Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

It was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, in the afternoon. The sky was overcast, and fine snowflakes drifted down sparsely, casting a thin layer of white on the gray bricks and tiles of Beijing. He Damin stepped into the Nanluoguxiang Street Military Control Commission—where the Military Control Commission's sign used to hang, but now a new sign with white background and black characters reading "Street Office Preparatory Office" had quietly been added next to it, and the atmosphere of the old and new changing was faintly visible in the air.

Director Yang Chengdong's office was more crowded than when he last visited. Next to the military map on the wall, there were more civilian planning charts, and the documents piled on the desk were a mix of security notices, resident registrations, and preliminary neighborhood affairs records. When He Damin pushed the door open and entered, Yang Chengdong, who was writing furiously at his desk, looked up, adjusted his glasses, and showed a hint of unsurprise on his face, but his eyes were more complicated than usual.

"Comrade He, I figured you'd be here in the next couple of days." Yang Chengdong stood up, gesturing for He Damin to sit down, and poured him a cup of hot water. "Is it about the east wing?"

He Damin sat down in the chair, his demeanor composed: "Director Yang, your investigation is thorough. I heard that the courtyard is now... essentially ownerless?"

Yang Chengdong sat back down, tapping his fingers lightly on the table and letting out a barely audible sigh. He had handled the matter of the east wing of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, so he was naturally fully aware of it. The original owner, He Damin, had been missing for many years and presumed dead. The property was inherited by his brother (He Daqing) and then resold. The buyer's identity was sensitive (now confirmed to be a covert agent), and both he and Wang Hongxia, who acted as the intermediary, had been brought to justice. According to current policies and inheritance laws, given that He Daqing had relinquished (or lost) his inheritance rights and the buyer's property had been confiscated, the property should theoretically be nationalized and then disposed of by the government according to the circumstances.

But this Comrade He Damin before him… Yang Chengdong looked at his calm and composed face, recalling his audacity in casually pulling out five kilograms of gold to buy land, his “repair service station” being built on land in the northwest suburbs, his various methods of solving his nephew’s job, his niece’s schooling, and even disciplining his wayward older brother, and even the watertight “confession material” he had prepared when handling the case of Wang Hongxia, an officer of the military officers’ association… This man’s background was probably far deeper and more mysterious than the “reclusive monk” he appeared to be. The higher-ups seemed to have noticed this as well, their attitude ambiguous, with instructions mostly being “handled at their discretion” and “special cases handled specially.”

More importantly, Yang Chengdong had privately learned that the east wing was indeed He Damin's private property before He Damin's "disappearance," as evidenced by clear land deeds and house deeds from earlier years (although some procedures were missing during the war). Logically and emotionally, it is not entirely unreasonable for the original owner to return and want to reclaim the ancestral property that was illegally disposed of by the muddle-headed brother.

"Comrade He, the situation in the east wing is indeed special." Yang Chengdong carefully chose his words. "According to normal procedures, the original owner... that is, you, could theoretically apply for the return of the property if you can provide sufficient evidence to prove ownership, and that the current occupant (the spy)'s purchase was illegal and the former officer (Wang Hongxia) had no legal right to dispose of it. However, this involves multiple steps such as inheritance, resale, and confiscation of enemy property, making the procedure very complicated and time-consuming. Moreover, the property is now nominally owned by the state..."

"I understand the procedures are complicated," He Damin said calmly, without a trace of urgency. "However, Director Yang, that courtyard was once my home. The three main rooms, plus the garden behind, total about 1,200 square meters. Now it's just sitting empty. I heard that after the street office was established, managing public property and allocating housing to residents within its jurisdiction were among its responsibilities. Could we consider... having me personally fund the purchase of the right to use this property from the street office (preparatory office)? Just like when I bought the wasteland in the northwest suburbs."

He paused, then added, "The price can be determined according to market conditions, or even increased as appropriate. I am also willing to pay in a way that is beneficial to national development."

Yang Chengdong's heart skipped a beat. Purchasing the right to use the property? This was a relatively flexible compromise. It avoided the legal disputes and potential negative impacts that a direct "return" might cause (such as other original homeowners competing with each other in similar situations), while effectively resolving the property ownership issue and bringing in a considerable sum of money for the newly established and financially strained street office (preparatory office). He Damin's mention of "a beneficial way of paying" likely referred to hard currency like gold or foreign exchange.

He pondered for a moment, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of his teacup: "This idea... isn't entirely unfeasible. Nowadays, there's a push for urban development and improving residents' lives. Selling some reasonably located, temporarily idle public properties at reasonable prices to capable individuals or organizations for residential renovations or production development is a policy possibility. Especially for Comrade He, you have both practical needs (brothers and nephews reuniting, potential future family formation), construction capabilities (the project in the northwest suburbs is proof), and you're also the original homeowner, so emotionally it makes sense."

