Courtyard House: In this life, I have a new home!

12

How come he's really back?

it's over... it's over...

Hey, what's the panic!

Who can remember clearly what happened more than a decade ago?

They'll just deny everything!

The air in 1982 was so dry it made your throat feel like it was on fire.

Wang Aiguo stood in the empty courtyard. A corner of the roof had collapsed, the walls were peeling, and only a few crooked load-bearing pillars were supporting it.

Sunlight slanted in, and dust motes danced wildly within the beams of light.

Where's the furniture? Where are the pots and pans? Not even a single brick is left.

He curled the corners of his mouth.

His beastly neighbors certainly didn't disappoint him.

Digging holes is easy, but filling them in? Don't even think about it.

Wang Aiguo didn't enter the courtyard; he turned directly to the group of people with evasive eyes and asked, "Where are my things from my room?"

The crowd erupted into chaos.

"What is this? I've never seen it before!"

An old voice shouted, "How many years have you been gone? Everything was ransacked long ago!"

That voice was filled with long-standing resentment.

Wang Aiguo glanced over and saw Yi Zhonghai—his hair was completely white, his back was slightly hunched, and he needed Qin Huairu's help to stand.

Qin Huairu's temples are now covered with silver hair; at fifty years old, the youthful charm she once had has long been worn away by the years.

He smirked.

After serving time in prison, Yi Zhonghai was no longer the domineering old man in the compound.

But upon seeing him, the old man rushed to speak, his words dripping with sarcasm.

What are you showing off? Do you think you can outdo others?

Wang Aiguo's gaze swept over the two men's clothes; the material was quite thick, and the cuffs had no patches.

Wow, that's impressive!

How does Qin Huairu manage to survive with three children and no salary?

They've probably found another way.

Jia Zhangshi hobbled over, leaning on her cane, her voice as hoarse as sandpaper grinding iron: "Aiguo, who would have thought you'd come back... What's gone is gone, just buy new ones! You used to be so generous, why are you so stingy now?"

"snort!"

With half his body slumped over, Liu Haizhong remained defiant, saying, "If I were doing well, would I be back here? My wife and kids would probably have run off with someone else long ago!"

Wang Aiguo almost burst out laughing.

That's just right!

I love this sour, pungent smell.

I was worried they'd change their ways, but they've all become more and more vibrant than the last.

Hong Kong has been working hard for over a decade, and its people are exhausted.

Back to the courtyard house.

The courtyard is full of elderly people; the young people are at work and haven't returned yet.

Sha Zhu and Xu Damao—the two who received the longest sentences—should have been released long ago.

The courtyard house has come alive again, bustling with people and wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys.

Of course I, Wang Aiguo, must come back!

His face darkened, his gaze swept over them, and the words were forced out through clenched teeth:

"Who touched anything in my house? Return it to me immediately."

"Out of consideration for our neighborhood relationship, let's pretend this never happened."

"If you don't say anything—"

"Call the police!"

Laugh out loud.

Someone clutched their stomach and slapped their thigh.

"So incredibly tacky!"

"Do people still believe in that 'reporting to the authorities' nonsense these days?"

"Even if it's an old item from over a decade ago, the police will have to shake their heads and leave!"

Yi Zhonghai, legs crossed, said sarcastically, "Go ahead and call the police! I'll get you a stool to wait for them!"

"Losing money? We'll pay double the market price!"

Madam Jia spat, her saliva almost splashing onto her shoes:

"It's just an old-fashioned sewing machine and a broken radio. These days, which household doesn't have a couple of decent appliances?"

"You treat it like a priceless treasure, do you really think you're a miser?"

Qin Huairu gave a feigned sigh and placed her hand on my shoulder:

"Patriotism? Stop joking."

"If you're short of rice or flour, I'll take care of you with a meal."

"That kid Bang Geng is so stubborn... When you see him, bow your head first and call him 'brother,' maybe he'll soften his heart and give you a way out."

Liu Haizhong leaned on a cane, his body swaying, but his back was ramrod straight.

"You want to go back to the hospital? Okay."

But you have to listen carefully to the rules.

"I am now Grandpa Yi."

"Yan Bugui is Uncle Er—he went fishing today."

"I'll be seeing Uncle Xin San tonight; you're familiar with him too."

I stared at his trembling legs and sighed inwardly:

This old man, half-lying down, somehow managed to keep the seat warm.

He spent his whole life craving officialdom, and finally managed to earn a name for himself.

Yi Zhonghai is in jail, leaving an empty seat for him.

He must have worked incredibly hard, even to the point of exhaustion, to secure this position.

What's past is past; let's turn the page.

All I want now is to get back what's rightfully mine!

Is this going too far?

Wang Aiguo completely ignored the sarcastic remarks and asked again, "Who will admit it? I'll call 110 right now!"

No one said a word.

There were only a few snickers and a few eye rolls.

Everyone's just waiting to see the show!

Those few tattered items?

What nonsense!

You've been gone for sixteen years; your things were stolen, burned, or thrown away fifteen and a half years ago!

You only just realized you wanted it?

Do you think police officers are fortune tellers?

Let's see how they investigate for you!

They might just turn around and give you a lecture, making you understand—

The old city of Beijing is no longer the old city of Beijing it used to be!

I heard your uncle used to be quite arrogant?

Ha, he's been retired for over ten years, and the grass on his grave is already two meters high!

Still putting on airs?

Please don't move! Keep living here!

Otherwise, I would have had nowhere to vent my anger back then!

Oh my!

Don't rush off!

Patriotic brother!

Why don't you stay a little longer?

We haven't had enough of your bewildered look yet!

Hahaha!

