Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

Early summer of 1983, Beijing.

In Nanluoguxiang, the sounds of activity begin as soon as dawn breaks. The ringing of bicycle bells, the shouts of breakfast vendors, and the creaking of old neighbors unlocking their doors, all mingled with the cool morning air, gradually waking the alley from its slumber.

In the east wing of courtyard number 95, the old pomegranate tree swayed gently in the morning breeze, a few drops of dew still clinging to the tips of its leaves, shimmering in the rising sun. He Damin stood beneath the tree, hands behind his back, gazing up at it. This tree was older than him; it had been here as long as he could remember. He remembered when he first bought the courtyard, money was tight, the yard was dilapidated, and the pomegranate tree suffered along with it, its leaves yellow and withered, just like his mood at the time. Now, it was different. Lush and verdant, its trunk so thick that it was almost impossible to encircle it with two hands, its branches stretching out, nearly reaching the roof of the adjacent north-facing room. The wind blew, the leaves rustling, as if greeting him, or perhaps murmuring about the years gone by.

"Uncle!" A loud, slightly boisterous voice came from outside the moon gate, followed by a round head peeking in. It was none other than He Yuzhu. He was carrying several bulging net bags and had a bamboo basket slung over his arm, panting heavily. "I've bought the vegetables! Take a look, is this enough for our whole yard?"

He Damin turned around and looked at his nephew, who was already in his early forties. Time waits for no man; He Yuzhu had gained a lot of weight compared to a few years ago, his belly had grown, and his hair was thinning, especially his forehead, which was shiny. But he was in great spirits, his eyes wide and bright like copper bells, radiating shrewdness and enthusiasm.

"What good stuff did you buy?" He Damin stepped forward and helped him put the things on the stone table.

"Hey, just you wait and see!" He Yuzhu put the bag on the stone table, untied the drawstring, and started taking things out. "Chicken, duck, fish, meat, everything that flies in the sky, runs on the ground, and swims in the water, I guarantee I'll have everything, no two are the same! You gave me two thousand yuan, I've decided to spend it, I've spent fifteen hundred, and I have five hundred left, you can count it." As he spoke, he took out a wad of cash wrapped in a handkerchief from his pocket, all brand new "big unity" bills, and handed it to He Damin. He counted on his fingers, his earnestness just like when he was doing accounts in the cafeteria back in the day: "Chickens, I bought ten, all yellow-feathered chickens, so tender! Ducks, also ten, force-fed ducks, plump! Fish, I bought twenty, some carp, some grass carp, and a few bighead carp, perfect for stewing with tofu! Pork, fifty jin, all lean and fatty, three layers of fat! Beef thirty jin, mutton twenty jin, all freshly slaughtered! And shrimp, crab, and squid, I bought quite a lot too, so everyone can have a taste! And vegetables, needless to say, cabbage, radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, green beans… I basically gathered everything from the field, plenty!"

Looking at the mountain of ingredients piled on the stone table, so fresh they still smelled of earth and water, He Damin smiled and said, "That's enough, that's enough. There's so much, even if we added twice as much, we still couldn't finish it all."

"Take what you can't finish back with you!" He Yuzhu chuckled, revealing two rows of white teeth. "Anyway, you have a plane; just ship it to Hong Kong, easy!"

As they were talking, Chen Xueru came out of the east wing. She was wearing a simple floral shirt, her hair neatly tied back, and carrying a white porcelain teapot. She walked over gracefully. "Zhuzi, where are your wife Lou Xiao'e and the children? Why didn't they come with you?"

"They'll be a little later." He Yuzhu took the teacup Chen Xueru handed him, gulped down a large mouthful, wiped his mouth, and said, "The children still have to go to school. Xiao'e will bring them over after school this afternoon. Auntie, don't worry, everything's arranged here. I've also called those quick-witted apprentices from the restaurant; they'll be here soon. I guarantee they'll make this banquet a lively and successful affair, making you and Uncle proud!"

He Damin sat down on the stone bench nearby, watching He Yuzhu bustling about in the courtyard, putting meat into the small hut and sorting vegetables. This young apprentice, who once worked tirelessly in the kitchen of Hongbinlou, chopping vegetables with lightning speed, was now the undisputed head of the Xiangjiang Catering Group, managing hundreds of people and far more wealthy than before. Yet, deep down, he was still that eccentric "Silly Zhu" who loved to experiment with food and cook. Whenever he returned to the mainland, he had to personally cook and show off his skills whenever he had the chance; otherwise, he felt uneasy.

