Chapter 7

The repair team's workers arrived at the courtyard early the next morning.

Translation: "The next morning, the Repair Team's master craftsmen came to the Siheyuan."

Translate the repair team's skilled workers as "Repair Team's workers".

Thus: "The next morning, the Repair Team's workers came to the Siheyuan."

The expression for "early next morning" translates to "the next morning".

"Comrade, I've seen you guys continuously hauling stuff into this courtyard yesterday; whose house are you fixing up?" Yan Butgui stopped Captain Hu to ask for information.

Translation: "\"Comrade, I've seen you guys continuously hauling stuff into this courtyard yesterday; whose house are you fixing up? \" Yan Butgui stopped Captain Hu to ask for information."

We need to keep punctuation? We'll keep quotes. Use English quotes. The line includes Chinese quotes 「」. We'll replace with English double quotes? Usually we keep as English quotes. We'll output: "Comrade, I've seen you guys continuously hauling stuff into this courtyard yesterday; whose house are you fixing up?" Yan Butgui stopped Captain Hu to ask for information.

"Comrade, I've seen you guys continuously hauling stuff into this courtyard yesterday; whose house are you fixing up?" Yan Butgui stopped Captain Hu to ask for information.

Make sure it's one line.

"Section Chief Li's home," Captain Hu said with a smile.

Translation: "\"Section Chief Li's home, \" Captain Hu said with a smile."

"Section Chief Li? When did we get a Section Chief Li in our courtyard?" Yan Butgui kept muttering.

Translation: "\"Section Chief Li? When did we have a Section Chief Li in our courtyard? \" Yan Butgui kept muttering."

But when he tried to continue questioning, he saw that Captain Hu and his team had already gone to the back courtyard; Yan Butgui didn't think much and immediately jogged after them, determined to find out exactly which Section Chief Li it was.

Translation: "But when he tried to continue questioning, he saw Captain Hu and the others had already gone to the rear courtyard, so Yan Butgui didn't think much and immediately trotted after them, determined to find out exactly which Section Chief Li it was."

He was determined to find out exactly which Section Chief Li it was.

Yan Butgui saw Captain Hu's team preparing to work in the west wing, while Li Qiang was handing out cigarettes to them.

Translation: "Yan Butgui saw Captain Hu and the others preparing to work in the west wing courtyard, with Li Qiang handing out cigarettes to them."

The term for distributing cigarettes is translated as "handing out cigarettes".

"Could the Section Chief Li they mentioned be Li Bin's younger brother? This kid just came back from the army—when did he become a section chief?" Yan Butgui looked utterly confused.

Translation: "\"Could the Section Chief Li they mentioned be Li Bin's brother? This kid just came back from the army, when did he become a section chief? \" Yan Butgui was completely bewildered."

"Old West Yan, you've come to watch the fun too," Jia Zhangshi said, having appeared behind Yan Butgui at some point.

Translation: "\"Old West Yan, you've come to watch the fun too, \" Jia Zhangshi said, having appeared behind Yan Butgui at some point."

"Old West Yan, you've come to watch the fun too," Jia Zhangshi said, having appeared behind Yan Butgui at some point.

"I say, Jia Zhangshi, how can you walk so silently? You scared the living daylights out of me!" Yan Butgui was genuinely startled by Jia Zhangshi's sudden voice.

Translation: "\"I say, Jia Zhangshi, you walk without making a sound—you scare people to death! \" Yan Butgui was genuinely startled by Jia Zhangshi's sudden voice."

"Old West Yan, if you're not guilty, you have nothing to fear; being this scared means you must have done something shady," Jia Zhangshi stared at Yan Butgui, hoping to read something from his expression.

Translation: "\"Old West Yan, if you haven't done anything wrong, you needn't fear ghosts knocking at the door; your fright means you must have done something shameful, \" Jia Zhangshi stared at Yan Butgui without pause, hoping to see some clue on his face."

"You're the one who's done something shady," Yan Butgui snapped, glared at Jia Zhangshi, and turned to leave.

Translation: "\"You're the one who's done something shameful, \" Yan Butgui glared at Jia Zhangshi and turned to leave."

As soon as she got off work that evening, Jia Zhangshi went to Zhonghai Yi's house.

Translation: "Just after getting off work in the evening, Jia Zhangshi went to Yi Zhonghai's home."

"Old sister-in-law, why are you in such a hurry? Is something wrong?" Yi Zhonghai knew Jia Zhangshi was the type who only comes when there's business.

Translation: "\"Old sister-in-law, why are you in such a hurry? Is something up? \" Yi Zhonghai knew Jia Zhangshi was the type who only comes when there's business."

