Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

On an autumn afternoon, cicadas chirped incessantly, but in courtyard number 95, there was a different kind of tranquility, tinged with a hint of restlessness and anticipation. Some were happy, some were sad; some were busy preparing for their new homes, some were gearing up for their weddings, and others were quietly paving the way for a life-changing event.

In the east wing of the central courtyard, He Yushui closed the door and cautiously peeked out through the hole in the window paper (deliberately not completely covered). The Jia family's doors and windows were tightly shut; she guessed that Jia Zhangshi was inside, either sewing shoe soles while cursing the heavens and earth, or plotting how to squeeze more money out of her daughter-in-law, Qin Huairu. From Xu Damao's house in the backyard, the faint sound of a radio playing revolutionary songs drifted over, the volume low. Xu Damao was probably fiddling with his meager possessions or showing off his "harvest" from his day in the countryside to his parents. Shazhu, on the other hand, had been sent out, supposedly to buy some novel seasonings for tomorrow's "outing," but really just to make room for the sisters to talk.

"Haitang, come in and sit down." He Yushui pulled Yu Haitang's hand and pressed her into a chair. Then she turned around and took out some treasured peach shortbread from the cabinet, put it on a clean plate, pushed it in front of her, and also poured a glass of cool boiled water for her.

Yu Haitang, He Yushui's classmate, was a girl with two long, shiny black braids, bright eyes, and a healthy wheat-colored complexion. She was lively and cheerful, a key member of the class's arts and culture group, a good singer, and straightforward. She took the water cup and curiously looked around the He family home—the house was fairly tidy, but clearly showed signs of a bachelor's lifestyle; the items were practical but not particularly elegant. However, the brand-new tin thermos with the red double happiness symbol, the transistor radio on the windowsill, and the sewing machine carefully covered with a floral cloth in the corner all indicated that this family lived comfortably.

"Rain, so mysterious, what's going on? And you had to send your brother out to tell us?" Yu Haitang took a bite of the peach shortbread, crisp and sweet, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction. Then she lowered her voice, with a hint of girlish excitement and gossip, "Is it... related to your brother? I've heard that your brother is a celebrity in our area now, the head of the cafeteria, and he even drives a car!"

He Yushui sat down next to her, lowered her voice, but her expression became serious: "Haitang, we're good friends, and I won't beat around the bush. It's about my brother, it's a lifelong matter."

"A lifelong commitment?" Yu Haitang's eyes lit up. "Yushui, you're going to introduce me to your brother? Really?"

"Absolutely true!" He Yushui nodded vigorously, then started counting on her fingers. "Haitang, to tell you the truth, my brother is a bit stubborn, a bit foul-mouthed, and sometimes acts without thinking, but he's a good person, kind-hearted, and responsible! Most importantly, his conditions are really good!"

She paused to make sure Yu Haitang was listening attentively, then listed them off one by one, as if they were her most treasured possessions:

"First, the job! He's the canteen director of the main factory at Red Star United Industrial Corporation! A proper cadre! He oversees dozens of people, and everything from hospitality meals to communal cooking gets his approval! When he goes out, everyone calls him 'Director He'!"

"Secondly, the salary! This is it for a month!" He Yushui held up seven fingers, then bent two more, "Seventy-five yuan! A solid sum, not even counting all the subsidies and cafeteria benefits! This salary is more than enough to support a family!"

"Thirdly, the house! This courtyard has two main rooms, facing south, warm in winter and cool in summer! Spacious and bright! If the couple gets married, they can live in one room, and when they have children, they can live in the other, or the inner room can be converted into a living room! How many homes in Beijing can compare to this?"

"Fourth," He Yushui said, her voice unconsciously rising a little, tinged with pride, "the car! A Red Star brand car, grass green, brand new! Bought with an internal discount from the factory, I have the right to use it! It matches my brother's position as the canteen manager perfectly! So convenient and respectable for running errands and visiting relatives and friends!"

Yu Haitang's mouth gaped open, and she even forgot to chew her peach shortbread. She knew that Sha Zhu (oh, now she had to call him Director He) was a good catch, but she hadn't expected him to be this good! A government official position, a salary of seventy-five yuan, two main rooms, and a car! Any one of these four things would be highly desirable in the marriage market; having all four... that was a winning combination! Her heart pounded, and her cheeks flushed. If she weren't only fifteen this year, so young... how did this good fortune end up with her older sister? But then she thought, her sister Yu Li was gentle and virtuous, beautiful, and still a high school student; she and Director He... seemed quite suitable? Why let the good stuff go to outsiders!

