He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

In early summer, Nanluoguxiang was like a stuffy gourd; the morning glories at the base of the walls drooped listlessly, and even the cicadas chirping in the locust trees seemed listless in the heat. He Yuzhu had just taken down the door of the martial arts school when he heard a commotion coming from the middle courtyard, like oil splattering and crackling as it splashed into the front yard.

"Hey Yan Bugui! Don't play dumb! The land reform work team said that hiding grain is resisting policy, and that's no small matter!" Liu Haizhong's loud voice pierced through the screen wall of the courtyard, carrying a deliberately amplified excitement. Today, he was wearing a faded Zhongshan suit, the collar buttoned up tightly, and the veins on his neck throbbed as he spoke, making him look like a street performer showing off his confidence.

Yan Bugui stood on his doorstep, still clutching the well-worn abacus, his face pale. "Director Liu, you can't say that! The little grain we have is for Jie Kuang to make porridge. He was seriously ill last month, and the doctor said he needs to eat more rice to recover..." His voice trailed off, the abacus beads creaking in his grip. "If you don't believe me, go inside and look, there's barely any left in the jar!"

"See? Of course I want to see!" Liu Haizhong stubbornly tried to barge into the courtyard, but was firmly stopped by Yan Bugui's wife, Yang. Yang was holding Yan Jiedi, who had just turned one year old, in her arms, and holding the snotty-nosed Yan Jiefang in her other hand. Her eyes were red like ripe cherries. "Uncle Liu, we're all neighbors, how can you treat people like this? We really have no food left. We even gave Yushui half a bowl of millet the day before yesterday. Go ask Daqing's wife!"

He Yuzhu was furious. He had just returned from Wang's braised meat shop, carrying two catties of pig's head meat that he had brought for Liu Yan. He didn't have time to take it home. He strode into the courtyard and bumped into Liu Haizhong pushing Yang Shi.

"Hey! What are you doing!" He Yuzhu grabbed Liu Haizhong's wrist. His strength, honed from years of boxing training, was astonishing, causing Liu Haizhong to wince and groan. "Uncle Liu, what kind of skill is it to bully women and children? Can't you talk things out properly?"

Liu Haizhong swung his arm, and when he saw that it was He Yuzhu, his arrogance subsided, but he still stuck out his neck: "Yuzhu, this is a public matter! Land reform is a big deal, hiding grain is illegal, don't get involved!" He deliberately emphasized the word "illegal", and glanced at the neighbors standing under the corridor, as if he was putting on a show for someone.

"Illegal?" He Yuzhu slammed the pig's head onto the stone table, the oil-paper bag making a dull thud as it hit the table. "Isn't the little bit of grain at Uncle Yan's house enough to break the law? I saw your family secretly stuffing white flour buns into Aunt Er's hands yesterday. Why don't you talk about yourself?"

These words were like a stone thrown into a calm puddle, causing an immediate commotion among the onlookers. Yan Bugui straightened his back slightly, and Yang Shi loosened her grip on the child; Zhang Guifen, standing behind the door frame, blushed instantly and secretly tugged at the hem of her clothes in her bangs, only to be shoved away by him.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Liu Haizhong snapped, spitting on He Yuzhu's face. "My family received it as a gift from relatives, openly and honestly! How can that be compared to Yan Bugui's secret dealings?"

"How is it different?" He Yuzhu took a half step forward, a head taller than Liu Haizhong, looking down at him. "Isn't it all for the children? Uncle Yan's family is sick, while your family's Guangtian is as strong as a calf. Why is it that it's perfectly acceptable for your family to eat white flour, but it's considered hoarding food when others make porridge for their sick children?"

His words left Liu Haizhong speechless for a long time. The neighbors around nodded in agreement. Yan Bugui's elderly mother, leaning on her cane, shuffled out of the house, sat down on the ground, and began to wipe away her tears: "My God, we can't live like this anymore... Our Yan family has always been honest people, how could we dare to break the law..."

Just as the commotion reached its peak, the door to the east wing creaked open. Yi Zhonghai walked out with his hands behind his back, wearing a slightly worn blue cotton jacket, his face bearing his usual calm, as if the commotion just moments before was merely the sound of the wind rustling through the treetops.

"What are you all doing gathered here?" Yi Zhonghai's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone pressing down on the water, immediately silencing the noise. He first looked at Liu Haizhong, then glanced at Old Mrs. Yan sitting on the ground, and finally fixed his gaze on He Yuzhu. "Yuzhu, you just got back from outside? Why couldn't you have advised her to stop, instead of joining in the chaos?"

