Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

After Qin Huai Rulai passed by, Aunt Liu arrived right after.

Nothing else, just a large bag full of pickled cabbage buns.

"Auntie doesn't have anything else, you and Yingzi can keep it for yourselves, the filling is very appetizing."

"Alright, I won't be polite." Seeing that he accepted it without saying a word, Aunt Liu went home satisfied.

This is a time to be informal; politeness is for strangers. It's our own family celebrating the New Year, why be so formal?

Before they even entered the house with the steamed buns, they saw Yan Jiefang carrying a small bowl.

"Brother Jianye, my mom asked me to bring you some boiled peanuts. Please have them with Sister Yingzi."

The yellow enamel bowl was filled to two-thirds full. No more, no less… for an average person. But for Old Man Yan, this was unprecedented, a first in a million. Even when dividing peanuts with his own children, he'd meticulously count them; a whole bowl? What a joke!

"Okay, please thank Aunt Yi for me. I'll go see her again later."

"Jianye, I got some wood the other day and made a small stool for you."

Thank you, and Happy New Year.

"A good year, a really good year, haha..."

Before long, Yang Jianye and Yingzi, who had planned to leave early, arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative at nine o'clock.

They bought some of their family's favorite foods, along with a bottle of Xifeng liquor and a carton of Qianmen cigarettes, before riding their bikes to the supply and marketing cooperative compound.

When we arrived at the destination, there were already people at home.

Working at the supply and marketing cooperative was an incredibly lucrative job in Beijing. Yingzi's father was shrewd, experienced, and smooth-talking; with all these qualities combined, wouldn't it be wise to cultivate relationships with him? Having connections during holidays and festivals, and knowing he could easily take advantage of any opportunity, meant he was bound to stay.

"Dad, Mom, Yingzi and I have come to wish you a Happy New Year!" Yang Jianye said, carrying his things and walking inside without any attempt to keep a low profile.

During the Lunar New Year, it's a time to save face. As long as the money is earned through honest labor, everyone should aim for the highest possible price. If you're hiding and keeping things secret during the New Year, people will think, "This family's goods are of dubious origin; there must be something wrong with them."

As soon as they entered, before Yingzi's parents could even speak, the guests were stunned.

Goodness, are you here to visit relatives or to unload your belongings?

There were large and small bags, and just what I could see included eggs, pork with fat, Qianmen cigarettes, and Xifeng liquor. There must have been six or seven other items wrapped in oil paper.

What kind of family does this son-in-law come from?!

"Here he is. This is Director Xiao from the food factory. Just call him Uncle." Yingzi's father smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed.

This son-in-law really made him proud.

"Uncle Xiao, Happy New Year! My name is Yang Jianye, Yingzi's husband. You can just call me Jianye."

"Happy New Year, Uncle Xiao," Yingzi greeted him as well.

Yang Jianye pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, flicked one out, handed it over, lit it, and the whole process was crystal clear.

"Happy New Year, Happy New Year." Director Xiao smiled and glanced at the gifts he was helping to put away, then suddenly spotted his own things among them.

"Is that one of the eight-treasure boxes produced in our factory?"

Yingzi smiled: "Uncle Xiao, your eyes are still so sharp; it's definitely the Eight Treasures Box."

The so-called "Eight Treasures Box" is a food gift box, not wrapped in oil paper, but in a cardboard box. Inside are eight different kinds of pastries. Because resources were scarce, pastries were too precious for ordinary people. Moreover, the people who made pastries were rare and good, so being able to eat them once was like having a treasure. Therefore, it is called an "Eight Treasures Box".

"Incredible, truly incredible!" Director Xiao looked at Yang Jianye and treated him as an equal.

The Eight Treasures Box wasn't something everyone could afford, and it was quite expensive. One box cost thirteen yuan and sixty cents, equivalent to half a month's wages for an average worker. Even he, the director of the food factory, managed to get a ticket when he went to visit the leaders and gritted his teeth to buy a box, but he didn't even get to eat a single piece himself. It was heartbreaking to think about.

What director? What director? Nobody lives as well as Old Li, a veteran of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Hey--

Look at this son-in-law, and then think about my own...

Damn it, you'll regret it if you compare yourself to others!

"Old Li, I have guests coming from my family, so I won't sit down." Director Xiao declined to sit.

