Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

It was five o'clock in the afternoon and most families had started cooking. In winter, it gets dark early and everyone is used to eating early and then going to bed early.

At half past five, Zhang Dabao was having dinner when Liu Guangqi knocked on the door and came in. "Brother Dabao, there will be a meeting tonight and the director of the subdistrict office may come."

"Holding a meeting? Okay, I'll go there in a moment." Zhang Dabao was very interested in the sudden meeting of the entire institute.

"Brother, what's the matter with the street office?" Huang Xinsheng asked.

"It may be to publicize policies or something, Xinsheng. When the meeting is over, call the leaders of the street office. I want to build a bathroom across the courtyard for our own use. Not only are the public toilets outside in poor sanitary conditions, they are also far away," Zhang Dabao said to Huang Xinsheng.

"This is a good idea. It's really far away. If I have diarrhea, I won't be able to run away," Huang Xinsheng smiled.

"Are you two disgusting? We are eating right now," Zhang Lianhua said to the two after hearing their conversation.

After dinner, Zhang Dabao and Huang Xinsheng each brought a small stool and came to the central courtyard. The lights in the courtyard were on and most people had arrived. Yi Zhonghai sat behind a table, with Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui on his left and right.

"Old Yi, what kind of meeting is this?" Yan Bugui asked Yi Zhonghai who was sitting in the middle.

"I don't know. It was organized by Lao Liu. Now Lao Liu doesn't even notify us when he holds meetings. Let Lao Liu take care of it himself," Yi Zhonghai said to Yan Bugui, with a hint of jealousy in his words.

Liu Hai, who was standing by, seemed not to have heard the conversation between the two people. He closed his eyes and no one knew what he was thinking.

At six o'clock in the evening, Yi Zhonghai stood up and said, "Lao Liu, what is the meeting about? Tell us about it."

"Director Wang from the subdistrict office is coming to hold a meeting with everyone. He should be here soon. He has something important to tell you all," Liu Haizhong also stood up and said to everyone.

"No, Second Uncle, Director Wang is so busy, why does he come to hold a meeting with us so late at night? You are not going to falsely convey the emperor's order, are you?" He Yuzhu, who was sitting below, said sarcastically.

"Shazhu, stop talking nonsense." Liu Haizhong stood up again.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting. I was a few minutes late. I asked Liu Haizhong to notify everyone of the meeting," Director Wang Xiuqin walked into the central courtyard and stood in the middle of the crowd.

She looked at the people sitting there and said, "There are a few things to discuss at the meeting tonight. The first thing is that two combat heroes have come to our 95th Institute, Comrade Zhang Dabiao and Comrade Huang Xinsheng. Are they here?"

Zhang Dabao and Huang Xinsheng stood up and greeted Director Wang.

"Comrade Zhang Dabao and Comrade Huang Xinsheng have both been fighting on the front lines. They had to transfer to local areas due to injuries a few years ago. Comrade Zhang Dabao was seriously injured. His head suffered a severe impact from the explosion. The doctor recommended that he rest and not be stimulated, because some uncontrollable things may happen after being stimulated. Everyone, please be more understanding of him. Old Yi, you should also take care of the combat heroes and not stimulate them." Director Wang looked at Yi Zhonghai when he said this.

"I will take good care of you, don't worry," Yi Zhonghai said as he stood up.

"The second thing is that someone reported that there are spies in the courtyard, and they want to use Courtyard 95 as a base. When the skinheads counterattack the mainland, they will cooperate inside and outside to capture the capital in one fell swoop. The person in charge of Courtyard 95, Yi Zhonghai, is a colonel-level commander. Old Yi, do you have anything to say?" Director Wang asked.

