Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

On a late summer afternoon, the sun still shone brightly, but the intense heat of midsummer had faded. In the courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, the chirping of cicadas grew louder and louder, mingling with the clanging of furniture being made by the carpenter directed by Sha Zhu from the east wing of the central courtyard, along with his occasional bursts of unrestrained, hearty laughter, all creating a symphony full of life.

There was a knock on the door of the west courtyard, the sound was somewhat urgent, and it carried the obvious excitement of the owner.

Wang Huanbo looked up from the pile of blueprints and code on the table, rubbing his slightly sore eyes. The "HarmonyOS 1.1" system on the screen was simulating a simple data packet transmission test, with a steady stream of green characters. He got up and opened the door, where stood Shazhu, his face flushed and his forehead beaded with sweat.

"Huanbo! Busy? Did I bother you?" Shazhu rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with an undisguised smile, his eyes shining brightly.

"Brother Zhu? Come in quickly, it's hot outside." Wang Huanbo stepped aside to let Sha Zhu in, and closed the door behind him, slightly isolating the noise from the courtyard. The room was much cooler than outside, and the prototype of "Dragon Soaring No. 1" emitted a deep and steady operating sound, like a lurking beast breathing.

As soon as Sha Zhu entered the room, he was momentarily drawn to the machine that occupied most of the table and its flickering screen, but he quickly returned his attention to the important matter he had come for that day. He was like a country bumpkin visiting a grand mansion, yet with a familiar air of brotherhood, curiously glancing at the characters on the screen that he couldn't understand at all, and clicking his tongue twice: "What are you fiddling with now? It's like a book written in heaven."

"It's just work-related." Wang Huanbo poured him a glass of cold water and asked with a smile, "Look at you, all sweaty! Did you strike it rich? Or has something progressed with Comrade Yu Li?"

"Hehe, I'm happier than if I found a gold ingot!" Sha Zhu took the water glass, gulped down several mouthfuls, wiped his mouth, and said impatiently, "Huanbo, I've come to see you today because I need your help with something important!"

"What's wrong? Tell me, I'll definitely help if I can." Wang Huanbo sat down opposite Sha Zhu, looking at his radiant face, and felt happy for him too. This childhood friend, though a bit simple-minded, was kind-hearted and loyal. Seeing him finally about to escape the tragic ending of being drained of his marrow and frozen to death in a bridge underpass in the original story, and embarking on a new path full of hope, Wang Huanbo felt genuinely gratified.

In the original story, Sha Zhu's ending was like a thorn stuck in Wang Huanbo's heart. He was morally blackmailed by Yi Zhonghai under the guise of "providing for his old age," his family emptied his savings and emotionally blackmailed him, he raised three ungrateful children, his own son He Xiao was taken away to Hong Kong by Lou Xiao'e, and in his old age, unable to work, he was kicked out of his home by that scoundrel Bang Geng, leaving him with nowhere to stand in the large courtyard. Finally, on a cold winter night, he froze to death alone under a bridge, without even anyone to see him off. It was only Xu Damao, his lifelong rival, who couldn't bear to see him suffer, who took his body and forced Bang Geng to wear mourning clothes for him, preventing his death from being too desolate. But what good did it do? A lifetime of sacrifice, a lifetime of scheming, a lifetime of loneliness, ending like this—it chills him to the bone every time he thinks of it.

Thank goodness, I came. With a gentle flutter of a butterfly's wings, many people's destinies have already veered off course. Sha Zhu became the canteen manager, finally seeing the light, and found a kind and understanding girl like Yu Li. Xu Damao, though still somewhat cunning, didn't harm Lou Xiao'e, and is about to marry Qin Jingru, finding a home. He also became the projection team leader, giving him hope for the future. Jia Dongxu didn't die; instead, he passed the entrance exam for a vocational school and is about to become a technician. Qin Huairu's life now has a solid foundation; she no longer needs Sha Zhu as her only lifeline, and her eyes shine with more light and hope. Yi Zhonghai, this "moral paragon," after his secret of having no heirs was exposed and his reputation ruined, unexpectedly found his long-lost niece and nephew, rekindling his passion for life. He even began genuinely mentoring apprentices, making up for his past transgressions. The deaf old lady... Thinking of that kind ancestor who had always been good to him, Wang Huanbo felt a warmth in his heart. She was still in relatively good health, and Sha Zhu and Yu Shui always remembered to take care of her.

