The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

Yang Ping unlocked the car and straddled the seat with his long legs.

"Um."

She responded softly and sat down in the back seat.

Once Yang Ping had her settled in, he pushed off with his foot, and the bicycle glided forward nimbly.

Night had fallen, and the streets and alleys were deserted.

As Gao Yue gazed at the figure riding a bicycle ahead, her heart softened, and she gently reached out and wrapped her arms around Yang Ping's waist.

Yang Ping's lips unconsciously curled up into a smile.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, and soon they arrived at the downstairs of Gao Yue's house.

He watched her go upstairs before turning his bike around and riding the old bicycle back to the courtyard house.

The courtyard was quiet; it was past nine o'clock.

The lights in every house were already off, and even the windows of the Xu family's house were pitch black.

He stood in the courtyard and listened for a while, making sure that no one would suddenly emerge from the shadows, before he felt relieved and walked towards his house.

After bolting the door, Yang Ping lay down on the bed.

He had already washed up at the hotel, and all he wanted to do now was to go to sleep.

……

The next day, the steel rolling mill was just beginning to see the first rays of dawn.

As Yang Ping walked into the factory area, people kept stopping to greet him, calling him "Master Yang."

It conveyed a sense of respect.

He nodded slightly, but continued walking straight to Workshop 1 without stopping.

This situation was witnessed by Yi Zhonghai.

He stood not far away, his eyes darkening—when he was promoted to the eighth-grade fitter, he had never experienced such a situation.

"Master Yang, you've come at the perfect time!"

Lu Shuitian strode over from the other end of the workshop, followed by six unfamiliar faces. "I've brought all the people to Master Xie."

"Director Lü."

Yang Ping quickly responded.

He turned to the six people and nodded in greeting: "Hello, everyone."

"Master Yang!"

The six people spoke almost simultaneously, their tone respectful and their posture upright—they would have to rely on this person in the future, and none of them dared to be negligent.

"master!"

Yang Ping called out inside.

Xie Quancai was talking to Lin Dahai and the others when he heard the sound and turned around. He saw six people standing in a row next to Lü Shuitian, and his eyes lit up. He immediately went to greet them.

"Director Lü!"

He greeted him with a smile.

He couldn't help but shout it out.

"Master Xie, I've brought the six people here: two level-six fitters and four level-five fitters. They'll be working for you from now on."

Lu Shuitian handed a list to Xie Quancai.

"Thank you, Master Xie!"

The six people greeted each other in unison.

"good!"

Xie Quancai's face broke into a smile.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and he was confident that he could train a group of fitters to improve their skills in just a few days, just like Yang Ping.

Seeing his master's delighted expression, Yang Ping shook his head and chuckled to himself—hoping he wouldn't complain about it later.

Teaching others is no easy task. Unless you have some special skills, how can you have such abilities? It's extremely difficult to help someone advance in their career.

Yang Ping exchanged a few words with Lü Shuitian, then returned to the machine tool to continue polishing the parts.

……

In the evening, Yang Ping rode his bicycle back to the courtyard house.

After get off work, he wanted to invite Gao Yue to have dinner and go for a walk, but she refused no matter what. Even though Yang Ping repeatedly assured her that her headache would not recur, she still insisted on not going.

Having no other choice, he had to take Gao Yue home.

There's still a long way to go. My head doesn't hurt today, but it will hurt again someday.

Now that Gao Yue has already followed him, there's no escaping her now.

Turn the corner, and the supply and marketing cooperative is right in front of you.

As usual, Yang Ping went in and bought some groceries. Just as he was about to push his cart away, his gaze was drawn to a figure.

She was a girl who was about 1.65 meters tall. She was pretty and her figure was not outstanding, but she had a beautiful face.

He examined it closely and was startled: this was clearly "Xu Banxia".

—Isn't that the female lead from "The Wind Blows in the Summer"? How did she end up in this courtyard house?

It's worth noting that the story of "The Wind Blows in the Summer" begins in the 1990s, while it's only now in the 1960s, a full thirty years apart.

