Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Her shoulders trembled slightly as images of her mother's pale face, her younger sister's hand clutching her textbooks, and her younger brother's back as he tiptoed to reach the stove flashed before her eyes… The family's last twenty yuan had all been spent on this feast. If her mother went blind and Yu Qiuhua were fired from the factory, this house would probably be drafty, even the roof would leak.

She looked up abruptly, her eyes lighting up: "Master Liu...do you...have a way?"

Liu Hongchang sneered inwardly—he didn't want to marry a bottomless pit. No matter how rich the family was, they couldn't afford her relentless support for her younger brother, risking the lives of the entire family. No matter how handsome she was, she couldn't cross this line: one must be clear-headed and have a righteous heart.

He Wenhui held her breath: "Then... what's your idea?"

Liu Hongchang: "You should find a job first to supplement the family income so your mother can catch her breath—today's meal was paid for by someone secretly a day in advance. There's only twenty yuan left, but the person absolutely refuses to leave their name, and I haven't even gotten close to them."

He stuffed the crumpled banknotes into her hand, his fingertips still dusted with flour dust.

In the original story, Liu Hongchang kindly brought a set of beef bones to her door, but her younger brother, influenced by Erqing's sarcastic and instigating remarks, insisted on pouring the entire pot of soup into the slop bucket. Apart from their biological mother, Yu Qiuhua, who was still willing to protect them, everyone else in the family kept their distance—anyone who got even the slightest bit involved would be dragged into the mud and rolling around in it.

He Wenhui's heart tightened, as if someone had grabbed her throat: with her mother away, she was the pillar of support. This burden was heavy, but she had to grit her teeth and bear it.

He Wenhui: "Thank you, Master Liu!" Her voice was strained, but she straightened her back.

Liu Hongchang lowered his voice: "Let me mention one more thing—your mother is planning to give your brother away. You should call her right now and make it clear that the person who paid for your meal can cure her eye disease."

Her hand trembled, and she grabbed the money and rushed towards the phone booth at the street corner, repeatedly chanting in her mind: Please don't let it be real, please don't...

Liu Hongchang didn't say anything more. It was their own road; he had handed them an umbrella, but whether it rained or which way they went was none of his business.

He quickly changed his clothes, gestured with his chin to Yang Maixiang, indicating that she should sit in the back seat. The two of them leisurely went to see a movie, and took a stroll around the lake along the way.

The call connected, and He Wenhui cut to the chase: "Mom, are you really planning to send Wenda away?"

There was a sudden silence on Yu Qiuhua's end, as if she had been choked, and she held her breath for a full half minute before finally managing to squeeze out, "...How did you know?"

He Wenhui's nose stung, and tears fell onto the microphone: "Someone told me! They said your eyes can be saved!"

The more she thought about it, the more ashamed she became—had she listened to her classmate's nonsense and invited them to dinner just to save face? Her family was starving and hadn't even received a red envelope. If it weren't for that kind-hearted person who had been hiding behind her back, she probably would have been standing there like a statue at the entrance of the second canteen, unable to hold her head up.

Yu Qiuhua hesitated: "You believe him?"

He Wenhui choked back tears: "He even knew you were going to give someone away, and he even paid the bill for me... I don't even know who he is, how can I not believe him?"

After a moment of silence, Yu Qiuhua finally replied in a hoarse voice, "Mom will leave tomorrow."

The doctor had already warned her: surgery wasn't guaranteed to be effective. She was taking a gamble—if it worked, there would be an extra pair of chopsticks in the family; if not… she didn't dare think about it.

A temporary worker, raising four children, three of whom are still in school, has to support himself inch by inch with his backbone.

Yu Qiuhua turned to Junling and said, "Junling, could you please buy me a return ticket?"

Junling was taken aback: "Master, you're not going to have the surgery?"

Yu Qiuhua gently shook her head: "Wenhui has someone who can cure my eyes."

In the movie theater, Liu Hongchang fell asleep, leaning back in his chair. These days, movies are so slow-paced, like an old ox pulling a broken cart; even with tickets so hard to get, he only felt his eyelids grow heavy. When the movie ended, Yang Maixiang gently woke him. He carried her through the shadows of the sycamore trees and steadily escorted her to the courtyard gate.

Liu Hongchang teased her with a smile, "Remember to bring me breakfast tomorrow morning—you said you'd take care of me for the rest of my life."

Yang Maixiang rolled her eyes at him: "Dream on!" Before she finished speaking, she had already skipped and jumped into the courtyard, her ponytail swinging in a lively arc in the setting sun.

Liu Hongchang watched that nimble figure, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. In this day and age, girls who dare to speak their minds and act boldly are a rare sight.

……

Yang Maixiang had long considered this place her own backyard, and she came knocking on the door with steaming hot breakfast as soon as it was light. When Wang Cuilan opened the gate and saw it was her, her face immediately lit up with a smile.

Wang Cuilan: "Oh dear, why are you up so early, girl? Come in and sit down!"

Yang Maixiang shoved the oil paper package into her hand: "Auntie, I have to rush to work. I bought this for you and Hongchang."

Wang Cuilan happily accepted it: "You silly child, don't bother! You go and get busy, I'll bring Hongchang over tonight!"

Yang Maixiang's face flushed red, and she turned and ran away—even the most fiery girl these days understands what it means for a man to come to her door, and her heart was pounding like a drum.

Liu Hongchang had just slipped out in his slippers when he saw Wang Cuilan carrying breakfast stepping across the threshold.

