Chapter 74: New Plan Unveiled, a Promising Future

At five in the morning, the lights in the electrical workshop were still on. Zhao Jianguo crouched beside the dough‑press, gripping a Wrench, tightening the last screw. The machine's outer shell had just been painted with anti‑rust paint, the smell was a bit sharp, but he didn't open the window—afraid the wind would blow away the drawings on the Desk.

This contraption was a bit more complicated than he expected. The drive shaft needed angle adjustment, the Gear Set had to mesh precisely, otherwise it would slip as soon as powered on. He tried it three times last night and finally steadied it. Now only the power‑on test remains.

Footsteps came from outside, Sha Zhu entered pushing the door with a Meal Ticket box, hair a mess, flour on his apron.

"You pulled another all‑night shift?" he placed the Meal Ticket box on the Desk, "I'm telling you, Zhao Jianguo, can this machine really work? I kneaded forty jin of dough this morning and my arms are still shaking."

"It can work." Zhao Jianguo tightened the screw, patted the machine body, "Try it again, it will definitely work."

"Then have a bite of something hot first." Sha Zhu lifted the lid, a scent of stewed cabbage with vermicelli wafted out, "Li Shen specially stewed this for you, saying you're always fixing this and that, you need to replenish."

Zhao Jianguo smiled, just about to reach for the spoon, when someone shouted from outside, "Jianguo! Is Jianguo there?"

It was the voice of the three elders, their cane tapping the floor, limping as they entered.

"This early?" Zhao Jianguo looked up.

"Not early, it's already six." the three elders gasped, steadied themselves, "I just walked a circle around the Courtyard; the cracks under the Wall Base are getting larger. It rained yesterday, and water seeped behind the East Wing Room."

"It needs fixing." Zhao Jianguo set the spoon down, "Not just the wall, six faucets are dripping, two clothes‑drying ropes are about to snap, the patch of ground where the kids play soccer is pitted like the lunar surface."

"You're quite the door‑keeper." the three elders leaned on their canes, looking at him, "But these matters, which family can handle them?"

"Then we'll manage it together." Zhao Jianguo Standing Up, walked to the wall, pulled a sheet of paper from behind the tool cabinet, "I thought it over all night; our Courtyard can't just rely on whoever lends a hand temporarily. We need a set of rules."

The three elders squinted at it; the paper bore a few lines: **Siheyuan Three‑Year Development Plan**.

"Year one: repair the foundation; year two: organize mutual aid; year three: achieve self‑sufficiency." Zhao Jianguo pointed at the paper, "It's not a pipe dream, it's something we can do piece by piece."

"Your idea… isn't small." the three elders were silent for a moment, "But the people? Will everyone be willing to pitch in?"

"Whether they're willing or not, they first need to know what to do." Zhao Jianguo folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket, "I want to hold a meeting on the Courtyard's open space, everyone should come and listen. You're respected, can you give me an opening speech?"

The three elders stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed, "Alright, after decades, this is the first time our Courtyard holds a 'Courtyard Affairs Meeting'? Interesting. The open space by my gate is perfect as a discussion corner."

"Then it's settled." Zhao Jianguo nodded, "We'll open on the first day of the month, post the notice in advance."

"Notice?" Sha Zhu interjected, "Do you really think this is like a factory meeting?"

"The more it looks like official business, the more people take it seriously." Zhao Jianguo picked up the Meal Ticket box, "Eat, then get to work."

At nine in the morning, a new paper was posted at the Courtyard Gate.

On red paper with black ink it read: "**Tomorrow, first day of the month, at nine sharp, Courtyard open space meeting. Topic: How shall the Siheyuan be lived in from now on? **"

The signature was the three elders' names, and beneath it a red circle indicating where to stamp a fingerprint.

The news spread like wildfire.

Li Shen walked by carrying a basin, read the notice and clicked her tongue, "Oh dear, this is the first time! When did our Courtyard ever talk about 'the future'? Every day is today's meal and tomorrow's worry."

Wang Shen, while hanging clothes, said, "Zhao Jianguo, this kid, his thoughts run deep. First fixing a pump, then scrapping iron, now he wants to remodel the Courtyard?"

"Only those with ability dare to think long term." He Yushui emerged from the electrical workshop, holding a stack of copied schematics, "Look, this is his drawing of the dough‑press structure; we can install a second unit next week."

"Can the whole Courtyard use it?" Li Shen's eyes lit up.

"More than that." He Yushui lowered his voice, "He also said he'll run a technical Night School, teaching carpentry, electrical work, appliance repair. Complete ten hours of study, exchange for one day of public labor reduction."

"Then I have to go!" Wang Shen immediately said, "My husband fixing a radio can blow the fuse."

