Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

Tell me about it? Okay, I'll tell you then.

Yang Jianye pulled over the bench next to him and stood on it.

Facing the gate outside the small canteen, he smiled and said, "Comrades, fellow workers."

"From the day I entered the steel rolling mill, I have been proud of my identity as a worker. Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill is my second home."

"Here, I gained friendship and care. I experienced a positive and enterprising spirit, and learned practical skills..."

"Many veteran craftsmen have been driven to the point of cursing and swearing by me, Master Hao, haven't you?"

Master Hao, who was pointed at by Yang Jianye, pointed at him and laughed, "You little rascal, you're just like that leech."

"Why"

Yang Jianye proudly patted his chest: "I'm just that leech, I'll admit it."

"Hahaha..." The workers burst into laughter.

Yang Jianye continued, "But it was this 'dog skin plaster' that laid a solid foundation for me and gave me a good start in my later studies."

"Learning technology isn't about sitting in an office. I'm not saying sitting in an office isn't important, but please don't misunderstand me!"

"Haha, Jianye, hurry up and tell us!"

"That's right, we won't stand in for anyone who dares to cause trouble for you, Master Yang."

"Yes, I won't agree."

Yang Jianye nodded with a smile and said, "Thank you for your kind words. Let's continue."

"When it comes to technical work, you have to bend down and get your hands dirty, your face smudged, and your pride put in your pocket... and put your feet on the ground."

"Think about it, someone has accumulated twenty or thirty years of experience and skill, and you come up to them and demand to dig up their entire past? Is that acceptable?"

"Would that work for you? Definitely not! Right..."

"You'd better be diligent, do your work efficiently, and do whatever you can before your mentor does it."

"Don't drive a donkey to grind grain like it's grinding a millstone; it only moves an inch when you whip it."

"How could the master not see it?"

"If you do all these things properly, which master wouldn't teach you their best skills? I'm telling you, I'll pester him to death!"

"Hahaha……"

The laughter from inside the canteen made the roof beams tremble. Factory Director Yang, passing by the door, paused: "What's going on inside? Are they putting on a show?"

"It's not the factory manager, it's Master Yang Jianye chatting with the young workers."

"Oh? Jianye is speaking?" Factory Director Yang's eyes lit up, and he gestured, "Come on, let's go listen!"

The staff, announcer Yu Haitang, and the publicity officer carrying the camera all rushed into the canteen. Someone whispered a reminder: "Factory manager, we still have an inspection mission to complete!"

"No rush," Factory Director Yang waved his hand. "Can Jianye talk for three or four hours straight?"

The leaders had spoken, so everyone had no choice but to follow. Outside, there were workers who had rushed over from other canteens, stamping their feet anxiously: "Hurry up! Chef Yang should be finished speaking soon!" "What are you dawdling for? If you're a step too late, you won't hear anything!" They had all come to hear Yang Jianye talk about his experiences and insights, especially his practical advice on "women holding up half the sky."

Standing on the bench, Yang Jianye spoke in a loud voice: "When it comes to women, we have to treat them equally. We can't harbor any deep-seated feelings that they're weak or incapable. As long as they're willing to learn and want to improve, why should we say they're incapable?"

"We acknowledge that women may have inherent disadvantages, but women also have their strengths: diligence, focus, and meticulousness. Women are generally more attentive than men, aren't they?"

"Yes!" came a chorus of agreement from below.

"As the old saying goes, men and women working together makes the work easier!" Another burst of laughter followed.

"Women hold up half the sky—this is not just an empty phrase. Advanced representatives like Sister Chen, heroic Sister Liu, and combat hero Sister Guo, with their boundless enthusiasm, have led millions of women to truly hold up half the sky!"

"Those who slack off, play tricks, think they're clever, and think they can just coast along for a day's pay—can you coast along for a day or two, or even for a lifetime?"

"Everyone else is rushing forward, and you're just standing there standing there—that's truly shameful! Not only for women, but for workers!"

"What are we? We are workers! What are workers? We are creators. Building skyscrapers, repairing railways, mining coal—aren't all these things accomplished by generations of workers who have bent over, rooted themselves in the work? Some have even moved their entire families to the construction site, staying there for their entire lives!"

"So, fellow workers and women, you must understand the power of unity! Here, there are no men or women, only blacksmiths, fitters, and riveters, and only one name: workers!"

"Only by uniting can we strive for a better tomorrow, live a better life, and make our motherland's future brighter and brighter!"