"Old Yi, how did you become the head of the household?" Jia Zhangshi launched right into questioning Yi Zhonghai.

Translation: "\"Old Yi, how did you become a Household Manager? \" Jia Zhangshi launched right into questioning Yi Zhonghai."

"What's wrong, old sister-in-law? Who offended you now?" Yi Zhonghai was left baffled by the question.

Translation: "\"What's wrong, old sister-in-law? Who offended you again? \" Yi Zhonghai was left bewildered by the question."

"Li Qiang, the newcomer, is fixing up the west wing, and you, the head of the household, don't even know? Our housing is tight, Dongxu is your apprentice, yet you won't help our family—there are three rooms in the west wing, so what gives the Li family kid the right to take all three for himself?" Jia Zhangshi fired off like a machine gun.

Translation: "\"Li Qiang, the newcomer in the rear courtyard, is fixing up the west wing courtyard, and you, the Household Manager, don't even know? Our housing is so tight, Dongxu is your apprentice, yet you won't help our family—there are three rooms in that west wing courtyard, what right does that Li family kid have to occupy all three by himself? \" Jia Zhangshi fired off like a machine gun."

Keep the personal name as Dongxu and translate the term referring to the Li family child as "Li family kid".

"Old sister-in-law, are you telling the truth?" Yi Zhonghai asked, frowning.

Translation: "\"Old sister-in-law, are you telling the truth? \" Yi Zhonghai asked, frowning."

"I wouldn't lie to you; if you don't believe me, go check the back courtyard yourself."

Translation: "\"Why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, go see for yourself in the rear courtyard. \""

"Alright,"

Translation: "\"Fine, \" Yi Zhonghai, who already had objections to the Li brothers, now thought they had dared to repair the west wing courtyard without his approval as Household Manager, really not taking him seriously."

Yi Zhonghai stormed into the courtyard and found that what Jia Zhangshi had said was true—the repair crew was hard at work.

Translation: "Yi Zhonghai stormed to the rear courtyard and found, just as Jia Zhangshi had said, the Repair Team's workers were busy at full swing."

Without a word, Yi Zhonghai turned and went to Liu Haizhong's house. Yi Zhonghai is quite scheming—he wouldn't put himself on the spot. Liu Haizhong is the ideal person to be used as a pawn; why would he expose himself?

Translation: "Without another word, Yi Zhonghai turned and went to Liu Haizhong's home; he was quite scheming, preferring not to step forward himself, since Liu Haizhong was the perfect person to use as a pawn—why should he expose himself?"

"What's Old Liu up to?" Yi Zhonghai asked, arriving at Liu Haizhong's house with a stern look.

Translation: "\"What's Old Liu busy with? \" Yi Zhonghai arrived at Liu Haizhong's home with a stern face."

"Old Yi, what's the matter?" Liu Haizhong could see that Yi Zhonghai was upset.

Translation: "\"Old Yi, what's wrong with you? \" Liu Haizhong could see Yi Zhonghai was unhappy."

"Old Liu, how can Li Bin act like this? His younger brother moved in without even saying hello to us. Now they've actually started repairing the west wing—did he even greet you?" Yi Zhonghai demanded angrily.

Translation: "\"Old Liu, how could Li Bin behave like this? His brother comes to live at our place without even greeting us, and now they've actually started repairing the west wing courtyard—did he even say hello to you? \" Yi Zhonghai asked angrily."

"No, Li Bin is becoming increasingly oblivious to the rules. I was just about to talk to you about this—if everyone follows his lead, how will we manage the courtyard?" Liu Haizhong was also seething; Li Bin's failure to greet him showed he didn't respect him, challenging his authority as leader—how could he possibly accept this?

Translation: "\"No, Li Bin is getting more and more clueless about the rules; I was just about to talk to you about this—if everyone followed his example, how would we manage this Siheyuan? \" Liu Haizhong was also fuming; Li Bin's failure to greet him showed he didn't respect him, was challenging his authority as leader—how could he tolerate such a thing?"

"I think we need to call a general meeting to criticize and educate them about this; we can't let this improper behavior influence the other residents of the courtyard." Yi Zhonghai said, his face grim.

Translation: "\"I think we need to hold a courtyard-wide meeting to criticize and educate them on this situation, so this unhealthy trend doesn't affect our other Siheyuan neighbors, \" Yi Zhonghai said, his face as still as water."

"Alright, I'll have Guangtian and Guangfu notify everyone to call a general meeting." Liu Haizhong has always been eager to convene general meetings—it's his best chance to display leadership. Even if Yi Zhonghai doesn't come to him today, he still plans to seek him out after dinner.

