Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

Inside the Jia family house, Jia Zhangshi's triangular eyes were filled with resentment as she stared intently at the people in the courtyard. Yang Jianye caught a glimpse of that familiar gaze and immediately knew that the money must have been "robbed" from her.

Well, I'm in a good mood first thing this morning.

"Xu Damao, Qin Huairu is going to give you compensation, hurry up!" Yang Jianye shouted back towards the inner courtyard, grabbed a water jug ​​to brush his teeth. Qin Huairu stood beside him, clutching the money and peering through the doorway.

A moment later, Xu Damao came out, a toothbrush dangling from his lips, mumbling, "What money? Didn't we agree on a monthly payment? I didn't force you."

Qin Huairu spread the money out in front of him: "Compensation, all one hundred yuan is here. Give me back the change and notes from yesterday."

Xu Damao blinked, dumbfounded. What was going on? He glanced at Yang Jianye brushing his teeth and shouted, "Hey, Jianye, did you give this to me?"

Yang Jianye took the toothbrush away, spat, turned around and laughed: "Do I look like the kind of person who would do this kind of thing?"

Xu Damao chuckled awkwardly, thinking to himself: I also think it doesn't seem likely, but where would Widow Qin get so much money? Who else could it be but Granny Jia? But could she really squeeze money out of Granny Jia? She's crazy!

He wasn't wrong; if Qin Huai couldn't get it, he'd simply ransack the place and steal it outright.

"I need to learn a trade from Yang Jianye, so I have to pay Xu Damao back right now. If you don't pay me today, I'll just turn the tables myself!"

"You dare!" Madam Jia glared fiercely, her lips twitching as if she wanted to devour someone.

Qin Huairu swept her sleeves, yanked the drawer open, and dumped all the contents onto the floor with a crash. She then proceeded to rummage through the drawer, one item after another. Madam Jia tried to stop her, but Qin Huairu was determined to take everything. Seeing she couldn't stop her, Madam Jia raised her hands, took a deep breath, and prepared to throw a tantrum. Even if she lost all face today, she was determined to show the whole courtyard Qin Huairu her true colors!

"Dongxu is your son, but he's also my man. I'm using this compensation with a clear conscience; it's not shameful to say it out loud!" Qin Huairu sneered. "And don't forget you're currently undergoing labor reform. Want to cause trouble? Let Director Wang find out, and see who suffers the most!"

These words were like a needle piercing Jia Zhangshi's throat. The air she had inhaled got stuck there, unable to go in or out, and finally she spat out a mouthful of saliva with a "pfft".

"You heartless bastard! I bet you're only after Yang Jianye! Do you think he'd even look at a widow like you?" Jia Zhangshi cried and screamed, even bringing out Jia Dongxu's memorial tablet. "Dongxu, look at your wife! This is the good wife you married! Father, I can't live anymore!"

Even after all this trouble, it couldn't stop Qin Huairu. She had had enough of the cold treatment, and her family was almost starving. This money was her lifeline when she was drowning, so how could she let go? Jia Zhangshi picked up Banggeng and cried, but Banggeng was so scared that she struggled and wished she could throw her outside.

"Here, the money and the receipt." Xu Damao returned with the items, interrupting Qin Huairu's reverie. She counted them and found they were correct, then put them in her pocket: "Our matter is settled."

"It's settled, but think it over. Once I take the money, don't even think about going back on your word." Xu Damao was unwilling to give up, his eyes telling Yang Jianye, "What are you doing here? Get out of here!"

Yang Jianye chuckled and turned to leave. Xu Damao was pondering what to say to Widow Qin when he turned back and found her back inside. He muttered to himself, "Did I see a ghost today?"

When it was time to start work, Yang Jianye and Yingzi pushed the cart out, followed by Qin Huairu and Shazhu.

"You're not allowed to bring her, and if you do, she can't hug you." Yingzi glanced behind her out of the corner of her eye, somewhat regretting her impulsiveness last night. Yang Jianye found her contradictory behavior amusing and bluntly stated, "My car seat is sensitive to new things; it can't carry women. Besides, I haven't agreed to take her in yet."

Want to be his apprentice? Not so easy. This isn't even the beginning. Learn how to be a decent person first! Whether or not he'll accept Qin Huairu remains to be seen.

Upon arriving at the factory, Yang Jianye said to Director Ma, "There's a guy named Qin Huairu in Workshop One. I'm thinking of transferring him to our workshop to give him a try."

