Courtyard house: Just the right amount of pressure, leaving you bewildered but not brain-damaged.

"Comrade Gao, the room assigned to you by Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill is this east-facing main room and the adjacent east-facing side room. Please check them."

Although Officer Zhang didn't particularly like Gao Xiaosheng's carefree attitude, he still performed his duties diligently.

"If there are no problems, please sign here."

"The rent for the two rooms is a total of 50,000 yuan per month, which will be deducted from the salary payment in advance."

"Go east for 400 meters and then turn north. You'll see places that sell used furniture. There's also a supply and marketing cooperative, a grain store, and a vegetable market in that area. You can buy all the daily necessities you need."

"If you encounter any problems in the future, feel free to come to the neighborhood office to find me."

At this point, Officer Zhang paused for a moment and added, "Uh, actually, it's not necessary to go to the subdistrict office."

"For minor issues, just contact the neighborhood management office or the neighborhood committee."

"Your compound has three residents' managers, one each for the front, middle, and back courtyards."

It's not that Officer Zhang is shirking responsibility; it's just that objective conditions don't allow it.

Since the establishment of the subdistrict offices last year to replace the military control commission, there has been an increasing number of tasks that need to be coordinated, such as public security, sanitation, support for the peninsula, social relief, policy promotion, public housing management, house repair, and even reading newspapers and literacy campaigns.

The problem is, we don't have enough manpower.

The Yu'er Subdistrict Office has only eight full-time staff members, including the director, deputy director, and six staff members.

Even so, this is considered a powerful lineup in Nanluoguxiang and even in the Dongsi District.

The situation is even worse in the surrounding Yu'er, Xiang'er, and Taotiao subdistricts. Some have five or six people, while others have only three. They don't even have their own offices and have to share offices with the police station.

Fortunately, at the same time as the subdistrict office, a residents' welfare committee, or neighborhood committee for short, was also established.

The neighborhood committee was not a formal institution, but a mass self-governing organization, whose members were all activists recruited during the military control period.

Many of the tedious and detailed tasks of the subdistrict office are carried out through the neighborhood committees.

"Residential management? What does that mean?"

Gao Xiaosheng was a little puzzled. He could guess that the three neighborhood supervisors Zhang mentioned were Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui.

But weren't these three old men supposed to be in charge? Why have they changed positions?

"The neighborhood watch managers, they..."

Officer Zhang is a very honest person; he explained things in great detail.

"In short, the neighborhood management staff are long-time residents who are of good character, warm-hearted, and respected. They assist the street office and police station with tasks such as publicizing policies, fire prevention, theft prevention, and mediation of neighborhood disputes."

Gao Xiaosheng understood.

Subdistrict offices are the most basic level of administrative units, neighborhood committees are subordinate agencies of subdistrict offices, and neighborhood management personnel are unpaid volunteers of neighborhood committees, belonging to the lowest of the low.

As for the neighborhood committee's inner circle, nicknamed the "Little Feet Detective Team," they are all middle-aged women who don't have to work and are responsible for handling all sorts of trivial matters.

Don't underestimate the power of neighborhood supervisors; they may seem like low-ranking officials.

According to Officer Zhang, in order to facilitate management and enhance the sense of belonging among unemployed residents of Sijiucheng, a residents' group is formed for every ten to thirty households, which is basically composed of three to five courtyard houses.

The neighborhood supervisor is the "head" of the residents' group.

When important policies are issued or neighborhood disputes arise, several neighborhood managers can hold a residents' group meeting after reaching a consensus to convey the policies and resolve the disputes.

Courtyard No. 95 is a four-courtyard compound. Excluding the gatehouse and the rear building that no one wants to live in, it is equivalent to three one-courtyard compounds, forming a separate residents' group.

No wonder Yi Zhonghai holds so many meetings for the entire compound. It turns out he not only changed the name of the neighborhood management office to "the steward," but he also changed the name of the residents' group meetings.

"Officer Zhang, you said the neighborhood committee is responsible for mediating disputes, but what if one party doesn't agree?"

"Let me make it clear first, I'm not accusing the neighborhood management of favoritism, but there might be some who bully newcomers, don't you think?"

Upon hearing Gao Xiaosheng's question, Officer Zhang secretly rolled his eyes.

"Bullying newcomers"? How dare you say that? Who was it that slapped an elderly resident in the face less than ten minutes after entering the compound?

"Go to the neighborhood committee or the police station. The neighborhood management is only responsible for mediating, and both parties can refuse."

"If the matter is minor, it's best to resolve it internally, as the police station is also under strain."

"That's good, that's good." Gao Xiaosheng nodded in satisfaction.

Officer Zhang had already foreseen the scene after Gao Xiaosheng moved in; it would take some time for him to get along with his neighbors before they could hope to live together peacefully.

Hopefully, the two directors and five officers of Yu'er Police Station won't be tormented too badly by Gao Xiaosheng.

"You... sigh, sign the document, I have to go back to the neighborhood office, I can do some other work before my lunch break."

"Okay, thank you, Officer Zhang."

Gao Xiaosheng took the pen and readily signed his name.

"Oh right, didn't you say you were going to ask that Aunt Zhang for a lock?"

After escorting Officer Zhang to the gate of the courtyard, Gao Xiaosheng suddenly reminded him.

"Ah! I had forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it. Thank you, Comrade Gao."

Officer Zhang slapped his forehead and turned to run towards the Intermediate People's Court.

Gao Xiaosheng didn't follow to see the excitement. Instead, he returned to the east hall and opened the window facing the covered corridor in the central courtyard.

"Aunt Zhang, open the door. You need to give me the lock from the neighborhood committee."

"Aunt Zhang, Aunt Zhang, I know you're inside. Open the door!"

