Xu Shu’s judgment grew increasingly certain: this courtyard, while appearing ordinary, was actually filled with people who were anything but simple. He pondered to himself that if he were to bring his mother here to live securely, his top priority was to establish a firm foothold in both the Rolling Mill and the courtyard. Only by fully grasping the ins and outs of the neighborhood and its social dynamics could he plan for the long term.
Just as he and Xu Damao were clinking glasses and in the middle of a lively drinking session, a knock came at the door. Xu Shu hastily set down his glass and rose to answer it. A boy of about ten stood outside, looking sharp. Seeing the door open, the child said crisply, "Hey, the First Uncle just sent word that everyone has to go to the Middle Courtyard for a general meeting right now."
"All right, I understand," Xu Shu replied.
Having delivered the message, the boy hopped away. Xu Shu returned inside and informed Xu Damao. Upon hearing this, Xu Damao’s eyes lit up. "Xiao Shu, believe me, this courtyard general meeting was definitely called by Yi Zhonghai specifically for you."
Xu Shu looked puzzled. "Why do you say that?"
Xu Damao kept him in suspense. "No rush to explain it yet. Do you dare make a bet with me?"
Intrigued, Xu Shu replied, "Sure, what are we betting?"
Xu Damao slapped his thigh. "A meal!"
"No problem," Xu Shu said without hesitation.
"I’m going to want a real feast—plenty of wine and meat," Xu Damao added.
Xu Shu nodded. "That goes without saying."
Xu Damao smiled with satisfaction. "Alright then, let’s head to the Middle Courtyard."
When they arrived, a crowd had already gathered. It was the dead of winter and bitterly cold; people were huddled together in small groups, trying to share warmth. In front of the main house in the Middle Courtyard—the doorway to Shazhu’s home—an eight-immortal table had been set up. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui sat there with solemn expressions. Yi Zhonghai sat firmly in the center, with Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui on either side, sitting stiffly.
Yi Zhonghai had sharp eyes; catching sight of the unfamiliar young man trailing behind Xu Damao, he knew at once this must be the newcomer, Xu Shu. He gave a subtle wink to Liu Haizhong, who immediately caught his drift.
Liu Haizhong stood up with a "whoosh," swept his gaze over the crowd like a torch, then slowly picked up his enamel mug, took a light sip of tea, and set it down unhurriedly. Only then did he clear his throat and shout, "Alright, everyone quiet down! Since everyone seems to be here, let’s not waste any more time. The courtyard general meeting is officially called to order. I now invite the First Uncle to preside over the meeting!"
It was Xu Shu’s first time attending such a meeting. Watching Liu Haizhong put on airs and mimic the conduct of an official, he felt a wave of nausea. Back in his days in the Cao Wei group, he had risen to the ranks of Colonel of the Right and Imperial Secretariat—a position of great prestige—yet he had never carried himself with such pretense. Unlike this "Big Head" Liu, who was puffed up by a sliver of authority—if one could even call it that—he acted as if he were a high-ranking minister.
Yi Zhonghai stood up as well, copying Liu Haizhong’s rhythm. Instead of speaking immediately, he picked up his tea mug and sipped slowly. Xu Shu was speechless. As far as he could tell, this "Committee Head" position was hardly even a real office; it couldn't even compare to a bailiff in a county yamen. They were essentially temporary workers at the very bottom of the ladder, yet these two behaved like grand officials.
Yi Zhonghai, unaware of Xu Shu’s thoughts, finally spoke after finishing his tea. "Well, it’s bitterly cold today, so I won't waste your time. We are holding this meeting tonight because we have a new neighbor in our courtyard. Let’s give him a round of applause!"
Hearing his name mentioned, Xu Shu glanced instinctively at Xu Damao, sighing inwardly at how he had underestimated the complexity of this place.
Yi Zhonghai continued, "Come on, Xiao Xu. Since you’ve moved in, we’re all neighbors now. As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. Why don't you introduce yourself to everyone?"
Xu Shu rose helplessly and faced the crowd. "Hello everyone, my name is Xu Shu. My parents were particularly fond of Xu Yuanzhi, and since our family name is also Xu, they gave me this name. I started today at the Rolling Mill in the Procurement Section as a purchasing agent. I look forward to getting along with everyone."
After he sat back down, he gave Xu Damao a thumbs-up. Xu Damao looked smug, his expression insufferably proud.
