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

The news was leaked by Jia Zhangshi herself.

That morning, she stood on the bluestone slab, hands on her hips, and spoke so loudly that she could lift the tiles off the eaves.

"My son Dongxu is getting married! The girl works at a cotton mill, and her family is well-off. Her father is a workshop foreman, and her mother works at the neighborhood committee. They said themselves that the dowry will be doubled—a sewing machine and a bicycle, nothing less!"

Yan Bugui poked his head out of the house, his glasses reflecting the light.

"Old Jia's family, congratulations! Who's the matchmaker? Would you like your third uncle to help with the arrangements?"

Jia Zhangshi gouged out the whites of her eyes at him.

"What's there to meddle in? This is our family business, no outsiders are welcome to interfere."

Yan Bugui sheepishly shrank back, and the door closed silently.

Aunt Erda squatted under the tap, washing clothes. She paused for a moment, glancing up at Jia Zhangshi, then lowered her head again and continued washing. The mallet struck the wet clothes with a dull thud, one beat after another.

He Yushui came out of the house, carrying a basin to fetch water. When Jia Zhangshi saw her, she raised her voice several octaves, as if she were singing in an opera.

"Some people think they're something special just because their family has a member who's an official. What good is that? They're never home, leaving their little girl here like an unwanted wild child."

He Yushui walked past her with her head down. As they brushed past each other, her shoulders unconsciously shrank, as if trying to hide something. The enamel basin in her hand was icy cold, and she gripped it tightly, her fingernails turning white.

Jia Zhangshi snorted and continued blowing.

"My future in-laws said they'd get Dongxu a better job at the factory after the wedding. They have connections; they know everyone in the steel mill's security department..."

He Yushui's steps suddenly stopped.

She remembered what her brother had said before he left.

"Remember who comes to the courtyard in the future, and what they say to them. I'll let you know when I get back."

She didn't turn around. She carried the basin of water into the house, the water in the basin sloshed around, spilling a few drops onto the ground, leaving dark stains.

Someone came to the courtyard in the afternoon.

He Yushui was collecting the laundry when she looked up and saw a woman in a blue jacket standing at the entrance to the courtyard. She had short hair, wore thin metal-rimmed glasses, and was carrying a bag of pastries, looking into the yard.

He Yushui was stunned.

The woman took two steps forward, a smile on her face.

"Excuse me, does He Yushui live here?"

He Yushui nodded.

"That's me."

The woman walked over and handed her the pastry bag. The pastry bag was from Daoxiangcun, neatly tied with brown paper twine.

"I am Qin Huairu, your brother's friend. He asked me to come and see you."

He Yushui took the pastry bag and looked at her. This woman spoke softly and gently, unlike the others in the courtyard who shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Sister Qin... Sister Qin, please come inside."

Qin Huairu followed her inside. When they reached the door of the deaf old lady's house, the old lady was sitting on the threshold, basking in the sun, her eyes squinting as she looked in their direction.

He Yushui stopped in her tracks.

"Grandma, this is my brother's friend. They've come to visit us."

The deaf old woman raised her head. She looked Qin Huai up and down for several seconds, the cloudiness in her eyes gradually receding.

Then she reached out her hand.

Qin Huairu bent down and grasped that hand. The hand was cold, with large, rough knuckles that felt uncomfortable.

The old lady looked her up and down again and nodded.

"Good boy."

Qin Huairu's face flushed red.

Grandma, how are you feeling?

The old lady didn't answer. She just held onto her hand tightly.

He Yushui stood to the side, watching this scene. She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling.

Inside the house, Qin Huairu opened the package of pastries. The pastries were neatly arranged and glistening with oil. She gave one to the old lady and one to He Yushui.

He Yushui took it and took a bite. The sweetness melted in her mouth, soft and unlike the hard pastries she usually ate. She didn't want to chew it, so she just held it in her mouth, letting it melt little by little. Suddenly, her eyes felt a little hot, so she quickly lowered her head, pretending to look at the pastry in her hand.

Qin Huairu looked at her.

