Chapter 129: The Whole Courtyard Assembly

The autumn night of Year 50 arrived early; just after dinner, the sky had already turned pitch black. Liu Guangqi and his brother Liu Guangtian went door to door, knocking on doors, their voices echoing in the courtyard: "Meeting! Meeting in the Central Courtyard!"

Jia Zhangshi was repairing a shoe sole, muttering: "What kind of meeting, it's a waste of time." Yet she still carried a small stool out the door. Sha Zhu had just finished tidying the kitchen, wiping his hands as he walked out, and Yushui tugged at his hem, following behind.

Under the old locust tree in the Central Courtyard, a kerosene lamp was hung, its dim yellow glow swarming with moths. Yi Zhonghai came out of the house carrying an Enamel Jar, Liu Haizhong cradled his large tea jar, and Yan Bu Gui clutched a chipped enamel cup. The three walked in measured steps to the Eight Immortals Table; Yi Zhonghai sat in the middle, with Liu Haizhong on one side and Yan Bu Gui on the other.

Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and, without waiting for Yi Zhonghai to speak, blurted: "Hmm! Everyone be quiet! The leaders are here and you're still whispering below, that's unacceptable!"

Xu Damao tried to imitate him from below, and Xu Fugui gave him a pat on the back of the head.

Liu Haizhong continued: "Today's meeting is mainly to publicize state policies, to support the Party, to follow the Party…" He then got stuck, his mouth open for a long time, unable to continue.

Sha Zhu yawned: "Brother Liu, are you chanting scriptures? I'm about to fall asleep!"

Liu Haizhong's face darkened: "Sha Zhu! Are you opposing the leaders' speech?"

Yi Zhonghai hurriedly interjected: "Old Liu, that's just Sha Zhu's temperament." He turned, glared at Sha Zhu, and continued to preside: "Today we have three items. First, from now on, people in the courtyard will call us First Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder for easier management."

Yan Bu Gui adjusted his glasses: "There should be a hierarchy."

Second, Yi Zhonghai tapped the table: matters in the courtyard must first be discussed with the three Elders; don't keep going to the street office. Director Wang is already very busy!

Jia Zhangshi murmured softly: "They're trying to become Earth Emperors."

Third, Yi Zhonghai raised his voice: "The Deaf Old Lady is the ancestor of our courtyard; her son was an anti‑Japanese hero! The Deaf Old Lady is a revered matriarch; from now on, whenever there's good food, think of the Old Lady. As First Elder I will lead; we will take charge of the three meals a day!"

The Deaf Old Lady sat on the Grand Master's Chair, wiping tears: "I'm just a lonely old woman, hoping everyone will support Yi Zhonghai more…"

Everyone murmured: "First Elder is benevolent!" Sha Zhu shouted the loudest: "Support First Elder!"

Xu Fugui quietly tugged his son's sleeve: "See? They're trying to become the ones in charge." Xu Damao was indifferent: "Let them be."

Yi Zhonghai sipped his tea with satisfaction and gestured to Yan Bu Gui: "Third Elder, please speak."

Yan Bu Gui stood up, rubbing his hands: "I oversee the Front Courtyard gate; I lock it at nine at night. If anyone comes home late and needs the door opened… I pull out a little notebook—should I make a little contribution? A few cents, just as if buying candy for the kids."

The crowd below erupted instantly. Jia Zhangshi was the first to jump up: "Lao Yan! Isn't this highway robbery?"

Liu Haizhong could no longer stand it: "Lao Yan, this is really unacceptable!"

Yan Bu Gui wore a bitter expression: "My six mouths at home are waiting for meals; can we compare with your steel factory master craftsmen?"

Yi Zhonghai smoothed things over: "Alright, from now on, anyone who comes back late will add a tea fee for the Third Elder. That's all for today's meeting!"

After the meeting adjourned, Yi Zhonghai helped the Deaf Old Lady back inside. She sat down and said: "Sha Zhu is an apprentice at the restaurant; that's not a long‑term solution."

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "When He Daqing left, everything was arranged; I'll take Sha Zhu to the steel factory canteen to take his shift."

