Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

A sense of impending doom hung over the mountain village, and amidst the unease of autumn, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived as scheduled, offering a welcome respite from the lingering shadow of war and bringing a touch of warmth to hearts long tense. No matter how chaotic the world, festive customs remained unchanged. Father had arranged early on to travel to Yongfeng Town on the 14th of August, firstly to buy mooncakes and other festive items, secondly to replenish the food supplies needed by the kitchen, and thirdly to pick up his eldest brother, who was studying at the academy, so they could reunite for the festival.

This year's Mid-Autumn Festival was far busier and more complicated than in previous years. With war looming and the situation turbulent, a constant stream of people sought refuge with relatives, fled to do business, or escaped the chaos. Even as the festival approached, the flow of people not only did not decrease but actually increased. In the streets and shops, one could often hear an unfamiliar Cantonese accent, suggesting that war was also breaking out in Guangdong, forcing many people from Lingnan to migrate north, wandering and drifting until they finally settled in Hunan. The refugees from the south and north gathered in the small mountain village, further highlighting the chaos and helplessness of the people in this turbulent world.

The four siblings were clear-headed; in these chaotic times, the festival allowed no time for leisure. At the crack of dawn, they set out together, carrying prepared gifts, to pay their respects at their maternal grandfather's house, their teacher's residence, and their master's house, performing all the proper courtesies with sincere intentions. After quickly completing all the formalities and delivering the gifts, they dared not linger and immediately returned to the family shop to help manage the household affairs and share the burden of their parents' labor.

The family worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, patiently settling all the guests who had stayed overnight, tidying up the shop and kitchen, and tallying the day's accounts before finally getting a chance to rest. As night deepened, the bright moon hung high in the inky blue sky, its gentle light bathing the mountain village courtyard. The family gathered under the grape trellis in the backyard. A gentle evening breeze stirred the leaves, and accompanied by the faint fragrance of osmanthus and the cool night air, they sat together peacefully, admiring the moon, chatting casually, and enjoying this rare moment of family reunion and tranquility amidst the chaos of the world.

Under the lamplight and moonlight, the first thing the family did when chatting was to ask about the eldest brother's studies and life at the academy. The eldest brother, with his gentle features and calm demeanor, slowly recounted his recent situation, frankly saying that the academy teachers treated him kindly and attentively, and were dedicated to teaching and imparting knowledge. He also said that his classmates got along well with him, helping and supporting each other, and that his studies were going smoothly and peacefully.

Then, the elder brother smiled and told a funny story. Several farming families around the academy received his improved techniques for threshing and seedling cultivation in the spring, and their harvests this summer and autumn all increased significantly, with each acre yielding dozens of kilograms more grain, truly benefiting them. Now, whenever he goes out, the surrounding farmers greet him warmly and affectionately, grateful for his help.

What surprised everyone most was that although the rice transplanter had already become famous, it hadn't been around for long, and few people had actually seen it. Earlier, when Shanshan got married, news spread that the Song family had brought the new rice transplanter as part of her dowry. When others learned that the Song family had actually developed and manufactured this new agricultural tool themselves, they were all astonished and full of admiration. Upon hearing this, the academy's teacher specifically sought out the eldest brother, earnestly asking if he knew how to make one and if he could teach him the techniques for making rice transplanters, benefiting more farmers and helping to increase agricultural production.

The rice transplanter had already been handed over to the government for promotion, so there was no need to hide it anymore. The eldest brother readily agreed without reservation. The teachers immediately borrowed a simple set of woodworking tools from various sources. During their spare time, they gathered a group of hands-on and studious classmates from the academy, and with the blueprints drawn by the eldest brother, they formed a team to try to replicate the rice transplanter. After several days of sanding, repeatedly disassembling and adjusting, the prototype was finally barely formed, but their skills were still rudimentary. The eldest brother frankly admitted that his woodworking skills were still weak, and the precision and smoothness of the gears he sanded were not even as good as his second brother's. Not to mention the teachers and classmates in the academy who had never been exposed to woodworking before; their parts were much rougher and still lacked a lot of refinement. This time when he returned home, the eldest brother specially planned to bring back a standard gear, finely sanded by Xingbao, as a template for reference, to facilitate subsequent improvements and adjustments, making the prototype more standardized and practical.