Liu Hongchang: "Mom, where did you buy it?"

Unlike the original owner, he didn't call her "Da Lanzi" all the time. That name sounded affectionate, but it was actually absurd! Outsiders would think this kid was missing a screw—either he was burned when he was young, or he was just naturally a bit dim-witted, even speaking without restraint when his sister-in-law was present.

This type of person is typically "sweet on the outside, bitter on the inside": they are open and honest with outsiders, but cold and shirking responsibility with their own family; they run themselves ragged for outsiders, but leave their closest relatives in a terrible mess, as if the whole world owes them several lives.

Seeing his difficult life, Liu Zi set up a stall to sell roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) without hesitation. He put in so much effort and time, even refusing all the profits—and what was the result? He was dismissed with a simple "thank you".

If he hadn't transmigrated into Liu Hongchang's body, he would never have dared to associate with such a person. He could even renege on a contract signed by his own elder brother; would you dare believe a single word he said?

He's incredibly warm to others, but who among those who are truly good to him receives any kindness in return? It's a miracle if they aren't dragged down by him; it's a blessing from their ancestors.

Wang Cuilan set the breakfast on the table and said with a smile, "Maixiang brought this all the way for you. This girl has your heart set on you, so don't disappoint her."

Liu Hongchang quickly interjected, "Mom, you've misunderstood! I'm not that kind of person. Don't worry, I'll protect her for the rest of my life, and I'll protect you too!"

Wang Cuilan patted his arm: "Stop being silly! Go to the supply and marketing cooperative at noon to get everything ready, and I'll ask Aunt Wang to act as matchmaker."

Liu Hongchang nodded: "I understand all of this, so you can just wait patiently."

He hopped on his bicycle and hurried toward the second canteen, pondering as he rode: What job would be suitable for him? He could drive and team up with Yang Maixiang, but a driver can't stir-fry food—why would she switch jobs with him? This job might be deadly.

Lost in thought, he suddenly saw Liu Zi struggling to carry goods to the warehouse. He immediately jumped off the vehicle and rushed over to help.

Liu Zi straightened up and laughed, "Brother, you take a break. We can finish this little bit of work in no time!"

Liu Hongchang rolled up his sleeves: "Many hands make light work, let's stop talking and get it done first!"

Liu Zi is just like that: he doesn't talk much and doesn't have any sentimental words, but every joke he makes is like a warm fire burning in a stove, making you feel comfortable and really soothed.

Liu Hongchang asked Director Yao for leave. Liu Zi always liked to jokingly call him "Director Liu," but when he actually asked for leave, no one paid him any attention.

By the time he finished selecting gifts for the Yang family at the supply and marketing cooperative, the sun was already setting. He had just pushed open the courtyard gate when He Wenhui was standing there, bumping right into him.

He Wenhui: "Master Liu, where is that doctor who can cure my mother's eyes? Could you take me to ask him in person?"

Liu Hongchang: "Wait a moment, let me put the things inside first."

He deftly carried the bundle into the house, emptied it in one go, and then returned briskly.

Liu Hongchang: "The person just left, but the medicine is here—your mother should take one dose, and she'll see improvement within two days."

He handed over the packet of medicine the system had given him. The system's original words were "take it and you will be cured," but if he actually said that, he would probably be mistaken for a madman spouting nonsense on the spot.

He Wenhui: "How much is this medicine? I'll settle the payment for you."

Liu Hongchang waved his hand: "They really didn't raise the price, nor did they say where we were going, they didn't even leave a trace."

He Wenhui clutched the medicine box, her heart sinking: Who exactly was this person? She knew everything about the house, including how many pots and pans there were, when they had argued, and even that her mother was hospitalized in a neighboring county; what was even stranger was that she didn't want fame or fortune, and wouldn't even accept a word of thanks—if she was deliberately setting a trap, she should at least leave a clue, right? But the person seemed to have been swept away by the wind, leaving no trace whatsoever.

She put the medicine in her inner pocket and protected her all the way home.

Yu Qiuhua was sitting in the yard shelling beans, her eyelids drooping, but her fingers were steady: "Did you see anyone?"

She no longer concealed her blurred vision—since her daughter already knew, concealing it would only create distance.

He Wenhui: "They left behind only one pill, and then they disappeared without a trace."

As Yu Qiuhua listened, her brows furrowed even more. She was puzzled: Where in the world could such a person come from? If they really wanted to deceive someone, they should have made up a reason and left a phone number, but the other party didn't even show their face, only throwing down a pill, as if... they came specifically to get out of trouble.

He Wenhui helped her mother sit down, broke open the pills and fed them to her, then wiped the rim of the bowl and started chatting with her. Her mind was churning with thoughts of urging her to continue her studies—the university acceptance letter from the provincial capital was still buried at the bottom of a box; just abandoning it like that made her sleepless at night. But her daughter's words pierced her heart: if Mom goes completely blind, this family will eventually fall on her shoulders; if she doesn't shoulder it, who will?

After exchanging only a few words, Yu Qiuhua suddenly stopped, staring blankly at the light streaming in through the window. She blinked, then rubbed her eyes, her gaze slowly returning to her daughter's face, tracing the familiar yet long-lost features inch by inch.

Yu Qiuhua: "Wenhui...Mom saw you."

He Wenhui grabbed her mother's hand: "Mom! Can you really see clearly now?"

Tears instantly rolled down their cheeks, landing on the backs of their clasped hands.

Yu Qiuhua's voice trembled: "Could it be... that some deity entrusted Master Liu to help us, mother and child?"