Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1018 The First Day of School

March 2, 1959, the first day of school.

Wang Zhan got up early this morning and made breakfast for his younger sister. Starting today, Wang Zhan will resume his routine of picking up and dropping off his sister.

This morning I made a bowl of millet porridge, a few steamed buns made with two kinds of dough, boiled some eggs, and a dish of pickles.

Such a breakfast is considered lavish for a family nowadays; most people wouldn't dare to eat like this. So after the meal, Wang Zhan reminded Wang Li again not to mention what she ate at home when she was out. Wang Li raised her little face and said impatiently, "I know, brother. You've said it so many times. If anyone asks, just say it's cornmeal porridge and cornbread, and that you weren't full and only ate one and a half pieces."

Wang Zhan patted her head and said, "You little brat, you're getting impatient. I'm just worried you'll let it slip outside. Alright, go pack your schoolbag, take an egg to eat secretly, and a few candies too."

Wang Zhan, the old father, was extremely worried. He was afraid that his sister would be exposed and that she would go hungry. Wang Li was very clever, and so far, no one had discovered that she was secretly eating.

After tidying up the kitchen, Wang Zhan slung his backpack over his shoulder, pushed his bicycle outside, and glanced at Grandpa Liu's house as he passed the front yard. The door was still locked. Grandpa Liu hadn't returned since the New Year. Not only him, but Grandma Sun and her two young children hadn't returned either; her house was also locked.

In courtyard number 95, around nine o'clock, those who were supposed to go to school had gone to school, and those who were supposed to go to work had gone to work. For a moment, the courtyard became quiet. The women and children who stayed at home did not go out in the morning; they were either tidying up the house or doing housework.

Just then, the door of the deaf old lady in the backyard opened. The old lady was wearing a military overcoat, a scarf around her head, and cotton gloves, but she didn't bring her signature cane. She walked quickly to the front yard by herself, then turned left and headed straight for the alley.

No one in the courtyard noticed her leaving the house. The deaf old lady walked to the alley entrance, flagged down a rickshaw, and headed straight for the Dongcheng District Hospital.

Room 303 at Dongcheng District Hospital is a ward for senior officials. It's a single room. After changing the dressing, Director Wang was resting on the bed, looking drowsy and about to fall asleep.

There was a gentle knock on the door three times. Director Wang braced himself against the headboard and sat up, saying casually, "Come in!"

The door opened, and the deaf old lady walked in carrying a net bag. Director Wang said, "Auntie, why did you come in this cold weather?"

The deaf old woman placed the net bag on the bedside table, and while taking off her scarf, she said, "You were injured, so I had to come and see you. How are you recovering?"

Director Wang quickly asked the old lady to sit down by the bed and said, "I'm alright. It's not a fracture, just a slight crack. I estimate I can be discharged in ten days or so. You said you'd come, so why bother bringing anything? I don't need anything here."

The deaf old woman waved her hand and said, "What's a little bit of stuff? By the way, has the police station given any word? Have they looked for anyone?"

Director Wang said, "Not yet. The branch office has also joined in, but we still don't have any leads. We've investigated everyone who should be investigated, and none of them are suspects."

The deaf old lady frowned and said, "Logically speaking, our liaison officer, Yi Zhonghai, was also ambushed, and at the same time as you. This must have been premeditated. Didn't you investigate that kid in Yu'er Alley?"

Director Wang looked at the deaf old lady with some surprise and asked, "Grandma, why have you set your sights on this brother and sister? Is there a reason?" The deaf old lady sighed and said, "This kid almost abducted my elderly relative. Luckily, Yi Zhonghai and I used some methods to bring him back to the courtyard. Ever since he moved to the east wing with his sister, I've had a feeling that this kid is no pushover and will definitely have an impact on my compound. I have to deal with him."

This was the first time Director Wang had heard this reason. He sighed and said, "They also investigated Wang Zhan about this matter, and it has nothing to do with him. Oh, and there are two other things you might not know. I had my wife have someone check that kid's savings. He doesn't have a single penny in savings. He lives entirely on his martyr's allowance and vocational school subsidy. He's not wealthy at all. The other thing is that I personally investigated after the New Year. The courtyard that kid lives in is someone else's private property. The key point is that it was awarded to a meritorious person by the higher authorities. Nobody can touch it. Just give up on that idea."

The deaf old lady was quite surprised that Wang Zhan had no savings. Could it be that He Yushui was lying? But that didn't make sense either, because she had used her connections to check herself and there was indeed a reward. Could it be that this kid didn't want it? Then this kid must have lost his mind.

With her doubts, the deaf old lady asked for some more details, and Director Wang did not hide anything from her, explaining everything carefully to her. Then she said goodbye, but instead of leaving the hospital, she went directly to Yi Zhonghai's ward on the second floor. Li Cuilan happened to be out getting hot water and saw the deaf old lady at a glance. She was surprised and asked, "Grandma, what brings you here?"

"I couldn't stay at home, so I came to see Zhonghai. How is Zhonghai doing?" the deaf old lady asked.

Li Cuilan helped the deaf old lady walk towards the ward, saying as they walked, "The recovery is going well. The hospital said that in three more days, she can go home to rest. She can come back when the cast is removed."

The deaf old lady nodded. At this moment, Li Cuilan pushed open the door and immediately saw Yi Zhonghai holding a can of fruit, leaning against the headboard and eating it. She also noticed an older woman helping the deaf old lady in. She quickly put the can on the table next to her and said, "Grandma, why did you come in this cold weather? You even came all the way here by yourself?"

The deaf old lady looked at Yi Zhonghai with a smile and said, "I came to see you. By the way, who else in the yard has come to see you?"

“Who else could it be? Almost everyone has come, except for the Xu family in the backyard. Old Liu and Old Yan came by chance, empty-handed. I don’t know if those two are really ignorant of etiquette or doing it on purpose. Yesterday, Sha Zhu spent the whole afternoon with me and even specially made a box of braised pork.” Yi Zhonghai said.

The deaf old lady pursed her lips and said, "You're in luck. I haven't had a proper meal in days."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai frowned and said, "That can't be right. It's only the three of us stewards who had an accident. There are many people in the courtyard."

The deaf old woman sighed and said, "With none of you around, who cares about me? Besides, every family is short of food, so they all avoid me when they see me."

Yi Zhonghai said, "Grandma, don't worry about it. I'll let Cuilan go back in a bit. I don't really need her to take care of me here. There are nurses here. Let Cuilan go back and take care of you. I have food at home, as Cuilan knows."

The deaf old lady nodded in satisfaction and said, "Tomorrow, I'll have Cuilan take me to the factory. I'll find Director Yang and see how to make up for your losses during this period, especially the worker assessment, which is a big deal."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and quickly said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, sir. Don't worry, I'll have Cuilan make braised pork for you when we get back. If one meal isn't enough, then two meals will do."

The deaf old woman laughed heartily; she had achieved her goal.

(End of this chapter)