He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

The lingering heat of late summer lingered in Beijing, the afternoon sun scorching the bluestone slabs, and even the dogs in the alleyways lay panting against the walls. But under the old locust tree in courtyard number 95, a cool shade prevailed. He Daqing sat on a stone bench weaving a bamboo basket, the bamboo strips flying in his hands, quickly shaping the basket's base. Liu Yan sat beside him, picking vegetables—fresh greens that He Yuyang had taken from his spatial storage, glistening with dew.

"These vegetables are growing really well, much fresher than those at the market." Liu Yan pinched off the roots of the vegetables and said with a smile, "I'll let Yushui eat more of them later to get some vitamins." She learned this word from He Yuyang, although she didn't quite understand what it meant, she only knew that it was good for her health.

He Daqing didn't even look up: "Yu Yang is really capable. She's only been in Beijing for a short time, but she's arranged everything perfectly. Yu Zhu's martial arts school is also quite impressive, and Yu Shui keeps getting little red flowers at school. I feel sweeter than if I'd drunk honey."

Just then, a knock came from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by Yan Bugui's signature high-pitched voice: "Is Brother He home?"

He Daqing put down the bamboo stick, got up and opened the door. He saw Yan Bugui standing at the door with a cloth bag in his hand, his face full of smiles: "Brother Yan, come in and sit down."

"Okay, all done." Yan Bugui walked in with a smile, his eyes sweeping across the courtyard. He saw the green vegetables on the stone table, then glanced at the several pieces of cured meat drying on the windowsill of the side room—cured by He Yuyang using pork from her spatial storage. His eyes lit up immediately. "Oh, sister-in-law is preparing vegetables? These vegetables look really good, where did you buy them?"

"Yu Yang got these; he said they were a benefit from the military." Liu Yan smiled and ushered her into the house. "Please sit down, I'll pour you a bowl of water."

"No need, no need, I just had some at home." Yan Bugui put the cloth bag on the stone table, opened it and saw that it contained several freshly baked sugar-coated sesame cakes. "I just bought them from Zhang's shop at the alley entrance, they're still warm, let the children have some."

"Why did you bring this?" He Daqing asked, a little embarrassed. "Put it away quickly, we're all neighbors, no need to be so polite."

"Hey, I just saw that Yushui likes sweets." Yan Bugui sat down, picked up a sugar-coated sesame seed cake, and handed it to Yushui, who was playing nearby. "Good girl, Yushui, try what Grandpa bought for you. Is it sweet?"

Yu Shui glanced at Liu Yan, and seeing her mother nod, she took the teacup, took a small bite, and mumbled, "Thank you, Uncle Yan, it's sweet."

Yan Bugui smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed into slits, and then chatted with He Daqing about everyday things, from the latest happenings in the alley to the recent vegetable prices. After circling around the topic for a while, he finally brought it up seemingly casually: "Speaking of which, Yu Yang is really capable. I heard from Old Man Wang in the alley the other day that Yu Yang is a regimental commander in the army? That's a high-ranking officer, even more powerful than the district cadres!"

He Daqing's face showed pride: "What high-ranking official or low-ranking official? I'm just a soldier. It's my duty to protect my country."

"That's different!" Yan Bugui leaned forward and lowered his voice. "The regimental commander's treatment must be good. I heard that the army not only pays wages, but also provides food and cloth coupons, and there are benefits during festivals. Is that true?" He asked this question casually, but his eyes were fixed on He Daqing, afraid of missing a single word.

He Daqing didn't think much of it and said truthfully, "There are benefits, but General Yu Yang said the army doesn't need them, and most of them are given to his comrades. He himself doesn't care about them, and he still wears that military uniform, saying it's sturdy."

Yan Bugui secretly calculated in his heart that the regimental commander's salary must be quite high, plus benefits; no wonder the He family lived such a comfortable life. He coughed lightly and changed the subject: "Yuzhu's martial arts school is also thriving. I see many children going there to learn boxing every day. They must be making quite a bit of money this month, right?"

"Hey, it's only been open for two months, it's just enough for him to eat and drink." He Daqing said with a smile, not thinking much of it. "The main thing is to keep him occupied so he doesn't just wander around all day."

"You can't say that," Yan Bugui waved his hand. "That's called being successful! Back then, Yuzhu was just a kid, and now he's a mentor. It's all thanks to Yuyang's good guidance. You know, Yuyang has a lot of connections in the army and knows many people. If he can find Yuzhu a more respectable job in the future..."

"He likes practicing martial arts, and his martial arts school is doing just fine. Why would he look for another job?" Liu Yan came out carrying water and overheard this. She interrupted with a smile, "Young people have their own ideas. As elders, we should just support them."

Yan Bugui, having been rebuffed, wasn't embarrassed. He chuckled twice, took a sip of water, and then changed the subject, talking about his general store: "Speaking of my store, business has been alright lately, but getting supplies is difficult. Some rare items, like face cream and fine cotton cloth, are sold out if you go too late; you have to pull strings to get them."