A thunderous applause erupted, shaking the cafeteria windows. Someone started it all, and someone began singing at the top of their lungs, "Unity is strength!"

"Unity is strength! This strength is iron, this strength is steel, harder than iron, stronger than steel..."

In the corner near the cafeteria entrance, Yu Haitang's eyes shone like the sun, even brighter than the sunlight outside. Behind her, the publicity officer was holding a camera that looked like a modified oil pump (the lens was mounted on the pump head), capturing this lively scene on film. He now genuinely admired Yu Haitang; if she hadn't reminded him that "this speech is worth recording," he almost forgot to turn on the camera, and he would have regretted it immensely!

After Yang Jianye finished speaking, Factory Director Yang led his men out. As they were getting into the car, he called Yu Haitang and the propaganda officer over: "Did I see you carrying those machines just now?"

"Factory manager, you've filmed everything!" The publicity officer patted the metal lump, even more impressed by Haitang's keen eye. No wonder she became a broadcaster as soon as she arrived; her awareness and sharpness were impeccable!

"Being a news anchor isn't a job anyone can do."

This profession is the mouthpiece, a channel for transmitting information, and a window for guiding thought and communicating propaganda. Without genuine skills and a high level of awareness, one cannot hold onto this job securely. According to industry rules, announcers must systematically master the basic theoretical knowledge of broadcasting, express themselves accurately, clearly, and fluently, and possess broad scientific and cultural knowledge as well as a high level of policy and theoretical understanding.

That's quite a demanding requirement.

"good!"

Factory Director Yang clapped his hands excitedly and said loudly, "In that case, I won't go to the work today. Director Li, you take some people there."

After making the arrangements, Director Yang turned to the announcer, his tone becoming lighter: "Come with me. Comrade Haitang, you go with Director Li; you'll be needed for the propaganda work below."

Yu Haitang was filled with resentment and couldn't help but say, "Factory Manager, why don't I stay and work for you?"

She was indeed very perceptive; judging from Director Yang's demeanor, he was definitely going to meet with a high-ranking leader to report on his work. If she could go along and make an appearance in front of the leader, wouldn't that be a great opportunity?

"What do you need me for? No need, you should go now!"

Factory Director Yang's mind was completely occupied with that videotape; he couldn't possibly see Yu Haitang anymore. In his eyes, no matter how good the girl was, could she compare to the captivating speech video of Yang Jianye?

At this moment, Yang Jianye was unaware that the latter half of his speech had been recorded in its entirety, and Director Yang was rushing to the home of the top leader with the propaganda staff and equipment.

Right now, he's instructing six apprentices, giving them a basic introduction to the trade of riveting. After all, how can you even talk about becoming a master riveter if you don't know what riveting is?

"A riveter is the one who directs the construction of components. Through welding, riveting, bolting, and other processing methods, they process parts and materials into a steel structure, forming a whole," Yang Jianye explained, pointing to the blueprints. "Have you ever seen someone building a house?"

"We've seen it!" the apprentices answered in unison.

"We're the ones who direct how the houses are built, understand?"

"Understood."

"Alright, come on, all of you, follow me..."

After meeting with the forging workers in the morning, Yang Jianye handed over the six men to the welder Li Yaoye in the afternoon.

"You'll be here this afternoon. Do whatever Master Li tells you to do." Yang Jianye glanced at the six men. "If you have any objections, speak up now."

"Master Yang, why do we need to learn these things?" There are always troublemakers everywhere, but this question was reasonable. What would it be if you couldn't even ask questions?

"I'll answer that question later. Let's get to work!"

After exchanging a few words with Li Yaoye, Yang Jianye turned and left. He still had his own work to do; the feasible plan for "strengthening and improving stability" that he had reported to the top leader last time needed to be quickly compiled and handed over to Director Yang for delivery. It would be best to do this before the top leader went out on an inspection tour, after all, the top leader wasn't going to stay in Beijing all day enjoying himself.

clang clang clang,

The work bell rang, interrupting Yang Jianye's thoughts. He turned and glanced into the workshop, where he saw everyone looking disheveled and exhausted, but without any complaints. Even Qin Huairu was the same, though her legs were trembling.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Go home now!"

Hearing Yang Jianye's words, the group said goodbye to their masters and headed out. Qin Huairu lagged behind, and when she reached Yang Jianye, seeing him still hunched over his worktable, she hesitantly asked, "Master Yang, aren't you going home?"

"Ah, there's still some work to finish. You guys go ahead." Yang Jianye didn't even look up, still lost in thought.

