Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

He Lai came out of the hospital and rode his bike to the street office to ask about the bathroom.

By the way, I took out a silver carp weighing about 15 kilograms from the space and hung it on the bicycle.

When we arrived at the street office, we were obviously much busier. After all, people were short of food and clothing, and everyone wanted to start from the street office to see if they could get some work to supplement the family income.

For example, odd jobs like pasting matchboxes, folding cowhide bags, and turning rubber gloves all need to be collected from the street office.

Many times I need to come and see if there is any job available, otherwise the job will be taken away by someone else.

He Lai came to the neighborhood office with the big fish. People looked at him strangely, knowing that he was there to give gifts.

He Lai was a little embarrassed, but fortunately he didn't do anything wrong.

Came to Director Wang’s office.

"Wow, such a big fish. Xiao Laizi, you have something important to ask Aunt Wang to do. But Aunt Wang does have something good to tell you today."

Director Wang said with a smile.

"Oh, so that's the case. Then Aunt Wang, you speak first." He Lai put the fish on the ground and said with a smile.

Could it be that he has found a house? After all, he has rejected Director Wang's housing allocation several times.

"The house you wanted has been found. It's right next door, No. 94 Courtyard. And it's next to yours. The two rooms are exactly the same as yours. I think you can accept this now."

Director Wang said with a smile.

"Of course I'll accept it. Thank you, Aunt Wang." He Lai waited for half a year and finally got a house.

Unexpectedly, there were still two rooms. This was a bit beyond He Lai's expectations. After all, He Daqing, the canteen director, was only assigned one room before.

Little did he know that Mr. Zhou behind him, who used to be a soldier under Director Wang, had greeted Director Wang and asked him to take care of He Lai, and that’s how he got the two rooms.

"The original tenant went to Tianjin with his son and settled there. This house has just been vacated. I just received the house and was just about to inform you when you came to my door. What a coincidence. Come and sign your name. I will take care of the rest for you."

Director Wang prepared the rental contract for He Lai, knowing that he would agree.

He Lai signed his name and continued to ask Director Wang.

"Auntie Wang, can I connect the two courtyards? Just open a small door in the corner to make it easier for my family to move around."

He Lai asked with a guilty conscience. He Lai remembered that No. 95 and No. 94 shared a common wall. If they were connected, it would be much more convenient.

"I can't make the decision on this either. I'll ask Secretary Sun to ask the people in the two courtyards for you. I think you have such good relationships with people, so it shouldn't be a big problem. As long as the majority agree, there will be no problem on my side."

Director Wang thought for a moment and replied.

"Okay, then I'll go with Secretary Sun."

"By the way, what are you talking about with Aunt Wang today? Let me make it clear first, Aunt Wang doesn't have any work for you."

"Auntie Wang, I originally wanted to build a bathroom at home, that is, a toilet, and I wanted to report to you and find someone to build it.

Now, I want to take a look at the house next door, and if nothing goes wrong, I want to renovate it."

He Lai told the truth. After all, he wanted the room to be more comfortable. The current room structure was too simple and had to be redesigned.

"Well, for the renovation, just don't damage the exterior structure and the interior. I'll let you know. For the toilet, I'll let the water supply bureau know."

When Director Wang heard that He Lai wanted to renovate the house after he got it, he also explained his requirements that the overall structure must not be destroyed.

"Auntie Wang, you are so kind to me. You solved all my problems."

"Hey, this is nothing. Food is a bit tight right now. If it weren't for the mushroom growing method you provided, I wouldn't know what to exchange for food."

Director Wang thought that if he hadn’t exchanged mushrooms for food, he would probably be worried about food now.

He Lai then realized that the grain reserves in Sijiu City were probably running low, and after the autumn harvest in the second half of the year, the city would probably run out of food.

"Auntie Wang, no, let's find a place to grow some sweet potatoes and potatoes. Isn't it encouraged to be self-sufficient?"

He Lai couldn't help but remind him.

"Oh? Xiao Laizi, it seems that you are very familiar with the policy, but do you think this is necessary?" Director Wang was a little surprised when he heard what He Lai said.

