Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Lou Xiao'e raised an eyelid: "Your aunt? What does she owe you? She comes over every few days to beg for money, and you're the most diligent!"

Lou Yue stole a glance at He Yuzhu's face and saw him lowering his head to pick up food, as if he hadn't heard anything. Actually, He Yushui often made clothes for them, and Lou Xiao'e often brought cloth and milk powder to visit Liu's parents—now that ration coupons were no longer needed, buying things was much easier.

Lou Xiao'e put down her chopsticks: "If you dare ask your aunt for pocket money, I'll deal with you when you get back! How much does she owe you? I'll settle it all for her now!"

Lou Yue mischievously stuck out her tongue and quickly lowered her head to eat her rice, afraid that her mother would really reach out and pinch her ear.

This was purely by chance—this girl would occasionally sneakily ask He Yushui for a few cents, something other children never did.

Lou Xiao'e took out 50 cents and stuffed it into her hand: "Go to school!" She turned around and went out the door with He Yuzhu, heading straight for the foreign guests' guesthouse.

Accompanied by comrades from the United Front Work Department, He Yuzhu led Lou's parents on a half-day tour of Kyoto, and then had a simple meal at the Foreign Guests' Guesthouse before heading to He Yushui's house. Since moving out, He Yuzhu hadn't visited his sister's home yet, and on the way, he bought some snacks and canned goods to carry.

As soon as the door was opened, Liu Qin and Liu Tong rushed over like two little sparrows, calling out in their clear voices, "Uncle! Uncle!"

Lou Xiao'e carried one in each arm, and He Yuzhu smiled and took them from her. As soon as they entered the room, they saw Lou Yue wearing a new dress, twirling and bouncing around, her skirt flying like a little trumpet flower.

He Yushui came out to greet them, wiping her apron as she said, "Brother! Sister-in-law! Please sit down, please sit down—put the kids down first, these two little rascals can't stand not running around all day!"

He Yuzhu gently placed the child on the ground and handed over the items: "Here, the watch that Xiaoyue's maternal grandparents wore, for Xiaoqin to wear."

He Yushui didn't refuse, and immediately put the wristbands on the two children after opening the box—one was ten years old and the other was nine, both in the third or fourth grade of elementary school. The extra digital watches were originally prepared specifically for her younger sister's family. Lou Xiao'e had deliberately said "there are only four" beforehand to prevent the children from fighting over them, just to leave an excuse.

He Yuzhu looked at Lou Yue and asked with a smile, "When you go to your aunt's house every few days, do you bring your younger siblings any candy or fruit?"

Lou Yue raised her chin: "I always share the snacks in my pocket! Who wants to eat them all by themselves?" After saying that, she lowered her head and fiddled with her skirt sash, then turned and jumped away.

He Yushui tried to persuade them to stay: "Let's eat at home today. It's been almost half a year since we all got together."

He Yuzhu nodded: "Okay, let's try your cooking and see if you've improved the quality since then."

Lou Yue took the opportunity to sidle up to Lou Xiao'e, her little hand reaching straight into Lou Xiao'e's pocket. Lou Xiao'e glared at her, took out one yuan and fifty cents, and gave each of the three children fifty cents.

After dinner, the two strolled home slowly, but Lou Yue quickly jumped onto the tram, preferring to be out in the wind rather than walk with her parents.

……

The next morning, He Yuzhu and Lou Xiao'e, along with their child, saw Lou's parents off on a green train bound for Guangdong Province. This visit to relatives was not a long one; if they wanted to officially move back, they would have to wait until 1983—when the ownership of Hong Kong Island was settled, the Beijing-Hong Kong shipping route opened, the situation eased, and the road ahead would truly be clear.

On the platform, He Yuzhu waved: "Dad, Mom, have a safe trip! Call Xiao'e anytime if you need anything, she's home most of the time."

Lou Xiao'e's eyes were slightly red: "Mom and Dad, take care of yourselves!"

The children shouted in unison, "Goodbye, Grandma! Grandpa! Take care!"

Lou's father patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder: "I'll come back to see you once everything is arranged. Don't see me off, go back now."

Lou's mother held Lou Yue tightly, reluctant to let go for a long time, her eyes glistening with tears.

Accompanied by comrades from the United Front Work Department, the two elderly people boarded the train. Through the train window, they waved frequently, their figures gradually shrinking into two small, swaying dots.

The family walked out of the station, and He Yuzhu went straight to Director Qiao Weimin's residence—Director Qiao had called yesterday, his tone serious, saying he had important matters to discuss.

When he pushed open the study door, Qiao Weimin was sitting in a wicker chair smoking. Seeing him come in, he put out his cigarette and said, "Xiao He is here? Have a seat."

He Yuzhu laughed and said, "I just ate at home."

Qiao Weimin stood up and dusted off his clothes: "I've also cleared away the dishes. Let's go talk in the study."

He led He Yuzhu into the house and gestured for the sofa: "Don't be shy, sit down."

He Yuzhu sat down and had just draped his coat over the armrest when Qiao Weimin spoke up: "Little He, guess why I was in such a hurry to call you here?"

He Yuzhu shook his head and smiled: "I won't guess. The old leader always does things in a methodical way."

Qiao Weimin nodded, took out his cigarette case, shook out one, and handed it to He Yuzhu. He took it, and the flame lit up with a "pop".