When he looked up again, stretched, and prepared to finish work, he noticed there was still someone in the workshop. Looking closer, he realized it was Qin Huairu.

"Why are you still here?" Yang Jianye stepped forward and glanced at the practice steel in front of her. Was she practicing welding techniques?

"Master Yang, I saw you weren't gone yet, so I wanted to practice a bit more." Qin Huairu put down her welding torch, patted her cotton-padded coat, and asked, "Are you finished?"

"Um."

"I'll be going now, Mr. Yang, please drive carefully."

Watching Qin Huairu leave the workshop, Yang Jianye couldn't help but wonder: Had he underestimated Qin Huairu's determination? But the thought quickly faded from his mind. It all came down to fair competition! Hard work is important, but talent is equally important. Who stays and who leaves is up to them.

It wasn't dark yet when Yang Jianye stepped out of the workshop. He hurried to the bike shed, hopped on his Phoenix bicycle, and headed to the market. He couldn't afford to delay the furnace project any longer; he'd been thinking about it for days, and if he kept thinking about it, he'd go crazy.

"Jianye, Jianye, wait a minute!"

Just as I was about to get on the car and leave, Sha Zhu ran over from the factory.

Yang Jianye looked helpless and called out, "Zhu Zi, what's up? I'm in a hurry!"

"Don't rush, I'll just say a few words." Sha Zhu ran up to her, glanced enviously at the pair of old-fashioned double-bar shoes, and quickly explained how he introduced Aunt Liu.

"Here, I bought these for you specially from the kitchen as a thank you gift." Sha Zhu raised his hand, and placed two grass carp strung on a rope in front of him.

Yang Jianye took a look and said that each one must weigh three or four pounds; this was a huge investment.

"Okay, I'll take the things. As for Aunt Liu, can I take you there on my day off?" Yang Jianye was also thinking of finding time to visit Aunt Liu to thank her. Some formalities shouldn't be skipped just because it's troublesome.

If we give them too little, people will definitely talk behind our backs, and what was originally a good relationship might turn into enmity.

"Alright, thank you in advance. You can get back to your work now!"

He hung the fishing line on the handlebars, and with that, Yang Jianye pushed off with his foot, and the bike bounced away.

When we arrived at the market, it was already deserted. Most of the stalls were empty, and the few remaining were wiping and cleaning, preparing to pack up.

"Master, please wait a moment."

Yang Jianye parked his vehicle and entered the shop, calling out, "I need to buy a stove; I urgently need it at home. Can I take two minutes of your time?"

The words had barely left his mouth when a cigarette was already offered to him.

With a flick of his finger, he pulled out a peaked cap!

The saleswoman's impatience subsided considerably. "What kind of stove do you need? Hurry up, or I'll get scolded if we close late."

"Yes, definitely, I won't let you get scolded."

"What's there to curse about? At most, a couple of words. In this area, I'm the boss." The salesperson gave a thumbs up, looking arrogant.

Yang Jianye immediately put on a surprised and admiring expression, "Oh my, look at my eyes, I really didn't see that coming!"

"Thank you for your trouble, could you show me around? I'm so grateful."

"Alright, you seem like a friendly young man. Come on, all the household items are in this section, take your time looking..."

The salesperson led Yang Jianye to the household coal stove section. This time, instead of rushing him, the salesperson struck up a conversation, boasting about how influential he was in the area. Yang Jianye flattered her the whole way, almost praising her to the skies, and even forgot his own name in the process.

At that time, the stoves used in ordinary people's homes were generally divided into two types: sheet metal stoves and cast iron stoves.

The kind with sheet metal on the outside, with the joints riveted shut with thick iron clips, and the inside lined with refractory mortar, what people call lining. After burning for one winter, the mortar inside of this kind of stove would basically crack the following year, making it less warm. So every year before winter, it had to be repaired: the old mortar was removed, new mortar was applied, and it had to be left to air dry in a cool place before it could be used. The advantage was that it was lightweight; you could easily carry it around by hand.

Cast iron furnaces are different.

Made entirely of iron, it was designed for sturdiness and durability. Manufacturers back then were incredibly honest, providing generous amounts of material. Unlike later generations, when thickened cast iron furnaces weighed only ten or so kilograms, now a casual glance revealed a furnace starting at twenty kilograms, with larger ones weighing thirty or fifty kilograms not uncommon. Leaving aside the craftsmanship, psychologically speaking, the heavier the furnace, the more robust it was.

However, most households still choose sheet metal stoves because they are cheaper and save on coal.

