Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The fifth day of the first lunar month is called "Breaking Five".

The festive atmosphere in Beijing hadn't faded; instead, the custom of welcoming the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year added to the lively atmosphere. At dawn, the sporadic sound of firecrackers began, more persistent than on New Year's Eve, as every household hoped to use the sound to send away poverty and welcome a prosperous new year. The alleyways were filled with the smell of gunpowder and the aroma of dumplings being cooked on the fifth day.

In the courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, a new look has already emerged. The New Year is over, but life goes on, and with the implementation of new policies, many things are now urgent.

In the west courtyard, in Wang Huanbo's study, the stove fire was burning brightly. He was working on a new blueprint, a preliminary concept for a tracked variant of the "Red Star Little Cannon." The black soil of northern China becomes incredibly muddy after the spring thaw, making wheeled tractors prone to getting stuck; tracked tractors offer better mobility. However, tracked systems are complex and costly, so he needed to design a simplified, reliable solution suitable for domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Lou Xiao'e tiptoed in, brought him a new cup of hot tea, glanced at the intricate lines and markings on the table, and without disturbing him, quietly withdrew to begin tidying up the New Year's gifts and leftovers. The GE refrigerator hummed steadily in the corner of the kitchen, containing some ingredients that needed to be kept fresh and a few bottles of unfinished cola, becoming a striking sight in the yard.

At the Zhongyuan Courtyard, Yi Zhonghai's family was also up early. Yi Aiguo, still not quite done celebrating the New Year, stared longingly at the last few butter biscuits on the table. Yi Aijia whispered a reminder: "Aiguo, these biscuits were given to you by Uncle Wang, so you need to eat them sparingly. We're going to school to register today, so be alert." Yi Aiguo nodded obediently. After the start of spring, the neighborhood committee helped them connect with a nearby primary school. Yi Aijia had previously enrolled in the fourth grade at Hongxing Primary School, and Yi Aiguo followed his sister into the preschool class at Hongxing Primary School. This was the happiest thing for the older woman and Yi Zhonghai recently.

The Jia family's door remained closed, but it wasn't as deathly still as it had been before the Lunar New Year. Jia Dongxu had left early that morning, carrying his household registration booklet and some documents, his face grave but resolute. He first went to the local police station to inquire about the household registration transfer policy. The answer he received was that transferring rural household registration to the city was extremely strictly controlled. Unless it was for very special circumstances such as recruitment, further education, or military service, and with a formal letter from the receiving unit, it was practically impossible. This control was even stricter during the current rural commune reform.

Jia Dongxu's heart sank, but he didn't give up. He rushed to the personnel department of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. As a worker injured on the job and also on paid leave for school, the people in the personnel department treated him fairly politely. He proposed to "transfer" his current position as a level-two fitter to his wife, Qin Huairu (actually, he would be filling in for her), and return to the factory after he graduated from vocational school and was assigned a job.

The head of the personnel department, a capable middle-aged woman, shook her head upon hearing this: "Comrade Dongxu, your idea... is not in accordance with regulations. The position is given by the state and follows the person; there's no such thing as transferring it. Unless you leave the factory, or... there's a special policy arrangement. You're currently a registered employee, just on paid leave for schooling, and your position is still reserved for you. There's no precedent for having your spouse fill in. Besides, your spouse has a rural household registration, which makes it even more unacceptable."

Jia Dongxu pleaded repeatedly, explaining his family's difficulties. The section chief showed sympathy, but dared not compromise on matters of principle: "Well then, Comrade Dongxu, your situation is special. I'll report it to the factory leadership. But you also need to be prepared; policy is a red line. If all else fails... when you graduate and come back, you'll have cadre status, and perhaps we can find a way to bring your family's household registration here, but that's a matter for the future."

Hope was fading. Jia Dongxu dragged his heavy steps out of the factory building, stood in the cold wind, and looked at the bustling scene in the factory area and the tractor factory construction site in the distance, his heart filled with helplessness and resentment towards his mother. If only he had listened to her advice earlier, things wouldn't have come to this!