Damn it, they kept taking out those gifts one by one, and Old Li's table was almost overflowing. His heart was also "stuffed" full—feeling stifled!

"Old Xiao, drive carefully." Yingzi's father saw him to the door.

"Okay, let's go back. I'm off." Director Xiao got on the car, pushed off with his legs, and it bounced along.

Wait a while, none of the people who came to wish him a Happy New Year today gave him a friendly look.

Turning back into the house, Yingzi's father saw his daughter and husband still tidying up their things: steamed buns, a slaughtered chicken, and a small bag of fried dough sticks.

Yingzi's dad licked his lips; it had been quite a while since he'd had fried dough sticks. These days, fried dough sticks are a rare treat. Why? Because they're deep-fried, so oily! Want some? Come on, let me see your "fried dough stick ticket." Don't have any? You can wait a bit, next!

Finally, Yingzi's dad also noticed a small bottle of soybean oil. The color alone told him it was high-quality, cold-pressed oil. Ordinary soybean oil usually has plenty of cloudy impurities, unlike this one, which looked almost transparent…

"Jianye!" Yingzi's father took another puff of his cigarette, tossed it on the ground, and ground it. "Don't bring these things next time you come. You and Yingzi have just started living together; you need to save some money for yourselves. We have everything we need; we're doing just fine!"

"Yingzi's mother, take those oil and food back with you later."

"Oh~" Yingzi's mother smiled and reached out to put it back.

Yingzi chuckled, "Jianye, I told you not to bring these."

Yang Jianye didn't stop her, and sat down with a smile, offering his father-in-law a cigarette: "Mom, don't pretend, we really have some at home. If we take these back, they might go bad, wouldn't that be a waste?"

"Dad, don't worry, Yingzi and I are getting along great!" Yang Jianye pointed at Yingzi and said, "Look at her complexion, she's gained a few pounds."

Hearing him say that, Yingzi clenched her hands, stomped her foot in embarrassment and annoyance, and said, "Who's fat? I just have a little one!"

"Yes, yes." Yang Jianye stood up and took her arm, saying, "Knowing there's a child, why are you still stomping your feet? Come, sit here. You're at home now, why are you being so polite!"

Seeing Yang Jianye's behavior, the young couple looked at each other with such affection and spoke so tenderly—the old couple felt more at ease and happy than if they had received any gifts.

Li Aiyue and Li Aimin, who had disappeared somewhere, didn't return until almost lunchtime. Upon seeing their older sister, they showered her with compliments, making Yingzi laugh incessantly. Yingzi then reached for two red envelopes and slapped them into the brothers' hands: "Here, your brother-in-law asked me to wrap these."

"Thank you, brother-in-law! Thank you, sister!" They bowed with beaming smiles, and the two of them hid to the side to open the red envelopes behind each other's backs.

...Wow, a ten-yuan note!

The ten-yuan red envelope startled the two brothers. Holding the money, they looked at each other, dumbfounded.

"What are you two doing there? Aren't you helping your mother with the chores?" Yingzi's father turned around and scolded with a laugh, "All you do is run around outside all day."

The two brothers quickly clutched the money tightly, clenched their fists, and stuffed it into their pockets: "Hey, coming right away! Brother-in-law, let me refill your tea."

Seeing that his brother had prepared the tea, Li Aimin's eyes lit up, and he said, "Brother-in-law, are you hungry? I'll get you some steamed buns."

"..." Looking at the two boys with a mix of amusement and exasperation, Yingzi's father was also curious. Just how much had he given them to make these two lazy boys become diligent? It must have been at least three to five yuan, right?

They had lunch at home and saw quite a few guests coming and going. When it was time to leave, Yang Jianye's hands were full again—his father-in-law had accepted the gifts he had brought. But most of what the guests had brought for him, he and his wife had taken with them.

"How much can your mother and I eat? Those two boys are always at school and never come home. Aren't you two wasting their food by not taking them with you?"

Well, the words I just used to shut my father-in-law up have been returned to me in the blink of an eye.

"Yingzi, take care of yourself. Tell Mom if anything happens."

"Jianye, live a good life. As long as we see you two doing well, your father and I are happy."

Standing under the eaves, Yingzi's mother stood on tiptoe and waved, "Come back and visit often, take your time, take your time..."

Yingzi's father sat to the side, puffing on his cigarette, his gaze deep and thoughtful. His slightly hunched back seemed to be telling a story.

