Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

Chapter 4: Moving into the Courtyard, Undercurrents Flow Within

Today is a workday, and the young and middle-aged people in the courtyard have all gone to work at the factory. Only a few middle-aged women are busy washing clothes and cooking. The sound of the washboard rubbing against the fabric is intermittent, and the surroundings are unusually quiet, without the hustle and bustle of the morning and evening.

"Oh, Director Wang, what are you busy with?" The three middle-aged women who were washing clothes in the middle of the courtyard wiped the thin layer of sweat from their foreheads and stepped forward with a smile to strike up a conversation. Their eyes unconsciously glanced at the group of people following behind Director Wang, and they secretly wondered about the identities of the newcomers.

"Auntie Wang." Director Wang, dressed in a plain polyester shirt and clutching a thick housing registration book, responded politely and calmly. She then stepped aside to let Sun Jingyuan behind her pass. "A new comrade has arrived at the steel rolling mill. I brought him here to see his accommodation and finalize his housing arrangements."

"Looking at houses?" The smile on the third aunt's face froze instantly, the washboard in her hand stopped abruptly, and her heart began to pound.

She had lived in this courtyard for over a decade and knew the housing situation inside and out. As soon as she said this, she immediately guessed which rooms everyone wanted to see.

There are indeed several nice rooms vacant in this courtyard. They are three large rooms side by side, located inside the moon gate of the central courtyard, and belong to the west wing. If a door were installed on the moon gate, these rooms would become their own little world, with their own small private space. They wouldn't have to share a communal stove and toilet with other people in the courtyard. Their living conditions would be among the best in the entire Nanluoguxiang Hutong.

Because of their excellent conditions, these rooms had long been coveted by many people in the courtyard. The three families of Uncle Yi Zhonghai, Uncle Liu Haizhong, and Uncle Yan Bugui took turns submitting application reports to the street office and the steel rolling mill, going through the process no less than ten times. However, the street office never agreed to approve the rooms, fearing that uneven distribution would cause neighborhood conflicts and lead to a major dispute.

As they walked and chatted, they soon arrived at the moon gate of the central courtyard. Yang Xugang, the director of the steel rolling mill, turned to Zhang Shouye beside him with a thoughtful smile and asked for his opinion: "Minister Zhang, what do you think of this house? The location is regular and the space is spacious. Although it has been built for a while and the walls are a bit mottled, the overall layout is intact. After some cleaning, it will be perfectly comfortable to live in."

Zhang Shouye took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket and handed them to Yang Xugang and the street office housing management personnel waiting nearby. He held the cigarettes between his fingers without lighting them, and in a calm and composed tone, he left the choice entirely to Sun Jingyuan: "You have to ask Sun Jingyuan about this. He's the person involved, and his comfort is the most important thing. Jingyuan, if it's okay, nod. If not, we won't force it. The ministry will find another way and will definitely arrange something for you."

Upon hearing this, Director Wang subconsciously looked at Yang Xugang, his eyes full of doubt, not understanding why they would go to such lengths to arrange for him to be placed in this courtyard instead of the factory's employee dormitory.

Seeing this, Yang Xugang quickly leaned close to her ear and whispered a rapid explanation, clearly stating that Sun Jingyuan had given up the excellent platform of Peking University Third Hospital, actively chosen the steel rolling mill, and explained in detail the Ministry of Industry's requirement for resettlement housing, and the fact that the factory had no spare housing available.

"An apartment building for a bungalow?" Director Wang looked at Sun Jingyuan in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.

In this era, apartment buildings are a symbol of status and living conditions. Even the smallest and tallest tenement buildings are places that countless people would fight tooth and nail to live in. Many people dream of moving from a bungalow to an apartment building their whole lives. This young man in front of her, who is only in his early twenties, actually gave up the benefits of an apartment building and chose to live in a bungalow in a hutong, which was beyond her expectations.

