The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

"Comrade Yao."

Yang Ping sat down naturally.

When no one else is around, he skips the "Uncle" address.

They only address each other as comrades.

"I've come today to ask for your help."

He got straight to the point.

"Please feel free to speak."

Yao Fengze put down the order.

No matter what, he would always do his best for Yang Ping.

"I've set my sights on that empty courtyard behind Xue Ru Silk Shop, the one that was the site of the enemy spy incident a few days ago."

Now that it's vacant, I wonder if you could help me smooth things over.

Yang Ping got straight to the point.

There's no need to beat around the bush when it comes to your own trusted confidants.

"clear."

Yao Fengze immediately understood, and even the location and layout of the courtyard were already laid out in his mind.

He quickly began to consider how to proceed—at worst, he could exchange his own house for the property and add some cash as compensation. Even if he lost some profits, he would definitely get this matter done for his master.

"Very good."

Yang Ping nodded, a look of satisfaction appearing between his brows.

"Comrade Yang, I'll go and talk to Director Liu of the Subdistrict Office to see what they think."

As Yao Fengze spoke, he picked up the phone and dialed the street office's number.

Yang Ping stood quietly to the side, listening to snippets of conversation between Yao Fengze and the person on the other end of the phone.

It was finally agreed that Yao Fengze's own courtyard would be used as collateral, plus 100 yuan for miscellaneous expenses, in order to exchange the courtyard behind Chen Xueru's shop for her own.

"Comrade Yang, the matter is settled."

All we need to do is go to the neighborhood office to sign a housing exchange document and settle all the miscellaneous fees.

Yao Fengze put down the microphone and turned around to report.

"Comrade Yao, thank you for your hard work."

Yang Ping's tone was filled with deep gratitude.

He never expected that acquiring a courtyard would require such a complicated and costly process.

If it weren't for Yao Fengze's all-out help, I really wouldn't have had any room to maneuver.

"It's alright."

My yard was already empty, and leaving it there was just a waste. Now that it's come in handy, it actually brings value to the place.

Yao Fengze responded with a smile, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes forming a humble arc.

"When shall we set off?"

"It's all up to Comrade Yang to arrange."

Even if it passes by tomorrow, that's fine too.

Yang Ping hopped on the old bicycle, the wheels making a soft, crunching sound as they rolled over the cobblestones.

He turned back and waved to Yao Fengze before disappearing into the depths of the alley.

The afternoon air on Qianmen Street was chilly, and a thin layer of condensation covered the glass windows of Xue Ru Silk Shop.

Chen Xueru was leaning against the counter, her fingers unconsciously stroking a piece of jacquard satin. Hearing the creaking sound of the door hinges turning, she looked up.

"In the blink of an eye, the person was gone."

Her words carried a hint of reproach, but her gaze involuntarily fell on the unmelted snowflakes on his shoulder.

The thought of the money for the fabric lingered on her tongue, but she ultimately swallowed it back—she didn't want to appear too calculating.

"Everything is taken care of."

Yang Ping took off her cotton gloves and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from her pocket. "The neighborhood office is waiting for you. Just go and sign it."

Chen Xueru was stunned.

Her hand holding the satin tightened slightly, causing tiny wrinkles to appear on the silk surface.

She had imagined many possibilities, but she never expected it to happen so quickly—it was as if she had just gone out to buy groceries and returned to a completely different world.

"You really mean it..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yang Ping made a move to put the paper away.

"Of course I believe it!"

She quickly leaned forward and grabbed his wrist, then realized she had lost her composure, her ears turning red instantly. "...You're just teasing me."

A faint smile flickered in Yang Ping's eyes.

Chen Xueru hurriedly went to the shop next door to ask for a few words, and when she came back, she had a woolen coat draped over her arm.

She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't put it on. Instead, she turned sideways and sat on the back of the bicycle.

The hem of the cheongsam was neatly gathered, revealing a section of her calves clad in glass-like material.

"The world is about to change."

