Chapter 68: Skill Transmission, Uniting the Neighbors

Zhao Jianguo leaned the broom against the door, his shoe soles still wet with snow. He didn't go inside, turned and took out a red paper from his pocket, posting it on the old notice board outside the toilet wall. The paper had just been stuck when the wind almost lifted it; he casually grabbed a half‑brick to weigh down one corner.

Sha Zhu came out of the kitchen wrapped in his military coat, glanced at it, and said: "Another new rule?"

"The technical night school is open." Zhao Jianguo brushed off the dust on his hands, "Teach one hour of skill, and do a week's toilet duty as volunteer work."

Sha Zhu stared for two seconds, then grinned: "You're not running a night school—you're just forcing people onto toilet duty in disguise!"

"Skills aren't hoarded; benefits are shared." Zhao Jianguo leaned against the wall, "In the past masters kept a trick up their sleeve while apprentices did the dirty work. Now it's reversed—whoever wants to learn must work first."

Before his words faded, Qin Huairu came out holding her child, heard the last sentence, and stopped: "Can women learn too?"

"Yes." Zhao Jianguo nodded, "If you come, I'll have He Yushui help look after the child."

Qin Huairu lowered her eyes to the baby in her arms, then lifted her gaze to the red paper, said nothing, but didn't leave.

Old Chen poked his head from next door, showing only half his face, and muttered: "Learn a skill and still have to clean the toilet? Who can stand that?"

Nobody paid him any attention.

The next evening, an old table was set up at the West Wing Room door, holding water‑pump parts, a wrench, and a roll of sealing gaskets. Though it wasn't fully dark, seven or eight people were already seated inside. The stools weren't enough, so some fetched a footstool while others simply squatted on the floor.

Zhao Jianguo stood by the table, lifted the gasket and shook it: "This thing used to be called a 'secret skill.' Fix it well and it's the master's talent; fail and it's your stupidity. Now I'll take it apart for you—it's just three layers of metal sandwiching rubber, model 69‑3, and the factory warehouse has five hundred of them."

Someone down below laughed.

"Anyone can learn, but there's a condition." He set the gasket down, "For every hour of study you must do a week's toilet duty. Skip the cleaning? Don't come to the next class."

Er Lengzi sat in the back, arms crossed, sneering: "Have you ever cleaned it yourself?"

Zhao Jianguo wasn't annoyed: "I cleaned it last Wednesday. That day Old Chen took leave, saying his back hurt."

Old Chen's face flushed; he lowered his head to pick at his shoe.

"The rule isn't meant to oppress." Zhao Jianguo tapped the table, "It's to make clear—skill isn't a privilege, it's a responsibility."

He picked up the pump housing, began to disassemble it, and spoke as he worked: "The bearing's seized—eighty percent due to an aged gasket. When replacing, align the threads and tighten three and a half turns—no more, no less. Too tight and it crushes; too loose and it leaks."

Jia Dongxu crouched in front, scribbling in a small notebook, his handwriting wiggling like earthworms.

"Can't remember?" Zhao Jianguo glanced at him.

"I'll remember, I have to." Jia Dongxu wiped his sweat, "I still need to copy it three times at home."

"Copying it ten times won't help—you need hands‑on practice." Zhao Jianguo handed him the wrench, "Your turn."

Jia Dongxu took it, his hand shaking a bit, and it jammed on the third turn.

"Let go." Zhao Jianguo held his wrist, "Try again, slowly."

One turn, two turns—click—it seated properly.

Scattered applause rose in the room. San Daye clapped the loudest, then stood up and beat twice, nearly toppling his footstool.

"I'm signing up!" he raised his hand, "I'm old and forgetful, but cleaning the toilet is no problem!"

"You're down for next Tuesday." Zhao Jianguo flipped open his notebook, "Three days of cleaning, two hours of study."

The crowd burst into laughter.

"What about me?" Sha Zhu raised his hand, "I'm a slow learner—can I have extra sessions?"

"Sure." Zhao Jianguo nodded, "But your toilet duty will be doubled."

"Fine!" Sha Zhu slapped his thigh, "I can handle cleaning for half a month!"

Qin Huairu whispered from the corner, "If I come to the class, where should I leave the child?"

"The East Room is empty." He Yushui replied, "I'll bring the child during the day—you can study in peace."

Qin Huairu bit her lip, finally nodded: "Then… I'll come next week."

Old Chen sat in the back, silent the whole time. After the session ended, he lingered at the rear, wanting to leave but stopping himself.

"Something up?" Zhao Jianguo gathered his tools.

"…Learning the pump, could you also teach the coal stove?" he rubbed his hands, "My stove keeps back‑drafting smoke."

"Sure." Zhao Jianguo looked up, "But you need to take a number. Finish the toilet cleaning first, then come sign up."

Old Chen opened his mouth, said nothing, and lowered his head as he walked away.

Early the third day, a new duty roster was posted at the toilet door. Names were neat and tidy, each person three days, rotation clear. San Daye's name was first, circled in red.

By noon, however, the toilet smelled a bit strong.

Zhao Jianguo went in to look; the flush hadn't been used and footprints marked the floor. He came out silent, tore off the duty sheet, pasted a blank sheet, and wrote: "Whoever doesn't clean, gets suspended from class."