He looked up at He Damin: "However, the price assessment, the term of the land grant, the restrictions on the use of the land, and the subsequent management all need to be formalized in a report and submitted to the higher authorities for instructions. I can only offer a preliminary suggestion for now."

"Thank you for your trouble, Director Yang." He Damin nodded slightly. "Regarding the price, my initial intention is six million old dollars. The lease term can be as long as possible, similar to that for wasteland. The purpose is for self-occupation, and I will be responsible for all renovation and alteration costs to ensure it meets the overall appearance and safety requirements of the neighborhood. Payment methods can be gold or RMB."

"Six million?" Yang Chengdong raised an eyebrow. For the right to use three old houses and a neglected garden, this price was definitely high, even excessive, in early 1952 Beijing. This was clearly He Damin demonstrating his "sincerity" and trying to expedite the process.

"Comrade He, this price... I will note in the report that it reflects your strong desire and actual financial capacity." Yang Chengdong's words were loaded with meaning. He picked up a pen and quickly jotted down key points on a notepad. "Furthermore, regarding the historical issues of that courtyard and the previous espionage case, although the case has been closed, it is still somewhat sensitive. I will emphasize in the report that your purchase and use will help eliminate unstable factors, appease the emotions of other residents in the courtyard, and can be considered... a proper solution to historical issues."

This was a cleverly worded statement, highlighting both the potential obstacle and the possible solution. He Damin understood the implication and nodded, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Director Yang."

Over the next few days, the process proceeded at an extraordinary speed. Perhaps it was He Damin's sincerity in "buying at a high price" that moved his superiors, perhaps it was the persuasiveness of Yang Chengdong's report, or perhaps it was the "special handling" instructions from higher levels regarding He Damin that took effect. On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Lunar New Year, Yang Chengdong personally delivered a document stamped with a bright red official seal and a new certificate of usage rights to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

The east courtyard, along with the three weathered and somewhat dilapidated main houses, and the 1,200-square-meter garden behind them, now overgrown with weeds and cluttered with debris, legally returned to He Damin's hands—although the form was "long-term paid use," the actual rights and ownership were practically identical. The total price of six million old dollars was directly transferred by He Damin from the huge sum of RMB he had previously exchanged for land for the construction of Zhongguancun. Only a negligible portion of the tens of billions of old dollars previously exchanged for gold was being used.

After the handover was completed, Yang Chengdong paused at the gate of the courtyard as he left. He glanced back at the tightly closed east wing gate, then at He Damin beside him, who looked calm. He hesitated, then finally just patted He Damin on the shoulder: "Comrade He, tidy up and have a peaceful New Year. That courtyard... is finally back to its rightful owner."

He Damin understood the unspoken meaning in Yang Chengdong's words. Yang Chengdong, as the person in charge, was fully aware of the lives and conspiracies involved in the sale of the East Courtyard. His smooth repossession of the courtyard, besides procedural maneuvering, was likely also due to the implicit threat of "whoever buys it dies," which effectively eliminated other potential competitors. After all, what ordinary person would dare easily take over a "haunted house" involved in a spy case, with the previous buyer's violent death and the original seller's suicide? Only He Damin, the "original owner" and "mysterious figure," seemed completely unconcerned.

"Human nature..." A faint, indifferent thought crossed He Damin's mind. According to his past life's assassin's principles, if Wang Hongxia dared to touch his assets, it wouldn't just implicate her alone. But in this life, he ultimately left some leeway, only sending those who deserved to die down, without implicating anyone else. Was this a change, or another form of "weakness"? He himself couldn't say. But the result was indeed good; the courtyard was back, and the trouble was cleaned up.

After seeing Yang Chengdong off, He Damin pushed open the long-sealed wooden door of the east courtyard. With a creak, dust fell in a flurry. The courtyard was desolate; the roof tiles of the main house were missing, the window frames were broken, and the walls were peeling. The back garden was even more overgrown, with withered vines and old trees, scattered rocks and broken bricks, and a few remaining Taihu stone rockeries half-hidden in weeds. A small pond had long since dried up, its bottom piled with silt and fallen leaves. But the layout remained, the foundation was still intact, and the area was spacious enough.

He stood in the center of the desolate courtyard, his divine sense carefully scanning every inch of land and every brick. This was once his home. Now, it would be reborn.

"After the spring, the 4S store in the northwest suburbs will be under construction, and the reconstruction here will also proceed at the same time," He Damin planned in his mind. The 4S store is the starting point of his career, the business he has on the surface; while this east courtyard is his private home where he truly takes root in Beijing, and it must be built to be comfortable, safe, and have sufficient privacy and functionality.

