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

"Your situation is special. It's not that you have relatives overseas sending you money for living expenses, but rather it's your patent licensing fees."

"The authorities also took into account the special circumstances and encouraged and supported this practice, so they classified this money as remittances from overseas Chinese."

"But the amount is too huge, and it's a national reward, so everyone thinks your remittance certificates—"

"It came too easily."

That's the most crucial point; it was a national reward, and it came too easily.

Director Wang first explained the situation to Zhang Dabiao. His large amount of money and remittance certificates had indeed aroused the envy of many people, as well as various rumors. It could be said that Director Wang had been under pressure from some departments and had only come now.

"To be honest, our neighborhood office hopes you can donate a portion of your funds to support national development and help your neighbors."

"Now that grain rations are being reduced again and again, the price of grain in the pigeon market and the black market is skyrocketing."

"If I weren't the director of the subdistrict office, given our relationship, I could at most exchange a few hundred dollars in remittance certificates with you for my own use, and that would be fine. But since I'm in this position, I have to consider the entire subdistrict, especially the families of military personnel and martyrs, and those in need."

"I hope you can donate some of it so that at least they can get through this winter safely."

Having said all that, Director Wang has said everything he needed to say; there's no point in trying to appeal to emotions anymore.

If Zhang Dabiao still wasn't willing, there was really nothing she could do.

You can't just rob someone outright, can you?

Zhang Dabiao remained silent for a while before raising his head.

"Director Wang," this time he didn't call her Aunt Wang, which indicated a businesslike attitude.

"I understand that there will definitely be people who are envious and eyeing my hundreds of thousands of remittance certificates."

"But this is money I earned from foreigners through my own abilities. Even if it doesn't enhance our national prestige, it's still reasonable and legal, isn't it?"

"The government has policies regarding how many remittance certificates I will receive as a reward."

"I'm willing to donate a portion to the neighborhood committee."

"Willing my foot! If I'm not willing this time, the next time it might not be Director Wang."

Zhang Dabiao had no choice; after all, he had suddenly become rich, especially during the three most difficult years of the 60s. Without spending some money, Zhang Dabiao feared that even higher-ranking officials would come knocking on his door later.

Upon hearing this, Director Wang's eyes lit up!

With remittance coupons, families of soldiers and martyrs in need could use them to buy food, nutritional supplements, clothes, and bedding at overseas Chinese stores.

All problems can be easily solved.

Actually, everyone has some money, but no tickets! That's the most critical problem.

Buying grain in the pigeon market or black market without ration coupons can result in prices that are 4 to 6 times higher, or even 10 times higher, and you still might not be able to buy it.

But if there were remittance certificates, one could buy food at the normal price, which would truly save lives.

Even if you spend some money, for example, according to Zhang Dabiao's ratio, it's 1 yuan for two denominations of overseas remittance certificates, which is equivalent to spending only 1.5 times the price to buy grain.

Compared to the pigeon market and the black market, what is that?

But before she could be happy for more than a few seconds, Zhang Dabiao continued talking.

"But I can't donate for nothing!"

"Our Youth Mutual Aid Association donated a real 1500 jin of grain this year."

"You can do it once or twice, but not a third or fourth time, right?"

"You have to give me something, not necessarily something good, but at least something of comparable value, right?"

Zhang Dabiao's idea was simple: barter. At the very least, he would donate 10,000 yuan in remittance certificates, which was worth 5,000 yuan (of course, the purchasing power was still equivalent to 10,000 yuan). He would have to give him 2500 yuan as compensation, right?

You can't just give me a ticket for free, can you? It's half donation and half sale.

If this happens every time, am I going to become easy prey?

That won't do.

But these words stumped Director Wang. What could she possibly offer Zhang Dabiao?

We can't give them anything. The neighborhood committee is already broke; they don't even have money to repair houses. They've used it all to buy food and help those in need.

"Job? Household registration? House... These are all the things our street office can offer..." Director Wang was a little embarrassed, especially since the house was a public housing unit allocated to him, not something given to him directly.

"The neighborhood office still has some bicycle vouchers, sewing machine tickets..." Director Wang said in a softer voice.

These things might be coveted by others, but Zhang Dabiao has plenty.

Zhang Dabiao sighed helplessly: "Director Wang, I don't lack any of what you're talking about. In fact, I can produce 10 yuan in remittance certificates. You're right, I obtained these things too easily, and people will be watching me closely."

"But what can you offer in exchange for these?"

"How many workstations can you buy with 10 yuan? How many houses can you buy?"

"So let's not talk about workstations, residency permits, or housing. I don't need those. I also have bicycles and sewing machines."

Zhang Dabiao tapped the table: "As long as you can pay a reasonable price, even if it's only worth 50,000 yuan, I will donate these 100,000 yuan in remittance certificates."

"But you can't take it for free, that's the bottom line."

Zhang Dabiao has now opened up about his thoughts.

I don't care about your selfless contributions. Even if I could make selfless contributions, you still have to show some appreciation.

Equivalent exchange is the only long-term solution!

Upon hearing that Zhang Dabiao was willing to offer 10 yuan in remittance certificates, Director Wang almost jumped up in excitement, but—what could the subdistrict office possibly have worth 5 yuan?

That's impossible! If she had one, she would have exchanged it long ago!

After thinking for a long time, she said helplessly, "How about I approve another piece of land for you?"

"Over in Sesame Alley, there's a small, collapsed courtyard under our street's jurisdiction. It's a two-section courtyard, but the street doesn't have the money to repair it, so it's been left there unattended."

Zhang Dabiao rolled his eyes: "Director Wang, don't you know what time it is? Do you think I'd still buy land and build a house?"

"I live in a small cabin myself, are you trying to make sure everyone hates me?"

Director Wang gave an awkward smile.

However, Zhang Dabiao said cryptically, "We can try to keep it for a few years, right? If the policy allows, you know what I mean."

In this era, land has long been nationalized, and there is no explicit rule of "whoever repairs it lives in it." In principle, public housing is managed and repaired by the Housing Management Bureau. However, during the three years of hardship, the Housing Management Bureau adopted a "rent-out-of-household" policy, allowing residents to raise funds for simple repairs in return for long-term use rights (not ownership). This was a flexible approach at the grassroots level, requiring coordination from the street office and registration with the Housing Management Bureau, which was somewhat troublesome.

That's how Zhang Dabiao's little courtyard came about. Because he didn't own the land, the side rooms and stables couldn't be connected to his "little nest".

This "whoever repairs it lives in it" principle falls into a gray area and can be manipulated. It allows residents to live there, even without rent, but it cannot be bought, sold, or transferred as it's not private property. It can also be lent to relatives, and residents receive priority in resettlement during demolition.

But you're still the homeowner in name only. After living here for more than ten years, who can say for sure what will happen?

Director Wang understood Zhang Dabiao's meaning; he had that intention, but dared not act on it in this day and age.

Others can't even afford cornmeal porridge, and you're building a new house?

A courtyard with two sections?

I'll kill you!

Unless you're a high-ranking official or a general, no matter how legal or illegal your money is, they'll take you down!