Sun Jingyuan had a faint smile on his face, and his tone was calm and steady, without revealing any extra emotions: "When it comes to work, it's the same no matter where you are. As long as your place of residence can shelter you from the wind and rain and meet your daily living needs, you don't need to be too particular about external conditions."

"Well said! It's rare to be so hardworking and down-to-earth at such a young age, not picky or seeking comfort!" Director Wang couldn't help but give a thumbs up, his eyes filled with even more admiration as he looked at Sun Jingyuan. He immediately made the decision, "Dr. Sun, if you're willing to stay here, I'll make the decision. All three rooms are yours to use. We at the street office will expedite the property rights and housing procedures without any delays."

"Three rooms?" Sun Jingyuan was stunned on the spot, and subconsciously repeated the sentence. Although he was surprised, he did not show it on his face. He just looked at the house in front of him calmly.

These three houses together cover nearly 200 square meters. In an era when four or five family members were crammed into small rooms of 30 or 40 square meters, or even when several generations lived together, it was considered extremely fortunate for ordinary workers to be allocated a single-story house of more than 10 square meters. To be granted three such spacious houses was far beyond the normal resettlement standard and was a privilege that others would not even dare to dream of.

"Dr. Sun is willing to give up his comfortable apartment and work diligently at the steel mill, protecting the workers here. We, the street and the factory, cannot be stingy and must not let our hardworking comrade suffer any injustice." Director Wang turned to Yang Xugang and said with a smile, his tone full of approval for Sun Jingyuan.

"Yes, yes, Director Wang is right." Yang Xugang quickly agreed, nodding repeatedly, and pointed to the room in front of him, adding, "These three rooms are all yours. Although the walls are a bit mottled and the doors and windows are a bit old, and they will need some simple repairs, they are spacious and well-lit. They will be much more comfortable to live in than an apartment building once they are cleaned up."

Sun Jingyuan calmly scanned the overall layout of the three large houses, showing neither disdain nor delight, but objectively assessing the condition of the houses.

Although the house is old and dilapidated, it has a regular layout and a bright and airy space. It is more spacious and private than the previous staff quarters of the Ministry of Machinery, and is sufficient to meet daily living needs.

Just then, Zhang Shouye suddenly spoke up, his tone firm and his thoughts very thorough: "How about this, the house will be registered under the Ministry of Industry. Your street office and steel mill should prepare all the house deeds and housing procedures and give them to me. I will get them stamped by the Ministry and transfer the property directly to Sun Jingyuan's name to ensure clear ownership and no subsequent disputes."

Zhang Shouye's move completely eliminated any potential problems. The house was dilapidated, and future renovations would require considerable effort and money. If the house belonged to the steel mill, it could be reclaimed at any time should Sun Jingyuan be transferred to another job.

Once the property is transferred to Sun Jingyuan's name, he will own it, and the steel mill will have no chance of taking it back. This can be considered a real guarantee for the children of martyrs.

"No problem, Minister Zhang, rest assured, we will expedite all the procedures today and will not delay anything." Director Wang and Yang Xugang both readily agreed.

The two of them didn't think that far ahead. The most important thing right now was to retain Sun Jingyuan, the professional factory doctor, and completely solve the urgent problem of the factory's medical staff vacancy. As for the property rights, as long as they complied with the procedures and were legal, it didn't matter how they arranged them. Otherwise, they would not be able to answer to the Ministry of Industry, nor would they be able to fill the vacancy in the factory's medical staff.

After finalizing the housing details, the group immediately went to the subdistrict office to complete the formalities. Filling out forms, getting stamps, and undergoing qualification verification went smoothly. All housing and property rights procedures were completed in one afternoon without any delays.

The three large houses inside the moon gate of the west wing of the courtyard house in Nanluoguxiang have been officially registered under Sun Jingyuan's name, with all the necessary procedures in place and recognized by both the street office and the steel rolling mill.

"Uncle Zhang, thank you so much for your trouble." Sun Jingyuan looked at the property deed stamped with a bright red seal in his hand and said with heartfelt gratitude, his tone sincere and earnest.

