Chapter 202

Sha Zhu's room, which had been hardly better than a dog kennel, finally got a chance for a makeover. The reason was simple: Ma Dongmei said, "Zhuzi, from now on we'll live in this room; we need a fresh look, tidy it up, and living will be comfortable, right?" Because of those words, Sha Zhu was full of energy, wishing he could scrape off the wall plaster and redo it.

But nowadays, you can't just renovate a house whenever you want. Timber, paint, lime, glass… everything requires a coupon, or else you need an approval slip. Sha Zhu was a capable hand in the canteen, but on this matter he was at a loss. He scratched his head and, as usual, thought of going to find Li Ping'an.

"Brother Ping'an, this… this material…"

Li Ping'an didn't let him finish, waving his hand: "Don't look for me, go to Director Wang at the street office to get an approval slip. That's the proper procedure."

Sha Zhu slapped his forehead: "Right! How did I forget that!" He bounced over to the street office.

The street office Director Wang was a stern middle-aged woman, currently wearing reading glasses while looking at documents. Hearing Sha Zhu explain his purpose, she adjusted her glasses, glanced at him a few times: "Comrade He Yuzhu? You want to renovate a house for your wedding? That's good. The street office can approve some materials, but the quantity is limited, so use them sparingly." She pulled out a form, wrote a few lines swiftly, stamped it with a red seal, and said, "Take this to the supply and marketing cooperative to get the materials. Congratulations!"

Sha Zhu took the light yet weighty approval slip, so moved he almost bowed to Director Wang: "Thank you, Director Wang! Thank you so much!"

While he was overjoyed, Xu Damao, who had been watching his every move, shifted his eyes and smelled another chance to stir trouble.

"An approval slip?" Xu Damao stroked his chin, gave a sinister smile, and said, "There's definitely something to be made of this…"

He didn't spread rumors directly; instead, he strolled to the Front Courtyard and found Yan Bu Gui watering flowers.

"Third Elder, I heard Sha Zhu got an approval slip from the street office and requested a lot of good materials!" Xu Damao feigned mystery, "You say, why is Director Wang so favorable to him? Could there be something we don't know about?"

Yan Bu Gui stopped watering, his small eyes blinking: "Impossible? Zhuzi getting married, getting some materials approved is normal…"

"Normal?" Xu Damao snorted, "You're an honest person! What's the situation now? Timber is tight! How could Sha Zhu easily get an approval slip? I heard it's Li Chief pulling strings behind the scenes! As a cadre, a greeting to Director Wang makes it easy."

His words were poisonous precisely because they dragged Li Ping'an in, implying cadres were using power for personal gain.

Yan Bu Gui was half‑believing, half‑doubting, but the phrase "using power for personal gain" was too damaging. The feeling of loss he had because Sha Zhu's bride price was cheap resurfaced, and he thought Sha Zhu must have taken advantage.

Xu Damao then ran to the Central Courtyard, sighing at Jia Zhangshi and a few old ladies basking in the sun at the door: "Alas, us ordinary folk, trying to get materials to fix a house is harder than climbing to heaven! Those with connections just need a slip and the good stuff is in hand! What a world…"

Jia Zhangshi heard this and exploded: "What? Li Ping'an gave him a back door? I knew it! Officials have no good thing, always looking out for their own! Why can Sha Zhu get approval while we can't? No way! I'm going to confront Director Wang!" She felt she had caught Li Ping'an's weak point, her face flushed with excitement.

Yi Zhonghai also heard the rumor, frowned, and thought the matter was a bit thorny. If Li Ping'an were really involved, it wouldn't be a simple neighborhood dispute. He decided to wait and see, not to take a stance lightly.

Liu Haizhong, hands behind his back, criticized with official gravitas: "Comrade He Yuzhu, your work isn't transparent enough! You should explain the situation openly to the courtyard! And Comrade Li Ping'an, as a cadre, you ought to pay attention to the impact!" As if he already had solid evidence.

This undercurrent naturally flowed into the West Wing Courtyard.

Li Ping'le came home from work, fuming, and told her brother: "Brother, the courtyard is gossiping again! They say Sha Zhu's renovation approval slip came from you greeting Director Wang! Xu Damao and Jia Zhangshi are spreading it with convincing detail!"

Li Ping'an was reading, not looking up: "You can't gag tongues that belong to others; the innocent are self‑clear."

