Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 39 Thunder Strike

In August 1955, the Central Courtyard of the Siheyuan
Plenary Session
There was a lot of noise. As the people in the compound sat down one by one, they seemed to have endless things to talk about, and they were still whispering.

Yan Bugui and Yan Jiekuang from the Yan family came and sat near the Chuihua Gate.

There were three people sitting in the middle, the first uncle, the second uncle, and Director Wang.

The deaf old lady also came and sat next to the main seat, with Qin Huairu sitting next to her.

When Yan Jiekuang saw it, he thought it was a huge scene with so many people participating, it was really interesting.

An old man made an opening statement, and then Director Wang recounted what happened some time ago. But the point was that we should forget about advancing into the compound, and the people in the compound should work harder and be more united.

Then, Director Wang handed over the leadership to Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat, looked around, and said, "Some time ago, Jia Zhang, Jia Dongxu's mother, came to me and said that her family was in trouble. What was the problem? It was the house. An old man, a couple, and two children lived in one wing room. It was really crowded, so I wanted to help solve the problem in the compound."

Yi Zhonghai turned his head and said to Liu Haizhong, "Second uncle and I have looked around and found that the vacant rooms are not very convenient. The house next to Second uncle in the backyard, Second uncle has already applied to the steel mill. This is the wedding room they prepared for Guangqi. As for the back room, everyone knows that this deaf old lady is the oldest in our compound."

"Uncle Yang is already 59 years old this year." Suddenly someone in the crowd said.

Yi Zhonghai forced himself to hold back his words, and the deaf old lady frowned.

Yi Zhonghai continued forcefully, "The old lady is old and likes quietness. As for the middle courtyard, both sets are waiting for the superiors to arrange."

Yi Zhonghai was nervous, he took out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, and then he said, "There is an empty gatehouse in the front yard, which belongs to Yan Bugui's family. We thought, let the third son of the Yan family move in, then there will be an empty house in the back house, which is perfect for Dongxu and his wife. But Yan Bugui disagrees, he is very selfish, what should we do?"

Zhang Erzhu jumped out and said directly: "It is only right for Yan Bugui to give up one of his many houses. It should be given to Sister Qin."

"Yes, Yan Bugui, as the former third uncle, you should set an example." Liu Haizhong also said.

Yan Bugui could no longer bear it and stood up. "My house is private, why should I give it up? I can give it up, but how much? If we don't talk about money, who do you think I am?"

Director Wang said calmly, "Too many houses is not good, it is a waste of social resources." After a short while, the scene fell silent.

"Leaving empty rooms unused is dereliction of duty and a waste of resources." A child's voice was heard.

Director Wang was stunned for a moment and shouted, "Who said that?"

"I was wondering, how many back houses are there in the front yard? Director Wang." Yan Jiekuang walked out.

Director Wang thought about it and understood. There were three back houses, but two were still empty. If the family wanted one, they could apply to the street office. Director Wang said nothing more because the Jia family did not meet the application requirements.

"We are a small family, just trying to survive here. We can't beat the big ones. We will give up the house, but can you give me the money I spent before, Director Wang?" Yan Bugui looked at Director Wang.

Yi Zhonghai gave Zhang Erzhu a look, and Zhang Erzhu rushed over and punched Yan Jiekuang in the head, shouting, "Where did you come from, you little brat? You're talking nonsense."

Yan Jiekuang didn't even look back. He smiled jokingly, turned around, and Zhang Erzhu flew away. Yes, he flew to the next yard.

The whole place was silent, and the deaf old lady had a look of horror, as if she had seen the same thing before.

"Come on, Director Wang, let's do the math. How much is my back house worth?" Yan Jiekuang continued his father's words.

No one dared to move. Director Wang took the bill and after counting the amount, it was a total of 1,500 yuan.

The statement was well-founded and had witnesses' signatures. Yi Zhonghai was stunned. Jia Zhang ran back home and locked the door.

"We have given up the house, but when will the money be given to me? It's time for someone from the Jia family to come forward, right?" Yan Bugui said.

There was another silence. Director Wang wanted to pass the buck and said, "You handle what happens to Yi Zhonghai later." He stood up and wanted to leave.