"Why are you being so polite with me? Your father was my colleague for many years, and you are the child of a martyr who died in the line of duty. It's only right that I take care of you." Zhang Shouye smiled, patted his shoulder, and gently advised, "Live a good life, work diligently, and don't neglect your medical skills. Just study hard." He didn't spell it out, but Sun Jingyuan understood perfectly what he meant.

Zhang Shouye had official duties to attend to and couldn't stay long, so he treated Sun Jingyuan to dinner at a nearby state-run restaurant before rushing back to his unit. Sun Jingyuan declined Yang Xugang's offer to send someone to help tidy up the house and move his luggage, and walked slowly into the courtyard alone.

As dusk approached, factory workers gradually returned home, and the courtyard began to bustle with activity. Smoke rose from the chimneys of each household, and the aroma of food filled the courtyard, mingled with the sounds of neighbors exchanging greetings.

As soon as Sun Jingyuan stepped into the courtyard, a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses and a faded Zhongshan suit quickly came to greet him with a polite smile on his face.

"Young man, who are you looking for? Did you come to the wrong courtyard?" The man who came was none other than Yan Bugui, the third uncle of the courtyard. He had just come in after get off work and saw the unfamiliar young man. He quickly went up to talk to him, his eyes constantly looking Sun Jingyuan up and down, trying to figure out who he was.

Sun Jingyuan recognized the man at a glance. With a peaceful smile on his face, he calmly said, "Sir, I am a new resident. My name is Sun Jingyuan." As he spoke, he took out the Daqianmen cigarettes he had gotten from Zhang Shouye and offered one to him, showing perfect manners.

"You just moved in? You live here?" Yan Bugui happily accepted the cigarette, held it to his ear, and was about to exchange a few polite words when he suddenly realized what he'd said. His voice rose sharply, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that those west wing rooms inside the moon gate were allocated to you?"

"Yes, all the housing procedures have been completed. We'll be neighbors from now on. Please take good care of me, sir." Sun Jingyuan nodded in response, his tone remaining calm and composed.

"Of course, of course, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative." Yan Bugui replied, but the smile on his face instantly faded. He felt a pang of sadness, and even the cigarette he hadn't smoked yet seemed tasteless.

Those three rooms were coveted by everyone in the courtyard, like "Tang Monk's flesh." He had been eyeing them for years, wanting to provide a room for his son who was getting married, to solve the problem of overcrowding for his family of six. The Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong families also took turns vying for them. After waiting for so long, they were actually taken advantage of by a newcomer. The scheming and resentment in his heart surged up instantly.

Sun Jingyuan didn't notice the subtle change in his expression. After nodding slightly in acknowledgment, he walked straight towards the west wing inside the moon gate, intending to first check the damage to the house and plan for subsequent repairs. His bedding, luggage, books, and clothes were still at his previous residence, and he planned to have someone move them over the next day. For now, he only needed to get a clear picture of the house's condition.

Yan Bugui watched his retreating figure walk straight into the moon gate, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes. The more he thought about it, the more resentful he became. It was such a waste that he occupied three large rooms by himself. His family of six was crammed into two small bungalows, where they were afraid of bumping into family members if they turned around. Their daily life was extremely cramped. He had to take one of the rooms no matter what.

Thinking of this, he no longer cared about going home to cook. He immediately strode towards the middle courtyard, shouting at the top of his lungs, deliberately raising his voice so that no one else in the courtyard could hear him: "Old Yi, Grandpa, come out quickly, something terrible has happened!"

Upon hearing Yan Bugui's shout, the residents who were tidying up and preparing to cook inside came out one after another, and a group of people quickly gathered in the courtyard, all with curious faces, wanting to know what had happened.

Yi Zhonghai walked out of the main house, wearing clean work clothes, his brows furrowed, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction: "Old Yan, what's wrong? Why are you shouting like that? The neighbors in the yard are busy, don't make a scene and disrupt the order." As the oldest resident in the yard, he was always used to maintaining a steady demeanor and always thinking about maintaining order in the yard.

