Siheyuan, Me and the Yu Sisters

In the autumn of 1964, the city was already covered with yellow leaves and frost, with a solemn atmosphere.

A square-faced man with pale complexion, strong body but not fat, and powerful limbs walked slowly in the alley, looking around at the courtyards on both sides. His eyes were shining and he was mumbling something.

"Fuck, this yard is great, this door and this wall, damn it, I'm going to get a few sets in a few years, and when the reform and opening up start, the price will be billions."

……

"Well, let's just make do with it for the next few years."

……

Yes, he is the protagonist of this book, Zhang Renkang, a liberal arts man in the future. After graduation, he worked as a poor clerk in a company and made ends meet in a rented house by eating takeout. Half a year ago, he was watching the popular TV series "The Courtyard Love". When he saw Sha Zhu frozen to death under the bridge, he angrily smashed his tablet and cursed:

"These beasts, if I must punish them"

……

Unexpectedly, he accidentally knocked over the instant noodles, which spilled on the aging power strip. He was electrocuted to death on the iron bed. When he woke up, he found himself lying on an unfamiliar bed. He rubbed his eyes, and the surrounding environment made him a little dazed. He sat up and looked at this unfamiliar room. This is a typical house in a Sijiucheng courtyard. The simple wooden furniture and old furnishings all exude a strong sense of history. He touched his face. It was still the same square face, but it felt a little different, as if it was more powerful and more full of vitality.

He recalled his experience of being electrocuted in his rental apartment, and felt a wave of fear. Could it be that he had really traveled to the world of the TV series "The Courtyard Lovers"?

A wave of memories came to my mind. Zhang Renkang, male, 95 years old, lived in two rooms on the west side of the backyard of No. Nanluoguxiang. He was a kitchen helper in the canteen of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill.

My father, Zhang Yuguo, was a retired company commander and deputy director of a police station. He was shot and killed while hunting down spies five years ago and was posthumously awarded the title of "Martyr" by the organization.

The mother, Sun Xiuyu, was the deputy director of the personnel department of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. She died six months ago from missing her husband and contracting an infection.

Zhang Renkang entered the steel mill as an apprentice two years ago through his mother's connections, and later became a kitchen helper. For the sake of his parents' face, both the company and the hospital gave him some space. However, he was introverted and had always been a nobody. He knew that his mother passed away within half a year, and he was so sad that his soul was unstable that he followed her. Then, his body was occupied by Zhang Renkang.

Zhang Renkang carried a pound and a half of pork belly and a bottle of soy sauce all the way back to the hospital. Today was the day he passed the "Level 8 Chef" exam. Half a year ago, Zhang Renkang came to this world with a "sign-in system" and a "portable space" with him. Relying on the "intermediate Shandong cuisine" skills he learned from signing in, he passed the "Level 8 Chef" exam in October.

As soon as Zhang Yichen entered the gate, a skinny old man wearing glasses came up to him and said

"Renkang is back. We're not celebrating today. We cut a lot of meat and bought some soy sauce. Let your third aunt make you braised pork. Let's have a meal at my place today and have a nice drink together."

I want to reach out as I say this

Zhang Renkang sneered. This is the third uncle in the courtyard, "Yan Bugui", also known as Yan Suanpan and Yan Laoxi. He is a master who has to smell the dung cart when it comes. If the meat is sent to his house, it would be good if he can have half a catty of meat on the table in the evening. He also drinks. Haha

Zhang Renkang dodged Yan Bugui's outstretched hand and said slowly:

"Uncle, don't bother Aunt, I can do it myself. I just passed the eighth level exam today, so this is a treat for myself."

Yan Bugui smiled to hide his embarrassment, but suddenly he realized what was happening.

"You said you passed the exam to become an eighth-level chef? If that's true, then you should get a salary of 32.5, right? Sure, Renkang, why don't you set up a few tables to celebrate?"

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"What are you congratulating me for? I'm still saving money to get married. Uncle, you're busy. I'm leaving now."