"After we give in, a city hukou holder with two houses would be considered as taking up too much, right?" a childish voice could be heard from Yan Jiekuang.

Yan Bugui said calmly: "This Nanluoguxiang is creating a policy of eating more and taking more for no reason. Is this to go against the higher-ups?"

Director Wang stopped, trembling all over, and turned around. She knew that this matter really had to be handled by her, otherwise something serious would happen.

Director Wang turned around, stood in the middle, and said, "First of all, I want to apologize to everyone. I'm sorry for delaying you for so long."

"The Jia family registered only one person and one house, which is in compliance with regulations. What Yi Zhonghai said about giving up the house does not exist. The Jia family must first have a city hukou to buy a house." "I also apologize to the Yan family. I did not understand the situation and recklessly participated. It was my dereliction of duty. The rest of the matter can be negotiated privately. Yi Zhonghai must apologize to the Yan family and write a 1,000-word self-criticism."

"Okay, adjourn the meeting."

Yan Jiekuang was very dissatisfied with Director Wang's forced ending and muttered something.

The deaf old lady has gone back, and Yi Zhonghai has also gone back.

The conference started in a muddle, went on in a muddle, and ended in a muddle.

But the good thing is that everyone avoids the Yan family when they see them.

Backyard room of the Siheyuan
The deaf old lady was trembling all over and couldn't calm down. She thought that judging from Yan Jiekuang's age, the man should not be dead.

Yi Zhonghai came, lowered his head, and whispered: "I didn't expect that the Yan family would have a third son."

The deaf old lady shouted at Yi Zhonghai: "Do you want me to die? What good will it do you if I die?"

Yi Zhonghai was stunned and said quickly: "No, old lady, I just thought Yan Bugui was easy to talk to, so I thought about my apprentice..."

"Shut up, don't show up in front of me again, get out of here!" the deaf old lady yelled.

Yi Zhonghai was scared and turned around to go home. After arriving home, he told Li Cuilan what had happened and asked Li Cuilan to comfort the deaf old lady.

Yi Zhonghai couldn't figure out what the problem was as he kept smoking.

Li Cuilan came back and just went to comfort the deaf old lady.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai couldn't bear it, she thought for a while and said, "Emperor Guangxu had a master who was said to be able to fly through the air and kill people invisibly. The old lady had seen him and was almost killed. The deaf old lady said that the way Zhang Erzhu looked when he was beaten was a bit similar, and the moves he used were exactly the same."

Yi Zhonghai suddenly realized, then fell silent again, muttering: "There must be someone behind the Yan family, I'm afraid this matter will not end."

Li Cuilan reminded Yi Zhonghai to go and see Zhang Erzhu quickly.

Yi Zhonghai then remembered and rushed out to look for someone. Zhang Erzhu had already gone to the hospital, unconscious, with no injuries on his body.

Yi Zhonghai became even more frightened. Thinking of Li Cuilan's words, there must be someone behind the Yan family, but he just didn't show up.

Yi Zhonghai paid the hospital fees and then went back to inform Zhang Erzhu's sister.

Front yard of the Siheyuan

Yan Bugui looked at Xiao San and asked, "Isn't it a bit too sharp?"

"I'm four years old!" Yan Jiekuang said nonchalantly.

Yan Bugui sighed and said, "Isn't that a bit aggressive?"

"I'm four years old!" Yan Jiekuang continued.

Yan Bugui continued, "You can't always use your youth as an excuse. The problem must be solved."

Yan Jiekuang glanced at him and said, "I said I was four years old. I'm still young and I have a lot of time to play with them."

Yan Bugui stopped talking and turned to educate the other two.

Yan Jiekuang staggered to the inner room, saw his sister was asleep, said hello to his mother and went back to the back room.

Lying on the bed, thinking about what happened today, this matter was definitely started by the Jia family. Where is the root? I remembered it, the small courtyard greenhouse. The only difference between this back house is that there is a small courtyard. That's right. Then the Jia family found Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai knew that the Yan family owned private property, so he wanted Director Wang to take action. However, he and Director Wang were not close enough, so the deaf old lady acted as a go-between and things worked out.

I still have to be on guard and find a way out for myself. The old ghost's face appeared before my eyes.

(End of this chapter)