Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

Yan Bugui was the one who first spread the news.

He Yuzhu didn't know where he heard it from, but early the next morning, people in the courtyard started crowding around his door. Yan Bugui stood at the front, carrying a small cloth bag in his hand, with a smile on his face.

"Zhu Zi, I heard you're leaving?" He handed over the cloth bag. "Third Uncle doesn't have much of a stuff, but take this bag of tea with you. Brew some for yourself outside, it'll help you relax."

He Yuzhu took the tea leaves.

"Thanks, Uncle."

Yan Bugui waved his hand, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back. He took two steps back and stood in the crowd.

Liu Haizhong squeezed up from behind. He was clutching two eggs, wrapped tightly in old newspaper. When he handed them to He Yuzhu, he kept his head down and didn't look at him.

"Zhu Zi, don't take the past to heart. These two eggs are for Yu Shui to nourish himself."

He Yuzhu looked at him.

"Uncle Liu, let's not talk about the past."

Liu Haizhong nodded, shoved the egg into his hand, and stepped aside. He stepped back so quickly that he almost bumped into the person behind him.

Aunt Er came over carrying a child. The child was clutching a red date in his hand and stuffing it into his mouth. Aunt Er freed one hand to carry a cloth bag, which was half full of red dates. She handed the bag to He Yuzhu, her eyes reddening.

"Zhu Zi, stay safe outside. Don't worry about Yu Shui in the yard, everyone will take good care of her and we'll never let anyone hurt her again."

He Yuzhu took the cloth bag.

"Thanks, Auntie."

More and more people gathered in the courtyard. Aunt Zhang arrived, leading the thin child. She hadn't brought anything; she just stood there, looking at He Yuzhu. The child looked up, his eyes bright.

"Deputy Factory Director He, please take care."

He Yuzhu nodded to her.

The child tugged at Aunt Zhang's sleeve and whispered, "Mom, where is Uncle He going?"

Aunt Zhang didn't answer, she just pulled the child closer to her.

The door to the Jia family's residence was tightly shut. However, the sounds coming through the crack in the door were heard by everyone in the courtyard.

"The plague god is finally leaving. Things will be quiet now."

No one responded.

He Yuzhu glanced at the door. The door panel was old, the paint peeling off, like a tightly closed eye. He didn't speak, and looked away.

He Yushui ran out of the house. Clutching the newspaper with his picture in her hand, she ran to the old lady and held up the newspaper.

"Grandma, my brother is leaving."

The old lady sat on the doorstep, not moving.

She stared at He Yuzhu for a long time. Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the jujube tree, dappling her gray hair.

He Yushui squatted down next to her, burying her face in her knees. Her shoulders trembled.

The old woman placed her hand on her head without moving. After a while, she gently stroked her hair.

"Silly child, it's not like your brother isn't coming back."

He Yushui didn't look up.

The old lady raised her head and looked at He Yuzhu.

"Pillar, come here."

He Yuzhu walked over and squatted down in front of her.

The old woman didn't speak. She reached out and touched his face. Her hand was still so cold, with large knuckles, but very steady. She touched his forehead to his brow bone, from his brow bone to his cheek, and finally stopped at his jaw.

Then, she reached into her bosom, fumbled around for a while, and pulled something out.

It was an egg. Warm, wrapped in a handkerchief.

She put the egg into his hand.

"Eat on the way."

He Yuzhu looked down at the egg. Warmth crept into his palm. He didn't say thank you, he just clenched his fist tighter.

The old lady's hand slid off his and took his hand in hers.

"Take good care of yourself while you're out and about. I'll keep an eye on things, don't worry about the rain."

He Yuzhu nodded.

The old lady pulled her hand back and waved it.

"Go ahead. Don't keep people waiting."

He Yuzhu stood up and took two steps back.

He glanced at the people in the courtyard. Yan Bugui, Liu Haizhong, Aunt Er, Aunt Zhang, and other neighbors whose names he didn't know. They were all standing there, looking at him.

Yan Bugui's eyes were a little red, and he rubbed them with his hand. Liu Haizhong stood at the back of the crowd, his head down the whole time. The child in Aunt Er's arms was still gnawing on the red date, his face covered in juice.

He Yuzhu bent down and bowed to them.

"Thank you all for taking care of me over the years."

No one spoke in the courtyard.

He turned around, walked to the old woman, and knelt down.

His knee hit the ground with a thud.

The old lady was stunned.

He Yuzhu knelt there and kowtowed to her three times.

The first one, forehead touching the ground.

The second one is still about land.

The third one paused for a while before lifting up.

He stood up and looked at the old lady.

The old woman's eyes reddened. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but didn't. She simply raised her hand and waved at him.

He Yushui ran over and hugged He Yuzhu tightly.

"elder brother……"

He Yuzhu placed his hand on the back of her head. Her hair was soft and smelled of soap.

Study hard. Listen to your grandma.

He Yushui buried her face in his chest, crying so hard she couldn't speak. Her clothes were soaked through and warm.

He Yuzhu didn't move. He looked up at the sky. The sky was very blue, without a single cloud.

A car horn sounded from the alley entrance. Two short, sharp blasts.

He Yuzhu gently pushed He Yushui away and took out a piece of paper from his pocket. It was a transfer order, with a red header and an official seal. He glanced at it, folded it, and put it back in his inner pocket.

"I'm leaving."

He picked up the small bundle and walked out.

As he walked through the hanging flower gate, he looked back.

The old lady was still sitting on the doorstep, looking this way. The sunlight shone on her, gilding her gray hair with gold.

He Yushui stood beside her, still crying. She wiped her face with her sleeve, but tears kept flowing.

The people in the courtyard were still standing there. Yan Bugui waved to him.

He turned back and continued walking forward.

As I approached the alley entrance and was about to get into the car, I heard footsteps behind me.

He Yushui ran out.

She ran very fast, her braids swinging back and forth. She reached him and grabbed his sleeve.

"elder brother!"

He Yuzhu looked at her.

She was panting, her face covered in tears. Her eyes were red, and her nose was red too.

"Brother, when are you coming back?"

He Yuzhu thought for a moment.

"I'll be back for the Chinese New Year."

He Yushui nodded. She loosened his sleeve, stood there, and watched him put the bundle into the car, watched him open the car door, and watched him get in.

The car started.

She ran after the car.

He ran a few steps, then a few more.

The car was going faster and faster. She couldn't keep up.

She stood by the roadside, watching the car drive further and further away until it disappeared at the end of the alley.

The wind blew by and lifted her braids.

She stood there for a long time.