Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

He had just pushed open the door when he saw a figure sprawled in the puddles. He crouched down and brushed aside the wet hair to see what it was—it was his older sister! Without a word, he picked her up and ran home.

After arriving home and leaving the person behind, he grabbed the phone and dialed the hospital. An ambulance arrived with sirens blaring, and He Wenhui was lifted onto a stretcher and taken to the emergency room.

"Who are the family members?" the doctor asked loudly.

"It's me! Her brother!" He Wentao's throat tightened. "Doctor, is she... alright?"

"It's nothing, she just fainted from the stress and caught a chill. She'll be fine in a few days. She'll wake up soon, hurry and pay the bill!"

He Wentao was stunned—he only had a few dozen yuan left in his pocket, which he had saved for eating out this month! What would he do if he didn't have enough money? He panicked and pushed open the ward door.

On the bed, He Wenhui lifted her eyelids, saw him, and her lips trembled as she spoke:

"Wen Tao...go and turn yourself in! Turning yourself in will get you a reduced sentence! What about Wen Yuan? Find her quickly!"

"What nonsense are you talking about, sister? I haven't done anything wrong, why would I confess? Wen Yuan went to university a long time ago! Why did you suddenly think of her?" He Wentao was completely confused.

"What did you say? Wen Yuan... went to university?" He Wenhui's pupils contracted sharply. Something's not right! She was clearly pushed down and taken to the hospital, so how come the world has completely changed when she opened her eyes?

"Yeah! She's only been gone a few days, and you already miss her?" He Wentao frowned, his tone full of impatience.

She shut her mouth and began to desperately recall—things had taken a turn from the first time she met Liu Hongchang: that day he didn't hold her hand tightly like before, he didn't even reach out; logically, she should have married him by now; yet he had medicine to treat her mother's eye disease? That's impossible! She had never heard of this medicine in her past life until her last breath!

Her heart sank: Liu Hongchang was probably also a time traveler.

It must have been when she heard her mother mention her regret about not being able to send her daughter to university before she died that she cut off all ties with her at the beginning and turned to saving her mother and supporting Wenyuan's education...

Upon further reflection: In this life, Liu Hongchang was still tending the fire in the second canteen and never even considered starting a business; his real business began when he sold roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and at most helped organize a few wedding banquets.

Images of her past and present lives flashed through her mind, and the more she thought about it, the more certain she became—he, like her, had fallen back from the future. It's just that she died too young, while when he breathed his last, this medicine already existed in the world.

Then why is he avoiding her? Does he think she's a burden? Yes, it must be because of those two younger brothers! In her past life, she borrowed more than three hundred yuan, which all went to support her brothers. He saw through it all, which is why he preferred Yang Maixiang—at least it's peaceful there, and he doesn't have to fill a bottomless pit every day.

Thinking that her mother would finally be able to see again, He Wenhui suddenly stood up and walked quickly towards the door. But the nurse stood in the doorway like a wall, raising her hand to stop her.

"Hello, the bill hasn't been settled yet, so you can't leave for the time being." The nurse's tone was calm, but carried an uncompromising weight.

He Wenhui paused: "How much?"

"Twelve pieces."

She turned abruptly, her gaze fixed on her younger brother's face—there was no reproach in his eyes, only a deep, chilling coldness. She had just given him twenty yuan this month, and only a few days later? He was even refusing to pay the twelve yuan for medicine. Was the person she had tried so hard to protect in this life truly worth her bowing and scraping time and time again?

She pulled a crumpled twelve-yuan note from her pocket, her fingertips trembling slightly, and handed it over.

"I'm sorry to have taken up your time." Before she finished speaking, she had already turned and strode out the door, her heart burning: she wanted to rush into her mother's arms, and she also wanted to stand in front of Liu Hongchang, but her feet froze in mid-air as soon as she lifted them up—what identity should she go with? Ex-wife? Old acquaintance? Or a stranger who had lived twice and was weathered by life?

Pushing open the door, the loom clattered softly as Yu Qiuhua bent over threading the needle, her silver hair gleaming gently in the setting sun. He Wenhui felt a lump in her throat, rushed over, and hugged her mother tightly, burying her face in her shoulder, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

"What's wrong? Did you and Jianbin have a fight?" Yu Qiuhua put down the shuttle and gently stroked her daughter's back with her warm hand. "When a young couple is living together, there are bound to be disagreements. You're gentle, so be more understanding—he's supporting the whole family, it's not easy for him."

"We didn't argue, Mom... I just suddenly miss you a lot." His voice was muffled, as if he had a wad of cotton in his mouth.

"You child, you always keep your worries to yourself." Yu Qiuhua sighed softly and reached out to tidy up the stray hairs on her forehead.

He Wenhui looked up and suddenly asked, "Mom, do you still remember Master Liu Hongchang?"

"How could I not remember? He's our family's savior!"

"When I was in college, did he ever come to our village?"

"I've never been here even once."

He Wenhui didn't speak again, silently leaving the house and standing motionless on the open ground outside the courtyard for a long time. A gust of wind blew, and dust rose lightly—in her previous life, three blue brick houses had stood here, bright and clean, with wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys; it was where he and she had lived their simple life.

Yu Qiuhua came out carrying a bowl of hot soup. Looking at her daughter's thin back, her heart tightened: "Wenhui, if you have any difficulties, tell your mother. Don't bear it all alone."