"Zhu Zi," He Damin asked, "About how many people did you invite today?"

He Yuzhu straightened up, dusted off his hands, and thought for a moment: "The whole courtyard, the front yard, the middle yard, the back yard, plus the old neighbors from the neighboring yards, and my old colleagues from the steel rolling mill, there must be at least a hundred people. I've also called a few apprentices from the restaurant to help out, but I'll have to do the cooking myself!" His eyes lit up even more when he talked about cooking.

He Damin nodded, then asked, "Have all the old neighbors been notified?"

"I've notified everyone!" He Yuzhu patted his chest to assure him. "I've sent word to Xu Damao and his wife, Liu Haizhong's family, Yan Jiefang and his wife, and all the old coworkers from the steel mill who I could contact." He paused, lowered his voice, and whispered in He Damin's ear, "Uncle, I've also sent word to the Jia family. It's just Aunt Jia and a few other women left, raising several children. They're having a tough time, it's quite pitiful."

He Damin's eyes darkened when he heard the words "Jia family," but he remained silent. He thought of Bang Geng, the young man who had once been a bully in the courtyard but later went astray, the one whose soul he had personally extracted and sent into the cycle of reincarnation. He didn't regret it; Bang Geng's path was his own choice. But he didn't want Chen Xueru to know these sordid matters. Some things are better left unknown, especially to her.

After a moment of silence, He Damin stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "Then please. Today, let's have a lively get-together and have a few drinks with our old friends."

Around 10 a.m., the courtyard house came alive with activity.

He Yuzhu and his apprentices set up two large iron stoves in the spacious courtyard, using the kind of earthen stoves that burn firewood. The apprentices worked quickly and efficiently, some chopping firewood, others scrubbing the pots, while He Yuzhu directed the work like a general. The firewood burned brightly, flames licking the bottom of the pots with a "whoosh" sound. The oil in the pots was sizzling hot, and He Yuzhu poured in the chopped meat with a "splash," instantly sending up plumes of smoke and a sizzling sound. A rich aroma of meat instantly filled the air, wafting far and wide, attracting passersby in the alley to stop and crane their necks to look into the courtyard.

"Oh my, what big celebration is the He family having? The aroma is so strong, I can smell it from two streets away!" An older woman carrying a shopping basket peeked out from the doorway.

"Have you heard? The big boss of the Ho family is back, the one who made a fortune in Hong Kong, Ho Damin!" an old man walking his bird chimed in, his tone full of envy.

"Absolutely! She's really something now. I heard she came back in a private jet!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, you really can't judge a book by its cover! When he left back then, who could have imagined he'd be where he is today? He was just an insignificant poor kid back then..."

The neighbors chattered amongst themselves, their voices filled with curiosity, envy, and a complex mix of emotions. He Damin stood at the entrance to the east courtyard, a cigarette between his fingers, not smoking, just watching the bustling scene in the central courtyard and listening to the murmurs drifting down the alley. Thirty years had passed in the blink of an eye. The courtyard was still the same, but most of the old neighbors had moved away, leaving behind only elderly people with gray hair, or younger faces he didn't recognize. Time, indeed, was merciless.

"Mr. He! Mr. He!" A loud, familiar voice came from the courtyard gate, full of confidence.

He Damin looked up and saw a plump old man with mostly white hair, but neatly combed and looking quite energetic, walking briskly inside. He paused for a moment, then looked closer and realized it was Liu Haizhong! Back then, he was a level seven forger at the steel rolling mill, nicknamed "Second Uncle," who loved to put on airs, lecture, and aspired to be a leader. Thirty years had passed, and he had aged, his face covered in wrinkles, but his back was still ramrod straight, and he walked with a powerful stride; that "official air" seemed to still be there.

"Master Liu." He Damin greeted him and extended his hand.

"Oh, Mr. He! Do you still remember me, Liu Haizhong!" Liu Haizhong gripped He Damin's hands tightly, shaking them vigorously, his eyes reddening. "If it weren't for you back then, I, Liu Haizhong, wouldn't be where I am today! The position you arranged for me as deputy workshop director, I held for twenty years, and later I was promoted to workshop director, retiring with the benefits of a section-level cadre! I have to thank you for the rest of my life!"

He Damin smiled and patted his hand: "Master Liu, you're too kind. It's all because you're capable and can handle things. Otherwise, even if you were given the opportunity, you wouldn't have been able to seize it."