It was clear that Officer Zhang was in a real hurry, but it was unclear whether he was eager to get back to work or worried about missing lunch.

"Officer Zhang, please stop knocking. What if you wake the child?"

"My mother-in-law is probably unable to move and can't get out of bed. I knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered."

Qin Huairu, who hadn't gone inside, walked to Zhang's side and whispered words of advice.

"But...but..."

Faced with the beautiful young wife so close at hand, Officer Zhang stammered and couldn't say a word.

"Then remember to tell Aunt Zhang that I'll come to pick up the lock after get off work, and tell her to get it ready."

"Tsk tsk, no ambition." Gao Xiaosheng, hiding behind the window, gave a fair assessment.

He really couldn't understand where Qin Huairu got such great charm, not only bewitching He Yuzhu, but also making the honest and upright cadre Zhang blush with nervousness.

Yes, this young wife is beautiful and has a captivating gaze, but she is still a mother of a two-year-old child. How could she possibly be better than a virgin?

"Mom, open the door. It's alright now, Officer Zhang has left."

Gao Xiaosheng was still inwardly criticizing Qin Huairu when he heard voices and peeked out. He saw his wife slip into the house, and the entire courtyard was empty.

Well, what a waste of the good show he prepared for Secretary Zhang; it ended before it even started.

"Deep Blue, add points... Oops, wrong system, draw a prize!"

Now that he had some free time, Gao Xiaosheng finally had a chance to experience the newly released system.

It was obvious that he was not a native of the Siheyuan world, but an outsider who had traveled from decades in the future.

Unlike other lucky time travelers, Gao Xiaosheng must have drunk expired Meng Po soup.

He has completely forgotten everything about his past life, but remembers clearly everything that has nothing to do with him.

Accompanying him was an "Invincible Big Fight Lottery System".

As you can tell from the name, this system has no class and is full of a strong sense of being a loser.

The same is true.

The system is completely basic, lacking any AI intelligence, and is somewhat like an antique from the 2G era.

The function is very simple: as long as Gao Xiaosheng occupies the moral high ground and uses his power to punish others in a reasonable and legal manner, he can accumulate lottery chances.

The type, quantity, and value of the prizes are all random; everything depends on whether Gao Xiaosheng is lucky or unlucky.

Of course, the winning rate is 100%, and the words "Thank you for your patronage" will never appear.

All prizes will be adjusted according to the era in which Gao Xiaosheng lived to ensure that no product is outdated.

The system offers unlimited storage service, allowing you to use and retrieve items at any time. However, only prizes drawn can be stored; external items cannot be stored.

"Based on the test, the host currently has 2 draws, which is not enough for a 10-draw tier. Single draw mode will be activated."

"Congratulations, host, you have won 100,000 yuan in cash."

"Congratulations, host, on completing your first system lottery. To encourage you to work even harder, we are awarding you a tenfold bonus of one million yuan in cash, which has been deposited into the system warehouse and you may withdraw it at any time."

Gao Xiaosheng's expression was a mixture of crying and laughing, hard to describe.

He was quite satisfied with the one million in cash.

However, the mechanical sound of the system is indeed a bit harsh.

Does it have to be this low? If all else fails, at least plagiarize navigation voice commands.

Even if it were Guo Degang performing a tongue twister, it would be a hundred times better than this idiotic metallic voice.

"Fine, I'll put up with it."

"Try one more time."

Gao Xiaosheng grumbled about the various shortcomings of the system, but that didn't stop him from continuing to draw prizes.

"Congratulations, host, you have won half a pound of ABC Mickey Mouse milk candy, which has been stored in the system warehouse."

"..." Gao Xiaosheng was speechless.

Is the system treating him like a child and trying to fool him?

Don't be fooled by the fame of this ABC Mickey Mouse. A few years later, it was renamed White Rabbit and became a memory for a generation. But no matter how famous it is, it's just half a pound of candy.

Is it worth 30,000 yuan? Or 50,000 yuan?

This is nothing compared to the original value of the first draw.

With his lottery chances reset to zero, Gao Xiaosheng shook his head, still feeling unsatisfied, and took out a piece of milk candy to put in his mouth.

Mmm...it tastes really good, rich in milk flavor, sweet and delicious.

"Bang, bang, bang"

"Hey ma'am, I'm home from school! Are you home, ma'am?"

Gao Xiaosheng was smacking his lips, savoring the sweetness of the milk candy, when he suddenly heard a girl knocking on the door from the middle courtyard.

Walking to the window, I saw a little girl with a military satchel on one shoulder and wearing a light-colored short-sleeved dress standing at the door of the east wing. She knocked on the door twice and then ran to the window, cupping her hands to shield her eyes as she looked into the room.

After going back and forth several times, probably confirming that no one was in the room, the little girl stomped her feet in frustration and walked towards the east wing of the central courtyard.

Gao Xiaosheng silently watched her walk to the door, reached into his schoolbag with his right hand, rummaged around for a few moments, and pulled out a key.

"Young lady, are you looking for this family?"

He Yushui was startled, her hand trembled, and the key fell to the ground. She quickly picked it up and looked around.

"Here, here!" Gao Xiaosheng stood by the window, waving and calling out.

"You, how did you get into this house? This belongs to the Jia family. Get out right now!"

Gao Xiaosheng chuckled to himself; the little girl was quite kind.

Looking closely at her face, well, she's prettier than she will be ten years from now. She hasn't starved herself into a big-headed doll yet, she's just a bit thinner, which makes her almond-shaped eyes stand out even more.

Thin arms and thin legs, with hardly any flesh on his body.

"This is my home now. I'm a new resident who moved in today. Come inside, and I'll tell you where that family went."

Gao Xiaosheng waved, signaling He Yushui to come inside and talk.