"What else could it be? This is a huge deal!" Yan Bugui slapped his thigh, his face filled with anxiety and indignation. He lowered his voice and said to the crowd that had gathered around, "Those three west wing rooms by the Moon Gate have been allocated! They were given to that young outsider!"

"What?!"

Not only did Yi Zhonghai's expression change drastically, but even his second uncle Liu Haizhong, who had just returned from outside, and Jia Zhangshi, who was carrying firewood to prepare a meal, also had their expressions darken instantly, their eyes filled with shock and resentment.

"Uncle, this isn't fair! My family has written countless application reports and made countless trips to the neighborhood office. It's our turn by now! Why should it be given to a complete outsider?" Liu Haizhong immediately shouted, hands behind his back, striking a pose of someone obsessed with officialdom, his face full of dissatisfaction and resentment. He had always wanted to grab a room to show off his status as the second uncle and entertain his colleagues from the factory. Now that his wish had been dashed, he was naturally furious.

"Exactly! Why should he?! Our Jia Dongxu has a wife and three young children. The whole family is crammed into one small room, there's not even room to turn around. I've asked the neighborhood committee so many times, but they still haven't approved it. Why should some outsider occupy three big rooms by himself?" Jia Zhangshi echoed, her voice sharp and sarcastic, not realizing that her words were excessive, only feeling wronged.

Several people huddled together, chattering and complaining, when a glib voice came from the courtyard gate, tinged with casualness: "Hey, what are you all discussing? It's so lively, is there some good news that didn't include me?"

Everyone turned to look, and saw He Yuzhu, the cook from the steel mill canteen, carrying a lunchbox bag, slowly walking in with a casual smile on his face. He had just finished get off work and was attracted by the commotion in the yard.

"Zhu Zi, you've come at the right time. Don't go home to cook, come with us." Yi Zhonghai grabbed He Yuzhu's arm without saying a word, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

"What's wrong? I've been busy all day and I'm starving. I need to go home and cook to fill my stomach. I don't have time to join in the fun." Sha Zhu looked puzzled and frowned as he declined. He had no interest in any new neighbors and just wanted to go home and cook and rest.

Just as Sha Zhu turned to leave, a graceful figure wearing a plain floral shirt walked out of the east wing. It was Qin Huairu.

Holding a bowl and chopsticks, with gentle eyes, she had originally planned to cook at the communal kitchen, but upon seeing the crowd gathered in the courtyard, she subconsciously stopped.

The previously resolute Sha Zhu instantly stopped in his tracks, his impatience vanished, and his tone softened as he greeted her, "Sister Qin, are you getting ready to cook?"

"Zhu Zi, time to get off work." Qin Huairu smiled gently, nodded slightly, and greeted him, her eyes sweeping over the crowd gathered in the courtyard with a hint of doubt.

"Huai Ru, you've come at the right time. Let's go together. It's all about the hospital, so you should get involved and offer your advice," Yi Zhonghai quickly said, taking the opportunity to invite Qin Huai Ru to go with him.

He had a clear plan in mind. The newcomer, Sun Jingyuan, was young and didn't understand the rules of the courtyard. He could take this opportunity to bring the people in the courtyard with him. With a large group, he could not only find out about the newcomer's background, but also let him know who was in charge of the courtyard. From now on, whether it was housing or trivial matters in the courtyard, they would have to follow the rules they had set.

Seeing that Qin Huairu didn't object, Sha Zhu stopped making excuses, pouted, and followed the others towards the moon gate. Jia Zhangshi, Yan Bugui, and Liu Haizhong followed closely behind, each with their own thoughts, heading aggressively towards Sun Jingyuan's residence. The other neighbors in the middle courtyard also followed in twos and threes, hoping to see a good show. All eyes in the entire courtyard were focused on the west wing inside the moon gate.