Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

Section 1: The Stunning Wedding Suite Completed – Exquisite Design and Luxurious Design

On September 29, 1958, the first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the thin mist and shone on the branches and leaves of the old locust tree in the courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang. However, today, everyone's eyes were focused on the central courtyard—He Yuzhu's two wedding rooms, which had undergone a complete transformation, and finally, on this day, their mysterious veil was lifted.

When the construction workers dismantled the last scaffold and removed the dust cover from the building, the onlookers gasped in unison.

Where are those two low, old main rooms anymore?

What unfolds before everyone's eyes is an exquisite two-story building that blends the charm of a traditional courtyard house with modern living concepts. The exterior walls follow the traditional style of blue bricks and gray tiles, blending seamlessly with the surrounding buildings, but the details reveal an unusual level of sophistication—the window frames are made of dark brown solid wood with intricate carvings, and the glass is an unusual type of transparent flat glass, rather than the more common tempered glass; the roof tiles are arranged neatly and uniformly, gleaming with a warm luster in the morning light.

The most eye-catching feature is the spacious balcony on the second floor, which is about ten square meters in size. The railing is made of openwork floral tiles, ensuring both safety and aesthetics. A small rain shelter is also designed above the balcony, clearly demonstrating a combination of practicality and beauty.

"My goodness..." Zhao's wife, who lived in the front yard, couldn't help but cover her mouth. "This...this is like moving a Western-style house into a traditional courtyard house?"

The three middle-aged women stood on tiptoe, craning their necks to peer in that direction, muttering, "Two stories...with a balcony...how much would that cost..."

Sha Zhu stood in the courtyard, hands on his hips, his face beaming with undisguised pride and satisfaction. Beside him stood Wang Huanbo—the designer of this "outrageous" wedding room—smiling as he received the final inspection report from foreman Lao Chen.

"Master He, Engineer Wang, please inspect it." Old Chen, a craftsman in his fifties, also had a proud look on his face. "It's finished exactly according to Engineer Wang's design drawings. Look at the walls, we used the latest white plaster mixed with alum, which guarantees it won't yellow or peel for three years. The floor tiles are from Shanghai, and we personally selected each one; their flatness is absolutely perfect."

Sha Zhu nodded and waved his hand, "Let's go in and take a look!"

The group pushed open the brand-new solid wood door, painted vermilion, and entered the house.

An even louder gasp of surprise came from the crowd.

The first thing that catches the eye is the spacious and bright living room, which is over twenty square meters in size. The floor is covered with off-white ceramic tiles, which are so smooth and reflective that they can reflect one's image. The walls are painted snow-white, and there are three uniquely designed chandeliers on the ceiling—imported from the Czech Republic by Wang Huanbo from the Friendship Store, with exquisite patterns carved on their glass shades.

To the left of the living room is a set of Ming-style table and chairs, the dark brown wood exuding a warm luster, with simple and smooth lines. On the table is a set of blue and white porcelain tea set, and in the corner stands a display cabinet of the same style. Although it is currently empty, one can already imagine its elegance when it is filled with porcelain and books.

"This furniture... was it made by Master Liu from the West District?" Old Li, the knowledgeable carpenter in the courtyard, squinted as he examined it. "Good heavens, this wood is at least fifty years old elm. Look at the grain... tsk tsk, Master Liu's craftsmanship, combined with this material, this set of furniture could easily be passed down for three generations!"

Sha Zhu chuckled and led the group on their tour.

The kitchen is located behind the living room, separated by a sliding glass door. Pushing open the door, a modern feel washes over you. Light gray tiled walls, a white marble countertop, and most strikingly, a gleaming silver integrated cooktop—four burners and a small oven next to them. Below the cooktop are storage cabinets, designed to fit seamlessly.

"This is... a gas stove?" Zhao's wife's husband worked in a steel factory and had seen some new equipment, but he had never seen such a sophisticated and integrated stove before.

Wang Huanbo stepped forward, turned on the switch for one of the burners, and with a gentle twist, a blue flame flickered and ignited, steady and quiet. "This is the latest integrated gas stove. All four burners can be used simultaneously. This is the oven, where you can bake bread and roast chicken. The gas pipes are already connected, and the water is running too." He then pointed to the area above the countertop, "There's space reserved here for installing a range hood in the future."

