Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Yi Zhonghai was so angry his beard trembled: "You're still being stubborn? You eat chicken, duck, fish, and meat every day, stewed pork hock, simmered pork bones—the aroma fills half the yard! While we're eating cornbread and pickled vegetables, you're inside drinking and playing drinking games! This is being out of touch with the masses! This is a matter of principle! A serious mistake!"

Liu Haizhong quickly chimed in, spitting as he spoke: "That's right! Sha Zhu, don't take this lightly! This isn't a small matter. If you don't correct your behavior, it will affect the atmosphere of the entire compound! Uncle, you tell me! Just tell me what to do!"

Yi Zhonghai cursed inwardly, thinking, "What a damn good-for-nothing! He can forget everything we agreed on."

But the atmosphere couldn't be allowed to cool off, so he immediately picked up the conversation, saying in a deep voice, "Shazhu, who in the whole compound isn't eating cornbread and cabbage these days? Only your family eats chicken, duck, fish, and meat every meal, the aroma filling the entire alley. You still dare to say you haven't lost touch with the masses?"

"If you know what's good for you, take out the lunchbox you bring home every day and share it with your neighbors so they can also have a taste of meat."

This way you can still make amends—otherwise, this would be a classic case of moral decline, and the nature of it is very serious!

He Yuzhu's lips curled into a sneer, his heart filled with a cold sneer that felt like a knife scraping against iron.

Good heavens, so they were after his lunchbox after all? He glanced unhurriedly at Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, then suddenly pointed at them, his tone light yet hooked:

"Let me carry your lunchbox? Sure, but you two gentlemen, shouldn't you at least offer something in return?"

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances: "What do you mean? What stance are we supposed to take?"

"Make a statement?" He Yuzhu scoffed, his voice suddenly rising. "You've made a mistake and you don't even realize it? Everyone else earns thirty or forty a month, while one of you earns seventy and the other sixty! What gives you the right? Isn't this considered desertion? Do you want to write a self-criticism?"

He took a half step forward, his eyes sharp as nails: "I suggest that Uncle Yi contribute thirty yuan a month, and Uncle Er contribute twenty yuan, to subsidize the neighbors in the courtyard whose wages are less than thirty yuan."

Why don't you two set a good example?

Liu Haizhong immediately exploded: "Why should I? This money is earned with my life! I work on construction sites every day, carrying cement, enduring wind and sun to earn this blood and sweat. You just want to take it away?"

"Your money is earned with blood and sweat, but mine isn't?" He Yuzhu sneered even more. "I cook two hundred dishes a day in the cafeteria, oil splattering all over my face, and I'm so tired I can't even straighten my back."

"I just brought a lunchbox home, and you guys want to divide the spoils? You guys make so much money, why doesn't anyone touch you?"

His gaze shifted, directly targeting Yi Zhonghai: "Uncle, you earn over seventy a month, you eat and drink well every day and still have leftovers, are you going to share or not? If you don't share, it's a matter of principle! Tomorrow I'll go to the neighborhood office to report you, Director Wang has plenty of empty forms, he'll deal with any dissent."

"This...this was Lao Yi's idea!" Liu Haizhong panicked and quickly tried to shift the blame, "It has nothing to do with me! I have three sons to support, and my wife is sick; I can't afford to spend a single penny!"

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai was furious—this coward, he just abandoned his responsibilities at the crucial moment, he's utterly hopeless!

But he was afraid too.

If this door is opened, anyone can ask him for money.

He suppressed his anger and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Ahem... It was my oversight. I thought... your lunchbox was a company benefit... Since the situation is special, let's cancel the meeting today. Let's all go home."

Before he finished speaking, he turned and left with a dark face, not even bothering to hold onto the table or chair, his steps as heavy as if he were stepping on ants.

He Yuzhu watched his retreating figure and smiled coldly: Trying to make an example of me? Tomorrow I'll have Director Wang come and investigate personally to see who the real "backward thinker" is.

-

Back inside, He Yuzhu pulled out fifteen yuan, a steaming hot meat and vegetable lunchbox, and a box of peach kernel pastries from the cabinet.

"Take these to Old Lady Li in the front yard."

In a couple of days, I'll take you to buy fabric and have her make us some new clothes.

"Huh?" He Yushui's eyes widened as she took the item, her heart pounding.

She didn't care about the money, but the lunchbox and snacks... were supposed to be for her.

"Hey, still unwilling?" He Yuzhu saw through her thoughts at a glance and tapped her on the forehead. "I'll buy these snacks later."

"Look at you, so stingy! Hurry up! If you keep dawdling, I'll cook you vegetables every day from now on, and you'll get as fat as a little piglet—make sure Grandma Li's grandchildren eat less, or they'll get stomach aches, understand?"

He Yushui pouted, but still took her things and went out.

As soon as she stepped out the door, the commotion was witnessed by many people in the central garden.

Yi Zhonghai was sitting by the window drinking tea when he glanced at her and saw the money clutched in her hand, the greasy lunchbox, and the box of delicate pastries. His hand trembled, and he almost dropped the teacup.

"Bang!" The tea lid slammed heavily onto the table.

