Chapter 133: Fire in the Back Courtyard

Just as Li Ping'an was fighting fiercely on the Korean front, at that moment in Beiping's No. 95 courtyard, Yi Zhonghai, shaking a newspaper, shouted: "Look, everyone! Li Ping'an has only been to Korea for half a year and is already a company commander! There can't be any trickery, right?"

Yan Bu Gui adjusted his glasses: "Exactly! Back then his sister appeared out of nowhere…"

Liu Haizhong, with his belly protruding, interrupted: "I've been saying this person is problematic! A Rickshaw puller, can he become a combat hero?"

The three grew more animated, and wrote an accusation letter on the spot. Jia Zhangshi leaned over to watch the fun: "If you ask me, he's definitely a spy!"

The letter first reached Director Wang at the street office. She read it and frowned: "Isn't this the person Zhou Zhengwei vouched for?" Yet she still reported it according to procedure; Director Wang also feared being held responsible, and feared that Li Ping'an might be a hidden villain among the masses.

As it happened, the inspecting Zhou Zhengwei saw the letter. Upon reading its contents, he slammed the table in anger: "Nonsense! Li Ping'an is a Party member I personally recruited!"

A few days later, on the Korean front at Huangcaoling, the snow was knee‑deep. Li Ping'an was leading his soldiers in equipment checks when the Signalman hurried over, stumbling: "Company commander! The army headquarters has an urgent telegram!"

The telegram paper was frozen solid, bearing a single line: "Someone has reported a background issue; reply promptly with an explanation."

Li Ping'an was puzzled: I'm a combat hero and a Communist Party member, how could there be a background problem? Who's got the time to tattle on themselves—could it be a spy? I still have to lead troops into battle; this just delays everything!

Li Ping'an finished arranging his unit's duties and reported to his superiors; the Battalion Commander then reassured him not to worry, saying the unit wouldn't wrong a combat hero, nor would it let those who wronged the hero get away with it.

Li Ping'an took a night train back to Four Nine City.

On the third day, when the investigation team moved into No. 95 courtyard, everyone was summoned to the Central Courtyard. The Group Leader, with a stern face, read the document: "After investigation, comrade Li Ping'an joined the Party in 1943, introduced by Political Commissar Zhou Zhengwei, visited Yan'an and met the Chairman, his history is clean. He is a combat hero, a people's soldier, a steadfast proletarian anti‑Japanese hero, so the accusation is pure slander!"

Yi Zhonghai's wife burst into tears on the spot: "My husband Yi is only well‑meaning, fearing there are bad people in the ranks."

Yan Bu Gui, anxious, rubbed his hands: "Comrade, we are acting with a responsible revolutionary attitude, reasonable suspicion,"

Responsible? The Group Leader sneered, "You are sabotaging the aid to Korea! Without evidence you arbitrarily slander heroes; they defend the country on the battlefield, sacrificing lives for unity, bringing us peace and happiness, while you lag behind—truly selfish people, expect punishment!"

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the gate. Li Ping'an, covered in snowflakes, appeared at the courtyard entrance, ice shards still dripping from his uniform.

Li Ping'an addressed the people in the Siheyuan: "I've heard you doubt my background. I fled from Henan to Four Nine City, rented a room in this Siheyuan, so we got to know each other. Later I pulled a Rickshaw to make a living, working for myself, and haven't done anything out of line, right? I rarely go to the Central Courtyard's back garden, but I often interact with Yan Bu Gui, and there are no real conflicts, are there?"

Li Ping'an glanced around, then burst into laughter: "All this just to call me back from the front?" He turned to the three First Elders, "If I were really a spy, I would have defected on the Korean battlefield long ago!"

Speaking, he unfastened his uniform, revealing a body covered with scars: "These are from the Cloud Mountain Campaign; need a medical check?" Our soldiers bleed and sacrifice on the battlefield, unafraid of hardship or fatigue. Why? To allow countless civilians to live peacefully and prosper. Some people are just jealous and hateful, unable to stand others' success, putting on a righteous façade!"

Then he left in anger; Li Ping'an still worried about his unit, needing to hurry back. He didn't even glance at his sister, and rushed to catch a train back to Korea.

