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

Liu Yuheng accompanied Wang Xiuhe on a tour downstairs, showing her the living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and study. The kitchen had a stove, a sink, and a window, providing excellent natural light. The bathroom had a flush toilet, but Wang Xiuhe didn't know how to use it, so Liu Yuheng demonstrated it for her. She said "Oh," but was still hesitant, saying that the outhouse was better.

After looking downstairs, Liu Yuheng led Wang Xiuhe upstairs to the second floor.

Liu Tingting had already run through all the rooms and was now standing in the middle of the corridor, hands on her hips, panting heavily.

"Brother! Brother! There's a room upstairs with a south-facing window, it's so big and bright! I want that room!" Liu Tingting ran over, grabbed Liu Yuheng's arm, and shook it back and forth in a coquettish manner.

Liu Yuheng smiled and tapped her forehead: "Okay, I'll save that room for you. You can come and stay on weekends when I'm officially transferred back next year. Not during the week, though, you still have to go to school and can't miss your studies."

"The weekend is fine too!" Liu Tingting jumped up with joy and turned to run to see the room.

Liu Yuheng showed Wang Xiuhe and Liang Fangfang the bedroom on the second floor.

Wang Xiuhe looked at each room one by one, standing in each one for a while.

"Your father would be so happy if he saw this house." Wang Xiuhe's voice trembled slightly.

After looking around, the family went downstairs. Xiao Li had already moved everything from the car into the living room, piling it all over the floor: quilts, mattresses, pillows, sheets, pots and pans, kettle, washbasin, towels, as well as a few kilograms of rice and noodles and some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

"Alright, let's get to work." Liu Yuheng rolled up his sleeves, clapped his hands, and said, "Let's set up the bedroom first, then clean up the kitchen."

The family divided the work and got busy.

Wang Xiuhe laid out the quilt and mattress, pressed them down with her hand, and frowned: "This mattress is a bit thin; it'll be cold to sleep on in winter. I'll buy another cotton mattress to put underneath, then it'll be warmer."

Liu Yuheng nodded: "Okay, I'll go buy it later."

Pots and pans were moved into the kitchen, and Wang Xiuhe arranged them one by one. The pot was placed on the stove, the bowls and plates were stacked in the cupboard, the chopsticks were stuck in the chopstick holder, and the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were arranged beside the stove. As she arranged them, she muttered, "This bowl is a bit small; it's not enough to hold rice. This pot is quite good, though; it's iron, good for stir-frying. This cutting board is new; I need to scald it with boiling water before using it..."

Liu Tingting brought over a basin of water and used a rag to wipe the table, chairs, and windows. She worked very efficiently; although she was only fourteen, she was more nimble than many adults.

As she wiped the room, she spoke to Liu Yuheng, "Brother, your house is so big, aren't you afraid to live alone?"

Liu Yuheng laughed: "What's there to be afraid of? It's not like I've never lived in a big house before; the barracks in the army are even bigger than this."

"That's different." Liu Tingting tilted her head and thought for a moment. "There are many people in the army, it's lively. Here you are all alone, it's cold and lonely."

Liu Yuheng paused for a moment, then realized his sister had a point. He thought for a moment and said, "When I'm transferred back next year, you can come stay with me on weekends, and it won't feel so lonely."

Liu Tingting nodded vigorously and then buried herself in wiping the windows again.

After nearly two hours of work, the two bedrooms and the kitchen were finally tidied up.

Wang Xiuhe stood at the kitchen doorway, hands on her hips, looked around, and nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, that's about it. We can add the rest gradually, no rush."

Liu Yuheng glanced at his watch; it was almost eleven. He thought for a moment and said, "Mother, let's eat here for lunch. I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some groceries and cook a simple meal. It'll be the first meal in this house, for good luck."

Wang Xiuhe nodded: "Okay. You go buy the groceries, I'll wash the rice and put the pot on the stove. You guys, wipe the table clean."

Xiao Li drove Liu Yuheng to the supply and marketing cooperative. Liu Yuheng bought some pork, tofu, cabbage, and vermicelli, as well as a few eggs and a packet of salt. When they returned, Wang Xiuhe had already started cooking the rice, and the water in the pot was boiling, bubbling away.

The family had a simple lunch. Although the food wasn't lavish, it tasted different in this newly renovated house.

Wang Xiuhe cleaned up the dishes and put the pots and pans back in their places, restoring the kitchen to its tidy state.