"Don't be so modest!" Liu Haizhong said warmly, holding his hand tightly. "Come on, Mr. He, let's go inside and talk. My wife is here too. She insisted on coming with me to see you, saying that you took good care of our family back then."

Behind Liu Haizhong followed an elderly woman with gray hair, who was none other than his second aunt. She was much fatter than before, with her face fuller, but her smile was still as kind as ever, her eyes narrowed into slits.

"Mr. He, you're a rare guest indeed!" The second aunt looked He Damin up and down, marveling at his health. "You look even more robust than our old Liu! It's been so many years, and you still look so young! Have you taken some kind of elixir of immortality? Give us a heads-up!"

He Damin was amused by her: "Auntie, there's no such thing as an elixir of immortality. It's just that living conditions are better outside, so you take better care of yourself."

Just as Liu Haizhong's family entered, two more people arrived at the courtyard gate. A man and a woman; the man was tall and thin, wearing black-rimmed glasses and looking quite refined, while the woman was short and stout, with a simple, honest smile always on her face.

"Uncle He! Uncle He!" The bespectacled man spotted He Damin immediately and quickened his pace, extending his hand. "I'm Yan Jiefang, Yan Bugui's son. Do you remember me? I used to play in your yard when I was little!"

He Damin looked at him, his memories slowly returning. Yan Jiefang, Teacher Yan's eldest son, the boy who was always doing odd jobs. "I remember, I remember. Jiefang, you've grown so much, you're a grown man now." He Damin grasped his hand, "How is your father... Teacher Yan?"

When Yan Jiefang mentioned his father, his eyes immediately reddened, and his voice choked up: "My father passed away before the Lunar New Year. He suffered a stroke. He passed away peacefully, without suffering much."

He Damin felt a pang of sadness. Although Yan Bugui was calculating and a bit stingy, he wasn't a bad person overall. He patted Yan Jiefang on the shoulder: "Please accept my condolences. Life is full of birth, aging, sickness, and death."

"Hmm." Yan Jiefang nodded, wiped his eyes, then pulled the woman next to him over and introduced her, "Uncle He, this is my wife, Yu Li. Yu Li, quickly call him Uncle He."

Yu Li nodded and bowed hurriedly, her face beaming with smiles: "Hello, Uncle He! Hello, Uncle He! I often hear Jiefang mention you, saying that you are a great benefactor to our family."

"Okay, okay, all good." He Damin nodded with a smile. "Come in and sit down. There's tea in the courtyard. Eat more today. Zhu Zi's cooking is always excellent."

Yan Jiefang and Yu Li thanked her and went inside. They had only been inside a short while when another person arrived at the courtyard gate. This time it was a woman, who looked to be in her forties, wearing a fashionable floral dress, her hair styled in the most popular wavy curls of the time, and her face adorned with delicate light makeup. She carried a small cloth bag and looked quite energetic.

"Brother He!" The woman's eyes lit up when she saw He Damin, and she called out in a clear voice as she walked over quickly.

He Damin looked at her and felt that she looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

"Brother He, don't you recognize me?" The woman walked up to him, smiling and revealing a set of neat teeth. "I'm Qin Jingru! Xu Damao's wife! Have you forgotten? I used to live in this courtyard with Damao for a while!"

"Qin Jingru?" He Damin suddenly realized, and upon closer inspection, it really was her. The timid, somewhat petty young wife who used to follow behind Xu Damao. Thirty years had passed, and she had aged, with fine lines around her eyes, but she was well-maintained and looked younger and more fashionable than women her age.

"Oh, it's Jingru! Hello, hello." He Damin nodded. "Where's Xu Damao? Didn't he come with you?"

"He'll be here soon!" Qin Jingru said with a smile, a hint of pride in her voice. "He's at home, getting ready! He said that since he's meeting someone as important as you today, he has to dress presentably so as not to embarrass you."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a chubby figure swayed and waddled over from the alley entrance. The man was wearing a brand-new navy blue Zhongshan suit, buttoned up tightly, his hair was slicked back so shiny that even a fly would slip on it, and he had a beaming smile on his face. Who else could it be but Xu Damao?

"Brother He! Brother He! We've been waiting for you to come back!" Xu Damao walked up to He Damin in a few steps, stretched out his hands, and tightly grasped He Damin's hands, shaking them vigorously. The affection was so intense, as if the two were long-lost brothers. "I've missed you so much!"