Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

The elderly residents of the courtyard still remember: Xiao Yao often lived with his grandfather when he was little. His parents originally wanted to take him with them, but the boy wouldn't listen to their advice, didn't study properly, and insisted on staying in the city. The old couple were disappointed, but every few days they would still come to visit, carrying military satchels. His crisp yellow woolen uniform made him look smart and capable—could such a family possibly be interested in someone as lazy as him? It was simply a fantasy.

"Alright, alright, Xing'er, stop thinking like that. I'll have your older sister find you a job in the city." Auntie sighed and put a piece of dried radish into her bowl.

"My fifth son is still living off his parents' savings and living off their household registration! Finding a job now? It's harder than climbing to heaven!" Han Chunxue added coldly, like a bucket of ice water being poured over someone's head.

Meng Xiaoxing lowered her eyes, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes—the bright electric lights of the city, the gleaming bicycles, the colorful candies in the shop windows… these images churned in her mind. She had even secretly considered: if she really married Han Chunming, would she be able to move her household registration to this place of gray bricks and tiles? In fact, she and Han Chunming were not related by blood at all; she was just closer to her aunt.

If it weren't for Han Chunming's tough luck, having to deal with this whole family—his childhood friend who always tries to trip him up, his relatives who are always giving him attitude, and his stubborn, easygoing nature—he would probably have been worn down to the point of near death long ago.

As dawn broke, Xiao Yao was jolted awake by the cold. He splashed cold water on his face, instantly waking him up. He changed into his new work clothes, buttoning them up to the collar one by one, and walked towards the garment factory in the morning light.

Su Man stood on tiptoe at the factory gate, carrying an oil paper package. When she saw him coming, she quickly offered him a steaming hot red bean bun: "You treated me to candy yesterday, so today it's my turn to treat you to breakfast." Before she finished speaking, her ears turned bright red.

"Here, catch." Xiao Yao suddenly turned to the side, flicked his finger, and two White Rabbit milk candies slid from behind her ears into her palm.

Su Man's eyes widened suddenly: "Huh? How did it appear out of nowhere?"

"Keep an eye on her—" He waved his empty palm, then suddenly reached out and gently pinched her earlobe. When he opened his hand again, the candy wrapper was glistening with a soft sheen.

"Cough! Cough cough!" A heavy cough came from behind. Su's father stood there with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed. "Young man, mind your manners! In broad daylight... Sigh!" He shook his head and strode straight into the factory gate.

Su Man's face was so hot it could fry an egg, and she turned around and ran after her father.

Xiao Yao took a bite of the steamed bun and slowly strolled into the factory gate.

"Oh, you're here early? Did you bring me some too?" Li Mei greeted her with a smile.

"The steamed bun was given to me by Su Man. This candy was originally meant for her too, but she didn't take it." Xiao Yao handed it over casually.

Li Mei took it and put it in her pocket, laughing as she walked away: "I'll keep it for the kids to enjoy."

At this moment, Su Man rushed in with a flushed face and was scolded by her father: "You have to choose a place to date. What kind of behavior is it to hug and kiss in front of the gate!"

Xiao Yao immediately switched to "lying down mode"—since Li Mei, Su Man, and Wang Tong took turns talking to him, he didn't even have to touch a needle or scissors. He could just lie on the rattan chair and talk about the chaotic old stories of the educated youth settlement.

"You only talk about other people's embarrassing moments, have you never made a mistake yourself?" Su Man glanced at him sideways, her eyes gleaming with cunning.

"Hey, you underestimate me!" Xiao Yao sat up straight, chin slightly raised. "On my first day in the fields, I earned twelve work points! The points clerk praised me for being quick and efficient, saying I'd grown up in the fields. Unlike them? They come back from work clutching their hoes, crying, their palms covered in blisters!"

"Keep bragging! Nobody here is checking your background!" Su Man deliberately pouted, trying to annoy him.

"That's easy—get me a temporary worker position. My fellow educated youth from the same compound works as a cook in our factory canteen. Just ask him a question, and he'll be exposed for lying right away!" Xiao Yao said with a smile, spreading his hands.

"Where are there any openings now?" Su Man pouted, her voice soft and sweet.

"Isn't Old Li about to retire? His son and daughter-in-law are both employed, which frees up a position." Li Mei leaned close to her ear, "You should mention it to your dad, keep the position in your hands, and see if that kid's lying!"

"Okay! I'll go find my dad right now!" Su Man turned and ran.

"She's not even married yet, and she's already paving the way for someone else?" Director Su shook his head as he watched his daughter's retreating figure.

"Dad! What nonsense are you talking about?" Su Man grabbed his arm and shook it. "It's just a temporary job, not an engagement! Besides, if you don't want to do it, I'll go find Mom!"

"Fine, fine, fine, you've worn my ears off!" Director Su tapped her forehead helplessly. "One minute it's job changes, the next it's needing openings. Is this factory your family's grocery store? How many years have your parents worked so hard to earn this job!"

"Wang Tong was willing to switch positions with me, and I didn't pull any strings; the temporary workers were recruited through the proper channels, so where did I violate any rules?" Su Man said confidently.

"There's no chance at the factory—Old Li's job's been under intense scrutiny for ages. But the food factory—I know the director, and I heard they're short three people." Director Su, defeated, grabbed his pen and quickly scribbled a letter of introduction. "Here, take this, and get going!"