A few sycamore leaves on the street corner were swept up by the wind and then swirled down.

Yang Ping hadn't really figured out many things—but what did it matter? The principles of the world aren't something that can be understood in every single thing.

At this moment, he was only focused on one thing: now that he had met Xu Banxia, ​​he couldn't let the opportunity slip away.

The businesswoman who would later become incredibly wealthy and powerful in the story is now standing quietly in the twilight.

As he pushed the old bicycle closer, the wheels crunched over the fallen leaves, making a soft, rustling sound.

"Hello, sir."

Xu Banxia turned her head when she heard the sound.

A clear and bright face greeted me, with a composure rarely seen at his age.

Her gaze lingered for a moment, then she snapped back to reality and nodded slightly: "Hello, comrade."

"I've seen you standing here for a while. Are you having some kind of trouble?"

Yang Ping spoke naturally, like a casual greeting between neighbors.

"I'm waiting for someone; they should be here soon."

Xu Banxia's answer was brief, but her voice was clear and crisp.

"Okay, I'll stay in this area."

If you need any help, just let me know.

He smiled and said, "My name is Yang Ping."

"Xu Banxia".

She responded, which was a way of returning the favor.

"Xu Banxia..."

Yang Ping read it aloud in a low voice, as if savoring a refreshing herb, "A good name."

"Then I'll be going now."

He made as if to turn around, but then stopped, as if suddenly remembering something: "Is the person you're waiting for nearby? Would you like me to give you a ride?"

"No need, he'll be there soon."

Yang Ping then waved his hand and pushed the cart forward.

For a first meeting, making an impression is enough.

Too much of a good thing can be bad, and it can actually raise red flags.

If we meet again in the future, it's not too late to ask about their age and where they live.

Of course—if we never meet again, that's fine too.

The depth of human relationships cannot be forced.

The only pity is that it doesn't yet have "prestige".

Otherwise, if we add each other as friends and chat for a bit, we can arrange to meet again in the future, instead of just relying on fate to bump into each other in the sea of ​​people.

"Yang Ping, why are you bothering Banxia?!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, shouting sharply at him.

"Oh?"

Yang Ping frowned.

He recognized the voice all too well. Turning his head, he saw Liu Guangqi standing not far away, looking menacing.

This kid actually knows Xu Banxia? And he calls her so intimately, could they be boyfriend and girlfriend?

"Guangqi, don't misunderstand,"

Xu Banxia hurriedly explained, "Yang Ping just saw that I had been standing for a long time and came over to ask if I needed help. She didn't do anything to me."

"snort!"

Liu Guangqi snorted coldly, pointed at Yang Ping, his anger still not subsided, "Banxia, ​​Yang Ping lives in the same courtyard as me. He is a notorious scoundrel in the courtyard."

The injuries I had the other day were from him.

Don't be fooled by his feigned kindness; he definitely doesn't have good intentions.

It seems he's still holding a grudge about being beaten up during the last house-grabbing incident.

Yang Ping simply smiled.

Judging from their attitudes, their relationship is self-evident.

He didn't intend to argue with Liu Guangqi—one should always maintain some decorum in front of a girl.

He understood that arguing over this was pointless, and he couldn't possibly win Xu Banxia over, so why waste his energy?

However, Liu Guangqi was right; his thoughts just now were indeed not so simple.

"Guangqi, stop getting angry. If you get sick from getting angry, how are we going to get to Shimen?"

Xu Banxia advised softly.

When she looked at Yang Ping again, her eyes were filled with obvious annoyance.

Clearly, she felt nothing but disgust towards the person who beat her boyfriend.

Shimen?

Yang Ping's heart stirred.

Although Shimen City is the closest city to the capital, it is still more than 300 li away.

In those days, traveling far away meant being cut off from the capital.

Without the convenient transportation and easy telephone access of later years, travel was arduous, communication was difficult, and both travel and phone bills seemed like a luxury.