"Exhaust...exhaust hood?" This term was completely unheard of for most of the neighbors.

"It's something that removes the fumes from cooking, so the house doesn't smell like cooking oil," Wang Huanbo explained simply, but everyone still looked blank.

The toilet left everyone speechless. It was a separate bathroom, easily seven or eight square meters in size. The floor and walls were covered with light blue tiles, and a spotless white ceramic toilet stood quietly in one corner—it was a genuine American product, a Kohler brand, with a curved tank and a smooth ceramic surface, a world apart from the squat toilets or simple wooden toilets commonly seen today.

Next to the toilet is a sink made of the same ceramic material, with a large mirror embedded in the wall above it. The most surprising part is the shower area—a silver showerhead is mounted on the wall, and below it is a palm-sized square controller.

"This," Wang Huanbo pointed to the controller, "is the control panel for the electric water heater. Plug it in, set the temperature, and you can take a hot shower. No need to boil water, no need to carry water, just turn on the switch and there's hot water."

"My goodness..." Jia Zhangshi squeezed through the doorway, her eyes wide with disbelief. "This...this place where people poop and pee is cleaner than my main room! And you can even take a hot shower here? How much electricity does that use?!"

Sha Zhu chuckled as he pushed open the door to the other side of the bathroom: "This is the laundry room. We plan to put a washing machine here someday. Huanbo said that automatic washing machines have been around for a while now, and he wants to get me one first when our country can produce them."

The second floor houses the bedrooms and study. The master bedroom faces south, is spacious and bright, and also features wooden floors. A floor-to-ceiling wardrobe occupies an entire wall. The second bedroom is slightly smaller but cleverly designed, with a small desk placed in front of the window. The study has a full wall of bookshelves, with a large desk and a comfortable chair in the center—clearly prepared for Yu Li, who works in a printing factory and enjoys reading and writing.

Each room is equipped with lights, the wiring concealed within the walls, and the switches are neat pull-cord type. The windows are all double-glazed; Wang Huanbo explained that this provides better sound insulation and heat preservation.

When everyone came out of the house, their expressions were extremely complex—envy, shock, disbelief, and a hint of unspeakable bitterness.

"Zhu Zi," Yi Zhonghai, an old man in the courtyard who had seen the world, couldn't help but exclaim, "Your house... it's really something!" He gave a thumbs up, "Don't even mention Nanluoguxiang, in the entire Dongcheng District, I dare say you can't find another house like this!"

Sha Zhu scratched his head and chuckled憨厚ly, "Uncle, you flatter me. I just thought that since we're getting married, we should make it nice and comfortable for Yu Li. Money can be earned back, but a marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime event."

These words are true, but they sound particularly harsh to some people.

Section Two: The stingy old man's calculations were like a heart being torn apart, leading to reflection and the severing of their emotional ties.

Yan Fugui stood on the periphery of the crowd, his hands behind his back, his face expressionless, but his shrewd eyes gleamed with a complex light. From the moment Sha Zhu opened the door, his mind had been calculating non-stop.

"The tiles... are made in Shanghai. They cost at least three yuan per square meter. This is over a hundred square meters on the floor and walls, so that's over three hundred yuan."

"White plaster mixed with alum is twice as expensive as regular white plaster. For the walls of these two floors... it won't be less than 150 yuan."

"That chandelier is obviously an imported product. I've seen similar ones priced at Friendship Store; one costs forty or fifty, and three... one hundred and fifty."

"Ming-style furniture, old elm wood, Liu's labor fee... this set will cost at least three hundred."

"Integrated gas stove... I've never seen one like it, but it definitely won't be cheap, I'd guess it'll cost a hundred."

"That American toilet... my god, I heard it costs over 200 yuan at the Friendship Store! And that electric water heater... it's almost 200 yuan again."

"Electric wires, water pipes, gas pipes... these are all concealed wiring and conduits, and the labor and material costs..."

"Two floors, high ceilings, balconies... the building area is at least a third more, plus labor and material costs..."

