Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

"You have a good eye. You recognized my skills the first time you met me and immediately saw that I was a gem." Xiao Yao joked with a smile.

"Stop being so cheeky, you're never serious!" Su Man couldn't help but laugh, her eyes curving into crescents.

"We finally got paid—come on, I'll treat you to a meal at the state-run restaurant!"

Xiao Yao steadied the bicycle and gestured with his chin toward the back seat. Su Man hesitated for a moment before blushing and getting on. They had known each other for so long, and this was the first time he had given her a ride. In the past, they either walked side-by-side or rode their bicycles separately, one in front of the other.

She gently gripped the hem of his polyester shirt with her fingertips, her cheeks flushing a light blush, like peach petals just beginning to bloom in early spring.

The wheels rolled lightly over the cobblestone road, heading towards the state-run restaurant.

Xiao Yao always liked to make a phone call during his breaks to let everyone know he was safe, so Su Man didn't mention at all that he hadn't written in a long time when they met this time.

After lunch, Xiao Yao offered to take her back to school. Su Man always went home for lunch—she secretly gave all the saved food coupons to the poor students in her class who were hungry. She had an excellent reputation in the student council; whenever someone was struggling to make ends meet or needed notebooks or pencils, they would ask her for a helping hand; she never refused and would help in any way she could.

"There are far fewer students in need at our school now, and the food coupons I've saved up are almost piled up into a small mountain."

When it was time to pay, Xiao Yao reached for his food coupons, but Su Man quickly grabbed his wrist: "Don't move! You have a big appetite, and the food at the research institute is rough. Keep them for yourself." Since the school opened a general store and connected with a garment factory, many students had been running errands, delivering goods, and doing sewing and alterations in their spare time, gradually making a living. Su Man also saved up a thick stack of food coupons through part-time work.

……

In the evening, outside the iron gate of Yili Bakery, Han Chunming and Taozi jumped out of the car and parked the borrowed Jeep steadily at the gate.

Cai Xiaoli arrived earlier on her old-fashioned bicycle, a small cloth bag hanging from the handlebars. She rode slowly ahead, her eyes scanning the street corners and alleys—not out of any real malice, but purely out of the vigilance honed over many years. Luckily, things were calm today.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Han Chunming swung his fist and slammed it three times against the door, making the iron door vibrate. The door creaked open a crack, and Director Li peeked out, followed by seven or eight people from the purchasing department, carrying ropes and carrying poles, looking ready to go.

"Director Li, Director Chen, the goods are all here! My feet are worn thin from all the blisters these past few days. I'll deliver the rest tomorrow night—this old truck can only hold so much!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already deftly pulled out his cigarette case, flicked a "Peony" cigarette at each of them, and smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits. His enthusiasm was just like that of a close relative visiting.

"Stop arguing! Hurry up and unload the goods, and be quick!" Director Li waved his hand, and everyone immediately gathered around.

Han Chunming and Taozi rolled up their sleeves and got to work. In the blink of an eye, basket after basket of eggs in the carriage was emptied, not even a single eggshell was left behind.

"Chunming, come with me to collect your money!" Director Li beckoned to him.

Cai Xiaoli and Taozi exchanged a glance and breathed a knowing sigh of relief—sure enough, the past two weeks hadn't been in vain. Although they didn't know why, they had quietly picked up their old profession again, but having money in their pockets made them feel at ease.

Taozi stared at Han Chunming's retreating figure as he walked into the factory, his Adam's apple bobbing, his eyes gleaming. What he wanted was real money; only the clatter of banknotes could invigorate his entire being.

"Look at you, your eyes are practically popping out of their sockets! I feel ashamed to stand next to you!" Cai Xiaoli glanced at her sideways, her lips slightly pursed.

Taozi grinned and chuckled. He was happy, so why hide it? He always did this when counting money—silly, but exhilarating.

"Keep an eye on your surroundings, there might be someone lurking in the shadows," Taozi said in a low voice.

Cai Xiaoli didn't respond, but gripped the handlebars even tighter. After all, this was a private matter; if someone followed her on the road, it would be a huge problem.

Actually, they were overthinking it—who would have thought that someone would drive a Jeep just to deliver eggs?

Before long, Han Chunming came out swaying his shoulders, his smug look on his face like that of a fox that had just stolen honey, his tail practically pointing to the sky.

"How did it go?" Cai Xiaoli greeted her, her voice extremely low. Despite working together so many times, she was still afraid of being double-crossed by the factory, and even more afraid of a whistleblower letter suddenly flying into the disciplinary committee office.

"With Han Chunming on my side, is there anything I can't accomplish? Here, weigh your strength!" He shook the bulging blue cloth bundle in his hand.

The three of them turned into a quiet alley. When Taozi saw the stack of brand-new banknotes, his eyes lit up instantly—not with the greedy glint of a thief, but with the light of someone who had been given a hard time by life.

These days, who wouldn't feel their heart flutter at the sight of several thousand dollars in cash? Especially since it was earned by the three of them together!

"It's settled then, this money will all be invested in that little restaurant next to the trade market—I heard it'll be contracted out soon, and private individuals can take it over."

It turned out that Han Chunming had already found out: the restaurant was going to be sold, and the owner was in a hurry to get rid of it. He himself wasn't short of money, but he couldn't go it alone, so the three of them decided to make two more trips to buy eggs to raise enough capital.