"Rain... your brother's conditions... are too good, aren't they?" Yu Haitang swallowed the pastry in her mouth, her voice slightly unsteady. "I'd only ever heard that he was a good cook, the factory's head chef, but I never imagined... he was this good?"

"That's right!" He Yushui said with pride. "My brother was just held back by some trivial matters, otherwise, he would have been married long ago! His kids would be old enough to run errands!"

"Trivial matter? What trivial matter?" Yu Haitang asked curiously.

He Yushui's face darkened. She leaned closer to Yu Haitang, lowering her voice even further, her tone filled with resentment and helplessness: "Haitang, precisely because we're good friends, there are some things I need to tell you beforehand, and also through you, to Sister Yu Li. It's not that I'm talking about people behind their backs, it's just... some people in this neighborhood used to be so filthy! My brother's blind dates always fell through eight out of ten times, not because the girls didn't like him, but because they were deliberately sabotaged!"

"Huh? There's such a thing? Who did this? How could they be so shameless?" Yu Haitang's eyes widened.

"It wasn't just one, it was a group!" He Yushui counted on her fingers, beginning to recount those long-buried memories that still lingered in her and Sha Zhu's hearts. "The first one was Yi Zhonghai, an old man from our compound!"

"Yi Zhonghai? I think I've heard you mention him before. Isn't he a very good master craftsman? He's even an eighth-grade craftsman!" Yu Haitang asked in confusion.

"Good? That's just on the surface!" He Yushui sneered, recounting in detail how Yi Zhonghai schemed for the sake of old age, first choosing Jia Dongxu, then targeting Sha Zhu; how he withheld He Daqing's letter and money, pretending to be a good person to gain trust; how he used the moral high ground of "respecting the elderly and caring for the young" and "helping neighbors in need" to trick Sha Zhu into providing long-term support to the Jia family; and how he repeatedly sabotaged Sha Zhu's blind dates out of fear that Sha Zhu would marry an unruly wife and escape his control. When she mentioned that Yi Zhonghai pretended to introduce a partner but actually found a "Pigsy's second aunt" to disgust Sha Zhu, Yu Haitang couldn't help but chuckle, then quickly covered her mouth, realizing it was inappropriate.

"Later, my brother stopped trusting him and found a matchmaker himself. Guess what?" He Yushui continued, "That old bastard Yi Zhonghai, he's so cunning! Whenever he had the chance, he'd badmouth my brother to the woman himself; when he didn't, he'd hint to that old woman from the Jia family, or Qin Huairu, to do it!"

"The Jia family? The one whose man is disabled?" Yu Haitang asked.

"Yes! Jia Dongxu's mother, Jia Zhangshi, is a shrew! She can't stand seeing other people do well! Qin Huairu is Jia Dongxu's wife. These two have taken advantage of my brother countless times before! Borrowing grain, money, or other things, it's always like throwing good money after bad! Qin Huairu even... she even took advantage of my brother's feelings for her, keeping him hanging on!" He Yushui's face turned red with anger as she said this, "With just a hint from Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi or Qin Huairu would go and tell the girls she was going on blind dates that my brother was having an affair with Qin Huairu, a married woman." They kept making things up, saying my brother had a violent temper and would hit people at the drop of a hat (especially Xu Damao), and that our family background was complicated (my dad ran away with someone)... What decent girl would dare date my brother after hearing that? Once or twice was fine, but after a while, my brother became infamous among the local matchmakers! Those matchmakers called him "Silly Zhu" behind his back, saying he was a "street hustler," a "reckless scoundrel," and "had an affair with a widow." No decent girl dared to introduce him to anyone!

Yu Haitang was stunned, forgetting to eat the half-eaten peach shortbread in her hand. "My God... how could the people in your compound be like this? This... this is simply..." She racked her brains for a suitable word, finally managing to stammer out, "worse than animals!"

