Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Before he breathed his last, Zhang Banxian mentioned this matter, but at that time Zhang Dabiao was foolish and could neither explain it clearly nor had the ability to do so.

So when he has the money and ability in the future, Zhang Dabiao will naturally have to take care of this matter.

This body is only 16 years old now, and I still have to go back to Zhangjiatun to discuss the matter of the ancestral graves with the village secretary. After performing a ritual, Zhang Banxian tried to defy fate, but his magic was not enough, and he "suffered a backlash" and died vomiting blood. Strictly speaking, he died a violent death. Whether the village will allow the graves to be moved back is another matter. In any case, it is not going to be resolved at the moment.

Moving Zhang Banxian's grave to return him to his roots is both a promise and an obligation. Since Zhang Dabiao dared to say this, he must keep his word.

After he finished speaking, he suddenly felt much more relaxed, as if something had suddenly become perfect, and his mind became clearer.

Is this a complete fusion of the original body's remnant soul, or is Zhang Banxian watching him from inside the house?

Zhang Dabiao suddenly shivered, but...

Even if Zhang Bansian is still in the house, he shouldn't harm me, right?

He then shook his head; the vital points had already been damaged. Besides, it was highly likely that the old man had performed a ritual, which had attracted him here, but that was eight days ago—the timing didn't match up.

It's also possible that the young people in the courtyard got him drunk, causing his death, which synchronized his frequency with his future self, allowing him to transmigrate.

Anyway, I didn't ask to be transported here. I'm a victim too. If you're not happy about being your son, go ahead and complain to the system. Oh—

The system has only been running for half a day; if you hurry up, you might still be able to catch up.

------------

After checking the house, they found it utterly destitute. All they had left were a few pounds of cornmeal. A few days ago, the neighbors said they'd given Zhang the fortune teller a grand funeral, spending all the food, drinks, and the 50 yuan condolence money. The simpleton couldn't stop them, neither could he. As for a monetary gift, how could there be one? The neighbors wanted to offer, but Yi Zhonghai, using the excuse that everyone's struggling these days, decided to waive it on behalf of the Zhang family—he certainly gained a reputation for doing a good deed.

The funeral was indeed grand, but the three old men made various excuses to avoid attending, claiming they had tasks at the factory or meetings at the school, leaving no one to handle the arrangements. Zhang Dabiao went to the backyard to speak up for the deaf old woman, since she was the matriarch of the neighborhood. However, the old deaf woman simply pretended to be deaf and mute, refusing to come out.

Only one or two idiots were left in the yard, at a loss.

Finally, other neighbors helped contact the neighborhood committee and the factory, and together they helped Zhang Bansian get buried smoothly.

The young people in the courtyard had grown up together, and while they usually joked and teased the simpleton, they readily came to help with the funeral. Not to mention, Liu Guangtian, Xu Damao, Shazhu, Yan Jiecheng, Huzi, Datou, and Liugen all helped carry the coffin. Liu Guangqi was getting married soon, and his family didn't want him involved in these things, which was understandable.

But the Jia family?

That was absolutely out of the question. Jia Dongxu did want to help, though; they were neighbors, after all, and to be honest, the Jia and Zhang families were actually related—Jia Zhangshi, Zhang Cuihua, and Zhang Banxian both came from Zhangjiatun, Zhangzhen, Shunyi. But Jia Zhangshi refused to let Jia Dongxu help.

Therefore, Zhang Dabiao knew very well who in the courtyard was good to the Zhang family and who was at odds with them.

Although the relationships within the hospital weren't as exaggerated as in the modified version, they weren't much better.

The tables, chairs, cabinets, kettle, stove, and everything else in the house were still there; nothing had been stolen. However, the coal briquettes by the door had been completely looted by someone.

The family originally had some ritual props related to my fourth uncle, but the neighborhood committee confiscated them all, leaving nothing behind, which brought peace and quiet.

Because the previous generation was sturdy and had a large appetite, and because food was scarce in 59-60, the family's money was mostly spent on food, and they didn't have any valuables.

After closing the door and bolting it, Zhang Dabiao retrieved the biscuit tin that Zhang Bansian had hidden from a secret compartment under the wardrobe. Inside were the house deed, some banknotes, and various other documents.