Qiao Weimin: "Your achievements in Guyun Town are evident to everyone, but precisely because of this, all eyes are on you. Right now, there are some things that require a steady pace; we can't be rash. I had already planned for you to come back and rest for a year or two: first, to study at the Party School for half a year, then to be assigned to a temporary post in the district where Comrade Peng Mei is in charge for a year or two of training, and then to make further arrangements once the major policies were finalized. But the wind suddenly shifted. The higher-ups just held a meeting and immediately decided that the Party School training would be shortened to three months, after which you would go directly to Dongli County to serve as the county party secretary. You need to understand that this is a heavy responsibility."

He Yuzhu: "I will resolutely obey the organization's decisions and follow the Party's orders in everything."

Qiao Weimin: "That's right! You have to have the drive to get things done. Get ready quickly, report to the Party School tomorrow morning, settle down at the grassroots level as soon as possible, and do a good job."

This high-level meeting clarified a fundamental principle: we must first ensure that a segment of the population becomes wealthy, and then expand from there to drive overall development. The spring tide of reform is poised to surge, and everything we do is aimed at improving the lives of ordinary people. The path blazed by Guyun Town has proven its effectiveness to higher authorities—though some were envious and tried to claim credit, they were immediately silenced. Now, designating Dongli County as the province's first comprehensive reform pilot county is meant to place a heavy burden on it and provide it with a platform: tangible results must be achieved within three years. If you can revitalize a town, you should try revitalizing a county.

The polar bear is pressing closer and closer, and relations are becoming increasingly tense. For a nation to stand tall, it must follow its own path, strengthen its resolve, and solidify its foundation.

When He Yuzhu stepped out of Director Qiao's house, his mind was still buzzing. The changes came too suddenly. At his current level, he was far from being able to reach the decision-making level's meeting table, so he naturally had no idea of ​​the turbulent events behind the scenes—seven highly respected senior leaders jointly recommended the new approach, and the leader himself wanted to see with his own eyes how far this "down-to-earth and effective" approach could go.

The phone rang in the afternoon: the Party School was informing him to bring his work ID and report by 8 a.m. the next morning. He'd barely hung up the phone when a black sedan pulled up downstairs—a high-ranking official had sent a car to pick him up. It turned out that while He Yuzhu wasn't there, Ma Hua had temporarily filled in as cook. His skills were good, but after a few meals, the high-ranking official still missed the warmth and care He Yuzhu provided: steady cooking, heartfelt dedication, and, most importantly, upright character. After what happened with Director Yang, the high-ranking official was convinced—this young man was tactful, considerate, and loyal; who wouldn't like him? Their casual conversation was also frank and insightful, every word hitting the mark.

Upon entering the study, the high-ranking leader put down his pen and greeted him with a smile:

"Little He's here? How old are you this year?"

He Yuzhu was momentarily stunned and blurted out:

"Forty-two, Uncle Liu."

"He's at the prime age for taking on important responsibilities!" The top leader nodded. "Have you heard about the arrangements this time?"

"I heard he's going to Dongli County to be the county party secretary."

"You've lived there for several years, do you have a good idea of ​​what it's like?"

"Dongli County is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with lush forests and excellent timber resources; the Yangtze River flows through the county, making its water transport conditions exceptionally favorable—unfortunately, the docks have been delayed in being built, leaving this golden waterway to waste. The villagers live on fertile land, working hard all year round, but their pockets remain empty."

The top leader leaned forward slightly: "Have you looked through the materials about the Great Depression in the US in the 1930s?"

I've read a few of them briefly.

"What do you think?"

"At that time, factories shut down in large numbers, workers were laid off in droves, shops were deserted, and profits plummeted. Agriculture fared even worse; it had never recovered since the war, and farmers were constantly struggling to make ends meet. There's another truth that's easily overlooked: the so-called 'high wages' were often an illusion created by machines replacing human labor—once the new equipment was installed, a large number of workers were laid off. Workers and farmers are the main consumers; when they have no money, the market immediately cools down."

The top leader's eyes lit up: "You've got it right! This meeting should focus on one point: first, make farmers' wallets fuller, then consumption can be revitalized. Relying on a few people to put on a show cannot support the backbone of the entire country."

He Yuzhu responded crisply: "Depression is nothing new. In ancient times, famine, refugees scattered, and granaries emptying were agricultural depressions; today, mountains of unsold goods, factories shutting down, and book losses are industrial depressions. The essence hasn't changed, it's just changed its face."

The senior leader laughed heartily: "Looks like those days at the Third Branch School weren't a waste of time! You know, you have to keep learning as long as you live. We old folks are catching up on our studies now."

He Yuzhu said sincerely, "Learning is the legs that propel us forward."

"Good! With this kind of drive, I'm relieved." The senior leader stood up and paced a couple of steps. "This time, I personally selected you. Once you get to the county, be diligent, practical, and upright—don't let distractions cloud your judgment, and don't let unhealthy trends corrupt your roots."

He Yuzhu straightened his back: "Please rest assured, senior leader, I will work with my life and my heart."

As the car drove away from the villa area, He Yuzhu looked at the fleeting shadows of trees outside the window, his brows furrowed slightly, still pondering some things over and over.

As soon as Lou Xiao'e opened the door, she noticed his strange expression and put down her apron to greet him.

"Zhu Zi, what's wrong? Your face is all tense."

"The transfer order came down, and I was in a great hurry—three months at the Party School, and then I'd be going to Dongli County to take up my post."

"Should we go back to Guyun Town?"

"No, I'm going to be the county party secretary."

"Do whatever you want. I'll take care of things at home."

"You're coming with me this time. The county committee will allocate family housing for everyone, and we'll never be separated again."