Court was bustling with activity. Yes, it was all happening at the Intermediate People's Court, so everyone could see it and be incredibly envious.

Liu Guangqi held the account book, grinning from ear to ear. Xu Damao, Yan Jiecheng, and several other core members were all present.

"Da Biao, our mutual aid association has had a bumper harvest this year!" Liu Guangqi handed over the account book. "Not only have we covered all the previous difficulties for everyone, but we also have a considerable surplus."

Zhang Dabiao glanced at it and waved his hand: "Brother Guangqi, you can manage these accounts. I trust you. Since there's a surplus, it's the end of the year, so let's give the brothers something substantial."

Before long, things piled up in the east courtyard.

Half a pig, two baskets of eggs, one basket of cured meat, one basket of salted fish, and two whole sacks of flour and rice. There was also sugar, nuts, and peanut oil.

Cornmeal?

The Lunar New Year is almost here. What kind of cornmeal are we eating? If you want to eat cornmeal, go and get something else yourself.

Xu Damao's eyes lit up with greed. He went over and touched the half-pig: "Wow, Da Biao, this fat is really thick! My Xiao'e is craving a bite of this!"

"You're hopeless!" Zhang Dabiao kicked Xu Damao. "Divide it by headcount, hurry up and take it."

Yan Jiecheng, carrying a small sack of flour and two pounds of meat, was so excited his eyes reddened. "Da Biao, Guang Qi, thank you! Yu Li and I can finally have a prosperous New Year!"

The group of people happily carried their belongings out.

This performance made everyone else in the courtyard envious.

Beside the sink in the courtyard, Qin Huairu was washing Jia Zhangshi's dirty trousers, her hands red with cold. Seeing the pork belly Xu Damao was carrying, Qin Huairu swallowed hard, her eyes filled with bitterness.

Fortunately, Sha Zhu got a share, and they'll move it to the Jia family's house tonight.

The Jia family has completely lost money this year. They've squandered all their wealth because Banggeng gets into fights every few days. Now they can barely afford cornmeal, and they're struggling to make ends meet.

forecourt.

As Yan Jiecheng carried his things to the front yard, preparing to return to his house in the outer courtyard, Yan Bugui came to greet him.

"Jiecheng, the mutual aid association is distributing benefits?" Yan Bugui reached out to take the bag of flour. "Quickly, put it inside. Your mother is worried about not having enough fine grains to make dumplings for the New Year."

Yan Jie instinctively dodged to the side, avoiding Yan Bugui's hand.

Yan Bugui was stunned—

This is……

What does that mean?