Yang Ping glanced at the leaden-gray clouds, where fine ice crystals were already visible in the wind. "Put on another layer of clothing."

"It's alright."

Chen Xueru gently placed her hand on his waist, her voice low as if she were talking to herself, "It warms my heart."

Yang Ping refused to comply, stopping the bicycle on one foot, her expression leaving no room for negotiation.

Chen Xueru couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she turned around and went back into the house to get a thick coat, wrapped herself up tightly, and then sat sideways on the back seat of the bicycle.

Seeing that she complied, Yang Ping finally relaxed his brows and started riding his bicycle towards Fengzeyuan.

Yao Fengze was already waiting under the porch.

He ordered a car to be brought over, sat in the back seat, rolled down the window, and waved to Yang Ping outside: "Get in, Yang Ping!"

"Coming right away, Uncle Yao!"

Yang Ping readily agreed, quickly locked the bicycle, opened the door, and got in.

Chen Xueru seemed a little flustered—although she had seen many things, she had never ridden in a car like this before, and her fingertips unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes.

"Xueru, Yang Ping and I are family. Just sit comfortably in this car and don't be shy."

Yao Fengze saw her reflection in the mirror and smiled reassuringly.

"Uncle Yao is right."

Yang Ping turned and nodded at her.

Hearing this, Chen Xueru's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

The car then drove off smoothly toward the neighborhood office.

Before long, the group was standing at the entrance of the office.

Yao Fengze took the lead and led everyone inside.

Director Liu had already prepared all the materials and was waiting in the room. Upon their arrival, he immediately greeted them warmly.

"Xue Ru, sign your name here, and the courtyard will be yours."

Yang Ping, having heard the whole story, whispered to Chen Xueru.

A hint of surprise flashed across Director Liu's eyes, as if he hadn't expected Chen Xueru to have such connections, but he didn't ask any further questions—since the matter was already settled, why waste any more words?

Yao Fengze remained standing quietly to the side, leaving everything to Yang Ping's discretion.

"Yang Ping...you should sign it."

Chen Xueru gently shook her head and pushed the pen back.

She knew this wasn't a purchase, but an exchange of a courtyard house. Presumably, the courtyard house originally belonged to Yao Fengze, and she couldn't just accept it like that.

Besides, her relationship with Yang Ping is still unclear, so she shouldn't have accepted the house, lest things change in the future and it would only cause more trouble.

Once their relationship is established and they live together, the house will naturally belong to her as well.

"It's fine."

Yang Ping replied.

This was agreed upon earlier; there was nothing wrong with trying to get the courtyard to Chen Xueru and having him sign off on it.

Moreover, he understood Chen Xueru's personality—she didn't like to owe favors. Even if the two of them didn't end up together in the future, she would return the house. That's why he was so willing to give it up.

"No, I can't sign."

It's the same whether you sign it or not.

Chen Xueru's tone was resolute.

She already knew what getting this house meant, but she didn't want to bear the burden of Yang Ping's feelings.

Director Liu chuckled softly to himself.

"Yang Ping, just sign it."

"The house is yours anyway; you can let whoever you want live there, it's no problem."

He felt that this was enough of a polite refusal and didn't want to see the two continue to be so courteous.

"Okay then."

Yang Ping nodded.

Without thinking further, he picked up his pen and wrote his name.

Director Liu stamped the document with the seal of the subdistrict office.

The contract was now in effect, and from this day forward, the courtyard belonged to Yang Ping.

Yao Fengze chatted with Director Liu for a few more minutes, then got up to say goodbye and left the subdistrict office with Yang Ping.

"Yang Ping, I have some things to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

Yao Fengze sat in the car and waved to the window.

"Okay, Uncle Yao, you're busy."

Yang Ping responded.

After the car drove away, he turned his gaze to Chen Xueru, who was standing not far away, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Now that the courtyard matter is settled, shouldn't it be our turn to take care of things?"

Chen Xueru didn't respond to his question, but instead raised an eyebrow and asked, "If I agree to your request, how do you plan to talk to Xiao'e when she comes back in a few days?"