"Director Wang, this is a huge injustice. I, Yi Zhonghai, have been working in Lou's steel plant since before the founding of the People's Republic of China, until it was changed into the state-owned Red Star Steel Rolling Mill after liberation. I was wholeheartedly working in the workshop and had no connection with that place, as can be testified by countless co-workers in the steel rolling mill. It is even more impossible for me to engage in espionage activities in the courtyard. We are all old neighbors who have lived here for decades, and we all know each other well. What's more, if I were a member of the spy courtyard, they would not listen to me. I am a man in my fifties, without any people or weapons, and I am colluding with insiders and outsiders. Isn't this a huge joke?" Yi Zhonghai quickly stood up and explained.

"Sit down. I know you are not a spy, but it reflects a problem. You are autocratic and undemocratic in No. 95, and there are problems in your work," Director Wang criticized Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai stood up again and admitted his mistake in public.

"There is one more thing," Director Wang continued, "It is about the incident in your hospital where Liu Haizhong beat the children. Liu Haizhong, I want to ask you, are Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu your sons?"

Liu Haizhong was confused. What about his own business? It must be that bastard Yi Zhonghai who reported me. "Director Wang, they are of course my sons. Beating them is for their own good. Children cannot be successful without beatings."

"Liu Haizhong, you beat children differently from others. I don't know whether they will become successful or not, but whether they can survive has become a big problem now. You didn't let the two half-grown boys eat for a whole day and a night. You are abusing them, which is illegal, don't you know? Who beats their children every day like you do? People who know you will think you are beating your children, but those who don't think you are beating your enemy. Liu Guangtian is sixteen years old and Liu Guangfu is only fourteen years old. You beat them so hard last night. Can you tell me what mistakes they made?" Director Wang continued to ask Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong stammered and was unable to speak.

"Today, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu came to the neighborhood office to find me and asked to separate the family. I agreed. I'm worried that if they follow Liu Haizhong, they won't live to adulthood. On behalf of the neighborhood office, I moved Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu's household registration out of the Liu family's and established a small household. Liu Guangtian is the head of the household. There is another house in your courtyard, which will be allocated to them. Liu Haizhong, don't disturb their lives, okay?" Director Wang's voice was getting louder and louder. Liu Haizhong didn't even dare to look at her.

"I know." Liu Haizhong lowered his head and said in a low voice.

"We'll move tonight, and you can go to the street office tomorrow to handle the formalities," said Director Wang.

"Director Wang, now that they have moved out, it should be considered as a formal separation. I will no longer be responsible for their lives." Liu Haizhong thought of another idea. Cut off your source of livelihood and see if you still dare to move out.

"No problem. The subdistrict office has arranged a job for Liu Guangtian so that he can support himself and Liu Guangfu. When you and your spouse are over 60, they will also provide for your retirement. I will make it clear with them," Director Wang said to Liu Haizhong.

"I found a job, that's great..." Yan Bugui said in a low voice

There was also a lot of discussion in the crowd, with all kinds of opinions.

"Is everyone okay?" Director Wang asked.

"Leader, I have something to ask." Zhang Dabao stood up.

"Comrade Da Biao, what's the matter?" Director Wang asked.

"Director Wang, my legs haven't recovered yet. My home is in the northeast corner of the backyard, so it's very inconvenient to go to the toilet. I bought the courtyard to my east from the factory, and I want to build a bathroom in that courtyard. I wonder what the policy of the street office is?" Zhang Dabao asked.

"The street office supports it, but you have to pay for it yourself. You can install a water meter and share the cost based on actual water consumption," Director Wang agreed.

"That's okay." Zhang Dabao got a positive answer and was very happy, so he sat down directly.

"Adjourn the meeting." Director Wang looked around and saw that no one was speaking, so he ended the meeting.

After the meeting, Director Wang and a staff member carrying gifts came to the backyard.

"Old Yi, you are great," Liu Haizhong suddenly said to Yi Zhonghai as he left.

"What does he mean?" an old lady asked her husband.

"Liu Haizhong, that pig-brained guy, thought it was me and Director Wang who talked about his son. Didn't he see that Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu didn't show up tonight? What an idiot!" Yi Zhonghai cursed.