After He Daqing left with the widow, he never returned to see his son, and Sha Zhu never went to look for his father either. This is one of the reasons behind this.

I haven't heard any news about Liu Guangqi being assigned a job recently.

If it were true, given Liu Haizhong's personality, he would have already made it known throughout the entire hospital.

Why would someone suddenly want to go to Shimen City? Could it be that they want to leave with Xu Banxia?

In that story, Liu Guangqi left with his wife and never returned to the courtyard house, not even when Liu Haizhong was seriously ill.

No, this must be stopped.

We need to ensure that Liu Haizhong has someone to rely on in his old age.

Yang Ping made up her mind.

He did this not for Xu Banxia's sake, nor to make trouble for Liu Guangqi, but simply because he thought that if Liu Haizhong fell ill and was bedridden in the future, his eldest son should be there to keep him company.

Let that "filial piety"

It truly permeated every corner of the Liu family.

"I'm gone."

Yang Ping got on his bicycle, turned around, and left.

He didn't intend to waste any more words here.

Judging from Liu Guangqi's appearance, he'll probably be leaving in the next couple of days, so he needs to make some preparations quickly.

"Guangqi, that person is gone."

Let's discuss how to set off tomorrow.

Xu Banxia said softly.

She didn't realize that she had already let her plan slip.

"snort."

Liu Guangqi gave a low, cold sneer.

After tomorrow, he will leave this place, and he probably won't have the chance to teach Yang Ping a lesson again—which will only benefit that kid.

"Let's go talk at the other end of the alley."

There are too many people around here, and it's easy to bump into your neighbors. It's safer to find a quiet place.

"it is good."

Xu Banxia nodded.

I brought thirty yuan from home. Keep this with you for now, and we'll use the rest for our train tickets tomorrow.

Deep in the alley, Liu Guangqi took out the stack of banknotes and handed them over.

He said he took it, but actually he just rummaged through his bangs.

Even if Liu Haizhong favored his eldest son, he would never give out such a sum of money so easily. As for his second aunt, she had no say in such a large sum of money.

"become."

Xu Banxia took the money, glanced warily around the alleyway, and when she saw that no one was around, she gently lifted the corner of her clothes and stuffed the money into a hidden pocket sewn inside—she had sewn it specially to prevent pickpocketing on the street.

The two then lowered their voices and discussed their route to Shimen City the next day.

At this moment, Yang Ping had already ridden his bicycle back to the entrance of the courtyard house.

"You're back early today, Yang Ping?"

Yan Fugui was watering the flowers with a watering can when he looked up and saw him enter, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

Then he suddenly remembered something, and stepped aside to block the potted plants, afraid that Yang Ping would take one away again like last time.

"Uncle, please don't worry. I can't touch your things without your permission."

Yang Ping smiled, but his eyes gleamed with other schemes.

Yan Fugui remained tense and did not move, clearly not believing his explanation.

"By the way, Uncle San, I heard that Liu Haizhong's eldest son, Liu Guangqi, has already received his job assignment?"

Yang** Feng turned the subject around, as if it were just a casual remark.

He began digging the pit quietly—right in front of Yan Fugui, shovel by shovel, preparing to bury Liu Guangqi securely in it.

"Yes, that's true. Who told you that? Was it so-and-so...who told you?"

Yan Fugui hurriedly replied, but his tone became vague, and his eyes drifted elsewhere.

Yang Ping frowned almost imperceptibly—had he misjudged the situation?

Seeing Yan Fugui's even more anxious appearance than his own, and recalling the other party's evasive answers earlier, Yang Ping immediately understood—this old man Yan himself was also completely confused.

Even Yan Fugui, the most gossipy person in the compound, was unaware of the inside story. It's likely that Liu Guangqi's so-called job transfer was just a covert escape with his lover.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that this speculation was almost certainly true.

Yan Fugui's move to turn the tables amused Yang Ping.

It seems that only telling half of the story about the Xu family last time really made this old man feel stifled, and now he's learned to subtly extract information from people.