After counting out the ten-yuan "Great Unity" bills, Cai Xiaoli and Taozi pulled out all the money they had saved—35,800 yuan, not a penny more, not a penny less. More than enough to buy the shop. Without the slightest hesitation, the three placed all their trust in Han Chunming.

Han Chunming stuffed the money into Cai Xiaoli's canvas bag, Taozi drove her home, and he took a shortcut to the bicycle shed.

Just as he rounded the corner, four figures emerged from the shadows of the trees. Han Chunming glanced at them—they looked to be no more than twenty years old, their jeans faded from washing, their belt buckles gleaming; in this day and age, they would definitely be considered fashionable young people.

Two men paced back and forth as lookouts, while two others crouched down, using a crowbar to press against the bicycle's rear wheel lock. With two crisp "clicks," the chain snapped.

They had their eyes on this "Forever" car for a while. The location was remote and sparsely populated, so they dared not act during the day. Now, as dusk approached, it was the perfect time to strike.

"What are you doing?" Han Chunming shouted, his voice shaking the treetops.

The four men had already familiarized themselves with the terrain—this place was usually deserted. The leader, with a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, glanced sideways and said, "Oh, you've caught us doing business? If you know what's good for you, hand over the money!"

I only wanted to steal a bicycle, but I ended up running into a real money-maker.

Knowing that he would only lose by trying to hold on, Han Chunming hurriedly pulled out a ten-yuan note: "That's all... I really have none left."

"Only ten yuan? Who are you trying to fool!" The man snatched it away, the banknotes rattling between his fingers.

"Brothers, I really didn't hide anything—you outnumber me and if I don't give it to you, I'll get a beating, won't I?" Han Chunming said with a fawning smile, his back bent more over than a shrimp.

The three were momentarily stunned, not expecting this guy to be so savvy. But seeing his bulging pockets, they couldn't help but gather around him.

Han Chunming swallowed hard, staring at the gleaming iron bars in their hands: "Brothers, I really didn't hide any money... I really didn't!"

"What's in your pocket?" the other person asked, reaching into his pocket.

"Work ID!" Han Chunming moved even faster, pulling it out and opening his palm. The blue background with white lettering and a clear steel stamp were clearly visible.

The leader took the document, glanced at it, sneered, and spat on the ground: "You little punk, so young, but you've got some nerve—if you're the director of the trade market, then I'm the chief of staff!"

In all his life, this was the first time he had ever seen a director dressed more shabbily than Han Chunming—faded work pants with frayed cuffs and cracked shoe uppers that let in drafts.

"Absolutely true." Han Chunming lifted his eyelids slightly, his voice not loud, but like a stone thrown into water.

The group burst into laughter, their shoulders shaking.

"Can I go now?" Han Chunming lifted his foot and stepped towards the bicycle.

"Get lost, get lost!" The group waved their hands dismissively.

He had just gripped the handlebars, intending to straddle and pedal away—after all, he had already given them ten yuan, so he couldn't hold onto it any longer.

Before he could finish speaking, one of the men suddenly lunged forward and kicked him in the calf! Han Chunming stumbled and fell to the ground, his head hitting the concrete with a dull thud. "Want to ride a bike? No way!" The thugs immediately turned hostile, surrounding him and hurling insults.

Having spent so many years hanging around the alleyway, how could Han Chunming not understand this routine? His heart skipped a beat, and he rolled on the spot, shuffling to his feet and taking off running faster than a rabbit.

Only one thought flashed through my mind: Luckily, the money had already been handed over to Cai Xiaoli.

He weaved left and right, deliberately choosing narrow alleys, running closer and closer to the main street. As he neared the intersection, his pursuers were almost upon him. He spun around and delivered a sweeping kick, sending the man in front staggering back two steps. Using the momentum, he sprinted forward, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Snatcher! Help!!!"

Even though it was night, there were still quite a few people on the street. As soon as the shouts were made, small groups of passersby immediately gathered around.

Police officers patrolling the streets also rushed over upon hearing the commotion, their leather shoes making a "clack-clack" sound on the bluestone slabs.

The four were instantly surrounded. Who doesn't value justice these days? Who would dare to be a coward?

Han Chunming, on the contrary, perked up, rolled up his sleeves, and rushed into the crowd to help hold people down, his cowardly demeanor from before completely forgotten.

After the police handcuffed him, he finally let out a long sigh of relief and was about to lean against the wall to catch his breath when he suddenly swayed and his vision went black: the blows he had just taken were quite severe, his head was buzzing, and his forehead was burning with pain.

At the police station, he explained the whole story in detail. After giving his statement, Han Chunming staggered home, his steps unsteady as if he were walking on cotton.

As soon as he entered the house that evening, Han's mother noticed three bumps on her son's forehead. She was so distressed that she stomped her feet. She then turned around, boiled two eggs, peeled them, and rolled them on his head.

"Ouch—Mom, be gentle!" Han Chunming winced in pain and tried to back away.

"Hey brat, what are you yelling about? This little bag is nothing! Tell me! Which deity have you offended?"

"Well, well... I went to a colleague's house for a while, and on my way back I wasn't paying attention and bumped into a few unreasonable people." Han Chunming rubbed his temples and vaguely explained.