Director Ma took a couple of puffs of his cigarette, then slapped his thigh: "You mean that Widow Qin? She's in Jia Dongxu's class."

"Yes." Yang Jianye said with a straight face, "She lives in the same compound as me, and last night she knelt at my door begging me to take her as my apprentice."

Director Ma chuckled: "Jianye, are you going to take on an apprentice?"

"Yeah, I'm planning to buy two. If any suitable ones come over, send them over so we can take a look together."

"That's great! But this Widow Qin... is it settled?"

Director Ma was filled with doubt: Could it be that Jianye has taken a fancy to that widow? But if he hasn't, wouldn't taking a widow as an apprentice just be asking for trouble?

"Nothing's set in stone. It's fair competition; everyone has a chance." Yang Jianye saw right through Director Ma's thoughts. He had said last night that even if he took on a female apprentice, let alone a pretty widow, there would be gossip. But Yang Jianye was a man of his word; he would never break his promise to give someone a chance. Fairness was ingrained in his bones: those who could stay would do so based on their abilities, and no amount of talking would change that.

The news spread like wildfire, becoming the top story in the factory. Everyone who considered themselves capable was eager to try their luck. But apprentice assignments were a "resource" in the factory; more apprentices meant more help, easier work, and even some extra kickbacks—who wouldn't be envious? But these days, there was no such thing as mutual selection; you got whoever you were assigned to, and there was no room for pickiness. Yet, favoritism and connections were always involved. None of the six apprentices under Yang Jianye were easy to deal with: even if Qin Huai hadn't spoken up, Director Ma had given his nephew Ma Yeqiang a handout, and Factory Director Yang had also provided two "connections," but when it came to Yang Jianye, no one's influence mattered.

"Here, I treat everyone equally, regardless of gender or relationship." As soon as Yang Jianye finished speaking, the apprentices were completely dumbfounded. The assessment content was kept secret, the rules were kept secret, and they were already working? "Do whatever you're told, and ask if you don't understand."

Compared to other foremen who were made to serve tea and water and do odd jobs, being able to start working directly seemed like a good thing. But it didn't take long for Ma Yeqiang and his colleagues to realize they were wrong. The entire morning was filled with dirty and strenuous work: cleaning, loading materials, carrying iron, and moving steel; even simple forging was left undone. The foreman stood by, drinking tea and watching, and if anyone was slow or missed a step, he would immediately yell, "Replace him!"

Those who were replaced felt ashamed, their faces as red as monkey bottoms; those who were replaced were filled with trepidation, fearing they would be next.

When it was Qin Huairu's turn, her palms were sweating as she gripped the hammer, standing rooted to the spot, unsure where to strike. She used to use long tongs to shape the clay and thought it was safe, but now that she was in a different position, she realized how difficult it was.

"What are you standing there for? Did I invite you to perform?" the blacksmith's foreman said scathingly. Someone muttered under their breath, "I didn't come here to learn blacksmithing."

The foreman, who was blowing on the tea foam, looked up, glared at me, and started yelling: "What, you have a problem with that? How about I just make you the factory manager and I'll do whatever you say? You can't even crawl and you want to learn from the foreman? You're utterly useless! I'll explain the structural principles to you, and ask you to draw diagrams, and you'd be fine? You can't even do this simple job right, and you want to build rockets, missiles, airplanes, and tanks? If you don't want to learn, get out of here! There are plenty of people out there!"

These days, workers have high status, and they also have fiery tempers. This scolding would be considered mild with other foremen; if it were someone with a violent temper, they'd be slapping you to the bone. You've learned to talk back before you've even entered the door? Get out of here!

After scolding her, the master's gaze swept over the stunned Qin Huairu: "Stop knocking, are you waiting for dinner?"

Qin Huairu shuddered, gritted her teeth, and raised the hammer to smash it down. Clang, clang, clang... The recoil from the hammer made her arm numb, and it ached after only a few blows.

"Didn't you eat? Bang it harder, smash it with all your might!"

Clang, clang... Qin Huai, holding his breath, disregarded his fear and began to pound on the bright red embryo like a madman...

At lunchtime, Qin Huairu dragged herself into the canteen, trembling like a leaf. Her face was flushed yet deathly pale, as if she had just crawled out of a hospital bed. Both arms were completely numb; she couldn't move a single finger. But no matter how numb she was, she had to eat. After a morning of working like this in the special workshop, she still had to keep going in the afternoon!