He glanced at the main room where He Yuyang lived, and raised his voice slightly, as if deliberately speaking for the people inside: "The other day, an old customer came to buy face cream, saying he wanted to use it as part of his daughter's dowry. I didn't have any in stock, and I watched the business slip away. If I could get a stable supply, I could earn at least a few more dollars a month."

Liu Yan and He Daqing didn't catch the underlying meaning and even sighed, "That's a real pity."

Just as Yan Bugui was about to say something more, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate. He Yuyang had returned. He had just come back from the military office, wearing his uniform, the red star on his shoulder gleaming in the sunlight.

"Yu Yang's back!" Yan Bugui immediately stood up, his smile widening. "I was just telling your parents how capable you are. You look really smart in that uniform!"

"Uncle Yan is here." He Yuyang nodded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the sugar-coated sesame cakes and cloth bundle on the stone table, and he roughly guessed why Yan Bugui had come. This Uncle Yan was always thrifty and wouldn't come to deliver things unless there was a reason.

"Hey, just dropping by." Yan Bugui pulled He Yuyang down to sit and said warmly, "Yuyang, I heard from your dad that you're a regimental commander in the army? You're really young and promising! My wife always says that Jie Cheng should learn from you and become a successful person in the future."

"Uncle Yan, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the organization's training." He Yuyang said calmly, picking up the kettle on the table and pouring himself a bowl of water.

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together and finally got to the point: "Um... Yuyang, I've been talking to your parents about it. My general store has been having trouble getting supplies lately, especially for the scarce items; we keep running out. You know a lot of people and connections in the army, so could you... could you help me out? It doesn't have to be much, just a little extra face cream or fine cotton cloth each time would be fine. I'll pay you at market price; I promise you won't lose out!"

He spoke earnestly, his eyes full of expectation, but in his heart he was calculating – He Yuyang was the group leader, and he must know a lot of people in supply and marketing cooperatives or department stores. As long as he was willing to say a word, it would be much easier for him to purchase goods, and he might even be able to get insider prices. The price difference in between could be quite a profit.

He Yuyang put down his water glass, looking at Yan Bugui with a knowing look in his eyes. He had long anticipated Yan Bugui's move, but not so soon. He smiled, his tone sincere: "Uncle Yan, I understand your meaning. But as you know, this is a new society; doing business requires following the rules, and you can't make exceptions. The goods in the supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores come according to plan. If everyone uses connections and back channels, wouldn't the rules be chaotic?"

Yan Bugui's smile froze for a moment, a hint of displeasure creeping into his eyes—why was this kid so stubborn? Just as he was about to say something more, He Yuyang continued, "But if you really have difficulties, I know a few people at the supply and marketing cooperative who are in charge of coordinating the allocation of goods. I can ask around and see if we can set up a long-term supply plan for your shop, following the normal procedures, guaranteeing you access to goods, though there might not be any price discounts."

Yan Bugui was taken aback. He had originally intended for He Yuyang to use his position to pull strings and get some cheaper goods, but he hadn't expected the other party to propose going through the normal procedures. Although this would still solve the procurement problem, there would be no extra profit to be made, and he was immediately a little disappointed, but he couldn't show it on his face, so he could only say awkwardly, "Well... that's fine too, as long as we have a stable supply, thank you for your trouble, Yuyang."

"Of course, we're all neighbors, it's only right to help each other out," He Yuyang said with a frank smile. "I'll give them a call later and let you know if I hear anything."

Seeing that he couldn't gain anything, Yan Bugui sat for a while longer, exchanged a few trivial words with He Daqing, and then took his leave with his empty cloth bag. As he reached the courtyard gate, he glanced back at the He family's courtyard and muttered to himself: This He Yuyang looks young, but he's sharper than anyone else and never suffers a loss. No wonder he can become a regimental commander.

After Yan Bugui left, He Daqing was a little puzzled: "Yu Yang, since you know people, what's wrong with helping Brother Yan get some cheap goods? They're all old neighbors."

"Dad, you don't understand." He Yuyang sat down, picked up a sugar-coated sesame seed cake and broke it in half. "The new society emphasizes equality for all. If I help Uncle Yan with back channels today, Uncle Liu might come to me for favors tomorrow. Once this door is opened, it will be hard to stop. Not only will it be difficult for me, but it might also cause trouble for the army."

Liu Yan also realized, "You're right, we can't make exceptions. It's fine to help him by asking through the normal channels; that way we can help without breaking the rules."

He Yuyang nodded, then remembered something else: "Oh right, Dad, I'll send one piece of those cured meats to Grandpa Yan's house and Uncle Liu's house later, and say that they were issued by the army, so that everyone can share them."

"Okay, sure," He Daqing replied. "That way it shows we're not eating alone."

