Siheyuan: Living in the People's Community, with a Heart for the Red Star

Jia Zhang, who was sitting on the ground and making a scene, stood up when she saw that everyone had left, patted the dirt off her body, spat fiercely at Lao Yang, picked up her winnowing basket on the ground and returned to the yard.

Old Yang pushed his bicycle into the yard with a smile on his face, parked his bicycle at the door of Third Aunt's house, and went into the house carrying a bag.

The three aunts who were hiding at the window and observing immediately went to greet Lao Yang when they saw him coming over with something in his hand. They had straightened their hair and clothes, and were smiling, with no sign at all that they had just been in a fight.

"Brother Yang, you came just like that. Why did you bring anything with you? There is no need for a relationship between our two families."

The third aunt said no, but she took it honestly. She opened the hole and looked inside. The first thing she saw was a chicken claw, and she was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth. She looked at Lao Yang with such a fiery look that he quickly let go of her hand and pulled a bench over to sit down at the door.

The third aunt didn't care about Lao Yang and went into the inner room with the things. After putting the things away, she returned to the main room excitedly, moved a stool and sat at the door to chat with Lao Yang.

Through the three aunts, Lao Yang learned about the changes in the courtyard house after he left.

The Zhao and Zhang families in the front yard moved out of the courtyard for work, and their houses were taken back by the street office. The Zhao family, who lived in the other two rooms of Old Yang's west wing, had an idea when they heard that Old Yang had moved out.

Yi Zhonghai of the Intermediate Court was promoted to the eighth-level fitter, and his salary increased to 99 yuan per month. After graduating from high school, Li's son joined Xingbang Company. I heard that his salary was also more than 50 yuan, and the key is that the benefits are good. Everyone in the court is envious. Sha Zhu was also promoted to the eighth-level chef, and his salary increased to 37 yuan. Jia Dongxu also passed the second-level worker exam, and his salary increased to 5 yuan.

Ever since Old Yang came back, Jia Zhang has been spreading rumors about him, and everyone in the nearby compound knows about it.

After graduating from high school, He Yushui was assigned to work in a cotton mill. After graduation, he never returned to the campus to live, but moved into the staff dormitory of the cotton mill. I heard that he was dating a small policeman.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu from the backyard have not had a job since graduation. They do odd jobs and hang around on the streets. They are just two street urchins. The second uncle Liu Haizhong passed the seventh-level blacksmith assessment and has the second highest salary in the yard. The deaf old lady has been staying at home recently, saying that her legs and feet are inconvenient. The first aunt and Sha Zhu take turns to take care of the old lady.

Xu Damao was lucky. His father-in-law arranged for him to work as a buyer for Xingbang Company. He often went to the countryside to purchase goods. It was said that he might be the highest-paid person in the compound. However, Xu Damao never admitted it. No one knew the details. However, he lived a very carefree life. However, his wife Lou Xiao'e was a hen that didn't lay eggs. She hadn't gotten pregnant in several years of marriage.

The third aunt was talking with great joy, it was so cool, usually it was the group of old ladies in the compound who gathered together to gossip, but who didn't know about the things going on in the compound! When she met someone who was willing to listen, she would pour out all her words. What relatives came to this family, what things were bought by that family, she knew everything clearly.

After failing to get any useful information from the third aunt, Lao Yang quickly interrupted her gossiping, stood up and said goodbye, and despite the third aunt's constant persuasion, he left the courtyard and headed towards the street office.

Old Yang walked into the office as if he was familiar with the street, and asked the girl near the door, "Lady, where can I apply for housing?"

The girl had just started working and had never seen such a handsome guy. She shyly explained to Lao Yang: "Director Zhang from the logistics department is in charge of housing allocation. I'll take you there!"

After saying that, she stood up shyly and led Lao Yang out of the hall and walked to a room next door. When they arrived at the door, the little girl knocked on the door and shouted, "Report!"

A loud female voice came from the room: "Come in!"

The girl pushed the door open and led Lao Yang into the house. She reported, "Director, this comrade wants to apply for housing. I brought him here for you."

Director Zhang looked up at the girl, nodded and said, "Okay. Xiao Zhang, go ahead and do your work. I'll take care of the rest!"

The little girl turned her head and secretly glanced at Lao Yang, her face flushed. As they passed by each other, she whispered to Lao Yang: "My name is Zhang Cuiyun. Come and play with me when you have time."

After saying that, she ran out shyly.