The radiant smile vanished abruptly after he stepped out the door.

Her eyes were slightly red, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes and kept flowing.

The car came to a stop, and Yingzi wiped away her tears with her hand.

Yang Jianye propped the car up and put it down, then went over and hugged his wife: "It's alright, it's alright, we'll come often, often..."

He gently stroked Yingzi's back, his shoulders damp with tears.

She finally calmed her turbulent emotions and looked at him shyly with her slightly swollen eyes: "Is it swollen?"

"No swelling, my wife is beautiful no matter what." Smiling, Yang Jianye wiped away the tears from her eyes and kissed her forehead. "In my heart, all the women in the world combined can't compare to a single hair of yours."

"Waaaaah~"

He had just raised his head, then slumped down again. Yingzi punched him in the chest with her hand, choking back tears, "I hate you, you did it on purpose..."

Yingzi returned to the courtyard with bright red eyes, but thankfully everyone was busy moving around, and apart from a few households, everyone else had gone out. Even Shazhu had taken his girlfriend and disappeared somewhere.

Ding-ding, bang-bang~

The sounds of hammering and banging had been going on for a while in the courtyard.

Lifting the curtain, Qin Huairu saw Yang Jianye sitting on a small stool in front of his house, holding several steel pipes and scraps of steel plates, hammering and tinkering, seemingly doing something.

Qin Huairu brushed a strand of hair aside, picked up the basin, and walked towards the pool. Once there, she asked Yang Jianye with remarkable efficiency, "Master, have you eaten?"

"Hmm." Yang Jianye turned around, nodded, and continued with his work.

He planned to use these scrap materials to make a baby walker for his son and daughter. The materials were leftovers from building the cellar last time. A baby walker—it's a bit early, but it's better to be prepared!

As for why we didn't use wood... well, we're riveters, not carpenters. Besides, isn't steel stronger than wood? We should love what we do. A steel man has to work with iron tools, right?

However, he's only making the frame now; he'll have to get it finished at the factory later. Without the tools, he's drilling, welding, and polishing until there's not a single rough edge. Every corner and edge has to be smooth to the touch.

He would still make it to the best of his ability, even if it wasn't for his own child. Besides, it's for his own child. Striving for excellence and perfection is his only standard.

As dusk approached and most of the people in the courtyard returned, Yang Jianye finished his work. The scaffolding in front of him was already erected; he would first place it in the adjacent side room, and then take it to the workshop for finishing and shaping when he started working.

Upon entering the room, Yingzi was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) crocheting.

Yang Jianye made a walker for his child, and Yingzi sewed a cover for it. The yarn was from old clothes she found in the closet, or more precisely, from Yang Jianye's deceased parents.

Originally, Yang Jianye was worried she might be sensitive about it. He kept all those things hidden and never mentioned them. Yingzi found them herself, and when she asked, she immediately took out the old clothes and laughed:

"Those are our child's grandparents. I'm pregnant with Old Yang's child, their grandson. How could grandparents harm their grandson? We'll use this; wherever the child goes, he'll have grandparents protecting him, and he'll definitely be safe and healthy."

Seeing him come in carrying the frame, Yingzi put down what she was doing and came up to look at him with surprise.

"Jianye, this looks amazing! You're so skillful!"

Seeing her reach out to touch it, Yang Jianye stepped back and laughed, "What skill do my rough hands have? Don't touch it yet, it's covered in barbs."

Those seemingly insignificant little barbs can easily cause a cut if you touch them with your finger.

"Oh, then put it in that room!"

"I'm going to let it pass; I won't let you even see it."

The shelf was placed in the next room, and the old hen in the cage was clucking and flapping its wings.

These two laying hens are really productive, I don't know if it's the system's fault, they lay eggs every day, and sometimes even a pair. We eat eggs every day and still have some to spare, all thanks to these two hens. Right now, there are still several eggs in the hay nest next to them.

"Just put it in this corner, it won't hurt."

Yang Jianye placed the shelf against the corner of the wall, then turned around and saw Yingzi squatting beside the chicken coop: "What's wrong?"

"Jianye, look, isn't it about to hatch chicks?" Yingzi waved without looking up and moved her feet to the side.

Crouching down close to her, Yang Jianye peered into the haystack. In the middle, the egg had a long, thin crack. Upon closer inspection, one could see that the crack was slightly raised upwards.

"That's true." Yang Jianye chuckled.

