Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 40

After descending from Yuquan Mountain, we arrived at the Summer Palace. Although it is called a park, it is still overgrown with weeds and scattered with dilapidated buildings. You can still vaguely see the scenes of burning, killing, and looting by the Eight-Nation Alliance in those days.

When they returned to Deshengmen Bus Station, it was almost dark. He Yuzhu treated the two to a meal and then saw them off on the bus.

The next morning, Master Song brought people to the courtyard house. From today onwards, their main task is to build a house for He Yuzhu.

The two returned to the construction site, discussed the matter, agreed on the size and specifications, and then demolished the original shack.

The final plan was similar to He Yuzhu's idea, except that a narrow alley less than a meter wide was left at the outermost edge. The septic tank was dug in this alley, and it was long and narrow with enough capacity.

The septic tank was covered with a stone slab, and then a chimney was built for ventilation. The chimney was more than two meters high, so that people could not smell the odor.

The toilet was left inside the house, taking up only half of the room. It's a pity that flush toilets are not available now, but squat toilets are still available. Since He Yuzhu had to go to work, he asked Master Song to come and buy one.

After confirming the details, He Yuzhu left the courtyard.

Building a house on an open space is really fast. When I came back at night, the septic tank had already been dug and the four walls had been built. The next day, we could put up the wooden beams and then cover the house with tiles.

Master Song said, "The tiles will be put on tomorrow, boss. You should prepare some candy and cigarettes."

"Don't worry, I'm ready."

He Yuzhu also knew this rule: when the roof tiles were being laid, firecrackers had to be set off and candy had to be scattered. This was a long-standing custom, and of course, the rules couldn't be broken.

Actually, when building a house now, a meal is still provided at noon, although it's always the worst food. However, since there's no one in He Yuzhu's family to cook, the cost is all factored into the wages.

Not long after He Yuzhu returned, the other workers packed up and left. He Yushui had just finished washing the dishes and got a candy ball when Yan Jiecheng ran in again, shouting that he wanted to have a meeting.

He Yuzhu could only give him one more.

Yan Jiecheng said happily, "Thank you, Brother Zhu."

After Yan Jiecheng left, when he tried to take He Yushui's hand again, he saw her pouting and asking, "Brother, didn't you just say there was only one candy ball left? You only buy one every day?"

To prevent her from eating more, He Yuzhu only gave her one at a time. Although He Yushui didn't believe him and would sometimes check her pockets, she never found one.

"Really, that's all. I have to go to a meeting."

With a somewhat unhappy expression, He Yuzhu returned to the front yard and saw that in the middle of the crowd, besides Tian Zao, there was also Li Changying, the director of the management committee. He Yuzhu stood on the periphery and did not move closer.

Two minutes later, Tian Zao noticed and waved, "Comrade He Yuzhu, come here for a moment, let me introduce you to Director Li."

Chapter 54 I'm sorry, Pillar

Although they didn't say what the event was about, everyone guessed that it was about announcing who the caretakers of the courtyard were, since Tian Zao and Director Li came together.

When Yi Zhonghai saw Tian Zao gesturing to He Yuzhu to introduce him to Director Li, his eyelids twitched.

Tian Zao wouldn't use his influence to push Sha Zhu into becoming the hospital's administrator, would he?

Although he was very young, Tian Zao was only 20 years old at the time and had already started working.

There are quite a few young people around 20 years old in the management committee, so it's possible that He Yuzhu could become a member of the management committee.

Did I waste my 100 yuan?

As He Yuzhu approached, Li Changying smiled and said, "Comrade He Yuzhu, thank you for your support of our work."

"It's all what I should do; I've only done my part."

He Yuzhu felt that he could easily catch a lot of fish and earn twenty or thirty yuan a day, or even thirty or forty yuan.

Therefore, He Yuzhu felt that donating one dollar at a time was not a problem, as it was only the value of a big fish.

I don't know why Tian Zao admires me so much and is so kind to me.

Li Changying said a few words praising He Yuzhu for his enthusiastic donations and for being an active participant.

He Yuzhu responded modestly.

Li Changying said, "We originally planned to make you the steward, but you are still young and we were afraid you wouldn't be able to command respect, so we didn't make you that position."

He Yuzhu quickly shook his head: "How could I have that ability? I can't, I can't."

Li Changying didn't say much about this topic, but asked, "Are you an apprentice at a restaurant now?"

"Yes, it hasn't even been two months since I started working at the restaurant."

Although he didn't know why the topic was brought up, He Yuzhu had no intention of changing jobs.

Although Taifenglou is not the most top-tier restaurant and its main customer base is mid-range, there are very few high-ranking officials and dignitaries nowadays, and no one dares to eat the top-tier dishes. It still has quite a few customers every day, making it a perfect place to gain experience and improve skills.

"Work hard, and when you're fully trained, I'll try your cooking."

"This is easy to discuss."