Old Yang smiled awkwardly and walked towards Director Zhang. Director Zhang also stood up and introduced himself: "Hello, comrade, I am the logistics director Zhang Sufen, you can call me Sister Zhang or Director Zhang."

Old Yang also hurried forward to shake hands and introduce himself, "Hello, Sister Zhang! My name is Yang Shangjin, I was a police officer at the Dongzhimen Branch of the Public Security Bureau. I am now retired and have just returned to Kyoto from the countryside to apply for reinstatement. After I got married, the ear room I was originally assigned to was no longer big enough for me to live in. It just so happened that the house next door to me was vacant, so I came to our street office to consult. If I apply for a house, what procedures do I need? What qualifications do I have? So that I can prepare the materials."

Director Zhang looked at Yang Shangjin's memory and searched it carefully before asking, "You are Yang Gongan from the front yard of the Red Star Courtyard, right? (Old Yang nodded) I also heard that the organization gave you special care and arranged for your retirement. You got a certificate to return to the countryside and went there. It caused quite a stir in our street office at the time. Are you cured?"

Old Yang continued, "Sister Zhang, it was me. I just went through the formalities here last year and returned to the countryside to recuperate for a year. I found a folk remedy and took Chinese medicine for half a year before I was cured. So I came back to contribute to the country's construction. I was thinking of marrying a wife in the countryside and leaving a family. After liberation, Chinese medicine practitioners went to the countryside and I met an old Chinese doctor who gave me a folk remedy and cured me. After I got better, I didn't want to live a life of idleness in the village with the country's pension, so I took my wife back to the city. I just arrived yesterday afternoon.

"It was only today that I found out through the three aunties in the courtyard that the house next to mine was vacant, so I hurried to the street office to apply for it."

Director Zhang went to the filing cabinet next to him and found a file, which contained the property registration form for the Red Star Courtyard. Director Zhang flipped through it and said, "Well, the Zhao Qiang family next door to you was indeed transferred to another province. They have two rooms with an area of ​​about 40 square meters. In theory, these two rooms are jointly managed by our street office and the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, and in theory, the steel mill employees should be given priority to move in. Since we have not received any notification from the steel mill staff to move in recently, we also have the right to allocate this house. However, housing in Kyoto has always been in short supply. According to your previous conditions, you should apply for a public security dormitory or a public security family compound.

"You are assigned to us because of your special situation. It is not impossible for you to apply for or change housing, but you need a certificate from your work unit. Your current situation is very special, and we have no relevant experience. You need to report to your superiors and reflect the situation. What do you think?"

Lao Yang nodded in agreement: "I fully understand the difficulties of our street office. I also applied with trust in our street office. We must obey the arrangements of the organization. How do you think we should apply? Do I need to cooperate in any way?"

Director Zhang took out an application form from the drawer and handed it to Lao Yang, saying, "Comrade Yang, take this form and fill it out, then give it to me. I will apply to the superiors. I will hold back the house next door and not allocate it. If your application is approved, I will notify you to come and handle the relevant procedures. If it is not approved, I will also tell you and we will find another way."

Lao Yang took the application form and thanked her quickly: "Thank you, Sister Zhang. Please let me know if I need your help in the future. I dare not say anything else, but I will be there whenever I need to help."

He took the pen handed to him by Director Zhang, lay down on the table next to him, and filled out the form carefully.

Director Zhang has been staring at Old Yang. It is the first time in the past 40 years that he has seen such a tall and handsome guy. It is a pity that he is married, otherwise it would be great to introduce him to his niece.

Lao Yang quickly filled out the application form, put away his pen and handed it to Director Zhang. He confirmed, "Sister Zhang, do you think I can help you?"

After reading the form, Director Zhang said, "Very good. Your form complies with the regulations. You just need to wait for notification. I will report it to the higher authorities this afternoon. It will probably take ten days or half a month for the approval to come down. If there are any changes in the meantime, I will notify you in a timely manner.

Lao Yang stood up and said goodbye, "Then I'll trouble Sister Zhang. Since you don't need my cooperation, I won't disturb Sister Zhang's work. I'll go back and wait for news."

As Old Yang spoke, he walked out. Director Zhang also stood up and walked him to the door, suggesting, "Comrade Yang, just wait for the news. But the work matter still needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. The country now has relevant regulations for people without jobs! We must pay attention to it."

Old Yang agreed and replied, "Sister Zhang is right. I was planning to go back to my original unit today to ask about work. It's not because of the house issue that I came to you to report. I will go to the branch office later to ask about the resumption of work."