"Your brother asked me to tell you that he's busy over there, but he'll definitely come back for the Chinese New Year."

He Yushui nodded.

"He knows I miss him."

Qin Huairu didn't reply. After a long while, she finally said something softly.

"He knows."

He Yushui took another bite of the pastry. As she chewed, she suddenly looked up.

"Sister Qin, do you like my brother?"

Qin Huairu was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red again, all the way to her ears.

"You child, what nonsense are you talking about..."

He Yushui looked at her, her eyes bright and glistening with tears.

"I'm not making this up. You came to see us, brought snacks, and even blushed."

Qin Huairu stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to her.

"I...I was just asked by your brother to stop by and come see you."

He Yushui followed and stood beside her. The clothes hanging outside the window billowed in the wind, as if someone were wearing them.

"Sister Qin, I'm not talking nonsense. I just want to ask one question: do you like him?"

Qin Huairu did not turn around.

Her face was vaguely reflected in the windowpane.

After a long time, she said softly.

"Your brother...he's got something on his mind."

He Yushui was taken aback.

"What is it?"

Qin Huairu turned around and looked at her. Her lips moved, but she ultimately said nothing.

Outside the window, Jia Zhangshi's voice drifted in intermittently.

"...Our Dongxu will be a cadre from now on... With connections in the security department, he can do whatever he wants at the steel rolling mill..."

Qin Huairu glanced outside, then looked at He Yushui.

"Is that Jia Zhangshi from your courtyard?"

He Yushui nodded.

"Her son is getting married, and they're really having a blast."

Qin Huairu remained silent.

She recalled the things He Yuzhu had written in his letter. Each entry was filled with names, dates, and matters that were neither big nor small.

This person can hold things in their heart.

When Qin Huairu left, the last glimmer of light on the horizon was being swallowed by the night. The electric lights in the courtyard were not yet on, and the light coming from the windows of each house was dim and yellowish, in patches, as if struggling not to be assimilated by the darkness.

The deaf old woman took her hand and escorted her to the entrance of the hanging flower gate.

"Child, come often in the future."

Qin Huairu nodded.

"Grandma, please take care of yourself."

The old woman looked at her, her eyes shining, cloudy yet bright.

"That poor boy, Zhu Zi, has a hard life. If you have a kind heart, you should treat him better."

Qin Huairu's face was indistinct in the twilight, but the base of her ears was still burning hot.

"Grandma, I..."

The old lady patted her hand.

"Go ahead. It's getting dark, be careful on the road."

Qin Huairu nodded, turned and left. After taking a few steps, she looked back again. He Yushui stood at the door, her shadow stretched long and thin by the light from inside the room.

A breeze was blowing, and it was a bit chilly.

He Yushui recalled Qin Huairu's words.

"Your brother has something on his mind."

What's wrong?

she does not know.

But she knew it was a good thing that someone cared about her brother.

That evening, Yan Bugui strolled to the Jia family's door, hoping to inquire about the specific date of the wedding. Jia Zhangshi was sitting inside counting money when she saw him through the window, got up, and closed the door.

Yan Bugui was rebuffed and walked back sheepishly.

As I walked through the hanging flower gate, I met Aunt Er. Aunt Er had just come out of the public toilet, her hands still wet, and she was wiping them off.

"Have you heard?" the second aunt whispered, leaning closer. "That in-law of the Jia family has connections at the steel mill, in the security department!"

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses, not taking it seriously.

"Security department? What's the big deal? They're not the factory manager."

"Are you stupid!" the second aunt exclaimed, her voice lowered to almost a whisper. "His relative works in security; they can help Dongxu get a transfer. But who's in charge of security now?"

Yan Bugui paused for a moment. He blinked, then blinked again, behind his glasses.

"...Zhu Zi? He Yuzhu?"

The two fell silent.

The autumn wind blew in through the arched doorway, cool and refreshing, creeping down his neck. Yan Bugui instinctively shrank his neck and glanced into the courtyard.

The light in He Yushui's room was off.

Inside the courtyard, the windows of the Jia family's house were brightly lit. Light shone through the paper windows.