She had figured it out long ago: in this workshop, it doesn't matter if you're male or female; once you enter, you're a worker, and no one will show you any leniency just because you're a woman.

Today, Sha Zhu was serving lunch, standing at the window. Seeing Qin Huairu approach, she gritted her teeth and, with her trembling arms, lifted the lunchbox, her fingers gripping the edge until her knuckles turned white. Sha Zhu scooped up a spoonful, then two, then another, piling the lunchbox overflowing.

"Do a good job." He didn't say anything more and turned to serve food to the next person.

Qin Huairu felt a warm glow in her heart. The way Sha Zhu had looked at her just now was genuine respect. Her eyes welled up, and she almost cried, but she quickly tilted her head back to hold back. Yesterday, Xu Damao forced her to acknowledge that hundred yuan, and everyone in the yard watched coldly. She told herself: From now on, if I shed tears, I'll make sure they have value.

"Mom, a girl's tears are like golden beans, you can't cry so easily." Xiao Dang hunched her neck and peeked into the yard, whispering, "If you cry too much, your golden beans will disappear, and life will be hard from now on."

"Xiao Dang, who taught you these principles?" Qin Huairu squatted down and asked.

Xiao Dang shook her head, but Qin Huairu knew perfectly well that Yang Jianye and his wife had taught them. A warmth welled up in her heart: these two were truly good people.

Why could she grit her teeth, swallow her pride, and kneel at Yang Jianye's door, begging to be taken on as an apprentice? Because she knew that only Yang Jianye acted like a man, straightforward and honest. More importantly, there was no greed in his eyes. Learning from him meant she wouldn't have to think about anything else; she could just focus on learning. Yang Jianye's reputation in the factory was impeccable; everyone envied his apprentices in the special workshops.

Sometimes Qin Huairu felt a pang of envy: other men looked at her as if they wanted to melt her; but Yang Jianye looked at her with pity, no different from looking at a stranger on the street. The only pride and asset she had after her husband's death was completely useless in front of Yang Jianye. But later, especially last night, she suddenly realized that this was what she wanted, what she deserved! That was called backbone, that was called dignity.

"A person can be poor, but they can't lack backbone." She stroked Xiao Dang's head. "If you lose your backbone, what's the difference between living and being dead?"

"Mom, what is backbone?"

"Have backbone! Mom will earn it for you." Qin Huairu's eyes shone. "When you grow up, you'll understand that it's much more valuable than money. Our little pawnshop owner must also have backbone and earn it with his own hands!"

She wanted to slowly transform the pity in Yang Jianye's eyes into pride and admiration. "Sooner or later, I'll make him praise me: Qin Huairu, you're amazing!"

Holding the lunchbox, her arms trembled so much that she couldn't even bring the spoon to her mouth. With a heavy heart, she slapped the spoon aside, bent down, buried her face in the lunchbox, and began to wolf down her food.

"Widow Qin! Widow Qin!"

Hearing someone call out, Qin Huairu quickly wiped her mouth with her trembling hand, looked up, and saw it was Sister Fu from the factory's labor union.

"Sister Fu, is there something you need?"

Sister Fu sat down opposite her, frowning as she stared at her drooping arms: "What's wrong with you? Weren't you supposed to be transferred to the special workshop? Did someone bully you?"

In the past two years, the trade union's power has grown significantly, and after merging with the Women's Federation into a sister unit, its voice has become dozens of times stronger. Sister Fu works in the trade union and Women's Federation office, specifically in charge of women's rights. If anyone dares to bully a female comrade, she'll intervene. Qin Huairu's entry into the special workshop was big news in the factory, and an honor for all the female colleagues. Sister Fu had originally come to congratulate her and even wanted to invite her to speak at the Women's Federation, but she never expected to see Qin Huairu like this.

"No, I have to talk to Yang Jianye!" Sister Fu was an impatient woman, and she pushed herself against the table to go inside.

Qin Huairu hurriedly caught up, grabbing her arm: "Sister Fu, that's not true! You've misunderstood!"

Sister Fu refused to listen to advice, convinced that Yang Jianye was bullying Qin Huairu. When she didn't agree, he used his position to torment her. She had seen this kind of man change his attitude as soon as he gained a little power!