I counted them, and there were still 122.35 yuan left. I didn't have many tickets left.

零头22块3毛5与票据揣在身上，把100块与今天收穫的50……不对，贾张氏那10块钱留在外面，明天必须用掉！

I scraped together 150 yuan and took the metal box back to my "little nest." Firstly, for safety, since Jia Zhangshi lived next door, and that ingrate who stole the sacred staff was already 5 years old, so I had to be careful; secondly, to keep it as a memento.

It was already four or five in the afternoon, so Zhang Dabiao simply ate a pack of instant noodles in his little apartment, fried a beef patty in the air fryer, listened to a Coke, and smoked a cigarette.

Cool!

I was just about to take a hot shower. I don't know how long it's been since this body has been bathed, at least eight days. My hair was greasy to the touch, and my cotton clothes were filthy.

But as soon as I took off my pants, someone called out from the doorway.

"Idiot Biao! Come out for the meeting!"

"Why are you closing the door in broad daylight, you idiot?"

"Did you hear that?!"

As he pulled up his pants, he walked to the door to look at the electronic peephole. Surprisingly, the peephole could rotate in all directions to observe the entire view from where it disappeared, which was very convenient.

The door was being knocked on loudly, and someone was peeking into the room through the window. Judging from the sound and the shadow, it should be Yan Jiecheng.

Is he back?

"They're here!"

Zhang Dabiao appeared in the side room and roared again. He had originally planned to take a shower and change into some warm autumn clothes; the winter temperature in Beijing was really low, and as a Wuhan native from later generations, he found it hard to bear.

Wuhan was hit by a cold, damp spell, but Zhang Dabiao had already gotten used to it.

However, the cold, physical attacks from Beijing were something he couldn't quite handle.

"Hurry up! What are you doing hiding in the house all by yourself?"

Yan Jiecheng muttered to himself outside. The windows were covered with newspapers, so he couldn't see what was happening inside.

"Shut up, you idiot! What I do in my own room is none of your business! You've got nothing better to do all day, haven't you?"

Zhang Dabiao opened the door cursing. He wasn't going to put up with Yan Jiecheng. What kind of jerk was he?

Yan Jiecheng is 19 years old this year. From 1951 to 1958, the "6-3-3 system" was in effect, so he graduated from high school at the age of 18. However, he couldn't find a job and spent the past year carrying loads at the bus station and grain station. The key is that even when he was carrying loads, he was only working sporadically and would slack off whenever he could. He didn't earn any money, but he always acted all high and mighty...

He's no different from that scoundrel, and he's incredibly stingy, almost on par with Yan Bugui, but that's understandable.

As for the Yan family's tradition, it's only natural that the eldest son of the Yan family would surpass his father.

Zhang Dabiao, a cigarette dangling from his lips, went out, glaring at Yan Jiecheng with obvious displeasure: "What's up? You're back. Where are Sha Zhu and Xu Damao? Did you resolve your issues?"

But after just one glance, Zhang Dabiao choked on his smoke—

"Cough cough cough—"

"Yan Jiecheng, what happened to you? Did someone beat you up?"

It turned out that Yan Jiecheng had two black eyes and a piece of straw stuffed in his nose, which clearly meant he had been beaten up.

"..."

Unfortunately, Yan Jiecheng completely ignored Zhang Dabiao's question and stared at the cigarette in his mouth.

"With a filter?"

Damn it, I forgot again!

When I left the police station, two police officers slipped me 1.9 yuan, saying it was for those two "specially supplied" items, and that they couldn't take even a needle or thread from the people.

No matter how Zhang Dabiao explained that it was a gift for the two police officers, it was no use.

In addition, the police reminded Zhang Dabiao that it was best to smoke regular cigarettes and to keep this "special supply" cigarette to himself.

But Zhang Dabiao didn't have any other cigarettes; he only had Lanlou, so on his way back he bought a pack of Daqianmen for 49 cents and a pack of Economic cigarettes for 8 cents...

Without a filter, the taste...

It’s just that!

So he just put it in his pocket and continued smoking Lanlou cigarettes.

I wasn't paying attention and it just snatched it out.