"It's really nothing, Mom, don't worry." She turned around, a light smile playing on her lips, but a layer of unyielding sorrow lingered in her eyes. "I just wanted to ask Master Liu...whether he...has he woken up too?"

She walked without stopping, heading straight for Liu's restaurant. Yang Maixiang was sitting behind the counter shelling edamame, her eyebrows relaxed, her smile lines filled with the contentment of a peaceful life—a smile that He Wenhui had once had too, vibrant, passionate, and unreserved.

Liu Hongchang was squatting by the threshold, weaving grasshoppers for the two children with grass stems. When he looked up, He Wenhui was already standing quietly in front of him.

"Master Liu, may I speak to you in private?" Her voice was soft, but a smile remained firmly on her lips.

Liu Hongchang was taken aback, and the grass stem in his hand almost slipped—something was wrong.

He pulled his youngest son into his arms and followed her out the door, walking all the way to the bench under the old locust tree in the park.

"You also came from another time?" He Wenhui asked bluntly.

His heart sank: Had he been exposed? Where had he slipped up?

"Wear...what?" He frowned, looking completely bewildered. "What's 'time travel'?"

"Hongchang," she took a half step forward, her gaze meeting his directly, "what happened after I left that made you completely disillusioned with them?"

"Comrade He, aren't you standing right here?" He scratched the back of his head, pretending to be completely at ease.

"Your eyes don't lie." Her voice lowered, but became even deeper. "I won't destroy your home, nor will I interfere with your plans. I just want to understand—how exactly did they wear your heart down, inch by inch, until it grew cold?"

Liu Hongchang's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't reply. So it turns out eyes really can give away secrets… He'll have to practice how to hide his emotions.

He took a deep breath and finally looked up: "You really want to know?"

He Wenhui nodded, her jaw clenched tightly.

"After you left, Wentao was sentenced to seven years. The day he got out, he didn't even go home, he just packed his bags and went south. What about Wenyuan? He spent his days hanging out at the billiard hall at the town entrance, and later went to Guangzhou with a ship sailor, and never came back. The year your mother had the car accident, I was the one who stayed by her bedside. Later, I raised Wenda and supported him through junior high school... but he thought it was shameful for me to sell boxed lunches at the street corner. One time, in front of the neighbors, he picked up a sledgehammer and smashed my tricycle to pieces, yelling at me to 'get out of our house.'" He paused, not saying anything more, but every word was like a nail, hitting He Wenhui's ears.

Her eyes welled up with tears, which unexpectedly streamed down her face: "So...you didn't remarry?"

Tears streamed down my cheeks, one after another, landing on the back of my hand, cold and wet.

Liu Hongchang slowly shook his head.

She didn't ask any more questions, nor did she wipe away her tears. She simply turned and left, her back straight, but her steps were unsteady as if she were walking on clouds.

Liu Xinxin clung to her father's shoulder, crying in her childish voice, "Shame on you! Auntie's crying!"

Liu Hongchang quickly covered her mouth and lowered his voice, "You can't say that to anyone, people will laugh at your auntie, understand?"

The little girl nodded vigorously. Liu Xi was already fast asleep, leaning against his shoulder, her little hand still clutching half a grasshopper. Liu Hongchang carried one in each hand and hurried towards the restaurant.

He Wenhui didn't go home; instead, she went straight to Li Jianbin's house. The moment the Li family saw her, their faces darkened, their expressions turning fierce, and they wouldn't even let her stand in the doorway for a second longer.

"Mom, I want to speak with Jianbin alone for a few minutes." Her voice was calm, like still water. "If he still insists on a divorce after I've spoken, I'll return the entire dowry. Jianbin, can we talk?"

Li Jianbin was actually feeling choked up – his words this morning were not only out of spite, but also out of frustration. It wasn't that he disliked her for being poor, but he couldn't stand her two brothers: one was at the age where he should be studying, but instead he was constantly comparing himself to others with designer shoes; the other was a lazy bum, walking with his arms swinging, and couldn't even earn his own food.

He Wenhui slowly walked out of the Li family's gate, each step feeling like she was wading through mud. She didn't turn around, but her ears were perked up, listening for any footsteps following behind.

No.

She continued walking forward.

Then a voice called out "Wenhui" from behind, low and hesitant, yet genuine.

The two entered the park side by side and sat on the bench that was still warm—the spot where Liu Hongchang and she had just sat.

"Jianbin, I know what happened in the past hurt you." She turned her head, her eyes clear. "From now on, I won't interfere in their affairs anymore. Half of my monthly salary will go to my mother, enough to support Wen until he's eighteen. If he doesn't get into university, I'll stop supporting him. My mother is getting old and still owes Junling money, I accept that. If you agree, I'll go back now and have them move out tonight; if you don't agree... I'll still do it. I don't want to spend my whole life trying to fill their never-ending hole."

After talking with Liu Hongchang, she had a clear understanding: she had lived two lives, not to continue being someone else's stepping stone. This time, she was going to live for herself. Li Jianbin was nothing more than an unfinished dream from her youth.

Li Jianbin was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "Wenhui, I'm not stopping you from helping them, but I'm afraid this help will ruin our lives. Raising children, caring for the elderly, saving money for a house—all of these require a steady, long-term commitment. We can't count on your two brothers. Your mother's health still depends on you and Wenyuan. We need to think long-term—we can provide enough food at home, but people have to be independent. Continuing to support them like this will only harm them."