Lin Xueqing was a little worried: "If this talk spreads, it'll be bad for you. Director Wang's side…"

"Director Wang follows the rules, what's there to fear?" Li Ping'an set down his book, voice calm: "Zhuzi's materials are all within the quota, reasonable and legal. Some people have dirty minds and see dirt everywhere."

Just then, Sha Zhu led in a tall, dark‑skinned man with a tool bag slung at his waist.

"Brother Ping'an! Sister‑in‑law Lin!" Sha Zhu shouted, "The materials are approved! This is Lei Shifu I found, his skill is this!" He gave a thumbs‑up, "Lei Shifu, this is the Li Chief I told you about."

Li Ping'an had previously hired Lei Shifu for home renovations, so they knew each other.

Li Ping'an also nodded at him: "Lei Shifu, thanks for the hard work again. Zhuzi, take the master and get busy, don't delay your proper duties."

Lei Shifu: "Comrade Li, you're introducing work to me; I should be thanking you."

Sha Zhu answered loudly, happily leading Lei Shifu to the Central Courtyard to measure the rooms.

Watching Sha Zhu and Lei Shifu's backs, and hearing Jia Zhangshi's vague scolding from the Central Courtyard, Li Ping'an said lightly to Lin Xueqing: "See? Those who want to work are already working; those who want to stir trouble are just flapping their gums."

He walked to the window, gazing toward the Central Courtyard.

Jia Zhangshi indeed blocked the door of Sha Zhu's home, hands on hips, voice sharp: "Yo, Sha Zhu, quite a show! Timber and lime—this must cost a lot, right? Is the approval slip useful?"

Sha Zhu was busy discussing with Lei Shifu how to make cabinets, no time to pay her heed.

Xu Damao hid behind his own door, peeking through the crack, a smirk of satisfaction on his face as his scheme succeeded.

He Yushui stood at her own door, watching her brother's busy figure, hearing the courtyard gossip, her small hands clenched on her shirt hem, her face full of worry. She feared the rumors would affect her brother's marriage, and even more that they would implicate Li Ping'an, who had always helped her brother.

Li Ping'an withdrew his gaze, telling his sister: "Ping'le, go invite Director Wang over, just say I have something I'd like to consult her about regarding courtyard safety."

Li Ping'le's eyes lit up, she instantly grasped her brother's intent: "Sure! I'll go right away!"

As the evening clouds dyed the horizon red, Director Wang of the street office, accompanied by Li Ping'le, entered the Siheyuan. She didn't go to the West Wing Courtyard but headed straight for the Central Courtyard, her voice low yet clear enough:

"Comrade He Yuzhu's renovation materials for his wedding fully comply with regulations; I personally reviewed and approved them. The street office supports young people practicing thrift in their weddings and improving living conditions. I hope nobody listens to rumors or makes baseless guesses that harm neighborhood unity."

Director Wang's words struck like a loud slap across Xu Damao and Jia Zhangshi's faces. They instantly went mute, heads bowed, and retreated into their rooms.

Yan Bu Gui quickly lowered his head, pretending to prune the plants. Liu Haizhong coughed, hands behind his back, and sauntered back to the rear courtyard.

Sha Zhu poked his head out of the house, grinning wide: "Director Wang, you've come! Lei Shifu's skill is great! I'll treat you to candy later!"

Director Wang smiled, gave the whole courtyard a meaningful glance, then turned and left.

In the West Wing Courtyard, Li Ping'an said to Lin Xueqing: "See? Under the sun, demons and monsters can't stay hidden."

Lin Xueqing looked at his calm profile and smiled faintly.

He Yushui watched Director Wang's retreating back, then glanced at the lights glowing in the West Wing Courtyard; the hands that had been tightly clutching her shirt hem finally relaxed. She walked over to her brother, who was busy with Lei Shifu, and whispered, "Brother, let me hand you things."

Sha Zhu stared for a moment, seeing his sister's somewhat relaxed expression, and gave a simple smile: "All right! My sister still loves me the most!"

Night deepened; Lei Shifu's hammering echoed in the Central Courtyard, accompanied by Sha Zhu's occasional honest laughter. The sound seemed to be vigorously dispelling the gloom and rancor hanging over the Siheyuan. Yet a new disturbance appeared to be quietly brewing amid the renovation noise and brief calm, readying the next outbreak.