Chapter 9: The Well-Intentioned He Yuzhu, Yi Zhonghai Pays a Visit

Li Mingyuan stood in the center of the small courtyard, looking around at this independent little world.

There were two main rooms facing the sun, one wing room used as a kitchen, and the small courtyard even had a decent-sized patio; it was more spacious than the one-bedroom apartment he had in his original world.

"This is much better than I imagined, let me tidy up first," Li Mingyuan said, putting down his luggage.

"New uncle, I'm here to help!" He Yuzhu walked into the small courtyard, poking his head around; his eyes darted back and forth, filled with curiosity from head to toe.

Li Mingyuan turned his head to look at this He Yuzhu, who was just over fifteen years old, and felt amused: this kid is so straightforward right now, not at all like that "sycophant" he becomes later.

"Alright, little Zhuzi, then help me move these things into the room." Li Mingyuan casually tossed him a light bundle, and after catching it, He Yuzhu ran into the room as if he had obtained a treasure.

He Yuzhu helped wipe the tables and sweep the floor, chattering away: "New uncle, I heard you do big things; do you know all the big leaders?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Li Mingyuan said with a smile, tapping him on the head, thinking that this kid was actually quite honest and cute when he was young, "I'm just an ordinary technician, don't listen to the neighbors' gossip."

Under the big tree outside the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi grabbed Jia Dongxu's arm, her teeth chattering with anger: "This West Courtyard was clearly promised to our family; you're about to start a family and career, why was it given to an outsider?"

Jia Dongxu shrank his neck, his eyes flickering: "Mom, that was arranged by those above, we can't afford to offend them..."

"Coward!" Jia Zhangshi slapped the back of her son's head and whispered a conspiracy: "This Li Mingyuan must have pulled strings; we have to find a way to fix him, make him unable to stay, and this courtyard must still be ours!"

Jia Dongxu shrank his neck and muttered: "Mom, but I heard that man is a technical expert, let's not cause trouble..."

"What are you afraid of!" A flash of malice crossed Jia Zhangshi's eyes, "I see this pretty boy is soft and delicate, he surely can't handle being messed with; we'll start with the water, electricity, and gas, and give him some trouble first!"

Liu Haizhong stood at his own doorway, staring at the West Courtyard with an uncertain expression.

Just a moment ago he was still joining in the commotion, but now that he heard Li Mingyuan was a "key technical talent being cultivated," his mind immediately became active.

"This Li Mingyuan looks young, but his ability is not small," Liu Haizhong muttered to himself, rubbing his hands as he walked toward the West Courtyard, "I have to get on his good side, maybe I can benefit from his light..."

Liu Haizhong knocked on the door and entered the small courtyard, his face full of smiles: "Comrade Li, you're new here, if you need any help, just say so! We are all from the Rolling Mill, we'll be colleagues from now on!"

Li Mingyuan sneered inwardly: This "incompetent but ambitious" Liu Haizhong changed his tune really fast; ten minutes ago he was still chiming in with sour remarks, and now he's here fawning.

"Thank you, Comrade Liu, I don't need any help for now," Li Mingyuan said, intentionally raising his voice, "The Group Leader gave instructions not to talk much about work matters with outsiders, you understand, right?"

Liu Haizhong's face stiffened, and he gave an awkward laugh: "That's true, that's true, confidentiality is important; you go ahead and get busy, call me anytime if you need anything!" After saying this, he walked quickly out of the small courtyard, his face turning gloomy.

On the other side, Yan Bugui was at his own doorway, his fingers moving rapidly as if he were using an abacus:

"One person living in a small courtyard is too wasteful; by our courtyard's standards, at least ten people could live there."

"Comrade Xiao Li must have quite a lot of subsidies," Yan Bugui narrowed his small eyes, a shrewd smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, "I heard he's an expert, he definitely isn't short on money; I must find a way to get a piece of the pie..."

Yi Zhonghai sat in the main room of the East Wing Room in the Central Courtyard, his fingers tapping the table rhythmically, lost in thought: "This Li Mingyuan is an expert at such a young age, and he doesn't seem to have any family; he's an ideal candidate for providing for my old age."

"He's much better than He Yuzhu," a sharp glint flashed in Yi Zhonghai's eyes, "Although Zhuzi is honest, he's too stubborn and has no prospects; this Li Mingyuan has a boundless future..."

Just then, Long Laotai leaned on her cane and slowly shuffled into Yi Zhonghai's room, a mysterious smile hanging on her lips: "Zhonghai, have you taken a liking to that new young man?"

Yi Zhonghai was startled, then immediately understood what the old lady was referring to, and said in a low voice: "Li Mingyuan is a technical talent cultivated by the state, his future is limitless, he's much better than Zhuzi."