As he was talking, he carried the meat and soy sauce into the hanging flower gate. As soon as he entered the middle courtyard, he saw a fat old lady wearing dark clothes and with a fat face sitting by the door with her shoe sole in her hand. When she saw Zhang Renkang carrying the meat, she cursed

"Black-hearted little bastard"

"A cold-blooded animal who eats meat himself but doesn't know how to help his neighbors in need"

"You damned little bastard"

"If you eat too much and take too much, you will end up with no offspring sooner or later"

Jia Zhang, the soul of the courtyard house, is a representative of kindhearted people. She is nicknamed "Soul Summoning Douluo". Half a year ago, when she saw Zhang Renkang's parents pass away, she attempted to occupy Zhang Renkang's house and use it for her grandson Banggeng's wedding. However, she was driven out by Zhang Renkang, who had just traveled through time. With the favoritism of Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu, she held a meeting of the whole courtyard to ask Zhang Renkang to hand over the house. Zhang Renkang sued her to the street office and the factory, resulting in her paying Zhang Renkang 20 yuan in compensation. Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu were criticized in a public notice and her professional title was demoted by one level. The two families have been enemies since then.

Zhang Renkang didn't hesitate to answer her when she said something dirty.

"This old hag is unlucky in marriage. She's probably going to kill all the male children in the family." She glanced at the chubby kid who was having fun nearby and smiled. "This kid is so pitiful. His father died early and he became a bastard. Now he's been killed by this old hag as well."

"The Jia family is doomed to fail."

"Don't be so angry that you come back to life, Lao Jia"

When Jia Zhang saw him talking back, saying that she was unlucky in marriage and cursed his family to have no descendants, she immediately became furious and jumped up, rushing towards Zhang Renkang and trying to grab him.

Zhang Renkang turned slightly, and when he stretched out his feet, Jia Zhang was pushed and fell headfirst into the basin of her own laundry, which poured water all over her head. Zhang Renkang was so happy that he bent over with laughter.

Jia Zhang was so angry that she stood up with her hair disheveled and rushed forward again. Zhang Renkang was not going to tolerate her and kicked Jia Zhang out. She fell under the pear tree in the yard and screamed in pain.

At this time, a shout came from behind.

"Zhang Renkang, what are you doing?"

"How dare you hit an old man? Jia's sister-in-law is your elder after all. How can you, as a junior, fight with an elder?"

"What about the tradition of respecting and loving the elderly that the hospital promotes?"

"Has your conscience been eaten by a dog? Jia's sister-in-law has always been kind to others, how could you be so cruel?"

"Look at how you beat up Jia's sister-in-law. Why don't you quickly roll over here, kneel down and apologize, and compensate Jia's sister-in-law for her losses?"

"If you are such a beast who doesn't respect the elderly and doesn't love the young, this yard can't accommodate you."

Zhang Renkang didn't even bother to turn his head. He knew who it was the moment he heard it. It was none other than Yi Zhonghai, the famous "God of Morality" of this courtyard and the representative of the family with no descendants. Yi Zhonghai had always favored the deceased Jia Dongxu of the Jia family. Not only did he accept Jia Dongxu as his apprentice and teach him skills, but after Jia Dongxu's death, he showed concern for the Jia family, organized donations, and took Jia Dongxu's widow Qin Huairu to his side to teach her. He was truly a loving father and filial son of the Jia family.

Zhang Renkang looked at Yi Zhonghai who had just entered the room with disdain and said quietly

"Uncle, you came at a perfect time. You must care about Jia Zhang very much. Does Aunt know about your relationship?"

The crowd in the yard burst into laughter. Yi Zhonghai was indeed protective of the Jia family to a certain extent. Could it be that he was really having an affair with Jia Zhang? Everyone was talking about it.

Yi Zhonghai was so angry that his face turned black and he shouted angrily:

"My sister-in-law Jia and I are innocent, what nonsense are you talking about, you little bastard?"

Zhang Renkang heard it said faintly

"Oh, Qingbai, then could it be that the old man is with Qin Huairu? Could it be that the old woman is unable to have children and wants to try with the widow Qin? The old man may be old but his heart is not old."

Everyone was so happy that they couldn't stop laughing. At this moment, a charming woman came in angrily and shouted:

"Zhang Renkang, what nonsense are you talking about? What did I do to you? Why are you spouting so much shit here?"