Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

For a week straight, Yang Jianye left early and returned late, and the water heater project was completely put on hold.

However, the factory exceeded its production targets, and his modifications to the design drawings received high praise from higher-level units and top leaders.

This all started with mercury arc rectifier tubes. The problem of "overload tolerance" of these tubes has always been a major headache: the "big brother" promised to help solve it, but due to changes in the environment, they took all the experts and blueprints with them, clearly saying "they don't want to play with us peasants" and wanted to teach us a lesson.

But we Longye people have guts. Can we bow our heads and admit defeat? No way! How many years of bloodshed and sacrifice have made us stand tall? Can we be bent by fear?

So everyone worked together to study it: if they couldn't figure it out, they learned it little by little; if they couldn't learn it, they studied it; and if they couldn't study it, they assigned the task to the whole industry.

Four hundred million people can't even handle a small problem? That's our environment. Top experts are busy protecting our homes and businesses and building "big equipment" to support the nation, so they can't focus on infrastructure. We, the rest of us, just pool our wisdom and efforts, each doing our part to make a living. That's great!

This mercury arc rectifier tube project is a key task "registered with the higher authorities," concerning people's livelihoods and technological innovation.

Unexpectedly, the steel rolling mill not only built it, but also improved and strengthened its durability to ensure stable transport.

The factory planned to publicize Yang Jianye's spirit through the loudspeaker today. Factory Director Yang also wanted to hold a commendation meeting to "learn from Yang Jianye," but he flatly refused: "Holding commendations in the factory is like putting a fire on the stove. It's better to issue the rewards sooner."

Factory Director Yang laughed and told him to "get lost." He was very realistic; they had been eating together like brothers, but after that, he was told to "get lost."

As Yang Jianye was leaving get off work, his coworkers thanked him profusely. Heading towards the shed, he saw someone carrying scrap metal from the factory and a thought struck him: "Why go to the market? This is ready-made!" He turned back to the workshop to find Director Ma: "Director, I'd like to buy some scrap metal from the factory to process into something."

Director Ma was puzzled. "Weren't you in a hurry to see your wife?"

Yang Jianye explained, "I've been working overtime for a week since my wedding, and I only see him late at night. I'm thinking of building a hot water tank to heat water so I don't have to wash myself with cold water and get chilled."

Director Ma didn't understand at first, but after Yang Jianye finished explaining the design, his expression changed: "You're such a doting husband!"

Yang Jianye scratched his head. He loved his wife, but he used it himself too!

Director Ma readily agreed: "Do whatever you want yourself, just report the weighting and find someone to do the work."

Yang Jianye was delighted, but Director Ma shook his head and left, thinking to himself: This guy has all the good things in the world: good skills, high salary, good looks, loving wife, harmonious family, and there's one right in front of him.

How rare! Could these two be destined by fate?

"Hey, Master, Master, we still have a use for this scrap material. You should take a break."

Before he could finish speaking, a cigarette was offered to him. The driver chuckled, "Alright, don't take too long."

"You take care of things. Have a smoke to relax, I'll be done in a minute." Yang Jianye called over Hua Zi and two apprentices and got to work. They picked out all the discarded 8-point pipes; as long as they weren't badly damaged, the factory workers repaired them and they were even sturdier than new ones. The large metal boxes were made with scrap triangular iron for the inner frame, the size was customizable, and the outer sheet metal was welded on—very durable. In about ten minutes, everything that needed to be sorted was done.

Just then, the loudspeaker blared: "Dear workers, leaders, and comrades, good afternoon! Today, the Publicity Department's broadcasting station has a new member. Let's welcome Comrade Yu Haitang!"

"Buzz... Hello everyone, I'm Yu Haitang, a new announcer. This is my first time..."

Upon hearing the name, Yang Jianye's expression froze, and a complex look appeared in his eyes.

"Mr. Yang, Master Yang, your deeds are being publicized on the radio!" someone reminded him.

"...calling on everyone to learn from Comrade Yang Jianye and carry forward the spirit of perseverance, unafraid of hardship and difficulty..." The fervent and high-spirited tone stirred the hearts of the entire factory, and also aroused Xu Damao's lustful desires. The new announcer was truly beautiful! Young, with a good figure and delicate skin, she clearly hadn't suffered any hardship. Xu Damao was worried about finding a wife, and seeing such a young and beautiful woman, how could he not be tempted? It's just a pity that he was arrogant and had a bad reputation; he was lustful at first sight, falling in love with every woman he saw. Today he was flirting with one, and tomorrow he was fawning over a widow at her door. If he had been born twenty years later, keeping ten or eight mistresses wouldn't have been a problem, and he would have been praised as a "real man." That's the characteristic of the times.

