Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

Several days passed in the blink of an eye. That evening, as the sun set and a cool breeze blew, Xingbao and Guixiang, as usual, rode their docile black charcoal back from their master's house after learning their skills. After settling in, their father deliberately found a quiet moment when no one was around and asked Xingbao to help repair some odds and ends in the backyard. Taking advantage of the absence of others, he whispered the results to him.

"The matter was settled. I spoke with each of those households individually, and they all agreed to our rules. Although some people inevitably complained during the negotiations, feeling that the restrictions were too troublesome, no one took the opportunity to make excessive demands or ask for exorbitant prices. Everyone was willing to hand over the surplus rice as agreed, cooperate in controlling the flow of rice seeds, and even took the initiative to offer their best land, the most fertile soil, and the best-growing fields, specifically for cultivating the first generation of high-yield rice seeds. Their only expectation is that when the village benefits from improved seeds and other good things for the people in the future, they will remember these households that cooperated early on and worked diligently."

Xingbao felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this. He knew perfectly well that this satisfactory outcome was all thanks to his father's usual prestige, connections, and tact, as he patiently negotiated and did his best to secure it for him. He looked up at his father and sincerely thanked him softly, "Thank you, Dad."

Upon hearing this, Father waved his hand slightly, his gentle expression fading into a more cautious and serious one. He said in a deep voice, "Don't be too happy yet. Although I have repeatedly instructed everyone to strictly abide by the rules and keep quiet about this matter, the news that rice seeds will no longer be sold individually this year has still quietly spread. For the next while, our supply store will probably be exceptionally lively, with neighbors and villagers coming to inquire, plead, and ask for favors."

Xingbao chuckled softly upon hearing this, his composure and a touch of youthful slyness in his reply: "Then I'll have to trouble Father and Mother to handle things carefully from now on. Anyway, my sister and I are out learning our skills during the day and only return home in the evening, so we can avoid these trivial matters."

Hearing this, the father shook his head helplessly, raised his hand and lightly patted his shoulder, pretending to scold him, "You child, you're always so lazy and quick to shirk responsibility. If your mother and I have to deal with all the social obligations, who will do all the housework? Stop trying to be clever, hurry up and get to work!"

As expected, Song's shop was bustling with activity for the next few days. Villagers from surrounding areas flocked to the shop, mostly under the guise of visiting each other, chatting, and asking for tea, but their real intention was to find out why the Song family had suddenly stopped selling rice seeds this year. They even pleaded with the Song family to make an exception and reserve some good seeds for their relatives in other places.

Faced with waves of inquiring neighbors, Dad and Mom had already prepared their story, always responding calmly and consistently with a unified script. They were gentle yet firm in their stance, impartial and unwavering. Whenever pressed for answers, they would truthfully reply, "In the past two years, we distributed seeds sporadically, but many people from other villages bought them and couldn't grow high yields. They repeatedly came to cause trouble, insisting that our seeds were adulterated and didn't live up to their reputation. The arguments were endless, and several times they almost came to blows. This kind of neighborly discord and constant conflict is not a long-term solution. This year, we've collected all the seeds from the village to completely eliminate these disputes. Next spring, anyone who needs high-quality seeds will register and sign a contract. We will also send people to their homes to teach them proper planting and field management methods. This way, we won't waste our hard-won superior rice seeds, and everyone can witness firsthand that our high-quality seeds have never lied to us. The past disputes were just misunderstandings caused by improper planting methods."

This frank and transparent explanation, once it spread, instantly dispelled the suspicions and dissatisfaction in most people's hearts, and instead attracted more neighbors to come and pay attention. People stopped dwelling on private discussions and instead openly and secretly inquired about who the Song family would select to teach and guide farming in various villages. Everyone was shrewdly calculating; if they could get in touch with the teaching positions, they would definitely receive a share of the profits, build good relationships with the villages, and gain many other benefits.

In order to leave a good impression of diligence and sensibility in front of the Song family, the neighbors were exceptionally attentive and proactive. On weekdays, for the trivial matters of the shop and the Song family, someone would take the initiative to help take care of them without the parents having to ask. Sweeping, chopping wood, tidying up the yard, looking after the chores, they would rush to do all the chores within their ability, taking good care of the Song family.

Under these circumstances, Xingbao and Guixiang, who had been busy learning their craft and working tirelessly all day, found themselves much more relaxed after returning home each evening. With all the household chores taken care of by their neighbors, the siblings no longer had to rush home to do housework. They were able to unwind, rest peacefully, reflect on their studies, and quietly await the official start of the promotion of improved seeds for spring planting next year.

Amidst the peaceful and bustling atmosphere of the Song family, with neighbors eagerly offering assistance, the eldest brother, who had gone away to study, finally returned a few days before Wei Bao's birthday, accompanied by three classmates. They were travel-worn and weary, their eyes revealing an undisguised disappointment, yet they did not succumb to despair or despondency. They had already anticipated this setback in their studies when they set off for Shaoyang, and had mentally prepared themselves for it.

To secure a place in the higher education system, the family exhausted every connection they could. The father wrote letters seeking help from old friends and acquaintances, the eldest brother's mentor wrote a letter strongly recommending him, and even Xingbao's senior classmate's teacher had a special request made to arrange things. The Song family spared no expense in bribing officials with any available connections or favors, having exhausted all their resources. However, due to the turbulent political climate and the extreme imbalance of educational resources, only a handful of high schools remained open across the vast area. The scarce admission spots had already been snapped up by wealthy and powerful families in the city, leaving no room for students from impoverished rural families. Even if they managed to squeeze in, the disparity in background and social status meant that children from the countryside would only face exclusion, suppression, and constant constraints. Despite their best efforts, they were left empty-handed. The eldest brother and his three classmates felt regret, but no guilt whatsoever; they had already lived up to their conscience and their studies.

Upon returning home, the Song family warmly invited the three classmates to stay for the night. That night, everyone sat around in the hall chatting, the warm lamplight creating a quiet and gentle atmosphere. Xingbao and Guixiang sat quietly to the side, the most loyal listeners, silently listening to their older brothers pour out their hearts. Young Weibao, unable to bear the quiet, would occasionally dart over and cause trouble, nuzzling against his older siblings. Before anyone could scold him, he would laugh and run away, adding a touch of childlike liveliness to the tranquil night. Father would occasionally chide in with a few insightful observations, offering advice on how to conduct oneself in the world; Mother sat by the counter, her hands constantly mending clothes, occasionally glancing up at these ambitious yet disheartened teenagers, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and heartache.