The more he calculated, the more his heart ached, and the more his liver trembled. By the time Sha Zhu led everyone out of the tour, he had already come up with a rough estimate in his mind—two thousand yuan, no more!

Two thousand yuan!

Yan Fugui felt his heart bleeding. What did two thousand yuan mean? It was four years' salary for him, a primary school teacher! It was enough to buy that two-courtyard house at the entrance of the alley! It was enough for his family of five to live comfortably for five years!

That idiot Zhu, that fool, that spendthrift! He actually squandered two thousand yuan on these two houses! Renovation! Can renovation feed you? Can you pull gold nuggets out of your toilet? Can you make flowers bloom when you shower with an electric water heater?

Yan Fugui's hands trembled slightly inside his sleeves. He thought of his home, where five people were crammed into three rooms totaling less than forty square meters. It was drafty in winter and sweltering in summer. To use the toilet, they had to go to the public toilet at the alley entrance, and there was always a queue in the mornings. Bathing? Going to the public bathhouse once a month was considered a luxury. Furniture? It was the same furniture he had made when he got married; the table legs had been bound together with wire twice already.

"What a tragedy... what a tragedy..." he cursed in his heart over and over again, cursing both Sha Zhu's extravagance and his own poverty. A mixture of jealousy, resentment, and bitterness gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

But Yan Fugui was Yan Fugui after all. After a brief moment of embarrassment, he quickly regained his shrewd demeanor. He forced a smile, stepped forward, and patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder: "Zhu Zi, good, really good! This house is magnificent! Yu Li is truly blessed to have married you!"

Sha Zhu chuckled, "Third Uncle, you're too kind! You must come to my wedding banquet with Yu Li!"

"Definitely, definitely!" Yan Fugui nodded repeatedly, but his eyes were still glancing around the room. "But Zhuzi, your third uncle has to say a few words to you. This house is nice, but the money... isn't it a bit... cough, young man, you should save money slowly."

These words sounded like concern, but they were actually barbed. Several neighbors chimed in.

"Yeah, Zhu Zi, those two thousand yuan could build a row of big brick houses in the countryside!"

"Is this toilet really that precious? We use public restrooms too, don't we?"

"If you ask me, a house just needs to be big enough to live in. All this fancy stuff is useless; it doesn't provide food or drink..."

Sha Zhu's smile faded slightly, but he didn't refute, only looking at Wang Huanbo. Wang Huanbo stepped forward and calmly said, "Dear elders, this house of Zhu's may have cost a lot of money, but many things were designed for long-term use. For example, the toilet and water heater are clean and hygienic, reducing the spread of disease. The tiled walls and floors are easy to clean, saving time and effort. The gas stove is convenient and saves time. These may seem like luxuries, but they actually improve the efficiency and quality of life. Zhu is a chef, and Yu Li is a key member of the printing factory; their time is precious. The money spent has brought a better life, a healthier environment, and more energy to work and create. I think it's worth it."

This makes sense, but it's still hard for the neighbors, who are used to being frugal and even stingy, to accept. Especially the concepts of "precious time" and "efficiency and quality," which seem so far removed from their lives. For them, saving every penny and making do is the true essence of living.

The crowd gradually dispersed, but the discussions continued to simmer in every corner of Courtyard No. 95.

Yan Jiecheng did not go home with his father. He stood alone under the old locust tree in the courtyard, gazing at Sha Zhu's "little building" that shone brightly in the sunlight, and remained silent for a long time.

He had followed them inside during the tour. The gleaming floor tiles, the snow-white walls, the exquisite furniture, the modern kitchen and bathroom... every detail pierced his eyes like needles, and even more so, his heart.

He thought of Yu Li. That pretty, clean-cut girl with two shallow dimples when she smiled. She loved reading, loved cleanliness, and spoke softly. He had fantasized countless times about what life would be like if Yu Li married him.

Now, he sees it.

