Chapter 256: Emotional Resonance·Resolving Neighborhood Disputes

Zhao Jianguo sat on the recliner, ears still perked to listen to the movements overhead. Those few crooked drones had just crashed, and from outside the courtyard wall came a child's shout, "I picked up an iron bird!" Adults hurried out to pull people away, fearing electricity.

He didn't move, the bubble gum in his hand chewing into a new shape. Just after blowing a small bubble, he heard the noise start up at the alley entrance.

The voice was not small.

Second Elder's voice was naturally loud, now raised eight degrees: "You think this is your garage? My car front just pulled in, and you throw your bike sideways in front of my wheel!"

San Daye also didn't show weakness: "How many years has my car been parked here? You suddenly drive this metal box in, who can stand it?"

The two blocked the narrow alley, an old-style bicycle wedged diagonally against the car's front wheel, neither yielding. A few people gathered around, some advising, some watching, and someone even pulled out melon seeds to snack.

Zhao Jianguo frowned. He didn't want to get involved, but he couldn't shut his ears. The loud arguing would affect the triplets' rest inside the house.

He was wondering whether to get up and say a few words, when suddenly he saw a small figure running out from the main hall.

It was Zhao Yang.

The child held up a silver disc in his hands, like an enlarged pocket watch, running while lowering his head to see if it lit up. Reaching the alley entrance, he stopped, raised the disc, and shouted loudly, "Stop arguing! Try my thing!"

Everyone froze for a moment.

Second Elder turned his head: "Yangyang, this is no place for fooling around."

San Daye also softened his tone: "Go back quickly, the elders are talking."

Zhao Yang didn't retreat, his finger pressing a protruding little button on the disc's side, giving it a gentle push.

Click.

A blue light spread from the disc's center, not glaring, like the warm glow of streetlights just turning on at dusk. The light circle slowly expanded, covering Second Elder and San Daye.

Their faces were originally grim, veins on their necks still throbbing, but after a few seconds their brows gradually relaxed. Their eyes were no longer fierce, instead a bit vacant, as if they'd suddenly recalled something funny.

It fell silent for a few breaths.

San Daye suddenly laughed: "Hey, I say, why are we fighting over this?"

Second Elder also grinned: "Yeah, you remember when your car lights broke? I was the one who fixed them."

San Daye: "Then from now on, you park on Mondays and Wednesdays, I'll take Tuesdays and Thursdays, and weekends we carpool to the park?"

Second Elder: "Deal! I always keep a wrench in my trunk; call me anytime your car has trouble."

After saying that, they really shook hands and patted each other's shoulders twice.

The onlookers were dumbfounded.

Wang Shen didn't even notice the melon seed shells falling from her hand to the ground: "Is this… reconciled?"

Uncle Li scratched his head: "Faster than Aunt Zhang from the neighborhood committee coming ten times."

No one clapped, but the atmosphere changed. Just moments ago it was tense and hostile, now it felt as if someone had told a joke, everyone's faces unconsciously carrying a hint of a smile.

Zhao Yang stood in place, watching the two elders walk off side by side, one moving the bicycle, the other opening the car door. He lowered his head to look at the disc in his hand; the light had already gone out.

He whispered: "Dad, did you see that? The light isn't just for fighting."

After his words fell, there was no response. But he knew Zhao Jianguo was surely listening.

The courtyard instantly bustled with activity.

Nobody knew who first suggested: "Since our moods are settled, why not clear that pile of broken boxes in the western corner? It's been blocking the way for half a year."

Immediately someone replied: "Sure! I've got gloves!"

"I'll lend you my broom!"

"I can still move two cardboard boxes!"

Even Old Liu, who usually hates to move, came out leaning on his cane: "I'll watch you move and cheer you on."

The children were called out by the adults to work; at first they grumbled, then they discovered they could push little carts to haul debris, each eager to pitch in. A little girl grabbed a rag to wipe the stone table, rubbing until her face was covered in gray; her mother chased after her shouting, "Don't get dirt on your face!" but she only laughed harder.

Zhao Yang didn't join the cleaning; he just stood under the eaves, watching the crowd go back and forth.

The silver disc was still in his hand, cool.

He knew this thing wasn't omnipotent. That beam of light just now could only calm people's emotions, not force them to make decisions. But once their spirits were smoothed, many things ceased to be problems.

Just like Second Elder and San Daye, they actually hadn't wanted to argue for a while; it was just that nobody wanted to back down first. The light shone, that bit of stubbornness in their hearts dissipated, and naturally they recalled each other's good qualities.