Under the moonlight, the air was filled with the warmth of conversation. Second Brother, Xingbao, and Guixiang took turns recounting the recent events in the village to their eldest brother. From the lively scene of Sister Shanshan's grand wedding with her lavish dowry, to the auspicious occasions of Uncle Deng and Uncle Long's new house raising, the children scrambling for the prize, and the neighbors offering their congratulations, each story was vivid, lively, and full of life. Listening, the eldest brother's eyes softened, his heart overflowing with the warmth of his homeland. His parents sat nearby, gently playing with their adorable, bewildered baby, occasionally chiming in to fill in a few details. The family chatted and laughed, a picture of warmth and harmony.

As the moonlight gradually shifted and its gentle glow flowed, they unknowingly reached the zenith of the moon and the deep of night. Only then did the group reluctantly disperse and return to their rooms to rest. Nowadays, the inn is experiencing a surge in customers and rooms are in short supply. The four siblings squeezed into one room to rest, which, though cramped and simple, was a heartwarming and joyful reunion.

Xingbao lay on the bunk bed. The night was deep and quiet, with only the even, long breaths of his older siblings around him. Yet, he was wide awake, his mind still churning with the idle chatter under the moonlight.

Tonight, my elder brother has shed the naive naiveté of his youth, a man who only studied the classics. His eyes now hold a maturity and compassion born of experience, and his manner of speaking is entirely different. He talks about farming, people's livelihoods, and laments the suffering of a chaotic world. His words are simple, yet they conceal a sincere sense of patriotism and a deep concern for the common people. It is a new and advanced revolutionary ideal, a vision and breadth of mind that no ordinary scholar could possess.

Xingbao's heart trembled slightly as he pondered deeply. He realized that the turbulent times, the shattered landscape, coupled with the academy's open academic atmosphere and the complexities of life he had witnessed, had subtly and gradually reshaped his elder brother's mindset. He couldn't tell whether new ideas had quietly spread within the academy, nurturing a group of ambitious students, or whether a hidden progressive organization had already been observing and subtly contacting his brother, who was dedicated to learning and of upright character. But he was absolutely certain that his brother, who had once only known how to bury himself in his studies and single-mindedly pursue fame and fortune, had quietly transformed in the passage of time, breaking free from the shackles of the old-fashioned scholar and embarking on a completely different path amidst the chaos of the world—a path of patriotism and the salvation of the people.

Thoughts swirled and new anxieties flooded his mind, causing his emotions to fluctuate wildly. Xingbao secretly broke out in a cold sweat, a hidden worry creeping into his heart. His elder brother was still young, merely a student at the academy. To be exposed to such progressive ideas and venturing into the clandestine path of saving the nation at such a young age was far too risky. The current situation was chaotic, with various forces deeply entrenched, creating an atmosphere of fear and danger at every turn. If he made even the slightest mistake, or if his actions were discovered, at best his studies would be ruined and he would be framed; at worst, his entire family would be implicated and brought to ruin. He dared not even contemplate the consequences.

He carefully considered his family's situation. The Song family had been farmers for generations, hardworking and honest, and now they made a living through this small shop and some handicrafts. Their family background was clean and stable. But in this chaotic world, a clean reputation was never a shield; on the contrary, it could easily become a weakness that others could exploit. He was secretly uneasy. Such a special progressive organization must have very strict checks on those who entered. With his family's background as ordinary merchants, was it appropriate and compliant? Would his secret be discovered? Were there any unknown hidden dangers? He had no idea.

Despite his lingering concerns, the desire to follow his elder brother grew ever stronger and warmer. Xingbao had already set his course: to peacefully care for his family and do what he wanted. In his previous life, he had spent half his life in vain, possessing only a deep love for his country and family, yet ultimately failing to embark on the path of serving his nation. This life, having the opportunity to join the revolution, was a good thing. Now, witnessing his elder brother shed his naiveté, find the right path, and walk towards the light amidst chaos, his own passion was ignited. If given the chance in the future, he too wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps, embrace this advanced philosophy of saving the world, and dedicate himself to the cause of bringing peace and prosperity to the nation.

On one hand, there was the unknown danger ahead, concerns about his family background and identity, and the unease of an uncertain time; on the other hand, there was the fervor for his country, the desire to follow his brother, and the sincere desire to save the people. These two emotions intertwined and pulled at Xingbao's heart, leaving him feeling anxious and confused. Countless thoughts swirled in his mind, and after tossing and turning for a long time, exhaustion finally overwhelmed his thoughts. His tense mind gradually relaxed, and with a heart full of thoughts and vague expectations, he unconsciously began to breathe steadily and drifted into a deep sleep.