Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

On Monday, as soon as Qin Huairu arrived at the factory, following Yi Zhonghai's instructions, she carried a basket of shiny, precision parts. After landing, she stretched her stiff back and sore shoulders.

Lately, she's felt like she's not learning enough, but she's not doing any less work. When she was learning metalworking from Master Wang Aiying, Master Wang would explain in detail which part of the file was off-center or which line was crooked. But when it came to Yi Zhonghai, he just said, "Look more, remember more, and think more," without giving her any further guidance.

She thought to herself: It would be better to go back to Master Wang's place. But then she thought, Yi Zhonghai could get her more than a dozen meal tickets, and during holidays she could get an extra half a pound of meat and a pound of candy; besides, he was a level seven fitter, two levels higher than Master Wang—if she wanted to climb the ranks in the future, she would still need his guidance.

She had only just reached the level of a first-grade fitter, but she was already quietly planning her exam schedule for levels four and five.

After the parts were unloaded, Qin Huairu quickly made tea and filled the pot with hot water for Yi Zhonghai before taking a few steps closer and lowering her voice: "Master, I heard that Director He is leaving? Everyone in the factory is talking about it."

She had formally kowtowed to him, and everyone in the factory called him "Master."

"Um?"

Yi Zhonghai paused, his heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his voice even further: "Who said that?"

"I was in the restroom just now and overheard two women from the cafeteria talking. They didn't see me, so they stood by the sink and whispered, 'Why is Director He suddenly leaving the factory for a while?'... They also said that it was that kid Ma Hua who leaked the news first."

It was no secret in the factory that Ma Hua had become He Yuzhu's apprentice. The canteen staff were envious of his good fortune; while others took three years to become permanent employees, he became an eighth-level cook in just one year. When there were banquets outside, He Yuzhu would always train him, making sure he was in charge of everything from oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar to cooking techniques, personally overseeing the heat and knife skills—initially, he wasn't paid, but the opportunity was precious; later, as his skills improved, he received red envelopes, commissions, and special allowances.

MCA is deeply grateful to Ho Yu Chu, but has no way to help him. Ho Yu Chu rarely needs him to run errands, unless Ho Yu Chu actually opens a restaurant in the 1980s, then it will be his turn to take charge.

Yi Zhonghai paused for a moment, then asked, "Is it accurate?"

"I can't guarantee it... but if I really leave, it'll probably be in the next few days."

Qin Huairu's tone was uncertain, but she believed it to a large extent. In the past, He Yuzhu would go on business trips every few days, sometimes for four or five months at a time, but Yi Zhonghai was not in the workshop at that time and was completely unaware of it.

She had originally intended to use Lou Xiao'e as a connection to get closer to the inner quarters of the compound—if she really became close friends with Lou Xiao'e, wouldn't He Yuzhu give her some face?

Unfortunately, Lou Xiao'e was very vigilant and never let her handle the tasks of serving tea or water. She greeted people with a smile, but her words were always impeccable. No matter how warmly you tried to get close to her, she would politely deflect your advances with a smile, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Hmm... then let's wait and see. We'll discuss it again once he's really gone."

Yi Zhonghai's fingertips trembled slightly, and even his hand holding the wrench was a little unsteady. If He Yuzhu really left, wouldn't this compound be in his hands? Without that reckless He Yuzhu, he was absolutely confident in dealing with the others... No, he had to go to the old lady tonight to get some advice and finalize the plan.

"Huairu, pick up some cooked food on your way home from get off work, and maybe a roast chicken too... Oh, and by the way, chop it up and plate it, get some for your family too—how long has it been since Banggeng had any meat?"

He pulled out a few ration coupons and some small bills from his pocket and stuffed them into Qin Huairu's hand. His fingertips accidentally brushed against the back of her hand, and his heart suddenly warmed.

Qin Huairu, however, was completely unaware of what was happening. Her eyes were already fixed on those few bills, and her mind was already racing, calculating which shop to go to that evening, how many kilograms to buy, and how much would be left to take home.

This was something the deaf old lady had been thinking about for quite some time; she even asked an older woman to pass on a message a couple of days ago. Yi Zhonghai pondered for a long time before finally managing to spare these meat coupons, which he had just managed to gather.

"Don't worry, Master, I'll take care of it perfectly for you."

Before she finished speaking, she had already calculated the costs in her mind: buy three catties of cooked meat tonight, keep one catty for herself, no more and no less, just enough to satisfy her cravings; too much might arouse suspicion, too little would be unfair to the children—a steady and sustainable approach is the way to make a living.

Qin Huairu clutched the meat tickets and a stack of banknotes in her hand, her heart pounding like a bird in her chest—this wasn't just income for the Jia family, it was enough to make her happy all day.

Before she knew it, it was time to leave work. Instead of walking with Yi Zhonghai, she turned and went into the grocery store, quickly carrying back all the cooked food and roast chicken. As soon as she stepped into the Jia family courtyard, Jia Zhangshi saw the shiny paper package and froze, her voice cracking: "Qin Huairu! Are you crazy? Buying so much meat? Don't you know how to make a living?"

"Mom, this isn't from our family—it's an old man who asked me to run an errand for him, and he paid me in cash. But, you know, it's not unreasonable to keep a little for myself to try."

Before she finished speaking, she had already slipped into the kitchen. With swift, precise cuts, she chopped the roast chicken into pieces and sliced ​​the pork head meat, arranging them in two blue-and-white porcelain platters in the blink of an eye. Then, with two quick, sharp cuts, she flattened the cucumber, sprinkled it with minced garlic and sesame oil, and prepared a refreshing cold dish for Yi Zhonghai.