As soon as the door closed, a burst of laughter erupted behind me, like firecrackers going off during Chinese New Year.

Sixteen years!

Wang Aiguo finally suffered a major setback!

That feeling...

Cool to the core, refreshing right down to the soles of your feet!

"Damn! Has Wang Aiguo gone mad?"

"Did you really call the police?"

"Are you out of your mind?!"

"Calling the police on old grievances? How shameful!"

"What an idiot! Do whatever you want, the police will handle it!"

Two police officers in blue uniforms followed behind him.

The epaulettes are brand new, the collar is crisp, and it's completely different from what it was more than ten years ago.

Wang Aiguo knew in his heart that in two years, he would have to replace this blue outfit with olive green, and he would wear it for many years to come.

"Comrade, where did you lose this? What's the situation at home?"

The old policeman stepped forward, glanced around, and the courtyard fell silent instantly.

"This is the one!"

He raised his hand and pointed to the dusty, dilapidated door.

The two policemen frowned and looked at each other—this house was so small that even rats wouldn't bother to make a hole in it.

Pushing open the door, I was greeted by a cloud of dust.

Spider webs hung from the beams, and the walls were so bare that only the bare bones remained.

One of them subconsciously touched the pistol at his waist, then let go.

This doesn't look like a theft scene at all.

This is clearly a haunted house photo spot!

Even the bed frame is rotten, so what valuable items are left?

When he left, all that was left was probably an enamel mug and half a tin thermos...

Why call the police for this?

I don't know whether to call him stubborn or pitiful.

Okay... but the thing is long gone, where can we look for it?

Call the police? We can only register it, and we advise you not to take it too seriously.

It was a mess back then, who can remember anything clearly!

Strange neighbor? They just casually mentioned the Hong Xiaojiang organization, and you can't even investigate it.

"What's missing?"

The police officer flipped through his notebook and asked questions.

"It's all here."

Wang Aiguo reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notebook!

The paper had turned yellow, but the words were so dense they looked like ants lining up.

What's even more amazing is that each item has a note on the back: where it was bought, when it was paid for, the invoice number, even the salesperson's last name, and whether they wore glasses or not!

The two policemen were stunned on the spot.

This isn't a police report.

This is what I came back to settle with the account books!

Everyone in the courtyard crowded around, craning their necks to see.

Wow! The corners of the notebook are all curled up!

This means he had everything prepared before he left, just waiting to unveil it today.

Enough!

"Wang Aiguo!"

"You keep such detailed accounts when you buy things?"

"So they've been watching us like thieves all along?"

"That's going too far!"

"We're neighbors, what's wrong with borrowing a bit? Is it really that big of a deal?"

"They just got back and already pulled this stunt!"

"Life used to be so peaceful!"

"That's it, our good days are over!"

"Why did you have to come back and cause trouble?"

The shouts and curses were deafening, but no one was truly panicked.

What's the use of memorizing everything in detail?

Who saw how your things were stolen?

When asked, they said they didn't know!

Do whatever you want!

The policeman closed the notebook and sighed, "The entries are complete; it was a huge sum of money back then."

"But it's been too long, there's basically no hope of finding it."

"Let's pick a few items with distinctive features and try listing them."

"Things like radios and sewing machines, which are everywhere... are really hard to find."

"Old comrade, we have to look forward."

After all, the past is like spilled water; it can never be taken back.

We need to keep moving forward, right?

Ha! As soon as these words were spoken, the entire courtyard erupted in chaos.

"Look at them! How open and honest those police officers are!"

Liu Haizhong pounded the ground with his cane, his voice booming, "Wang Aiguo, have you no conscience! It's been over ten years since the things were stolen, and you're still bringing it up? Trying to shift the blame and accuse us of stealing?"

"Officer, wouldn't you say this is a false accusation?"

"Oh right! I'm the old man in charge here, my surname is Liu, everyone calls me Uncle Yi."

The policeman gave a casual reply, though he sensed something was off, but his words, though crude, were not unreasonable.

His gaze swept directly towards the complainant, Wang Aiguo...

"Why waste your energy causing trouble for the police?"

"I've been throwing away this junk for sixteen years! I can't even be bothered to look at the ledger!"

"Feeling bad about it? Then don't have spent the money in the first place!"

"Back then, you were faster than a rabbit! You must have heard some rumors, right?"

"Most likely! His uncle, who's an official, probably leaked the information beforehand."

"Tsk tsk, I bought a whole house full of good stuff, and then I ran off with it before I even had a chance to enjoy it. Just thinking about it makes me happy!"

"Serves you right!"

Everyone started talking at once, as if it were his fault for losing something.

In the courtyard, if you lose something, you have to swallow it and accept the loss silently.

That's the proper way to do things.

For the past sixteen years, we've all managed to get through it like this.

Until Wang Aiguo stepped back.

The old rules? They're all useless here.

"Officer, could you get me a television?"

Wang Aiguo suddenly spoke up.

What?

The policeman blinked: "Who has a TV these days? Ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of it..."

"have!"

Liu Haizhong blurted it out, his voice brimming with smugness.

"Xu Damao's family has one! A 14-inch one! It's very valuable!"

Everyone immediately nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes! The keys are still with Grandpa Yi!"

Yo?

Wang Aiguo raised an eyebrow.

After sixteen years, the one who is doing the best is actually Xu Damao?

That son of a bitch!

He just got out of jail a few days ago, right?

He's still got that smooth tongue, and his methods are pretty unconventional.

Liu Haizhong puffed out his chest and led the way, heading straight for Xu Damao's house. He took out his key, opened the door, and carried out the gleaming television set.

Xu Damao wasn't there; the key had already been handed to him.