Courtyard House: Ten-year-old Master Zhu reorganizes the entire courtyard

January, 1946.

A meeting is being held in Chongqing—the Political Consultative Conference. Newspapers are filled with slogans like "peace," "democracy," and "nation-building."

In winter in Beiping, the wind is strong and stings your face.

Inside the school, the restless heat couldn't be contained.

Under the old locust tree by the playground.

Several students sat in a circle, spitting everywhere.

"Civil war must not be fought! Whoever fights will be a sinner in history!"

"Nationalize the military! Democratize politics!"

The one who shouted the loudest was Zhang Ming.

This kid's changed lately. His timidity is gone, replaced by a reckless, impulsive energy. Li Qiang chimed in, waving a mimeographed flyer in his hand.

Second floor, behind the window of the discipline office.

Wang Debiao stood there.

He was the head of the Three People's Principles Youth League at the school and also the nephew of the discipline director.

He held a small notebook in his hand, the nib of his pen scratching against the paper. Each scratch was a name.

……

bathroom.

The smell of smoke was pungent.

He Yuzhu was washing his hands; the tap was running, and the water was icy cold.

The door to one of the cubicles opened. Young Master Sun hunched over and crawled out.

He glanced around to make sure no one was there before moving closer to He Yuzhu and pulling a neatly folded piece of paper from his sleeve.

"Master Zhu, something's happened."

Young Master Sun spoke in a very low voice, his throat trembling.

"That bastard Wang Debiao just handed in the list to the discipline office. He said he wanted to make an example of them and expel a few of the ringleaders. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning exercises."

He Yuzhu turned off the tap.

He took the note and unfolded it.

There are only three names listed.

Zhang Ming is ranked first. Li Qiang is ranked second. There is also a senior high school girl named Liu Xiaomei.

"reason?"

"Disrupting the teaching order and spreading extreme remarks."

Young Master Sun curled his lip.

"Actually, it's about kicking them out to curry favor with the higher-ups."

He Yuzhu crumpled the note into pieces and threw it into the sink. He watched as it was washed down the drain and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"understood."

"Master Zhu, you have to think of something. If you get fired, it'll be a stain on your record, and your life will be over."

He Yuzhu wiped his hands. The face in the mirror was expressionless.

"It can't be destroyed."

……

That evening.

He Yuzhu went to that inconspicuous grocery store.

The shopkeeper, who was fiddling with an abacus behind the counter, stopped what he was doing after hearing He Yuzhu's report.

"We can't confront them head-on."

The shopkeeper pulled out a pack of cigarettes from under the counter and tossed one to He Yuzhu.

"The negotiations are still ongoing in Chongqing. If we make a scene here, it could give the other side a pretext. But we must protect these people."

"I have a plan."

He Yuzhu tucked the cigarette behind his ear.

"Winning hearts and minds."

"How do we attack?"

"None of Wang Debiao's gang are clean. No one in this school knows better than me how their parents made their fortunes, how they took over the houses, and how they bullied people."

He Yuzhu pointed to his head.

"Yes... I mean, I have all the accounts here."

The shopkeeper smiled and started fiddling with the abacus again.

"Go do it. Don't make too much noise, just enough to hurt them."

……

Late at night.

The school's walls are not high.

When He Yuzhu climbed in, he did not make a sound and landed lightly in the yard.

Xu Damao was already waiting inside. He was stamping his feet from the cold, and was holding a large stack of papers in his arms.

"Brother Zhu, does this thing really work?"

Xu Damao pulled out a card, glanced at it by the moonlight, and chuckled.

"Wow, Wang Debiao's father is a traitor? You dare to reveal such a bombshell?"

"Stop talking nonsense and get to work."

He Yuzhu took out a jar of paste.

"Put them up. Cover the bulletin board, classroom doors, and cafeteria walls with them. Remember, don't let anyone see your face."

"Alright!"

Xu Damao is a man who is very good at doing bad things.

The two split up.

Sheets of white paper with black ink covered up the original grand school rules and regulations.

……

The next morning.

The morning exercise bell rang.

All teachers and students gathered on the playground.

The discipline director stood on the platform, cleared his throat, and held the list of expulsions in his hand, ready to read it aloud.

Chaos ensued below.

The students whispered and pointed at each other. Many of them were still holding flyers torn from the wall.

"Hey, look at this! Wang Debiao's father used to deal in opium for the Japanese!"

"And this too, that courtyard house belonging to Officer Li was forcibly seized from a widow and her young child!"

"So these people are the real scum!"

The discussions grew louder and louder, eventually merging into a single wave of voices.

Wang Debiao, standing at the front of the line, was deathly pale.

He felt like there were countless eyes staring at him from behind, as if they wanted to peel his skin off.

The discipline master also noticed that something was wrong.

As soon as he uttered the name "Zhang Ming," someone below shouted.

"Oppose the persecution of patriotic students!"

"Investigate the background of the Three People's Principles Youth Corps!"

"Who are the descendants of traitors! Who is crying 'stop thief!' at the expense of the thie

The one who shouted was Xu Damao.

This kid hides in the crowd, shouts in a high-pitched voice, and then moves to another spot.

That shout ignited a powder keg.

The emotions of hundreds of students were instantly stirred up.

"Explain! We need an explanation!"

The outcry grew louder and louder.

The list in the discipline director's hands became a hot potato.

He looked at the angry faces below the stage, then at Wang Debiao trembling beside him, cold sweat streaming down his temples.

If they were to forcibly dismiss him, it could easily escalate into a mass incident. Given the current situation, the higher authorities have repeatedly emphasized the need to maintain stability.

"Ahem!"

The discipline director coughed twice and stuffed the list into his pocket.

"Regarding...regarding the proposed disciplinary actions against several students, the school has decided...to postpone! We need to conduct further investigation! Meeting adjourned! Meeting adjourned!"

After saying that, he fled backstage as if his life depended on it.

Wang Debiao didn't even dare to raise his head and slunk away after them.

A cheer erupted from the playground.

Zhang Ming and Li Qiang stood there, somewhat bewildered. They had been prepared to pack up and leave, but they hadn't expected the situation to reverse so quickly.

On the periphery of the crowd.

He Yuzhu, with his backpack on and hands in his pockets, watched the farce come to an end.

A line of small text popped up on the system panel.

[Decision made: Public opinion backlash.]

[Rewards: Reputation Points (implicit) +200; Zhang Ming and Li Qiang's loyalty increased to Trust.]

He turned away, not wanting to join in the fun.

This is nothing.

The best is yet to come.