The Courtyard House: The story begins with He Yuzhu beating up the White Widow.

He Yuzhu replied with a smile, "Aunt Wang, I don't know if Yi Zhonghai's wife can have children. But it's possible that Yi Zhonghai can't. Yi Zhonghai and Xu Wude from the backyard used to be frequent visitors to the Eight Great Hutongs. Maybe he contracted a disease sometime ago and ruined himself." After a slight pause, He Yuzhu continued, "Three families live in the front yard. One is Aunt Pang's family, another is the Bao family, an elderly couple with two grandsons and a granddaughter. Their son and daughter-in-law were killed by the Japanese while doing business on the street. The third family is the Yan family. The Yan family moved here right after liberation. They used to run a bookstore in Dashilan. Now the Lou family..." Yan Bugui worked as a teacher at the steel mill's affiliated school. He often said, "You won't get poor from eating, but you will if you don't plan ahead." He would stand guard at the gate of the courtyard every day, not to see who the enemy spies were, but to watch what the people inside were carrying. If he didn't gain anything from the food, he considered himself at a disadvantage. We all said he would even taste the salt if a manure cart passed by. What's even more amazing is that Yan Bugui's family divided even the smallest amount of pickled vegetables among everyone. And from the moment his wife became pregnant, Yan Bugui had been keeping track of his child's expenses. But Aunt Wang, don't misunderstand. These expenses weren't just for show. They would be paid back when the child grew up.”

"Your courtyard is really interesting!" Wang Xia couldn't help but mutter, then asked, "He Yuzhu, I'll call you Zhuzi! You used to study cooking at Taifeng Restaurant. Are you still studying there?!"

"I'm not learning anymore! I've already graduated today. The graduation banquet is being held at my master's house at noon today." After saying that, He Yuzhu picked up the kettle on the stove and added some water to the cup in front of Wang Xia.

Wang Xia sensed the other meaning in He Yuzhu's words and said, "Zhuzi, you and Yushui are still young. There are many places where you need money! It's not good for you to stay at home like this. How about I introduce you to a job?"

Since there is no public-private partnership yet, most of the jobs that the Military Control Commission can introduce are already state-owned units, such as train stations and post offices.

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Wang, to be honest, I don't want to be a chef. If you're going to introduce me to a job, I'll take any job except chef. Even sweeping the streets is fine."

"You want to sweep the streets? That's not your job," Wang Xia retorted, then continued, "You know the First Machine Tool Factory in Beijing, right? They need a purchasing agent. Would you like to do it?!"

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "I'm willing. But I'm worried that it will be inconvenient to take care of Yushui once I start working."

Wang Xia said, "It's precisely because you need to take care of your younger sister, and because you don't want to continue being a chef, that's why I introduced you to the job of a purchasing agent. Purchasing agents have flexible working hours."

He Yuzhu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and agreed, "Aunt Wang, I'm willing to be a purchasing agent."

"Alright! It's getting late. Come find me at the Military Control Commission first thing tomorrow morning." With that, Wang Xia stood up and left He Yuzhu's house.

After Wang Xia left, He Yushui jumped up excitedly and said, "Brother! You have a job now!"

He Yuzhu chuckled and reached out to ruffle He Yushui's hair, saying, "Why are you so happy?! It's your brother who has a job, not you!"

He Yushui grinned and said, "Brother, now that you have a job, you can earn money for me to spend. Of course I'm happy." Then she added, "Brother, I'm suddenly hungry."

"Okay! I'll cook for you!" After saying that, He Yuzhu put the dishes he brought back from his master's house on the stove to heat them up, put them on the table, and then invited He Yushui to eat.

Meanwhile, as Wang Xia entered He Yuzhu's house, Jia Dongxu rushed into Yi Zhonghai's. Jia Dongxu said indignantly, "Master, that He Yuzhu is such a scoundrel! If it weren't for him interfering, with your prestige, wouldn't this liaison officer be yours?!"

Yi Zhonghai sighed and said, "Dongxu, you did well today. I will remember your filial piety. Don't worry! As long as you are filial, I, as your teacher, will not mistreat you."

Jia Dongxu said, "Master, you've been so good to me! It's only right that I be filial to you."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said, "Dongxu, it's getting late. You should go back and rest. I'm going to the backyard to check on the deaf old lady." With that, Yi Zhonghai stood up and led Jia Dongxu out the door.

Meanwhile, Liu Haizhong returned home and became sullen. Seeing the situation was bad, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu didn't stay in the living room either; the two brothers went back to their room. After a while, Liu Haizhong calmed down and wanted to hit Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu to vent his anger, but after looking around the living room and not finding the two brothers, he asked, "Cuilan, where are Guangtian and Guangfu?!"

"He's already gone back to his room to rest!" Then Ma Cuilan comforted him, "Old Liu, don't be angry. It's just a liaison officer! If you want the job, I'll give it to you."

Liu Haizhong said, "Is this about being a liaison officer?! This is about saving face."

Ma Cuilan said, "Think about it, your wife is now the liaison officer for our compound. My being the liaison officer is the same as your being the liaison officer. We're family, is it necessary to be so clear about things?!"

Liu Haizhong thought about it and realized his wife was right. A bright smile immediately appeared on his face as he said, "Honey, could you fry me another egg? I want to have a couple of drinks."

"Okay! I'll go fry it for you right away!" After saying that, Ma Cuilan walked to the cabinet, took an egg from the cabinet, and went to the kitchen.

Back at the Xu family's house next door, Xu Damao returned home, muttering to himself, "How could Sha Zhu's uncle be a martyr?!"

Seeing that his son seemed a bit dazed, Xu Wude reached out and patted Xu Damao on the back of the head, asking, "What are you talking about?!"

Xu Damao said, "Dad, why is Sha Zhu's uncle a martyr?! My uncle can only be a hoodlum?!"

Xu Wude was now furious with Xu Damao. Xu Wude pointed at Xu Damao and said, "How could I have given birth to such a son as you?!" As he spoke, Xu Wude was about to find something to punish Xu Damao.

Seeing this, Xu Damao quickly stopped his father, saying, "Father! Father! I was wrong! Don't hit him! Don't hit him!"

Xu Wude snorted and said, "Let me tell you! Don't provoke He Yuzhu for no reason! You'll suffer the consequences later! Don't blame me for not warning you!"

"Oh!" Xu Damao replied helplessly, thinking it best not to fight a losing battle, and then asked, "Dad, why didn't you become the liaison officer?!"

Xu Wude said, "What's so great about being a liaison officer?! No money, but tons of work. I don't have the time to waste arguing with the people in the compound."