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

When I arrived at the street office, it was almost time to get off work.

Old Yang drove his car directly into the courtyard of the subdistrict office. As it was almost time to get off work, many people were in the courtyard and noticed the car as soon as it entered the courtyard. Perhaps they thought that a leader was coming to inspect and returned to their posts.

Lao Yang locked the car and went straight to Director Zhang's office. After getting permission, he pushed the door and walked in.

Many people leaned over the windows to watch the person getting off the car, and when they saw that it was a young handsome man, they all started to talk. Zhang Cuiyun, who was leaning over the window with everyone else, felt a mixture of emotions and felt very uncomfortable when she saw the person coming. She quietly returned to her seat and lowered her head, not knowing what she was thinking.

Office of the Director.

After shaking hands with the enthusiastic Director Zhang, Lao Yang got straight to the point and said, "Aunt Zhang, I went on a business trip to the south this time, but I finally brought back some good stuff. Do you want some?"

Director Zhang asked with great interest: "What did Xiao Yang bring back from this business trip? You are being so mysterious! Tell me, I want anything edible!"

Old Yang looked proud and said mysteriously, "It's potatoes, two big sacks of potatoes! There are also some local specialties, specially sent to Aunt Zhang! Even if we sell the potatoes to our street office at two cents per pound, there are probably more than 300 pounds, Aunt Zhang just needs to give me 60 yuan!"

When Director Zhang heard about the price of two cents per pound, he felt that Lao Yang had lost money, which was no different from giving it away for free! There is a shortage of food everywhere now, even sweet potatoes and potatoes have risen to an outrageous price. Potatoes are only two cents, which is really too cheap, even cheaper than before the difficult period!

"Xiao Yang, don't put in your money. If you do, I won't want your things anymore! This is a very serious issue!" Director Zhang said seriously.

Old Yang quickly explained, "Aunt Zhang, please don't get me wrong. Potatoes are rare in our country, but in developed countries they are fed to pigs, not eaten by humans! These were brought back by Xingbang Company to provide nutritional balance for the crew, and they are not counted as cargo. I got them from the ship through connections, and they are very cheap, almost free, so I won't lose money! The stuff is in my car outside, or we can go take a look now and move them down to distribute them!"

After listening to Lao Yang's explanation, Director Zhang felt relieved and said, "If that's the case, we'll accept it!"

Director Zhang took out a wallet from the drawer, counted out six ten-yuan bills, handed them to Lao Yang, and said, "The leader has approved the house you applied for before! The three rooms in the west wing are all yours. I'll give you an agreement and you sign it, and it's done!"

Director Zhang stood up and prepared to look for the property registration information in the cabinet.

Old Yang hurriedly called out, "Aunt Zhang, let's get the potatoes first and give them to the others to distribute so that the comrades can take them home after get off work and have an extra dish for dinner! If there's any delay, we can only distribute them tomorrow!"

Director Zhang also clapped his hands and said, "Xiao Yang, you are really thoughtful. Let's move the potatoes down and give them to them to share. We will add a dish tonight!"

Old Yang accompanied Director Zhang to the yard, opened the trunk, pulled out two bulging large sacks and put them on the ground. Director Zhang looked at the two large sacks and estimated that they weighed more than 400 kilograms, definitely more than 300 kilograms.

Director Zhang asked suspiciously, "Xiao Yang, is this not right? It feels like it's more than 400 kilograms. Aren't you at a big disadvantage? I'll make up the difference after they weigh the potatoes!"

"These potatoes are both vegetables and food. The extra ones will be considered as my donation and can be distributed to lonely elderly people as welfare. The 60 yuan I received is not a small amount!" said Lao Yang.

"Okay! Xiao Yang has a high level of awareness. I thank you on behalf of the lonely elderly people in our street! When we distribute the welfare, just say it was donated by you, Yang Shangjin! Since you, Xiao Yang, are not seeking profit, we have to make you famous and not let you suffer in vain!" Director Zhang wanted to earn a good reputation for Lao Yang in the neighborhood.

"Thank you Aunt Zhang! This person either seeks fame or profit. It's my fortune if you can make me famous!" Old Yang said mischievously.

Director Zhang waved his hand at the glass of the office next door and two people came out immediately. Director Zhang ordered the people: "Xiuzhen, Xiaohe, you two ask a few people to divide these potatoes. Each person is limited to buying 10 catties, and each catty is cents. You can only buy less and not more!"

