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

The courtyard was bustling with activity. Yan Bugui, wearing a slightly worn dark blue cotton-padded coat, was standing at his door talking to two neighbors, holding a plate of melon seeds. Seeing Liu Yuheng and his group enter, he immediately put down the plate and took a few steps to greet them, his face beaming with smiles: "Minister Liu, Happy New Year! Happy New Year!"

As he spoke, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Liu Yuheng, then his gaze fell on Yao Qingwan, and he nodded: "Comrade Yao, you're here too? Happy New Year!"

Liu Yuheng nodded to him and politely replied, "Happy New Year, Teacher Yan." Without stopping, he escorted Yao Qingwan and Liang Fangfang through the courtyard and headed towards the east wing. Yan Bugui's gaze followed them all the way, then fell back on Yao Qingwan's slightly protruding belly. He muttered something under his breath before turning back to his own door.

Liu Shuanzhu, having heard the commotion in the courtyard, lifted the curtain. Seeing Liu Yuheng and the others arrive, he quickly made way, saying, "Come in, come in! It's cold outside!"

Wang Xiuhe also came out to greet them. She first glanced at Liang Fangfang's belly, then at Yao Qingwan, and only after confirming that both of them were alright did she take the things from Liu Yuheng's hands and put them on the table.

Liu Yuheng put his things down without lingering, then turned to Liu Shuanzhu and Wang Xiuhe and said, "Father, Mother, I have to go back to the ministry, so I won't be back for lunch. Qingwan will stay here; I'll pick her up tonight after I'm done with my work."

He glanced at Yao Qingwan again, and Yao Qingwan nodded, giving him a "go ahead" look.

Liu Yuheng turned and left the east wing, quickly crossing the courtyard. In the open space in the front yard, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Xu Fugui, and several others were standing together talking. When they saw Liu Yuheng come out, they all nodded and greeted him.

Liu Yuheng nodded to the group and said, "Happy New Year to you all," before continuing to walk towards the courtyard gate without stopping.

Yan Bugui came closer, holding the plate of melon seeds, and asked with a smile, "Minister Liu, are you leaving already? Won't you stay a while?"

Liu Yuheng had already reached the door when he heard this. He turned back and politely replied, "I still have things to take care of at the department, so I have to go quickly. Please continue your conversation, Professor Yan."

After he finished speaking, he stepped out of the courtyard gate, bent down, and got into the Volga parked at the entrance. The car door closed, the engine started, and the black sedan smoothly drove out of the alley, turned onto the main road, and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Yan Bugui stood at the gate of the courtyard, holding a plate of melon seeds. Watching the car drive away, he smacked his lips, turned, and went back into the courtyard, muttering to himself, "Going to the ministry on the first day of the Lunar New Year… Doesn't he get tired of being an official…?"

After Liu Yuheng's car disappeared at the alley entrance, the atmosphere in the courtyard, which had been briefly tense because of his arrival, finally relaxed completely.

Yan Bugui was the first in the courtyard to start preparing for New Year's greetings. Standing at his door, he called out, "Come on, everyone, come out and offer your New Year's greetings!"

From the door behind him, Yan Jiefang, Yan Jiekuang, and Yan Jiedi filed out one after another. The three children, dressed in clean new clothes, lined up and bowed in unison to Liu Shuanzhu, calling out, "Happy New Year, Uncle Liu! Happy New Year, Aunt Wang!"

Liu Shuanzhu was talking to Wang Xiuhe at the door of the east wing when he saw this. He smiled and took out a handful of change he had prepared beforehand, one cent for each of the three children, and handed them to them one by one.

Yan Jiefang, the eldest, was already in junior high school. He lowered his head somewhat shyly when he received the money. Yan Jiekuang and Yan Jiedi, who were younger, clutched the money and ran back to their own doorstep.