As a time traveler from the 21st century, what's wrong with me smoking a pack of Blue Tower cigarettes that costs 19 yuan?

Am I not good enough for you?

So he really didn't take it seriously. His current mental state is quite unrestrained, even a bit crazy.

How could he not go mad?

I've traveled through time!

They managed to capture all the main characters of the courtyard house in one day!

Who else?!

"Yeah, it has a filter, so what?"

So what if I smoke the filter? Go ahead and kill me if you dare!

"Give me one, and I'll tell you what happens after you leave this afternoon—it'll be exciting!" Yan Jiecheng stared intently at Zhang Dabiao's mouth, even licking his lips, making Zhang Dabiao feel a chill...

No way, you're using something so trivial as a bargaining chip to get a free cigarette?

As expected of Yan Jiecheng.

"..."

"We'll talk about this in the meeting later, right? Why should I give you one? Isn't that a waste?"

"..."

"Are you really that smart?"

"Otherwise what?"

"..."

"You really don't know how to have a conversation."

"I was at the bottom of my class in third grade when I was 16, and you were already a slacker after graduating high school. What do we have to talk about? Schoolwork or carrying heavy loads?"

"It would be alright to bring your third brother over, since he's my classmate."

At this time, Yan Jiefang was 10 years old and in the fourth grade, Yan Jiekuang was 9 years old and in the third grade, and Yan Jiekuang and Zhang Dabiao happened to be classmates. And their Chinese teacher was none other than Yan Bugui...

I've finally "got it"! After the Lunar New Year, I'll go to school to apply for a grade skipping program. I'll be going to and from school with a bunch of little brats every day. But Zhang Dabiao is tall, strong, and muscular. Can you imagine a group of elementary school students lining up, with a 170cm tall guy standing at the back, carrying a schoolbag and looking all timid and silly?

Zhang Dabiao can't afford to lose face like this!

Either skip a grade, or I'm not going to study anymore!

Yan Jiecheng fell silent. He hadn't expected that once Zhang Dabiao got smarter, he wouldn't be able to gain any advantage. What should he do?

Then he did something that made Zhang Dabiao's jaw drop: he leaned in and took a deep sniff—it was the smell of smoke Zhang Dabiao was exhaling?!

Zhang Dabiao's eyes widened in disbelief. "This works?"

This is secondhand smoke!

Yan Jiecheng, what's wrong with your brain?

And with that ecstatic look on his face, he leaned closer and closer, almost touching Zhang Dabiao's cheek. Zhang Dabiao couldn't take it anymore: "Fine, I give up." So he pulled out...

Yan Jiecheng's eyes lit up!

But Zhang Dabiao took out Daqianmen cigarettes, not filtered cigarettes.

Yan Jiecheng was a little discouraged, but Daqianmen was fine too, 49 cents a box, and one tube was 2.45 cents!

But Zhang Dabiao said, "I made a mistake, let's try again."

"?"

He then pulled out a pack of economy cigarettes...

Yan Jiecheng's face fell. What kind of person was this? Carrying three different kinds of cigarettes with him, and then offering them to people based on their status? So he could only reluctantly accept an economy cigarette, which cost only 4 cents...

We've lost a fortune!

"Hey Da Biao, do you have to be so stingy? If you don't have a filter, you could at least give me a Daqianmen cigarette."

Zhang Dabiao showed him no mercy, directly retorting, "Smoking filtered cigarettes? You, Yan Jiecheng, are you worthy? You should be grateful you have cigarettes to smoke!"

"Will you smoke or not? If not, give it back to me."

"Have a smoke, have a smoke! Why not? Can I borrow a light?"

Zhang Dabiao was truly speechless, so he could only hand him a box of matches.

However, although Yan Jiecheng was stingy, he would do things once he received something. Whether he did it well or not is another matter, but he had to do it.

So, while smoking a cigarette, he said mysteriously, "Xu Damao, Uncle Xu, and I beat up Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu then beat up an old man, and an old lady rushed to the police station and beat up another old man. You wouldn't believe it, the station was in complete chaos all afternoon..."

"No, you were fighting in the police station, and the station didn't do anything about it?"

Zhang Dabiao couldn't understand it.

This is just too crazy!