"Auntie Wang, you should know whether it is necessary or not. The food supply in the countryside is almost gone."

After hearing what He Lai said, Director Wang fell into deep thought.

"Then Aunt Wang, please think about it again. I'm going to go find Secretary Sun."

He Lai went out without waiting for Director Wang to reply.

We found Secretary Sun in the outer hall and explained the situation to him.

Secretary Sun said he could help ask the residents of Courtyard 94 whether they agreed to connect the courtyards.

"Then Brother Sun, let's go look at the house now."

"Okay, let's go then."

In this way, He Lai drove Secretary Sun to Yard 94.

On the way, Secretary Sun introduced the situation of Yard 94 to He Lai.

The same courtyard has very different residents. Only six households work in the steel rolling mill, while more have other jobs, and some work as temporary workers.

The conditions there are much worse than those in No. 95 Courtyard. After all, No. 95 Courtyard was previously the private property of Lou Bancheng, so most of the residents there are workers from the steel mill.

There are also three uncles in the front, middle and back yards. The one in the back yard is Uncle Niu, who works in the supply and marketing cooperative and is a warehouse manager; the one in the middle yard is Uncle Han, who also works in the steel mill and is a level 5 fitter; the one in the front yard is Uncle Qian, who works in the textile factory and is an experienced buyer.

Soon the two of them arrived at Yard 94, and He Lai followed Secretary Sun in.

"Secretary Sun, why are you here today? Is there something going on? Isn't this He Lai from next door?"

When an old lady saw He Lai and his companions, she quickly put down the broom in her hand and came forward to say hello.

"Well, Aunt Qian, is Uncle Qian here? Ask him to come to the backyard. I have something to discuss with him."

"Okay, I'll let him go now."

After Secretary Sun finished speaking, he continued to walk in with He Lai and also called Uncle Han from the Central Court.

He Lai also saw the house in his backyard. It was empty. It seemed that all the furniture had been taken away, leaving only an empty shell.

He Lai thought it was a good idea since he wanted to change it anyway.

Soon, the three uncles gathered in Uncle Niu’s house in the backyard.

He Lai took out a pack of Da Qian Men and shared it with the three uncles. They all took it politely. After all, they had heard of He Lai and knew how powerful He Lai was.

"Three uncles, this is what happened. Didn't Mr. Fang in the backyard move out? The neighborhood office gave the two rooms to He Lai."

Secretary Sun directly told the matter about the house.

"That's great. Will Comrade He Lai live in our hospital from now on?"

Uncle Han from the Intermediate Court spoke first. He had no objection to He Lai having two rooms. After all, they were both in the steel rolling mill. He really admired He Lai, who was very capable at such a young age.

"Well, three gentlemen, please take care of us in the future. I will treat everyone in the compound to fish tomorrow. Each household will get two kilograms of fish. How do you think?"

He Lai quickly replied, after all, he would live in someone else's yard in the future. Two catties of fish per household is only about 40 catties, which is about three or four big fish.

"Okay, I'll gather everyone in the hospital to talk about this later."

When Uncle Han heard about this good news, he immediately wanted to inform everyone. The other two uncles also nodded. As expected, He Lai was a good person and treated everyone to fish as soon as he arrived.

"Uncle Han, I have something small that I would like the three uncles to help me with."

He Lai handed the three people cigarettes again and continued.

"What's the matter? Tell me."

"Well, you know my parents are right next to me, separated by a wall. Can I open a small door in the corner for easy access? Do you think it's okay?"

He Lai first talked about the dinner invitation and then the door-to-door matter. He didn't believe that they would not agree.

The three uncles looked at each other, and then Uncle Han spoke.

"He Lai, we have no objection to this matter, but we still need to listen to the opinions of the people in the hospital. So we can hold a meeting of the whole hospital to discuss this matter later."

"Row!"

Soon, Courtyard 94 held a general meeting, and the process went more smoothly than expected. After everyone knew that it was He Lai from next door who invited everyone in the courtyard to eat fish, they all agreed.