Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

In addition to the daily operation of the canteen, they also have to stay in the greenhouse every day.

Every day, at least several thousand kilograms of vegetables are harvested, and trucks from other factories line up to pick them up, as if they're fighting over them.

After delivering the last batch of fresh vegetables to the Ministry of Industry, He Yuzhu closed his shop and refused to open it to anyone who came to beg for alms.

They could have had a prosperous and lucrative New Year, but now even their own employees have to be careful with their spending on vegetables.

However, this is much better than in previous years.

In the past two years, every winter, the dining table was filled with radishes and cabbage; there wasn't a trace of any other vegetable. Even cabbage was a rarity. Every meal consisted of stewed or pickled radishes, to the point that people felt nauseous at the sight of a radish jar.

This year is different.

Ordinary workers also had a truly prosperous year.

The year-end bonuses more than doubled, and the factory also held a factory-wide feast. The steaming hot pot dishes smelled so delicious that everyone's mouths watered.

The greenhouse produce was in constant supply, and we also exchanged some supplies with other factories. Each person received several towels, a loaf of bread, and some odds and ends.

This small amount of money might not seem like much to others, but in those days, it was enough to make the workers deeply grateful to the factory leaders and He Yuzhu.

Not long after, He Yuzhu received a letter from He Daqing—he and Widow Bai were returning together, and the date was set for the day of the grand banquet at the Third Steel Rolling Mill.

Fortunately, they arrived in the afternoon; if they had arrived a few hours earlier, He Yuzhu really wouldn't have been able to get away.

During this period, He Yuzhu also made two special trips to the Lou family.

On his first visit, he told Lou's father everything about his business dealings with Leader Zhang in Hong Kong.

The old man's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he immediately pulled him towards the study: "Come, come, let's discuss this carefully! What details haven't been finalized yet? How can we get things started as quickly as possible once we get there?"

Although He Yuzhu had never been to Hong Kong Island, he had some rather novel ideas, which Lou's father found increasingly appealing.

Moreover, they will still need him to supply a large number of precious medicinal herbs in the future, so their relationship is very close.

On his second visit, Mr. Lou was all smiles – Leader Zhang had personally spoken with him, and the initial discussions had gone very smoothly.

At the national level, there is also an intention to use Lou Bancheng as a connection to quietly purchase items that are inconvenient to make public.

The old man was all smiles and was about to pull He Yuzhu into the study for another deep chat when he was interrupted by a coquettish voice.

"Dad! You want to talk business again?" Lou Xiao'e rushed in and pulled He Yuzhu up from his chair. "They've come several times, and every time it's about serious business. They haven't even said a few words!"

Mr. Lou was taken aback. He looked at his daughter's flushed face and then at He Yuzhu, who was trying not to laugh. He shook his head helplessly.

Madam Lou coughed lightly twice and said, "Alright, we can talk about serious matters another day. Young people should also cultivate their relationships."

The old man had no choice but to wave his hand and let the person go.

He Yuzhu got up happily and followed Lou Xiao'e.

Actually, he was already impatient—he'd come so many times, only to talk business, and hadn't even properly held his fiancée's hand.

Moreover, Lou Xiao'e was in the prime of her youth, and her eyes sparkled with a charmingly feisty spirit, making his heart itch.

……

The train slowly came to a stop, and He Daqing, carrying his bundle, stepped off the platform and took a deep breath.

"The old city is still the same old city, it hasn't changed, but stepping back here warms my heart and makes me feel so close to it." He looked at the familiar streets and alleys, his voice full of emotion.

Even after getting a job in Baoding, he always felt like something was missing.

But when the white widow heard these words, her heart sank.

This was the moment she feared most—that he would rekindle his old flame, reminisce about the past, and abandon her and their two sons, leaving her behind.

But after witnessing He Yuzhu's decisive and efficient methods, she knew that He Daqing was no longer the honest man she could manipulate at will.

She didn't even dare to speak loudly, let alone yell at him.

The two stood on the street for a while, the cold wind making them shrink their necks.

The white widow finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a low voice:

"The Qing Dynasty...where do we go next?"

"Zhu Zi said he'd pick me up, but I haven't seen him yet. Let's get out of the station first..."

Before He Daqing could finish speaking, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure on the platform out of the corner of his eye—He Yuzhu had just come in from the subway entrance and was waving at him with his usual calm smile on his face.

He immediately grabbed the white widow's arm: "Come on, Pillar's here!"

The two quickly went to meet him.

He Daqing was about to complain, "You're taking this long just to pick someone up..."

Before she could finish speaking, He Yuzhu interrupted her with a laugh: "Come on, you have the nerve to say that? There's a factory dinner today, and as the canteen manager, I have to be there until the very end. How can I leave if the pots and pans aren't put back in their places? Besides, I didn't even go home, I came straight here, Yushui is still waiting for me at home!"

"Oh, I really couldn't get away for the banquet... Wait a minute!" He Daqing suddenly froze, his eyes widening. "What did you just say? The head of the cafeteria? Wasn't he the deputy last time? He's been promoted to head so quickly?"

His voice betrayed his shock.

It hadn't been that long since they last met, and his son had already sped up like a rocket.

Looking at myself, I returned looking disheveled and dejected, like a down-on-his-luck refugee.

My heart was filled with mixed feelings. Fortunately, I listened to He Yuzhu's advice and made proper arrangements for my daughter and son, instead of running away with the money.

