Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

She paused, then smirked, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Oh, I see—it's because my Yuzhu isn't home, so it's easier to manipulate him."

"Lou Xiao'e! What do you mean by that?"

Director Qian's voice suddenly rose, a vein throbbing on his forehead: "When has a leader's decision not been carefully considered? You can voice your opinions, but this sarcastic tone is utterly unacceptable!"

Before he could finish speaking, Lou Xiao'e interrupted him: "Alright, Director Qian, I know very well—you're keeping an eye on me because you're worried that Yuzhu is away on a business trip and you're afraid he'll come back and settle scores with you. I'm too lazy to bring up the past, but in the future..." She raised her eyes slightly, "I might not be able to let you do whatever you want."

"You...you dare threaten me?"

Director Qian's fingers trembled with anger. How dare a temporary worker, from a capitalist family in the old society, talk back to him to his face?

So what if he's the logistics director of the steel rolling mill? He's half a rank below him, they're practically unrelated. Why would he, the head of the subdistrict office, be afraid of him?

"Disregard for organization, lax discipline, and morally bankrupt!" He slammed his hand on the table. "Starting tomorrow, you're suspended for three months to attend a training course to improve your ideology; after graduation, you'll be sweeping the streets for another three months! Don't come? The security team will come knocking on your door to 'invite' you!"

The middle-aged women inside frowned as they listened—wasn't this blatant revenge?

Before they could speak, Lou Xiao'e stood up, her voice clear and calm: "Then we'll see, Director Qian."

As she pushed the stroller out the door, her back was ramrod straight. Director Qian clenched his fists in anger behind her, almost calling for someone to stop her—but then he thought that this matter still needed to be formally documented, and he wasn't sure about the outcome, so he could only spit angrily and walk away.

Lou Xiao'e didn't go back to Nanluoguxiang. Instead, she went to the supply and marketing cooperative, bought a box of peach shortbread, and went straight to Director Wang's house.

She timed it perfectly: Director Wang would definitely be home at noon, as his grandson Xiaobao was teething and his mother-in-law wanted to personally cook rice porridge to feed him.

After knocking, a strong, clear voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

"Lou Xiao'e from Nanluoguxiang Subdistrict Office, looking for Aunt Wang."

The door opened quickly. It was Director Wang's daughter-in-law who opened the door, calling out, "Xiao'e, come in quickly," while helping her push the stroller into the yard. She then turned and went into the kitchen, leaving the stove to her mother-in-law—Director Wang needed to hear about this matter in person today.

Director Wang came out wiping his hands, his face still bearing the marks of his apron, but he smiled warmly: "Xiao'e, what's the rush at this hour?"

Lou Xiao'e cut to the chase: "Aunt Wang, I stumbled today..."

She explained the situation in a few words: her promotion was blocked, and Ma Huaisheng forced her to run errands in the streets and alleys; she didn't want to drag her child along and offered to resign, but Qian Youde immediately labeled her and imposed hard labor.

"It's been a year now, and that guy surnamed Qian is always finding fault with me. If you ask any of the old neighbors, they can tell you seven or eight things."

After listening, Director Wang frowned: "Ma Huaisheng and Qian Youde—they don't do any proper work, they just know how to torment honest people!"

She had only been transferred for a year, while Lou Xiao'e had worked under her for two whole years. Before taking care of her child, she was a key member of the statistics team, her reports were accurate, and her accounts were crystal clear—she was hardly the type to shirk responsibility.

"It's a pity I've been transferred to the district civil affairs bureau now, so I can't handle things at the subdistrict office anymore... But don't worry, Zhu Zi's salary is good, more than enough to support the family. As for Qian Youde?" She waved her hand, "Ignore him, just let him go like a gust of wind."

She got up, poured a cup of hot water, and pushed it towards me, lowering her voice: "You haven't taken a single penny of salary in three years, but I've kept all the donation slips—the date, the amount, the recipient's signature and fingerprint—everything is there. Over six hundred yuan, enough for a district-level commendation. This afternoon I went to the district government to submit the materials, and on the day the commendation was approved, he didn't even dare to read your name out loud!"

Lou Xiao'e's eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded with a smile: "Thank you, Aunt Wang! When Yuzhu comes back, I'll take him to your door with the New Year's gifts to kowtow."

"Zhu Zi is coming back?" Director Wang was taken aback. "Wasn't he supposed to be sent abroad for two years? Why is it so soon?"

"Last time we talked on the phone, the project was finishing up smoothly, and I'll definitely be home before the New Year." Lou Xiao'e lowered her head and teased He Xiao, her voice softer, "Actually, I resigned because I wanted to take a break—my child has just learned to talk, and I want to spend more time with him."

"Alright! We'll be waiting for the two of you to come and wish us a Happy New Year together!"

Director Wang readily agreed. Lou Xiao'e saw that the table was set with bowls and chopsticks, knowing they were eating, and got up to leave—she couldn't just come all this way and expect to get a free meal; three people sharing one bowl of porridge wouldn't be enough for anyone. Besides, she had no intention of stepping into the street office that afternoon.

Director Wang was decisive and efficient, getting things done as soon as he said he would. The donation record book was filled with entries from the past three years: the date, who donated, how much, who received the donation, and whose fingerprint was affixed... every entry was clear and precise. More than six hundred yuan was not a small sum in the 1970s; if reported, it would easily earn him an award for outstanding individual.

Director Wang submitted the materials in the afternoon and secretly asked someone to make a call. The certificate was stamped with the official seal that same day, and they were just waiting to pick up the official approval document the next morning.

