Chapter 379: Farewell to the Whole Courtyard Assembly

On a weekend evening, the sky had not yet turned completely dark.

The Siheyuan was already arranged for the formation.

An Eight Immortals Table spanned the center of the Front Courtyard, and three chairs were placed neatly behind it.

On the table sat three Enamel Jars steeping tea of varying strengths—each belonging to one of the three First Elders, clearly distinct.

Liu Haizhong arrived first.

He had deliberately changed into a faded Zhongshan suit, the discipline buttons fastened tightly, hands clasped behind his back as he paced in front of the table, his protruding belly standing high.

Each step exuded the posture of a supervising First Elder.

Yan Bu Gui lifted his own Enamel Jar stamped with "Advanced Worker" and sat down leisurely.

He nudged his glasses on the bridge of his nose, his gaze sweeping over the faces of neighbors arriving one by one, calculating what benefits he could reap tonight—at least, to flaunt his cultural level before everyone.

Yi Zhonghai arrived last.

He held an economy cigarette between his fingers.

The roll was cheap and the paper rough, but his motion of lighting it was composed; after a puff, he sat down squarely on that chair.

That was the First Elder's seat.

"Everyone here?" Liu Haizhong cleared his throat, his voice loud, "If anyone's missing, call out! Our courtyard's all‑member meeting, in principle each household must send a representative!"

A few scattered responses.

Jia Zhangshi shuffled a small stool to sit at the front, still clutching an unfinished matchbox, muttering under his breath.

Qin Huairu sat quietly behind her mother‑in‑law, head lowered.

Sha Zhu and Ma Dongmei stood by the Moon Gate leading from the Central Courtyard to the Front Courtyard, not stepping forward.

Sha Zhu sneered, "What a big setup."

Ma Dongmei tugged his sleeve, "Say a few fewer words, just listen."

Xu Damao's household was still empty.

Wang Cuihua was still keeping watch at the Yi Yuan, and Xu Damao himself… people in the courtyard hadn't seen his face for a long time.

The door of the Xi Kua Yuan creaked open.

Li Ping'an's family stepped out.

Lin Xueqing held Li Yaozong's hand, while Li Ping'an carried Xiao Nuanqing.

Their arrival made the previously noisy courtyard fall silent for a few seconds.

Countless gazes were cast their way.

Some scrutinizing, some curious, some worried, some gloating.

Li Ping'an's expression remained calm, as if unaware of the stares.

He chose a spot toward the back, letting his wife and child sit, while he stood aside, his back leaning slightly against a corridor column.

Moonlight slanted from the eaves, casting alternating light and shadow across his face.

Yi Zhonghai's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, then shifted away.

Liu Haizhong seemed to seize the moment, straightening his back even more.

"Since everyone is here, let's start the meeting!"

He patted the table, causing the Enamel Jars to clang loudly.

"Today's gathering is mainly to straighten up the courtyard's atmosphere! Lately, some comrades have become lax in thought, discipline has slipped, and the sense of collectivity has thinned! This is a very dangerous trend!"

The opening was high‑profile.

Yan Bu Gui nodded in agreement, lifted his jar and took a sip.

Yi Zhonghai silently smoked his economy cigarette, his expression indistinct amid the swirling smoke.

"What are the concrete manifestations?" Liu Haizhong counted on his fingers, "First, public hygiene! A few days ago the Central Courtyard's sink was clogged, no one took the initiative to clear it! In the end, Yi Zhonghai found someone to fix it!"

"Second, neighborly relations! Some families shut their doors and live their own lives, ignoring the courtyard's public affairs!"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted intentionally toward the Xi Kua Yuan direction.

"Third, and most crucial—ideological issues!"

Liu Haizhong's voice rose another notch.

"We now live in a new society that values collectivism and mutual aid! Yet some people, relying on a bit of skill, stick their noses in the air and disregard senior comrades! Some, even after being suspended by their unit for personal issues, idle all day, fishing and loitering, causing a bad influence on the courtyard!"

He said it as if pointing at someone's nose.

The courtyard fell deathly silent.

Lin Xueqing's hand clenched the hem of her clothing, and Li Yaozong looked up anxiously at his father.

Li Ping'an remained calm.

He even tilted his head slightly, gazing at the night sky.

The moon was bright tonight, the stars sparse.

In the distance, a faint train whistle wailed, long and desolate.

"Old Liu is right."

Yan Bu Gui seized the moment, set down his Enamel Jar, "Our courtyard's atmosphere needs to be corrected. I suggest we regularly organize study sessions, read newspapers and documents, to raise everyone's ideological awareness."

He paused, pushing his glasses.

