Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Han Chunming finally lost his temper. He raised his hand, and Meng Xiaoxing jumped away, clutching her arm. The two of them rushed out, only to bump into Xiao Yao leaning against the door frame. His lips were slightly upturned, but his eyes were as indifferent as a glass of cold water, as if he were watching an impromptu juggling show.

His aunt's face immediately darkened, her lips turning down so much they could hang an oil bottle: "Do I have to kowtow three times and nine times to come to your house for a meal and a cup of tea? Are you trying to beat us up because you think we country folk are too shabby, or because you think your own threshold is too high to accommodate the footprints of your relatives?" Not to mention her youngest daughter, who was clutching the faded blue cloth shirt tightly, her knuckles white, as if she were grasping at a lifeline.

"Come on, let's go to your house for a visit... This matter is simply..." Su Man opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words to describe it—why should a few worn-out clothes cause such a commotion? Every year she would pick out some decent ones to give to the poor households in the alley, and she had never seen anyone glare at her for this.

Xiao Yao led the way, his steps brisk, and the two of them quickly disappeared into his small courtyard. Yesterday, he had patted his chest and said that if he were to cook today, the taste would be no less than that of a state-run restaurant.

Cheng Jianjun was squatting by the wall, secretly gloating, when Xiao Yao pushed open the door and caught him red-handed.

"Oh, so you were the one who tipped them off? Just waiting to see Han Chunming's family fall apart?" Xiao Yao glanced at him sideways, the smile not reaching his eyes.

"Heaven and earth bear witness! Would I do such a thing?" Cheng Jianjun immediately straightened his back, but his eyes drifted to the branches of the sycamore tree beside him. "The three of us grew up together, would I betray my brother?"

"It wasn't like that before, but now... it's hard to say." Xiao Yao's tone was calm, yet every word struck a chord. "What did Chunming do to wrong you? Backstabbing you isn't like you. If it were for Su Meng, it wouldn't be worth it—if you like someone, pursue them with your own abilities. Whoever wins or loses, a drink at the table, and you're still brothers. Why make it seem like deadly enemies? Is that really necessary?"

"I said I didn't!" Cheng Jianjun suddenly looked up, his voice hard. "You don't believe me, you're siding with Han Chunming!"

These words sound like a defense, but in reality they are forcing Xiao Yao to take sides: From now on, which side are you on?

……

Su Man happened to walk out at that moment. She heard the second half of the story, her brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze swept back and forth between the two faces.

Xiao Yao nodded slightly to her: Wait a moment, I'll explain in detail later.

"If I were truly on Han Chunming's side, would I still be arguing with you like this? I should have turned around and gone to him long ago to have things cleared up." Xiao Yao's voice wasn't loud, but it was steady and controlled. "It's just that I'm thinking of our years of friendship and don't want to see our good relationship torn to shreds over such a small matter. Today's action is just a small one, but what about tomorrow? What about the day after? If we take another step, I'm afraid we won't be able to stop."

He paused, his gaze calm: "I won't get involved in your affairs. But if you still consider me a brother, go apologize to Chunming; if you're determined not to turn back, please stop using the 'brother' label to stab me in the back—that's not ruthlessness, that's cold-heartedness. Just as you don't want me to betray you, I don't want you to either."

Cheng Jianjun didn't reply. He just kicked a pebble at his feet, turned around, and went into his own yard. He needed some peace and quiet—maybe he would apologize, or maybe he would pretend he hadn't heard.

Su Man then realized that the farce she had just witnessed was actually orchestrated by someone stirring up trouble in the shadows. Life, it turns out, is more exciting and more unpleasant than fiction.

Xiao Yao turned around and went back to the stove. With a flick of the spatula, two steaming dishes were served.

"The one who ran out, and the one crouching by the wall, are they your childhood friends?" Su Man picked up a piece of shredded pork with green peppers, her eyes shining. She pointed towards the Han family's house, then towards Cheng Jianjun's house. "How come, out of nowhere, one tripped the other, and the other got beaten up?"

