Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The assassination attempt on Wang Huanbo, like a boulder thrown into calm water, caused a great shock at the highest levels of government. On the one hand, security work was elevated to an unprecedented level; on the other hand, it highlighted the importance of ensuring the livelihoods of key experts. At the same time, with the acceleration of national industrialization and the influx of a large population into cities, the housing shortage problem became increasingly prominent. The higher authorities timely introduced policies requiring all sub-district offices to compile statistics on dilapidated houses, repair old buildings, and begin exploring standardized management of urban and rural household registrations to address the new situation.

The courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, a typical siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), has also undergone new changes.

Director Wang of the subdistrict office personally led the surveying team and the housing management office to the courtyard to convene a meeting with the three old men (Yi Zhonghai was now a figurehead, and the actual representatives were Yan Bugui, Liu Haizhong, and a newly elected, relatively upright old worker).

"Comrades, according to instructions from higher authorities, in order to solve housing difficulties and improve residents' living conditions, our subdistrict will begin a series of renovation and reconstruction projects for dilapidated and dangerous houses. Our No. 95 courtyard is a bit special." Director Wang pointed to the courtyard's blueprints. "The west wing is the residence of Chief Engineer Wang Huanbo, which is a key protected area. In addition, the east wing was destroyed by war years ago and has been abandoned ever since, with only the foundation remaining. After deliberation, it has been decided that the subdistrict will allocate special funds to rebuild the east wing! At the same time, a closed garage and two ancillary rooms will be added to the west wing."

The news caused an uproar throughout the entire college! Rebuilding the east wing? And adding a roof to the west wing? This was a major event!

Yan Bugui's small eyes darted around, his mind racing: If the east wing is built, at least three or four families can live there! The courtyard will be even more lively! If only he could get a room… but he probably wouldn't get one. Adding a garage and a house to the west wing? Chief Engineer Wang's treatment is really… tsk tsk.

Liu Haizhong, his belly protruding, was seized by his urge to take charge again: "Director Wang! This is great news! We will definitely cooperate fully with the street office! Look at the construction team's arrival, the material storage, the personnel management... shouldn't someone from the compound coordinate this? As the second uncle, it's my duty!"

Director Wang waved his hand: "Old Liu, your enthusiasm is good. However, for this project, the street will arrange a construction team and assign dedicated personnel. Safety is of paramount importance, especially in the west courtyard, where there will be dedicated personnel in charge. The staff in the courtyard just need to cooperate." Liu Haizhong was met with a rebuff and was somewhat disgruntled.

What truly made everyone ponder was Director Wang's next statement: "After the reconstruction of the East Wing, it will primarily house the families of newly transferred employees of the Red Star United Industrial Corporation. This is also to facilitate their work and support national industrial development. The garage and outbuildings in the West Wing are to ensure Chief Engineer Wang's work and living needs, as well as necessary security measures."

Everyone suddenly realized! This was aimed at Wang Huanbo! The east wing was for the new workers of the Red Star Factory, and the west wing was added to better protect Chief Engineer Wang! Come to think of it, Chief Engineer Wang had just survived an assassination attempt; how could the higher-ups not take it seriously?

Soon, the construction team moved in. The foundation of the east courtyard was cleared, and bricks, tiles, timber, and cement were continuously transported in, with the workers getting to work enthusiastically. In the west courtyard, while ensuring that Wang Huanbo's rest was not disturbed, they quietly began constructing a sturdy garage with a roller shutter door and two seemingly ordinary but actually reinforced walls and windows outbuildings.

Meanwhile, the transfer of personnel from the Hongxing Factory to the Hongshankou Branch Factory was quickly completed. Liang Ladi, with her excellent welding skills, was officially transferred to the welding workshop of the Hongxing Automobile Manufacturing Branch Factory, designated as a Level 4 welder, and her salary doubled! Nan Yi was personally selected by Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide and transferred to the Hongxing Automobile Factory canteen as the canteen director, mainly responsible for small kitchens and hospitality meals. His salary was directly promoted from a regular cook to Administrative Level 22 (clerk level), making Sha Zhu envious for days. Ding Qiunan was transferred to the Hongxing Factory Staff Hospital (an upgraded medical clinic) to continue working as the factory doctor. Cui Dake, valued by Li Huaide for his "good at handling things" and capable of getting things done, was transferred to the General Factory Logistics Department as the Deputy Director of the Administrative Section (deputy section chief level), fulfilling his dream of becoming a cadre.

The housing problem for these families was naturally resolved by the factory in coordination with the local street office. Just then, the reconstruction of the east wing of courtyard number 95 was completed! Brand new blue bricks and gray tiles, bright glass windows, and running water! Although the area wasn't large, with only one or two rooms for each family, it was infinitely better than their original living conditions at the branch factory! And this was a traditional courtyard house in the capital, Beijing!

The day of the housing allocation was a lively affair. Liang Ladi, with her four children, was allocated two main rooms in the east wing! This was a special consideration given by the factory and the neighborhood committee, taking into account that she was a widow with many children. Liang Ladi was so excited that she wiped away tears, while the children ran around in their new rooms, their laughter filling the air. Nan Yi was allocated an east wing room, which, although small, was more than enough for one person. Ding Qiunan and Cui Dake, a married couple, were allocated a west wing room. Although Cui Dake felt the room was a bit small, he felt better knowing it was a traditional courtyard house in Beijing, and that Chief Engineer Wang shared the same courtyard. He felt proud and honored.

The garage and outbuildings in the west courtyard were also completed at the same time. The garage was spacious enough to accommodate Wang Huanbo's Hongqi Xingyao S600L Guard with room to spare. The two outbuildings housed two special "neighbors"—families of security personnel carefully selected and assigned by higher authorities. The men were elite members of the Central Security Regiment, highly skilled in combat, while the women were also trained security officers. Ostensibly employees of the factory's security department, their actual mission was to provide 24-hour close protection for Wang Huanbo. Their arrival elevated the security level of the west courtyard to the highest level.

Wang Huanbo understood the arrangements made by his superiors and felt an even greater sense of responsibility. He made a point of meeting his new neighbors, behaving in a friendly and approachable manner, which put the two families of security guards at ease.

And so, the population structure of Courtyard No. 95 underwent a dramatic change. New employees of the Red Star Factory moved into the east wing, and security was strengthened in the west wing. The courtyard became more lively every day, and it took on a more "work unit dormitory" feel. Yan Bugui was still fiddling with his abacus, calculating the income and expenditure of each household; Liu Haizhong was still dreaming of becoming an official, lecturing his son; Xu Damao was secretly observing, pondering the background of his new neighbors; Shazhu was vying for attention with Nan Yi in the canteen; the Jia family was still shrouded in gloom... But no matter what, the atmosphere of life and the pulse of the times in the courtyard became more vibrant. And at the center of all these changes, there was still that busy figure in the west wing—Wang Huanbo.