Even if you haven't eaten pork, you've surely seen a pig run, right? Judging by this, it's clearly a chick that's rooting around inside.

"You wait here," Yang Jianye said as he left.

When they returned, they had a flashlight in their hands. They pressed the switch on the flashlight and held it close to the egg. The faint outline of the egg appeared before their eyes through the shell, and the sticky fuzz was clearly visible.

"Jianye, what should we do?" Yingzi pointed at the eggs, both excited and worried.

I have absolutely no experience with this. The chicks definitely need to be hatched, but I have no idea how to hatch them to ensure their survival. What if they don't survive? Wouldn't that be a waste?

Yang Jianye thought for a moment, then laughed and said, "Let's just pretend we don't know anything and leave it!"

"Huh?" Yingzi was stunned.

What do you mean? Just leave it here to fend for itself?

"These eggs can hatch because the temperature in our room is just right, and the nest absorbs heat, so it's helped them hatch. Since that's the case, let's just let them continue to grow. Who knows, one day we'll open the door and see chicks running around inside!"

Hearing this, Yingzi laughed happily: "That must be interesting."

Turn off the lights and close the door.

Back in the main house, Yingzi was still talking about it: "Jianye, if it really hatches, how are we going to raise it?"

"No, I have to go home again and ask my mom." Yingzi's family used to raise chickens, which roamed freely in the yard and ran around every day. At the appointed time, the two chickens would come back to eat when they crowed. However, she remembered that they were two big ones. They looked like newly hatched chicks, and she didn't know if her mother knew how to raise them.

"Alright, let's wait until they hatch." After washing up, Yingzi got onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and continued crocheting.

Yang Jianye, watching from the side, said, "Yingzi, shall we buy a sewing machine for you to use?"

Yingzi asked with a smile, "Do we still have sewing machine tickets at home?"

Yang Jianye nodded and said, "Yes, it's with me. I was so busy I forgot about it."

Yang Jianye hadn't forgotten; he was just worried she'd find it too expensive, and since it hadn't been of any use before, he hadn't brought it up. Now, with the 1,500 yuan reward and Yingzi pregnant again, it was time to prepare clothes, shoes, hats, and other odds and ends for the baby. Having a sewing machine would certainly be much more convenient.

"Okay, let's go buy it tomorrow." Yingzi nodded in agreement.

If it's useful, then it's not considered wasting money. Save where you should, spend where you should. She's not a real money-grubber; she lives off money.

"Then let's get some rest!"

Hmm~

They slept until midday before getting up to start cooking.

Seeing Yang Jianye come out in just a thin shirt, Sha Zhu looked on with envy. He himself had to wear a thick cotton-padded coat even when the stove was on at home. Unlike Jianye, so comfortable!

"Jianye, have you heard anything about that stove? I'm counting on it to get through next winter."

Sha Zhu is still thinking about his "earthen stove"!

Yang Jianye filled the jar with water, dipped his toothbrush in it, and laughed, "Next year, next year we'll definitely have some."

"You said it yourself, otherwise I'd sleep on the floor in your side room."

"I have two old hens there; be careful they don't peck at your eyes."

"Hey, do you think I'm afraid of two chickens?"

After exchanging a few words, Sha Zhu went back inside to busy himself.

Yesterday, he took Yushui to the department store and bought her two new outfits, as well as some daily necessities for school. He was out all day and didn't even have time to steam any buns. Today, he has to steam them. Waiting until after the New Year to steam them won't bring good luck.

Steaming buns during the Lunar New Year symbolizes continuous progress and prosperity.

However, it should be the 29th of the lunar year. There are no elders in Sha Zhu's family, so they don't pay much attention to such details. Anyway, let's steam a pot of food during the New Year; we're not asking for anything more than a prosperous life, just that you adjust things a bit so I can get a wife.

Sha Zhu's heart was still most concerned about Teacher Ran. Calling her Teacher Ran now was the right thing to do. After the New Year, Ran Qiuye would be able to go back to school. The Ran family, after all, were returned overseas Chinese; they still had some connections.

As for these customs and traditions, are they feudal superstitions? No, nowadays they are old traditions, good sayings passed down from our ancestors, and the people's expectations and hopes for a better life.

The future is anyone's guess. After all, what will be what it is then is entirely up to us.

Sha Zhu was steaming buns at home, while Yang Jianye drove Yingzi out. The two were going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a sewing machine.