That's enough—if that guy surnamed Qian acts up again, Lou Xiao'e can just call the number He Yuzhu left behind.

When Yu Li came home from get off work that evening, after Lou Xiao'e finished telling her about what had happened during the day, she was so angry that she slammed her fist on the table and cursed the neighborhood committee for being short-sighted and petty.

She stayed at Lou Xiao'e's house all year, and the two became like sisters. Even He Xiao called her godmother.

Yu Li frowned and asked, "Xiao'e, what are you going to do next? Are you really not going to work? That guy surnamed Qian might try to trip us up again."

"Don't worry, I've already made arrangements with Director Wang. Besides, it's good to take a break—He Xiao is currently very enthusiastic about learning to read. If I'm stuck at the street office every day, I'm afraid I won't be able to find the time to teach him until he's four or five years old."

"That's true. Director He will be back soon. Now that you've stood up for yourself, he naturally won't dare to take advantage of you anymore."

Yu Li nodded, lowering her voice: "Then your words will carry more weight... But I just don't understand, why would a temporary worker like him want to go against you?"

Lou Xiao'e pondered for a moment and said softly, "It's probably related to Yi Zhonghai. Aunt Liu has seen him carrying a cloth bag to the street office several times. The bag was stuffed full of things, and no one could see what was inside."

"An eighth-grade fitter from a steel rolling mill, repeatedly going to the neighborhood committee office to inquire about policies? There haven't been any new documents issued recently! This Yi Zhonghai must have something to hide."

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's name, Yu Li's brows furrowed immediately, and she curled her lip: "It's him, which isn't surprising—he and Director He have been at odds for a long time. Last time I saw him slip on his cane, and when Qin Huairu helped him up, his hand just casually went up to her chest without any hesitation. It really gave me goosebumps!"

"I can't be bothered with them. When Yuzhu comes back, I'll leave all this mess to him and we can have some peace and quiet."

Lou Xiao'e picked up a piece of stir-fried green peppers and pork with her chopsticks, and changed the subject with a smile: "What about you? Yan Jiecheng has been hanging around the yard a lot lately, bringing pears and borrowing books. What do you think?"

"Just thinking about him gives me a headache! I've turned him away three or four times, but he still shamelessly comes crawling back. It's so annoying!"

Yu Li waved her hand, her tone decisive. She now earns her own salary and saves her own money, living a stable and comfortable life.

She almost never goes home—as soon as she walks in, her parents urge her to give up her job to her younger brother, their words full of calculation.

She had long seen through Yan Jiecheng's intentions: for a divorced woman, the only thing she could offer was this permanent job. Having lived in the courtyard house for so long, she had also figured out the Yan family's ways of living off women and taking advantage of others.

If she really got involved with Yan Jiecheng, she probably wouldn't even get a decent bed; going back to her parents' home? She'd have to share a small bed with Yu Haitang—just thinking about it was suffocating. It was better to stay at the He family's house. Lou Xiao'e never treated her like an outsider. Living together, with hot soup and meals, was more comforting than anything else.

She has now saved over 120 yuan, three times the 40 yuan she saved in the two years she worked for the Xu family. With work in hand and money in her pocket, she can feel at ease.

The next day happened to be a weekend.

Lou Xiao'e got up at the crack of dawn, steamed sugar cakes, cooked millet porridge, and fried two soft-boiled eggs, setting a lively table. At the breakfast table, she, Yu Li, and He Yushui sat around, eating and laughing. Yu Haitang also often came to visit. Although she had a falling out with her parents, her relationship with this younger sister had never faded, especially since she was He Yushui's classmate.

After dinner, He Yushui took her textbooks and went back to her room to do practice problems. Senior year is a crucial time, and there's no time to relax.

He Yuzhu always said, "Our He family must support a college student." Lou Xiao'e kept this in mind—she was able to catch her breath in the first year of high school, but from the second year onwards, she kept a close eye on her, checking her notes, quizzing her on vocabulary, and helping her memorize formulas every day. She herself was also a high school graduate, but her family's financial situation prevented her from pursuing higher education. After getting married, she had no interest in picking up her books again, but she still had a solid foundation and was more than capable of tutoring her child.

After dinner, she and Yu Li leaned against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) listening to the radio, chatting and cracking sunflower seeds. She casually tossed a few polished wooden blocks to He Xiao to play with; as long as he didn't roll off the edge of the bed, he could do whatever he wanted. She'd teach him a couple more words in the afternoon, and the day would be over in no time.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door, followed by a shout from outside: "Lou Xiao'e! A meeting is starting! Director Qian from the neighborhood committee is personally presiding!"

"The head of the subdistrict office?"

Lou Xiao'e was taken aback, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air: "What's wrong with this person so early in the morning...?"

Clutching the sunflower seed shells, Yu Li asked anxiously, "Xiao'e, could it be... that you came here specifically for her?"

"That's really going all out and being shameless... But thinking about it, it's actually a bit risky."

Lou Xiao'e got up and walked to the table, pulled out a piece of paper, wrote down a number, and stuffed it into Yu Li's hand: "Listen carefully later. If he starts making up lies or accusing you, call this number immediately."

It was quite unusual to convene a meeting of the entire staff so early in the morning. At that time, most people had already gone out to make a living, leaving only the elderly, children, and those on leave.

As usual, the three stewards arrived, and each family managed to muster one person, who stood sparsely under the locust tree, waiting to hear this sudden "mobilization."