In the afternoon, Sha Zhu brought in a bucket and brush, began scrubbing with a grunt. Halfway through, Qin Huairu pushed the door open, also holding a brush.

"I've been sick for two days, you covered my shift." She said, "It's my turn now."

"No problem, I'll do it as a side task." Sha Zhu wiped his sweat.

"Even a side task isn't free labor." Qin Huairu squatted, "When it's my turn, I have to do it myself."

The two were still scrubbing when Jia Dongxu entered with a young worker, carrying an iron shovel: "The septic tank inlet's clogged—I brought my apprentice to clear it."

"Your apprentice?" Sha Zhu looked up.

"Yeah." Jia Dongxu patted the kid's shoulder, "I teach him to dismantle pumps; he helps me with work."

That night, Zhao Jianguo made his rounds; the toilet was unusually clean—even the cobwebs in the corners were gone. He looked up, saw the new duty roster posted again, with not a single name missing.

The fourth day, the snow stopped.

Early morning, Zhao Jianguo opened the door and saw someone sweeping snow in the courtyard. It was Sha Zhu, pushing a big broom back and forth.

A while later, He Yushui came out with a small shovel to clear the ice lumps at the doorway.

Jia Dongxu shouldered an iron shovel, brought in a basket of coal cinder from outside, and scattered it on the icy road.

San Daye came out leaning on his cane, tottering to the toilet door, and wiped the frost off the duty sheet with a cloth.

Zhao Jianguo stood under the eaves, motionless.

Er Lengzi poked his head out from inside, looked awhile, sighed, also grabbed an old broom, and silently walked to the middle of the courtyard.

Old Chen had been huddled behind the window, but seeing Er Lengzi pitch in, he gritted his teeth, threw on his cotton coat, went out, and began clearing the snow piled up by the coal shed.

No one spoke, and no one gave orders.

After sweeping until noon, San Daye shouted: "Who has hot water? I brought some tea leaves; let everyone have a warm sip."

Qin Huairu hurried back inside and brought out a large tea kettle; He Yushui added some sugar.

Several people gathered in the middle of the courtyard, cupping their cups and blowing on them.

"Where's Jianguo?" San Daye asked.

"Inside." Sha Zhu pointed.

Zhao Jianguo had actually been watching all along. He didn't go over, turned and went into the house, took out a packet of brown sugar, grabbed two handfuls of biscuits, and placed them on a tray.

As he carried it out, the line of footprints in the snow had already disappeared.

But the newly swept path was clean and clean, leading to every door.

San Daye took the biscuits, rubbing his hands with joy: "This courtyard hasn't felt this united in years."

Zhao Jianguo didn't respond, just passed the tea kettle over.

Sha Zhu gnawed on a biscuit, then suddenly said: "Jianguo, what do you think we could still teach in the future?"

"Anything." Zhao Jianguo said, "Electric lights, stoves, radios. As long as someone wants to learn, I'll teach."

"Then after I learn the water pump, can I learn to repair radios?"

"Sure."

"Will I still be on duty sweeping?"

"Of course."

Everyone laughed.

Old Chen stood outside the crowd, holding his cup, and slowly took a sip of tea.

Er Lengzi squatted beside the broom, head down picking at his fingers, then suddenly lifted his head: "I… I also want to learn something."

No one laughed at him.

Zhao Jianguo nodded: "Come to night school tomorrow, first get a broom."

In the evening, the new session of night school began.

Zhao Jianguo stood by the table, with an old radio placed in front of him.

"Today we'll learn circuit basics." He picked up a screwdriver: "First lesson, remove the casing. Who wants to try?"

San Daye raised his hand: "Me!"

"You go." Zhao Jianguo handed the screwdriver over.

San Daye's hand shook a bit; he twisted for a while but couldn't turn it.

"Take it slow." Zhao Jianguo stood behind him, "Turn clockwise."

Click, the screw loosened.

"I got it!" San Daye's voice rose.

Applause came from below.

Zhao Jianguo watched the radio; its casing slowly lifted, revealing the coils and solder joints inside.

He was about to speak when a sound came from the courtyard gate.

Er Lengzi came in carrying a bundle of firewood, set it by the kitchen door, and clapped his hands: "It's cold; I picked this up on the way for everyone to boil water."

No one asked why he suddenly became diligent.

Zhao Jianguo glanced at him and nodded.

Night school continued.

"This red wire connects to the power source." Zhao Jianguo pointed, "The black wire goes to ground. If you reverse them, the machine won't work and may blow a fuse."

Jia Dongxu took notes, Qin Huairu listened attentively, Sha Zhu stared at the parts without blinking.

Midway through the lesson, He Yushui pushed the door open, holding a notebook: "Jianguo, I've sorted next week's duty roster; could you take a look?"

"Whatever you decide is fine." Zhao Jianguo didn't take it, "As long as nobody slacks off."

"Nobody will." He Yushui laughed, "Old Chen even volunteered to work extra yesterday."

Another round of laughter filled the room.

Zhao Jianguo lowered his head to tidy the parts, when suddenly Sha Zhu asked: "Jianguo, do you think this radio can be fixed?"

"Sure." Zhao Jianguo unscrewed the last screw, "As long as you're not lazy, anything can be repaired."

He completely removed the casing, revealing a burnt circuit board inside.

He picked up the soldering iron, lit it, and the metal tip glowed a faint red.

The solder melted, dripping onto the broken trace.