He Yuzhu frowned. He knew Yi Zhonghai was highly respected in the courtyard and usually respected this old man, but something about what he said today sounded off: "Uncle, it's not that I started this trouble, it's just that Uncle Liu accused Uncle Yan of hiding grain without even knowing the facts, and even pushed people..."

"Oh dear, it's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, interrupting him, and turned to Liu Haizhong, saying, "Old Liu was just doing it for the job, he was a bit impatient, but his intentions were good. Land reform is a big deal, we all have to cooperate, right?" He then changed the subject and said to Yan Bugui, "Old Yan, don't take it to heart, Old Liu just has a loud voice, he didn't mean anything by it. If there are any difficulties at home, tell the neighborhood committee, everyone can chip in and help out."

These words sound like advice from both sides, but upon closer examination, they are quite biased. Yan Bugui opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Yang secretly tugged at his sleeve—Yang knew that Yi Zhonghai was the head of the courtyard, and if he really offended him, life would be even more difficult in the future.

He Yuzhu couldn't stand it anymore: "Uncle, how can this be a misunderstanding? Uncle Liu insists that Uncle Yan is hiding grain and even tried to break into the house to search it. What will happen to Uncle Yan's reputation if he doesn't find anything?" He pointed to the pig's head on the stone table. "I just came back from outside and heard him shouting here. How can neighbors do things like this?"

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened. He hadn't expected He Yuzhu to be so disrespectful, contradicting him in front of the entire courtyard. He had originally wanted to let things slide, after all, Liu Haizhong was a "proactive member" designated by the neighborhood committee, and any policies in the courtyard would need to be relayed through him. The Yan Bugui family was just an ordinary family, and giving in a little wouldn't be a big deal.

"Yuzhu, you're young and don't understand the gravity of this situation." Yi Zhonghai's tone carried a hint of admonition. "The land reform work team is stationed right at the entrance of the alley. If things escalate to their level, it won't benefit anyone. If the Yan family is innocent, what's wrong with letting Lao Liu take a look? It'll shut up the gossip."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui's face turned completely pale. He wasn't afraid to look, but he was afraid that Liu Haizhong would take the opportunity to play tricks—a few days ago, Zhang the butcher's house was reported for hiding meat. When the work team came, they didn't find anything, but they ransacked the place. In the end, they were given the reason of "improper attitude" and were fined half a month's work points.

"Uncle, what you're saying..." He Yuzhu wanted to argue, but Liu Yan, who suddenly walked in, stopped him. Liu Yan was carrying an empty winnowing basket, obviously having just returned from the grain station. She winked at He Yuzhu and then said to Yi Zhonghai, "Uncle, don't be angry, Yuzhu just has a short temper. Actually, Brother Yan's family really has no grain. I even lent them a handful of cornmeal the day before yesterday. You can ask Yushui if you don't believe me."

Just then, He Yushui ran in from outside with her schoolbag on her back and was startled by the scene in the yard. Madam Yang quickly pulled her to her side: "Yushui, tell the old men, didn't they bring you half a bowl of millet the day before yesterday?"

Rain nodded, her little braid swinging with the movement: "Yes! Aunt Yan said my brother is working hard on the front lines, and told me to eat more so I can grow taller..." She looked up at her bangs, "Uncle Liu, the rice at Uncle Yan's house is for me to eat, not something he hid."

The child's words, like a soft cotton ball, silenced Liu Haizhong's next words. He was a little embarrassed, but still stubbornly insisted, "Well...that doesn't rule out the possibility of hiding other grain..."

"Alright!" Yi Zhonghai interrupted him at the opportune moment, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority. "Since the child has said so, it must be a misunderstanding. Old Liu, you too, you have to be based on evidence when handling matters, not make wild guesses. Old Yan, don't take it to heart, it's all just in accordance with policy, no bad intentions." He paused, then added, "That's it, don't tell anyone, lest the work team laugh at us."

That's what they said, but anyone with eyes could see it was biased towards Liu Haizhong. Yan Bugui's lips moved, but in the end he didn't say anything, helping his mother back into the house, the sound of the door closing conveying an indescribable sense of frustration. Liu Haizhong, having gotten a way out, straightened the collar of his Zhongshan suit, hummed a little tune as he went home, deliberately bumping into He Yuzhu as he passed by.

The neighbors gradually dispersed, but He Yuzhu was still angry, squatting on the stone bench and clicking his tongue. Liu Yan handed him a piece of pig's head: "Alright, stop being angry. Your uncle is just trying to keep the peace in the courtyard. If this gets to the work team, nobody will benefit."

