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

Chapter 47 Establishment of Subdistrict Office

In November 1954, the subdistrict office was officially established.

That morning, two people came to the compound. One was a middle-aged man in a gray Mao suit, and the other was a young clerk. They went door-to-door to inform everyone that they would be notifying the neighborhood committee in the front yard. From now on, if there was anything, they should contact the street office, not the military control committee.

Before the people on the street had left, another person arrived.

Wang Xia was dressed in a Lenin suit and carrying a black leather bag. She stood in the middle of the front yard, smiling, first greeting the people on the street, then nodding to the people in the yard.

When the people in the courtyard saw her, they were all stunned for a moment.

Yi Zhonghai tilted his head to face Wang Xia, a look of surprise in his eyes.

Wang Xia smiled and spoke, her voice more composed than when she was in the Military Control Commission a few years ago. "Dear neighbors, our Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office has been established. The organization has assigned me to be the subdistrict's women's director, and I will be in charge of women's work in the subdistrict from now on. If you have any difficulties, you can come to the subdistrict office to find me."

Jia Zhangshi whispered to Yang Ruihua, spitting as she spoke. "That Wang clerk is up again. Wasn't he supposed to be dismissed? How come he's become the women's director? What kind of position is that?"

Yang Ruihua lowered her voice and said, "Why do you care what they do? They don't pay you a salary."

Jia Zhangshi snorted, "I'm just curious. To be able to get back up after being stripped of your position, you must have some powerful backing."

After exchanging pleasantries with the people in the courtyard, Wang Xia walked up to Yang Ruihua and asked a few questions about the child, then nodded to Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi forced a smile, but as soon as Wang Xia turned around, her lips curled into a pout.

Wang Xia turned her head and saw He Yuzhu leaning against the doorway. Her smile froze for a moment. "Comrade He Yuzhu, it's been a long time."

He Yuzhu remained expressionless, not even offering her a smile, and turned to walk towards the courtyard.

Wang Xia stared at his back for two seconds, then the smile on her lips vanished completely. She turned back to continue talking to Yang Ruihua.

Yi Zhonghai turned around and went to the backyard. His steps were slow but steady, as if he were stepping on something solid.

He Yuzhu drove his motorcycle out of the courtyard and headed towards Chen Xiangqian's house.

The November wind was cool, and it felt chilly as it seeped into his collar. He zipped up his leather jacket.

Chen Xiangqian's house was still the same few bungalows, the jujube tree in the yard was bare, and a bicycle was parked under the tree.

When He Yuzhu entered, Chen Xiangqian was sitting inside reading documents. Several cardboard boxes were placed next to him, half empty, and Aunt Chen was putting things into them. Tea cups, thermos flasks, and washbasins were piled up on the floor.

"Uncle Chen, why is Wang Xia up again?"

Chen Xiangqian put down the documents and gestured for He Yuzhu to sit down. "I knew you came for this."

He pulled a tea canister from under the coffee table and brewed two cups of tea. "Wang Xia's former boss was Deputy District Head Zhou of Dongcheng District. Deputy District Head Zhou had some connections with the deaf old lady. Back then, I reported my proposed punishment for Wang Xia, and Deputy District Head Zhou protected her, demoting her to a regular clerk and keeping her at the Military Control Commission to await punishment and make meritorious contributions. In recent years, Wang Xia has performed well, and Deputy District Head Zhou recommended her to the Organization Department, and she became the Women's Director of Jiaodaokou Subdistrict."

He Yuzhu picked up his teacup. "Who is the director of that subdistrict office?"

"Director Zhang, whose full name is Zhang Jianguo, is an upright and principled man. He has a good reputation among the people, which is why the organization transferred him to Jiaodaokou. He has no connection with Deputy District Chief Zhou; they are on a different level."

Chen Xiangqian took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said, "With him here, Wang Xia can't cause any trouble. The women's director sounds like a cadre, but she doesn't actually have much power. Without Director Zhang's approval, she can't get anything done."