To rebuild, one naturally needs to find the best craftsmen. He thought of the "Yangshi Lei" family—the Lei family that was in charge of royal architectural design during the Qing Dynasty. Although they had declined, their inherited craftsmanship and unique design concepts were still passed down among the people. Hiring them to oversee the reconstruction would not only preserve the style and charm of the traditional courtyard house, but also incorporate some practical modern improvements.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the festive atmosphere was still strong. Through Chen Xueru's connections (her family's silk shop often made custom clothing for high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and had a wide network of contacts), He Damin invited a master craftsman surnamed Lei, who was about fifty years old. Master Lei claimed to be a distant relative of the Yangshi Lei family, and that he had learned the family's traditional craftsmanship since childhood and had extensive knowledge of courtyard house architecture.

After seeing the site of the East Courtyard and hearing He Damin's general requirements—to preserve the traditional exterior, renovate the interior space, increase the floor height, build two floors inside, each floor must have an independent toilet and bathroom, and the toilet and bathroom must be discreetly connected to the bedroom; and to solve the problems of winter heating and year-round hot water supply—Master Lei stroked his short, gray beard and pondered for a long time.

"Mr. He, your request... is no simple matter." Master Lei gestured with his fingers on the yellowed blueprints he had brought with him. "You want the exterior to remain unchanged, but the interior to be two stories. This requires major structural changes. Can the old house's walls and roof support it? With the increased floor height, should the roof be raised accordingly? It also can't be conspicuous from the outside... These require meticulous calculations. As for each floor having a latrine and shower room, and hot water... How should the pipes be laid? How will the sewage be discharged? And it also needs insulation and frost protection... This is a huge project, even more troublesome than building a new courtyard."

"Money is not a problem," He Damin said succinctly. "We need the best materials and the most meticulous workmanship. As for structural safety, I trust Master Lei's skills. As for the piping and heating..." He paused for a moment, "I plan to build a separate boiler room in a corner of the garden. I'll build a small coal-fired boiler system myself, connect the pipes, and provide heating and hot water to all the rooms."

"Making your own boiler?" Master Lei was somewhat surprised. These days, radiators and boilers were rare items, found only in a few Western-style houses or important units, and most were imported or imitations.

"I have connections; I can get materials and equipment," He Damin said without elaborating. His small world within his Taiji Space was filled with various industrial equipment collected from Japanese military warehouses and later generations, including parts for small boilers, different types of steel pipes, water pumps, valves, and even several old but intact machine tools and forging equipment. With his current cultivation level and understanding of machinery, designing and modifying a hot water heating system suitable for this courtyard would not be difficult. He was even considering using some high-temperature resistant materials from his small world to improve the boiler's efficiency and safety.

Seeing that He Damin's tone was confident and his eyes were steady, not like he was boasting, Master Lei didn't press the matter further. This customer had an extraordinary air about him, was generous with his money, and had high demands; he must really have something to rely on. He spread out the blueprints again, took out his charcoal pencil, and began to measure and sketch out preliminary modification plans.

"The main house has three rooms. The foundation needs to be reinforced, and load-bearing columns will be added internally to divide it into two floors. The first floor will house the living room, dining room, and study; the second floor will house the master bedroom and guest bedrooms. The staircase will be located here, in a discreet and space-saving manner. The western annex on each floor will be expanded and converted into a toilet and bathroom, with pipes pre-embedded in the walls, vertically aligned for centralized water supply and drainage... An insulation layer will be added to the roof, while the exterior will retain the barrel tiles and the ridge beasts... The garden will be redesigned, the pond will be dredged and filled with fresh water, the artificial hill will be repaired, the paths will be repaved, and space will be provided for the boiler room..."

As Master Lei drew and explained, his ideas gradually became clearer. He Damin offered suggestions from time to time, such as separating the wet and dry areas in the bathroom, pre-burying electrical conduits (to prepare for future power supply), and ensuring that the windows retained their lattice design while also considering lighting and sealing... The two discussed in the desolate courtyard for an entire afternoon, and a preliminary plan gradually took shape.

As the sun set, its afterglow bathed the dilapidated courtyard in a warm golden light. He Damin saw off Master Lei, who was filled with excitement and a sense of challenge, and stood alone in the courtyard.

Gazing at his old residence, soon to be completely renovated and transformed, he seemed to see a vision of the future: the ancient blue bricks and gray tiles would remain, the courtyard would be lush with flowers and trees, and the house would be warm, bright, and conveniently equipped. This would become his true home in this era, a secret hideout that blended traditional charm with modern comfort, balancing cultivation and daily life. And the boiler he had personally designed and built would not only warm this courtyard, but perhaps… it could also provide some technological inspiration for the 4S shop in the northwest suburbs, and even for many other industries in the future.

The snow began to fall again, fine and dense like powder. He Damin brushed the snowflakes off his shoulders, turned around, and locked the courtyard gate. The key in his hand was slightly cool, yet it seemed to carry the warmth of the future.