In the evening, seven or eight people gathered at the three elders' doorstep, chatting animatedly.

Jia Dongxu crouched at the Wall Base, smoking, "Zhao Jianguo used to learn a craft from Master Yi, and now he's the one teaching us?"

"Times have changed." the three elders sat on a small wooden stool, cane on the floor, "Before, masters taught apprentices; now everyone learns from each other. Zhao Jianguo has skill and heart, this is reliable."

"But how do we count labor versus money?" someone asked.

"No money needed." the three elders shook their heads, "Zhao Jianguo said he'll figure out the materials, people just provide labor. Repair walls, dig ditches, replace water pipes, one day of work counts as one task, and at year‑end we'll post a glory board."

"That's good." Li Shen nodded, "My husband can take two days off, that's also a contribution to the family."

Early the next morning, the Courtyard's open space had three tables and several long benches set up. The three elders wore clean Zhongshan jackets, stood in the middle, and tapped an enamel jar.

"Everyone's here, right?" his voice was low, but the whole place fell silent.

"Today's meeting is the first 'Courtyard Affairs Meeting' I've ever chaired." He paused, "In the past, our Courtyard handled big and small matters by shouting, persuading, whoever had the loudest voice. Now we'll try a new method—**put issues out in the open, everyone decides together**."

The people below listened, many nodding.

Zhao Jianguo Standing Up, holding a stack of papers.

"I won't speak nonsense." he began, "First, three dangerous walls in our Courtyard; if not repaired before the rainy season they'll collapse and crush people; six households have children needing school, but no desks; the canteen's daily leftovers could feed pigs, yet we don't even have a pigpen."

The crowd buzzed.

"I propose a three‑step plan." Zhao Jianguo raised his hand, "First, technology sharing—Night School on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; I teach maintenance, He Yushui teaches circuits, Sha Zhu teaches noodle‑making. Complete ten hours of study, exchange for one day of public labor reduction."

"Oh dear, I have to go then!" Li Shen immediately raised her hand, "My household's sewing machine has been jammed for half a year!"

"Second, resource mutual aid." Zhao Jianguo produced a wooden box, "Set up a 'Used‑Goods Exchange Box'; any family with idle tools, old clothes, small furniture can register them here, and those in need can swap. No free taking; half an hour of volunteer work counts as a deposit."

"Can I put my new hammer in there?" Er Lengzi squeezed in, "My dad bought it two years ago, never used it."

"Sure." Zhao Jianguo smiled, "The more the better."

"Third, environment improvement." He pointed to the east wall, "First Sunday of next month, all young and strong adults will work: repair walls, replace water pipes, level the Courtyard. I'll provide materials, you provide labor."

"Then what's your goal?" someone suddenly asked.

Zhao Jianguo glanced at the questioning Uncle Wang, calmly said, "The aim is for our Courtyard to stop leaking, stop people falling, stop children doing homework in the mud. In the future, when anyone mentions this Courtyard, they'll say—'This place is livable.'"

No one spoke.

Sha Zhu suddenly stood up, slapped his thigh, "I support it! From now on, all the canteen's noodles go through the dough‑press! My arms, can't I keep them for stir‑frying?"

"I also support it!" He Yushui raised her hand.

"Count me in!" Jia Dongxu stood up as well.

The three elders, leaning on their canes, walked to the table, dipped in red ink, and pressed their fingerprints onto the paper.

A circle of red, neat and strong.

"My old boss, seventy years old, for the first time feels this Courtyard has hope."

One after another, people stepped forward.

Li Shen, Wang Shen, Er Lengzi, Jia Dongxu, Sha Zhu...... Even Old Zhou, who usually avoids showing up, came, tremblingly pressed a seal.

Zhao Jianguo picked up a pen, after everyone's names, wrote a line:

**Our Siheyuan, we'll build it. **

He posted the paper in the center of the notice board, then stepped back.

The setting sun slanted, the paper glowed. A group of people stood there, looking at the row of red handprints, no one leaving.

Zhao Jianguo turned to leave, He Yushui caught up.

You really plan to have the whole compound use the noodle press?

It's already installed." He turned back with a smile, "It's right behind the cafeteria; just turn on the electricity and it will run.

Then…… what's next?

Zhao Jianguo looked up at the sky; the edge of the clouds was golden.

The next one is an automatic water pump controller." He paused, "Then after that, install energy-saving stoves for every household.

He strode forward, his steps not heavy but steady.

Behind him, San Daye was still reciting the words on that paper to someone.

Sha Zhu shouted: "Jianguo! What's the night school lecture tonight?"

Zhao Jianguo didn't even turn his head.

Talk about how to make the Siheyuan live more decently.