Siheyuan: Sending Shazhu into the call center, Yi Gu is useless

You are not just a store owner now, you are also the core figure of this community! A hint of pride appeared on his face: "Dongxu, I just did what I should do. Seeing that everyone is satisfied, I am also satisfied."

Jia Dongxu shook his head and smiled, "You say that easily, but not everyone can really do this." His heart was at peace. He understood that no matter the setbacks in the past or the success now, they were all part of life, and the most valuable experience he could learn from them was to always keep a normal heart and keep going no matter what situation he was in.

As the business of the store gradually improved, Chen Rufeng's mentality also changed. He was no longer bothered by the short-term ups and downs, but focused more on long-term development. He knew that as long as he operated the store with his heart and continued to listen to the needs of customers,

After retiring from the army, Chen Rufeng has been thinking about how to make a living. The old residents in the hutong gradually moved away, some to new houses in the suburbs, and some to high-rise buildings with their children. Gradually, only a few old neighbors were left in the courtyard. Although there were fewer people, the courtyard seemed more cozy. Whenever he sat in the yard, looked up at the sky, and heard the bicycle bells and children's laughter coming from outside the yard, Chen Rufeng would always feel very calm.

One day, Chen Rufeng was repairing old clocks in the yard, and an old neighbor came over to chat and said that he had recently opened a small shop and the business was pretty good. Chen Rufeng's heart moved, thinking that although there were fewer people in the courtyard, there were more tourists and passers-by coming and going. There was a primary school at the end of the alley, and there were many parents picking up their children in the morning and evening. Maybe he could open a small shop in a corner of the yard, which could not only supplement the family income, but also protect this courtyard he loved. Chen Rufeng began to prepare. He cleaned out a small room used for storage in the courtyard, simply painted the walls, and installed several layers of wooden shelves. There was no need for too many high-end goods on the shelves, only some small household goods - various snacks, beverages, cigarettes, daily necessities, and even traditional Beijing snacks he made himself. In order to attract children, he specially bought some colorful toys and stationery, thinking that the children would always be attracted by these small gadgets when they passed by after school in the morning and evening.

On the day the store opened, Chen Rufeng specially hung a small wooden sign at the entrance of the alley, on which was written "Xiao Ru Store" in calligraphy. It was plain but very friendly. Neighbors came to support the store, some buying daily necessities, some chatting, and the yard suddenly became much more lively. Chen Rufeng stood at the door of the store, smiling from ear to ear.

As the days passed, the business of the store gradually stabilized. At dawn in the morning, Chen Rufeng would open the door to welcome customers. Many office workers and parents of students would buy a bottle of mineral water or a bag of breakfast here. During the day, there were relatively fewer people, so Chen Rufeng would repair small appliances or sharpen scissors behind the counter. Sometimes he would take out his homemade rice wine to have a drink with old friends who came to visit. At night, after a busy day, people in the alley liked to come to his store to buy some daily necessities and chat with Chen Rufeng about family matters.

Gradually, the store became a gathering point in the hutong, and neighbors had more opportunities to communicate. Old residents who had moved out of the courtyard would come back to visit during holidays and bring back some specialties from the store, as if they were buying not only goods but also a memory of the past. Chen Rufeng's store gradually became famous. Tourists from other places like to come to this old hutong to experience the authentic flavor of Beijing. Some people specifically find Chen Rufeng's store to buy some small commodities with old Beijing characteristics or try the snacks he made himself. Chen Rufeng also took this opportunity to tell these guests from afar about the stories of the hutong and the history of the courtyard. Whenever he saw the guests listening with relish and smiling knowingly on their faces, he would always feel a sense of satisfaction in his heart.

Once, a foreigner who came to Beijing for business walked into the store, bought a pack of cigarettes and chatted with Chen Rufeng about every detail of life in Beijing. The foreigner lamented that Beijing is developing too fast now, and many traditional things are disappearing, but courtyard houses and stores like this one make people feel warm, as if time has stopped here. Chen Rufeng smiled and said, "Life in the hutongs is slow, and the affection in the courtyards is deep. Although the outside world is changing, the hearts of us old neighbors have not changed."

Despite the good business, Chen Rufeng still keeps his life simple and unpretentious. He never intends to expand the store, nor does he think about making quick money. In his opinion, the store is not only a place to make money, but also a place for people to connect with each other and share happiness. The cultural essence of the Siheyuan lies in the trust and care between people, which is also what he wants to protect.

The children in the hutongs especially like Chen Rufeng's store. They come in groups after school every time. They know that Uncle Chen always gives them some surprises: sometimes a free piece of candy, sometimes an interesting toy, and sometimes a story that Chen Rufeng has dug out from the old Beijing culture. The children like to listen to these stories, and they also like to gather around Chen Rufeng under the old locust tree in the courtyard to listen to him tell stories about the hutong past that they have never experienced in person.

However, the world outside the hutong is constantly changing. Real estate developers have begun to target this old city area. Many courtyard houses have been demolished and new high-rise buildings have sprung up. Once, a well-dressed middle-aged man came to Chen Rufeng's store. He claimed to be a representative of a development company and offered to buy Chen Rufeng's courtyard house at a high price. Faced with the tempting offer, Chen Rufeng refused without hesitation. He knew that this courtyard house was not only his home, but also a connection between him and the people in the hutong and this land.

After Chen Rufeng rejected the developer's temptation, his mood did not waver. The peaceful days in the courtyard continued, and his store was as busy as usual. Every morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone into the courtyard through the blue brick wall of the alley, Chen Rufeng would always open the door on time to greet the new day.

One morning, the courtyard was still dark. Holding a cup of hot tea in his hand, he looked through the door into the depths of the alley. He knew that the rush hour for the primary school at the entrance of the alley would come soon. The sound of children's footsteps, parents' shouts, and bicycle bells would make the alley full of vitality at this moment.