"Master, this is it."

Yang Jianye chose the second largest cast iron stove, a thickened, square-shaped lump that sat there. It was about half a person's height, with the vents facing upwards in a winnowing basket shape, and a round opening in the middle. Coal briquettes were placed here, the lower vents ignited the stove, and the top opening was just right for placing wood shavings to start the fire. The round opening at the top could hold a kettle to boil water, and peanuts and fruit could be heated on the side.

It has a chimney at the back and a door at the front and back at the bottom. The back lets in ash, while the front is for baking things. At noon, you stuff in steamed buns, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, turn the fire down, and bake them slowly. When you come home from get off work in the afternoon, you open the small door, and hey, the aroma is incredible!

It has air intake grilles on both sides, so it can be used directly after a little modification. There's no need to worry about coal either; the coal yard has lump coal, and steel mills certainly don't lack coal. Honeycomb briquettes are even more convenient; they're delivered daily by handcarts going from street to street, and if all else fails, you can buy them at department stores.

"Okay, this stove is 36.9 yuan, and I'll give you a set of tools."

As he spoke, the craftsman turned around and took out a complete set of tools from the counter: fire tongs, fire hooks, fire buckets, small shovels, and fire brushes—it was all there!

"Here's your money and ticket; this is the chimney ticket."

That's right, these days you need tickets for chimneys too. Long chimneys require long chimney tickets, and chimneys with bends require bend tickets. The number of long chimney sections and bends determines the number of tickets required.

Finally, I bought three long pipes and two elbows. The mechanic helped carry them to the door, found a rag to pad the back seat, and tied them securely with rope. The pipes were tied horizontally to both ends of the vehicle, and everything was neatly arranged.

Yang Jianye lifted his leg... then put it down again.

I almost kicked the furnace! That solid lump of cast iron—if I'd kicked it, I'd probably be bedridden for days. So I stretched my leg over the parallel bars from the front, took a step back, and pedaled back and forth with force, "Go!"

The driver gave him a push from behind, saying, "Thanks a lot! I'll definitely come back to you if I need anything else!"

"Alright!" The master raised his hand, smiling broadly.

After everyone had walked away, he walked back into the shop with his hands behind his back and then realized why it was so dark.

"...What the hell time is it?" I glanced at the clock on the pillar when I got back into the shop; it was almost nine o'clock.

"Hey!" The master grinned angrily. Two cigarettes had taken him more than an hour; he was really something.

As Yang Jianye drove through the streets and alleys, ringing his bell and calling out, "Hey, excuse me! Take a look, I can't stop right now!"

I squeezed the brakes just before we reached the courtyard, using my feet to steady the cart. I slowly stretched my legs out, not daring to let go now, as the cart was carrying such a large furnace, the kickstand was just for show.

"Eiko...Eiko..."

After a few shouts, there was movement in the front yard. Yan Jiefang from the Third Uncle's family came out, followed by the Third Aunt.

"Brother Jianye, is your new stove solid?"

Yan Jiefang meant that the furnace was made of pure iron, but it sounded like he had bought a solid lump of iron.

"Can't this kid talk? Is that a solid stove?" the third auntie said with a laugh, raising her hand. "What are you standing there for? Help your brother Jianye take it off!"

"Why!"

Just as Yan Jiefang was about to reach for the rope, Yang Jianye grabbed his arm: "Jiefang, don't move! This furnace is really heavy, and it has a sharp point. If it falls, it could kill someone!"

He wasn't afraid of Uncle San's scheming, but he was afraid of Yan Jiefang's clumsy actions. The large iron stove, weighing about forty pounds, was square with sharp edges and was half a head taller than Yan Jiefang when placed on a bicycle. If it were to fall on him, he would be seriously injured, if not killed.

Yingzi also came out of the house and reached out to lend a hand: "Jiefang, shall we lift it together?"

"Jianye, bought a stove?" Shazhu came out with a cigarette in his mouth, and clicked his tongue when he saw the iron lump.

"Of course, it's getting cold, we need to prepare some." Yang Jianye wiped his sweat.

Seeing Yingzi about to help, Shazhu quickly squeezed in, saying, "Let me do it! Yingzi, move aside, don't bump into her." He then shouted to the third aunt, "Third Aunt, you should also stay away, be careful not to bump into her!"

With Sha Zhu and Yan Jiefang's help, the stove was finally placed safely. The two of them pushed the cart and chimney through the gate, Yingzi pushed the cart inside, and Yang Jianye followed to lend a hand, helping to move the stove to the middle courtyard. Actually, he could have carried it by himself, but he couldn't refuse their kindness.