She was never the shy or hesitant type; her words actually carried a hint of consideration for him—after all, Lou Xiao'e would be back sooner or later, and the situation would inevitably be awkward then.

Yang Ping simply smiled and said, "When she comes back, you will be the older sister, and she will be the younger sister."

He might have more than just the two of them by his side in the future. Chen Xueru will find out about these things sooner or later, so it's better to lay it all out now.

"You've thought of everything very thoroughly."

Chen Xueru shook her head gently, her tone revealing no annoyance, but rather a concern for him, "I'm afraid that getting past Xiao'e won't be so easy."

Yang Ping smiled but remained silent.

As long as Chen Xueru is aware of the situation, that's enough. Things can be dealt with gradually from now on.

Just then, a gust of north wind suddenly swept through the alleyway, and a chill crept up on them.

"Oh, it's suddenly so cold."

Chen Xueru shrugged and muttered softly.

"Let's go."

Yang Ping pushed the bicycle over, patted the back seat, and said, "I'll take you back to the shop first."

He had intended to take her around, but Chen Xueru was still thinking about the business in the shop, so he had to give up on that idea.

She responded softly and sat sideways on the back of the vehicle.

Yang Ping pedaled, and the car headed towards Xue Ru's silk shop.

Just as I turned the corner, I heard someone on the roadside shout with delight:

"It's snowing!"

He looked up and saw fine snowflakes drifting gently down from the gray sky, the first snow quietly enveloping the entire capital city.

Snowflakes fell in a flurry, and the New Year seemed to be just around the corner.

Chen Xueru sighed softly.

"yes."

Yang Ping reached out and caught a cold snowflake, responding in agreement.

The hair of the pedestrians on the street was already covered with white frost, and I suppose that I and Chen Xueru behind me were no exception.

He suddenly turned his head and asked, "Xue Ru, have you ever heard the phrase 'growing old together'?"

"I learned it in literacy class."

Chen Xueru answered.

"To share the snow with you in this world, we can consider this a lifetime of growing old together."

Yang Ping looked at her with a smile in his eyes.

"What...does this mean?"

Chen Xueru was slightly taken aback.

"Just like now,"

He pointed to the snowflakes falling on their hair, "The snow falls on our heads, and as we walk together, it feels like we've already grown old together."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xueru's eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up. "You certainly know how to talk."

She spoke softly, a warm feeling rising in her heart.

This is the first time in all these years that someone has said something like that to her.

I used to think that snowy days were damp, cold, and annoying, but now I feel that this snowfall is just right—it's as if we can truly use this pure white sky to walk all the way to the end of time.

Yang Ping smiled but didn't reply.

He quickened his pedaling pace—sweet words, however nice, could not withstand the biting cold.

The snow is falling heavier and heavier; I need to hurry back to the shop to warm up.

A short while later, the bicycle was parked in front of the shop.

"Why are you back so soon?"

A cold wind swirled with snowflakes as Chen Xueru was speaking when she suddenly noticed the person beside her stop. Looking up, she saw the silk shop's facade right in front of her.

"It's freezing cold, hurry inside and take shelter. Let's heat up the kang (heated brick bed) to warm ourselves up."

Yang Ping's voice was urging.

"Why!"

Chen Xueru then came to her senses and hurriedly lifted the heavy cotton curtain and went inside.

Yang Ping followed suit.

The snow was falling heavily outside, but the shop was very quiet, without a single customer in sight.

Chen Xueru deftly lit the earthen bed in the corner of the room, and the aroma of the charcoal fire gradually spread.

The two sat down at a square table by the window and started chatting casually.

"Yang Ping, I'm planning to connect the backyard to the outside."

Chen Xueru traced names on the table with her fingertips, "Turn the room on the west side into a storeroom to store some materials; clean up the room on the east side, put a couch there, and make it a place to rest when you're tired."

She revealed her plans one by one.

"Okay, you can handle it as you see fit."

Yang Ping agreed readily.