Su Man felt a little depressed and wanted to find out more about Xiao Yao's past, but the fragmented information from others was ultimately unreliable, so she could only wait for Xiao Yao to speak up himself—but she couldn't bring herself to ask.

She gently pushed the letter of introduction to Xiao Yao's side.

"I'll treat you to a movie tomorrow as a thank you for helping my buddy get in touch with the food factory." Xiao Yao flicked his finger, and the letter trembled slightly in the air, like a leaf lifted by the wind.

Su Man simply nodded slightly and remained silent.

—Well, this kid's come full circle, he still can't escape the food factory. Oh well, let it be.

After lunch, the two returned to the logistics warehouse, sat down around the stove, and thin white smoke drifted out of the tin chimney, slowly spreading warmth.

"Teach me how to make sugar," Su Man suddenly said, her tone crisp and decisive.

"This..." Xiao Yao paused, scratched the back of his head, "Without sugar, even a skilled cook can't make a meal without rice."

After teaching him three or four times, Su Man looked up and stared at him: "Did you often use this trick to woo girls before?" Her eyes were clear and unambiguous.

"Really not!" Xiao Yao immediately waved his hand. "I just learned it out of curiosity. You're the first one to do it." — This question was too risky; he wasn't going to take the bait.

Su Man's lips twitched slightly.

"I've been keeping a few secret skills to myself, I'll show them to you another day." Xiao Yao smoothly changed the subject, quickly steer the conversation away from the topic.

As he was leaving get off work, Xiao Yao clutched the letter of introduction and lingered at the gate of Han Chunming's house.

Han Chunming shot out like an arrow: "What are you doing? I was just picking at dumplings!" His voice still smelled of oil.

"Do you want the job? If not, I'll turn around and leave." Xiao Yao made a move to take a step.

"Hey, wait! Brother, I was wrong, okay? Let me see it!" Han Chunming snatched the letter, his eyes barely scanning two lines before he grinned, turned and ran into the house, shouting, "Mom! It's done! It really is done!"

Xiao Yao queued up to buy tickets at the movie theater, his legs going numb from standing there. Women really do hold grudges—one time they stand you up, they'll bring it up again for three to five years, making you so ashamed you won't even dare to leave the house.

"Xiao Yao's brain is really sharp!" Han Chunxue picked up a piece of chive filling with her chopsticks. "I heard the treatment at the food factory is amazing, tsk tsk, guaranteed income no matter what."

"That's right!" Han Chunyan chimed in. "Chunming always praises him for his resourcefulness. With just one move, our family's most pressing problem was solved in the blink of an eye."

……

The food was steaming hot on the table, and the family was enjoying their meal.

"Fifth Brother!" Meng Xiaoxing put down her chopsticks, her eyes sparkling. "Could your buddy find me a job too? I'm willing to do anything, I'm not picky!"

"Stop!" Han Chunming interrupted abruptly. "Once this precedent is set, we won't even be brothers anymore."

"Why, Fifth Brother? If he can help you, he can definitely help me too!" Meng Xiaoxing shook his arm, her voice soft.

"Oh dear, please spare me!" Han Chunxue put down her bowl. "Looking for a job in the city, there are household registration documents, street offices, district labor bureaus, and city labor bureaus—aren't they all impenetrable barriers? Besides, Xiao Yao's temper is like the weather in June; he can turn on you in an instant. He's all smiles today and cold tomorrow. If you really go and beg him, he won't even remember your last name."

These words were also a thorn in Han Chunming's side. Xiao Yao seemed enthusiastic, but one had to weigh the value of that kindness carefully—if you reached out for it, he would immediately withdraw, more swiftly than drawing a knife.

Han Chunsong and Han Chunsheng looked down on their poor relatives from the bottom of their hearts. But for now, they were still living under their mother's roof and couldn't fight against their mother's authority; only after they established themselves and settled down would they have the right to make decisions.

Xiao Yao queued for over half an hour before finally clutching his two movie tickets and heading back. Passing the Han family's courtyard, he saw them gathered around a table eating dumplings, laughter filling the steamy air. A slight smile played on his lips, but he didn't approach; he simply gripped the tickets tighter—the fun was theirs, not his.

Just as he reached the door of his house, Su Meng came out from the yard to greet him: "Brother Xiao Yao, I have something I want to ask you."

When Grandma Su saw that it was Su Meng looking for Xiao Yao, she simply nodded and didn't stop her. Xiao Yao's parents were high-ranking officials, and he himself was a regular employee at the garment factory. The two families had no history of conflict and were well-matched. Among the young men in the courtyard, he was the one she liked the most.

When Xiao Yao saw that it was Su Meng, his interest immediately waned—he had just wanted to lie down on the kang and take a nap, how could he have time to deal with her and Han Chunming's budding romance? He knew in his heart that she wanted to inquire about the matter of being sent to the countryside.

"Didn't Cheng Jianjun also stay there? Ask him, it's the same thing, isn't it?" Xiao Yao took out his keys, opened the door, and casually replied.

Su Meng followed him in: "I don't want to talk to him. Just tell me about life in the countryside, I've heard from others that it's quite interesting."

"Interesting?" Xiao Yao retorted, glancing towards the Han family's direction. "Didn't Han Chunming's family have three relatives visiting? Why don't you go ask them? They're in the fields from sunrise to sunset, nothing special. Oh, didn't you graduate too? Have you decided where you're going to work?"