Liu Yuheng offered to take them back, but Wang Xiuhe glanced at the gray sky outside the window and waved her hand, saying, "What's the rush? It's still early, let's wander around some more."

Liu Yuheng smiled: "Alright, let's look around some more then."

The family went outside and strolled slowly along the path in the courtyard. Liu Tingting ran ahead, pointing to a small building by the roadside and calling back, "Brother! Is this the same as yours?"

Liu Yuheng glanced at it and said, "Pretty much the same, similar in scope."

Liu Tingting ran a few more steps forward, squatted down, made a snowball, and threw it with all her might. It hit a tree trunk and shattered into a cloud of white mist. She clapped her hands and laughed, "Ha! I hit it!"

Liang Fangfang followed behind, carrying Liu Yixuan. The little guy was wrapped up like a cotton ball, with only his rosy, round face showing, and his bright black eyes looking around. A stray cat darted past from the roadside, and he immediately reached out his chubby little hand to grab it, making "ah ah" noises, leaning forward in Liang Fangfang's arms.

Liang Fangfang hugged him tightly and coaxed him with a smile, "That's a cat, you can't catch it."

Wang Xiuhe walked slowly, looking around with every step, muttering repeatedly, "This place is so nice, so quiet, so clean..."

Liu Tingting ran back and grabbed her hand: "Mom, you've said it so many times!"

Wang Xiuhe glared at her: "Can't I even talk about good places?"

Liu Yuheng shook his head with a smile.

After circling around twice, Liu Yuheng glanced at his watch: "That's about enough, time to head back, it's getting cold and late."

Wang Xiuhe nodded: "Okay, let's go back."

The family got into the car, Xiao Li started the engine, and the jeep drove out of the compound, through the streets and alleys of Beijing, and back to Nanluoguxiang.

It was already past four o'clock in the afternoon when the car stopped at the entrance of the alley.

In winter, darkness falls early. The sun had already begun to set, and the horizon was tinged with a faint orange-red. The snow in the alley had not yet melted; it was hard and crunchy underfoot.

Smoke began to rise from the chimneys of every household in the courtyard, the wisps of smoke dissipating in the cold wind.

Wang Xiuhe entered the house and immediately began preparing dinner. Liang Fangfang put Liu Yixuan on the kang (a heated brick bed) and went to the kitchen to help. Liu Tingting sat on the edge of the kang, swinging her legs back and forth, her eyes fixed on the window, waiting for Liu Erhe to return.

Not long after, voices could be heard in the courtyard. The steel rolling mill had closed for the day.

As soon as Liu Tingting and Liu Er entered the room, she jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed) and grabbed Liu Er's arm, exclaiming, "Second Brother! Second Brother! It's such a pity you didn't go see Big Brother's house today!"

Liu Erhe stumbled slightly from her tugging, then chuckled as he put down his toolbox and asked, "What happened to your house, brother?"

"It's really great!" Liu Tingting gestured with both hands. "It's two stories! Gray bricks, red tiles, huge windows, and it's so bright inside! The living room is bigger than our entire east wing! There are several rooms upstairs, and my brother said he saved one for me!"

When Liu Erhe heard "a room was reserved for me," he paused, looking up at Liang Fangfang, who was folding clothes nearby. Liang Fangfang smiled and nodded, confirming Liu Tingting's words: "It really is good, much better than here. There's even a supply and marketing cooperative, a movie theater, and a bathhouse in the courtyard—it has everything."

"A movie theater?" Liu Erhe's eyes lit up; he had never been to a movie theater in his life.

Liu Tingting nodded vigorously, her ponytail swinging behind her head: "And there's a supply and marketing cooperative! It's much bigger than the one at the entrance of our alley, they have everything! My older brother bought his quilt and pots and pans there!"

Liu Erhe listened with envy, rubbed his hands together, sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and asked Liang Fangfang, "You saw the inside of the house? How big is it exactly?"

Liang Fangfang thought for a moment and said, "The master bedroom where my older brother lives faces south, so it gets plenty of sunlight. There's also a study with bookshelves covering one entire wall. The kitchen is also bigger than ours, and the stove and sink are both new."

As Liu Erhe listened, he couldn't help but sigh, unsure whether it was envy or感慨 (a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including regret or reflection). He picked up the teapot on the table, poured himself a bowl of water, gulped down a few mouthfuls, wiped his mouth, and said nothing more. But the expression on his face betrayed him; he really wanted to go see it.