This courtyard seems to be breaking free from the quagmire of mutual calculation and dragging each other down, moving towards an atmosphere that, while bumpy, is largely characterized by individual efforts and a drive towards a new life. Wang Huanbo believes that while his own factors certainly played a role in this change, the more important factor was the ignition and realization of the deep-seated desire for a "better life" within each person. Sha Zhu's marriage is the most vibrant and anticipated highlight of this new atmosphere.

"Huanbo, here's what happened!" Shazhu took another gulp of water, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, but his excitement was palpable. "Yu Li and I have basically set a date for early November! I've been thinking that marriage is a big deal, and I can't let the girl suffer. You know my two rooms, it's an old house. Although it faces the sun, it's dilapidated inside, and the worst part is—there's no toilet!"

At the mention of the word "toilet," Sha Zhu frowned, his voice carrying a hint of disgust and determination: "Before, I was all alone, a bachelor, and I just made do. I'd get up in the middle of the night to use the chamber pot, empty it in the morning, and clean it thoroughly. To poop? I had to run out of the yard to the public toilet at the alley entrance! In the summer, the smell was enough to knock you over! Flies buzzed around, there wasn't even a place to put your feet. Winter was even worse; the excrement in the pit froze like a mirror, slippery, going to the toilet was like walking a tightrope, terrified of slipping on your butt! I'm thick-skinned, I got used to it. But Yu Li is different! She's a temporary worker at the street printing factory (although it's temporary, in Sha Zhu's mind, Yu Li will be a permanent employee sooner or later), she's educated, and she likes cleanliness. If I marry her and make her run to the public toilet every day, shivering in the winter and getting headaches from the stench in the summer, what kind of man would I be? Would I still be a man?"

Sha Zhu became more and more excited as he spoke, waving his arms: "So, I've been thinking of giving my two rooms a good tidying up before the wedding! No, not just tidying up, but a complete overhaul! Huanbo, I admire you so much! Look how well you've renovated this west wing! Upstairs and downstairs, it's bright and spacious, and the best part is that there's a toilet inside. Just flush the cistern, and it's spotless, without a single odor! No need to go out in winter, and no flies in summer. This is what a human life should be like!"

He looked at Wang Huanbo with pleading eyes, full of fervor: "Huanbo, I know you're a man of great things, researching state secrets, you're really something! But you have to help me with this! I trust you! Tell me how to change it, and I'll change it exactly that way! Don't worry about the money, I have the funds this time!"

Seeing Sha Zhu's eager and energetic demeanor, Wang Huanbo smiled. This was how he should live a good life and cherish his wife. He nodded, "Brother Zhu, it's good that you have this intention. Sister Yu Li is lucky to be with you. The house renovation needs careful planning. Adding a second floor, building a rooftop balcony, installing a separate bathroom and plumbing—these are all excellent ideas that will greatly improve the quality of life. However, it's a large project, and the cost won't be low. You just said you didn't need to worry about money…it seems you've prepared very well this time?"

The mention of money instantly straightened Sha Zhu's back, his face revealing a mixture of pride, emotion, and a touch of boasting. He counted on his fingers, as if reciting a familiar story:

"Hey! Huanbo, to be honest, this time, I really experienced what 'many hands make light work' means! It truly proves the old saying, 'There's always a way out, and things will work themselves out!'"

"The first one was from the old matriarch in the backyard, the deaf old lady!" Sha Zhu's voice was full of gratitude. "When the old lady heard that I was getting married, she was so happy she couldn't stop smiling. She called me over and, from a small wooden box that she had kept hidden for who knows how many years, tremblingly pulled out two stacks of money, brand new ten-yuan notes, a total of two hundred yuan! She insisted on giving it to me, saying, 'Zhu Zi, take this! Getting married is a big deal, you can't be stingy! I don't have anything else, this little bit of money is to add to your joy!' Could I accept it? The old lady is so old, she's counting on this little bit of money to live on! But the old lady wouldn't have it, saying that if I didn't take it, I would be disrespecting her and not recognizing her as my grandmother! I had no choice but to accept it with tears in my eyes. The old lady kept saying that when your parents were alive, they took good care of her, and now seeing you get married, her heart is sweeter than honey."

