Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Liu Hongchang's face immediately darkened. The older generation had a clear saying: whoever the child calls out to first, that person will have to shoulder more responsibilities in the future.

"Daddy—" Liu Xi chimed in her childish voice.

Liu Hongchang feigned grievance: "Oh dear, you two little devils, why didn't you call me 'Mom' first? We agreed, your mother is the pillar of this family!"

"Alright, alright, the old almanac can't be overturned!" Wang Cuilan waved her hand, her tone light. "What difference does it make who you call first? Didn't you two brothers call me first when you were kids? What's wrong with me?"

Liu Hongchang chuckled inwardly: You're not suffering because you've transmigrated here; according to the original book, you should be clutching your chest and gasping for breath right now—your son has been married for three years, and his daughter-in-law won't even let you in the door, she's currently curled up outside your front door dozing off; before they even got their marriage certificate, the two brothers overturned tables and smashed bowls over the old house, their neck veins bulging and their faces as red as if they were about to bleed; one unpleasant thing after another happened after that, and even in your old age you're still worried about Liu Hongchang, yet you have the leisure to laugh at my superstition.

He held one child in each arm, pulling them close to his chest: "My little devils, your mouths are the reason I'm in this business! Be more filial from now on, you hear me?"

The whole room erupted in laughter. The four children, unaware of what was happening, saw the adults laughing and joined in, grinning and giggling.

Liu Hongchang put on a stern face and said seriously, "This is a big deal, no laughing allowed!"

The two little ones in his arms giggled even louder, kicking their little feet wildly and almost knocking over his belt.

Laughter mingled with the morning light, leaping across the windowpanes and swirling among the dishes, keeping the whole morning warm and cozy.

……

He Wenyuan had prepared the meal well in advance. After half a year of learning in the restaurant, although he couldn't match Liu Hongchang's precise control of the heat, his cutting, seasoning, and oil control were all done with a deft and efficient style, far surpassing that of ordinary people.

As soon as the food was cooked, its aroma wafted out of the courtyard wall on the wind, and the neighbors praised, "Wen Yuan is such a capable and reliable girl."

As soon as the meal was served, Yu Qiuhua and He Wenhui pushed open the door and entered the courtyard.

At the dinner table—

"Wen Yuan, I heard you got fifty-two yuan this month?" He Wenhui's eyes lit up, genuinely admiring him. "I'm really not as good as you!"

"Hmph, what's so special about it?" Wen Tao buried his head in his rice, his voice so low it was like a mosquito's hum.

He Wenyuan paused with his chopsticks, then looked up and smiled: "Yes, it's really nothing special. Logically speaking, it's noble to ask for money, while earning money is considered beneath you—don't you think?"

The air seemed to freeze.

"What business is it of yours if I want money? I haven't spent a single penny of yours! What are you complaining about! It's just a street stall selling steamed buns, what makes you think you're so important?" Wen Tao slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, making the bowls and chopsticks clang loudly.

Yu Qiuhua's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

He Wenyuan slowly wiped his mouth: "Yes, yes, I'm just a steamed bun seller, how dare I be arrogant? But you know—money I earn myself feels secure in my hands, and it's more enjoyable to spend it. You may think I'm lowly, but I think this sense of security is more admirable than anything else."

Wen Tao opened his mouth to argue again, but Yu Qiuhua slapped him across the face with a crisp, loud sound.

"You've forgotten your own name after eating a few full meals? Your second sister is only two years older than you, and she's already able to support herself! You're a grown man, aren't you ashamed to say such things? What do you mean by shameful? If she went to the street to collect manure and could earn money, I'd give her a thumbs up! She's ten times better than you!" Yu Qiuhua's voice trembled, each word landing on the ground.

Wen Tao turned and rushed out the door, feeling that his mother no longer cared about him. She used to favor his eldest sister, but now she doted on his second sister.

Wenda silently put down his chopsticks, got up, and chased after him.

Yu Qiuhua took a deep breath: "Eat! Let them go hungry for a couple of meals, and they'll know who's hot and who's cold. Wenyuan, you go your own way, don't let gossip trip you up. You're a girl, you'll get married someday, let them think what they want. As long as you live your life well, that's better than anything else—a clear conscience is true confidence."

In a few years, if Wen Yuan really gets into university, his two younger brothers will have grown up and be able to start their own businesses.

Yu Qiuhua knew perfectly well that the two boys had definitely gone to Wen Hui's apartment building. She wasn't in a hurry, nor did she chase after them; she simply ate slowly with Wen Yuan and chatted with him in detail.

Actually, if Wen Hui hadn't gotten into university, she would have preferred Wen Yuan—this girl was decisive and didn't blindly follow others, which made her feel more at ease than her sister's mild-mannered nature.

Before they knew it, it was college entrance exam season. As expected, Wen Tao failed the exam, and Wen Hui accompanied him to work as a temporary worker in a garment factory; while Wen Yuan was personally invited by the school leaders to take the exam.

At the beginning of the year, her teacher came to her home and said: "You have a solid foundation after finishing the second year of high school. You don't need to repeat the year. You can join the class directly in the second semester." Wen Yuan immediately quit her job at the restaurant and devoted herself to her studies.

The day she received her acceptance letter, she hugged her mother tightly, spun around three times, her skirt fluttering in the wind.

"Mom! I got accepted! Kyoto Normal University!" Her voice trembled, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Mom saw it... I, Wenyuan, have done well." Yu Qiuhua gently stroked her daughter's forehead, looking into those bright, determined eyes, her lips curving into a gentle and reassuring smile.