It was past 7 p.m., and it was completely dark, when Liu Shuanzhu finally returned from the restaurant.

The room was warm and cozy, the stove was glowing red, and the kettle was bubbling and steaming on it.

Liu Tingting was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) talking to Liang Fangfang when she saw Liu Shuanzhu enter. She jumped up, ran over, grabbed his hand, and recounted everything she had said during the day. Liu Erhe chimed in, saying that Tingting had talked for so long about how great and big her older brother's house was, making him very envious.

As Liu Shuanzhu listened, he sat down. Wang Xiuhe poured him a bowl of hot water, which he picked up and took a sip of, his face steaming from the heat.

Liu Tingting got more and more excited as she talked, grabbing Liu Shuanzhu's hand and saying expectantly, "Dad, my older brother said he saved a room for me! I'll go stay there this weekend!"

Liu Shuanzhu put down the bowl, reached out and ruffled Liu Tingting's hair, and said, "Your older brother has made something of himself, and you're all benefiting from it."

During the meal, Liu Yuheng suddenly put down his chopsticks, as if he had remembered something important.

He glanced at everyone present, considered his words carefully, and then said, "By the way, there's something I want to tell you. I heard that from now on, bicycles, radios, and other similar items will also be rationed like grain."

The room fell silent immediately.

"Really?" Liu Erhe was the first to react, his voice tinged with urgency. "Brother, you mean we'll need coupons to buy bicycles from now on? Like buying grain?"

Liu Yuheng nodded, his tone serious: "It's pretty much a done deal. There's no official document yet, but the general direction is set. In the future, not only bicycles and radios, but also large items like sewing machines and watches will be rationed. If you want to buy them, you can still do so now. Buy them before it's implemented."

The group exchanged glances, and a buzz of discussion filled the room. Liu Shuanzhu put down his wine glass, frowned, and thought for a moment: "Is this information reliable?"

"Reliable." Liu Yuheng didn't say much, but his words carried weight in the family, and no one doubted him.

Wang Xiuhe muttered to herself, "A bicycle, a radio... how much would those cost..."

Liu Yuheng picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone becoming more relaxed: "Don't spread this news. This hasn't been announced yet; it wouldn't be good if it got out."

He glanced at Liu Erhe and said, "You can tell the Liang family privately, but don't make a fuss."

Liu Erhe nodded and made a mental note of what he had said.

Liu Yuheng added, smiling as he waved to the crowd, "Of course, if you don't want to buy now, you don't have to force yourself. At my level, getting a few bicycle tickets in the future will be a piece of cake. So whether you buy or not is up to you, no rush."

These words livened up the atmosphere in the room a bit more. Liu Erhe looked at Liu Shuanzhu, and Liu Shuanzhu looked at Liu Erhe; the father and son exchanged a glance.

Liu Erhe spoke first, his tone much calmer than before, as if he were seriously weighing his options: "Brother, then I think I'll hold off on buying it for now. You said you could get tickets later, so I'm not in a rush. Besides, I walk to the steel mill with everyone in the compound every day, and everyone walks. If I ride a bicycle alone, it's hard to say who I'll give a ride to or not. It's better to walk there and back like everyone else, it'll be easier."

After listening, Liu Yuheng nodded.

"Okay, just think it over," Liu Yuheng said. "When you want to buy them later, just let me know, and I'll take care of the tickets."

Liu Shuanzhu shook his head at this point, his tone indifferent: "I'd rather not. The restaurant where I work isn't far from here, only a ten-minute walk. Riding a bicycle is too much trouble; I'd have to find a place to park it, and I'd have to worry about it getting stolen. I'm too old for that kind of trend."

Wang Xiuhe chimed in from the side, "That's right, your dad uses walking as exercise, so he's still quite healthy."

Liu Yuheng smiled and didn't try to persuade him further.

After eating for a while, Liu Shuanzhu picked up a bite of food, chewed slowly, and suddenly asked, "Boss, how many days are you staying this time? When are you leaving?"

Liu Yuheng put down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's go on the second day of the lunar new year."

The room fell silent for a moment. Wang Xiuhe counted on her fingers: "Today is the seventeenth, and by the second day of next month, there aren't many days left."

Liu Yuheng smiled and said, "I'm already very content to be able to spend the New Year at home."