If Yu Li married him, she would live in the three dark and damp side rooms of the Yan family home, crammed together with her in-laws and brother-in-law. In the mornings, she would have to queue for the stinking public toilet; in winter, she would have to wash with ice-cold water; and she would cook in the narrow passageway using a coal stove, amidst the smoke and fumes. There would be no private room, no desk, no place to read in peace. Every month, she would have to carefully budget her meager salary, haggling over every penny with the vegetable vendor, agonizing over whether to eat a piece of meat today or save it for tomorrow…

If she were to marry Sha Zhu, she would live in this beautiful little house, use a clean flush toilet, take showers with hot water at any time, cook in a bright kitchen with a convenient gas stove, entertain friends in a spacious living room, sleep peacefully in a cozy bedroom, and read books in a quiet study…

happiness?

These two words struck Yan Jiecheng's heart like a heavy hammer. He once thought that as long as he truly loved Yu Li and as long as he tried his best, he could give her happiness. But now it seemed that his so-called "happiness" was so pale and ridiculous in the face of the "happiness" that Sha Zhu gave to Li.

What could he offer Yu Li? A cramped home, a calculating father, a family in need of support, and a future without hope?

What can Sha Zhu give Yu Li? A warm and comfortable harbor, a carefree life without worrying about making a living, a sense of security from being cared for and loved, and a bright future.

Yan Jiecheng closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The faint, pleasant smell of paint and wood from the new house still lingered in the air. This smell contrasted sharply with the perpetual musty and cooking fumes of his own home.

His father, Yan Fugui's, calculating words in the house and his sarcastic remarks after leaving echoed in his ears. He knew his father too well. If he were to get married, his father would never take out two thousand yuan—no, probably not even two hundred—to renovate his house. His father would only say, "Having a place to live is good enough! When your mother and I got married, we only had a mud-brick house, and we made it through, didn't we?"

But that was back then. Now it is now. Yu Li is not an old-fashioned woman like her mother. She has her own job, her own thoughts, and she has expectations and aspirations for life.

What makes me think I can give her happiness? My meager salary of twenty yuan a month, with fifteen yuan to be handed over to others? The cramped three rooms in our house? Or my father's endless calculations?

A profound sense of powerlessness and a lucid pain swept over Yan Jiecheng. He suddenly realized that his obsession with Li was less love and more a possessive, unwilling desire, a blind pursuit of beautiful things. And when these beautiful things materialized into the tangible house before him, a house that held comfort and a future, his pitiful "love" was instantly shattered.

He is not good enough for Yu Li. At least, right now, he cannot give Yu Li the life she wants.

This realization was like a dull knife, slowly cutting into his heart. It hurt, but it also brought him a sense of relief and clarity.

He took one last look at the beautiful little building, turned around, and silently walked back to his dark side room. His back was slightly hunched and forlorn, but his steps were more determined than ever before.

Some dreams should end. Some people should be let go.

Section 3: Jia Zhangshi's venomous tongue resonates with many, and sarcastic remarks fill the courtyard.

While Yan Jiecheng was processing his bitterness alone, a group of housewives had gathered by the water trough in the central courtyard, centered around Jia Zhangshi. This place had become the second battlefield for "denouncing" and "criticizing" Sha Zhu's wedding room.

Clutching a bunch of chives, Jia Zhangshi spit as she picked at the withered leaves: "Tell me, isn't He Yuzhu a spendthrift? Huh? Two thousand yuan! Two thousand yuan! How much flour could that buy? How much meat could that buy? How much cloth could that buy? And he just plastered it all on the walls! Lay it on the floor! Fill the outhouse with it!"

"Exactly!" echoed the Liu family's daughter-in-law across the street, holding a toddler in her arms. "I heard that toilet is American! Does American toilet poop smell better? You still have to flush it away, right? What a waste of money!"

"And what about that electric water heater!" Aunt Sun from the backyard scoffed. "You need electricity to take a shower? One kilowatt-hour costs a cent! One shower is enough to buy half a pound of cornmeal! Isn't that wasteful?"

"If you ask me, He Yuzhu has been corrupted by that Wang Huanbo!" Madam Jia successfully shifted the blame to Wang Huanbo. "Think about it, although Zhuzi was a bit simple-minded before, he still knew how to be frugal. Ever since he got close to that Wang Huanbo, he's been buying cars and renovating houses, getting all these Western-style things! And who is Wang Huanbo? He studied abroad! His head is full of capitalist hedonism!"

These words resonated with many more people.