After cleaning up the scrap, Yang Jianye returned to the workshop, where Li Yaoye was waiting for him, a cigarette dangling from his lips: "Jianye, what do you suggest we do?"

"Wait a minute, I have a drawing." Yang Jianye spread out the drawings he had made earlier. Li Yaoye understood them at a glance, but reminded him, "The pipe fittings need to be new; the old ones can't withstand the high pressure and temperature!"

"The factory has them ready-made; I'll pay you for whatever you need." Steel mills have plenty of these small parts, and Yang Jianye had no intention of defaulting; he would settle the account with the finance department afterward. If it were anyone else, Li Yaoye would have to oversee the settlement, afraid of getting into trouble and being implicated. But who was Yang Jianye? He trusted him.

Half an hour later, the welded pipes, joints, and inner frame were all ready. Li Yaoye wiped his sweat, took the cigarette Yang Jianye offered, and tilted his head to have it lit: "The rest is up to you, Hua Zi. Bring the sheet metal."

"Alright, let's hurry up and go! Your wife will be worried if we're late." Yang Jianye grinned. Li Yaoye had married his childhood sweetheart, the girl next door. They were very close, and their personalities were compatible; they were the closest people in the factory. He casually stuffed half a pack of cigarettes into Yang Jianye's chest: "Hey, I'm not being polite with you."

"Alright, let's hurry up and go! Your wife will be worried if we're late." Yang Jianye grinned. Li Yaoye had married his childhood sweetheart, the girl next door. They were very close, and their personalities were compatible; they were the closest people in the factory. He casually stuffed half a pack of cigarettes into Yang Jianye's chest: "Hey, I'm not being polite with you."

"Get lost, when have I ever been polite to you?" Yang Jianye retorted, but Li Yaoye felt relieved, as if he wasn't being treated like an outsider.

"Master Yang, I'll take it back for you before I leave." Hua Zi refused to leave, standing there grinning foolishly. Yang Jianye didn't say much, just smiled and buried himself in his work. Ten minutes later, the square new tin box was finished.

"Master Yang, I'll go borrow a cart," Hua Zi said and ran off. Yang Jianye tidied up his things, wiped his hands, and prepared to go home. He was thinking that he would buy a stove to modify after work tomorrow, and if all went well, he could take a hot shower at home the day after tomorrow; he also needed to find a craftsman to make a shower head, and he had to figure out the pressure issue for this delicate work.

Just then, a fragrant breeze wafted over: "Master Yang, are you Master Yang Jianye?"

Yang Jianye looked up and frowned: "Yu Haitang?" The new announcer from the publicity department, what does he want? And this smell, it's giving me a headache.

Seeing him frown, Yu Haitang's excitement cooled. She raised her sleeve and sniffed it; it smelled nice, no problem! Suppressing her slight annoyance, she extended her hand: "Master Yang, I'm Yu Haitang, the new announcer."

Yang Jianye, having grown accustomed to the smell of face cream mixed with mentholatum, politely shook hands: "Hello, Comrade Yu Haitang. I have other matters to attend to. What can I do for you?"

Seeing his good attitude, Yu Haitang forgot about her frown, her eyes sparkling: "It's nothing, I just came to see what a role model I can learn from really looks like!"

Official fans are divided into men and women.

Liu Haizhong, the second uncle of the steel rolling mill, is a die-hard official, while Yu Haitang, the announcer, is a petty official. One lacks competence, and the other lacks common sense; neither of them can accomplish anything.

Trying to use Yang Jianye as a stepping stone or as leverage? You've got the wrong person.

"Comrade Yu Haitang, my wife is still waiting for me at home. I'll be going now if there's nothing else." Yang Jianye glanced at the cart that Hua Zi had pushed back, walked around her to move the things, and after tidying them up quickly, he led Hua Zi out.

Yu Haitang, left out, frowned. In the prime of her youth, she was proud and ambitious. She was beautiful, educated, and had a respectable job. In the eyes of her neighbors, she was "someone else's child." She was pampered and spoiled wherever she went, just like a princess before liberation.

When she met Yang Jianye, she couldn't help but think to herself, "Is that all? He gets arrogant just because he received an award? What is it about me, Yu Haitang, that makes me unworthy of you?"

