Siheyuan: Being a fisherman in 1962

Hearing the noise, neighbors came and joined in the fire-fighting efforts.

For a moment, the courtyard was filled with noise, and the sound of water and cries for help intertwined together, creating a tense and chaotic picture.

But the fire was fierce and seemed to be getting more and more intense. In the end, the room that carried countless memories and stories collapsed in the raging fire and turned into ruins.

"This...what is going on?" Qin Huairu collapsed on the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't understand how a simple act of setting off firecrackers could turn into such a disaster.

As for Chen Fei, he stood quietly aside, his eyes calm and deep.

This fire not only burned down a corner of the courtyard, but also burned away the oppression and humiliation of the past that were too painful to recall.

The fire from the firecrackers inadvertently ignited the dry wood, and the fire spread rapidly, engulfing their home in a sea of ​​​​flame.

Thick smoke billowed, and cries and shouts for help mixed together, but they could not stop the raging flames.

Qin Huairu stood not far away, watching the outline of her home gradually blur in the firelight, tears silently falling.

Her world seemed to collapse at this moment, and all her hope and peace vanished with this sudden fire.

Bang Geng stood aside, his face pale, his eyes full of fear and regret. He knew that all this was his fault.

"Mom, I'm sorry..." Banggeng's voice trembled. He tried to get closer to Qin Huairu, but was afraid of the blaming look.

Qin Huairu took a deep breath and suppressed the anger and grief in her heart. She knew that blaming others would be useless. What was more important was how to face the future life.

The house has become a ruin, and it is not easy to rebuild it.

Qin Huairu calculated that even the simplest repairs would cost at least two or three hundred yuan, which would undoubtedly add insult to injury for an already financially strapped family.

She looked at her devastated home, feeling mixed emotions and despair spreading like ice.

"Banggeng, do you know how much trouble you have caused!" Qin Huairu finally couldn't help it. Tears and anger intertwined together. She scolded loudly, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Banggeng's heart.

But then she softened again. After all, this was her child. How could she really be so cruel?

As night fell, Qin Huairu sat beside the ruins, her tears had long since dried up, leaving only endless sorrow.

He Yushui also seemed particularly strong at this moment. She sat quietly beside Qin Huairu and comforted her softly: "Don't be sad, we will find a way together, and it will pass."

Just as Qin Huairu was immersed in endless worries, an unexpected voice broke the silence: "Don't worry, I'll help you repair the house."

The person who spoke was Sha Zhu, who was famous for his warm-heartedness in the courtyard. His appearance was like a ray of warm sunshine, penetrating the haze in Qin Huairu's heart.

Qin Huairu looked up, a hint of surprise and gratitude flashed in her eyes: "Silly Zhu, how can this be possible? You..."

"It's OK. We neighbors should help each other." Sha Zhu interrupted her with a firm look in his eyes. "Besides, I have good craftsmanship, so repairing a house is no problem. As for tonight, you can stay at my house first, and we will start the work tomorrow."

Qin Huairu heard this and thought that in this seemingly cold world, there was still such warmth, which made her feel hopeful.

She wiped the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes and forced a smile: "Shazhu, thank you, you are really our savior."

It was late at night, and Qin Huairu, bringing Banggeng and accompanied by He Yushui, entered Sha Zhu's house.

Although the environment is simple, her heart is full of gratitude and peace at this moment.

The moonlight was thin, barely illuminating the bumpy path in the yard. Chen Fei stood in front of his house, brows furrowed, his eyes piercing through the night and falling on something not far away.

There, a dim light flickered, reflecting the helplessness and confusion of Qin Huairu's family.

"Boom", a gust of wind blew by, bringing up a few fallen leaves, as if telling of the coming wind and rain.

Qin Huairu stood in the yard, her figure looked particularly thin. She rejected Xu Damao's invitation which seemed "well-intentioned" but actually contained hidden ulterior motives. Her persistence and self-respect shone brightly in the night.

Just as Qin Huairu was about to accept the cruel mockery of fate, Sha Zhu appeared like a ray of light that penetrated the darkness.

He loudly suggested that Qin Huairu and her family stay in his home temporarily. His generosity and righteousness instantly ignited the hearts of those around him.

However, He Yushui's reminder was like a basin of cold water, extinguishing this brief hope - there were not enough beds at home, so how could Qin Huairu's family be accommodated?

Sha Zhu did not back down. He proposed a bold idea: "Let's squeeze in. We can always make room."

This sentence is simple but powerful. It is not only a promise to Qin Huairu's family, but also a call for the long-lost warmth and mutual assistance among neighbors.

Qin Huairu's eyes turned slightly red when she heard this. She looked at Sha Zhu with gratitude and then looked around.

Although this proposal is difficult, it is the only hope at present. But she also knows that her family situation is complicated and there are so many people that it is not easy to squeeze in.

So, she took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "I appreciate your kindness, but I have a large family and I'm afraid it won't work if we squeeze in..."

Before he finished speaking, Fade Chen's heart was already in his throat.

He realized that if even Sha Zhu's proposal could not be realized, then Qin Huairu's family would face a great dilemma.

At this moment, an idea flashed through his mind, and a bold and crazy plan gradually took shape.

"Wait!" Chen Fei suddenly spoke, his voice firm and powerful, "I have an idea that may be able to solve this problem."

He walked forward, his eyes sweeping over everyone present, including Qin Huairu, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented light, "We can..."

Following Chen Fei's proposal, the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became tense. Everyone was weighing the pros and cons in their minds and thinking about the feasibility of this plan.

Qin Huairu stared at Chen Fei closely, as if she saw a ray of hope in him.

"Knock, knock, knock--" A series of rapid knocks on the door broke the tranquility of the night and interrupted Chen Fei's thoughts.

Outside the door, Sha Zhu, a famously straightforward man in this courtyard, stood there with an anxious look on his face, a gleam of help in his eyes.

"Chen Fei, you have to help me!" There was a bit of determination in Sha Zhu's voice that could not be refused, but Chen Fei just raised his eyes lightly, with a barely perceptible sneer on the corner of his mouth.

"Silly Zhu, I can't control your business." Chen Fei's words were concise and direct, without any hesitation.

He knew very well that once he got involved in Sha Zhu's trouble, he would be dragged into an endless vortex.

Sha Zhu's face turned livid in an instant, his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging, and he was obviously extremely angry at Chen Fei's rejection.

"You're such a good fellow, Chen Fei. Let's wait and see!" He spat fiercely and turned away.

This scene was seen by Xu Damao who was peeping from a distance. A playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he was secretly thinking about how to use this conflict to gain some benefits for himself.

"Hey, Jia Zhang, why don't you and Sha Zhu team up and live together, so that he doesn't have to come here every day." Xu Damao suggested casually, his words full of joking.