Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Su Yu smiled and turned her head: "You are the most precious treasure God has given me—sensible, hardworking, and with a kind heart. You will only get better in the future."

When they arrived at the Wu family's house, the seven people were crammed into three mud-brick rooms. Upon hearing the noise, the eldest uncle immediately came out to greet them, his face full of surprise.

Su Yu stepped across the threshold and closed the door behind her. Everyone in the room turned to look at her. They had heard Wu Jun mention countless times that "Xiao Yulan married someone who doted on her," but when they actually saw Su Yu—with her clear features and upright posture—they immediately felt a little more at ease.

Su Yu placed the bamboo basket on the ground and took out the contents one by one: "This is two catties of meat, half a catty of sugar, a can of malted milk powder, two ounces of lard, and thirty catties of fine grains. We're not well-off these days, Grandpa, please don't think it's too little. We'll come to visit you often in the future."

Wu Shangyong took the things, his eyes slightly moist: "With Yulan in your care, Xiao Cui can finally rest in peace. I'm content as long as you're doing well—this old body of mine can't eat much more anyway."

Su Yu replied loudly, "Grandpa, just eat! Your grandson-in-law has plenty of connections. Yulan eats these every day now, so please accept them without worry. It's getting late, we need to hurry back."

Wu Jun quickly stood up: "Let me see you out!"

The house was cramped, and insisting they stay would seem too polite. Wu Jun escorted them all the way to the village entrance, watching their figures disappear into the twilight before turning to go home.

That evening, the whole family sat around the table and cooked a large pot of boiled pork slices—the aroma wasn't overpowering, it was economical with firewood, and it was satisfying. The lard they'd received last time was still running low, and now they had more. Looking at Xiao Yulan's brand-new blue cotton shirt and corduroy shoes, the family felt a complete weight lifted from their shoulders. Before, when Wu Jun came back and boasted about it, everyone was still somewhat skeptical: the brigade leader's children always had patched clothes, how could they be so well-dressed? But this can of malted milk powder—how many years had they seen it? Now, holding it in their hands, taking a sip, the sweet aroma went straight to their heads—all thanks to their granddaughter!

Xiao Yulan sat down next to Su Yu and asked softly, "Third Brother, we've saved up over two hundred yuan. When are we going to renovate the old house?"

Su Yu shook her head and laughed: "Why bother flipping through it? We'll live in the city from now on. I heard that an apartment in the city only costs 500 yuan now. If we work hard for another year, we'll definitely be able to move in."

Xiao Yulan blinked: "But we have rural household registration, how can we transfer it to the city?"

Su Yu patted the back of her hand: "As long as you have a house, you can settle down. Trust your third brother, I'll take care of this."

Xiao Yulan looked up, her eyes shining: "I believe you. You said you'd give me a better life, and who in the village is living more comfortably than me now? You said you'd take me to the city, and I'm waiting for that day."

Su Yu bent down and carried her on his back. Xiao Yulan leaned against his back, her cheeks burning hot and the tips of her ears turning red. Luckily it was nighttime, otherwise, if someone saw them, she would be so embarrassed.

……

"Can these wild grapes really be dried into raisins?" Several educated youths squatted under the trellis on the mountain, half believing and half doubting.

"Absolutely! I saw it with my own eyes—a couple of days ago, Liu Mei and two other newcomers each carried a small bag of raisins and gave them to two male educated youths. Everyone was eager to try them!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Several fellow villagers surrounded them, asking where they got them from, but those two stubbornly refused to utter a single word!"

"No wonder he wouldn't say a word—he didn't replace it; he made it himself!"

"Su Yu can actually make raisins from wild grapes? That's amazing!"

"God, that's great! If we learn it, we can do it too! Today, almost everyone from the educated youth compound turned out. Just picking grapes alone, how many bunches of grapes will we harvest? Everyone will get a big bag, no problem!"

"Of course! I need to send mine back to my hometown right away!"

"If you're going to divide all the points, what are you planning to do with them?"

The educated youth who was being laughed at only smiled faintly and didn't reply. Yes, everyone in the educated youth settlement had a place; but what about the villagers? Besides, there were dozens of other educated youth who had come to the countryside with them and were staying in other educated youth settlements!

If these wild grapes can really be dried, everyone who puts in the effort, volunteers, and eagerly learns will surely get a good share—and so on…

With something on their mind, their hands and feet became exceptionally nimble. Especially when educated youth from the same area gathered together, they didn't need to be wary of each other, and picking grapes didn't strain their backs or waists, so they naturally worked with great enthusiasm!

Before long, everyone figured out a more convenient method: some people were in charge of pruning the vines and picking the bunches, while two other people were assigned to stand by and pour the full baskets of grapes into the large baskets, so that the pickers wouldn't have to keep crawling in and out of the vines.

After all, this forest is full of shrubs, tangled trees, and wild grapevines that are so densely intertwined that it's not easy to get through!

Seeing that the baskets were almost full, Li Yudong raised his hand and divided the selected male educated youth into three groups: the weaker ones would take the fruit strings from the girls; the other two groups would take turns carrying the loads down the mountain. This time, all the newly arrived educated youth also went back with them, since they had already mastered the drying process. After returning, Wang Mei would lead the way, along with two older educated youth, and they would steadily and busily work at the site.

Before heading down the mountain, Liu Mei quietly pulled aside the educated youth team leader: "Educated Youth Wu, there's something I need to make clear beforehand—I'll go back and keep an eye on washing the grapes. Actually, Li Qin and Wang Mei both know how, and they can teach you quickly. If we're short-handed, I can lend a hand."