After listening, He Yuzhu took a sip of tea. The tea was warm, and swallowing it made his throat feel a little better.

Chen Xiangqian put down his teacup and looked at him. "Zhu Zi, I have something to tell you. I've been transferred. The Military Control Commission is going to be dissolved, and the organization has arranged for me to transfer to civilian work. I've been transferred to the Beijing Municipal Finance and Economics Commission as a member."

He Yuzhu paused for a moment, then put down his teacup. "A member of the Finance Committee? Uncle Chen, you've been promoted."

Chen Xiangqian waved his hand, but couldn't hide the smile on his face. "It's considered a promotion. But the Finance and Economics Committee has a lot of responsibilities; it coordinates industry and commerce, taxation, and materials. The specific division of labor hasn't been decided yet, but I guess it will be a deputy director of industry and commerce or taxation."

He Yuzhu quickly took out a cigarette and handed it to Chen Xiangqian, lighting it with a match. "Uncle Chen, when are you leaving?"

"Report in three days." Chen Xiangqian took a puff of his cigarette, the smoke slowly dissipating among the pile of cardboard boxes. "I won't be working at the Military Control Commission anymore. If you need anything, you'll have to come to the city to find me. I'll also let you know when I'm assigned to a new unit."

He Yuzhu lit a cigarette for himself. "Uncle Chen, congratulations."

Chen Xiangqian laughed and pointed at him with the finger holding the cigarette. "You little brat, you've beaten up Yi Zhonghai twice in the past few years, filed a complaint against Wang Xia, and then been reported by Yan Bugui and Yi Zhonghai. I'm leaving, and no one will back you up anymore."

He Yuzhu flicked the cigarette ash into the ashtray. "That's all in the past. I was the victim. I was forced to hit him."

"Okay." Chen Xiangqian stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "You're quick-witted and know your limits. But there's one rule: don't break the law. If you do, no one can protect you."

He Yuzhu nodded. "Uncle Chen, don't worry."

As He Yuzhu left Chen Xiangqian's house, dusk was approaching. He rode his motorcycle back home. November days are short; the sun had just set, and a lingering dark red glow remained on the horizon.

The wind picked up, rushing into his leather jacket collar, so he zipped it all the way up. The streets were less crowded; occasionally a bicycle would jingle past, its rear rack laden with cabbages. The streetlights hadn't come on yet, and the alley was already dark.

He recalled his past life. Wang Xia was the director of the neighborhood committee, and Yi Zhonghai partnered with the old deaf man, managing the courtyard like an ironclad fortress. Of course, he, the simpleton, was also there, acting as the enforcer; no one in the courtyard dared to utter a word of dissent. As a result, he was schemed against by those people for half his life.

In this lifetime, Wang Xia only managed to become the head of the women's affairs department, and there was Director Zhang above her who was always above her. Uncle Chen was transferred to the municipal government, where he was in charge of industry and commerce and taxation.

The old deaf man's wires are still there, from Deputy District Chief Zhou to Wang Xia, they haven't been broken.

The motorcycle sputtered as it turned into the alley. The main gate of the courtyard was ajar; he pushed it open, went inside, and parked the motorcycle in the outer courtyard. The lights were on in the main room, their light shining through the glass windows.

Yu Shui was doing her homework, her pencil scratching on the paper as she lay on the table. She looked like she'd just come back from the Lou family's house; she goes there to play with Lou Xiao'e every week now. Hearing him enter, she looked up and called out, "Brother."

He Yuzhu responded and walked to the calendar. In November, the subdistrict office was established.

Next year, the public-private partnership will be fully implemented, and Uncle Chen has been transferred to the Finance Committee. Everything is proceeding according to the original historical pattern, but with a slight difference.

He took out a cigarette, lit it, and considered his next move. Yu Shui finished writing the last line, closed his notebook, put the pencil in the tin box, and looked up. "Brother, I'm done. I'm hungry."

He Yuzhu stubbed out his cigarette. "Wait here, I'll go cook."