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

"Here's to the newcomers!"

Everyone stood up at once, and the enamel mugs and rough porcelain bowls clattered together.

Zhang Dabiao downed the whole thing in one gulp, wincing from the spiciness.

Mu Wanqing took a small sip, her cheeks redder than rouge.

"Let the feast begin!"

At a command, the chopsticks danced like lightning, whistling through the air.

No one spoke; only the sounds of chewing and swallowing filled the courtyard.

So delicious.

I've never tasted anything so delicious in my life.

Especially these eight newly arrived educated youth from the Beijing Art Academy, who had been eating cornbread for half a month and whose tongues were almost numb, found the rich oil and meaty aroma so enticing that they wanted to swallow their tongues whole.

Thirty people managed to eat every last bit of food from four or five tables.

That last plate was so clean it was practically licked clean by a dog; not a single trace of oil was left.

Zhang Dabiao returned all the gift money. Zhang Da, the philanthropist and the richest man in China, is getting married. Who would you be embarrassed to give a gift of 5 cents or 1 yuan?

We simply won't accept it!

Ma Erjin and the other brigade cadres couldn't bring themselves to say a single polite rebuke, only offering a few words of "congratulations."

"He who eats another's food is bound to do so," especially when it's such an unheard-of "feast."

After a satisfying meal, it got completely dark.

Zhao Weiguo and several other male educated youths gathered together and, fueled by alcohol, began to discuss their plans.

"Let's clear out the biggest dorm room, squeeze in a bit, and use it as a wedding night for Brother Biao and his wife!"

"Yes, yes, make sure to use thicker blankets!"

Zhang Dabiao was packing his things when he heard this and waved his hand.

"No, please. The bridal chamber must be in your own house; there's no rule about borrowing a house for a wedding."

Everyone was stunned.

My own house?

This is a settlement for educated youth. You're from out of town. Where are you going to find your own house?

Under everyone's questioning gaze, Zhang Dabiao turned and walked towards the room where he was temporarily staying at the brigade headquarters.

Ma Erjin had drunk a bit too much and followed behind, muttering to himself, "What's that kid up to now..."

A moment later, Zhang Dabiao dragged a huge green canvas bag out of the house. It was bulging and bigger than all the packages he had taken out before combined.

Ma Erjin scratched his head vigorously, his eyes wide open.

He remembered clearly that when he accompanied Zhang Dabiao to open the door that afternoon, there was definitely no such big guy in the house.

The bags in the house were all moved out a long time ago, how come there are still some left?

Where did this thing come from?

He shook his head, took another swig of wine, and thought, "Never mind, I've had too much to drink, my vision is blurry."

Zhang Dabiao dragged the huge canvas bag to the center of the educated youth compound and unzipped it amidst the curious onlookers.

"Holy crap! A military marching tent?" Liu Yuanchao was the first to exclaim.

"It's not for military use."

As Zhang Dabiao spoke, he pulled out a large piece of folded thick canvas.

As the tent slowly unfolded on the ground, everyone realized that it was not a military tent at all, but a family-style tent with transparent plastic windows.

"Brother Da Biao, this thing... must have cost a lot of money, right?" Liu Yuanchao squatted down, touched the thick material, and couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Dabiao was busy putting on the brace and casually replied without looking up, "Hong Kong goods, 220 yuan. Bought from Friendship Store."

"Two hundred and twenty? In RMB?"

"Foreign exchange certificates".

"hiss--"

A collective gasp filled the courtyard, followed by an instant silence.

Two hundred and twenty foreign exchange certificates!

What does that mean?

Putting aside how difficult it is to obtain foreign exchange certificates, just consider that 220 yuan is enough to buy a small side room or a small side room in Beijing!

But after spending so much money and so many remittance certificates, all we got was this tent?

Or is it a product of capitalism from Hong Kong?

An old educated youth, squatting in the corner smoking, dropped his pipe on the ground with a "clatter".

He stood up, staring intently at Zhang Dabiao, and demanded in a hoarse voice, "Comrade Zhang Dabiao! How could you possibly buy something like this? Not everyone has the right to purchase from the Friendship Store!"

The questioning was particularly jarring in the quiet courtyard.

Zhang Dabiao stopped what he was doing, stood up straight, and gave him a cold glance.

"I have remittance coupons, I have industrial coupons, and I have money."

He paused, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight.

"Our publishing house often goes to the countryside for field research. Is it really that difficult to buy a decent tent from the Friendship Store?"

The old educated youth opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

In the crowd, another slightly older educated youth suddenly widened his eyes, pointed at Zhang Dabiao, and stammered, "I...I remember! You...you're that...that philanthropist Zhang from Nanluoguxiang!"

"What Zhang the Great Philanthropist?" someone asked from the side.

"During the three years of natural disasters, it was him! He donated 100,000 yuan in remittance certificates to Jiaodaokou Subdistrict! It was even reported in the newspapers! Moreover, he was a pioneer in earning foreign exchange for the country! He was featured in the People's Daily! This amount of foreign exchange certificates was nothing to him!"

These words shocked everyone once again, and the way they looked at Zhang Dabiao completely changed.

The doubts and jealousy disappeared, replaced by a near-reverent awe.

If you have money, people will speculate about your background, whether you are a criminal or a member of the underworld, or whether you have family wealth or overseas connections.

But you earned foreign exchange for the country, were featured in the People's Daily as a pioneer in foreign exchange earnings, and even donated 100,000 yuan worth of remittance certificates from overseas Chinese.

That's a completely different concept.

Capitalists have money, but would they dare to donate it casually? And to have it featured in the daily newspaper? What a load of rubbish!

Therefore, there is definitely no problem with Zhang Dabiao's background and money!

No one spoke again; everyone silently stepped forward and helped set up the luxurious tent.

We are proud to build houses for those pioneers in foreign exchange earnings!

It's 15 square meters and 2.2 meters high, more spacious than their dormitories.

Zhang Dabiao rode his motorcycle to the brigade headquarters again. When he returned, his motorcycle was loaded with a folding bed, folding tables and chairs, brand-new bedding, and even a small battery-powered lamp.

They managed to build a modern camping house right there in the dusty, sandy courtyard of the former educated youth.

Yang Yibai and the others looked at the sturdy camping tent with envy... If no one was around, they would have loved to throw themselves into Zhang Dabiao's arms!

Looking at these rare items that even the commune's supply and marketing cooperative had never seen before, Ma Erjin completely gave up trying to think about them.

He tilted his head back and gulped down the last mouthful of wine from the enamel mug, deciding to pretend he knew nothing and saw nothing.

When that office was lent out, it only had desks and chairs. When Zhang Dabiao returned the key, everything was there, as long as the desks and chairs were intact.

As for what was put in the middle, it had nothing to do with Ma Erjin!

I don't care who it is!