Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

Lin Yang pointed to one of the heavy bicycles (commonly known as "28-inch" bicycles) that was jet black and shiny, with an all-steel frame and a thick leather seat, and said to the salesperson, "Comrade, take this one."

Upon seeing the special supply receipt and a stack of brand-new RMB notes handed over by Lin Yang, the salesperson immediately pushed out the spotless bicycle without saying a word.

A full 160 yuan!

When Lin Fan's trembling hand touched the cool, smooth handlebars, he felt as if he had touched a rare treasure.

"Brother, give it a try," Lin Yang said with a smile.

Lin Fan hopped on his bicycle and carefully pedaled twice in the open space outside the department store. The axle made a crisp, pleasant "click-clack" sound, and the bicycle bell rang, attracting the attention of passersby, their eyes filled with envy.

"It's so easy to ride...it doesn't take any effort at all." Lin Fan's eyes reddened with excitement.

"Let's go home."

sunset.

At the entrance of the alley at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, several children were playing in the mud after school.

Suddenly, a clear bicycle bell rang out.

"Ring ring—ring ring—"

Lin Fan rode his brand-new, freshly painted bicycle steadily into the alley. Lin Yang walked beside him, hands in his pockets, a smile on his face.

At this time, it was the time to get off work and cook dinner. In the front yard of the courtyard house, Uncle Yan Bugui was squatting on the ground, weighing half a jin of cornmeal he had just bought with a small, broken scale, while muttering calculations to himself.

Upon hearing the bell, Yan Bugui looked up.

When the brand-new, shiny black bicycle with red ribbons hanging from the handlebars came into his sight, Yan Bugui slammed the weight in his hand onto the back of his foot with a "thud".

But he didn't even have time to cry out in pain. He jumped up as if he had been electrocuted, his eyes fixed on the bicycle, almost popping out of their sockets.

"Oh my goodness! This...this is..."

Yan Bugui rushed forward, wanting to touch her but not daring to, looking like a lustful ghost who had seen an unparalleled beauty.

"Uncle, are you settling the score?" Lin Fan gripped the brakes, touched the ground with one foot, and came to a steady stop with an exceptionally dashing posture.

Yan Bugui swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "Lin Fan... this... this is the bicycle you bought?! A brand new Flying Pigeon! How much did it cost?! Where did you get this receipt?!"

Yan Bugui's mind started racing. One hundred and sixty yuan was equivalent to half a year's salary for him as a primary school teacher, not to mention that bicycle ticket, which was more valuable than gold!

"Yangzi bought it for me." Lin Fan patted the leather car seat, his tone revealing an undisguised pride. "I'm going to Beihai Park for a blind date in a couple of days, and Yangzi said it would be inconvenient without a means of transportation, so she bought one for me."

You just bought one on a whim?!

A mode of transportation for blind dates?!

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing Yan Bugui's heart.

Yan Bugui, after a lifetime of scheming, couldn't even afford a bicycle wheel. Lin Fan, on the other hand, simply bought a brand new Flying Pigeon bicycle on a blind date!

Comparing yourself to others is truly agonizing!

Just then, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong from the Intermediate People's Court also heard the commotion and came out.

When they saw Lin Fan pushing the new bicycle into the courtyard, their steps froze instantly.

His eyes, hidden in his bangs, instantly turned blood red.

He was a level seven forging worker, and his monthly salary wasn't low. He dreamed of owning a bicycle so he could ride it to the steel rolling mill every day, basking in the envious glances of his coworkers—how prestigious that would be!

But he couldn't get tickets!

Now, a brand-new bicycle is parked in front of the Lin family's house. And its owner is none other than Lin Fan, the very person he once trampled underfoot and who couldn't even get enough to eat!

"Why! He's just a warehouse keeper, why does he get to ride such a nice bike!" Liu Haizhong roared inwardly, the flames of jealousy almost burning away his reason.

Yi Zhonghai's reaction was more complex.

He stared blankly at the bicycle that gleamed with metallic luster in the setting sun, as if he were seeing his lost, glorious future reflected in it.

If he had taken Lin Fan as his godson back then, if he had genuinely helped the Lin brothers, wouldn't Yi Zhonghai be qualified to ride this bicycle today? Wouldn't Lin Yang, this influential secretary, be his most reliable support in his old age?

"What a tragedy... what a tragedy..." Yi Zhonghai closed his eyes in anguish, turned around, and staggered back to his room.

Behind the window of the Jia family's house, Jia Zhangshi's fat face was pressed tightly against the glass, her fleshy cheeks twisted together with extreme jealousy.

"Damn it! That's a bicycle! How much is that worth?!"

Madam Jia cursed through gritted teeth, then turned to look at Jia Dongxu, who was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) sulking.

"Dongxu! Look at Lin Fan! Now he's not only a quality inspector, he even rides a bicycle! And look at you, you've been following that old bastard Yi Zhonghai for so many years, and you're still just a pathetic apprentice! You're utterly useless!"

Jia Dongxu, his face flushed red from the scolding, suddenly stood up and retorted, "Mom! Why are you yelling at me! If you hadn't insisted on taking their house and offended the Lin brothers so much, would our family be in such a miserable state now? If we hadn't taken the house, maybe Lin Fan would still be lending me his bicycle to ride!"

"Bullshit!" Jia Zhangshi slapped Jia Dongxu on the back of the head in anger. "You dare to talk back! Who am I doing this for? Isn't it all so you can get married and have a spacious house in the future! Now that Lin Yang has become a high-ranking official and is coming to settle accounts with us, instead of thinking of a solution, you just act tough in our own backyard!"

The mother and son had a fierce argument inside the house, which was even accompanied by the sound of bowls and plates being smashed.

The atmosphere in the Yan family's front yard was also exceptionally somber.

Yan Bugui sat at the table, holding a pencil, frantically calculating on a piece of scrap paper.

"One hundred and sixty yuan... If you buy cornmeal, you can buy more than a thousand jin... If you buy cabbage, you can buy tens of thousands of jin..."

The three women, watching his dazed expression, sighed, "Old man, stop calculating. Even a single hair from Secretary Lin is thicker than our waists. From now on, whatever you do in the yard, never, ever mess with the Lin family. If we see them eating meat, we shouldn't even think about smelling the soup, lest we bring trouble upon ourselves."

Yan Bugui put down his pencil and sighed heavily, "Yes, we can't afford to offend them, we simply can't. The Lin family has truly risen to power!"

The Liu family's backyard.

As soon as Liu Haizhong entered the door, seeing his second son, Liu Guangtian, secretly eating leftovers, his anger instantly erupted.

He rushed forward, grabbed Liu Guangtian's ear, and then picked up a feather duster from the corner of the wall and began to beat him mercilessly.

"I'll beat you to death, you worthless beast! All you do is eat! Look at Lin Fan, he's riding a new bicycle! And look at you, all you do is eat and sleep, like a pig! What use are you to me!"

"Ah! Dad! Stop hitting me! I was wrong, I was wrong!" Liu Guangtian was beaten so badly that he rolled on the ground, screaming repeatedly.