Siheyuan: If you ruin the reputation of the whole courtyard, I will move out

He could earn a meager income from a small factory to make ends meet, but the two thousand yuan deposit he got from his divorce and some savings only solved his basic needs. Yi Zhonghai is no longer the authority figure in the courtyard, but has become a character that everyone avoids. Whether it is adults quarreling or children throwing stones, he lets it happen. Only He Yuzhu will help secretly, but he does not want to be exposed publicly.

Passing by Yi Zhonghai, Zhang Yu entered the courtyard and saw the staggering fat old man in front of him, Liu Haizhongbian, who used to be the factory logistics manager. Due to a head injury, he retired early six months ago. The eldest son and the second son left home to make a living on their own. The relationship between father and son was almost severed. The eldest son found a job in another place and did not even go home to visit them during the New Year.

Although he worked hard to raise three sons, they did not give him any reward, so Liu Haizhong could only rely on his wife for a living. Facing Liu Haizhong walking alone, Zhang Yu politely asked: "Second uncle, do you want to take a walk after dinner?"

However, Liu Haizhong just snorted coldly at Zhang Yu and did not stay for long. Even if there was no conclusive evidence pointing to Zhang Yu's instigation, Liu Haizhong still believed that it was related to Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu said gently: "Second uncle, be careful, don't fall, you are not able to move." Hearing this, Liu Haizhong turned around and yelled at Zhang Yu: "Zhang Yu, one day you will pay the price for what you did today." After that, he left angrily.

Zhang Yu sneered, "You are no longer a member of the guard, and you still want to restrict my freedom?" Even after retirement, did Liu Haizhong really fear the power of Zhang Yu? When he was still serving, such a thought was simply unthinkable.

He walked away angrily, his bangs were unsteady, his body was shaking with excitement, revealing his inner dissatisfaction. At this time, the aunt seemed to notice some strange noises at the door, but in ordinary people's homes, such a luxurious life as the Zhang family is not normal.

It's not that no one envied the Zhang family's wealthy life. Some people tried to report it. However, Zhang Yu was the family's driver and had a considerable income. Although he spent a lot, it was still within his budget. People outside knew that He Yushui and his wife lived in poverty, but few people knew that they could save several hundred yuan every month, which also included Zhang Yu's secret savings.

After more than seven years of marriage, He Yushui's meager savings, together with her original savings, have exceeded 10,000 yuan. She carefully hid the money in a secret place under the table. One day, during a discussion about the renovation of the old house, Zhang Yu said, "I think we should renovate this place and add a bathroom for the convenience of the children, especially in the cold winter."

As soon as the shared restroom was mentioned, He Yushui lost his appetite, dropped his chopsticks, and said with a hint of anger: "Let's talk business, okay?"

Zhang Yu sincerely apologized: "I'm sorry, it was indeed my negligence."

He Yushui sighed, "I understand your desire to leave that crowded environment. After all, Auntie is old and needs careful care. I miss her care." Zhang Yu explained, "Auntie is free at home and can spend time with the child. And you are pregnant, so the bathroom problem may be inconvenient. Besides, this place is close to your work, which is more convenient for your child and your daily life."

Faced with these reasons, He Yushui shook his head helplessly: "You have carefully planned this excuse a long time ago." Zhang Yu responded: "All my words are sincere, not a coping strategy."

Zhang Yu said he would discuss it further with his brother and aunt. "Give me some more time." Noticing that He Yushui did not deny it outright this time, he was full of hope. During the three-month house inspection period, considering the future of their children, they finally chose to move. They yearned for a quiet living environment. Although they initially thought the house price was expensive, they later found out that the renovation of water and electricity and a new bathroom were the main reasons. Although the expenditure exceeded 4000 yuan, it was still affordable for Zhang Yu, so he entrusted his friend Niu Meili's good hands to do the work.

Zhang Lichun, an old carpenter with more than 30 years of craftsmanship, came from a woodworking workshop and led a small repair team. He resolutely accepted this arduous mission. The entire renovation project took three months, and during the process, Zhang Yu personally supervised the quality of the project. When the new house was completed, seeing Zhang Lichun's meticulous craftsmanship, Zhang Yu symbolically presented a red envelope of ten yuan to express his admiration.

Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the times, they were unable to complete the paving of the entire floor. Decoration is always difficult to be perfect, and the simple aesthetics that were popular at the time could not meet every detail that Zhang Yu strictly required.

After settling the moving, Zhang Yu and his wife first warmly invited He Yuzhu's family and Aunt Yi to their new home to share the joy. As soon as they entered, He Yuzhu praised: "Brother-in-law, your new home is amazing!" The new house is located deep in the city center. Although it is in the hustle and bustle, it still retains a bit of tranquility. The old red brick house and the kitchen room retain their original appearance, especially the small courtyard surrounding the pomegranate tree, where you can pick fruits and enjoy them in the fall, and enjoy the cool shade in the summer. The charm of this small world also won He Yuzhu's approval.

Ran Qiuye longed for the renovated and brand-new bathroom. Zhang Yu ingeniously transformed the small adobe house into a cozy one, and even invested a lot of money to equip it with modern toilet facilities. In the southeast corner of the bathroom, he added a simple shower device that can accommodate a large wooden barrel for people to shower and wash. Most northerners take a bath once a week, especially in summer, and this traditional way seems inconvenient. In the past, when they lived in a Beijing courtyard, the couple had to undertake the heavy task of carrying water, including details such as shampooing, which were also extremely cumbersome. Now with this bathroom, the bathing problem is solved.

After the tour, Ran Qiuye began to be interested in the possibility of improving the bathroom at home. She asked, "Yushui, can we imitate this improvement in our yard?" He Yushui responded, "The change itself is not complicated, but the connection to the sewage system is quite troublesome. Brother Xiaoyu spent a lot of effort and had to ask the neighbors for help. It cost an expensive 800 yuan. I am so distressed." Her words contained a little emotion.

Zhang Yu listened quietly and did not interrupt. In fact, the cost of the bathroom renovation exceeded the estimate. The original plan of 14,000 yuan was not enough to cover everything, so he paid 700 yuan privately. He did not explain these things to He Yushui in detail.

Hearing about this expense, Ran Qiuye was amazed at Zhang Yu's generosity. This was not because she was short-sighted, but because the living standards were relatively low at that time, and for a worker like He Yuzhu who earned 37.5 yuan a month, it was already a good treatment.

He Yuzhu has superb cooking skills and is often invited to participate in weddings and funerals at the factory. He earns a lot of extra income, but it is not easy for him to save money, and his savings are barely around 500 yuan.

"Yu Shui, your life is really enviable. In comparison, your brother is busy every day for basic needs, which is not easy." Ran Qiuye was full of jealousy and held He Yu Shui's hand tightly to express his envy.

He Yushui was secretly delighted when she heard this, and suggested, "Sister-in-law, if you find it convenient, you can just live in the two empty rooms in my house."

"It's such an embarrassing request." Ran Qiuye was moved but couldn't bear to refuse.

"You're a family, so there's no need to be polite." He Yushui continued, "It's a waste of resources if the house is idle." However, Ran Qiuye shook his head and said, "It should be left to Auntie. After all, she's older and it would be difficult for her to get in and out."

Since the divorce, Li Shufen has become the nominal godmother of He Yuzhu and his siblings. They have experienced difficult times together and their love is as deep as a family.

After thinking for a moment, Aunt Yiyi responded, "It is better for me to stay in my original home. The old house needs to be taken care of. I will come naturally when your child is born."