Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 3 First Arrival in Baoding

Yan Bugui stepped in to smooth things over, spewing out bits of cornbread from his mouth: "Old Yi, this idiot... Zhuzi wasn't wrong, the word 'idiot' doesn't sound good. The kids are all grown up, they don't like it, so we can't call them that. Otherwise, everyone in the courtyard would be called 'idiot,' how would we face people in public?"

Someone nearby nodded in agreement. Nobody wants to be called stupid or anything, but that simpleton Sha Zhu is really capable of doing it.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, He Yuzhu spoke up, "Teacher Yan, being educated really makes a difference. I said we're just neighbors, and Yi Zhonghai isn't my elder. Teacher Yan, was I wrong to say that?"

Yan Bugui swallowed hard, his eyes darting around.

"Well... well... Zhu Zi, what you said is true. But we all live in the same courtyard, so there's a bond between us. Old Yi is getting on in years, so it's only right that you call him Uncle Yi. It's impolite of you to address him by his first name like that."

"I may be impolite, but it's not illegal, is it, Teacher Yan? Yi Zhonghai doesn't get this kind of treatment from me. You're different; I respect you so much, always calling you 'Teacher Yan.'"

Yan Bugui was speechless. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

He Yuzhu didn't give him a chance, saying directly, "Alright, Teacher Yan. Let's not talk about this anymore. Ask Yi Zhonghai for me. He came over yesterday and told me and Yushui that my father ran off with a widow and doesn't want me and Yushui anymore. How did he know? Did He Daqing tell him? Did He Daqing leave him any money or anything else?"

As soon as he said that, everyone in the courtyard turned to look at Yi Zhonghai.

He Daqing ran off with the widow; Yi Zhonghai did indeed say that yesterday.

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Fool... He Yuzhu, your father told me before he left that he would take care of you and your brother in the yard. He left no money or anything else. Now that you're so capable, you don't need me to take care of you anymore. Don't come looking for me if you need anything in the future."

He Yuzhu smiled.

"Alright. Yi Zhonghai, don't go back on your word today. Everyone heard it and will testify for me from now on. I'm taking my sister to find He Daqing today, so don't change your story then."

After saying that, he picked up the rain and strode forward.

Raindrops rested on his shoulder, glanced back at the people in the yard, then turned back and hugged his neck.

"Brother, they're so mean."

"It's alright, I know what I'm doing."

Yi Zhonghai stood in the courtyard, watching He Yuzhu's retreating figure, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. Yesterday, he had only said that He Daqing had run off with the widow, without specifying where they had gone.

Where can you find such a fool? In the end, he'll have to obediently come and beg him.

He Yuzhu did not go to the train station.

He went directly to the military control commission.

There were guards with guns standing at the entrance of the Military Control Commission. He Yuzhu explained his purpose, and the guard pointed to a room and told him to go there.

Inside the room, at a long table, sat an officer in military uniform, reading a newspaper.

"Comrade, I need a letter of introduction." He Yuzhu took out his household registration booklet.

The cadre looked up and glanced at him. A young man, barely out of his teens, was holding a little girl in his arms.

"Where are you going? What are you going to do?"

"Baoding. I need to find my dad. He ran away with someone, and my sister cries every day. I have to find him and bring him back."

The official frowned.

"What's your father's name?"

"He Daqing. So he was a cook at Lou's Steel Plant."

The cadre wrote it down in his notebook, and finally wrote out a letter of introduction and stamped it with a red seal.

"Be careful on the road, and keep an eye on your sister."

"Thank you, comrade."

He Yuzhu took the letter of introduction and put it in his pocket. Yushui fell asleep in his arms, her little head resting on his shoulder, with drool still hanging from the corner of her mouth.

The train station was packed with people, all carrying large and small bags, pushing and shoving. He Yuzhu, clutching his rain-soaked clothes, finally managed to squeeze onto the train.

There were many people in the carriage. He found an empty seat, put the raindrops on his lap, and let her lean against him.

The train clattered along, and the houses outside the window receded, turning into bare trees and then into fields.

He Yuzhu looked out the window, his mind churning through fragments of memories.

He's here in Baoding.

-----

In the backyard of the courtyard house, inside the room of the deaf old woman.

As soon as Tan Xiulan entered the house, she asked, "Grandma, did you look for me?"

The deaf old woman asked her to sit down.

"I heard about what happened at the Intermediate People's Court this morning. Did Zhonghai and Shazhuzi get into a fight?"

Tan Xiulan nodded and recounted the whole story. From He Yuzhu calling him "Silly Yi" to publicly asking Yi Zhonghai if he had received money from He Daqing, to finally leaving with Yushui in his arms, she didn't miss a single detail.

After listening, the deaf old woman tapped her cane.

"Something's not right with this idiot Zhu."

Tan Xiulan didn't respond. She sensed something was wrong; Sha Zhu seemed like a completely different person today, his speech and actions were unlike those of a sixteen-year-old.

"Go and call Zhonghai here," the deaf old woman said.

Tan Xiulan responded and turned to walk out.

Yi Zhonghai arrived quickly. He entered the house and glanced at the old lady's face.