He lifted his head to look at the sky.

The clouds thinned, sunlight slanted down, shining on the freshly swept blue‑brick ground, reflecting a bit of brightness.

At the courtyard gate, Second Elder was helping San Daye check the bicycle chain, muttering: "This chain needs oil, otherwise riding will be hard." San Daye nodded: "Tomorrow I'll bring a bottle of machine oil."

Zhao Yang smiled.

He turned to go back inside, just lifted his foot, and heard someone shout from behind.

It was Wang Shen: "Yangyang! Can I borrow your glowing thing?"

He turned back.

Wang Shen stood in the middle of the courtyard, holding a mop, smiling: "My old man snored loudly last night, keeping me awake; we haven't spoken yet, and the moment we open our mouths we argue. Shine your light on him, and I guarantee he'll shut up!"

The bystanders burst into laughter.

Uncle Li chimed in: "Then you need to let Yangyang shine it a few more times, otherwise you'll still be arguing tonight."

Wang Shen made a move to hit: "Don't add to the chaos!"

The laughter grew louder.

Zhao Yang also laughed. He raised the disc in his hand, shook it slightly: "You can try, but only for one minute."

"Enough enough!" Wang Shen laughed, waving her hands: "One minute is enough to keep him honest for three days!"

A crowd gathered around Zhao Yang, chatting and laughing; some asked where this thing came from, some wondered if it could also cure children's procrastination on homework, and someone joked about taking it to shine on the neighborhood committee director to get him to approve installing an elevator.

Zhao Yang answered each one, his voice not loud but very clear.

He said he made it himself, using parts his dad had left behind, debugging it for several days before succeeding. It can't cure illness, nor make people obedient; it only relaxes emotions a bit.

"Like…" he thought, "like drinking a bowl of cool mung bean soup in summer—the heat goes down, and then you can speak properly."

Everyone nodded.

Nobody thought he was bragging.

Because of that scene just now, everyone could see it.

When the Second Elder and San Daye shook hands, they really laughed, not pretending.

Zhao Yang finished speaking, carefully put the Silver Disc into his pocket. He raised his head and looked at the Main Hall window.

The curtain moved slightly.

He knew that Zhao Jianguo was watching from the inner room.

He didn't wave or speak, just straightened up a bit, as if reporting results.

The courtyard cleaning was still ongoing.

Someone was scrubbing the Wall Base, someone was clearing the drain, even the roof tiles had a few young people climb up to pick up fallen leaves. The children formed a transport team, trip after trip carrying the Garbage Rule to the big bin at the entrance.

The sun slanted west, light turned orange-yellow.

Zhao Yang squatted on the stone steps, watching his shadow lengthen.

He suddenly felt a bit tired.

Just now using the disc consumed a lot of energy. His head buzzed, as if someone was lightly ringing a bell.

He didn't tell anyone.

He Standing Up, patted his pants, prepared to go inside to drink water.

Just after taking two steps, he heard Uncle Li shout: "Ayoyo! Where's my phone? I just put it on the stone table, how is it gone?"

Everyone stopped working and began to search.

"Did it fall into a crack?"

"Did you forget you put it in your pocket?"

"Why not shout and see if it makes a sound?"

Uncle Li flipped his pockets, felt his head, anxious and spinning around.

Zhao Yang didn't move.

He stood in place, suddenly feeling something.

He slowly raised his hand, reached into his pocket, and felt that Silver Disc.

The disc was heating up.

It wasn't hot, just warm, like a stone sun-baked.

He frowned.

This shouldn't happen.

The disc only works when he actively activates it; it won't heat up on its own.

He took the disc out.

The surface was still cold, but the side against his palm clearly radiated heat.

He stared at it.

The blue light didn't light up, but a circle of Fine Lines around the disc's edge was slowly blinking, beat by beat, like a heartbeat.

He didn't know what this meant.

But he knew that this thing had just absorbed the emotional fluctuations of the whole courtyard.

Arguments, reconciliations, laughter, the enthusiasm of labor… all surged out after that flash of light.

Maybe it stored something.

Maybe it hasn't ended yet.

He gripped the disc tightly, raised his head and looked toward the courtyard.

Everyone was still looking for the phone, laughing and joking, nobody noticed his expression.

In the western sky, a flock of sparrows flew past, flopping, and hit the treetops.

Zhao Yang opened his mouth, wanting to shout.

Just then, the disc suddenly vibrated once.