He returned home and explained the situation. Upon hearing that things hadn't gone as planned, Jia Zhangshi nearly started another fight, but Jia Dongxu silenced her with a low growl: "Mom! How long are you going to make a scene? Do you really want to be sent back to the countryside before you're satisfied?!"

Looking at her son's red eyes and clenched fists, Jia Zhangshi flinched, finally not daring to throw another tantrum. She simply sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), muttering curses about the injustice of fate. Qin Huairu silently wept, touching her belly, filled with fear for the future.

Just then, Yan Bugui's distinctive, calculatingly enthusiastic voice rang out from the courtyard: "Dongxu! Is Dongxu home? Great news! Excellent news!"

Jia Dongxu opened the door with a puzzled look. Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together, his small eyes shining: "Dongxu, I just came back from the street office and heard some news! Our district is going to cooperate with the rural collectivization by setting up a pilot project for worker-peasant mutual assistance! It's like factories will provide counterpart support to the communes, offering some technical assistance and helping to train farm machinery operators and such. Our factory is paired with the newly established Hongxing Commune in Changping! I heard that the commune is in dire need of young people with education and some mechanical knowledge, and the factory can recommend employees' family members to participate in the training. Those who are outstanding might be given jobs locally, or... well, anyway, it's an opportunity! Isn't your wife a rural resident? You could give it a try! I think there's even a work point subsidy during the training!"

The news struck Jia Dongxu like a bolt of lightning, cleaving through the gloom in his heart. He hurriedly asked, "Third Uncle, is the news accurate? How do I register? What are the requirements?"

"That's right! Director Wang said it himself! Registration is at the street office. Just bring your household registration book and a letter of introduction from the commune. The requirements are: poor and lower-middle peasants, good health, preferably with some education, and willing to learn. I think Huai Ru is quite suitable!" Yan Bugui, well-informed, was doing the Jia family a big favor, thinking that it might come in handy in the future.

Jia Dongxu was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. He went back inside and discussed it with Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu heard that there was an opportunity, even if it was just training and might involve going to the countryside, but she still felt a glimmer of hope. It was better than staying at home waiting to starve to death. When Jia Zhangshi heard that she was going to the countryside, she wanted to object, but Jia Dongxu shut her up with the words, "If you don't go, you really won't have a way to survive."

Jia Dongxu immediately set off, first going to the street office to verify with Director Wang, and then asking Qin Huairu to quickly write a letter back to Qin Family Village to obtain a letter of introduction. Although the future was uncertain, at least there was a path to struggle forward.

Just as the Jia family was struggling for a glimmer of hope, Changping, Wangjiazhuang, and even the newly established Hongxing Commune (a merger of five natural villages including Wangjiazhuang, Qinjiacun, and Jiajiacun) were immersed in an even greater excitement and anticipation.

The commune's founding meeting was held in the threshing ground of Wangjiazhuang. Villagers from five villages, young and old, filled the room in a dense crowd. The platform was a makeshift wooden structure with a red banner that read "Founding of the Red Star People's Commune and Spring Farming Mobilization Meeting." Wang Yuanshan and Li Youtian, as the original leaders of Wangjiazhuang, were elected as the brigade leader and branch secretary of the commune's production brigade because their village was the largest and they were the first to undergo the "small cannon test."

The commune secretary, surnamed Chen, was a cadre sent down from above. He was a lean and capable middle-aged man who was speaking passionately on the stage in Mandarin with a southern accent, talking about the superiority of the commune system, the greatness of collective power, and the prospects for the upcoming spring plowing and agricultural mechanization.

"...Comrades! Going it alone will lead nowhere! Only by organizing ourselves can we build irrigation canals, buy machinery, use fertilizers, and farm scientifically! Our Hongxing Commune is backed by Beijing and has the support of a modern large enterprise like the Hongxing Factory! I have good news to tell you all!" Secretary Chen raised his voice, "The Hongxing Factory has decided to prioritize supplying our commune with their most advanced Hongxing brand multi-functional tractor—the 'Little Cannon'! The first batch is five units! They will arrive by the spring!"

