Chapter 204: Housewarming Joy

The news of Xu Damao's regularization was like a ripe fruit, finally bringing about another major event—his father Xu Fugui was moving out.

That evening, Xu Fugui walked around the courtyard with his hands behind his back, his gaze lingering a moment on the old house he had lived in for over a decade, before finally settling on his son who was fixing his hair in front of a small mirror.

"Damao," Xu Fugui cleared his throat, his voice light with relief, "Dad's job at the cinema is settled, the unit can give us a separate room. The old house in this courtyard will be yours from now on. You've been regularized, you're a full‑time employee, and when you marry and start a family you'll finally have a nest."

Xu Damao was first stunned, then a surge of ecstatic joy rose in his heart—this was truly a double blessing! He forced his excitement down and pretended to be steady: "Dad, rest assured! I will definitely keep this house safe, never bring you shame!" In his mind he already began plotting how to tidy the house, marry a beautiful city girl in the future, and make Sha Zhu furious!

The news that the Xu family was moving out was like a stone tossed into a pond, sending out ripples. Some envied Xu Damao's good fortune, with his parents arranging everything clearly; others muttered that Xu Fugui was climbing a higher branch and no longer cared for this big mixed courtyard.

However, those ripples were quickly covered by another, more lively event—Sha Zhu's house had been renovated!

Master Lei's craftsmanship was indeed beyond reproach. The originally greasy, dim walls were painted snow‑white, and the newly built furniture, though made of ordinary material, was sturdy and durable, with a sensible layout that made the space feel much larger. Most importantly, both inside and out the house exuded a fresh, hopeful vitality.

Sha Zhu looked at his newly refreshed home, so excited he rubbed his hands, his first thought being: "I must invite Li Ping'an and Ma Dongmei to warm the house!"

He deliberately chose a day off, went out early to butcher meat and buy vegetables, exerted all his effort, and fried, stir‑fried, and stewed in the brand‑new little kitchen. The aroma drifted out, more tantalizing than ever before.

In the evening, Li Ping'an and Lin Xueqing arrived with Li Pingle, their younger sister, as invited. Ma Dongmei also came early from school, bringing a pair of red double‑happiness thermoses as a congratulatory gift.

"Li Ping'an, Sister Lin, Pingle, Dongmei! Come inside quickly! Inside!" Sha Zhu, wearing his newly made apron, beamed, hurriedly ushering everyone in.

New house, new furniture, surrounded by his closest people, Sha Zhu felt he had never been this satisfied in his life. Ma Dongmei looked around inside and out, her eyes full of smiles, clearly pleased with the future little home.

A few people sat around the newly built small square table, the dishes steaming, the atmosphere harmonious and warm. Sha Zhu excitedly praised Master Lei's clever work here and there, Ma Dongmei added occasional comments, Li Ping'an nodded now and then, Lin Xueqing smiled and listened, and Li Pingle curiously touched this and examined that.

However, this warmth appeared glaringly harsh to some people.

In the Central Courtyard, the Jia family—Jia Zhangshi peered through the door crack, straining his nose to smell the rich meat aroma, and also caught sight of the lively scene in Sha Zhu's house, especially Ma Dongmei's poised demeanor, which made his heart feel like a spilled jar of vinegar.

"Pah! What are you showing off!" she snapped, turning back to Jia Dongxu lying on the kang and Qin Huairu silently working, "Renovating a shabby house and still inviting guests? Flaunting that he's rich? Inviting Li Ping'an is one thing, but even that country girl is now entering the hall! Does he even have eyes for us old neighbors? He knows no etiquette!"

Jia Dongxu turned over without a word, but his heart felt sour as well. Qin Huairu kept her head down, scrubbing the laundry with even more force. The meat scent kept burrowing into her nose, making her stomach feel emptier, highlighting how cold and empty her own kitchen was, utterly bleak.