As Wang Huanbo listened, the kind yet slightly mischievous face of the deaf old woman appeared before his eyes. This old woman was one of the few sensible people in this courtyard, and she genuinely cared for Shazhu and Yushui.

"The second one," Sha Zhu continued, his tone becoming more complicated, "is for an old man, Yi Zhonghai."

Wang Huanbo raised an eyebrow slightly. Yi Zhonghai? This "Moral Venerable" who caused the most trouble for Sha Zhu in the original story, now...

"He approached me first," Shazhu scratched his head. "He gave me three hundred yuan. He said, 'Zhuzi, what happened before was something I, your uncle, wronged you, wronged your father, and even more wronged Yushui. Take this money; it's a small token of my sympathy for your wedding, and also... to atone for my sins.' He said that now that he has Aijia and Aiguo (the niece and nephew adopted by Yi Zhonghai), he understands how difficult it is to be a parent and raise children, and how despicable it was to withhold your father's money and letter back then. Now he just wants to raise the two children well, pass on his fitter skills, and make up for his past mistakes. I didn't want the money at first, but he was very determined, and his eyes... well, they were kind of... well, you know, so I took it. To be honest, seeing him now, with his two children, driving them around every day (in Yi Zhonghai's Red Star car), busy and with a smile on his face, I can't bring myself to hate him anymore. Oh well, it's all in the past."

Wang Huanbo nodded. While adopting a child played a role in Yi Zhonghai's transformation, it was essentially the relief of his anxiety about having no heir and the failure of his attempts at moral blackmail, forcing him to return to a relatively normal logic of interpersonal relationships. Being able to make up for some of his debts with money was a relief for both him and Sha Zhu.

"The third one," Sha Zhu's voice rose eight octaves, brimming with a triumphant satisfaction, "is my 'runaway' father, He Daqing!"

"Oh?" Wang Huanbo perked up. Had He Daqing, the somewhat vague and irresponsible father figure in the original story, also changed?

"I wrote him a letter!" Sha Zhu grinned, his smile a mix of emotions, but mostly relief and pride. "I'll be blunt, Dad, your son, He Yuzhu, is getting married! To continue the He family line! Getting a wife requires a dowry, furnishing a house, buying 'three turns and one sound' (a traditional Chinese house renovation project), everything costs money! You, as his father, are in charge!"

"And guess what happened?" Sha Zhu slapped his thigh. "Hey! Less than half a month later, the remittance arrived! Two thousand yuan! A whole two thousand yuan! My goodness! I've never seen so much money in my life! The remittance note only said one line: 'Zhu Zi, I'm sorry to you and your siblings. Take the money, do your job well, and don't wrong the girl. Once you've set your date, I'll find a way to go back.'"

Sha Zhu's voice choked with emotion. He blinked hard. "That old man He... finally did something decent! Yu Shui cried half the night after he found out, saying he was so happy. This money has paid off more than half of the debts he owed back then. With this money as a safety net, I feel much more at ease!"

"So," Sha Zhu concluded, holding up two fingers and then spreading them wide, "two hundred for the old lady, three hundred for the old man, two thousand for my dad, plus some I've saved up over the years, all told, nearly three thousand silver dollars, no problem! Huanbo, tell me, is that enough for me to renovate the house to look like yours? No, it doesn't have to be exactly the same, a little less is fine, but it absolutely has to have a toilet! And a second floor and a balcony, preferably too!"

Looking at Sha Zhu's expectant eyes, as if he could already see his brand-new wedding room, Wang Huanbo was filled with emotion. A few thousand yuan was an enormous sum in 1958! An ordinary worker would have to save for five or six years without eating or drinking! The deaf old woman's kindness, Yi Zhonghai's compensation, He Daqing's "atonement," and Sha Zhu's own savings combined to form this "nest-building fund." This was not just money, but also a blessing and impetus from all sides for Sha Zhu's new life, and it also indirectly confirmed the change in Sha Zhu's "popularity" and "fortune."