Originally, Yingzi wanted to go to the department store. But it was the Lunar New Year, and it was packed with people. What if she got sick from being squeezed in there? So, this time Yang Jianye took matters into his own hands and booked the supply and marketing cooperative directly.

The two had just left the alley when a car parked right in front of the courtyard.

The driver got out of the car, as did the man in the passenger seat. The two opened the back door and started unloading things—large bags, small bags, boxes, and containers. This commotion completely blocked the gate to the yard.

"Master, Master, what's going on here?" Auntie Yi was always quick to respond, coming over as soon as she heard the commotion.

"Hello, ma'am, is this Yang Jianye, Mr. Yang, where do you live?" the driver asked politely with a smile.

The woman paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, that's where I live."

"That's right, this is for Master Yang."

Upon hearing this, the older woman was stunned: "These are all sent to Jianye?"

"Yes, it's the leader's order." The driver nodded in response.

The auntie was filled with envy, a feeling that rushed straight to her head. "My goodness, Jianye is so successful!" she thought. Then she remembered the boiled peanuts she'd had Jiefang deliver—they arrived just in time!

"Auntie, could you give me directions and tell me which room Mr. Yang lives in?" The driver picked up the box and went into the courtyard.

The dazed woman nodded repeatedly, "Yes, absolutely! Please follow me."

He led his men toward the central courtyard, and the men, young and old, all heard the commotion.

"What happened?"

"A leader sent his driver to deliver something to Jianye."

"Really? Let me go take a look."

"Let me take a look too."

"Let's go, let's go take a look."

They squeezed their way to the entrance, only to be completely dumbfounded. Good heavens, what kind of high-ranking leader could pull off such a grand spectacle? It must be someone they couldn't afford to offend.

Inside the courtyard, an elderly woman was apologizing to the driver, her face full of remorse: "Look at me, I forgot to mention. This couple just left home, and we don't know where they went. Perhaps I could have someone look for them?"

The driver glanced at the locked gate and asked, "Ma'am, are you sure this is the right pair?"

"I'm sure, it must be this one!" Aunt Yi replied.

Those watching the commotion in the courtyard also told him, "That's it, that's right."

"Yang Jianye works at the steel rolling mill, and his wife Yingzi works at the food factory. That's correct."

Hearing this, the driver knew he hadn't made a mistake. He put the boxes down by the door and said, "It's alright, I'll bring them in first and wait for Mr. Yang."

As soon as Yang Jianye and Yingzi entered the supply and marketing cooperative, they spotted Yang Jianye's father-in-law.

"It's our dad." He tugged at Yingzi and pointed inside.

Yingzi was delighted and was about to run up when Yang Jianye grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

"Don't panic, take it slow," Yang Jianye said cheerfully.

Yingzi smiled, took his arm, and said, "Okay, then you can take me with you, alright?"

Arm in arm, the two approached Yingzi's father: "Master, let me take a look at this."

Yingzi's father, who was introducing the product to someone, called out without turning his head, "Please wait a moment, I'll be done soon..."

Yingzi's father, turning his head to see who it was, chuckled and scolded, "You little rascal, trying to tease me! What brings you two here?"

"We're here to buy a sewing machine, you see..." Yang Jianye pointed to Yingzi's belly, "...it'll be easier to make clothes with one."

Yingzi's father nodded in agreement, "It's time to prepare."

Leaning back and looking to his right, Yingzi's father called out loudly, "Old Ma, Old Ma, I have someone here, you keep an eye on them."

He gave the man a wink, and they understood everything. Seeing Yingzi's father tilt his head, gesturing for them to come over, Yang Jianye took Yingzi and left.

Upon reaching the sewing machine section, Yang Jianye first offered Ma a cigarette: "Uncle Ma, please have this."

Smoking isn't prohibited these days; you can stroll around department stores all day smoking. As long as you don't light anything, nobody will ask a question.

"Okay, you two want to watch the machine." After lighting a cigarette and seeing him nod, Old Ma led the two men inside.

When they reached the area near the wall, Old Ma stopped and pointed to the machine placed in the far corner.

"There are only a few of the best ones, and the Yan brand from Beijing is pretty good." He moved his finger, "But the best one is right there, unbeatable."

Yang Jianye was completely dumbfounded by the name. What? Invincible?