"It's about competing for a girl." Xiao Yao looked up and saw Su Meng slamming the door shut as she stormed into the house. He gestured with his chin in that direction, "Look, the one who just came back."

"It's much more exciting than listening to storytelling!" Su Man's eyes curved into crescents.

"Try it." Xiao Yao smiled and pushed the plate towards her.

Su Man took a bite and nodded vigorously: "It's absolutely amazing! You should be reserved for the head chef in the cafeteria."

"Thanks for the compliment." Xiao Yao blinked. "But this cooking skill is only for people I like. As for others? Don't even think about lifting the lid."

"You pervert!" Her ears burned, and she grabbed her bag and ran towards the door.

Xiao Yao smiled and followed. Su Man walked quickly, her cheeks flushed, but her steps kept slowing down as she frequently looked back, afraid that he would fall behind.

Meng Xiaoxing, who had been glaring at people in the yard just moments before, was now clutching her stomach and rushing to the toilet—she hadn't even had a drop of water in the apple before she ate it and started complaining of stomach pain; she was now squatting on the outhouse, groaning.

Xiao Yao escorted her all the way to the bus stop.

"Have a safe trip, see you at Beihai Park tomorrow."

Su Man just kept nodding, her face burning hot, not daring to even lift her eyelashes.

The car arrived, she waved hurriedly, the door closed, and the car drove away. Xiao Yao watched the taillights disappear around the street corner before turning and strolling back into the alley. Han Chunming had changed his pants and was squatting on his doorstep, staring blankly at the ants on the ground.

Seeing Xiao Yao approach, he suddenly stood up, hooked his arm around the other's shoulder, and laughed, "Hey, you've certainly had your fill of entertainment today, haven't you? Why don't you go in and try to persuade Grandma Su? By the way, who's that girl next to you? Tsk tsk, she's really pretty!"

"My colleague." Xiao Yao shrugged casually. "You're something else, kid. I heard you just took your pants off at the street corner to reason with someone? You've got guts and integrity, like Han Xin—except you forgot to pull up your pants."

"Alright, alright, stop teasing me!" Han Chunming grinned, stretched out his hand, and said, "Lend me two coins for an emergency."

"Sure, I've been waiting for you." Xiao Yao readily pulled out five yuan and stuffed it into his hand. "Take it, and don't follow me anymore."

He pushed open the door, picked up the unfinished dish from the table, and ate it all, bite by bite. He'd taken the day off tomorrow; the willow branches in Beihai Park were waiting for them to sway together.

Early in the morning, Xiao Yao quickly got ready, grabbed her canvas bag, and rushed to the bus stop. She caught the first bus and was able to eat a couple of hot steamed buns when she arrived.

Han Chunming and Su Meng agreed to meet at the main gate.

"If I go to work at the Children's Palace, am I considered a kindergarten teacher or a regular teacher?" Su Meng asked while adjusting her scarf.

"The Children's Palace is directly under the Ministry of Education. Its staffing, professional titles, and benefits are all based on those of teachers. What's wrong? Are you having doubts?" Han Chunming was taken aback. Xiao Yao's words from the day before yesterday flashed through his mind—Su Meng went to the Children's Palace, and Cheng Jianjun went to work as a piano tuner.

"Come on, come with me to the Youth Palace!" Before Su Meng finished speaking, she had already stepped outside.

Han Chunming quickly caught up, still carrying the five yuan he had borrowed from Xiao Yao the night before in his pocket, untouched.

Having money in hand, Han Chunming didn't entertain the crooked idea of ​​sneaking into the park without paying. Upon arriving at the Beihai Park transfer station, the two spontaneously decided to stroll around. On a whim, he grabbed Su Meng and pulled her over the low wall, slipping into the park. They walked leisurely, recounting the origins of the White Pagoda and the stories of the Five Dragon Pavilion, until they reached the boating area by the lake. Suddenly, with a "splash," a small boat was hit and tumbled sideways, the passenger falling into the water. Without a word, Han Chunming threw off his coat and jumped in, quickly pulling the person ashore. Su Meng's eyes lit up; she secretly labeled him a "true hero" in her heart.