"Who says otherwise!" He Yushui found common ground and spoke even more enthusiastically, "And then there's Xu Damao, the guy who shows movies in the backyard, the one who's getting married soon. He actually warned my brother at first that Yi Zhonghai and the Jia family were up to something. But my brother was brainwashed by Yi Zhonghai at the time and didn't believe him at all. He even thought Xu Damao was trying to sow discord and beat him up. You know Xu Damao, he's petty and holds grudges. After that, not only did he stop warning me, but whenever my brother went on a blind date, he'd get involved, adding fuel to the fire and saying bad things! He and Yi Zhonghai and the Jia family, although their goals were different, were all doing the same despicable thing—ruining other people's marriages!"

Yu Haitang was at a loss for words. She felt that this small courtyard was a bottomless, murky pool, teeming with all sorts of people. "So... what about now? Are these people still up to no good?"

"It's much better now!" He Yushui's tone lightened as she changed the subject. "Yi Zhonghai got his comeuppance. His inability to have children was exposed, and he later adopted his brother's two children, a son and a daughter named Yi Aijia and Yi Aiguo, who died in Korea. Now that his retirement is secured, he seems to have truly come to his senses. He returned all the letters and money my father had withheld to my brother, with interest, and sincerely apologized. He's now focused on training his apprentices and raising the children, so he probably won't cause any more trouble."

"After Jia Dongxu's work-related injury left him disabled, things were pretty bad for him. But later, Chief Engineer Wang from the West Wing—that's Wang Huanbo's older brother—helped him out by giving him study materials. Jia Dongxu also worked hard and managed to get into a vocational school. I heard he did well and will be able to return to the factory as a technician after graduation, with a management position. The Jia family's life is about to get better. Qin Huairu has hope now, and besides, my brother doesn't really pay attention to her anymore, so she probably has no intention or need to ruin my brother's blind dates."

"And Xu Damao is even more of a handful. He's getting married soon and he's having a great time! He's always driving around showing off, busy with the wedding preparations, and he doesn't have time to pay attention to my brother."

Yu Haitang breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good... So, no one's causing trouble now?"

He Yushui shook her head, her expression turning serious again: "There's one more thing we have to be wary of."

"Who?"

"Jia Zhangshi!" He Yushui gritted her teeth. "That old hag! She can't stand seeing anyone else doing well! Especially not when someone is doing better than her! Before, when her family was poor, she practically wanted the whole neighborhood to tighten their belts and help her out. Now that her son is doing well, she's got a lot more guts, but if my brother does even better, buys a car, and is about to marry a cultured and beautiful wife (she'll definitely be envious), I'm worried she'll feel resentful and cause trouble again! That mouth of hers, she can say anything filthy!"

Yu Haitang listened with lingering fear, patting her chest: "My goodness, this courtyard... is too complicated. Yushui, what kind of life did you all live before?"

He Yushui smiled wryly: "So, Haitang, I'm determined to introduce my brother to someone this time. It has to work out! I can't let those scumbags ruin his good fortune again! My brother isn't a bad person; he's just straightforward and easily fooled. Now that he's in such good shape and not getting any younger, it's time for him to settle down. I've met Sister Yu Li a few times; she's gentle, beautiful, and cultured. She and my brother would definitely get along! As long as you explain to Sister Yu Li that my brother is truly different now, all those messy things are in the past, and no one dares to cause trouble anymore, my brother will treat Sister Yu Li well!"

Looking into He Yushui's earnest eyes, Yu Haitang nodded emphatically: "Yushui, don't worry! Your brother's conditions are hard to find even with a lantern! If my sister knew, she'd definitely be happy! I'll tell her when I get home tonight! I'll explain the whole story clearly! So she'll have a clear understanding and be wary of that Jia Zhangshi!"

"That's wonderful! Haitang, thank you!" He Yushui grasped Yu Haitang's hand, her eyes slightly red. "My brother's happiness depends on you!"

"We're like family!" Yu Haitang gripped her hand in return, then her eyes darted around, revealing a sly smile. "But... Yushui, what you just said—Yi Zhonghai withholding money, the Jia family taking advantage, Xu Damao causing trouble...—is it all true? It sounds like a storyteller's tale!"

"Every word is true! If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning!" He Yushui raised her hand to swear. "I saw and heard all of this myself. Some of it my brother gradually figured out and told me. Sigh, I was young and naive back then, but now my brother understands too. Those people are no good! So this time, we have to do it secretly and catch them off guard!"