Madam Jia followed her in, staring at the two plates of food being taken out, clicking her tongue in disapproval: "Why didn't you keep some for yourselves? You've run yourself ragged for him, shouldn't you at least share a bite?"

Qin Huairu didn't even look up, pointing to the side with the tip of her chopsticks: "Isn't that plate?"

"That's all? Not even enough to fill a gap between your teeth!"

"That's enough. A steady stream of water is good for fish. If you anger this old man, you won't even get errands anymore—would you rather have one full meal a day, or meat at every meal?"

As she spoke, she flicked off a cucumber peel, her tone calm yet each word carrying weight. While she had become more assertive after taking charge, the thin veil between her and Jia Dongxu and Jia Zhangshi was growing ever thinner.

After mixing the cucumbers, she wiped her hands and said, "Mom, could you please take these three dishes to Uncle? I still have things to do in the kitchen."

Staple food? She didn't mention it at all—who would bother with staple food when hosting guests at this time? Unless it was a wealthy family like the He family; the Yi family's steamed buns and flatbreads were always steamed by an older woman and served piping hot to Yi Zhonghai.

"Why should I be the one to deliver it? I'm not going!" Jia Zhangshi retorted stubbornly.

Qin Huairu didn't even lift her eyelids: "Dongxu just told me a couple of days ago—from now on, you'll lend a hand with things at Uncle Yi's house; I'll take care of things at home."

"You..." Madam Jia choked, then suddenly remembered: it was true! She herself had first whispered to Jia Dongxu, "We must be wary of Qin Huairu," before Jia Dongxu turned to her and instructed her to "take good care of the Yi family."

If we can't let Qin Huairu benefit from the Yi Zhonghai connection, then in the end she'll be left to take the fall.

Jia Zhangshi's heart skipped a beat, as if she had bitten into a bitter green apricot.

Despite the complaints, the food still had to be taken away. It was so tempting, I was practically drooling, but I still had to personally serve it to others—it was truly infuriating.

When she returned looking dejected, she reached out to grab a piece of pig's head to satisfy her craving, but Qin Huairu stopped her, saying, "Mom, Banggeng just got out of school, and Dongxu will be home soon too."

The fire in Jia Zhangshi's throat went out with a "poof." If she were caught cheating, where would she put her family's reputation?

That evening, the deaf old lady strolled into Yi Zhonghai's house with a big smile. When she saw the golden roast chicken, the reddish-brown pig's head meat, and the snow-white, fluffy steamed buns on the table, her mouth stretched so wide it almost split open.

She was a picky eater to begin with, otherwise she wouldn't have secretly traded grain coupons for meat coupons, just for that one bite of fresh food.

After barely touching his chopsticks, Yi Zhonghai put them down and asked in a low voice about He Yuzhu's departure from the hospital. The deaf old lady shook her head, but when he continued to mention his plans to "reclaim control of the courtyard house" and "bring down the He family," she immediately perked up her ears and memorized every word.

She even tried to strike up a conversation with Lou Xiao'e, but Lou only treated her like a gossipy old lady next door, politely distant and never calling her "Grandma." The deaf old lady felt empty inside—Yi Zhonghai was now the last piece of fat meat in her bowl.

The news of He Yuzhu's departure initially circulated only among a few households; it truly spread that morning when the entire He family stood at the courtyard gate to see him off. He carried a suitcase in one hand and a net bag in the other, his steps heavy as he stepped out of the courtyard gate.

The neighbors then believed it: Sha Zhu was really leaving, for at least a year or two.

"That idiot Zhu's finally gone! That's great!"

Xu Damao caught a glimpse of that figure in the front yard, and as soon as he turned around, he grinned. A few days ago, when he heard the rumors, he was still skeptical, but now that he saw it with his own eyes, he felt lightheaded.

Yu Li glanced at his bewildered and foolish appearance, and immediately hardened her face: "Da Mao! What kind of scheme are you plotting? I begged Sha Zhu to let you go last time, and now you're trying to bang your head against a wall again? Can't you just live a peaceful life for a few days?"

Xu Damao's face darkened: "What do you know? He publicly humiliated me. If I don't get my revenge, what will my colleagues think of me? What will the neighbors say about me? How will I ever be able to work here again?"

"You scoundrel! Scoundrel! Scoundrel my foot!"

Yu Li slammed the ball of yarn down in her hand. She had only enjoyed a few months of peace and quiet after getting married, and then she was on tenterhooks every day.

"You're all high and mighty outside, but what about at home? To get Sha Zhu to give in, I left my child behind to work as a nanny for his family! And you, you've barely caught your breath before you want to cause trouble again—Xu Damao, if you really want a child, let's go to the hospital for a checkup right now!"

Xu Damao's temper flared up instantly, and he roared in a low voice, "Yu Li, I've already checked! If you want to get pregnant soon, you'd better finish your medication on time!"

"Xu Damao, what nonsense are you spouting? I've been tested too! I'm perfectly healthy! Do you dare to check the test results?!"

Yu Li's eyes were red—Xu Damao had already spread the word that her belly was not cooperating, but she had been to three hospitals, even had an ultrasound, and dared to drag him along for a follow-up examination. How could he possibly distort the truth?

Once your reputation is ruined, you're useless.

These days, what's the difference between a woman who can't have children and a hen that can't lay eggs?

"Why bother checking? Who knows if it's accurate!"

Xu Damao was also anxious, having long forgotten Yu Li's kindness in pleading for him. He glared at her coldly and said, "Let me tell you, stay away from the He family from now on! You eat and drink at the Xu family's expense, yet you're getting close to your enemy? You think about it!"