Yan Bugui watched from the side, a kind smile on his face that suggested he was both an elder and a neighbor. He said, "Oh, Lao Liu, why are you doing this?" But his eyes quickly scanned the money in the three children's hands to make sure it was all one cent before he felt relieved.

Liu Shuanzhu waved his hand: "It's the New Year, so we're just wishing the children good luck."

As soon as he finished speaking, He Yuzhu's younger sister, He Yushui, ran over. The little girl, with two braids and wearing a floral cotton-padded jacket, stopped in front of Liu Shuanzhu and called out in a clear voice, "Happy New Year, Uncle Liu! Happy New Year, Auntie!"

As usual, Liu Shuanzhu also gave a dime.

Immediately after, Xu Damao's younger sister, Xu Yun, also came over. Xu Yun was a year younger than He Yushui, with pigtails, and followed behind Xu Damao somewhat timidly.

Xu Damao gave her a push: "Call him Uncle Liu!"

Xu Yun then whispered something, took the money Liu Shuanzhu handed her, clutched it in her hand, and ran away with her head down.

Then came the brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu. The two walked over one after the other. Liu Guangtian was already a teenager, and his steps were much more steady than his younger brother's. The two bowed respectfully and each accepted a dime.

Next came the children from several other families in the courtyard, some older, some younger, some running, some being pushed by their parents, one after another surging towards the door of the east wing. Liu Shuanzhu didn't mind at all, giving each of them a dime, his change flowing out like water.

At this moment, Qin Huairu came out of her house carrying Banggeng. Banggeng was wearing a newly made blue cotton-padded jacket and tiger-head shoes. Her little face was flushed from the cold wind as Qin Huairu held her in her arms.

Qin Huairu walked up to Liu Shuanzhu, gave a slight bow, and said in her usual polite and gentle tone, "Happy New Year, Uncle Liu. Happy New Year, Auntie." She then glanced down at the baby boy in her arms, "Quickly call him Grandpa Liu."

Banggeng made a soft, guttural sound, and Liu Shuanzhu smiled, took a dime from his pocket, and stuffed it into Banggeng's hand. Qin Huairu put the money into her small pocket for him and thanked him again.

Qin Huairu didn't leave immediately; she stood at the door of the east wing for a while, holding the stick.

Seeing that she was still standing, Wang Xiuhe stepped aside and said, "Come in and sit down, it's cold outside."

Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, but still stepped into the house.

It was much warmer inside than outside, the coal stove was burning brightly, and the enamel kettle sitting on the stove lid was steaming.

Yao Qingwan sat in a chair by the window, holding a cup of hot water, talking quietly to Liang Fangfang. Liang Fangfang sat next to her, her belly sticking out quite high, continuing to knit the little sweater from yesterday, the needle and thread moving steadily between her fingers.

Qin Huairu sat down on the stool next to the stove, placed the stick on her lap, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Yao Qingwan.

Yao Qingwan wore a light gray sweater under a dark wool coat, her hair loosely tied back, exuding a clean, neat, and composed air. Her fingers were long and slender, with neatly trimmed nails, showing no signs of rough work, and the way she held the water glass also revealed a natural elegance.

Qin Huairu lowered her head and glanced at her hands resting on her knees. Her knuckles were large, her skin rough, and there was a callus that she couldn't wash off between her thumb and forefinger. She pulled her hands further into her sleeves, and that indescribable feeling welled up in her heart again.

She glanced at Liang Fangfang again. Back when Liang Fangfang lived in the courtyard house, the skin on her hands hadn't been much better. But now, her hands were much whiter and cleaner, her nails were neatly trimmed, and her fingers were thinner than before.

She sighed inwardly, then turned her gaze back to the sturdy dog ​​in her arms. She thought about how she had to get up before dawn to start a fire and cook, how she had to squat in the yard every day to wash clothes for the whole family, and how her hands were red and chapped from being soaked in cold water—it was a life she could never escape.

When someone attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven; but what about her? She can only rely on her own two hands, enduring hardship day after day.