The two girls huddled together, whispering and discussing for a while before deciding on their "battle plan": Two days later, on Sunday, He Yushui would invite Yu Haitang and her sister Yu Li to a picnic in the countryside, ostensibly to thank their classmate for helping them with their studies. Sha Zhu would drive, handling the transportation and preparing the food. The location would be near the Badaling Great Wall—a scenic and quiet spot that would be both classy and avoid any potential eyes and ears in the courtyard.

"You know how good my brother is at cooking! I guarantee you'll be so satisfied you'll want to swallow your tongue!" He Yushui said confidently.

"Okay! It's settled then! I'll go back and tell my family and sister!" Yu Haitang was also excited; it felt like a secret, exciting adventure.

In the evening, Yu Haitang returned home and eagerly pulled her sister Yu Li into the inner room. Closing the door, she rattled off what she'd heard from He Yushui about Sha Zhu—no, Director He Yuzhu—and his conditions, like a torrent of beans. Of course, she emphasized the "four essentials": a cadre position, a salary of seventy-five yuan, two rooms, and a car. As for Sha Zhu's temper and past "dark history," she carefully mentioned them in a more tactful way, but stressed that he had now "reformed," his "conditions were excellent," and he "genuinely wanted to settle down."

Yu Li is two years older than Yu Haitang, nineteen this year. She graduated high school and has been unemployed for a year, currently working as a temporary worker at a local printing factory, worrying about getting a permanent position and her future. She inherited her mother's delicate features typical of women from Jiangnan—fair skin, gentle eyes, and a tall figure—but a faint trace of worry often lingered between her brows, a mark of anxiety about her job and future. Listening to her younger sister's animated description, Yu Li's heart involuntarily quickened its pace.

A government cadre position? That meant a secure job, social status, and benefits. Seventy-five yuan a month? Her parents were ordinary workers, and their combined income wasn't even that much! Two main rooms? Her family of four (her parents, herself, and Yu Haitang) squeezed into two small bungalows. Her biggest dream was to have her own independent space. A car? That was something she couldn't even dream of! She'd only seen them occasionally in movies and on the street; those were for leaders and a very small number of "capable" people.

As for He Yuzhu, Yu Li had a vague recollection of him. Her younger sister had mentioned him before, saying he was her classmate's older brother, a cook, a bit simple-minded, nicknamed "Silly Zhu." At the time, Yu Li hadn't paid much attention; a cook, even if skilled, how good could he be? But now, the "Silly Zhu" her sister spoke of had completely overturned her perception. This wasn't just an ordinary cook; he was clearly a golden catch—one that would be hard to find even with a lantern!

"What's he like? Is he really like you said, just a bit too straightforward?" Yu Li asked softly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Yu Shui said her brother is honest and kind-hearted, with no bad intentions. He's just loyal to his friends. He was fooled by bad people before, but now he understands! And, sis, you didn't see it, Yu Shui said her brother is really energetic now. He's the cafeteria manager, overseeing so many people, he's got real status! He can even drive!" Yu Haitang exaggerated. "Besides, Yu Shui assured me that all those people who ruined his blind dates are no longer a threat! Yi Zhonghai has his own child and doesn't care anymore; Jia's daughter-in-law has found someone else and isn't bothering him anymore; Xu Damao is busy getting married; only that old woman might gossip, so we should be careful and just ignore her! Sis, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You won't get another chance like this!"

Yu Li was deeply moved by her sister's words. She was somewhat confident in her looks, but she also knew that in Beijing, good looks alone, without a local household registration or a formal job, made it extremely difficult to marry into a good family. He Yuzhu's conditions seemed tailor-made for her—he didn't mind that she was currently a temporary worker (his salary was high), he had a ready-made house (no need to squeeze with his in-laws), a car (it would be impressive to talk about), and he was also a chef (there would never be a shortage of delicious food at home). As for his straightforward temper and somewhat "naive" nature… being honest was always better than those who were glib and full of tricks.

"Then... Rain said, let's go out and have fun together?" Yu Li's voice was even lower, filled with girlish shyness.

"Yes! The day after tomorrow, Sunday! Her brother will drive us to the Great Wall for a picnic! Let's get to know each other, see how it goes, and if it doesn't work out, we'll talk about it later!" Yu Haitang saw that her sister was interested and quickly pressed her advantage.