Qin Huairu hurriedly chased after her, wanting to call out to her to explain, but her body was as limp as a soaked noodle, how could she keep up with Sister Fu's brisk pace? She didn't dare to shout "Yang Jianye didn't bully me" at the top of her lungs, because if that got out, even something that hadn't been said would be stirred up into trouble. What if Yang Jianye found her troublesome and just kicked her out?

Anxious and distraught, Qin Huairu rushed into the small canteen, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Master Yang, Yang Jianye! Why are you bullying Widow Qin?"

Yang Jianye, who was eating with his coworkers, was dumbfounded by the question. He had been working all morning, only occasionally glancing at the apprentices and not saying a word of idle chatter. How could this be considered bullying? Did Qin Huai complain to Sister Fu because she was tired? But that didn't make sense. Her personality changed too quickly. What good would that do her?

Qin Huairu, who was blocked at the door, stamped her feet anxiously: "Master Yang, let me in! Sister Fu has misunderstood!"

Yang Jianye glanced at the doorway and waved his hand, "Come in."

As soon as Qin Huairu stepped inside, Sister Fu pulled her close, patting her chest and declaring, "Widow Qin, don't be afraid! The Women's Federation will stand up for you! If someone bullies you, the union won't stand for it, the factory director won't care, we'll go to the higher-ups! If you have any grievances, just say so. Whoever bullies you, I'll take care of them for you!"

Yang Jianye looked at her with a half-smile, and Qin Huairu almost cried out, "Sister Fu, don't talk nonsense! Nobody's making things difficult for me! I'm just tired from working. The work in the workshop is heavy, everyone's the same. I'm weak, I don't blame anyone else!"

Sister Fu was stunned. Had there been a misunderstanding? But seeing her dejected appearance, she stubbornly insisted, "Even so, women should be taken care of. I..."

"Sister Fu," Yang Jianye suddenly stood up, interrupting her with a stern face, "your thinking is unacceptable; I have to say a few words to you!"

Sister Fu laughed angrily: "Hey, you're trying to tell me what to do at work? You even say my thinking is wrong? I think you're the one with the problem!"

"Go on, I'm listening!" Yang Jianye persisted. "I want to hear what brilliant ideas you, a man, have for the work of the Women's Federation."

"I wouldn't call it insightful, but you just said you wanted to take care of female comrades, then you turn around and say men don't understand women's federation work. That's logically flawed, and your thinking is seriously flawed!" Yang Jianye raised his voice. "Women hold up half the sky—that's a saying by a great man! What supports that half of the sky? Is it through 'I'm weak, therefore I'm right' treatment? Or is it through blood and sweat?"

He pointed out the window: "The outstanding women representatives from all over the country, the elder sister who stood in the Great Hall of the People to receive praise from the great leaders, the female combat heroes who returned to the factory—which of them hasn't shed blood and sweat? Their heroic spirit is even more valiant than that of men! Did they earn their honors through favors?"

Sister Fu was completely dumbfounded, her mind a jumbled mess. What kind of nonsense had she just uttered? Women don't get where they are today by taking care of others; they earn it all through their own hard work! According to her, wasn't she turning back the clock? Was she completely erasing the fighting spirit of countless women?

Filled with regret and fear, she suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself hard. Looking up at Yang Jianye with red eyes, she exclaimed, "Master Yang, you're right! I was such a fool! Who says women need to be taken care of? No! We're even better than men at work!"

A large crowd had already gathered outside the small canteen, having witnessed the entire incident and heard everything Yang Jianye said. The women were deeply moved, feeling that Yang Jianye was a confidant and a comrade in arms, and they echoed Sister Fu's shouts: "Even stronger than a man!"

"That's right! Who says women are inferior to men? Let's compare!" The big girl with arms thicker than her thighs patted her chest, her face full of fat but she smiled broadly. Everyone burst into laughter, and the men also showed goodwill smiles. They admired Yang Jianye from the bottom of their hearts: even Sister Fu from the trade union and women's federation was impressed. His ideological awareness was unmatched!

"Master Yang, Comrade Jianye, please tell us again!" Sister Fu quickly added, afraid he would refuse. "I have ideological problems and need to be severely criticized and corrected! If you don't help me, I can't do my job, and I'll be too ashamed to face anyone. Please help me and tell him what you think is right?"

The female workers outside chimed in, "Master Yang, say something! Let us learn from you, so we can improve!" The men joined in, "Say something! Yang Jianye is truly talented!"

Looking at the people filling the courtyard, Yang Jianye finally managed a smile. This kind of life was much more interesting than just working in silence.