"Mother, this isn't about winning or losing!" He Yuzhu slammed the oil paper bag onto the stone table, the aroma of meat mingling with the steam rising from it. "That Liu Haizhong just wants to be an activist and climb the ladder, using Grandpa Yan as a stepping stone! And Grandpa Yan is even biased towards him, what kind of logic is that?" He remembered He Yuyang's words before he left, "Brother said, we don't bully others, but we can't let others bully us either!"

Liu Yan sighed and remained silent. She knew her son's temperament was like his father's—stubborn and inflexible—but how could everything in this courtyard house be judged so clearly and objectively?

As dusk fell, the sun gradually sank in the west, casting its afterglow across the earth, as if draping the entire world in a golden veil. At this moment, He Yuzhu stood in the center of the martial arts school, intently instructing his students in practicing horse stance.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the doorway—it was Yan Bugui! He was carrying a rough porcelain bowl and carefully walked in. Upon closer inspection, the bowl was found to be half-full of roasted, golden-brown, crispy, and fragrant pumpkin seeds.

"Yuzhu, thank you so much for what happened today!" Yan Bugui said, gently placing the rough porcelain bowl on the table. Then, he vigorously rubbed his slightly rough hands on his jacket, as if trying to wipe away any dust or stains that might have gotten on them.

Then, Yan Bugui smiled shyly and continued, "Please accept this small token of my appreciation. These melon seeds aren't worth much, but I specially roasted them to give to your child (He Yuzhu's apprentice) as a snack. I hope they'll like them~"

He Yuzhu stopped what he was doing and pushed the melon seeds back: "Uncle Yan, you're being too polite. We're all neighbors, how could we bear to see you suffer?" He thought for a moment, then took out a cloth bag from the cabinet in the martial arts school. "There are two catties of millet in here. I asked someone to bring it from the countryside. Please make some porridge for Jie Kuang."

Yan Bugui's eyes welled up with tears. After some hesitation, he finally accepted the gift, his eyes still red. As he left, He Yuzhu overheard him telling Yang Shi at the door, "From now on, Jie Cheng and Yuzhu need to learn from each other, not only skills but also this kind of integrity."

He Yuzhu felt a little better. He distributed the bowl of pumpkin seeds to the apprentices, grabbed a handful for himself, and cracked them open with a satisfying crunch. The setting sun shone through the windows of the martial arts school, casting grid-like spots of light on the floor, much like the "stars on the front lines" that He Yuyang had described in his letter.

He remembered his brother patting him on the shoulder before he left, saying, "Yuzhu, with me gone, you'll be the pillar of this family. Don't let anyone think the He family is easy to bully, and don't let anyone talk behind our backs." At the time, he thought his brother was being long-winded, but now he understood that being the pillar of the family wasn't easy. You had to be like the old locust tree in the yard, sheltering the neighbors from the wind and rain while also having the strength to prevent anyone from climbing or breaking it.

A series of clear and melodious laughter came from outside the courtyard gate, as sweet as the warbling of orioles. It turned out that Yan Jiefang was leading a group of innocent children in a hopscotch game! They were overjoyed and dancing, as if a group of little elves had descended to earth, bringing endless joy and vitality to this originally peaceful courtyard.

He Yuzhu stood in the center of the courtyard, looking towards the gate. He saw a group of children circling around Yan Jiefang, their faces beaming with smiles, constantly calling out, "Brother Jiefang, teach us how to jump again!" Yan Jiefang, like an old man, patiently taught the children how to jump, occasionally making them laugh.

Just then, He Yuzhu's gaze inadvertently swept over Liu Haizhong's house next door and noticed that the lights were on inside, and he could vaguely hear people talking. Listening carefully, he realized that Liu Haizhong was whispering to his wife, Zhang Guifen, saying something like, "The work team is coming to inspect tomorrow..." His tone sounded both excited and nervous, as if he was afraid of saying or doing something wrong.

He Yuzhu spat angrily onto the ground, then tossed the empty sunflower seed shells he'd just finished eating aside, letting them scatter like petals. His round eyes blazing, he roared at the apprentices practicing their horse stance, "You bunch of little brats, all of you stand up straight! Anyone who dares to slack off or cut corners will have to practice for a whole hour more!"

A chorus of shouts suddenly rang out in the martial arts hall, startling the sparrows under the eaves. The sound traveled through the sweltering summer night, struck the gray bricks and tiles of the courtyard, and bounced back, carrying an indomitable spirit, much like the way He Yuyang had first led him to practice boxing in the courtyard many years ago.

The moon quietly climbed to the top of the locust tree, casting its silvery light onto the letter from He Yuyang on the wall of the martial arts school. The letter trembled gently in the wind, as if saying: Yuzhu, well done.