Yu Li bit her lip, thought for a moment, and finally nodded gently: "Then... okay. I'll tell Mom."

"That's wonderful! Sis, you can definitely do it!" Yu Haitang happily hugged her sister's neck. "When you become Director He's wife, don't forget your little sister!"

"Go away! What nonsense are you talking about!" Yu Li pushed her sister away shyly, but a beautiful smile involuntarily curved her lips. In her heart, she was filled with unprecedented anticipation for the "outing" two days later, along with a touch of trepidation. Was that man named He Yuzhu really as good as her sister said? Could he really change her destiny?

Meanwhile, Sha Zhu was sent out by He Yushui to "buy seasonings." He wandered around the alley entrance for a long time, not knowing what "novel" seasonings to buy. In the end, he bought half a pound of pig's head meat and two ounces of loose liquor, and returned happily. As soon as he entered the door, he saw He Yushui humming a song as she packed the basket, water bottle, and picnic blanket she would take out the next day.

"Brother, you're back? Did you buy the seasonings?" He Yushui asked knowingly.

"Buy it all!" Sha Zhu waved the oil paper package and the bottle of liquor in his hand. "Top-quality pig's head meat, authentic Lao Baijiu! We're having a picnic tomorrow, and I'll show off my skills with a pig's head meat sandwich and a cold dish. It'll be delicious!"

Looking at her brother's silly, grinning face, He Yushui felt both amused and heartbroken. Her silly brother was kind-hearted and good to people, but he had always been too trusting and had been badly taken advantage of. She hoped that this time, Sister Yu Li would be a wise woman, able to see her brother's goodness, and withstand the potential gossip in the hospital.

"Brother, I've already talked to Haitang. The day after tomorrow, she, her sister, and Sister Yuli will be coming with us. You'd better do your best, show off your cafeteria manager's airs, but don't be too cocky! Polish the car, dress neatly, and tidy your hair! Also, when you're cooking, use all your best skills! Try to win in one fell swoop!" He Yushui was like a well-informed little strategist.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu immediately straightened his back and thumped his chest loudly: "Yu Shui, don't worry! Your brother will definitely not let me down this time! It's just a matter of performance, right? Your brother will handle it! I guarantee that Comrade Yu Li will eat to her satisfaction, have fun, and be pleasing to the eye!"

Seeing her brother's eager and determined expression, He Yushui silently prayed: May everything go smoothly; may that Jia Zhangshi not cause trouble; may Sister Yu Li become her true sister-in-law. This family desperately needs a mistress of the house. And perhaps her brother's happiness would begin with this picnic at the foot of the Great Wall, with that brand-new, grass-green Red Star car heading towards a hopeful future.

Night fell over No. 95 courtyard, and the lights in each house went out one by one, with only the tireless chirping of summer insects. In the He family's house in the middle courtyard, Sha Zhu lay on his bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, his mind filled with his sister's description of Yu Li—fair skin, big eyes, gentle, cultured… Thinking about it, he chuckled to himself. In the Xu family's house in the back courtyard, Xu Damao was also lying on his bed, thinking about the excitement of National Day, Qin Jingru's marriage, and how to show off even more in front of Sha Zhu. The lights in the west wing of the courtyard were still on; Wang Huanbo was perhaps planning a grander blueprint for the famous factory, or perhaps contemplating the social changes that "cars entering the family" might bring. In the newly allocated apartment for the Yi family, Yi Zhonghai looked at his two sleeping children, his heart filled with peace and contentment. Inside the Jia family house, Jia Zhangshi was calculating how much salary her son would earn after graduation, and how to squeeze more "retirement money" out of her daughter-in-law. Her cloudy eyes gleamed with calculation in the darkness, and she occasionally glanced in the direction of the He family in the middle courtyard, letting out a barely audible snort.

Old entanglements seem to have faded, and new stories are brewing. All these expectations, calculations, competitions, and tenderness will soon unfold in that grass-green car heading towards the Great Wall, beside that carefully prepared picnic. But this time, the man behind the wheel is the one once called "Silly Pillar." Can he firmly grasp his own happiness and drive out of the quagmire of calculation that once trapped him? The answer lies in the wind, on the road, and on that approaching Sunday.