He stared intently at the retreating figure, gritting his teeth: "Foolish Zhu... just you wait, this score will be settled sooner or later!"

They don't respect him, this old man, and repeatedly undermine him. If this continues, which of the young people in the courtyard will listen to him? If Jia Dongxu also becomes cunning, who will take care of him in his old age?

Yi Zhonghai is over forty years old, and having children is long past his prime.

We've tried every possible method, from traditional Chinese medicine to Western medicine and folk remedies, but it's all been in vain.

That's why he set his sights on the honest and obedient Jia Dongxu early on, took him in as an apprentice, and raised him like a son.

But after all, they weren't related by blood.

If you want people to serve you tea and water and care for you when you get old, you must first establish your authority.

Let his word carry more weight than an imperial edict, let Dongxu get up to pour him water just because he coughs—that's the long-term solution.

Now, Sha Zhu is provoking people everywhere, shaking not only his lunchbox, but also the very foundation of his "authority".

This battle must be won.

Yi Zhonghai established this set of rules himself.

He usually keeps a low profile, but he is actually very cautious and meticulous. He even reveals his mastery of metalworking skills little by little, afraid that others will learn too quickly and lose his influence in the compound.

The technology isn't given away for free; you need He Zhonghai's approval before you can even try.

But now, this prestige has been repeatedly punctured by Sha Zhu.

If things continue like this, who will still respect him as an "old man"? The people in the courtyard have become timid and will turn their heads whichever way the wind blows.

-

At the front yard, in front of Old Lady Li's house, He Yushui knocked lightly twice on the wooden door. The sound was not loud, but it conveyed a sense of efficiency.

The door creaked open, and as soon as Grandma Li peeked out, she heard the little girl's clear voice say, "Grandma Li, my brother asked me to bring something over."

This is the money for making clothes, and this lunchbox is for my younger siblings to nourish their bodies.

My brother said, "Don't eat too much; it's too oily and will easily upset your stomach."

"Oh... thank you, Yushui, and please thank your brother for me too!" Old Mrs. Li's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice became low.

How could she not want to buy her child some meat? But the rice jar was empty, and they hadn't even figured out what to eat for breakfast tomorrow, so how could she dare to think about meat?

Her hands trembled slightly as she took the lunchbox, and she quickly pushed the box of snacks next to it away, saying, "Take this back with you. The child should eat more. Don't just think about us."

He Yushui grinned, secretly craving the food, but she knew she couldn't break the rules her older brother had set.

She shook her head and said, "No, no, my brother said that if I don't listen, I won't get any lunchboxes anymore."

Please stay; your younger siblings are still growing!

Before she finished speaking, she had already turned and run away, her braid swinging behind her head like a nimble little sparrow.

Grandma Li wanted to call out again, but her two little grandsons had already gotten up and were staring longingly at the lunchbox in her hand, their little mouths half-open, drool almost dripping onto the kang mat.

Her nose tingled with emotion, and she silently thought: Next time... I must repay you.

He then greeted them with a smile, "Come and eat! There's meat today! But each person can only have one piece, so be careful, there will be peach shortbread as a snack later!"

I've been starving these past few days, and if I eat too much greasy food, I'm sure I'll get diarrhea.

She carefully divided the shredded pork with green peppers in the lunchbox into four portions. She would eat one portion tonight and save the rest for tomorrow, slowly savoring each bite and swallowing the sentiment.

-

Someone in the front yard witnessed this scene.

Uncle Yan Bugui was brushing his teeth by the door when he suddenly heard Auntie shout from inside: "Old Yan, look! Yushui has gone to deliver lunchboxes to Old Lady Li again!"

He rinsed his mouth and looked up, just in time to see He Yushui leaving empty-handed, her back view as nimble as a gust of wind.

Yan Bugui paused for a moment, then slowly uttered, "Zhu Zi's actions are far more commendable than those of my third uncle... He's a real man."

Although he was stingy and flipped through his account books more often than anyone else, he still retained the scholar's pride deep down.

Do not do bad things, nor laugh at good people for doing good deeds.

He had originally planned to have Auntie San send some sweet potatoes and sorghum flour to help out, but now he thought, why bother? What Sha Zhu sent wasn't some cheap coarse grain; it was real meat and vegetables, ten times better than his meager relief.

The third aunt frowned and said, "Zhu Zi means well, but he's offended Yi Zhonghai. Won't he face retaliation later?"

Yan Bugui snorted coldly: "Who knows how many tricks they're up to? They even kept the donation a secret from me, so whatever."

Anyway, the pillar isn't a pushover.

Despite saying that, he was still tempted and decided to quietly give Sha Zhu a piece of advice: young people shouldn't be afraid of trouble, but they also shouldn't be taken advantage of without realizing it.

-

The next morning, the courtyard house was bustling with activity as usual.

The sounds of chopping wood, washing up, and clattering pots and pans filled the air as people rushed to work and smoke billowed from the stoves.

He Yuzhu was the only one who didn't rush to leave.

He stood in the courtyard, his eyes darkening, and finally made up his mind—to report Yi Zhonghai.