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

Before they knew it, it was July. While Liu Yuheng was still busy with his demobilization and resettlement, a major event was quietly taking place in the courtyard.

The people in the courtyard were especially excited today. The steel rolling mill announced the grading results of the eight-level worker system. About ten people from the courtyard were working at the mill, and the news spread like wildfire from the mill all the way to the alley.

As evening fell, people returning from get off work entered the courtyard, and people from each household would peek out from their houses, waiting to inquire about news.

Liu Shuanzhu also returned early today, preoccupied with Liu Erhe's grading.

When he pushed open the gate of the courtyard house, there were already quite a few people gathered inside. The open space between the front and middle courtyards was packed with people returning from get off work.

Some of the men were still unbuttoning their work clothes, while others had already picked up their teacups. The women huddled together in twos and threes, whispering amongst themselves. The children weaved in and out of the crowd, only to run away again after being scolded or scolded by the adults.

Liu Erhe walked at the very back, his work clothes cuffs and collar soaked with sweat. Liang Fangfang, carrying Liu Yixuan, peeked out from the door of the east wing. Wang Xiuhe followed behind her, her apron still on and her hands still covered in flour. When she saw Liu Erhe enter, she rushed over to greet him.

"Second Sister," Wang Xiuhe's voice carried a hint of urgency, "Has it been graded yet? What grade? How much?"

Liu Erhe nodded with a smile, unbuttoning his work clothes as he said, "It's settled! Level 3 worker! Forty-five yuan a month!"

A series of low gasps of surprise rippled through the courtyard. Some exclaimed "Wow!", others clicked their tongues in admiration, and still others crowded around to ask, "How much was it again?"

Wang Xiuhe paused for a moment, then quickly did the math in her head, her eyes lighting up instantly: "That's ten yuan more per month than before! Ten yuan more per month, that's one hundred and twenty yuan a year!"

Liu Erhe nodded with a smile, but Liang Fangfang grabbed his arm. Liang Fangfang's face was flushed, and she was even happier than when she had received her grade.

She grabbed Liu Erhe and asked, "What about my dad? What rank did he get?"

Before Liu Erhe could speak, someone next to him said, "Master Liang was rated as a level six worker, earning seventy-six yuan a month!"

These words were spoken by Jia Dongxu. He had just walked up behind Liu Erhe, also covered in sweat. He nodded to Liu Erhe as a greeting, then turned and shouted towards his own door, "Mom! I got a level three worker rating! Forty-five yuan!"

Madam Jia, who had been sitting in the shade in front of her house fanning herself, nearly dropped her fan upon hearing the sound and jumped to her feet: "How much? Forty-five? Really?"

"Really!" Jia Dongxu grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his voice filled with undisguised pride. "The factory officially announced it today, and from now on, we'll be paid this amount every month."

Jia Zhangshi's mouth gaped open, she froze for two seconds, then let out a shrill, loud scream that could be heard throughout the entire alley: "My God! Forty-five! Our family is about to become rich!"

As she shouted, she jumped down the steps, circled Jia Dongxu twice, and then boasted loudly to the crowd in the yard, "Did you hear that? Our Dongxu is forty-five! A third-grade worker! Forty-five!"

Many people in the courtyard glanced at her; some smiled, some shook their heads, and some lowered their heads without saying a word. But Madam Jia didn't care. She was immersed in the joy of her son "bringing glory to the family," and wished she could take a gong and bang it all over the courtyard.

The courtyard was bustling with activity when Yan Bugui suddenly sighed.

He pushed up his glasses and muttered, "Sigh...it's still twenty-seven and a half yuan. Not a penny more."

A moment of silence fell over the courtyard. Some people turned to look at him, some exchanged glances, and some let out a soft "oh." Twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents—this wasn't a high figure in this courtyard, it was even somewhat low. Several people who had originally intended to congratulate him hesitated slightly, unsure of what to say.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the middle of the courtyard, and when he heard Yan Bugui say "twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents", the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

His gentle smile remained, but a glint of shrewdness flashed deep in his eyes. He scoffed inwardly. Twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents? Old Man Yan, who is he trying to fool? If his salary is truly less than forty yuan, I, Yi Zhonghai, will rip my head off and use it as a chamber pot. After working at the school for so many years, how could he only have twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents?

This Yan Bugui always complains about being poor, but he's shrewder than anyone else. He deliberately portrays himself as so humble simply to establish a "good, honest poor man" persona in this courtyard, avoiding envy, standing out, and causing trouble. That's quite a clever way to live.

Yi Zhonghai withdrew his gaze and did not expose him. If Yan Bugui wanted to pretend to be poor, then let him continue. The more he showed weakness, the more advantageous it would be for Yi Zhonghai to control this courtyard house.

He pondered to himself, "I'm forty-one this year. I've been taking medicine for years, and I've tried countless folk remedies, but my wife's belly hasn't conceived." He used to hold onto hope, thinking that as long as he continued treatment, he'd eventually be able to have his own child. But as the years passed, that hope gradually eroded. Now, he'd almost given up all hope. Without his own child, how would he support himself in his old age? It seemed he would ultimately have to rely on Jia Dongxu.

He glanced at Jia Dongxu, who was surrounded by Jia Zhangshi in the distance, his gaze filled with a complex expression. A level-three worker earned forty-five yuan a month, and with Qin Huairu's occasional income from the street factory, they could manage. But Qin Huairu was soon pregnant; another child meant another mouth to feed, and life would become tighter. If she had two more, things would be even harder. Then, wouldn't the Jia family rely on him, their mentor, for support?

He held Jia Dongxu's favor in his hands, and the Jia family's economic lifeline in his grasp. Over time, Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu would gradually become accustomed to relying on him, to his support, and to his presence. In the end, Jia Dongxu would naturally take on the responsibility of caring for him in his old age, just like a son.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at Qin Huairu standing next to Jia Dongxu and was about to go back into the house when he was suddenly stopped by a voice from the courtyard.

"Master Yi! Master Liu! What levels have you two been assigned to?"

The person who called out to him was Aunt Li, who lived in the middle courtyard. She came out of her house carrying a rice bowl, wiping her hands on her apron as she walked. As soon as she asked the question, several eyes turned to Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong at the same time.

Yi Zhonghai turned around, his gentle smile returning to his face: "I'm the same as Lao Liu, a level six worker, earning seventy-six yuan a month."

The courtyard fell silent for a moment. Then came a chorus of exclamations.

"Seventy-six!"

"A level six worker! That's a huge improvement over a level three worker!"

"Master Yi is truly skilled; all those years of working as a fitter haven't been for nothing."

When asked, Liu Haizhong's face showed a hint of pride: "I'm the same as Lao Yi, a level six worker, seventy-six!"

Another round of exclamations of admiration rippled through the courtyard. Several younger workers looked at Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong with a mixture of envy and even respect. Seventy-six yuan was a considerable sum in those days. Those who earned that much had confidence wherever they went.