Otherwise, if I stood here in this courtyard now, I'd probably be scolded by my own flesh and blood.

"Of course you'll get promoted if you've done well." He Yuzhu grinned, a hint of smugness in his eyes. "If you want to go back to work at the factory now, you'll have to see if I approve it."

These words, spoken lightly, pierced the White Widow's heart like a needle.

Her fingertips twitched slightly, her face remaining impassive, but her heart was pounding: the waters of Beijing were deep, and she had to stick to He Daqing tightly from now on, not letting her guard down for even a moment—especially guarding against those "young widows" who were eyeing him so eagerly.

"Alright, let's not talk about that now." He Yuzhu waved his hand. "I'll take you to the courtyard to rest first."

I'm collecting rainwater for dinner tonight. Do you need a car?

"No need, we're not disabled. We can take the bus and walk," He Daqing replied casually, but his mind was in turmoil: This kid not only became a director, but he also has the money to buy a two-courtyard house?!

He couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement, feeling as if the world had changed in just a few days since he left.

"Do you have enough money on you? Do you want me to give you some?" He Yuzhu asked, turning around.

He Daqing was sincere, but a hint of displeasure flashed across the white widow's face for a moment, which she quickly suppressed.

How could she not know that He Daqing was hiding money? She had tried to persuade him to hand it over before, but it was as tight as a sealed iron can.

Now they dare not cause trouble anymore—especially under He Yuzhu's nose.

"Keep it for yourself," He Yuzhu waved his hand and laughed. "I make money faster than a printing press now. Yushui's dowry is already prepared, complete with a set of three turns and a watch, it won't be lacking."

After saying that, the three of them left the station.

He Yuzhu deftly pushed the bicycle out, letting He Daqing ride in front, with Widow Bai sitting in the middle, while he himself held the back of the bicycle.

"Don't worry, you won't fall." He patted the back seat. "I'll keep watch from behind."

He Daqing hadn't driven a car in a long time, and after a couple of wobbles at first, he quickly regained his feel for it.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, carrying the three of them through streets and alleys, heading straight for the two-courtyard siheyuan hidden deep in the old alley in the direction of Zhengyangmen.

From the outside, the courtyard looks unremarkable, but once you push open the gate, you are greeted by a bright and spacious interior—carved beams and painted rafters, blue brick floors, and elegant and refined furnishings, with porcelain vases and wooden tables all exuding charm.

The original owner, Manager Huang, was a man of refined taste; the furniture and objects he left behind all exuded a scholarly air.

He Daqing is alright, after all, he cooked for high-ranking officials and nobles for many years, so his perspective is not narrow.

But the white widow's eyes were almost glued to every piece of furniture, her fingertips itching to touch it, but then she pulled them back, afraid that if she broke a porcelain bowl, she would have to pay for half a year's worth of meals.

"Choose any room in the east or west wing to stay in." He Yuzhu tossed over a brass key, "The other room is for Yushui."

Take the key first, and return it to me when you leave.

I have things to do this afternoon, so I'll collect the rainwater before dinner tonight.

I've already moved all the New Year's goods from the factory into the kitchen. You're in charge of cooking tonight, show off your skills!

After giving his instructions, he jumped onto the bike, pedaled twice, and disappeared into the alleyway.

There's so much to do—the gift list is packed: Li Huaide's family, Lou's family, Bai Danyu's family, and also Master's and Senior Brother's families, none of them can be left out.

Just making these few trips might take two days to finish.

Besides, even though the factory was on holiday, how could the newly appointed director dare to be idle? He had to go and check again tomorrow to make sure the stoves were turned off and the doors and windows were locked before he could feel at ease.

The status has risen, but the troubles have doubled.

The Lou family has been visiting the most lately.

Lou's father went to the Ministry of Foreign Trade in person, and then secretly visited Leader Zhang's home. They talked animatedly, and when he left, the corners of his mouth were almost up to his ears.

Why? It's all because the blueprint He Yuzhu drew for him was too tempting.

Hong Kong Island development, cross-border trade, and the return of goods to the mainland... After explaining the whole plan, Mr. Lou patted his chest on the spot and said: "Give me five or six years, and I will send 30 to 40 million yuan worth of goods to the mainland every year. It is not just empty talk!"

What does this mean?

That's equivalent to ten million US dollars, while at the time, the entire foreign exchange reserves of China were just over one hundred million.

In other words, Lou's father dared to guarantee that he alone could shoulder one-tenth of the nation's foreign exchange lifeline!

In this era of upheaval and change, while some are still struggling for a single grain of rice, others are already secretly leveraging the nation's destiny.

Upon hearing this, Leader Zhang was stunned, raised an eyebrow, and almost thought he had misheard.

But then, Lou's father calmly took out a detailed development plan that even listed the cash flow for the next three years, along with several bottles of beeswax pills and health-preserving medicinal wine personally prepared by He Yuzhu, and placed them directly on the table.

The pills were crystal clear, with a warm, lustrous sheen that made one's heart itch just by looking at them; the medicinal wine was even clearer, like amber, and when the bottle was opened, a mellow fragrance rushed straight to the nose, and just one sip made one feel soothed and comforted.

Leader Zhang himself drinks this medicinal wine—a small cup every day, without fail.

He used to be sleepy in the afternoons, but now he's full of energy and looks like he's ten years younger.