"Sister Zhang is absolutely right! We working class value hard work and perseverance! He's making a fortune even more extravagant than a capitalist!"

"Yu Li is the same. She seems like a very quiet girl, how come she lets Zhu Zi run wild like this? In the future, how will they manage to live a good life? Every little thing costs money. Now they've emptied the family's savings, what will they do when they have children!"

"I think it's just showing off! Showing off that He Yuzhu is rich and that he's capable!"

"Hey, where do you think he got this money? He's just a cafeteria manager, even with a high salary, how could he save two thousand yuan? Could it be some kind of illicit source?"

The atmosphere immediately became somewhat awkward after those words. Although no one responded, a seed of suspicion was quietly planted. Human nature is like that; when someone else's life far exceeds one's understanding and imagination, jealousy often morphs into malicious speculation.

Aunt Yi (Yi Zhonghai's wife) couldn't stand it anymore. She happened to come over to fetch water and couldn't help but say, "Don't say that. Zhu Zi's money is earned honestly. He gets a stipend as the canteen manager; besides, he's a good cook, and leaders often invite him to cook for banquets outside, which is additional compensation. Furthermore, Engineer Wang is the chief engineer, a national talent. Zhu Zi is close to him, learning new ideas and living a better life. What's wrong with that? Does he have to be like us, struggling and miserable, to be considered right?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi was displeased: "Aunt Yi, I can't agree with what you're saying. Does new thinking mean wasting money? Does a good life mean squandering your savings? In our courtyard, who doesn't live frugally? Is He Yuzhu the only exception? I think he's forgotten his roots! He's forgotten that he comes from a working-class background!"

"Yes! They've forgotten their roots!" several women chimed in.

Seeing that she couldn't win the argument, Aunt Yi shook her head, fetched some water, and left. She knew that the more she argued about this kind of topic, the more excited they became. Jealousy was like a weed; once it took root, it was very difficult to uproot.

This discussion naturally reached the ears of Sha Zhu, who was tidying up the details of his new house. It was the Zhao family's son from the front yard who came over and relayed what he had heard.

Sha Zhu just chuckled after hearing this, continuing to wipe the porcelain surface of the new toilet without looking up, and said, "Let them talk. I'm spending my own money, decorating my own house, and marrying my own wife. What's it to them? Jealous? If they're jealous, they can earn it themselves! If they can't, they can just keep quiet!"

Wang Huanbo, who was adjusting the water heater switch, laughed upon hearing this: "Zhuzi, you have a good attitude. Life is for yourself, not for others to see. If you feel comfortable and it's worthwhile, that's enough."

"Exactly!" Sha Zhu straightened up, dusting off his hands. "Huanbo, honestly, if it weren't for you, I never would have imagined turning the house into this. Yu Li came to see it and loves it! That makes it all worthwhile! Let others say what they want, I'm happy!"

His voice was quite loud, carrying clearly through the open window into the courtyard. Jia Zhangshi and the others, who had been gossiping by the water trough, suddenly stopped, as if someone had grabbed their throats. They exchanged glances and dispersed, each carrying their basins.

But the poisonous fire of jealousy was not extinguished; it only burned even brighter in his heart.

Section 4: Da Mao's jealousy burned within him, and his competitive spirit was hard to suppress.

If Yan Fugui's sourness was a calculated heartache, and Jia Zhangshi's scolding was a pure outburst of jealousy, then Xu Damao's feelings were much more complex and intense.

Xu Damao took half a day off today just to see what Sha Zhu's "legendary" lavishly decorated wedding room looked like. When he stood in front of that beautiful little building, looking at the gleaming tiles, bright glass windows, and exquisite balcony, he felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart, making him feel both sore and bloated, almost unable to breathe.

On what grounds?

These three words were screaming wildly in his mind.

Why is it that Sha Zhu, a cook who can only flip woks, can marry a beautiful and cultured wife like Yu Li? Why is it that he can drive a car? Why is it that he can live in a house like this?

I, Xu Damao, am the head of the film projection team in the propaganda department of the Red Star Factory! A proper intellectual! A film projectionist! Wherever I go, I'm looked up to! My father used to be the Lou family's driver. Although he wasn't as wealthy as the Lou family, he was still worldly-wise! In what way is Xu Damao inferior to that idiot Zhu?

