Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

This was only because He Yuzhu showed leniency.

If that guy really takes it seriously and reports it to both the school and the neighborhood committee to put pressure on him, Yan Bugui will be in serious trouble, if not dead.

However, He Yuzhu's leniency did not make the Yan family father and son grateful; instead, it sowed even deeper resentment in their hearts.

Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng, father and son, may be a bit cowardly, but they are quite good at holding grudges.

They couldn't do anything to Sha Zhu for the time being, so they had to swallow their anger.

Now an opportunity has come—Yan Bugui's eyes lit up, and he felt that this was something he could do.

It wouldn't cause any big trouble, and it would even annoy his rivals, so why not? He immediately leaned close to the third aunt's ear and whispered his plan, secretly passing on the dirty trick.

Meanwhile, Yi Zhonghai was also busy.

The game he was playing in his mind never stopped—returning to his old ways as the steward was the core of his plans for his later years.

Without this title, his "elderly care hegemony" scheme will no longer work.

What is "elderly care hegemony"? It means that if I say you're wrong, you have to admit it; if you don't accept it, then you're making things worse! He's long been used to this kind of arrogance.

So he set his sights on Jia Dongxu early on—he lost his father at a young age, had a soft and gentle personality, and was easy to manipulate.

As long as we support people, taking care of their old age in the future will be a piece of cake.

More importantly, with the status of the steward, he could legitimately intervene in all matters of the courtyard, mediating disputes today and judging right and wrong tomorrow. Over time, his prestige grew like a snowball.

When they get old, they will still have someone to serve them tea and water and care for them, living a more dignified life than if their own sons served them.

But if he wants to get back to that position, he can't just talk the talk.

Who would support a washed-up old man for nothing? Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth, took out his savings, and plunged into the pigeon market. He bought a hundred catties of coarse grain coupons and a few meat coupons in one go, spending about ten yuan—this was more than a month's worth of food for him and an old lady!

While others raise children to provide for their old age, he saves money to provide for his old age.

If you're childless, you have to rely on money to support yourself.

He's very frugal, spending less than ten yuan a month, and keeping the rest in his pocket.

Occasionally helping Jia Dongxu out or bringing some meat to the deaf old lady is already a rare act of generosity.

Even the Jia family, he might not really care. He originally wanted to get everyone in the hospital to support Jia Dongxu and create a "collective elderly care" model, but the idea was ruined by Sha Zhu's few words.

This time, we really went all out.

A hundred pounds of cornmeal cost ten yuan; then, when picking up grain from the grain station, it cost another three yuan.

Once the goods were brought home, apart from giving twenty jin to the Jia family, he and an older woman divided the rest into small portions and delivered them to each household.

Every time I visit, I'm greeted with three or four pounds of cornmeal, handed over with a smile, and a few words of concern: "How have you been lately? Are the kids eating well? In our courtyard, we should all be united, respect the elderly and care for the young, and work together to build a harmonious and happy family!"

They talked a good game, but the neighbors were completely confused. They didn't understand anything about "building a better home together," but the three or four pounds of cornmeal in their hands were real—enough for a family of three to eat for more than a day! Who would turn down food?

So you nodded, I agreed, and before Yi Zhonghai could finish speaking, the other person had already agreed repeatedly.

People's hearts were gradually stirred up.

After the first round of follow-up visits, he had won over almost everyone in the hospital, except for the He family, the Liu family, the Wang family, and the Xu family.

Xu Damao's family didn't even look down on this coarse grain, and since the two families didn't get along, naturally he wouldn't get any.

As for Liu Haizhong? He doesn't lack this little bit of food at all, and he'd rather Yi Zhonghai never be a big shot. If he heard that Yi Zhonghai wanted to restore the monarchy, he'd probably laugh out loud.

As for the Wang family—that goes without saying.

They followed Sha Zhu closely, and their lives became more and more prosperous.

The three children wore new clothes, and meat was served on the table from time to time. They lived a more comfortable life than families with regular employees.

The key point is that Old Wang was just a laborer carrying heavy loads, and this contrast is truly impressive.

After delivering the first batch of grain, Yi Zhonghai immediately changed direction, bought a shiny roast duck, and headed straight for the deaf old lady's house.

They said they were asking for advice, but in reality they were there to learn from others.

He didn't dare mention Sha Zhu, only saying that he wanted to be the steward again and asked the old man if he had any good ideas.

Finally, he tentatively asked, "How about I send another round of corn noodles?"

The deaf old lady took the roast duck without even lifting her eyelids, and grinned: "Zhonghai, your efforts to win over your neighbors are at most a bonus."

Now they have a good reputation, but the final decisions are made by the neighborhood committee.

She paused, her tone light yet weighty: "Running errands is more useful than delivering grain."

From now on, I should visit the subdistrict office more often, whether there's something to do or not, to respond to policies and actively perform my duties.

Even if you send another thousand pounds of cornmeal, it's not as valuable as showing your face to the boss once!

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai felt a buzzing in his head, as if someone had ripped open his skull—a moment of profound enlightenment!

He immediately became excited, and without saying a word, picked up the fattest piece of duck meat and stuffed it directly into the old lady's bowl.

The weekend is here.

It was a rare sight to see He Yushui dressed up so brightly today, her braids were neatly tied, and her new clothes made her cheeks look rosy.

The brother and sister went straight to Bai Danyu's house for dinner.