When a woman's mind is involved in her own charm, it becomes as tangled as a ball of yarn, impossible to untangle.

She was about to chase after him and call out, but Xu Damao beat her to it: "Haitang, Haitang..." Xu Damao ran to her side and fawned over her, wanting to invite her to dinner at Lao Mo's. When he passed Yang Jianye, he raised his eyebrows and showed off.

Yang Jianye chuckled to himself. Did he think Yu Haitang was some naive country bumpkin? Did he think he could win her over with just a few bites of Lao Mo's food? He'd miscalculated; she had high aspirations!

Lao Mo (Moscow Restaurant) is located at No. 135 Xizhimenwai. It has a revolving door and a hollowed-out cast bronze sign. The customers are mostly sophisticated "successful people" and foreigners.

The seven-meter-high roof, gilded chandeliers, and four bronze pillars are extremely rare in the eyes of ordinary people, exuding mystery and nobility.

But decent people don't go there at all. Those who come here are nothing more than three types: young people who want to date, out-of-town business people, and street hustlers who want to save face.

Real big bosses wouldn't bother with this kind of setup. Wouldn't it be better to treat them to a grand hotel in Beijing? Air-freighted steaks, seasonal fruits and vegetables, Moutai and Zhonghua cigarettes—aren't they better than Lao Mo?

Yang Jianye thought to himself, "I should try to get a free meal at a big hotel in Beijing with the top leader sometime."

After taking turns pushing the cart with Hua Zi, Yang Jianye called out to Ying Zi, "Call her sister-in-law, Ying Zi, get some water. Is dinner ready?" He wiped his sweat, and Ying Zi quickly replied, "Yes, young comrade, I'll get you some water."

"Thank you, sister-in-law." Hua Zi chuckled and wiped his face with his sleeve. Yang Jianye tossed him a towel: "Wash your face and eat before you leave." Seeing Hua Zi's refusal, he frowned: "Just eat what I tell you to eat. Why are you making such a fuss?"

Yingzi brought the water over, and Hua Zi quickly said, "Sister-in-law, just call me Hua Zi." Yingzi offered him a stool to sit on, then looked at the things on the cart and asked, "Jianye, is this what you meant by boiling water... what was it again?"

"Water heater, homemade, works as best it can." Yang Jianye's design was considered ugly and outdated by his contemporaries in the industry, but it was enough for him. He wouldn't dare use a brand-name water heater, for fear of being accused of "capital corruption."

Yingzi, having gained an extra mouth to feed and exhausted from helping deliver things, went back inside and cut up most of a piece of beef, intending to add another dish. As Hua Zi wiped his sweat and returned the towel, he saw Yingzi busy at the stove and offered, "Master Yang, would you like me to help you set up the pipes?" He had overheard the general outline and was curious about what it would look like, so he couldn't sit still.

"Okay, let's get started." Yang Jianye operated the equipment, and Hua Zi handed him the tools and assisted him. They worked efficiently.

The silly guy from across the street leaned over and asked, "Jianye, what are you doing?"

"Let's decorate the house." Yang Jianye looked up and smiled, his hands never stopping.

Sha Zhu rolled up his sleeves: "I'm fine, lend a hand."

Yang Jianye couldn't refuse; after a busy week, he deserved a couple of drinks as a reward.

Yingzi prepared the meal, and Yang Jianye finished his work: the pipes were laid along the ground, looping around the room, with four vertical pipes extending upwards from the four corners using T-joints; then they were laid along the eaves again, with holes drilled to extend to the next room for connection. This room was temporarily finished, but the next room was still unfinished.

Tonight's meal was truly sumptuous: stewed pork with potatoes, a plate of braised beef, smashed cucumber, and mixed bean sprouts. The main dish was a bowl of mouthwatering braised noodles, topped with minced meat, the aroma filling the air. Yang Jianye felt that the fragrance could waft through half of Beijing, making many people drool.

"Master Yang, this is too lavish!" Hua Zi stared wide-eyed at the four dishes and braised food in front of him.

They've never eaten like this during Chinese New Year. Let alone their family, how many families in Beijing can afford to eat like this?

Yang Jianye picked up a strand of noodles with his chopsticks and said with a smile, "Your sister-in-law takes care of everything at home. This piece of beef is her prized possession; ordinary people can't even get a taste of it. Why don't you start eating?"