In terms of looks, I, Xu Damao, have thick eyebrows and big eyes; I'm a handsome man! And Sha Zhu? He's big and burly, with a simple and honest face!

In terms of work, I'm a government employee, working in an office! He's a cook, serving people!

In terms of education, I graduated from junior high school, and I'm eloquent, literate, and can draw! That silly Zhu can't even read a handful of characters!

Speaking of family background... although my father was just a driver, he still worked for a wealthy family! His foolish father ran off with a widow a long time ago, leaving him with only a younger sister!

But why? Why is it that only idiot Zhu is enjoying all the glory now?!

Yu Li… Xu Damao thought of Yu Li’s delicate face, and his heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat. He had once had feelings for Yu Li, but before he could act, Sha Zhu beat him to it! Now, seeing Yu Li with Sha Zhu, driving a car, living in a new house, looking so happy and content, Xu Damao felt a surge of lust rush to his head.

What frustrated him even more was that he had originally planned to throw a grand wedding for Qin Jingru in October, inviting everyone in the hospital to make a grand spectacle. He even intended to specifically ask Sha Zhu to cook—not entirely to invite him, but to spite him, to tell him in front of the entire hospital: Look, I, Xu Damao, got married before you! My wife is younger and prettier than yours (at least that's what he thought)! I, Xu Damao, am better than you, He Yuzhu!

But now, with Sha Zhu's wedding room now on display, all his plans have been disrupted.

No matter how grand the wedding or how lavish the banquet, what about the bridal chamber? Xu Damao's two west-wing rooms are still the same as before: gray walls, dilapidated furniture, and a pitted cement floor. The kitchen is just a shed under the eaves, and you have to go to the public toilet outside the yard to use the toilet...

How can you compare these? There's no comparison at all!

When the time comes, after everyone in the hospital attends Xu Damao's wedding, and then looks back at Sha Zhu's impressive little building, won't they laugh at him behind his back? Laugh at him for putting on a show, laugh at him for being inferior to Sha Zhu in every way!

No! Absolutely not!

Xu Damao clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. He, Xu Damao, couldn't bear the shame!

A crazy idea grew wildly in his mind like weeds—I want to renovate my house too! I want to make my two west wing rooms even more beautiful and impressive than Sha Zhu's!

Once the thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed. Xu Damao's mind began to race:

Sha Zhu spent two thousand. I can't spend less than him, at least two thousand five, no, three thousand! If I'm going to pretend, I have to pretend better than him!

Tiles? I want the best! Patterned ones!

Furniture? I want new furniture too! Mahogany! More expensive than his elm!

Toilet? American-made is so great? I... I'll have someone buy the latest model from Shanghai! It'll definitely be better than his!

And appliances too! Sha Zhu only got an electric water heater, right? I want to buy a radio! A phonograph! An electric fan! Oh, and a TV too! Even though they're expensive and tickets are hard to get, I, Xu Damao, have plenty of connections!

Where does the money come from?

Xu Damao calculated in his mind. Over the years of working, he had secretly saved up some money, about five or six hundred yuan. He should be able to help his parents with some more; his father had worked for the Lou family for most of his life and had some savings, and his mother had always been frugal. In total, he should be able to scrape together 1,500 yuan.

Half is still needed... what should I do?

Ask Qin Jingru's family for it? No way. Qin Jingru is from the countryside, and her family is dirt poor. It's good enough that they don't ask her for a bride price.

Borrow? From whom? Which of these poor bastards in the compound has spare money to lend him? Yi Zhonghai? That old guy does have some savings, but he's on good terms with Sha Zhu, he might not lend him any. Liu Haizhong? Stingy as hell. Yan Fugui? He'd be lucky if he didn't turn around and scheme against him.

Perhaps... I could ask the factory for an advance on my wages? Or maybe I could find a loan shark?

Xu Damao was startled by his own thought. The interest rates on these loans were terrifyingly high; they could easily bankrupt him. But… if he didn't borrow, the house couldn't be renovated, and he wouldn't be able to vent his anger!

