Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

The neighborhood committee acted very quickly. On this day off, Director Wang brought a group of people to No. 95 Courtyard.

I told the three liaison officers about this.

Yi Zhonghai and the other two stared dumbfounded at Lou Bancheng, who was dressed simply, and were inwardly cursing!

They could understand every word Director Wang said, but when put together, it felt like listening to gibberish.

The neighbors in the courtyard were also dumbfounded.

Who am I? Where am I...?

Director Wang stepped forward to explain, saying that Lou Bancheng had donated all his family property and then settled in Nanluoguxiang.

Director Wang emphasized that it referred to "all family assets!"

This left everyone in the courtyard, including the residents of Nanluoguxiang, feeling somewhat incredulous.

"Idiot, isn't this idiot..." Jia Dongxu, standing at the back of the crowd, couldn't help but curse.

He genuinely thought Lou Bancheng was an idiot, giving up his vast wealth, villas, and cars to become a poor, miserable person.

What else is this but idiot?

Do the residents understand?

Of course, there's no way to understand it.

However, they also had some vague feelings about it, because they belonged to a class.

At that time, workers and peasants were proud, while capitalists were seen as exploiters of ordinary people, and many people secretly resented them.

They were familiar with Lou Bancheng; in fact, more than half of the residents in Nanluoguxiang worked at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

The predecessor of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill was Lou's Steel Rolling Mill, which was Lou Bancheng's business.

Lou Bancheng used to be the boss, and they all worked for him.

As for Lou Bancheng, is he a good person?

Well, I would have thanked him before for giving me a job, but definitely not now.

Times have changed.

Of course, they didn't understand the significance of Lou Bancheng's actions, but they couldn't help but admire him.

Lou Bancheng, who was known as the "Half-City Lou," actually donated all his family property to the country. What a fortune that must have been!

They dared not even think about it, and could only curse him for being a spendthrift!

The Lou family's relocation to No. 95, Nanguogu Lane, is now a fact, as the people brought by Director Wang have already started construction in the adjacent courtyard.

The neighbors, who had been bewildered for several days, eventually accepted the fact.

Lou Bancheng himself was not idle either; he would come to the courtyard every day to greet his neighbors.

Actually, the neighbors in the courtyard are very familiar with him. He has attended several banquets in the courtyard, so how could they not be familiar with him?

Lou Bancheng was also very clever. He observed the way his neighbors dressed in the courtyard and dressed himself and his family the same way to better integrate into the group.

Even the cigarettes they smoke are Daqianmen brand.

"Here, Lao Yi, have a cigarette." Lou Bancheng handed Yi Zhonghai a cigarette.

"Mr. Lou..." Yi Zhonghai had barely uttered those three words when Lou Bancheng waved him off, affectionately putting his arm around Yi Zhonghai's shoulder.

"Old Yi, don't call me 'Mr.' or 'Mr.' We're comrades. I'm a few years older than you, just call me Old Lou. Why are you being so formal?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded:

"Old...Old Lou?"

Lou Bancheng responded:

"Hey, that's right. From now on, I'm part of the institute, and I'll be under your management as the liaison officer."

"Don't be shy with me."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and nodded in agreement, then happily lit a cigarette.

He did find calling Lou Bancheng "Old Lou" quite interesting.

As for Lou Bancheng's purpose?

What does that have to do with him? Lou Bancheng is just an ordinary citizen now.

More than half a month has passed, and the neighbors in the courtyard have gotten used to Lou Bancheng often bringing his family to stroll around the courtyard.

The courtyard was built very quickly, and the bricks were all from the old city wall, so it didn't look shiny or bright.

Because Lou Bancheng paid for it, the neighborhood committee arranged for more than thirty people to come and do the work.

The move was very fast, which was exactly what Lou Bancheng had requested; he couldn't wait to move in.

Everything in the house is now in order.

Both of Lou Bancheng's sons and daughters-in-law became workers in the steel rolling mill. Li Jiuzhou arranged for Lou Bancheng's two sons to work in the purchasing department, working under Da Hu.

The daughter-in-law can just work as a clerk or something in the logistics department.

All of his grandchildren attend Hongxing Primary School.

The scope of the discussion immediately broadened.

The neighbors in the courtyard also knew the layout of the completed house, because half of the exterior walls were already built.

The Lou family had a middle courtyard and a back courtyard; the rest of the courtyard was empty.

The key point is that it's empty!

Director Wang said that besides the Lou family's properties, the rest are all properties owned by the neighborhood committee. (Of course, they're being rented out on behalf of the Lou family.)

This greatly surprised the neighbors!

With so many rooms suddenly appearing in the courtyard, no one could remain calm.

In their words, the most correct way is for the people in their institute to handle it themselves.

Of course, that's impossible.

Li Jiuzhou has already transferred the land deed to Lou Bancheng. Lou Bancheng doesn't want his neighbors to think he's a landlord, so he's had the street office manage the land on his behalf.

He doesn't want the rent money; he'll donate it all to the neighborhood committee, but he insists on owning the property.

This is Lou Bancheng's last property.

Director Wang agreed, so the newly built houses will only be rented out and not allocated.

Renting and allocating are different.

Renting out means paying rent every month.

The housing allocation means that the unit provides you with a place to live, and normally it will not be taken back unless something unexpected happens.

If you keep pestering me, this will become your ancestral home!

A month later, the three-courtyard siheyuan had already been tiled and its roof was completed.

The two rows of small bungalows have all been built.

The neighbors in the courtyard take a walk around every day.

Two words: I like it. Three words: I fucking like it.

Houses are something ingrained in the Chinese people.

You can live without money, but you can't live without a house. What's the point of living if you don't even have a place to settle down?

The leaders of the Ministry of Metallurgy were also quietly observing Lou Bancheng's actions.

Logically speaking, since you're so single and have handed over everything, you shouldn't have any problem getting a separate courtyard house to live in.

Why did Lou Bancheng insist on going to No. 95 Courtyard?

The leaders of the Ministry of Metallurgy could easily guess that they just wanted Li Jiuzhou to protect them.

The Ministry of Metallurgy had already thoroughly investigated their relationship; they were long-time customers.

As mentioned above, appropriate care is necessary, so Li Jiuzhou is the most suitable candidate.

Right under our noses.

Moreover, Lou Bancheng's son and daughter have been there frequently and integrated very quickly.

Although the luxurious life of the past is gone, I am happy every day.

Because we can finally go out, and the children can go to school again.

Families like theirs understand that as long as their children can go to school, they have a future.

Even if it's not for themselves, they have to face reality, even if it's just for their children.

Lou Bancheng dared to do this because his whole family agreed.

Otherwise, if opinions differ, who would be willing to give up their vast fortune and run away like that?

Of course, Lou Bancheng still has a considerable influence within his family.

His two sons are not mediocre either; they understand the current situation.

Li Jiuzhou often saw Lou Bancheng's two sons chatting with neighbors in the courtyard.

This is understandable, as it shows their desire to integrate into the institute.

Of course, Lou Bancheng's move terrified the capitalist circle.

They all cursed him at home, calling him an idiot, "What are you doing, Brother Lou?"

Will we not be able to survive if we donate?

How can we bear this? How can we bear it?

In short, many people can't sleep at night, fearing they will be subjected to a purge.

Lou Bancheng stated:

"Bro, I've been sleeping really well lately..."