The deaf old woman waved her hand, and Tan Xiulan left, closing the door behind her.

There were only two people left in the room.

The deaf old woman stared at Yi Zhonghai without saying a word for a long time.

Yi Zhonghai felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and coughed lightly, "Grandma, you wanted to see me?"

"If I didn't look for you, would you not have come?" The deaf old woman's voice wasn't loud. "How many times have I told you, get rid of He Daqing, Sha Zhuzi is the card we hold. If you push this card away, are you stupid? He really wasn't wrong to call you Sha Yi."

Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth, wanting to explain.

"Don't give me that nonsense," the deaf old woman interrupted him. "I'm asking you, what exactly did He Daqing leave you when he left?"

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed.

The deaf old woman looked at him and sneered.

"You think I wouldn't know just because you didn't tell me? He Daqing left money with you, didn't he? And that substitute work certificate is with you too."

Sweat dripped down Yi Zhonghai's forehead.

"Grandma, I..."

"I don't want your things," the deaf old woman waved her hand. "I'm telling you, keep these things, but don't let Sha Zhuzi know. He's asking you now because he suspects you. You need to handle this cleanly."

Yi Zhonghai wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded.

The deaf old woman continued, "Also, your attitude towards Sha Zhuzi is wrong. He's a simpleton. What good will it do you to confront him head-on? His father ran away, and now he's like a wounded wolf. He'll bite anyone who touches him. You have to stroke him the way you want."

"But the old lady, he called me 'Silly Yi' in front of the whole hospital today..."

"So what?" the deaf old woman raised her voice. "You can't stand being called 'Silly Yi'? How old are you, arguing with a sixteen-year-old? Let me ask you, his father ran away, his sister is still young, what does he need most right now?"

Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment: "Money? Food?"

"No, not at all." The deaf old woman slammed her cane down. "Someone is helping him. Go help him now, go find him, ask him if he needs help. If you lower your stance and speak softly, do you think he'll push you away?"

Yi Zhonghai remained silent for a while.

"But old lady, given how he is today, he might not appreciate it if I go to him."

"If he doesn't appreciate it, just keep going. If once doesn't work, try twice, and if twice doesn't work, try three times." The deaf old woman looked at him. "Zhonghai, you have to remember, that silly boy is kind-hearted and responds better to gentle persuasion than force. If you approach him gently, he'll be easy to manipulate."

Yi Zhonghai nodded.

"There's one more thing," the deaf old woman lowered her voice, "Shazhuzi doesn't know about He Daqing's trip to Baoding, does he?"

"I only know that his father left with the White Widow. I haven't said anything else yet."

"That's good. Sha Zhuzi probably went to see his master," the deaf old woman said. "You should get rid of that job quickly; keeping it will only cause trouble."

Yi Zhonghai nodded again.

The deaf old woman waved her hand: "Alright, you can go back now. Go find Sha Zhuzi tomorrow and apologize to him. Just say that you spoke harshly today and ask him not to take it to heart."

"Apologize?"

"Yes, go apologize." The deaf old woman's voice left no room for argument. "If you bow your head now, this yard will be yours. If you don't, you won't have any say in this yard anymore."

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth and finally agreed, then turned and left.

The deaf old woman sat alone on the kang (a heated brick bed), pondering her next move.

She had a feeling that things weren't so simple today. She'd watched Sha Zhuzi grow up; he'd never been like this before.

What exactly is wrong?

She couldn't explain it.

Baoding Railway Station.

He Yuzhu carried Yushui off the bus. The platform was crowded with people carrying large and small bags, pushing and shoving. Yushui was woken up by the noise, rubbing her eyes, and hugging his neck tightly.

"Brother, where are we?"

"Baoding. Father is right here."

Rainy said "oh" and buried her face in his neck again.

He Yuzhu carried his younger sister out of the station. At the exit, someone was checking tickets. He took out his ticket and handed it over. The ticket inspector glanced at it and let him through.

In his previous life, he had come to Baoding to look for He Daqing and knew where Widow Bai's house was. Now he couldn't go directly; Widow Bai wouldn't let him in, and He Daqing might not be home.

He needs to find someone to help him first.

Military Control Commission.

After making inquiries, He Yuzhu found the place. It was a gray building with two armed guards standing at the entrance, just like in Beijing.

He walked over, but the guards stopped him.

"What do you do?"

"Comrade, I need to report a case." He Yuzhu took out his letter of introduction. "I'm from Beijing, I'm looking for my father."

The guard glanced at the letter of introduction, then at the rainwater in his arms, and pointed inside.

"Go in, the second door on the left."

He Yuzhu carried the rainwater inside. At a long table in the room sat a cadre in military uniform, around thirty years old, with a scar on his face, who looked quite fierce.

"What is it?"

"Comrade, I want to sue my father." He Yuzhu put the rainwater on the ground and made her stand up straight. "His name is He Daqing. He ran away from Beijing to Baoding. He abandoned my brother and me. My sister is only seven years old."

The cadre immediately took out his notebook and began to take notes.

"He Daqing, from Beijing. Anyone else?"

"I want you to take me to see my father and tell him what abandonment is. I'll handle the rest myself; I don't want him to go to jail."