Director Zhang waved his hand and said, "Then go quickly. Resuming work is the most important thing. Don't worry about the house. I will keep an eye on it for you. I will notify you as soon as there is any news."

Old Yang left the subdistrict office under the watchful eyes of Director Zhang. Not long after Director Zhang turned back to his room, the door opened a crack and Zhang Cuiyun squeezed in through the crack.

"Aunt, who was that young man just now?" Zhang Cuiyun shyly approached Director Zhang and asked.

Director Zhang looked at his hopeful niece and said, "Yun'er, don't let your imagination run wild. That was Yang Shangjin from the Red Star Courtyard. He retired last year due to a serious illness and returned to the countryside to recuperate. His condition has improved, and he just returned to Kyoto yesterday. He's married, and he's here to apply for a house. Don't make a mistake and make me worry."

Zhang Cuiyun's face immediately turned pale, and she replied in a depressed mood: "I know, aunt, I will go back to work now."

After saying that, he turned around and walked out. Director Zhang held her back and said, "Xiao Yun, don't be depressed. There are plenty of good guys! We will definitely meet more suitable ones in the future. Go back and think about it. If you can't find a suitable one, go back and rest early. Take half a day off in the afternoon."

Zhang Cuiyun left the room in a depressed mood and went back to the next door. Director Zhang sighed and said to himself: "Why do you want a man to be so beautiful? Isn't this a nuisance? Oh! I hope Xiaoyun can think it through. Big brother has only one daughter, so nothing can happen to her. I have to keep a close eye on her during this period."

Lao Yang left the subdistrict office and rode his bicycle to the front gate. It was impossible to go back to the branch office and resume his job. It was difficult to get out of the system and then go back, which would only bring trouble to himself.

Old Yang rode his bicycle around the city. Fortunately, it was not a crackdown period and no one came up to check on a scoundrel like him wandering on the street. Otherwise, he would definitely be arrested as he had no job and his bicycle did not have a stamp. At the very least, his family would be notified to pick him up.

I subconsciously turned to the vicinity of Qianmenlouzi Bistro, found an empty alley, put my bike in the space, and strolled into the pub.

When Lao Yang entered the tavern, he first saw a few tables in the room, but no one was there. A man was sitting at the counter, writing something with his head down. He looked like Cai Quanwu.

At this time, the waiter came up and asked, "Comrade, do you want to drink or eat?"

Old Yang looked at the menu hanging on the counter and the wine jars piled up together, and said to the waiter, "Give me a pot of old wine, a plate of peanuts, and a plate of braised pig's head."

As he said that, he went to the nearest table and sat down.

The waiter immediately sang: "A pot of old wine, a plate of peanuts, and a plate of braised pork. The dishes are served!"

Cai Quanwu immediately lowered his head, took a pen and scribbled a few words on the paper before turning back to the kitchen. Not long after, he brought wine and food to Lao Yang and placed them on the table. He said, "Comrade, the food is ready. Please enjoy."

When Lao Yang saw Cai Quanwu was about to leave, he stopped him and said, "Comrade, wait a moment. I want to ask you something."

Cai Quanwu stopped and said to Lao Yang: "Comrade, what are you talking about? I will tell you everything I know!"

"I was introduced by a friend. My friend said that the proprietress of the pub seems to be a woman named Xu Huizhen. I wonder if she is here? Can I get to know her?"

Cai Quanwu looked at Lao Yang warily and asked, "Comrade, what do you want to do with my wife? I, Cai Quanwu, can make the decision in the hotel now. You can also talk to me."

Old Yang looked at Cai Quanwu and said, "So you are Cai Quanwu? When did you get married? Although my friend mentioned you, he didn't introduce you as a couple!"

Cai Quanwu said with a hint of pride in his eyes, "We have been married for several years! We have a child, and she is pregnant again recently! Huizhen is at home taking care of the baby. I wonder if there is anything you need? I can tell you."

Old Yang laughed and said, "Boss Cai, don't worry. I came here because of her reputation. My friend introduced Boss Xu to me as a capable woman who single-handedly built this tavern and made it a thriving business, winning a lot of reputation. My friend told me about it, and I was also very curious. I happened to have some time recently, so I came to visit her and get to know this legendary woman. Maybe I can help her in the future!"

Cai Quanwu's mood also relaxed, and he quickly said: "Thank you for the compliment, comrade. Huizhen is such a person who never admits defeat. She has worked hard over the years. But we really don't deserve your praise, sir, we are not amazing women! But Huizhen is indeed not convenient to meet guests, I hope you don't blame me!"