He could almost see his newly renovated house, even more beautiful and luxurious than Sha Zhu's. Everyone in the courtyard came to visit, exclaiming in amazement. Those gossipy women like Jia Zhangshi dared not utter a word of complaint anymore. Qin Jingru looked at him with adoration, while Sha Zhu hid in a corner, his face filled with jealousy and defeat…

The scene was so beautiful that he forgot the risks and the reality.

"Da Mao? Da Mao! What are you thinking about? I've called you a few times!" A voice pulled him back to reality from his reverie.

Xu Damao came to his senses and realized it was the Sun family boy from the backyard.

"Ah? Oh, it's nothing." Xu Damao composed himself and forced a smile. "Look at the house that Zhu Zi built, it's really nice."

"Of course!" said the young man from the Sun family enviously. "I heard it cost this much!" He held up two fingers.

"Two thousand?" Xu Damao feigned nonchalance. "Not bad. I'll get one when I get married."

"You're doing that too?" the Sun family boy asked in surprise. "How much will that cost?"

"Money isn't the issue," Xu Damao said, raising his chin nonchalantly. "The key is to create a high-class, tasteful style. We can't be like some people who just know how to pile on money but have no aesthetic sense."

These words were loaded with meaning, and the young man from the Sun family just chuckled and didn't reply.

Xu Damao didn't say anything more. He took one last deep look at Shazhu's new house, then turned and left. His steps were a little unsteady, but his eyes were unusually firm.

He made up his mind: this house had to be renovated! And it had to be renovated to be better and more luxurious than Sha Zhu's!

He wanted everyone in the hospital to know that he, Xu Damao, was no worse than Sha Zhu! He wanted Yu Li to regret not choosing him, Xu Damao!

Section 5: Nighttime Talks and Schemes Generate Delusions; Comparisons Sow the Seeds of Evil and Calamity

That evening, at Xu Damao's house.

Mr. and Mrs. Xu were stunned by their son's sudden "grand plan".

"Three thousand yuan?!" Mrs. Xu's voice trembled. "Da Mao, are you crazy?! Where would we get that much money?!"

"Mom, don't worry, listen to me." Xu Damao had already prepared his answer, and now he appeared confident. "I've thought about the money. I have six hundred myself, and you two can give me nine hundred, that'll be fifteen hundred in total, right?"

"Nine hundred?!" Mr. Xu nearly choked on his saliva. "Your mother and I have saved up a little over a thousand yuan for our funeral expenses our whole lives! And you're asking for nine hundred?!"

"Dad, this isn't your savings for your funeral, it's an investment!" Xu Damao coaxed patiently. "Think about it, once I've renovated the house, gotten married, and had a grandson, wouldn't you two be proud? And it'll be comfortable living here, right? Besides, the house will appreciate in value! If our family becomes successful in the future and we need to move to a bigger house, we can sell this renovated house for more money, right?"

Mr. Xu, puffing on his pipe, frowned deeply. "That makes sense, but... but it's too much. Sha Zhu's house, to me, is just so-so. Is it worth spending three thousand?"

"Dad! You just don't understand!" Xu Damao exclaimed anxiously. "Shazhu's house is only novel in appearance; the materials and design are utterly subpar! If I'm going to renovate, it has to be the best! The tiles have to be patterned, the furniture has to be mahogany, and the appliances have to be complete! I want everyone in the compound to see what real renovation is! What it means to know how to live a good life!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see his magnificent new house: "When I get married, I'll invite all the factory leaders! Let them see what kind of house I, Xu Damao, live in! What can Sha Zhu, a cook, compare to me?!"

Looking at her son's almost fanatical expression, Xu's mother felt a little uneasy: "Da Mao, it's not that I don't support you, but this money... is too much. How about we just do a simple renovation? I think Sha Zhu's house is quite nice..."

"Mom!" Xu Damao interrupted his mother, his tone firm and unyielding. "You don't need to worry about this! I've made up my mind! You two must support me on Jiubai! I'll figure out the rest myself!"

"You'll figure it out yourself? What kind of solution?" Xu's father asked warily. "Let me tell you, Xu Damao, you can't do anything illegal or disorderly!"

