Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Now, the older woman is much healthier, her face is rounder, and she's got more flesh—as the old saying goes: your mother always thinks you're hungry, and she always thinks you can eat another bowl. Every day she makes thick soup and steams soft, fluffy buns, which the two children only take a couple of bites of before putting them down, and then it all ends up in her mouth. She used to be reluctant to even touch her chopsticks, but now, if she doesn't eat? The children won't swallow either. Even if she's coaxed and tricked into drinking malted milk powder, she has to gulp down half a bottle first before she's satisfied.

……

When Liu Songgui stepped into the house, the corners of his mouth were turned up, and his joy was almost overflowing from the corners of his eyes. His father thought his son had gotten a raise.

Father Liu, puffing on his pipe, chuckled, "Little Gui, what good news happened today? You're grinning like you've found a gold nugget!"

Liu Songgui slammed the note on the table: "It's hotter than a pay raise! Squad Leader He gave me a note for a permanent position. I was thinking of sending Minzi—he just got married and has never had a proper job. Doing odd jobs for others isn't a long-term solution."

Liu Songmin's wife nearly dropped her chopsticks, her eyes widening: "This is a secure job! These days, even temporary workers are fighting tooth and nail for it, let alone a permanent position!"

Father Liu beamed from ear to ear: "It's a blessing for the Liu family that you're thinking of your brother! This is a big deal, so we should bring something decent as a token of our gratitude, otherwise people will say we don't know our manners and don't understand the importance of things."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Songmin pushed open the door and returned. He glanced at the paper in his brother's hand, assuming it was a job arranged for his sister-in-law, and his face showed neither sourness nor resentment, remaining calm and composed.

While serving rice, Liu's mother urged, "Minzi, you're back? Hurry up and get ready, you'll be going to the factory with your brother tomorrow morning! Work hard, don't embarrass your brother!"

Liu Songgui was completely bewildered: What? This job is for my brother?

Liu Songmin smiled honestly: "Mom, don't worry, I will work hard and take care of you and Dad in your old age."

A room full of people sat around the table, the food steaming hot, laughter warm and comforting. Liu's father put down his rice bowl, took the snack box with him, and went to the supply and marketing cooperative—he had to deliver his thanks in person before He Yuzhu went to work the next morning.

……

Liu Lan also returned to her hometown, Liujia Village.

As soon as she pushed open the courtyard gate, she heard someone eating inside. Suddenly, her father slammed his rice bowl heavily onto the table with a loud crash.

Liu Dequan slammed his fist on the table: "You come home every other day, carrying loads of stuff, and you can barely make ends meet yourself, how can you care about us? Get back here right now! If you keep this up, I, Liu Dequan, don't have you as my daughter!"

The daughter raises three children on her own. Life is tough, but they have enough coarse grains and there's always a flame in the stove. In the city, there's no land to farm and no secure job. If her salary stops, the whole family will starve.

Those around him trembled at his shout, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Liu Lan placed the job offer slip on the table and said in a clear voice, "Dad, I'm back today with good news—the factory issued a transfer order for permanent employees, and I want my eldest brother to take the position. From now on, the family will have monthly grain coupons and cash. Please calm down!"

The old man's tense lips finally relaxed, and his brows unfurrowed slightly.

Liu Dequan rubbed his rough hands together: "Is this a done deal? The factory really will arrange accommodation? I've never even known which way the factory gate faces in my entire life. I'm just afraid that when I get there, they'll just say 'We don't accept rural residents,' and send me back looking utterly dejected!"

Liu Lan unfolded the note, the words clearly written: "This note is stamped with a red seal, the accommodation has been arranged long ago. If you don't like it, there's a spare room in my house on the west side, you can just move in with your bedding."

Liu Dequan slapped his thigh: "Alright! As long as we have a plan!" He turned around, grabbed his pipe, and strode out. "I'm going to find the captain to get a letter of introduction!"

He was still the head of the Liu family. When his sister-in-law heard this, she smiled so much that wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes—a man getting a government-subsidized job meant he had a secure livelihood, and the whole family could finally breathe a sigh of relief and stand up straight.

The emergence of a worker in the village is as sensational as passing the imperial examination. However, no one from this area has ever become a college student, and people wonder: will that bring the same honor to the family?

The two men, clutching their credentials, headed straight for the commune. No sooner had they left than Liu Family Village erupted in chaos.

"They're eating government-supplied grain now!" "The Liu family has finally made it through!"

Someone clicked their tongue and sighed, "Liu Lan had a tough time in her early years, but her husband passed away long ago! Now when she goes back to her parents' home, she either brings meat or carries it on her back; her filial piety is obvious!"

Some people even sneaked up to the Liu family's ancestral graves and loitered around, saying, "The feng shui of the Liu family's ancestral graves is probably suppressing the dragon vein. Let's find a better burial site nearby..."

Liu De's family had no idea about such gossip.

Liu Hong received thirteen yuan in his first month's salary, which felt heavy in his hand—more than he had earned digging in the past six months. He heard that after becoming a full-fledged employee, he would receive twenty-two yuan a month, enough to buy half a bag of flour, three catties of pork, and even a new piece of cloth to make clothes for his child.

Before leaving, Liu Dequan repeatedly instructed: not a penny of your salary should be wasted; every month, without fail, exchange twenty catties of fine grain for your grandson; you should eat at the factory and stay at your sister's house at night so that she can take care of you; let your wife collect the remaining money every month. Also, give her eight yuan as emergency funds to buy some cigarettes, alcohol, candy, and tea; don't skimp on the gifts.

……

As soon as Liu Songmin stepped into the canteen kitchen, he rolled up his sleeves and rushed to sweep the floor and pick vegetables, leaving everyone at a loss and making the work a mess.