Director Zhang called Lao Yang back to the office. Lao Yang locked the trunk, took a bag from the passenger seat and followed Director Zhang into the office, and put the bag on Director Zhang's desk. Director Zhang opened the cabinet and began to sort out the documents and handle the rental procedures for Lao Yang. Soon, the rental agreement was completed under Director Zhang's operation. Lao Yang signed and stamped the 22 yuan rental fee, and the matter was completed!

Old Yang took his lease and put it in his pocket, then pushed the bag to Director Zhang and said, "Aunt Zhang, these are some local specialties I brought back from the south. Take them back for you to try. If you like them, I'll bring you more."

Director Zhang also became interested and took a look at the bag. Inside were some pastries wrapped in hemp paper and a can of milk powder imported from Japan. He asked in surprise, "Where did you get this milk powder? It's a rare item!"

Old Yang lied without blinking, "Isn't this the south where I went? I happened to catch Xingbang Company buying goods, and I got them from a crew member on the delivery ship. These potatoes and milk powder are considered smuggled items, so the price is cheap. Although this milk powder is made in Japan, the quality is very good and suitable for infants and young children! I don't have to give it away, which makes me very proud!"

Director Zhang nodded and said, "You are right. This milk powder is really rare and in great demand. I'll give you 10 yuan for this can! How about 20 yuan for this bag of stuff?"

Old Yang quickly stood up and said, "Aunt Zhang, what are you talking about? This is my gift to you, how can you accept money! If you do this, I will never come again! There is no room for negotiation! Aunt Zhang, you should just go and look at the potatoes and divide them. I won't bother you anymore, I will bring something back for us next time I come back!"

After Old Yang finished speaking, he stood up and walked out. Director Zhang chased after him and advised him, "Xiao Yang, you can't send gifts to Auntie anymore! I can't stand it if you keep doing this. Forget it this time, but don't do it again!"

Old Yang slowed down his pace and said, "That's right! As a younger generation, it's my duty to respect my elders. Besides, I'm an orphan, and it's warm to have an elder's care! Aunt Zhang, don't send me off. I'll go check out the house and prepare to renovate it!"

Director Zhang sent Lao Yang to the car and watched him drive away from the subdistrict office. Turning around and seeing the people queuing to buy potatoes, he angrily shouted, "Don't queue up! Count the demand and weigh them uniformly, and take them away when you leave. What a mess! It would be a bad influence if someone came!"

Everyone left immediately after hearing this. Director Zhang called his niece Cuiyun and said, "Go and count everyone's food. Ask if anyone doesn't want 10 jins, and make a note of the rest. Treat the rest as 10 jins."

Zhang Cuiyun silently glanced outside the door and said, "Okay, auntie!"

Director Zhang sighed as he looked at his lifeless niece, then went straight back to his office to prepare two packs of snacks for his niece to try. The desserts were delightful.

Lao Yang drove to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, parked the car on the side of the road, and returned to the courtyard with a bag of dim sum. At the door, he met the three uncles and three aunts who were the door gods.

The third uncle stood up and greeted Lao Yang with a slightly awkward look. Lao Yang handed over the snacks in his hand and said, "I still want to thank the third uncle for helping me look after the house. Take this pack of snacks and give it to the children to try!"

The third aunt standing by immediately reached out to take the snack and said, "The Yang brothers are still capable. I won't be polite!"

The third aunt took the snacks and went back to the room. The third uncle cursed and said, "This old woman is too greedy and doesn't know how to give in! Don't mind it, Yang brothers, she is just like that. I didn't take good care of the house for you, and I still feel guilty about taking your things. Otherwise, you can come home with me, and we can have a drink together and have dinner at my place tonight!"

Old Yang shook his head and refused, saying, "Third uncle has no credit, but he has worked hard. After all, he has been looking after the house for more than a year. I have other plans tonight, and I came back to check on the house. Someone may come to renovate it in the next few days, so I still need Third uncle and Third aunt to take care of it!"

"That's for sure. I'll ask your third aunt to keep an eye on it every day. There will definitely be no shortage of bricks and tiles!" The third uncle patted his chest and promised.

Old Yang said goodbye quickly, "Uncle, you are busy. I will go take a look at the house and then leave. I will trouble you to take care of it later!"

"Okay, then you go and take a look! We will take care of you when the renovation starts!" said the third uncle.

Old Yang came to the other two doors of the west wing of the front yard, took out the key given by Director Zhang and tried it, opened the two locks and pushed the door in to take a look. It was clean inside, with nothing but a few broken wooden boards, but the windows were still intact.