"Look at what you're saying, do you think I'm that kind of person?" Xu Damao's eyes flickered. "I... I'll borrow some money from a friend. I'm well-liked at the factory and have many friends. Borrowing some money to renovate my house is normal."

Mr. and Mrs. Xu were skeptical, but after their son's persistent pleading and even threats that he would not get married without renovating the house, they finally relented and agreed to give him nine hundred dollars—almost half of their entire savings.

With the money from his parents and his own 600 yuan, Xu Damao had 1,500 yuan in his hands. He was still halfway to his ideal of 3,000 yuan.

This sum of 1,500 yuan was like a raging fire, making him restless. He began frantically inquiring about the prices of various building materials and pulling strings to find good carpenters and bricklayers. He scoured all the building material markets in Beijing, finding everything appealing and wanting to buy the best of everything.

How much does this marble tile with gold lines cost per square meter?

"Rosewood? I want Hainan rosewood! Money is no object!"

"A toilet? Not American, but French! I heard it's the latest French model!"

"The radio must be a 'Shanghai' brand made in Shanghai, the phonograph must be a 'Siemens' from Germany, the electric fan must be a 'Wah Sheng', and the television... the television is the most important! Even a black and white one will do! We absolutely must have one!"

He made a long list, each item marked with a hefty budget. After all the calculations, it would easily cost at least three thousand five hundred dollars.

Money! Money! Money!

Xu Damao's eyes were red, like a trapped beast. He started borrowing money from colleagues in the factory with whom he had a good relationship, borrowing ten or twenty yuan at a time, using all sorts of excuses. He even considered embezzling public funds—as the head of the projection team, he handled small amounts of money for film rentals and equipment maintenance—but it was just a fleeting thought, which he suppressed himself; the risk was too great.

Finally, he thought of a "friend"—Old Jin, who ran an antique shop in Liulichang. Old Jin also lent money at exorbitant interest rates in private, with high interest rates but quick loan disbursement.

"How much interest do you want for a loan of 1,500 yuan for three months?" Xu Damao asked Lao Jin directly.

Old Jin squinted his shrewd eyes and sized up Xu Damao: "Master Mao, are you planning a big deal? 1,500, with a 3% interest rate, and after three months, the principal plus interest will be 1,950."

"Three points? That high?" Xu Damao was startled.

"It's not high anymore, Uncle Mao." Old Jin sipped his tea leisurely. "You can ask around about the market. If it weren't for the fact that you're an acquaintance, I'd be willing to pay 40% interest. So, what do you say, want to use it?"

Xu Damao's mind raced with calculations. 1500, three months, 450 in interest. Adding his parents' and his own money, it would just be enough to cover the budget. Three months… with his salary and extra income, and by being frugal, he should be able to scrape together 450 to pay the interest. The principal… he'd have to figure that out later.

I'm taking the gamble!

He gritted his teeth: "Yes! Sign the IOU right now!"

As he walked out of Lao Jin's shop with a thick wad of cash in his hand, his palms were sweaty and his heart was pounding. But when he thought about the glorious moment that was about to come, when he would crush Sha Zhu, he felt that it was all worth it.

As night deepened, No. 95 Courtyard returned to tranquility. The lights were still on in Sha Zhu's new house, where he and Wang Huanbo were still putting things together. Xu Damao, on the other hand, was in his dimly lit old house, looking over and over again at the list of luxury items by the light of the lamp, a smile on his face a mixture of fervor, anxiety, and anticipation.

A reckless competition fueled by jealousy sowed the seeds of disaster. Xu Damao didn't realize that he had borrowed more than just money; he had borrowed a raging fire that would soon consume him. And at that moment, he was eager to ignite it, to illuminate his fragile vanity.

The beautiful little building in the courtyard stood there like a silent beacon. It reflected Sha Zhu's contentment and steadfastness, the envy and jealousy of everyone in the courtyard, and Xu Damao's twisted competitive spirit and burgeoning desires. In this era of limited material wealth, the yearning for a better life and distorted vanity intertwined, brewing a new storm within the small courtyard.

Moonlight spilled onto the gray bricks and tiles, creating a serene and peaceful scene. But beneath this tranquility, the undercurrents of human nature had already begun to stir.