Chapter 40: The West Annex Courtyard

After agreeing to the patrol team’s matters, Li Xuewu smiled and said to Director Wang: “Auntie Wang, have you heard anything about my house?”

Director Wang stood up with a smile, walked back to her desk, and pulled out a map: “I’ve got it sorted for you—it’s just those four back rooms. They’re assigned to you.”

Director Wang pointed to the location of the large sihe courtyard on the map: “You called me ‘Mom’—don’t say I didn’t think of you. See this? This is your courtyard’s location. Your courtyard originally had a west annex, identical in layout to the main courtyard.”

Li Xuewu straightened up, excitedly asking: “Mom, are you giving me all of it?”

Director Wang gave him a look: “What are you dreaming about? Even calling Grandma won’t get you such a big courtyard. I meant only the original back rooms and front courtyard of the west annex—formerly an open-air warehouse of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, now unused. The three gates have been bricked up, a new courtyard wall built, and the entrance doesn’t face this side.”

Li Xuewu took the map and studied it closely—the courtyard was essentially the same as the front courtyard and back rooms where his family lived.

Director Wang smiled: “Since you need a house, pay another 200 yuan to the street office, and I’ll include that courtyard too.”

Li Xuewu replied bluntly: “I’ll take it. I’ll pay 300—give me the middle and rear courtyards too.”

Director Wang laughed and scolded: “Don’t joke. They’ve already been assigned and occupied. The front courtyard is still held by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative—they built their own warehouse this year. Otherwise, it’d never have come to you.”

Li Xuewu immediately pulled out money and placed it on the desk.

“Fine, just the front courtyard then. Two hundred yuan is worth it.”

Director Wang smiled as she put the money into an envelope, writing his name and location: “Ah, young people are quick-witted. If you weren’t someone I watched grow up, I wouldn’t have done this for you.”

Li Xuewu’s skin was thicker than a city wall—could he let that remark land on the floor?

“Who else would be my mom? Mom, I’m coming over for dinner tonight—remember to buy groceries.”

He took the paperwork Director Wang had prepared and walked out, turning back at the door to call: “I’m serious! Don’t buy meat!”

Li Xuewu didn’t care that Director Wang was cursing behind him—he got on his bike and rode home.

At the alley entrance, he detoured to take a look at the courtyard beside the sihe.

A new gate had been opened in the southern wall, sealed with a heavy iron lock.

Li Xuewu used the key Director Wang had given him to open the gate—the iron door made by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was solid, clanging loudly when knocked.

lingdian.

He pushed his bike inside. The courtyard was barren, surrounded by high walls and wire mesh fences—clearly, things had been stolen here before.

The ground had been leveled. One room near the main gate, originally part of the back rooms, remained intact—likely used for night watch.

Li Xuewu opened the door to the back rooms—it was still clean, suggesting the Supply and Marketing Cooperative had only recently vacated.

The layout of the back rooms was simple: one room, about twenty square meters. All the window glass was still in place—not even that had been stripped away.

Li Xuewu stepped outside and surveyed the area. The foundation of the original back rooms had been leveled; bricks, tiles, beams, and timber from the demolished structures were piled high in the corner.

Not bad—two hundred yuan for a nearly six-hundred-square-meter courtyard. Sure, he’d owe someone a favor.

Li Xuewu pushed his bike out, locked the gate, and walked toward the sihe.

As he entered the second gate, he saw Uncle San wiping his car.

Li Xuewu teased: “Uncle San, didn’t you go out all day? Spend the whole day polishing your car?”

Uncle San turned around as he stood up: “Nonsense—I came home early because I had no afternoon class. Hey! A new bicycle! No wonder you’re an official—you bought one on your second day at work! Impressive!”

Li Xuewu parked his bike by the window and replied casually: “The boss gave me the ticket before I retired. Besides, you bought yours earlier than me!”

After bantering with Uncle San, he went inside.

Liu Yin, seeing Li Xuewu return, asked, following Uncle San’s remark: “What bicycle? Are you tired from night duty? Go lie down.”

Li Xuewu took off his satchel and shook his head: “Not tired—I slept half the night, then spent the other half catching people. Oh, by the way—I bought a bicycle.”

Liu Yin stared in shock: “You caught people on your first day? What? A bicycle? Where did you get the money and tickets?”

Li Xuewu gave his rehearsed excuse: “The boss gave me the ticket before I retired. It’s convenient for commuting.”

Liu Yin slapped him lightly: “Why didn’t you consult the family? You must be out of cash—tell me if you need money.”

Li Xuewu smiled: “Didn’t my father already split the household?”

Liu Yin pinched him hard: “Stop talking nonsense,” then went out to inspect the bicycle, running her hands over the handlebars and frame while responding to Uncle San’s sarcastic remarks.

Aunt Da and Grandma also came out to look. Li Xuewu went down to the cellar, retrieved a twenty-jin chunk of pork, cut off a piece of liver and heart, and packed them in a lunchbox.

Seeing Liu Yin and Grandma return, he said: “Mom, the street office assigned me the back rooms and everything inside the screen gate. I also bought the west annex courtyard for two hundred yuan.”

Liu Yin was stunned: “You really mean to move out?”

Li Xuewu smiled: “What else can I do? My eldest brother supports the elders—can I really get married and live here? Is there even room?”

Liu Yin’s eyes filled with tears. Li Xuewu rushed forward and hugged her, comforting her: “I’m not leaving Beijing—I’m right in front of you. Why are you crying?”

Liu Yin, tears streaming, said: “Seeing you grow up, standing on your own—it makes me happy and heartbroken.”

Li LaoTai turned and walked back into the inner room, muttering: “When sons grow up, mothers can’t hold them back. Little chicks fly onto walls. Hmph.”

Liu Yin knew the old lady was trying to comfort her—Li Shun and his brothers were scattered across the country.

Liu Yin sniffled: “Then let me help you clean it up.”

Li Xuewu laughed helplessly: “Clean what? There’s not even space to stand in the back rooms—all the stuff inside belongs to the courtyard residents. I have to tell them to move out. Besides, I plan to renovate—it’ll take a few days.”

Liu Yin nodded: “Alright. What will you use the small courtyard for?”

Li Xuewu said: “I plan to extend the screen gate outward, connect the inner wall to the west courtyard. The west courtyard has its own gate—I’ll put the carts and horses there. There’s also a back room in the west courtyard—I’ll clean it up and have Grandma and Li Xue move in.”

At that moment, Aunt Da entered, smiling: “Don’t make Grandma and Xiao Xue go through the trouble—I’ll move over. The west courtyard is bigger and better for feeding the horses.”

Liu Yin scolded: “Dad, why are you getting involved?”

Aunt Da waved his hand: “Xuewu’s good. Xuewu, you take care of me in my old age—I only have the cart and the horse. How about I give them all to you?”

Aunt Da had once been a carpenter at a furniture factory outside Dongzhimen, granted urban household registration in 1954.

But Auntie was from the countryside, an only daughter, obligated to care for her ailing parents. The city dormitory was too cramped, so Aunt Da lived with her in the village.

After a lifetime of hard work, all they owned was that cart and that horse.

Li Xuewu saw the look in Aunt Da’s eyes—he knew the old man wasn’t comfortable living here, and felt guilty knowing his son-in-law’s home was cramped.

“Perfect! Then it’s settled—I get the big gray horse and the cart, and I’ll take care of you in your old age. Don’t you dare change your mind!” Li Xuewu grinned.