Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

He knew the system inside and out: if you understood one thing, you understood everything.

As long as you level up the "Medical Skills" skill tree to the maximum level, the system will automatically integrate and directly instill both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine into your mind, regardless of whether it's traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine.

After the afternoon banquet, the steel rolling mill was temporarily free.

He left work on time, picked up his sister He Yushui by bicycle, and they went back to the courtyard house together.

On the way, He Yushui suddenly asked, "Brother, the homeroom teacher asked me to ask you when you're going to school. She said she needs to discuss the college entrance exam with you in person."

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and said, "I'll go to the factory tomorrow to ask about taking leave. If it's approved, I'll go to Hongxing Primary School the day after tomorrow."

He also knew that although he was only a deputy director, he had been busy with reception duties lately, and the factory leaders were counting on him to keep things in order, so they really couldn't do without him for a while.

I had just gotten home and started the stove when there was a knock at the door.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, are you home? About your trip to the neighborhood office on Sunday..."

"Oh, Comrade Li is here! Please come in and talk!" He Yuzhu immediately ushered him into the house when he heard that it was important business.

People were washing vegetables and rinsing rice in the courtyard; it was quite lively.

Xiao Li went into the house and took out a red booklet:

"Your application to change apartments has been approved."

Director Wang said that as long as we don't take advantage of the country, our subdistrict office will do its best to make things convenient for everyone within the scope of its authority.

This is the property certificate for the new house; all the paperwork is complete.

As for the Zhang family moving away—”

"Don't worry," He Yuzhu interrupted, "I've already reached an agreement with them, and the space will be ready to vacate in a couple of days."

He smiled and handed him a cigarette. When Xiao Li saw that it was a Daqianmen brand, he immediately took it and even leaned over to light it.

He knew who He Yuzhu was—a powerful figure in the steel mill canteen, with top-notch skills and extensive connections; it would be best to befriend him.

"Comrade Li," He Yuzhu exhaled a puff of smoke, then casually asked, "If I want to do some simple renovations on my house, who's reliable to contact? Do you know any connections?"

"It's not difficult. Just submit an application to the neighborhood office."

They manage a lot of unemployed carpenters and bricklayers over there, who usually make a living by doing odd jobs, so arranging work for them is very quick.

Clerk Li paused, his tone slightly somber: "However, renovations are fine, reinforcements are fine, but the height of the exterior walls cannot be changed, and the facade must be preserved exactly as it is—that's the red line."

He Yuzhu nodded, his expression calm: "I understand. Don't worry, I'll submit the materials in a couple of days."

The two chatted for a few more minutes.

Actually, Li Shaosong came here today for another reason—he's getting married soon and is worried about not being able to find a decent chef to host his wedding banquet.

But in Nanluoguxiang, and even throughout the entire city of Beijing, who doesn't know that He Yuzhu's craftsmanship is top-notch? Coming here today is also a way to find out more and test the waters.

Upon hearing the time and place, He Yuzhu agreed without hesitation: "It's nothing. The people from the neighborhood office have taken care of me before, so this little favor is nothing."

Besides, cooking a few dishes isn't difficult at all.

The two chatted for a while about trivial neighborhood matters, then Li Shaosong got up with a smile and said goodbye.

The other people in the courtyard had been peeking out from the doorway, their curiosity piqued when they saw the people from the neighborhood committee coming to see He Yuzhu.

But ever since the last falling out, everyone has tacitly given his house the cold shoulder. No one is too embarrassed to take the initiative to talk to him, and they can only hide under the eaves and guess wildly.

After the meal, He Yuzhu sat down in the courtyard, picked up a piece of hardwood, and began carving with a carving knife.

The blade moved with the fluidity of flowing water, and amidst the flying wood chips, the outline of a half-length portrait of the founding emperor gradually emerged—his brow bones were deep, his expression resolute, and even the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were lifelike.

A level 3 carpenter can only carve a shape that resembles a real person; from level 4 onwards, the spirit of the carving begins to flow; if the skill is maxed out, the carving will probably look just like a real person standing here.

At that time, if you call him "the reincarnation of Lu Ban," no one will dare to utter a single word of dissent.

He had carved quite a few before, but he burned all the bad and ugly ones to use as firewood.

The remaining masterpieces are: serene landscapes, vigorous pines and clouds, but the most outstanding are the portraits, and seven or eight out of ten of them depict this great man.

"Rain, go and call Uncle Wang over; we need to discuss something."

He Yuzhu gave the order without even looking up.

He Yushui was so angry that she slammed her pen down, her face full of reluctance, but in the end she didn't dare to disobey and ran out in a huff.

A short while later, Old Wang followed him in, rubbing his hands together and asking, "Zhu Zi, what's up?"

He Yuzhu put down his carving knife and said seriously, "Uncle Wang, I don't want to bring a lunchbox anymore. Let's put the relief on hold for now."

But I have a new idea—let's change our ways of life, and it'll be a win-win situation.

Old Wang felt a sense of relief, but then a tension returned.

He was already ashamed of being helped by a younger generation; now that Old Lady Li is gone, he wants to sever this debt of gratitude.

But reality is harsh—he worked himself to the bone carrying heavy loads to do odd jobs, and his monthly income was barely enough to make ends meet.

In addition, the old man's family is receiving less and less grain; last month it was ten jin, but this month there are only five jin left.

If it weren't for He Yuzhu secretly subsidizing them, his family would have gone back to living a life of irregular eating habits.

"Zhu Zi, you speak, I'm listening." Old Wang's voice was low but sincere. "I'll listen to whatever you say."

"I don't know anything about the market, Uncle Wang, could you help me take a look and tell me how much these wood carvings are worth?"