"Wow—!" The audience erupted in cheers! Five "little powerhouses"! The red tractor that Wang Huanbo drove to test it that day, its miraculous power in plowing through frozen soil and digging sweet water wells, had already become a legend in several villages through word of mouth from eyewitnesses. Now, the commune would have five!

"Moreover!" Secretary Chen pressed on, "The Hongxing Tractor Factory is expanding and needs new workers! The commune has ten slots for recommending workers to the factory! As long as they are politically qualified, physically fit, have some education, are willing to learn technical skills, and are young men aged eighteen to twenty-five, they all have a chance! Once they're in the factory, they'll be part of the working class, receive government-subsidized grain rations, and earn wages!"

An even louder roar swept through the venue. Factory work! Grain supply! For farmers toiling in the fields, this was like a carp leaping over the dragon gate! The young men in the audience had red eyes, excitedly whispering among themselves, eager to try.

Wang Jinshi (Little Stone) squeezed to the front of the crowd, his heart pounding like a drum. He clenched his fists tightly, his palms sweating profusely. Enter the factory! Drive the "Little Cannon"! He knew almost immediately that he had to fight for this spot! He remembered what Wang Huanbo had told him, and the thrill he felt when he touched the cold shell of the "Little Cannon" on the threshing ground that day.

After the meeting, each village began to consider nominating candidates. Little Stone returned home and immediately went to find his father, Wang Yuanshan.

"Dad! I want to sign up! To go to the tractor factory!" Wang Shitou said firmly.

Looking at the burning flame in his youngest son's eyes, Wang Yuanshan felt both gratified and reluctant. Once he moved to the city, he would be a government employee, and it would be difficult for him to return to the village. But this was a tremendous good thing; it was the key to his son's future.

"Shitou, there are few spots available, and many people are vying for them. As the son of the brigade leader, you need to be even more careful about your image and rely on your true abilities," Wang Yuanshan said slowly, puffing on his pipe.

"I know! I'm not afraid of the test! I can read, I can do math, I can tinker with a radio, fix a bicycle and stuff, who in the village doesn't know I'm good with my hands? I even followed my nephew Huanbo... no... Engineer Wang! I looked at tractors and asked him a lot of questions!" Wang Shitou eagerly declared.

Wang Yuanshan pondered for a long time, then nodded: "Alright! Dad supports you! But whether you get selected depends on your own fate. Remember, if you do get selected, work hard at the factory! Don't bring shame to our Wangjiazhuang village, and especially don't bring shame to Engineer Wang! He's taking care of us out of consideration for our clan, so we should be aware of that and strive to live up to his expectations!"

"Father, don't worry! I will definitely live up to your expectations!" Wang Jinshi nodded heavily.

The following days were bustling with activity in Hongxing Commune. Young men from various villages who met the requirements were all vying for positions, seeking favors from village officials and pulling strings, openly and secretly competing. Wang Jinshi, besides being a good candidate himself—a member of the Communist Youth League, with a primary school education, and skilled with his hands—had one major, albeit hidden, advantage: he was from Wangjiazhuang, a distant relative of Wang Huanbo. Although Wang Huanbo had never explicitly stated his interest, Li Huaide, in arranging the recruitment, had already subtly prioritized Wangjiazhuang, especially Wang Yuanshan's family. This wasn't favoritism; it was simply giving priority to relatives who were "closely related, well-known, and politically reliable" under equal conditions—a matter of common sense, and also a testament to Li Huaide's skillful social maneuvering—getting the job done, currying favor, and making Wang feel comfortable.

On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, the recruitment team of the Hongxing Tractor Factory conducted simple interviews and assessments in the commune. The assessment mainly consisted of political background checks, physical examinations, literacy tests (basic literacy and arithmetic), and assessments of practical skills. Wang Jinshi performed outstandingly, especially in the practical skills section. He completed the disassembly and assembly of several simple mechanical parts quickly and well, earning repeated nods of approval from the recruiting supervisor.