In the Front Courtyard, Yan Bu Gui also caught the scent; he adjusted his glasses and said with a sour tone: "That Sha Zhu is really losing his manners! For such a big thing as warming the house, he only invites the family from Xi Kua Yuan? Our decades‑long old neighbors, are they still not comparable to Li Ping'an? I think he's climbing a higher branch and has no one left in his sight!" He felt he hadn't gotten any advantage, missing out on a few meals.

In the Rear Courtyard, Liu Haizhong paced inside with his hands behind his back, speaking in an official tone: "He Yuzhu, your thinking is problematic! Warming the house is good, but we must emphasize unity of the masses! Inviting only certain people creates a small clique and sows discord. I think he needs a thorough criticism and self‑criticism!" He felt that Sha Zhu not inviting him, a 'leader', was downright disrespectful.

Even First Elder Yi Zhonghai, who usually doesn't involve himself in affairs, felt a bit uneasy. He thought Sha Zhu's handling of this matter was thoughtless. In any case, as the courtyard's steward and his senior, both in feeling and in principle, for something like warming the house, even if not formally invited, he should at least be greeted and given an invitation. Now, it's clear he's been ignored.

The Deaf Old Lady in the Rear Courtyard was also stirred by Yi Zhonghai's family's commotion; learning that Sha Zhu hadn't invited her to warm the house, she pouted, leaning on her cane and tapping the ground: "That Sha Zhu kid... now his eyes are only on his wife... this old lady... no one looks after me..." Her words were full of neglected sorrow and complaint.

In the Central Courtyard, at Sha Zhu's home, the atmosphere of the house‑warming was just right.

Sha Zhu poured wine for Li Ping'an, soda for Lin Xueqing and Ma Dongmei, then lifted his cup, his eyes reddening with excitement: "Li Ping'an, Sister Lin, Dongmei, Pingle! I, Sha Zhu... can't speak flowery words! This cup of wine is to you! Thank you, Li Ping'an, for always helping me arrange things; thank you, Sister Lin, for caring; thank you, Dongmei, for not despising me; and thank you, Pingle! From now on, this will be my He Yuzhu's home! You are all the dearest people to He Yuzhu!"

He said it sincerely, tipped his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Li Ping'an looked at him, rarely showing a smile, and raised his cup: "The house is fine; days will get better and better."

Lin Xueqing smiled and said: "Zhuzi, Dongmei, I wish you both a harmonious and beautiful future."

Ma Dongmei's cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes sparkling, and she nodded vigorously.

Li Pingle laughed and said: "Brother Zhuzi, I'll be dropping by for meals often from now on!"

Inside, laughter and chatter lingered, warmth flowing.

Outside, in the night of the Siheyuan, a myriad of complex emotions spread. The Jia family's curses, the Yan family's scheming, the Liu family's discontent, the Yi family's disappointment, the Deaf Old Lady's grievances, all starkly contrasted with the warmth inside Sha Zhu's home.

Xu Damao stood at the window of his own soon‑to‑vacant old house, watching the bright lights and faint laughter emanating from Sha Zhu's Central Courtyard home, and thinking of the "pleasant affair" of having a house to himself; half his heart was jealous, the other half felt an inexplicable emptiness.

He suddenly felt that the bustling, lively atmosphere in Sha Zhu's house seemed more… enviable than his own soon‑to‑be "empty nest."

Li Ping'an set down his cup, listening to the faint, characteristic sounds of the Siheyuan drifting from outside, and understood in his heart. This house‑warming fire warmed Sha Zhu's new home, but it was also like a drop of water thrown into hot oil, causing the already restless hearts of some people to boil even more.

In the days to come, this courtyard is unlikely to settle down. He glanced at his calm wife beside him and the jade bracelet on her wrist that glimmered warmer in the light, feeling a tranquil heart. No matter how chaotic the outside world becomes, protecting this nearby warmth is his most important task.

Night deepened, Sha Zhu's new home shone brightly, warmth radiating. Meanwhile, the other corners of the Siheyuan, each occupied by private thoughts, gradually fell silent, with only the ebbing snores and occasional murmurs of dreams, heralding that a new day would bring new stories.