"But I'll be leaving at noon. I have other plans for the next few days, so I won't be participating in the day of distributing raisins. I dried a batch myself last time, enough for my family, so I really can't manage this time!" She spoke softly, but left no room for negotiation, not even giving Captain Fang a chance to persuade her.

Captain Wu didn't insist on keeping her, nor did he ask her what she was busy with. He simply called the deputy captain over and whispered a few words to her, and the two of them nodded in agreement.

They knew in their hearts that Liu Mei was far from the only new educated youth who knew how to make raisins. When Su Yu started making them, she never tried to hide anything; anyone who wanted to watch could learn, and she didn't say a single unnecessary word.

So if Liu Mei really has something to do and can't get away, it won't affect the overall situation at all!

"Wu Zhiqing, these are wild grapes, so sour they'll make your teeth ache! They're nothing like the sweet grapes in the city!" A kind-hearted villager, worried that the children might have wasted their time, raised his voice to warn them.

Wu, the educated youth, smiled at everyone he met. If someone kindly offered advice, he would immediately agree with a smile. As for any probing questions hidden in their words, he would just let them go in one ear and out the other.

This time, they took the path along the back slope into the mountains. Liu Mei led the way, pushing open the wooden gate. Wang Mei stood beside her and lowered her voice, saying, "Liu Mei, look at the villagers' faces... can our raisins really be stored?"

"As long as we keep our mouths shut and don't take the finished products out, we should be able to keep it a secret for a while, right?" Liu Mei said hesitantly.

She remembered that Su Yu had never mentioned drying raisins to the village. When they first arrived, the uncle who drove the cart thought the educated youth settlement was chaotic and didn't even want to go inside; later, after staying for a while, the only people who actually stepped into the courtyard were Shu Shuji and the brigade leader, who only made a symbolic appearance on the day they first arrived.

Thinking about it this way, if the clothes were hung out to dry in the yard, outsiders wouldn't be able to see what was going on; what was truly difficult to prevent was the large number of people and gossip in the educated youth settlement...

"Sigh... let's just take it one step at a time!" Wang Mei sighed. The situation at the shop was never a unified front, and besides, how much profit was involved in turning wild grapes into raisins?

The front yard was already bustling with activity. The new educated youth and two older educated youth had already brought out a large wooden basin for washing vegetables and an old iron bucket for fetching water from the kitchen.

The hemp ropes used for drying beans and peppers from private plots in the early years at the educated youth settlement had accumulated quite a bit. Wang Mei had them all brought out, washed clean with water, and then stretched taut one by one, crisscrossing the entire front yard.

The bamboo mats were also turned over and laid out neatly. Grapes were gently poured out of the baskets, each one plump and purplish-green. The male educated youth patted his shoulder and turned to head back into the mountains.

As Su Yu emerged from the woods carrying a heavy load of wild fruit, she saw these young people working together with such unity for the first time. Over time, disagreements are inevitable, but today, their eyes were brimming with energy.

She didn't interfere; she simply packed a hundred catties of wild grapes and freshly made jam into her spatial storage and headed straight for the county town. Whether the educated youth were willing to pass on their methods to the village was their business; it had nothing to do with her, Su Yu—she wouldn't teach them, nor did she intend to.

None of these people in the original story ever helped her. Now, she remembers those who have helped her and will repay them slowly; as for others, she owes them no favors and doesn't need to bother with them.

She put everything into her spatial storage, then squatted by the bushes after leaving the village. She picked up the mudfish basket and headed towards the county town. Only after entering the grove did she take out the grapes and steadily carry them on her back.

The officer in the red armband saw her from afar; her gear must have weighed at least 200 pounds. He quickly stepped forward and stopped her: "Comrade, what are you carrying? Where are you taking it?"

Su Yu gently placed the items on the ground and handed over the letter of introduction: "These are goods from the supply and marketing cooperative; this is the receipt. Please have a taste of the raisins." As she spoke, she grabbed two large handfuls and stuffed them over.

The two carefully examined the letter, looking somewhat embarrassed. They reached out to take it but then withdrew their hands, appearing quite awkward.

Su Yu saw through her immediately and said with a smile, "You two have been working so hard here every day! Don't refuse this small token of our appreciation—we see each other every day, we're practically old friends!"

Wang Zhen laughed heartily: "Alright! From now on, we're friends. Let me know if you need anything!"

Su Yu nodded: "Then I'll go first, I still have to rush to deliver the goods."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Su Yu, she strolled towards the Wangguoying Hotel.

……

Su Yu carried half a pound of raisins into Director Zheng's office, treating it as a small gift to bring during a casual chat. Upon seeing it, Director Zheng felt immediately pleased—this child knew her place, didn't ask for favors after only handing over a couple of gifts, was reliable and dependable.

After delivering the loaches, he casually strolled into the supply and marketing cooperative. The hundred jin of raisins were weighed, the weight was accurate, and he paid forty yuan on the spot. He didn't linger in the city and turned to head to the black market—it was his first time trying to sell pastries, and he had to strike while the iron was hot.

As he passed through the grove, he quietly took out a few pounds of pastries and tucked them into his pocket. Once inside the black market, he found a spot against a wall, squatted down, and lifted a corner of the oil paper package to reveal the soft, golden-brown pastries. He'd only been staring at them for less than five minutes when two passersby squatted down beside him.

The woman leaned forward and asked, "Can I try a small piece?"

"Okay, I've already cut it up." Su Yu quickly handed over a sample piece about the size of a fingernail.