He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

In October, Beijing is blessed with clear skies and a crisp, cool breeze. The ginkgo leaves in the park are a vibrant yellow, hanging like tiny fans from the branches. Occasionally, a few leaves are blown down by the wind, swirling and landing on the bluestone pavement, adding a touch of poetry to the scene.

After finishing his business at the military base, He Yuyang didn't go straight home. Instead, he planned to take a detour to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy Yushui a new arithmetic workbook. Dressed in his crisp military uniform, he walked steadily along the sidewalk. As he passed the park, a clear, crisp sound of reading drifted over on the breeze.

"Human, mouth, hand..."

"Top, Middle, Bottom..."

The voice was childlike yet earnest, carrying the unique innocence of a child. He Yuyang stopped and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw a group of children, about seven or eight years old, gathered around a girl reading a book under a pavilion deep in the park.

The girl had her back to him, wearing a faded blue cotton jacket with frayed cuffs, yet it was spotlessly clean, exuding a crisp and neat air. Two jet-black braids hung down her back, the ends tied with red ribbons, swaying gently with her movements. She stood in front of a small blackboard, holding half a piece of chalk, writing stroke by stroke. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the ginkgo leaves, casting a soft golden glow on her.

"Look carefully, everyone. This character is pronounced 'guo,' meaning the country." The girl's voice was clear and melodious, like a mountain stream. "Now that we have a new China, everyone can read and study in peace. So you must study hard so that you can contribute to the country in the future."

The children nodded, seemingly understanding, their little faces full of seriousness. A little girl with pigtails raised her hand: "Teacher Xu, why is the character '国' (country) surrounded by a frame?"

The girl turned around and explained with a smile, "This frame is like the city wall of our country, protecting us all inside."

Turning around, He Yuyang finally saw her clearly. She was in her early twenties, not exceptionally beautiful, but with a clean and delicate face. Her eyes were like black grapes soaked in water, strikingly bright. She had a straight nose, and her lips were a natural light pink. When she smiled, there were two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth, which warmed the heart of anyone who saw her.

He Yuyang had seen many women: the female comrades in the army were heroic and spirited, and the women in the neighborhood were simple and warm-hearted. But he had never seen a girl like this before. She was wearing the most ordinary clothes and standing in the most ordinary park, but she was like a sunflower growing towards the sun, exuding a vigorous and clean aura.

He subconsciously slowed his pace, not wanting to disturb the quiet scene. The children followed the girl, loudly reciting words, their voices echoing through the park, startling a few sparrows on the branches, which fluttered away.

Just then, a little boy wearing open-crotch pants suddenly burst into tears, crying out, "Mommy...I want Mommy..."

His crying immediately disrupted the rhythm of their reading. The other children stopped writing and turned to look at him. The girl quickly put down her chalk, went over, squatted down, and gently patted the little boy's head, her voice soft and gentle: "Little Zhu, why are you crying? Do you miss your mother?"

Little Zhu nodded, sobbing, his little shoulders trembling: "Mommy...Mommy said she'd buy me candy, but she hasn't come yet..."

The girl smiled and took out a piece of fruit candy wrapped in transparent paper from her pocket. The paper shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting the pale orange color inside. "Look, I have some candy here. How about you have it first? When your mom comes, she'll definitely praise you for studying so hard today."

He Yuyang's gaze fell on the candy, and he was momentarily stunned. He was very familiar with the packaging and design of the candy—it was the kind of fruit hard candy from his space, with a sweet taste and not easily melted. He had given some to his comrades in the army before, saying that they were sent from their families. He never expected to see it here.

He thought to himself, "It must have been given to me by a family member of a military unit," and his gaze returned to the girl.

Little Zhu stared at the candy, his crying gradually subsiding. He swallowed hard, but didn't reach out to take it; he just looked at her timidly. "Mother said... I shouldn't take things from strangers..."

"Your teacher isn't just anyone; she's watched you grow up. How can you say you can just take a piece of candy?" The girl put the candy in his hand and wiped away his tears. "Quickly peel it open and try it. It's orange flavored and very sweet."

Xiao Zhuzi carefully unwrapped the candy, put it in his mouth, and immediately beamed with joy, all his earlier grievances forgotten. "Sweet! Thank you, Teacher Xu!"

"You're welcome, go sit down, let's continue learning characters." The girl smiled and patted his little bottom.

Once the children were seated again, she returned to the blackboard, picked up the chalk, and continued teaching, as if the little incident had never happened. Her expression was focused and earnest. Occasionally, someone would drift off, but she wouldn't criticize them; she would simply tap the blackboard lightly and signal with her eyes. There was no sternness in her eyes, yet they inspired awe.

He Yuyang stood not far away, watching quietly. He had seen heroes fighting bloody battles on the battlefield and comrades silently dedicating themselves in the rear, but he had never imagined that an ordinary substitute teacher could radiate such moving brilliance in such an ordinary scene. She possessed a resilience that remained pure despite the hardships she had endured, like a poplar tree in the desert, seemingly weak but actually tenacious.