Hua Zi quickly thanked Li Ying, "Thank you for your hospitality, sister-in-law!"

Li Ying rolled her eyes at Yang Jianye, her alluring appearance leaving both of them momentarily stunned. She quickly lowered her head to eat her noodles, saying softly, "Don't listen to Jianye's nonsense. Work is hard; how can we let people go hungry? Eat quickly, don't be shy."

"I heard what your sister-in-law said, eat it all up, don't leave any!" Yang Jianye said with a smile, picking up a mouthful of noodles with his chopsticks, slurping it up, and smacking his lips.

Hua Zi felt a surge of warmth in his heart, realizing that even his own mother didn't love him this much. His sister-in-law was truly a wonderful person; no wonder Master Yang treated her like a treasure. He would definitely find a wife like her someday.

Sha Zhu slurped his noodles with his head down, his mind preoccupied with his wife, and he even forgot to pick up the big piece of meat in front of him.

Jianye and his wife were so happy; everyone who saw them wanted to get married and live like them. But then Shazhu thought again that he needed to find someone educated. Wasn't Jianye's wife educated? She spoke softly and gently, as sweet as cotton.

Having a wife like this when you come home every day makes a man happy even if he's exhausted from working outside.

Gentleness is the most invisible hand; it doesn't frighten people, yet it can make them willing to sacrifice; it doesn't hurt people, yet it can make them go through fire and water.

Yang Jianye felt this most deeply after getting married: He used to have his little quirks as a man, and would occasionally feel restless, but ever since he had Yingzi, he has never had any improper thoughts.

Seeing Yu Haitang's adoring gaze today, he felt bored. His mind was filled with Yingzi's gentle smile. Even with a celestial beauty right in front of him, he was blind to her. All he could think about was: Go home and hug my wife!

After slurping down half a bowl of noodles to fill his stomach, Yang Jianye asked Yingzi to get some wine. It wasn't Xifeng, but rather a local brewed liquor. It had no brand, but the taste was authentic, and the aroma of grain filled the air when it was poured out.

"Master He, would you like a couple of sips?" Yang Jianye placed the teacup on the table and looked at Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu put down his chopsticks and grinned, "With so much good food, how can we not have a drink?"

Yang Jianye poured water for Sha Zhu and himself, and seeing Hua Zi staring intently into the vat, he pointed and laughed, "You're so small, but you've got a big heart! There's none for you, eat more meat!"

Hua Zi lowered his head in embarrassment. He was just craving the aroma of the wine, but Master Yang wouldn't let him drink it, so he stopped thinking about it and focused on eating his rice, munching on meat and slurping noodles.

Yang Jianye and Sha Zhu were drinking and picking at their food when Sha Zhu suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Look at my memory! I still have some fried peanuts!" He then got up and ran across the street.

The couple exchanged a smile: This Master He is really interesting!

A moment later, Sha Zhu's shouts came from outside: "Hey, this brat, he hasn't changed since we caught him last time, he's stealing from me again?"

Just a few minutes earlier, when Yingzi lifted the pot lid, the aroma of braised food filled the entire courtyard.

The old hag from the Jia family immediately erupted in a tirade of curses: "Heaven has no eyes! That heartless dog, he eats the good stuff all the time but never helps the orphans and widows, he has no conscience... That damned Yang Jianye, he'll eat himself to death at the dinner table sooner or later! And his wife, with that vixen-like, slutty look on her face, who knows..."

Qin Huai couldn't stand it anymore: "Mom, don't talk nonsense! Yingzi is a good person! Yang Jianye is very protective of his wife. You scold him, and he doesn't hold it against you. Have you forgotten the lesson he learned last time? If he heard that, do you think he would let our family off the hook?"

Granny Jia was about to lose her temper, but this brat was getting more and more stubborn, even speaking up for that scoundrel Yang Jianye. Was she eyeing him and trying to have an affair?

But upon hearing "the lesson learned last time," she felt a chill: she scolded him every day, and Yang Jianye hadn't done anything; yet, if she said anything to Yingzi, he'd react like a firecracker. She'd even heard he'd received a commendation at the factory, and the factory was calling for people to learn from him…

Despite her cursing, Granny Jia knew perfectly well that Yang Jianye held her family's lifeline in his hands, and she couldn't afford to offend him now.

If Qin Huairu loses her job, how will she survive back in the countryside? She's long been used to the good life in the city, and the thought of people starving or freezing to death in the countryside makes her tremble. She would rather die than go back!