"How about putting it under the window?" Yang Jianye pointed to the base of the wall.

"Okay," Sha Zhu replied, slamming the stove down on the ground.

Yan Jiefang rubbed the ash off his hands, a lingering fear washing over him: "My goodness, that stove was really powerful!" If Yang Jianye hadn't stopped him, who knows what would have happened to him. But then he thought about it again and felt a pang of regret. If he had really smashed it, wouldn't Yang Jianye have had to pay two or three hundred yuan? What a great "money-making opportunity," and he had just missed it!

Sha Zhu chuckled: "You little rascal, are you feeling weak or something?"

"Brother Zhu, you're not much better!" Yan Jiefang retorted, what man wants to be called "insincere"?

"Hey, you little rascal!" Sha Zhu pointed and laughed, but he didn't really take it seriously.

A crowd had gathered in the courtyard. When Yingzi came out, someone asked, "Jianye's wife, is this a new stove you bought for your family?"

Yingzi smiled and said, "That's right, Jianye just bought it."

"Such a big stove, do you even need it in your house?"

Yingzi still laughed, softly retorting, "Who says it isn't? But what can I do if the man insists on buying it?"

Well, this soft rebate is even more frustrating than a hard argument.

Yang Jianye squatted down and started tidying up the furnace. Just as he was about to move it, Sha Zhu stepped forward and said, "I'll do it!" He lifted the forty-pound iron lump in his hands as if it were nothing. He had carried equipment weighing over a hundred pounds in the factory before, so this weight was nothing to him.

Sha Zhu moved the stove into the house. Yang Jianye connected the chimney, aligned the pipe, and installed the elbow. He stood on a chair, dug out the hole left at the entrance, cleaned out the mud blocking it, connected the chimney, and then mixed some mud to seal the gap. Next, he took out the eight-point pipe and clamps he had prepared beforehand, connected them to the steel water tank, and, being a cook, was used to being skillful. He finished the job in an hour or two.

After everyone left the courtyard, Yan Jiefang, clutching a handful of sunflower seeds given to him by Yingzi, happily went back home.

"Alright, let's fill it with water and see. If there are no problems, we'll light it today and it'll be ready to use tomorrow." Yang Jianye clapped his hands. This stove can not only be used for bathing, but it also makes the room warm. Recently, the weather has been getting colder and colder. Only the heated kang bed is warm, and going out on the ground makes you shiver from the cold. Usually, when washing and cleaning, Yingzi is reluctant to burn coal or firewood, so she always soaks her hands in cold water. She's young, so it's okay, but in a few years, she might develop health problems.

"Jianye, let's eat first. There's no rush to start the fire." Yingzi brought over a bowl.

Yang Jianye agreed and turned to cook the noodles. The preparation of oil-splashed noodles is quite particular. After the noodles are cooked, they are taken out, and the noodle soup is kept to wash the pot. Hot oil is poured over the spicy noodles and chopped green onions, and with a "sizzle", the aroma fills the whole yard.

Just as I was mixing the noodles, a little head peeked through the crack in the door. Little Dang sniffed, his eyes sparkling: "Uncle Yang, it smells delicious!"

"Come in if you like!" Yang Jianye smiled and told Yingzi to get a bowl. He mixed the noodles, picked out a small half bowl, and handed it to her. "That's enough. Eating too much at night will make you feel bloated."

Little Dang obediently climbed onto the chair, knelt down, and buried her head in her mouth to slurp. After only a couple of sips, she was panting heavily: "Auntie, it's spicy!" Her little face turned bright red.

Yingzi found it amusing and got up to serve the noodle soup: "Wait a minute, Auntie will make you some cold soup."

Next door at the Jia family's house, Jia Zhangshi was washing dishes, muttering under her breath, "Ungrateful wretch! Heartless wretch, eating and drinking the good life while he..."

"A good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing, always siding with outsiders, just like her mother!"

Exhausted and with a back so sore she could barely straighten, Qin Huairu lay on the kang (heated brick bed), rolled over, and retorted, "Yang Jianye's stuff, let whoever wants it eat it! If you have the nerve, go ask for it yourself, stop just talking about it! Making sure you live a good life is more important than anything else!"

With a loud crash, Jia Zhangshi slammed the bowl into the basin, glaring at her with a dark expression. Qin Huairu closed her eyes and pretended not to hear; she was exhausted after a long day at the factory.