After some time, the sun gradually rose overhead. The girl closed her book and said to the children, "That's all for today. Everyone should review carefully at home, as I will be checking your work tomorrow."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Xu!" the children answered in unison, tidied up their little stools, and skipped away, waving goodbye to her as they left.

The girl smiled and waved. After the children had all left, she picked up the small blackboard and chalk box, turned around, and prepared to leave. Only then did she notice He Yuyang standing not far away. She paused for a moment, then smiled politely and nodded.

He Yuyang also came to her senses and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Sorry, I was watching your lecture and didn't want to disturb you."

"It's alright." The girl's cheeks flushed slightly, probably because she rarely spoke to strange men. Her eyes darted around a little, but she still maintained her politeness. "Are you... just passing by?"

"Yes, I just came out of the army and am planning to go to the supply and marketing cooperative." He Yuyang pointed to the supply and marketing cooperative not far away. "The children call you Teacher Xu?"

"Yes, my name is Xu Xiuli, and I'm a substitute teacher at a nearby elementary school." She introduced herself with poise and confidence, still clutching the small box containing chalk tightly in her hands.

"My name is He Yuyang, and I work in the military." He also introduced himself, his gaze falling on the small blackboard in her arms. The handwriting on it was neat and tidy, showing a serious attitude. "You teach very well, and the children all like you very much."

Xu Xiuli was a little embarrassed by the praise, lowered her head and smiled, "It's all basic stuff. The children are young, they'll listen if you coax them a bit." She paused, as if remembering something, and looked up to ask, "You just said you work in the military? Which unit?"

"The North China Military Region," He Yuyang replied.

Upon hearing the words "North China Military Region," Xu Xiuli's eyes lit up, and her voice was filled with excitement: "My parents were also from the North China Military Region! They... they sacrificed their lives during the liberation of Shijiazhuang."

He Yuyang was shocked; he hadn't expected this. He looked at Xu Xiuli; her face showed no sadness, only a faint longing, but her eyes held a firm resolve, like her parents'. "I'm sorry, I brought up something painful."

"It's alright, it's all in the past." Xu Xiuli shook her head, a slight smile even on her lips. "My parents always said that it was an honor to sacrifice for the revolution, and we had to continue the cause they didn't finish. Now I'm a teacher, teaching children to read, which is also a way of doing something for them."

These words stirred something within He Yuyang. He had seen too many people despondent after losing loved ones, but few, like Xu Xiuli, transformed their grief into strength and strived to live a fulfilling life. This seemingly delicate girl possessed such unwavering resilience.

"You're right. Educating children well is a contribution to the country," He Yuyang said sincerely.

The two stood under the ginkgo tree, chatting idly. He Yuyang then learned that Xu Xiuli was not only a substitute teacher but also raised her ten-year-old brother alone. Life wasn't easy, but she never complained. She lived not far from Nanluoguxiang, in the alley in front of it.

"My younger brother is also in school, but he's a bit mischievous and always makes me worry." Xu Xiuli said with a gentle smile when she mentioned her brother. "But he's very sensible and knows how to help me with chores, like carrying water and chopping wood."

He Yuyang felt a surge of affection when she thought of her younger siblings: "Boys are all mischievous, but they get better as they grow up. My brother used to be a troublemaker too, but now that he runs a martial arts school, he's much more settled."

"Open a martial arts school? That must be amazing, right?" A hint of curiosity flashed in Xu Xiuli's eyes.

"It's just teaching the neighborhood kids to practice boxing to improve their health," He Yuyang said with a smile. "If your brother wants to learn, he can come anytime; there's no tuition fee."

"Thank you so much! I'll ask him about it later. He always says he wants to be a soldier in the People's Liberation Army and he likes wielding swords and guns." Xu Xiuli thanked him with a smile, her smile as clear as the autumn sky.

A gust of wind blew by, and the ginkgo leaves rustled down, a few landing on Xu Xiuli's hair. She was oblivious, staring down at the chalk box in her arms, seemingly lost in thought. He Yuyang instinctively reached out to brush them away, but stopped halfway, feeling it would be too abrupt, and gave up.

Xu Xiuli seemed to notice his gaze, looked up, and their eyes met. Her eyes were bright, as if they held starlight, and He Yuyang's heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked away.

"Um... I should go back now, my younger brother is waiting for me to cook." Xu Xiuli was also a little awkward. She picked up the small blackboard and said, "Comrade He, thank you for listening to me today."

"I should go now." He Yuyang nodded, looked into her eyes, and said earnestly, "Teacher Xu, you are a good teacher."

Xu Xiuli's cheeks flushed again. She lowered her head, hummed in agreement, and turned to leave, clutching the small blackboard. Her steps were light and quick, her blue cotton jacket swaying gently in the autumn wind, and her two braids bobbing with each step like two leaping deer.

As she reached the park entrance, she turned back, waved to He Yuyang, and said with a faint smile, "Goodbye, Comrade He!"

