Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

When Zhou Feng's convoy arrived at the distribution point in Jiaodaokou Street, Dongcheng District, a long line had already formed in front of them.

Men, women, young and old, were all there, all bundled up tightly, holding their household registration books and certificates issued by the neighborhood committee, their faces beaming with excitement and anxiety.

The line twisted and turned several times, with people constantly joining in.

"Here it comes! The chicken delivery truck is here!"

Someone shouted, and the whole line stirred. People stood on tiptoe and craned their necks to look at the intersection.

The truck slowly drove in and stopped in the temporarily marked distribution area.

The car door opened, and Zhou Feng and Li Huaide jumped out.

The street director, neighborhood committee members, and several police officers who had been waiting there immediately surrounded them.

"Comrade Zhou Feng! You've finally arrived! The crowd is so enthusiastic, we can barely contain them!"

The head of the neighborhood office was a woman in her fifties with a loud voice. Despite the freezing weather, beads of sweat were forming on her forehead from her anxiety.

"Don't worry, just follow our established procedure, and we can distribute them now!"

Zhou Feng calmly nodded to Li Huaide, who then immediately pulled the comrades accompanying him to begin unloading the goods.

Baskets of frozen chicken were carefully unloaded and piled up like a small mountain behind a makeshift wooden platform.

The sunlight shone on the snow-white chicken skin, making it a little dazzling.

Several armed guards stood beside the chickens, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

"Quiet! Everyone, please be quiet!"

The neighborhood director, holding a tin megaphone, jumped onto a stool and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Let me repeat the rules for collecting chickens! One chicken per household! You can collect it with your household registration booklet and a certificate issued by the neighborhood committee! Each registered household can only collect one chicken! No more than one!"

"No one is allowed to collect benefits for others! No cutting in line! Once you've collected yours, leave through this exit! No lingering! The police are watching! Anyone who dares to cause trouble or ruin this good thing the government is doing for us will be dealt with ruthlessly and handed over to the police station!"

She already wielded considerable influence in the area, and with the addition of several stern-faced police officers beside her, whose hands were always at their waists, the restless crowd was immediately calmed down.

But the longing in everyone's eyes as they looked at the pile of chicken did not diminish in the slightest!

After the distribution began, the neighborhood committee aunties were responsible for checking the household registration book and the certificate, and then stamping the certificate with a "received" stamp.

The street activists next to them were responsible for taking the chickens and handing them to the people who were receiving them.

"I'll take one from Zhang Cuihua's house!"

"Hey! Here it comes!"

An elderly woman with gray hair tremblingly took the cold, hard frozen chicken, wrapped it in an old cloth that had been prepared beforehand, and held it in her arms. Her wrinkled face broke into a smile as she repeatedly bowed to the staff.

"Thank you, government! Thank you, leaders! We'll have meat to eat during the New Year! We'll have meat to eat!"

"Pan Yuanjia, take one!"

A middle-aged man in overalls with a kind face took the chicken, his hands trembling with excitement.

The factory was already giving them some benefits for the Chinese New Year this year, and with this chicken, they're sure to have a good holiday.

The line moved forward slowly and in an orderly fashion.

Those who received the chickens were overjoyed, carrying their New Year's goods, and left through the exit amidst envious glances from others, their steps much lighter.

Those who hadn't received theirs yet eagerly counted the number of people ahead of them, waiting anxiously, fearing that by the time it was their turn, all the chickens would be gone.

At this moment, Zhou Feng, who was standing to the side, suddenly felt his double passage move and his progress increase slightly.

Looking at the queue, I realized that it was the group of middle-aged women from my own yard who were almost at the front of the line.

They looked at Zhou Feng standing among the staff, and naturally, some emotions arose within them.

After all, in order to receive this chicken, which household in the street that was notified to distribute it today didn't rush to the distribution point early to wait?

Everyone waited for so long, shivering in the cold wind, and you, Zhou Feng, just mingled with the staff distributing the chickens?

That's going too far!

The problem isn't scarcity, but inequality. Everyone else is waiting here in the cold wind, while he doesn't have to, which naturally makes everyone a little jealous.

Others didn't recognize Zhou Feng and assumed he was a staff member of the neighborhood committee, but who among the neighbors around No. 95 Nanluoguxiang didn't know him?

I just didn't expect him to have such wide connections, that he could even get involved in something like this!

Among these tens of thousands of people, although most are simple, honest people, there are all sorts of birds in a big forest, and there will always be a few who want to take advantage of loopholes.

Just as the distribution was about halfway through, Zhou Feng suddenly narrowed his eyes.

He remembered that the three aunties had already received their chickens, so why was Yan Jiecheng still in the queue?

Although he and Yu Li have registered their marriage, they still live in this courtyard and their household registration hasn't been transferred yet, right?

Noticing this, Zhou Feng didn't say anything, but instead turned his gaze to Li Huaide and the staff who were distributing the aid.

These are minor matters, but they can reveal the competence of the person handling the task.

Before they could even speak, an older woman shouted sharply, "Yan Jiecheng! Didn't your mother already get hers? Why are you queuing up again?"

"No...no, I'm already married, and I'm not registered in the same household as my family!"

"Nonsense! You're still living with your parents. Don't think we don't know. You're just trying to fraudulently claim benefits and take advantage of the government!"

That woman was quite a tough character; she immediately grabbed Yan Jiecheng by the collar.

"Look everyone, this is Old Man Yan's eldest son. His wife just got the chickens, and now his son is here!"

"Yan Jiecheng, what's wrong with you!"

Director Zhang of the neighborhood committee walked over with a dark expression.

If others don't know where Yan Jiecheng's household registration is, how could she not know?

This kid is clearly trying to get an extra chicken for his family!

Normally, no one would care if he took advantage of his neighbors, but today he set his sights on this batch of supplies!

"It's one thing to be calculating normally, but why are you coming here to take advantage?"

Director Zhang, somewhat annoyed by his lack of ambition, reached out and tapped his chest. There were more than just her as the neighborhood committee director here; she hadn't expected that the first problem to arise would be in her jurisdiction.

That's so embarrassing!

Seeing the slightly smiling expressions on the other directors' faces, Director Zhang hardened his expression and waved his hand: "Take him away and hand him over to the police station!"

Two police officers subdued Yan Jiecheng and found a forged certificate in his hand, clearly indicating that he wanted to trick another dog into going home!