After a while, everyone arrived, and He Yuzhu stepped back a couple of steps to wait for the results to be announced.

The competitors were all nervous, silently praying that they would be elected.

Director Li said, "The security situation in Beijing is currently very bad. From time to time, there are saboteurs who commit some heinous acts. Therefore, we must unite and mobilize the masses. Each courtyard should elect an elderly person to manage the courtyard, carefully investigate all residents, and root out the bad people and reactionaries hiding among the people."

Director Li first gave a pep talk, explaining the current difficulties in maintaining public order, but said that the future was bright, the road was winding, and as long as everyone was united, they could overcome the difficulties.

These words stirred everyone's enthusiasm and excitement, and they responded with enthusiastic applause.

First, he explained the current policies and guidelines, letting everyone know what the senior staff at the School of Management were doing, and then Director Li said:

"After comprehensive consideration by our management committee and taking into account opinions from all sides, our courtyard has selected three liaison officers: Comrade Yi Zhonghai, Comrade Liu Haizhong, and Comrade Xu Wude. Please welcome them."

Everyone applauded again, but each person's feelings were different.

He Yuzhu was very surprised. It was not surprising at all that Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong were able to be elected, after all, they were the stewards of the courtyard house in the TV series.

However, Yan Bugui's defeat and Xu Wude's rise to power were unexpected by He Yuzhu.

I thought that since Xu Wude couldn't go to school this time, he would come back to ask me for the 50 yuan I had lent him.

So He Yuzhu donated all of it and also asked for a donation certificate. No matter which of the three of them lost the election and asked him for money, he would return the donation certificate to them.

Even if they get angry, there's nothing I can do if I don't have the money.

Besides, the fact that they borrowed money from me was just a way to shut me up and bribe me; it's something that can't be brought up at all.

He Yuzhu had this in mind when he made the donation: to get a donation certificate so that he could shut the three of them up at the crucial moment.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to get proof of the donation.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Xu Wude were all extremely happy. They had been worried that He Yuzhu would take the money but not do the job, but they were finally relieved to hear Director Li mention their names.

However, while they were happy, all three of them felt a pang of regret, as lending out such a large sum of money was enough to cover the family's expenses for several months.

Just thinking about it makes me feel terrible. Suddenly, a thought popped into my head: if I don't give them the money, will I become the big shot in the management department?

But no one can give him an answer to this question.

Yan Bugui was the most disappointed.

When it was first announced that three senior officials from the School of Management would be selected, Yan Bugui thought he might still have a chance. Now that he wasn't on the list of three, he felt extremely disappointed.

I felt like a clown for trying to win over the neighbors; it was so embarrassing.

After thunderous applause, Director Li offered some encouragement and then invited the three of them to come forward and speak.

Yi Zhonghai and the other two gave brief speeches, first thanking the government for its trust in them and giving them these positions, and then expressing their willingness to listen to the Party, follow the Party, and do whatever the Party asks them to do.

We must serve the residents of the courtyard houses wholeheartedly and root out the saboteurs and reactionaries hiding among them.

Everyone's slogans were catchy, drawing rounds of applause.

Director Li finally instructed the three of them to go to the management committee on Sunday for a unified training session explaining the latest policies and guidelines.

Then the three men escorted the two leaders out of the courtyard.

He Yuzhu had little to do with this matter and was too lazy to get involved.

During the meal, I saw Yi Zhonghai invite Liu Haizhong and Xu Wude over for dinner. He clearly saw He Yuzhu, but his enthusiasm was much lower than before, as if he hadn't seen him at all.

It's true what they say: they use people first, then don't. As soon as He Yuzhu was successfully elected as the head of the management department, his expression changed immediately, thinking that once the dust settled, there was no need for him anymore.

A moment later, the sounds of drinking games and finger-guessing games came from the east wing.

He Yushui then asked, "Brother, why didn't Uncle Yi invite you?"

"In the future, they probably won't be able to invite us anymore."

He Yushui was still young and had no idea about these things; she was just a little upset that she couldn't eat meat.

The two side rooms were built in just three days. At that time, cement was still very expensive, so cement was not used to pave the floor. Instead, a layer of blue bricks was laid.

On the third day, He Yuzhu asked for leave early to leave work and then came back to tidy up the house.

They moved all the furniture from the house into the two newly built rooms, and then Yushui and I slept in the old room in the east wing.

I moved most of the smaller pieces of furniture myself, only needing help with a few items like large wardrobes.

He Yuzhu came out and saw Yi Zhonghai in the yard. He said, "Grandpa, come and help me carry this wardrobe."

Yi Zhonghai suddenly frowned and said, "I'm sorry, Zhuzi, I hurt my shoulder while working today, and I can't exert myself for the next few days."

Chapter 55 Yi Zhonghai's Change of Face

He Yuzhu was somewhat taken aback. This change of attitude was too fast. He had just become the manager, and he was already acting like this.

"Is that so? Then you should rest well. I'll find someone else to help."