The old lady squinted: "Once you're in the factory, they'll look after you well."

On the other side, Yan Bu Gui returned home and fetched an alarm clock, setting it to nine o'clock. His wife complained: "Really planning to charge us?"

Yan Bu Gui glared: "It's a labor fee!"

At exactly nine that night the next day, Yan Bu Gui actually latched the courtyard gate. Xu Fugui, returning from showing a film, knocked on the door: "Lao Yan! Open the door!"

Yan Bu Gui walked over unhurriedly: "Yo, this late?"

Xu Fugui smiled along: "Just got back from showing a film in the countryside."

Yan Bu Gui extended his hand: "You know the rules."

Xu Fugui reluctantly produced three cents: "More expensive than staying at a hotel!"

The matter spread the next day. Sha Zhu told his master at the restaurant: "Our courtyard's Third Elder has gone crazy with poverty!"

When Director Wang came to inspect the courtyard, someone mentioned it. Director Wang frowned: "Old Yi, this won't do."

Yi Zhonghai forced a smile: "Director Wang, it's my fault for not supervising properly; I will definitely handle this."

After Director Wang left, Yi Zhonghai called Third Lao Yan Bu Gui into his room. "Lao Yan, your gate‑fee business has blown up; Director Wang knows, and the impact is terrible."

Yan Bu Gui muttered: "I have no choice; there are many children at home, I really can't open the pot."

Yi Zhonghai sighed: "I understand it's hard for you, but this can't be done that way. How about this: from now on, any family that returns late registers with me, and I'll find a way to subsidize you a bit."

Yan Bu Gui's eyes lit up at that: "First Elder, you still have the solutions."

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand: "Alright, stop these schemes from now on; we must unite and make life in the courtyard better." Yan Bu Gui nodded repeatedly.

Just then, Sha Zhu came carrying a lunchbox: "Old Lady, the restaurant has Red Braised Pork today!"

The Deaf Old Lady tasted it: "Not bad." She turned to Yi Zhonghai and said: "Take care of the steel factory canteen job promptly."

Yi Zhonghai understood: "I'll go find Factory Director Yang tomorrow."

A few days later, Yi Zhonghai actually got Sha Zhu into the Steel Rolling Mill Canteen. Sha Zhu was so happy he couldn't stop grinning: "First Elder, thank you so much!"

Yi Zhonghai patted his shoulder: "Work well; the steel factory's treatment is better than the restaurant's."

Jia Zhangshi saw this and told anyone she met: "Yi Zhonghai is trying to take a godson!"

In deep autumn, the locust tree leaves littered the ground. While sweeping the courtyard, Sha Zhu said to Yushui: "Brother changed jobs, now we'll earn more."

Yushui blinked: "Can we eat meat every day?"

Sha Zhu stared at the bare branches: "We'll buy it once the salary comes."

In the dusk, the shadows of the three Elders stretched long. Yan Bu Gui muttered: "Sha Zhu finally got lucky."

Yi Zhonghai gave a faint smile: "Young man, you should lend a hand."

Liu Haizhong stood with his hands behind his back: "Old Yi still has solutions."

One by one, the kerosene lamps lit up, and cooking smoke drifted through the courtyard. Sha Zhu placed two white steamed buns in his newly bought lunchbox and delivered them to the Deaf Old Lady.

The old lady took a bite: "Better than the restaurant's. Following you, First Elder, can't go wrong."

Sha Zhu chuckled: "I always listen to First Elder."

Moonlight shone into the Jia family window; Jia Zhangshi stared at the empty lunchbox. She turned to her son and said: "Tomorrow you should also go pay respects to Yi Zhonghai as a master."

Jia Dongxu huddled his neck: "Can they want me?"

Meanwhile, Yi Zhonghai was scheming at home: "Now Sha Zhu is in the factory, it'll be easy to control him. In two years, I'll arrange a wife for him…"

Outside, Yan Bu Gui still lingered in the doorway, waiting for neighbors returning late. This time, however, he didn't have the nerve to ask for money.