Long Laotai nodded, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes: "That kid He Daqing drinks all day, he can't be relied upon; you must hurry and secure Li Mingyuan, put the matter with Zhuzi aside for now."

Over here, He Yuzhu ran into the West Courtyard for the fifth time, carrying a kettle of hot water: "New uncle, this is the boiled water I made, taste it and see if it's sweet?"

Li Mingyuan looked at this honest youth with amusement: "Zhuzi, how can boiled water be sweet or not? How many times have you run over today? Don't you have school?"

"I'm not going anymore," He Yuzhu scratched his head, his face full of admiration, "I want to learn to be a chef from my dad; I heard you're a scientist, can you teach me some things?"

He Daqing returned drunk, and seeing his son running to the West Courtyard again, he shouted angrily: "Shazhu! Come back! Don't go bothering Comrade Li Mingyuan!"

"Why can't I go," He Yuzhu muttered, though his footsteps slowed down, "New uncle is a very good person, he promised to teach me things."

He Daqing grabbed his son, lowered his voice, his face full of terror: "That's a big intellectual sent by those above, stop provoking him; what if they find out about that matter in our family..."

He Yuzhu looked puzzled: "Dad, what matter does our family have?"

He Daqing looked left and right, and panicked, covered his son's mouth: "Keep your voice down! Nothing, our family has nothing..." But when he left, his face was covered in sweat.

At dusk, Li Mingyuan sat in the small courtyard, drinking tea with satisfaction.

It turns out living in a Siheyuan is quite interesting; the way these people scheme against each other is even more realistic and vivid than in a TV show.

"It seems I need to make good use of this environment," Li Mingyuan calculated to himself, "First, gain a firm foothold at the Rolling Mill, use the system to get the Type Weapon out, and then..."

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Yi Zhonghai walked in carrying a plate of steaming buns, his face full of smiles: "Comrade Li, you've just arrived at our courtyard, as the head of this courtyard, I must show some hospitality; these are meat buns my wife made, have a taste!"

Li Mingyuan's eyes lit up; meat buns in this day and age were a rare treat, but he understood there was no such thing as a free lunch: "Master Yi is too kind, I'm not hungry yet, you all should eat them yourselves."

"Don't be polite, we're all one family," Yi Zhonghai diligently poured a cup of water, sat opposite Li Mingyuan, and asked with a smile, "Where is Comrade Li's family? Why did you come to Jingcheng to work all by yourself?"

Li Mingyuan immediately understood that this was probing for his background, and smiled: "There's only me left in my family; my parents passed away years ago, I have no ties, so it's just right to focus on work."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up: "That's so inconvenient, how difficult it is to live alone; come to my house to sit often when you're free, let my wife make you something delicious, we'll just be one family!"

Li Mingyuan sneered inwardly: Old Yi has started his move.

He smiled slightly, put down his teacup, and said in a flat tone: "Master Yi, there's no need to be so polite. I'm used to being alone, living by myself is quite good."

"Comrade Li, you're an expert at such a young age, and you're all alone; the road ahead is still long, you need someone to take care of you." Yi Zhonghai rubbed his hands, his eyes darting around, "My place is spacious, if you need anything, just say so."

"Thanks for the kindness, but I'm more used to quiet." Li Mingyuan stood up directly, his attitude noticeably colder, "If there's nothing else, I'd like to rest."

The smile on Yi Zhonghai's face stiffened. He hadn't expected this young man to be so disrespectful, not even touching the meat buns.

"Well... alright then, you rest first." Yi Zhonghai rose dejectedly, carrying the plate of untouched meat buns, and left the small courtyard with an ugly expression.

Li Mingyuan watched Yi Zhonghai's departing back and sneered inwardly.

Don't think I don't know what you're planning; I already figured out the routine of you old foxes when I watched "Romance of the Siheyuan" back in the day.

"This courtyard is truly full of drama queens." Li Mingyuan said to himself, "I'll go out and buy some things first; this place is destitute, everything is lacking."

He tidied up, took the money Group Leader gave him, and walked out of the Siheyuan.

The Jingcheng of now was completely different from the prosperous scene of later generations. The streets were dusty, the road surface was full of potholes, and the pedestrians were dressed simply, mostly wearing patched clothes. Occasionally, a few bicycles and flatbed tricycles passed by, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Comrade, may I ask how to get to the vegetable market?" Li Mingyuan stopped an old man riding a bicycle.

"Go east for three hutongs, turn south when you reach the crossroads, and turn right when you see the Guangjitang Pharmacy, and you'll be there." The old man pointed out the direction enthusiastically, "But it's quite a walk, you could take the bus; just wait at the bus stop up ahead."

Li Mingyuan thanked him and walked toward the bus stop.