As soon as he finished speaking, several works of art on the table came into view.

Old Wang bent down to examine it closely, and the more he looked, the more astonished he became: "This... is no worse than the carvings I've seen by the master craftsmen at Panjiayuan! Usually, these sell for a few cents each, at most no more than five cents... but we have to test the market price, I have to go and ask."

He Yuzhu immediately made the decision: "Okay, I carved all of these."

From now on, I'll do the work, you take it and sell it, and we'll split the profits fifty-fifty.

"What? You carved these...?" Old Wang looked up abruptly, his face full of disbelief.

He still remembered that he had personally taught He Yuzhu how to plan wood and drive wedges, and how long had it been? His skills had already far surpassed his own!

The next second, realizing the profit-sharing ratio, Old Wang's face flushed red, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no! I just ran an errand, how can I take half? Just a few cents as a tip will do!"

"Then let's go with 40%." He Yuzhu's tone left no room for argument. "I'll still need your help in the future, and I'll feel bad if I give you too little."

It's settled then.

Old Wang opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't refuse anymore.

He knew that the child appeared easygoing but was stubborn to the core—once he made up his mind, he couldn't be persuaded.

"But... this deal might cause trouble, right?" he asked cautiously.

"No, it's not." He Yuzhu smiled. "The current policy allows individuals to do some small handicrafts. Insoles, clothes, stools and benches can all be sold, and wood carving is not considered illegal."

"That's good." Old Wang breathed a sigh of relief.

"This job is easy for me." He Yuzhu pushed the work on the table over, "You take it and test it out first."

"Oh, and have Jianguo bring me some more timber. Even if you take 40%, it won't be a free lunch."

"No problem!" Old Wang grinned. "Those two lads are a bit mischievous, but they're surprisingly strong. Tomorrow, I'll have them scavenging for scrap all over the alley!"

Upon hearing this, Old Wang immediately agreed, his eyes lighting up.

This is He Yuzhu bringing money to their family! Even if they only sell two wood carvings a day, the six cents income is a steady sum, which adds up to eighteen yuan a month—enough to double their grain allowance! Their lives can immediately go from being tight to being well-off.

As if his feet were on springs, Old Wang's back view was light and agile when he went out.

He had already made up his mind: he would head to Panjiayuan Street at the crack of dawn the next day, ask at every stall, and make sure to negotiate a good price!

With things settled here, He Yuzhu leaned back on the kang (a heated brick bed) and casually picked up a medical book to start flipping through.

Around nine o'clock, my eyelids felt heavy, so I blew out the light and went to sleep.

But not long after he closed his eyes, Zhongyuan suddenly let out a shrill howl, like a knife slicing through the night.

"ah--!!!"

He Yuzhu sat bolt upright with a start, his ears perked up. He immediately heard Jia Zhangshi scream in a shrill voice, "Help! Someone's going to die!"

"What's wrong with that old man in the middle of the night..." He frowned, muttering to himself.

Nothing good ever comes from being associated with the Jia family. You might find some peace and quiet, but trouble will come knocking again.

Just as they were muttering to themselves, a loud banging came from outside—it was Jia Dongxu pounding on Yi Zhonghai's door.

Well, someone else has taken the blame, and he's happy to pretend he's deaf and dumb.

He Yuzhu turned over, pulled the blanket over his head, and prepared to continue dreaming.

Before he could even settle into his warm bed, his own door was suddenly pounded on so loudly that the entire door panel was shaking, as if it were about to be kicked away at any moment.

"Silly Zhu! Silly Zhu, come out quickly! Lives are at stake! Only you can save the Jia family now!"

Yi Zhonghai's voice ripped through the darkness, waking the entire Zhongyuan Garden. Even the cats in the front and back yards probably jumped onto the walls.

He Yuzhu was so angry that his teeth itched. He kicked off the blanket and jumped to the floor. "These people are like persistent ghosts! I can't even avoid them, yet they insist on treating me like a saint?"

He rushed to the door, flung it open, and launched into a tirade of angry words:

"Yi Zhonghai! Are you in such a hurry to be reborn? Can't you knock more gently? If you knock again, I'll break your arm and use it as firewood!"

The shout was so fierce and rough that it immediately silenced Yi Zhonghai, and the surrounding neighbors also fell silent, the air freezing for a moment.

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ashen. He was about to explode, but then he remembered Qin Huairu inside, her water had broken and she was writhing in pain. He forced down his temper and growled through gritted teeth, "Your sister-in-law Jia is about to give birth! We need to find a midwife! You're the only one in the yard with a bicycle. If you don't run, who will?"

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow, sneering inwardly: Good heavens, a toad jumping on your foot—it doesn't bite, it's disgusting!

Are you suggesting we send a young man not even nineteen years old to fetch a midwife for another family in the middle of the night? Before dawn tomorrow, the old ladies at the alley entrance will be gossiping about it—"Silly Zhu, lusting after Qin Huairu, rode his bike wildly for miles in the dead of night..."

If word gets out, will he even survive?

Without saying a word, he turned around, went back into the house, and slammed the door shut with a bang, his movements swift and decisive.

Everyone was stunned: Was this a rejection?

But the next second, the door was pushed open again, and He Yuzhu came out pushing that gleaming Forever brand bicycle, slammed it on the ground, and stuffed it directly into Yi Zhonghai's hands:

"Here's your car, go quickly."

Yi Zhonghai took the car, his anger only growing, his voice trembling: "What do you mean? Deserting the battle? We're neighbors, and you're still putting on airs? You idiot! You're treating human lives like a game! You're treating human life like dirt!"