Courtyard houses: Those who are capable are rewarded, and many children bring many blessings.

"It all feels like empty talk. You say you finally eliminated the bourgeoisie, and now you want to bring them back? Isn't that just going backwards? All the previous struggles were for nothing!"

Because Niu Dazhuang is a spirit from a later era and doesn't have this feeling, he only now realizes how difficult the early stages of reform and opening up were.

Unlike what's written in books, people don't immediately become wealthy just by mentioning reform and opening up. The hardest thing to change is people's mindset.

Having personally experienced two major social transformations, Niu Dazhuang has gained a new understanding of the general trend.

What is an inevitable trend? It's when a consensus is reached at the top, this consensus is pushed down from the top, and finally, it is accepted by the bottom up. That's the inevitable trend!

"I don't understand profound principles, but I know that ordinary people in rural areas are not living well. Also, the higher authorities have considered making changes so that most people can live a better life."

"I understand what you're saying, but it still doesn't feel right... Never mind, I won't talk to you about it."

As for Bai Hongjun, upon returning to the municipal government, he met with the Party Secretary. He briefly recounted his conversation with Niu Dazhuang.

"That's easy, you should have made the decision back then."

"Secretary Xiao, we, the members of the Standing Committee, haven't even reached a consensus yet. If I make the decision, won't they accuse me of something?"

After thinking for a moment, Secretary Xiao said, "If we do it this way, bypassing the Standing Committee and persuading a dozen or so households to relocate won't be difficult. It's not like they're not willing to spend money."

We'll set up a special liaison team, with me as the team leader. I'll take responsibility for anything that goes wrong; you'll handle the specific tasks. As long as you achieve results, everything is negotiable.

"But what new technology does this transportation company that Comrade Dazhuang mentioned need? Could they switch to another industry?"

"Dazhuang came from a transportation company and is familiar with all aspects of the transportation industry. For the first pilot project, we must choose an industry that we are confident in and familiar with."

"That's true. I'd like to see what tricks they can pull off after this joint venture. Have the office draft a contract immediately, clearly defining the shareholding percentage!"

Yandu’s first joint venture contract, its first joint venture enterprise… This contract should be recorded in the history of reform!

Since the higher-ups were taking it so seriously, Bai Hongbing called the district head of Dongcheng District and assigned him specific tasks.

The district head personally met with the street director, and then personally led a team to visit each resident of Shajing Hutong.

There are sixteen main gates, but not sixteen households. Some gates house as few as seven or eight households, while others house more than ten households.

There are sixteen courtyards with two entrances each, which is almost two hundred households.

This district head is quite capable; he first figured out the situation of each household.

The next day, he called all ten street directors in the jurisdiction to a meeting.

"Now there's a political task that you ten street directors must complete within ten days: the resettlement of 165 households in Shajing Hutong..." The district head didn't even consult with them before directly assigning the task.

While the street directors were looking for housing, the district head led a team to go door-to-door to mobilize residents.

Most of the houses in Shajing Hutong were either owned by work units or by the street authorities. The only two private houses were bought by Niu Dazhuang's family.

When the residents heard that it was a political task and that there was a relocation subsidy, and that they weren't homeless, they all readily agreed to move.

This work is incredibly efficient; all 165 households were moved out in less than ten days.

"Dazhuang, you're the one who did this!" Qin Xueru looked around the usually bustling alley, but today only her family was left.

"This work efficiency is alright. What do you mean I'm the one causing trouble? From now on, this alley will be called Niujia Alley, and the eastern entrance will be blocked off."

That's safer! Let's get someone to tidy up those courtyards first. Should we all be connected, or should they remain separate?

"Let's leave them all at the side gate! It'll be quiet now. If we want to find someone to chat with, we'll have to go to the alley behind."

"You can't have everything. I'm going to find someone."

"Don't bother with anything during the Lunar New Year; let's wait until next spring!"

"Yeah, I'll go find Big Bear and the other two brothers for a bit!"

"Where are you going? Don't people have jobs? Do you think everyone is like you, wandering around aimlessly all day? You're practically a hutong wanderer now. You weren't like this before."

"I used to mess with you guys whenever I had free time, but now, you only let me mess with you guys for a while at night, and I won't even let you touch me during the day."

"Meiru, Jingru, Xiuru, I've seen you torment them quite a bit during the day."

"It's not a strike today."

"Unlike you, you're like a tireless old ox! Everyone needs a rest! Go out if you want, I don't care. Are you coming back tonight?"

"No, I want to go see Chen Xia."

"They're both your sons, so how come that chubby kid is so good at studying and even got into university? Once things are settled here, let Chen Xia move in."

"I have no objection if they all move here, as long as they are willing."

"Anyone else is fine, but the one with the same name won't."

"Fine, you decide! Chen Xueru definitely wouldn't want to live with you!"

"That's perfect!"

Despite being a rural couple with little to no literacy, Chen Xia's two children are both incredibly fond of reading.

The chubby boy is Niu Chengrui, who was admitted to Yenching Normal University this year.

The little girl, Niu Hezhen, is in elementary school, and her academic performance is among the top in her grade.

I mounted my beat-up old bicycle, wearing cotton gloves and a dog-skin hat.

Originally, Niu Dazhuang rented a house for Chen Xia in the East City, but later Chen Xia bought her own house and moved to the South City.

The small courtyard house she bought is not far from Yu Li's and Yu Haitang's parents' home.

"How did you manage to come in this freezing weather?" Although Chen Xia has been a widow for several years, she is not very old, only forty-one or forty-two this year.

He didn't participate in much labor for the next ten years or so, and he's really well-preserved; he looks to be around thirty-five or thirty-six.

Niu Dazhuang gave her a playful slap on her big butt. "I missed you guys, so I came to see you."

Chen Xia glared at him, annoyed. "You old lecher! The kids are inside. Come on in!"

The house was warm, with a main room on one side and bedrooms on the other, each with a coal stove.

Chen Xia helped him take off his hat and coat: "Xiao Zhen, come out quickly, your dad is here."

"Come on, why did you call me?" I heard a voice, but no one came out.

The maid from the west room didn't come out, but the curtain to the east room was lifted.

"Dad, you're here!" The little chubby boy isn't so fat anymore, but he's still much stronger than the average person. He's even grown a fluffy beard.

"Hmm, when did Xiao Rui get his vacation started? Is he adjusting well to school?"

"Everything else is fine, it's just the food that's terrible!"