"Additionally, I've observed that some young comrades also have issues in educating their children. Over‑indulgence or excessive strictness both hinder the next generation's growth. The three of us First Elders, as senior members of the courtyard, have a responsibility to help oversee this."

His words sounded lofty and pompous.

Yet every word dripped with a desire to meddle in others' affairs.

Sha Zhu muttered from behind, "They really meddle widely."

Ma Dongmei pinched his arm.

Yi Zhonghai finally spoke.

He stubbed out the cigarette butt, his movements slow, his voice steady.

"Old Liu, Lao Yan says it all makes sense. However, the purpose of our meeting is to solve problems, promote unity. Criticism is not the purpose, help is."

He looked toward Li Ping'an's direction.

His gaze was very gentle, even carrying a bit of elder's care.

"Ping'an ah."

Yi Zhonghai's voice was very gentle.

"You are the most promising person in our courtyard, capable and responsible. In recent years at the factory you did well. Recently encountering some difficulties, the elders and youths in the courtyard also understand."

He paused.

"But ah, the harder the times, the more you need to perk up. Fishing and idling all day isn't the way. You're still young, the road ahead is long. We three elders, as seniors, cannot watch you sink into despair."

These words sounded like concern.

But between the lines, it actually pinned the label of "despondent" and "idle loafer" on Li Ping'an.

And struck the pose of "elders disciplining juniors."

Clever.

Much more clever than Liu Haizhong's blunt accusation.

Lin Xueqing's face turned somewhat pale.

She heard the knife in the words.

Li Ping'an finally moved.

He gently patted his daughter's back— Xiao Nuanqing had already fallen asleep in his arms.

Then he lifted his head.

His gaze calmly looked toward the three elders behind the Eight Immortals Table.

The oil lamp's halo flickered, illuminating his angular face.

On that face there was no anger, no panic, not even an expression.

Only a profound calm.

"Three elders."

Li Ping'an spoke, voice not loud but clear, "You said it well."

He paused.

Everyone in the courtyard pricked up their ears.

Waiting for his rebuttal, waiting for his explanation.

Or waiting for his submission.

Li Ping'an, however, shifted the topic.

"Since we want to rectify conduct and promote unity, I have a suggestion."

He stepped forward.

The moonlight fully bathed him, his shadow stretched long.

"Our courtyard indeed has some problems that need solving. For example—"

His gaze swept over the whole scene.

"What's the situation now with Xu Damao's family in the rear courtyard? Comrade Wang Cuihua is holding it alone in the hospital; has the courtyard organized anyone to help? How exactly should Xu Damao's issue be defined? Have the three elders looked into this? Have they reported it to the street office?"

Liu Haizhong's face stiffened.

Yan Bu Gui's motion to push his glasses stopped.

Yi Zhonghai's finger holding the cigarette paused slightly.

"Another example."

Li Ping'an continued, voice still steady, "A few days ago the police substation came to the courtyard to investigate, involving an old case. This concerns the safety of everyone in the courtyard; have the three elders followed up? Have they informed the neighbors? Reminded everyone to stay alert?"

With each sentence he spoke, the three elders' faces grew uglier by a bit.

"Also."

Li Ping'an's gaze fell on the Eight Immortals Table.

"The three elders said they want to help young comrades. May I ask—what kind of help? Is it empty talk ideological education, or concrete solutions?"

He paused.

"I, Li Ping'an, have been suspended. But the reason for the suspension, the organization hasn't concluded yet. If the three elders truly want to help, shouldn't they first go to the factory to understand the situation, rather than hold a big meeting in the courtyard and pin the label of 'idle loafer' on me?"

Word by word, clear and orderly.

No shouting, no defense.

Just laying out facts, reasoning.

Yet like a dull knife, slowly cutting open the three elders' hypocritical facade.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

Only the sound of wind wailing over the eaves.

Jia Zhangshi forgot to paste the matchbox, mouth open.

Qin Huairu lifted her head, astonished, looking at Li Ping'an.

Sha Zhu almost laughed out loud behind, but Ma Dongmei tightly covered his mouth.

Liu Haizhong's face flushed red, wanting to slam the table, his hand rose then fell.

Yan Bu Gui lowered his head pretending to drink tea, but the water in the jar was already gone.

Yi Zhonghai slowly lit a second cigarette.

Smoke and mist rose, his eyes flickered behind them.

Ping'an, ah.

Yi Zhonghai finally spoke, his voice still steady: "You're right, we hadn't thought it through. Concerning Xu Damao's family, we should indeed pay more attention. We should also learn more about what the police substation is investigating."

He took a puff of smoke.

"However, tonight's meeting is mainly for your own good. You are a talent of our courtyard; we don't want to see you decline. If you think our approach is wrong, you can bring it up. We're all doing this for the courtyard's benefit."