After leaving, Lao Yang locked the door again. He thought about the structure of the three rooms and planned to connect them to form two rooms, a living room and a bedroom. He would build a small shed outside the kitchen, and he would have to connect a faucet to his room and customize a drainage system.

Old Yang came to the wall of the west wing, jumped over the wall and looked at the other side of the wall. It was a small courtyard, full of all kinds of garbage. After observing it for a while, he found that it should be a cross-courtyard, now abandoned and full of all kinds of waste items. It should be the storage place of a factory.

The area is about 200 square meters, 20 meters long from east to west and 10 meters wide from north to south. It would be great if we rented it, connected it with the three side rooms, and built four tiled houses!

Old Yang jumped into the yard and observed the waste. Most of them were wooden products, and some were leather products. They looked like waste from furniture or mold factories. I have to ask Director Zhang what happened later.

Old Yang jumped back to the west wing, said hello to Uncle Zhang San, left the courtyard, and drove back to the compound.

When I passed by the street office, I saw someone inside so I stopped. I locked the car and went to Director Zhang's office. After knocking on the door and getting permission, I pushed the door open and went in.

Director Zhang was very surprised to see Old Yang coming back and asked, "Xiao Yang, did you leave something behind?"

Old Yang quickly explained, "Aunt Zhang, I went back to take a look. There is a courtyard to the west of me that is full of waste and no one lives there. I don't know what that place is. Can I rent it? It would be even better if I could buy it!"

Director Zhang thought for a while and said, "The west side of Courtyard 95 is indeed the east side of Courtyard 97, which was the waste warehouse of Xinhua Furniture Factory. The entire east side of Courtyard 97 was originally the factory area of ​​Xinhua Furniture Factory. Later, it was relocated outside Shijingshan due to disturbing the residents, and the place was abandoned. Because it is industrial in nature, the ownership belongs to the factory, and our street has no right to dispose of it. You can go to the furniture factory first to ask what procedures are required? Auntie can help you to use her connections. If the other party does not rent it out, then there is nothing we can do."

After hearing this, Lao Yang immediately refused Director Zhang's help and said, "I won't bother Aunt Zhang anymore. Just know what's going on. I'll ask a friend to ask. It would be best if I can buy it, but if not, forget it! I won't bother Aunt Zhang at work. I'm going home first. Bye!"

Director Zhang saw Lao Yang off to the door, watched him leave the house and drove away before returning to the house. There were still some things to be dealt with before he could leave work.

When Lao Yang drove back to the alley in front of the compound, he saw a jeep blocking the road and honked to urge the other party to move out of the way. A uniformed guard got out of the jeep and stood beside the car, looking at Lao Yang.

Lao Yang felt that the situation was not simple, so he stopped the car, turned off the engine and walked towards the other party. When the guard saw Lao Yang approaching, he immediately stepped forward and opened the back door, motioning Lao Yang to get in.

Old Yang was also very skilled and courageous, and he had no fear at all. He walked to the car door and looked inside. Inside sat a dignified general in his 40s or 50s. He saw the stars on his shoulder straps and collar, and felt that something was not going to go well, so he prepared to leave.

The general in the car spoke: "Yang Shangjin, get up here!"

Lao Yang saluted quickly: "Yes, Chief!"

Lao Yang crouched down and got into the jeep. The guard beside him immediately stepped forward and slammed the door shut. His nervous heart skipped a beat!

The general in the car stared at Lao Yang with anger on his face. The atmosphere in the car was very heavy. This lasted for 5 minutes. Lao Yang could not stand the pressure and spoke first: "Excuse me, which general are you? Do you have any instructions for me?"

The general calmed down his agitated emotions and said in a deep voice: "My name is Zhou Zhennan, nicknamed Zhou Lao Hu, you should know who I am!"

After Zhou Lao Hu finished speaking, he stared at Lao Yang closely, asking him to give an explanation!

When Lao Yang heard that it was Zhou Zhennan, he immediately realized that he looked familiar, and it turned out to be Zhou Xiaobai's father. It must be that the news that he went to the army to look for Zhou Xiaobai reached Zhou Zhennan's ears, so he came to question him! After all, what he did was a little bit unkind, but when the feelings came, it was natural. Lao Yang couldn't control himself with his determination!

Old Yang immediately changed his expression and said flatteringly, "It turns out to be Uncle Zhou. I was wondering why he looked so friendly! I haven't even visited him yet, but Uncle Zhou has come to visit me. It seems that I was not polite enough and provoked Uncle Zhou to come and ask for censure. I apologize here, and I hope Uncle Zhou will show mercy and forgive my mistakes!"