In the afternoon, He Yuyang went to the supply and marketing cooperative and found Comrade Wang, whom he knew. Comrade Wang used to work in the logistics department of the army and was quite familiar with He Yuyang. After He Yuyang explained his purpose, he smiled and said, "Is it really necessary for you to make such a trip for such a small matter? I know Yan Bugui's grocery store. It has a good reputation in the alley. I'll register him and reserve some goods for him every month. He can just come and pick them up on the appointed day."

"Then thank you very much, Comrade Wang," He Yuyang said with a smile.

"No need to thank me, you're a war hero, this is nothing." Comrade Wang patted him on the shoulder. "By the way, we recently got a new batch of fine cotton cloth, the quality is quite good, want to get some for your wife and kids?"

He Yuyang was looking to make new clothes for his family, so he followed Comrade Wang to pick out a few pieces of fabric, paid for them, and bought some face cream and soap, intending to give them to Liu Yan and Yushui later.

Back home, He Yuyang divided the cured meat into two pieces and asked He Yuzhu to deliver them to the Yan and Liu families. Just as He Yuzhu stepped out, he ran into Yan Bugui coming out of the grocery store, carrying an empty basket, probably on his way to buy more goods.

"Uncle Yan, my brother asked me to bring you something." He Yuzhu handed over the cured meat.

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up when he saw the cured meat. He took it and weighed it in his hand. It weighed more than two pounds and had a rich meaty aroma. He quickly said, "How can I accept this? You're spending money again."

"Hey, my brother said the army gave these to us. We can't finish them all, so I'm letting you have a taste," He Yuzhu said casually. "By the way, my brother said he's got your supplies sorted out. The supply and marketing cooperative will reserve some for you so you can pick them up on the appointed days."

"Really?" Yan Bugui was both surprised and delighted, not expecting He Yuyang to act so quickly. "Thank you so much, Yuyang! Go back and tell him I'll treat your whole family to a nice meal at a restaurant tomorrow!"

"No need, no need, we're all neighbors." He Yuzhu waved his hand and went to the Liu family's house again.

Yan Bugui stood there, holding the cured meat, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He had originally hoped to take advantage of the situation, but He Yuyang hadn't given him the chance. Instead, He Yuyang had genuinely helped him solve his sourcing problem and even gifted him such fine cured meat. He touched the cured meat and sighed inwardly—this He Yuyang, so young yet so shrewd, no wonder he's achieved so much. His own petty schemes were utterly insignificant compared to hers.

As evening fell, Yan Bugui specially brought a bottle of newly arrived soy sauce from the grocery store to courtyard number 95 as a "thank you gift." Liu Yan couldn't refuse and accepted it, inviting him to stay for dinner, but he politely declined with a smile: "No, no, my family is waiting for me to go back and cook. When I have time tomorrow, I'll have your sister-in-law make some meat pies and bring them over; her skills are among the best in the alley."

Watching Yan Bugui's departing figure, Liu Yan smiled and said to He Yuyang, "This old man Yan isn't entirely unreasonable."

He Yuyang smiled but didn't say anything. He knew that Yan Bugui was a man of many talents, shrewd yet grateful. As long as you didn't take advantage of him and genuinely helped him, he wouldn't go too far. Living in this alley, they would inevitably interact, and maintaining this comfortable distance was just right.

During dinner, He Yuzhu brought up the martial arts school: "Brother, we took in two more students today. They're from the next alley. They said they saw Yan Jiecheng practicing so well and wanted to learn too."

"Yes, teach them well." He Yuyang picked up a piece of green vegetable for Yushui. "Don't just focus on teaching them moves, you also have to teach them rules. Learning to be a good person comes before learning to fight."

"I know." He Yuzhu ate his rice. "I told them that anyone who dares to fight or cause trouble shouldn't come to school."

Liu Yan looked at her two sons, then at Yu Shui, who was eating heartily, her face beaming with smiles. Moonlight streamed through the old locust tree outside the window, casting a soft glow on the food on the table. The shouts of vendors packing up their stalls drifted from the alley, along with the faint strains of a radio playing opera from someone's window, exuding a peaceful, down-to-earth atmosphere.

He Yuyang took a sip of porridge, feeling quite calm. He knew that life should be like this, with the mundane details of daily life, the interactions with neighbors, and the warmth of family gatherings. There might be petty calculations like Yan Bugui's, or small vanities like Liu Haizhong's, but these are all part of life, like the leaves on an old locust tree—some green, some yellow—that makes it real.

He picked up a piece of cured meat and put it into He Daqing's bowl: "Dad, eat more to nourish your body."

"Okay, sure." He Daqing replied with a smile, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

As night deepened, Nanluoguxiang gradually quieted down, with only the windows of No. 95 courtyard still lit up, like a warm star embedded deep in the alley, reflecting the peaceful dreams of a family.