The two hid in the woods to change their clothes. Just as they unbuttoned their shirts, two elderly men and women wearing red armbands rushed in, pointing their fingers and shouting "Indecent assault!" While they were still embarrassed, Xiao Yao and Su Man strolled towards them, walking through the woods in the morning light.

Su Man immediately covered her eyes and turned her face away.

"Dude, what's going on here?" Xiao Yao asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

"Don't even mention it—I saved someone and got mistaken for a pervert! We'll talk about it tonight, I'm outta here now!" Han Chunming ducked into the shadows of the trees, quickly put on his clothes, and then peeked out again.

"Brother Xiao Yao, someone fell into the water just now, and Chunming jumped in to pull him out. He went ashore to change his clothes, and people misunderstood him." Su Meng quickly tried to smooth things over for him.

"Serves you right! Why didn't you just change the clothes on the spot during the rescue? Why did you have to hide in the woods? You're just asking for trouble." Xiao Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Han Chunming wiped his face and said loudly, "Let's go boating!" He then waved to Xiao Yao and Su Man.

"I just finished a lap, now I just want to walk slowly." Su Man waved her hand.

The two had only been ashore for a few minutes. Going back into the water to row again? Not only would they be exhausted, but the boat was loose, the lifebuoy was torn, and there wasn't even a safety rope. They really didn't dare to do anything reckless.

"Then we won't keep you company!" Han Chunming grabbed Su Meng and ran off with a laugh.

As they walked and talked, Su Man gazed at the lake and said softly, "I don't like the Qing Dynasty, but the poems of Cao Xueqin and Nalan Xingde really touched my heart. 'The heart of an old friend changes easily, yet people say that the heart of an old friend is fickle'—it's like a fine needle gently piercing into the bones."

Xiao Yao nodded: "Li Shangyin's line, 'It's hard to meet, and it's hard to part; the east wind is powerless, and the flowers are withered,' is even more poignant. It describes the sorrow of parting, but at its core, it's the bitterness of a life full of twists and turns, of having the will but being powerless."

"Aren't all the poems he writes love poems? 'The brocade zither has fifty strings for no reason, each string and each bridge evokes thoughts of bygone years,' every word is entwined with the light and shadow of the past, recalling old friends and old stories." Su Man turned her head to look at him.

"He was caught in the middle of the Niu-Li factional strife, spending half his life being trampled in the mud and unable to breathe. Besides, there's the matter of interpersonal relationships—his mentor's mortal enemy was his father-in-law, yet he married that man's daughter. In those days, who would dare to use such a 'fence-sitter'? The big shots could have easily excluded him from the circle. After a life of melancholy, how could he have the mind to write about romance and nature?" Xiao Yao smiled and spread his hands.

Su Man became more and more enthusiastic as she talked, her eyes shining. Xiao Yao noticed this and said, "With the college entrance exam approaching, it would be a waste if you didn't use this drive to pursue further studies."

"I want to try... but I'm afraid I won't pass the exam." Her voice softened, but her eyes shone brightly.

"You're good. I found a few sets of old math, physics, and chemistry textbooks at the junkyard the other day. They're all high-quality editions from the 1980s. Take them and flip through them." Xiao Yao patted his backpack.

"And what about you? Are you going to sign up?" Su Man suddenly stopped and looked straight into his eyes, as if waiting for a reply that could hold her heart.

Xiao Yao pretended to ponder for a moment: "If you're willing to study with me, I'll bite the bullet and do it. Otherwise—it would be so embarrassing to fail the exam."

"It's a deal! Starting tomorrow morning, I'll spend all my free time studying!" Su Man's eyes lit up instantly.