Courtyard Houses: Starting with Li Yunlong's Comrades-in-Arms

Liu Erhe responded, turned around, took out an unopened pack of cigarettes from the cabinet, and handed it to Zhao Peng.

Zhao Peng declined a couple of times, but eventually accepted it, put it in his pocket, and said with a smile, "Then I won't be polite." He then nodded to the people in the room, "Uncle, Aunt, I'll be going now. My family is waiting for me to come back for dinner."

Liu Shuanzhu didn't insist on keeping him, and had Liu Erhe see him out.

When they arrived at the courtyard gate, Liu Erhe escorted Zhao Peng to the alley entrance, where the two chatted for a few moments under the streetlights.

Zhao Peng took a cigarette from Liu Erhe, lit it, took a deep drag, and said with a smile, "Brother Erhe, your older brother is quite something now. Many people say that No. 95 Nanluoguxiang has been producing big shots since then."

Liu Erhe smiled and responded a few words, then watched Zhao Peng ride away on his bicycle before turning back to the east wing.

When he lifted the curtain and entered the room, Liu Tingting was leaning over the table, clutching the envelope in her hand, turning it over and over, muttering, "Why did my brother's letter end up here? Doesn't he live in the north of the city now..." As she spoke, she looked up, her eyes bright, "Dad, Mom, shall we open it and take a look?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuhe immediately stepped forward and snatched the letter back from her hand, her tone slightly reproachful: "Why are you opening it! What if it's some important document? What if we open it and it delays things?" As she spoke, she picked up the letter and carefully placed it in the top drawer of the cabinet. She then clapped her hands, turned to Liu Erhe, and said, "Erhe, after you get off work tomorrow, go to the north of the city and deliver this letter to your brother. Don't let it interfere with important matters."

Liu Erhe nodded: "Okay, I understand. I'll go over there after work tomorrow."

He walked back to the table and sat down again. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, chewed for a moment, then, as if lost in thought, put the chopsticks down. He looked up at Liu Shuanzhu and Wang Xiuhe, his tone tentative: "Dad, Mom, I'm thinking, shouldn't we buy a bicycle for our family?"

There was a moment of silence in the room after he said that.

Liu Tingting was the first to react, putting down her chopsticks and raising both hands in agreement: "Great! With a bicycle, it'll be easier for my second brother to pick up his wife from the supply and marketing cooperative, and I can ride it during holidays!"

Liu Shuanzhu and Wang Xiuhe exchanged a glance but did not immediately respond.

Liu Erhe quickly added, "Dad, look, we go to my brother's place several times a month now, and each time we have to walk or borrow a car. It's inconvenient, and it's not good to keep bothering him. Besides, Fangfang is pregnant now, and it's not safe for her to walk back and forth to the supply and marketing cooperative. If we had a bicycle, it would be much easier for me to pick her up and drop her off, and it would be much faster to go shopping or run errands."

After listening, Liu Shuanzhu slowly nodded, thought for a while, and then said, "Then when you go to your brother's place tomorrow, ask him if he has any bicycle vouchers. If he does, we'll buy one; if not, we'll wait and see, there's no rush."

Upon hearing this, Liu Erhe knew there was hope and immediately nodded in agreement: "Okay! I'll go ask him tomorrow."

After cleaning up the dishes, Liu Erhe and Liang Fangfang returned to their room. Liu Yixuan was already asleep in Wang Xiuhe's room. The small room became quiet. Liang Fangfang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) folding clothes. Liu Erhe sat next to her and couldn't help but bring up the matter of buying a bicycle again: "Fangfang, you said that after we buy a bicycle, I will take you to the supply and marketing cooperative every morning and pick you up in the afternoon. Then you won't have to walk so far every day."

Liang Fangfang didn't look up, her hands continuing their work, but the corner of her mouth twitched slightly, carrying a hint of helpless smile: "You, you're always thinking about that bicycle. You were the only one talking about it nonstop at the dinner table."

"That's for convenience. I'm a level four worker now, earning fifty-six yuan a month. It'll only take me two or three months to save up enough to buy a bicycle. Besides, my brother can get ration coupons. Since we have the means, why should we suffer like that?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Fangfang put the folded clothes aside and said softly, "Alright, alright, buy them if you want."

Upon hearing this, Liu Erhe immediately grinned and rubbed his hands together, as if he could already see that brand-new old-fashioned motorcycle parked in front of his house.

The night outside the window grew deeper and deeper, and the sounds of talking and walking in the courtyard gradually subsided, with the lights in each household going out one by one.

......

The next evening, Liu Yuheng didn't work overtime after his afternoon shift and went home on time. He put on an apron and busied himself in the kitchen. The vegetables in the pot were sizzling, and Yao Qingwan was helping to pick them. The two chatted casually, and the air was filled with the familiar aroma of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

Suddenly, there were several knocks on the door.

Yao Qingwan put down the groceries she was holding, wiped her hands, and went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, she saw Liu Erhe standing in the doorway. She was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Erhe? Come in, come in! I'm cooking. You've come at the perfect time." She stepped aside to let him in and called out, "Yuheng, Erhe is here."

Liu Yuheng poked his head out from the kitchen, still holding a spatula. Seeing Liu Erhe standing in the living room, he looked surprised: "Erhe? What brings you here at this hour? Have you eaten yet?"

Liu Erhe quickly waved his hand, took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it over: "I'm not hungry, brother, don't bother. I'm here to deliver a letter to you. It was sent to the courtyard yesterday, and Dad told me to bring it to you as soon as possible, in case it delays anything."

Liu Yuheng put down the spatula, wiped his hands on his apron, and took the envelope to look at it. The envelope had a row of stamps and an out-of-town postmark; the address was indeed 95 Nanluoguxiang. He tore open the seal, pulled out a few sheets of paper, unfolded them, and glanced at them, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Yao Qingwan poured him a glass of water and brought it over. She glanced at his expression and asked, "Whose letter is this? What's wrong?"

Liu Yuheng handed her the letter, his tone tinged with emotion: "My old subordinate, Wang Sanyong, from northern Shaanxi. He followed me in northwestern Shanxi, and later he was wounded fighting the Japanese. After recovering, his legs weren't very strong, so he went to work in the mess hall. He stayed in the army until last year when there was a demobilization and he went home. When he left, I told him to send me a message when he got married. And here it is, a letter! He's getting married at the end of the year." He glanced down at the letter again, a slight smile playing on his lips. "That kid, finally settling down."