Translation: "\"Fine, I'll have Guangtian and Guangfu notify everyone to hold a courtyard-wide meeting, \" Liu Haizhong, who always loved calling such meetings, saw it as the best chance to display his leadership; even if Yi Zhonghai didn't come to him today, he'd still go find Yi Zhonghai after his meal."

"Okay," Yi Zhonghai nodded. Don't be fooled by the three managers in the courtyard—actually Yan Butai has little influence; he only gets involved when there's something to gain, otherwise he stays out. Over time, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong stopped consulting him on anything.

Translation: "\"Fine, \" Yi Zhonghai nodded in agreement. Although there are three Household Managers in the Siheyuan, Yan Butgui actually has little say; he only gets involved when there's profit to be had, otherwise he stays out of it. Over time, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong stopped consulting him on matters."

"Brother Bin, my dad and the head manager have notified everyone that we're holding a general meeting soon," Liu Guangtian called out at Li Bin's door.

Translation: "\"Brother Bin, Dad and the Household Manager have notified everyone that a courtyard-wide meeting will be held soon, \" Liu Guangtian shouted at Li Bin's door."

"Got it," Li Bin answered.

Translation: "\"Got it, \" Li Bin replied."

"Brother, why are we calling a general meeting at this time?" Li Qiang wondered, since such meetings are usually held after meals.

Translation: "\"Brother, what's the point of holding a courtyard-wide meeting now? \" Li Qiang was a bit confused; such meetings are usually held after meals."

"I don't know—maybe there's something urgent," Li Bin replied, also unsure.

Translation: "\"I don't know; maybe there's something urgent, \" Li Bin also didn't quite understand."

"Your courtyard is quite interesting—you even hold general meetings," Captain Hu said with a smile.

Translation: "\"Your Siheyuan is pretty interesting—you even hold courtyard-wide meetings, \" Captain Hu said with a laugh."

"I've never heard of that either," Li Qiang said, laughing.

Translation: "\"I've never heard of that either, \" Li Qiang said with a laugh."

"Do you hold these meetings often?" Captain Hu asked Li Bin.

Translation: "\"Do you guys hold them often? \" Captain Hu asked Li Bin."

"Yeah, whenever there's any big or small issue, our courtyard managers love to call a general meeting," Li Bin said resignedly.

Translation: "\"Well, whenever there's any big or small matter, our courtyard's Household Managers love to call a courtyard-wide meeting, \" Li Bin said helplessly."

"They call general meetings over nothing—just to flaunt their authority," He Yuzhu said with disdain.

Translation: "\"They call courtyard-wide meetings at the drop of a hat, just to show off their authority, \" He Yuzhu said, utterly disdainful of such behavior."

"Well, I want to see the excitement," Captain Hu said, finding it interesting and wanting to watch how a general meeting is conducted.

Translation: "\"Well then, I want to see the excitement, \" Captain Hu, finding it interesting, also wanted to see how a courtyard-wide meeting is conducted."

"Sure, I'm attending for the first time too—let's go check it out, then come back to eat," Li Qiang said, curious about the frequent general meetings in the original drama, and fortunate to participate today to see what it's all about.

Translation: "\"Sure, I'm also attending for the first time; let's go check it out, then come back to eat, \" Li Qiang said. He was also very curious about how the original story frequently throws courtyard-wide meetings; today he was lucky enough to participate in this one to see what it's all about."

When Li Qiang and the others reached the central courtyard, they found it already surrounded by many people. The compound at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang is a three-section courtyard, home to about fifteen or sixteen families, totaling fewer than a hundred residents.

Translation: "When Li Qiang and his group arrived at the central courtyard, they found it already surrounded by many people; the Siheyuan at No. 95 South Gong and Drum Lane is a three‑courtyard compound, home to about fifteen or sixteen families, altogether under a hundred people."

The central courtyard is more spacious, and since Yi Zhonghai lives there, holding general meetings there signals it's his domain—so he insists on holding them in the central courtyard each time, and over time everyone grew accustomed to meeting there.

Translation: "In the Siheyuan, the central courtyard is more spacious; moreover, Yi Zhonghai lives there, and holding the courtyard-wide meeting in the central courtyard shows it's his turf, so he insists on holding every such meeting there, and over time everyone has grown accustomed to meeting in the central courtyard."

A small table was placed in the middle of the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai sat in the central position, Liu Haizhong and Yan Butgui sat on either side, it was obvious at a glance who was the boss, and three tea jars were placed on the table.