Seeing the two of them, Old Ma took a puff of his cigarette and explained with a chuckle. This "Invincible" brand was originally called Golden Lion, but in 46 they felt it wasn't catchy enough, so they changed the name to "Invincible." And sure enough, sales and quality really did improve. The technology also got better year by year, and the price went without saying.

This one machine costs 276 yuan. It was only because Yingzi's dad made a request that they introduced it to me.

"Xiechang's machines are absolutely the best quality and most technologically advanced in the industry. Otherwise, they wouldn't dare charge this price. Look at the gold trim, the quality of the table, go up and touch the table, and the needle, take a look."

With his own people looking after them, Old Ma was as hospitable as if he were running his own business. He explained everything to the two men in detail, and then even let them slip inside through the crack so they could touch and look around.

"Master, can I go inside and take a look?" Some of the people who came to see the machine also wanted to go inside and have a look.

"Didn't you see the sign here that says 'No Entry'?" Old Ma pointed to the line at his feet and replied.

That's incredibly insensitive. Just because someone else can get in doesn't mean you can.

Yang Jianye and Yingzi didn't notice this little incident. The two of them were currently studying this "invincible" thing, trying to figure out exactly what made it "invincible".

However, this machine is indeed well-made. Yang Jianye glanced at it, then looked down at the wheels, and understood perfectly. The price was a bit high, but the quality of the people, the materials, and the workmanship were undeniable. Besides, could the name "Invincible" be cheap?

"This is it." Yang Jianye pointed at the machine and asked for it immediately.

Yingzi hesitated for a moment, but didn't object. Only after Lao Ma turned to walk towards the counter did she quickly say, "Jianye, this is too expensive. Let's just buy a regular one."

Yang Jianye held her arm and laughed, "You can trust me on this. The materials used in this machine are solid. You can use it for twenty or thirty... fifty years, and it will still be good even if you pass it down to your daughter. What do you say, should we buy it or not?" Yang Jianye asked her in return.

Upon hearing that it couldn't be passed down to her daughter and shouldn't be spoiled, Yingzi was convinced. If that were the case, then it would indeed be worthwhile.

Seeing that she agreed, Yang Jianye breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost gotten used to saying it was twenty or thirty years ago. If he had actually asked, Yingzi would have insisted on changing it.

These days, what item doesn't last twenty or thirty years? Good quality means it's something that can be passed down through generations. You're praising the quality of my item, saying it'll last twenty or thirty years? ...Who are you insulting?!

After issuing the invoice, Lao Ma found someone to help move the machine out. Yang Jianye took the invoice to the counter to pay and return the invoice. Lao Ma brought the payment receipt back, found someone to help him load and secure it before stopping.

Seeing that the man was sweating profusely from exhaustion, Yang Jianye quickly offered him a cigarette. After taking a puff and putting it in his mouth, Old Ma clapped his hands and said, "Alright, the knot's secure enough; we'll definitely get back."

"Thank you, Uncle Ma," Yang Jianye and Yingzi said to the man.

Old Ma laughed and said, "No need to thank me, we're all family." He had already asked when the invoice was issued; these were Old Li's son-in-law and daughter. Since they're family, he had to lend a hand. When they come to his own house, he'll do the same for Old Li. Otherwise, why would he be so attentive?

After another round of thanks, half a pack of Qianmen cigarettes was stuffed into his pocket. Yang Jianye and Yingzi went to tell their father-in-law. Only then did they go out, pushing their cart and walking home with the others.

"This machine must be expensive, right?" He runs around the supply and marketing cooperative every day, so he's got a good eye for things. This machine looks nice, and it's lighter than that lump of iron, so the materials must be good. He's not like the average person who thinks everything is better the heavier it is. If you want this, why don't you just buy a lump of iron?

"It's not cheap." The two exchanged a smile, without mentioning the price.

Upon arriving at the location, I offered cigarettes to the foreman and paid him. As he untied the ropes, he offered to lend a hand and carry the load inside. Just then, a capable and robust young man entered the courtyard.

"Hello, are you Comrade Yang Jianye?" He saluted right away, leaving everyone bewildered.

The porter's hand trembled, and the machine almost slipped off the cart. Fortunately, Yang Jianye reacted quickly and grabbed it.

After stabilizing the machine, he replied, "Yes, I am Yang Jianye."

What's there to be afraid of? Besides, those envious looks from under the gate of the courtyard, don't they make the situation perfectly clear?