He Yuzhu was carrying two boxes of pastries, which he had agreed to bring last night.

He Yushui had been craving it all night and eagerly awaited today, finally getting her wish.

When He Yuzhu arrived at the door, Bai Danyu opened it and a genuine smile spread across her face: "Zhuzi, you've finally arrived."

"Sister Bai." He Yuzhu smiled and handed over the box of pastries, then turned to pull her younger sister out. "This is my sister, He Yushui."

"Rain, this is Section Chief Bai from the personnel department of the steel rolling mill. Bai Danyu, you can just call her Sister Bai."

"Bai... Sister Bai." He Yushui spoke timidly, her gaze sweeping over Bai Danyu's face before she suddenly blurted out, "You're so beautiful."

"Oh my—" Bai Danyu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling like ripples on spring water. "Come in, come in! I bought some snacks and candies, just in time to satisfy your cravings."

As she spoke, she stepped aside to make way, her tone as light as a spring breeze rustling through a window.

He Yuzhu carried two exquisite pastry boxes into the room, saying as he walked, "Sister Bai, don't bother with those things. The pastries I made are enough for them."

My younger sister was so greedy, but I managed to stop her from sneaking a taste.

Before she finished speaking, He Yushui had already skipped over and taken the snack box, then happily ran into the inner room to find Bai Ying.

Bai Danyu, worried that the two girls might be bored, casually brought out the Red Lantern brand radio from home. With a turn of the knob, the melodious sounds of Peking Opera began to play.

Back then, a radio was the "ear" of a cadre's family.

Policy trends and international developments all depend on it to get inside the house.

More precious than a sewing machine.

Ignoring the two girls' noisy chatter, He Yuzhu followed Bai Danyu into the kitchen. Glancing at the ingredients on the cutting board, he couldn't help but whistle, "Sister Bai, is this a banquet today? Pork, chicken, and fish are all here. We're so lucky!"

"You take charge of cooking, and I'll assist you." Bai Danyu rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of her arm that resembled a lotus root, with skin as delicate as a freshly peeled bamboo shoot.

Although she is already a mother, she moves very nimbly.

"Alright!" He Yuzhu rolled up his sleeves and got to work, muttering, "Fry the four-happiness meatballs first, then make some poached chicken, braised fish, and serve with stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers, along with a plate of cucumber salad. Done!"

As the knife flashed, the aroma of meat began to waft through the air.

Bai Danyu was washing vegetables and chopping scallions on the side. The two chatted casually about things at the factory, from idle talk in the workshop to gossip in the neighborhood. The atmosphere was as relaxed as the steam rising from the stove.

Suddenly, Bai Danyu looked up at him, her voice softening slightly: "Zhuzi, you're not getting any younger. Have you thought about settling down? Tell me, what kind of person are you looking for?"

He Yuzhu paused, made a circle with the spatula in the pan, and laughed without looking up, "What kind? Virtuous and good at managing the household, preferably... as good-looking as you."

"Get lost!" Bai Danyu blushed slightly and lightly tapped his arm with her fingertips. "Are you making fun of your sister?"

She scolded him verbally, but inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

If anyone else dared to say that, they would have been given a cold look long ago.

But coming from He Yuzhu, it sounded like a matter of course.

He Yuzhu, serving the food, smiled frankly: "Who's joking with you? I'm serious."

The problem is, you're the only one in the entire steel rolling mill who has produced a Bai Danyu. It's difficult to find a second one.

When it comes time to get married, we'll have to lower our standards.

Upon hearing this, Bai Danyu immediately pressed, "So, you're really planning to get married?"

"There's no rush." ​​He shook his head. "The child is too young; we have to wait another two years."

Besides, the raindrops haven't grown big enough yet, so as their older brother, I have to keep an eye on them."

These words sound ordinary, but they actually conceal a secret—he was engaged to the Lou family, but Lou Xiao'e was still young, so the wedding date had to be postponed.

Two years later, she graduated from high school, and He Yushui was able to support herself, which was just the right time.

Upon hearing this, Bai Danyu felt a sense of relief and smiled again: "That's true, it would be better if it were two years later."

By then, your rank will have risen, and you'll have more options.

The food was served, and its aroma was irresistible.

Bai Danyu called the two children over; she had deliberately put away the snacks earlier—otherwise they would have eaten too much and wouldn't have eaten their main meal.

The two girls couldn't resist picking up their chopsticks as soon as they sat down, drawn by the aroma of He Yuzhu's delicious cooking.

There was plenty of meat today, and He Yushui ate slowly and methodically, while Bai Ying wolfed down her food, her little mouth puffed out like a squirrel.

Bai Danyu kept putting food on her plate and wiping her mouth, keeping herself very busy.

The meal was enjoyed in a lively atmosphere, and when the bowls and chopsticks were emptied, not a drop of soup was left.

After resting for a while after the meal, until Bai Ying rubbed her eyes and said she was sleepy, He Yuzhu got up and said goodbye with his sister.

No sooner had they left than a commotion broke out in the courtyard.

Xu Damao's mother ran home, her face tense. She burst through the door, shouting, "Something's happened! Something terrible has happened!"

Inside the house, Xu Fugui was squatting on the threshold smoking a pipe, while Xu Damao was reclining on the kang (a heated brick bed) looking at a magazine. They both looked up when they heard the noise.