To retreat is to advance.

Still, that's clever.

Li Ping'an, however, smiled.

That smile was faint, fleeting in an instant.

"The First Elder is right; it's all for the courtyard's good."

He nodded.

"Then let's do this. Since the three elders want to manage things, I suggest—starting tomorrow, our courtyard will set up a duty roster. The three elders will take the lead, each household taking turns, responsible for public hygiene and looking after families in difficulty. For example, tomorrow we'll organize a few people to go to the hospital and stand in for Comrade Wang Cuihua for half a day, so she can catch her breath."

"Furthermore, since we want to study, I suggest we ask comrades from the subdistrict office to come and give us a talk on the latest policies and regulations. What do the three elders think?"

Every sentence makes sense.

Every sentence hits the heart.

Liu Haizhong opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak.

Duty roster? Take the lead? Go to the hospital?

His second uncle handles major affairs; how could he do these things?

Yan Bu Gui was even more uneasy—"If we bring in people from the subdistrict, what's this little authority of the three elders worth?"

Yi Zhonghai remained silent for a long time.

The cigarette butt burned his fingers before he suddenly woke and stamped it out.

"... A good suggestion." He said slowly, "Let us discuss it."

The meeting couldn't continue.

Liu Haizhong still tried to hold on, stammering through a newspaper excerpt, then wrapped it up hastily.

As the crowd dispersed, whispers arose everywhere.

"Li Ping'an's words are quite reasonable..."

"The three elders just talk, never act..."

"Xu Damao's family is pitiful, yet no one really helps..."

The three elders sat behind the Eight Immortals Table, unmoving.

After everyone had left, Liu Haizhong slammed his palm on the table.

"Rebellion! Simply rebellion!"

Yan Bu Gui gave a bitter smile: "Old Liu, calm down. This kid Ping'an... his words are harsh, but the reasoning is sound."

"What do you mean, sound reasoning!" Liu Haizhong shouted angrily, "He's slapping our faces in front of the whole courtyard!"

Yi Zhonghai silently smoked.

One after another.

After a long while, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Today's matter, we miscalculated."

He looked toward the direction of the West Annex Courtyard, his eyes complex.

"This Ping'an kid... he's calmer than we thought."

In the West Annex Courtyard.

Lin Xueqing closed the door and let out a long breath.

"Ping'an, I was really scared just now..."

"Afraid of what?"

Li Ping'an gently laid the sleeping Xiao Nuanqing on the bed, "That's all they're capable of."

Li Yaozong lifted his head, his eyes shining bright.

"Dad, you were just so awesome!"

Li Ping'an patted his son's head.

"Remember, to deal with people who spout empty talk, you shut them up with solid facts."

Night grew deep.

Li Ping'an sat alone in the main hall.

Moonlight filled the courtyard.

He recalled Zhou Zhengwei's words—"The real battlefield is not here."

The three elders' nitpicking is just buzzing flies.

The real danger lies in those who hide in the shadows, wielding power, able to decide life and death.

The materials have already been sent out.

Over at Zhou Zhengwei's side, he should have already begun laying plans.

What about the shopkeeper?

Li Ping'an closed his eyes.

Divine perception spread like ripples.

He could "hear" Liu Haizhong's angry scolding in the front courtyard, Yi Zhonghai's sigh in the central courtyard, and the Jia family's muttering in the rear courtyard.

Li Ping'an could also "hear" farther away — the footsteps of patrols on the street, the occasional engine of a passing car, the flutter of night birds' wings over the rooftops.

This city seemed to be asleep.

In reality, countless undercurrents surged beneath the night.

Li Ping'an lightly rubbed their fingertips.

Those sentences written in code should by now have been translated, reviewed, and incorporated into some vast and secret operation plan at a safe place.

And Li Ping'an.

This temporarily discarded chess piece.

Li Ping'an must continue to play the role of "suspended idle personnel" well.

Fishing, minding the child, strolling about.

Occasionally, Li Ping'an had to deal with these ridiculous struggles in the courtyard.

Wind seeped through the window crack, bringing the chill of deep autumn.

Li Ping'an opened their eyes.

Their gaze was like a blade.

Li Ping'an knew this act had to go on.

Li Ping'an had to keep acting until the true opponents behind the scenes thought they were really crippled and let down their guard.

Li Ping'an had to keep acting until the net Zhou Zhengwei had laid quietly tightened.

Li Ping'an had to keep acting until the moment when the map was exhausted and the dagger appeared.

When that time came.

Whether it was the petty scheming of flies and dogs in the Siheyuan.

Or the turbulent, deceitful dark war beneath Four Nine City.

All would face the final reckoning.