"That's enough, Brother Zhu, more than enough." Wang Huanbo nodded firmly. "Brother Zhu, you need to plan this money carefully. It'll not only be enough to renovate the house, but also enough to buy high-end furniture and appliances. But don't rush. Renovating a house is a technical job; you can't just do it blindly. Your house is an old-style brick and wood structure. Adding a second floor involves reinforcing the load-bearing walls, laying floor slabs, setting up stairs, and rearranging the water and electricity lines. Especially the toilet—it requires careful design of the water pipes and the procedures with the street office. You need to find a professional construction team, report to the street office and the housing management office, and get the permits."

Sha Zhu was dumbfounded when he heard how complicated it was: "Huh? I have to report it? Find a construction team? I thought... it was just like regular repairs, just hiring a few workers to do it."

"That won't do," Wang Huanbo said seriously. "Adding a floor changes the building structure and poses safety hazards. We must follow the regulations. Here's what we'll do: Brother Zhu, go back first and measure the exact dimensions of the house—length, width, height, and the locations of the beams and columns—and draw a simple sketch for me. I'll take some time these next couple of days to develop a renovation plan and construction drawings for you, taking into account the actual condition of your house. Then, I'll see if I can use my connections at the factory to find a reliable and experienced construction team. I can also help you inquire with the street office and housing management office about the necessary procedures. Keep the money safe for now; we'll discuss the details once the plan and construction team are finalized."

Wang Huanbo's words were clear, logical, and well-considered, immediately reassuring Shazhu. He didn't understand these intricacies, but he trusted Wang Huanbo. If Huanbo said there was a way, then there must be a way.

"Great! Huanbo! I knew I'd come to the right person!" Shazhu excitedly grabbed Wang Huanbo's hand and shook it vigorously. "You've been a huge help to me! Once the house is finished, I'll treat you to the best wine! No, I'll have your sister-in-law cook you a huge feast!"

"Alright, alright, stop being so polite with me." Wang Huanbo smiled and withdrew his hand. "Hurry back and take the measurements. Remember, make sure the measurements are accurate. This is important, we can't be careless."

"Hey! I'm going right now! I'm going right now!" Sha Zhu stood up abruptly like a soldier who had received an order, and was about to walk out excitedly, but he turned back at the door, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "Huanbo, this matter... don't tell anyone yet, especially those people in the courtyard. I'm afraid... it might cause trouble." It was obvious who he was referring to.

Wang Huanbo nodded knowingly: "Understood, don't worry."

Satisfied, Sha Zhu hummed an off-key tune and left the west courtyard with light steps, returning to the central courtyard to continue watching the carpenter make his new furniture. However, his eyes held a more concrete anticipation for the future—he seemed to already see the brand-new second floor, the spacious balcony, and especially the clean, bright, and odorless toilet!

Wang Huanbo closed the door and returned to his desk. The data transmission test on the screen had just completed, and a green "SUCCESS" character was slowly flashing. He looked at the screen, then at the faintly swaying figure of Sha Zhu outside the window, a smile playing on his lips. Designing Sha Zhu's wedding room, although it would take up some of his time researching network protocols, was something he was happy to do. Seeing those around him, under his influence or with his help, gradually move towards a better life, gave him a sense of accomplishment no less than achieving a breakthrough in cutting-edge technology.

He spread out a new sheet of drawing paper and picked up a pencil. On one side was a blueprint for an information network connecting the future; on the other, a design for a cozy home to carry a happy life. This afternoon, in this slightly cluttered yet creatively rich room, Wang Huanbo's pen would simultaneously sketch the outlines of two dreams. One concerned the fate of the nation, the other tied to marriage. Both equally important, both equally worthy of his dedication. The cicadas outside the window continued to chirp, life in the courtyard continued as usual, but the seeds of change had been sown deep, waiting to sprout and grow into a completely different, lush future. And Sha Zhu's excited, energetic figure was undoubtedly the most vibrant and heartwarming stroke in this vision of the future.