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

March, 1946.

Just as the willow trees were sprouting tender buds, the weather at the steel rolling mill changed.

The original factory director was transferred, and the new one, surnamed Wu, came in his forties. He always had a smile on his face, wore gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, and had his hair slicked back. I heard that he used to manage an arsenal in the rear and had some ambiguous relationships with important figures.

On his first day in office, he did two things.

First, he replaced the factory's security guards with a whole new team of unfamiliar faces he brought with him.

Second, they summoned Yi Zhonghai to their office.

The room was covered with a thick carpet, and a banner proclaiming loyalty to the Party and patriotism hung on the wall.

Yi Zhonghai stood there, with nowhere to put his hands, so he could only rub them back and forth on the side of his work pants.

"Old Yi, have a seat."

Factory Director Wu pointed to the genuine leather sofa opposite him, a smile on his face.

"I've seen your file. A level seven fitter, highly skilled, and influential among workers. A talent."

Yi Zhonghai was flattered and dared only get close enough to the side.

"Factory manager, you flatter him. He's just a craftsman."

"Ah, the craftsmen are the real treasures of our factory."

Factory Director Wu got up and personally poured him a cup of tea.

"The situation is chaotic right now, and the factory is not united. I'm new here and know absolutely nothing, so we'll have to rely on you old guys to keep things running smoothly."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over from behind his glasses.

"I'm planning to promote you to workshop foreman. You'll be in charge of production in Workshop 1, and... discipline."

"foreman?"

Yi Zhonghai was stunned for a moment. This was a lucrative position; before, without connections, one could never even get a chance.

"Yes. Salary increase, plus a monthly allowance."

Factory Director Wu patted him on the shoulder.

"Work hard, and there's always a chance you'll become a permanent employee. These days, having a formal position is better than anything else."

Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat.

He was promoted to a permanent position.

This was something he had always dreamed of. With that certificate, he would be a government employee, and he wouldn't have to worry about anything in his old age.

"Thank you, factory manager! I'll definitely do a good job!"

"it is good."

Factory Director Wu smiled, but the lines around his eyes deepened, though his gaze remained cold.

"However, being a foreman isn't easy. You have to share the factory's burdens. There are things you should manage, and things you shouldn't... you have to learn to turn a blind eye."

Yi Zhonghai was so focused on nodding that he didn't catch the underlying meaning in those words.

……

a few days later.

He Yuzhu was huddled in a corner of the workshop repairing a grinding machine.

An elderly fitter with a full head of white hair sidled over. His surname was Liu, a drinking buddy of He Daqing and also a veteran of the factory. He usually couldn't stand those messy things.

"Pillar."

Master Liu pretended to hand over the wrench, his voice low to his throat.

"That new guy surnamed Wu is a piece of trash."

He Yuzhu took the wrench and kept working.

"How so?"

"Last night I was on the night shift and I saw several large trucks go into the back warehouse. That's where we store special steel. Our factory's small amount of alloy steel and copper is all used to make precision parts."

Master Liu puffed out his cheeks with effort.

"Those people were loading goods onto the truck, and Director Wu was just standing there. I overheard them saying that they were being disposed of as scrap to an ironworks outside the city."

He Yuzhu paused for a moment with the wrench in his hand.

Alloy steel is sold as scrap. The price difference is enormous.

"You saw it clearly now?"

"It's true. I've written down the license plate. It's from Zhao's Ironworks outside the city."

He Yuzhu nodded.

"Uncle Liu, keep this to yourself. Don't mention it to anyone, especially Master Yi."

"Old Yi?"

Master Liu sighed.

"Old Yi is a foreman now, and he's always hanging around that Wu guy's butt. I think his chances are slim."

……

That evening.

He Yuzhu cornered Xu Damao at the entrance of the alley.

"Da Mao, do me a favor."

"What's up, Brother Zhu?"

Xu Damao was munching on a pear, his mouth full of sweet juice dripping from the corner of his lips.

"Go and try to get on good terms with Director Wu's son. That kid went to the same school as you, and I heard he's a bit of a playboy too."

"Little Fatty Wu?"

Xu Damao was delighted.

"That kid's an idiot. Okay, I'll take care of it. What do you want to know?"

"I want to know who his dad has been having dinner with lately, especially in the evenings."

To test the waters.

Two days later, Xu Damao brought back a message.

"Brother Zhu, you're amazing!"

Xu Damao looked excited.

"Wu Xiaopang said that his dad has been drinking with a boss surnamed Zhao a lot lately. And last night he got drunk and was cursing at home, saying that the police station was asking for too much and wanted to increase the interest by 20%."

He Yuzhu narrowed his eyes.

Police station. Zhao's ironworks. Factory manager Wu.

The threads are strung together.

These people wanted to empty the factory. And to cover it up, they even registered with the police, claiming it was in case of worker unrest. That way, even if someone reported them, the police would say it was a normal movement of supplies.

……

Siheyuan.

Yi Zhonghai was carrying a net bag, two bottles of good wine, and a roast chicken.

This was the first time he received a stipend after becoming a foreman, and he bought it.

As soon as I entered the Intermediate People's Court, I ran into He Yuzhu.

"Uncle Yi, you're living a good life."

He Yuzhu leaned against the door frame, a half-smile on his face.

Yi Zhonghai straightened his back.

"Zhu Zi, the factory's been busy lately, so pay attention to that. Don't hang out with those shady characters all the time."

He spoke with more confidence, and that lecturing attitude resurfaced.

He Yuzhu didn't respond, but said something indifferently.

"Uncle Yi, a new broom sweeps clean. But if the fire burns too brightly, it can easily set you on fire. I heard there's a lot of waste material in the back warehouse, so as the foreman, you'd better keep a close eye on it."

Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat.

He turned around abruptly and stared at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu had already turned and entered the house, leaving him with only his back view.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the courtyard, and as the wind blew, the roast chicken in his hand suddenly felt heavy.

Back warehouse. Waste materials.

Factory Director Wu just told him yesterday that there would be a batch of scrapped materials to be disposed of in a couple of days, and asked him to sign off on it and go through the process.

Is it...

Yi Zhonghai's palms began to sweat.

He glanced at the two bottles of wine, then at He Yuzhu's tightly closed door.

Suddenly, the wine doesn't smell good anymore.