"Goodbye." He Yuyang waved as well.

Watching her figure disappear into the alleyway, He Yuyang finally looked away, glanced down at the ginkgo leaves that had fallen at her feet, and felt a strange, indescribable feeling, like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples to spread.

He stood there stunned for a moment before remembering that he needed to buy exercise books for Yushui, and turned to walk towards the supply and marketing cooperative. But for some reason, Xu Xiuli's image kept appearing in his mind—her serious profile when she wrote, her gentle smile when she coaxed the child, her firm eyes when she talked about her parents, and the hem of her clothes fluttering in the wind and her swaying braids.

He even remembered that fruit candy, the transparent wrapper, the orange candy, and her slender, clean fingers as she handed it to him. It was a candy from his spatial storage, and he never expected it to appear in the hands of a strange and special girl in this way. It must have been a gift from one of his comrades; it was quite a coincidence.

After buying the workbooks, He Yuyang walked home, but his pace wasn't as fast as when he came. He remembered Xu Xiuli talking about raising her younger brother alone, her faded white shirt, and the longing in her eyes when she mentioned her parents. He felt a strange sense of unease.

She was so thin, yet she supported her family and diligently taught the children to read. How remarkable it must be for such a girl.

As they reached the entrance of Nanluoguxiang, He Yuzhu was standing at the martial arts school seeing off his students. Seeing He Yuyang, he called out from afar, "Brother, why are you only just getting back? Mom's been looking for you for days!"

"I had some things to take care of, which delayed me." He Yuyang walked over and handed the exercise book to He Yuzhu. "This is for Yushui, you can take it back first."

"Hey." He Yuzhu took the workbook, but his eyes lingered on He Yuyang's face. "Brother, what's wrong? Your face is a little red. Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing, it's probably just the wind." He Yuyang touched his cheek; it was indeed a little hot. "How's the martial arts gym today?"

"Great, two new students have arrived. I'm teaching them horse stance right now." He Yuzhu perked up when talking about the martial arts school. "By the way, brother, Yan Jiecheng is improving pretty fast. I suggested he try learning a few sets of boxing, but he was a little embarrassed."

He Yuyang smiled and nodded: "Take it slow, don't push too hard."

He went into the martial arts gym and saw the children practicing diligently, all sweating profusely, yet no one complained. He Yuzhu was giving pointers from the side, truly looking like a master. Watching this lively scene, the inexplicable emotions in He Yuyang's heart gradually subsided, but he still couldn't help but think of Xu Xiuli and the group of children around her.

They were all equally earnest and equally energetic.

Back home, Liu Yan was cooking in the kitchen. The aroma made He Yuyang realize he was hungry. "Mom, what are you making?"

"I made you some chicken soup to help you recover." Liu Yan ladled a bowl of soup from the pot. "Why are you so late today?"

"I ran into something on the way." He Yuyang took the soup, took a sip, and felt the warmth flow down his throat into his heart. "Mom, I saw a substitute teacher in the park today, teaching the children to read. It's really nice."

"Oh? Which school is it?" Liu Yan asked casually.

"She seems to be from a nearby elementary school. Her name is Xu Xiuli. Her parents were revolutionary comrades who sacrificed their lives. She raised her younger brother alone," He Yuyang said.

Liu Yan sighed, "It's not easy, supporting a family at such a young age." She glanced at He Yuyang, as if remembering something, "That girl... how old is she? What does she look like?"

He Yuyang was stunned for a moment before realizing what her mother meant, and her cheeks flushed slightly: "Mom, why are you asking this? I was just saying."

"I was just asking," Liu Yan said with a smile. "You're not getting any younger, you should start thinking about this. You didn't have time when you were in the army, but now that you're settled, you should find someone who cares about you and wants to spend your life with you."

He Yuyang didn't speak, but lowered his head to drink the soup. Xu Xiuli's image floated into his mind again, her smile, her voice, her eyes... The ripples in his heart began to stir again.

During dinner, He Yuyang seemed a bit absent-minded. He didn't quite hear what Yushui was saying about the school, and He Daqing tapped his chopsticks on the table: "What are you thinking about? The food's getting cold."

"It's nothing." He Yuyang smiled and put a piece of chicken on Yushui's plate. "Eat up, and I'll show you the workbook I bought for you after you finish."

"Wow! Thank you, bro!" Rainwater cheered immediately.

Seeing his younger sister so happy, He Yuyang felt a little relieved. He knew that his mother's words made sense; he had indeed reached the age to settle down, but he had always been thinking about fighting and settling his family, and hadn't given these thoughts a chance.

But now, after meeting Xu Xiuli, the girl who teaches children to read in the sunlight with a clean and resilient smile, a string in his heart that had never been touched before seemed to be gently plucked.

At night, He Yuyang lay in bed. The moonlight outside the window was still bright, and the alley was quiet. He remembered Xu Xiuli's retreating figure as she turned away, and the smile on her face as she waved goodbye. A strange feeling welled up inside him.