The final list was announced, and Wang Jinshi was among them! Nine other young men from four different villages were also selected. When the news reached Wangjiazhuang, the family was as excited as if it were New Year's Day, with villagers coming to congratulate them. Wang Shitou was so excited he couldn't sleep all night, touching the bullet-cased tractor model Wang Huanbo had given him, filled with boundless anticipation for his future factory life.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Li Huaide was reporting on the recruitment situation to Wang Huanbo.

"...Wang Jinshi from Wangjiazhuang is indeed a good one. He's a clever young man, steady-handed, and politically astute—a promising talent. It's already decided; he'll be working in the final assembly workshop, starting as an apprentice," Li Huaide said with a smile. "We've also picked good ones from the other villages. Now, both the commune and Wangjiazhuang will be grateful for your kindness, Engineer Wang."

Wang Huanbo waved his hand: "It's because they are qualified. The factory still prioritizes skills and character when hiring. However, it's always a good thing that our fellow clansmen can come to the city to work and change their fate. Comrade Huaide, you handled this matter very well."

With Wang Huanbo's affirmation, Li Huaide felt even more reassured and reported on the tractor factory's production progress: "The main factory building is complete, and equipment is being installed. Two special-purpose machine tools ordered from the Soviet Union have arrived, along with several domestically produced imitations. The engine production line upgrade is basically complete, and trial production can begin by the end of the month. The goal is for the first mass-produced 'little cannon' to roll off the line by mid-March! We guarantee it won't delay spring planting!"

"Okay, hurry up. Quality is key; we must make a good start," Wang Huanbo instructed.

"Don't worry! I've been keeping a close eye on the quality! Anyone who makes a mistake will be skinned alive!" Li Huaide patted his chest and guaranteed.

The Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Although there are no large-scale lantern displays, every household still cooks glutinous rice balls (obtained by exchanging precious glutinous rice coupons and sugar coupons), which is considered a perfect ending to the New Year celebrations.

In the west courtyard, Wang Huanbo and Lou Xiao'e sat facing each other, eating sesame-filled glutinous rice balls. The soft, sweet taste melted in their mouths. Lou Xiao'e mentioned that she had spoken to her mother on the phone during the day, and that the wedding date was basically set for May Day.

"Mom said, May Day is a good day, Labor Day, it's meaningful. The weather is also warmer. It's just that time is a bit tight, there are many things to prepare." Lou Xiao'e's face showed the shyness of a new bride and the busy joy.

"No rush, take your time preparing. Just tell me what you need. Oh, by the way," Wang Huanbo remembered something, "I'd like to keep our wedding simple, just in the courtyard. But we still need to invite the people we should. My dad and my older brother and sister-in-law probably won't be able to come back, so I'll write them a letter. Mr. Huo in Hong Kong has business dealings with the family, so I'll send them an invitation too. That's enough to show courtesy."

"Okay, whatever you say," Lou Xiao'e said gently. She didn't have many requirements for the wedding; being with him was the greatest happiness.

Outside the window, the distant sounds of street noise and sporadic fireworks could be faintly heard. The year was truly over. But life had turned a new page, filled with busyness, hope, and the approaching spring that belonged to them.

Wang Huanbo put down his bowl and walked to the window. The night sky was clear, and the cold stars twinkled. His gaze seemed to transcend the city lights, reaching the land of Changping, awakening from its icy slumber, the production line nearing completion at the Hongxing Factory, and even further afield, countless young people like Wang Shitou, carrying dreams of changing their destinies, heading towards new jobs.

This country, this era, is like the frozen earth in early spring. Although it is still hard and cold, the seeds of hope have been sown beneath the ice. They are just waiting for a clap of thunder and a thorough rain to break through the soil, grow strong, and eventually turn the world green.

He was honored to be one of those who sowed hope and cultivated and irrigated it.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the New Year holiday ended. The roar of machines in the Hongxing factory resumed, louder and more urgent. Everyone knew that a "spring plowing campaign" concerning grain, agriculture, and the foundation of the nation had begun. And the "steel guns" in their hands were the "Hongxing little steel cannons" about to roll off the production line.