He Yuzhu had just lifted the kitchen curtain at noon when he saw Master Liu and his younger brother waiting at the door.

Master Liu grinned: "Master He, our youngest son is now under your command. He'll do whatever you say!"

Liu Songmin quickly stepped forward, presenting a bottle of baijiu and a pack of Feima cigarettes with both hands: "Master He, this is a small token of my father's appreciation."

He Yuzhu knew perfectly well—pushing him away would be slapping him in the face. He reached out and took the pot, casually patting the other person on the shoulder: "Alright, from now on you and your brother will be in charge of the wok, chopping vegetables, washing pots, and mopping the floor in your spare time. When we have a reception duty, I'll teach you a few impressive dishes. Let's get to work!"

Ma Hua, carrying a basin, walked by and peeked out, jokingly asking, "Master, taking on another apprentice this time?"

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "It's on behalf of the guesthouse for training, don't make up stories."

The three of them worked together, and the stove was instantly spotless, the cutting board was gleaming, and even two spider webs in the corner were gone.

……

The next day, just as dawn broke, Liu Lan accompanied Liu Hong into the factory gate. Just like Liu Songmin the day before, they took out the thin but heavy recruitment slip and were only allowed to pass after registering at the gatehouse.

He Yuzhu pushed open the kitchen door and looked up to see the two people already standing straight.

Liu Lan quickly stepped forward: "This is my elder brother Liu Hong, and this is Chef He from our kitchen." After saying that, she handed him a bottle of wine and a pack of cigarettes as usual.

He Yuzhu was secretly delighted: This canteen is probably going to be renamed Liu's! Including today, there are seven people with the surname Liu gathered here.

He smiled and took it: "Liu Hong, Liu Songmin, come with me."

He led the two men to the personnel department to register, and conveniently completed the temporary worker paperwork at the same time—only one person came yesterday, and he was too lazy to make two trips, so he decided to get it all done today. Then he sent Liu Songmin back to the kitchen, and led Liu Hong into the finance department, where he stuffed the two gifts—one from Liu Lan and one from Liu Songmin yesterday—into the finance department head's drawer. Once the grain rations were settled, he immediately returned to the canteen.

At the morning meeting, He Yuzhu stood in front of the workbench and said in a crisp voice, "A month from now, all four of them will be transferred to the guesthouse of the Third Branch of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Your task is to teach them, train them, and get them on their feet."

He pointed at Liu Hong and said, "You'll learn knife skills from me. You need to cut the shreds evenly, the slices thinly, and the cubes square."

Then he pointed to two other things: "When steaming buns or cornbread, the heat, proofing, and kneading must all be done correctly."

Finally, he patted Liu Songmin on the shoulder: "You have a good foundation in cooking, but the standards for the guesthouse are even higher—I'll keep an eye on your training."

Although Liu Songmin was skilled in cooking, he was given a strict order from above: he had to undergo 30 days of training.

With more people, the workload has lightened, and even the sweepers leave half an hour early, dropping their rags and going home.

Just as they were about to wrap up, Director Zhang rushed in like a whirlwind, clutching a list in his hand: "I have a reception this afternoon! Xiao Wang from purchasing is sick, so take two people to the logistics department to get the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar—I have to rush to the pig farm to pick out pigs; we can't afford to be delayed there!"

He Yuzhu almost rolled his eyes: Director Zhang, do you really think you're a perpetual motion machine? You're the one who ran the recruitment process, you're the one who got the temporary worker certificates, and now even the logistics department can't get around you?

Before Director Zhang could finish speaking, he had already dashed out the door.

He Yuzhu sighed and led the two men toward the logistics department. They retrieved the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar—these were distributed uniformly by the head office; then they hitched up the rickshaws from the logistics department and hauled them back, huffing and puffing.

Grains, pork, and vegetables had to be purchased by the canteen of the Third Factory at their own expense.

He Yuzhu walked at the front, pulling the handlebars, sweat dripping down his temples. He muttered to himself, "Even a donkey pulling a cart is more energetic than me."

After most of the people in the cafeteria had left, the three of them unloaded the goods into the warehouse again and again, then pedaled the empty bike back to the logistics department. No rest today—for that sewing ticket, for that year-end model worker award, they had to endure it!

When He Yuzhu returned the car to the logistics department, panting, and then rushed back to the canteen, everyone was already in their places.

He asked Liu Songmin to help him chop vegetables, and then had him cook two simple home-style dishes for him to try.

As for the food at the guesthouse—those who know, know: if it's edible, not too salty, and not burnt, it's considered acceptable.

But since they are the people I'm training, I'll do them better and never settle for less.

The taste was acceptable, but the cooking was a bit lacking; the thickening was too heavy, and the chopped scallions and ginger weren't finely enough. There's still a long way to go.

He Yuzhu casually raised his chin in that direction.

As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of the workday, he rushed home, his bones aching all over.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I saw the Third Uncle squatting under the pomegranate tree, handling several lively crucian carp, their scales shimmering in the setting sun.

The old man looked up and grinned, "Silly Zhu! Does the canteen still accept fresh fish? I'm on a lucky streak today, caught two fat ones!"

He Yuzhu brushed the flour crumbs off his work clothes cuffs: "I don't manage the purchasing. Where did you get this fish?"

The old man lowered his voice and winked, "I didn't have classes this morning, so I sneaked out to Houhewan to pick it up—I'm giving it to you cheap, consider it a bargain!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "I'm tired of the fishy smell lately. Maybe an older woman would like it. Her son Jiye is still growing, and soup is the most nourishing for him."