The next day, the decision was posted at the courtyard gate: Yi Zhonghai stripped of his steward Elder position, Liu Haizhong issued a reprimand, Yan Bu Gui received an administrative demerit, Jia Zhangshi was also reprimanded, and a public apology must be published.

When the Beijing Daily published its report, No. 95 courtyard instantly became a pariah. Yan Bu Gui was summoned by the principal at the school, received a major demerit, and on his way home was pointed at by students' parents: "He still teaches with such jealousy? How can he teach well without any teacher ethics? A disgrace to being a teacher!"

Yi Zhonghai fared even worse; in the Workshop, coworkers discussed him openly. Though a senior worker with good skills, his character was low; no wonder he has no descendants—he must have done many immoral deeds and got retribution. Moreover, on his commute people kept poking his spine, and even the Steel Factory gate guard deliberately inspected his documents for ages.

Jia Dongxu, whether intentionally or not, kept his distance from master Yi Zhonghai, fearing to be implicated like a fish in a poisoned pond.

The most spectacular part was the apology ceremony. Director Wang of the street office began the self‑criticism: "My bureaucratism, I failed to keep the proper gate…" As she said, she glared fiercely at the three First Elders.

When it was Yi Zhonghai's turn, he wiped his eyes, his voice trembling: "I, Yi Zhonghai, have lived upright all my life; this time I was truly foolish and failed to investigate properly…" He then raised his voice: "But my original intention was for the revolution! Afraid that enemies hid among the people, I thought I was doing a good deed by causing trouble. I will investigate thoroughly from now on."

Sha Zhu: "First Elder, well done, recognizing mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. We forgive you."

Everyone stared at Sha Zhu as if looking at a fool; He Yushui also felt that the elder had misspoken, fidgeting nervously with his clothing.

Someone below muttered: "He really plays the part well!"

Liu Haizhong was even more comical, clutching the draft and stammering: "I… I that… red‑eye disease… no, it's excessive vigilance…"

Yan Bu Gui, being a cultured man, first bowed toward the Dongbei direction, then said in a literary tone: "As the ancient saying goes, when three people say a tiger exists, it becomes real. We have lightly believed rumors, betraying the hero…"

Jia Zhangshi was also ordered to apologize. She stepped forward, hesitating: "I… I just spoke too quickly; because Li Ping'an didn't explain everything to everyone, it's all his fault…"

At that moment, the mail carrier delivered a reply from the Korean front. Director Wang read aloud: "The three neighbors acted out of revolutionary enthusiasm; please the organization give a lenient punishment. Ping Le is still young; we hope the neighbors will look after him."

When she reached this part, even the Group Leader was moved: "What a generous spirit!"

But the punishment was still carried out as usual. Although Yi Zhonghai publicly admitted fault, behind the scenes he complained to his wife: "I'm capsizing in a gutter!"

Yan Bu Gui could not lift his head at school. A mischievous student stuck a note on his back: "Slandering the hero."

When the street organization drafted a condolence letter to the volunteer army, the three First Elders were assigned to copy the manuscript. Yan Bu Gui wrote neatly, while Yi Zhonghai deliberately scribbled his characters crookedly.

Director Wang, checking, spotted it at a glance: "Old Yi, your attitude is problematic!"

In the end, Ping Le stepped forward: "Director Wang, my brother wrote that neighbors should understand each other."

When this reached No. 95 courtyard, everyone fell silent. Early the next morning, Yi Zhonghai's wife, for the first time, delivered a basket of cabbage to Ping Le: "Girl, I'm sorry for the past…"

Now the residents of No. 95 courtyard leave home with heads down. Only the children still often press against Li Ping'an's house wall, wanting to see what the combat hero's sister looks like.

Meanwhile, far in Korea, Li Ping'an was eating fried noodles with melted snow water. Tie Zhu asked: "Company commander, I heard someone back home gave you a trap?"

Li Ping'an smiled: "After the battle, I still have to go back to sell Braised Meat."

Snowflakes drifted into his noodle bowl, and he suddenly recalled Ping Le's letter: "Brother, the locust trees in the courtyard have sprouted new buds."