For the past six months, Wen Yuan has been working at a restaurant every Sunday, selling steamed buns. She earns one bun a day and has saved up more than two hundred yuan—enough for travel expenses, and she finally bought the flute she had been longing for. Wen Hui had already explained the university situation to her: meal tickets would be provided, and if she excelled academically, she could become a teaching assistant with a monthly salary.

Today is also Wenhui's wedding day. The wedding banquet is being held at Liu's Restaurant—ever since they hosted a wedding for Director Hou's son, it has become the preferred venue for newlyweds in the city. The restaurant has doubled in size, hired three or four new chefs, and is now busier and more lively.

Wen Yuan carefully folded the admission notice and tucked it into his pocket before heading towards Wen Hui's apartment building. Today, she was accompanying her mother to her wedding.

After a lively send-off to the Li family, she rushed back to the restaurant. Her colleagues at the door greeted her with smiles, "Wen Yuan's here? Our 'God of Literature' has finally arrived!"

—She would devour books whenever she had free time, which led to her being jokingly called "the God of Literature," to which she would simply smile and accept it.

"Kyoto Normal University," she replied with a smile, her eyes shining, her steps light.

"You've really lived up to expectations! Heaven has finally opened its eyes. All that hard work has finally paid off—when are you going to treat your sister to a meal?" Yang Maixiang joked with a smile.

He Wenyuan scratched his head: "I'll be in charge of cooking tomorrow. Please come to my house for a lively gathering! But don't expect any delicacies. I'm just a poor student. I can only buy some fresh vegetables, make a soup, and steam a fish."

Yang Maixiang blinked: "Okay! I'll give you a generous red envelope to ward off bad luck!"

"Thank you, Sister Xie!" As soon as He Wenyuan finished speaking, he picked up his lunchbox and crawled into his seat.

She worked in the shop, cycling to the morning market before dawn to pick out vegetables and grabbing a couple of hot roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers) along the way. During the day, she stood behind the counter, organized the goods, and greeted customers, her smile never faltering. When new waitresses were inexperienced, she taught them step by step, guiding them hand in hand. Even the most discerning regular customers often praised her for being "observant and attentive." Later, Yang Maixiang learned about her family's circumstances—her father had passed away early, her mother was ill, and her younger brother was still young—and how she had single-handedly held up half the sky. A wave of respect immediately washed over her.

As the wedding banquet ended and everyone else packed up and left, she quietly stayed behind. She had already made plans with several close girlfriends: they would all come to her house for dinner the next day! Before leaving, she chatted with Yang Maixiang for a few more minutes before heading home under the moonlight.

The next evening, Yang Maixiang, holding Liu Xinxin's hand, arrived at the door with several waiters. Everyone was carrying gifts, and as soon as they entered, they exclaimed, "Wenyuan has made something of himself!" "Congratulations on getting into university!" "You'll be a university student now!"—The clatter of pots and pans, laughter, and the aroma of food mingled together, filling the house with warmth and coziness.

Liu Hongchang parked his bicycle at the entrance of the alley and kept watch. In the dead of night, he was worried about Yang Maixiang taking the child out alone through the streets and alleys.

Only three months into their marriage, He Wenhui and Li Jianbin were already arguing like cats and dogs, all because of their two younger brothers.

"I'm your brother-in-law, not your stay-at-home dad! You work at the factory, only working three days a week and then taking two, and you ask for money before you've even had a chance to get your wages. Is your family a money printing factory? You just bought a bicycle and rode it away without even saying a word? Do I owe your family eight hundred strings of cash?" Li Jianbin's voice exploded, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

"They're still young... Besides, when I was in college, my mom tightened her belt to support me, and our family really owes them. I'll try to persuade them properly." He Wenhui's voice was as soft as a feather.

"Still young? Why don't you say they're not old yet? Lying around all day waiting to be fed, not washing dishes or clothes, is this what you call living? Don't even mention it! The eight hundred yuan my mom scraped together for our wedding, you poured it all into your brother's bottomless pit—buying this and adding that! Fine, you can support him from now on, I'm not doing it anymore! That eight hundred yuan, every single penny back! This divorce, right now!" Li Jianbin turned and stormed out the door.

He Wenhui rushed forward and grabbed his arm tightly, tears streaming down her face. He shoved her violently, and she fell backward to the ground. Without looking back, he got into his car and sped away.

……

He Wenhui struggled to her feet, opened the courtyard gate, and chased after him. Li Jianbin had already ridden far ahead. She took off running, grabbing the rear rack. He slammed on the pedals, and she slipped, plunging heavily into a muddy ditch by the roadside. He didn't even glance in the rearview mirror; the wheels splashed water as he sped away.

This was the first time Li Jianbin had ever seen such a family: they used to be so poor they couldn't even afford food, and just when they managed to catch a breath with his sister's help, she immediately turned her back on them. With a child on the way, how could they possibly survive? Every penny the family earned went straight into his brother's pocket; even the family apartment he'd just been allocated was being planned by the three siblings to be transferred to him! He stubbornly refused to budge—with their fixed salaries, when would they ever be able to save enough for an apartment? He had to leave this life as soon as possible! If he'd known she was so biased, he should have been more careful! He was determined to keep a close eye on that eight hundred yuan; not a penny less!

His mind was buzzing with rage.

The rain lashed down relentlessly.

He Wentao was starving. He slipped on his slippers and went out to find something to eat. He called out "Sister" twice, but no one answered. He pulled out a few bills and turned to walk out the door. These days, he and Wenda were tired of eating at home. They ate at noodle shops and Liu's restaurant every meal. Eating out was considered respectable. Anyway, his older sister had money in her pocket.