Yi Zhonghai continued, "Xiao Xu makes a good point. Since we live in the same courtyard, we should be harmonious and help one another. Our courtyard has always valued unity and friendship. Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone, head back to your homes and get some rest."
As Yi Zhonghai announced the end of the meeting, people scrambled to pick up their stools and hurry home. In the freezing winter wind, which cut like a knife, everyone was dreaming of their warm blankets. Being tucked in with their wives was far better than standing in the ice and snow.
In the blink of an eye, only Mrs. Jia remained, staring at Yi Zhonghai with a sinister gaze. Once everyone had left, she shuffled over to him. With a furrowed brow and a look of deep displeasure, she said in a sharp tone, "Old Yi, what did you promise me this afternoon? Was that it? Just a simple introduction and then the meeting is over? Do you not want to help the Jia Family at all?" She pursed her lips, her face full of disdain.
Yi Zhonghai scanned his surroundings vigilantly. Once he was sure no one was near, he lowered his voice and spoke helplessly. "My dear sister-in-law, why are you so impatient? The matter of this house has been dragged out for so long; a little more time won’t kill us. Besides, I know absolutely nothing about this Xu Shu’s background. If we act rashly and he turns out to be a tough nut to crack, ruining the whole plan, how will we clean up the mess?"
He shook his head slightly, his eyes reflecting caution. "And didn't you hear him? He started work today, and the factory allocated him that house immediately. I spent plenty of time running to the Housing Administration Section before the New Year, begging the section chief, but they wouldn't give me that unit. This means the Rolling Mill had decided to give that house to Xu Shu long before the year ended. Think about it—based on that, do you really think he’s just some nobody without any connections?"
As Yi Zhonghai analyzed the situation, he gestured for Mrs. Jia to be careful. Her hurried agitation subsided slightly. She lowered her head, mulling over his words, and found they made sense. A house that even a Rank-Eight Worker couldn't secure had been obtained effortlessly by this newcomer who had just joined the factory. The whole thing was highly suspicious. Even Liu Haizhong’s eldest son, Liu Guangqi, a technical graduate who had been working at the Machine Repair Plant for a couple of years, was still waiting for housing.
Mrs. Jia was no fool; if she were, she wouldn't have survived as a widow raising her useless son Jia Dongxu all these years. She had kept the Jia Family afloat in this courtyard through shrewdness and survival instincts. Realizing Xu Shu was not a man to be trifled with, she felt a surge of frustration, but she knew better than to act recklessly.
After a long silence, she looked at Yi Zhonghai. "Old Yi, you’re right. In your opinion, what should we do next?"
"Don't move for now; just keep the status quo," Yi Zhonghai replied unhurriedly. "I’ll find a way to sound out his background. Once I know exactly who he is, we’ll discuss how to deal with him. After all, one must know oneself and the enemy to be victorious." He narrowed his eyes, already calculating his next steps.
Mrs. Jia gritted her teeth and nodded. "Fine, I’ll listen to you."
They turned and walked toward their respective homes. As Mrs. Jia pushed open her courtyard door, the freezing wind rushed into her collar. She hunched her shoulders and tightened her cotton jacket. Inside, the dim light offered a touch of warmth. Jia Dongxu hurried out from the inner room upon hearing her, his face full of eagerness. "Mom, what did you say to my master?" he asked, glancing behind her.
Mrs. Jia snorted, entered the room, and tossed her scarf onto a chair. "What else could we talk about but that house? We’ve been waiting for it forever, and now that this newcomer Xu Shu has snatched it, how can I not be anxious?" She sat on the edge of the heated brick bed, her brow knit in a knot.
Jia Dongxu’s eyes lit up. "What did Master say? When can we kick that Xu Shu out and get the house back?" He rubbed his hands together, his mind filled with longing for the extra space.
Mrs. Jia rolled her eyes at her son and raised her voice. "What's the rush? You’re a father now—can you show some maturity? Always so jumpy!" She looked at him with a mix of frustration and despair; even with a family of his own, he still acted like an immature boy.
Jia Dongxu scratched his head and gave a sly grin. "I was just thinking that once we get the house, we'll have room to have a few more kids and bring glory to the Jia Family. Imagine it, a big, lively household—how impressive that would be!"
Mrs. Jia waved a hand dismissively. "Enough, enough. Your master said he needs to figure out Xu Shu’s background before doing anything. Don't worry, in this courtyard, no one can outsmart your master. We’ll just wait for his good news." Though she said this, she felt uneasy, knowing Xu Shu wasn't someone to be underestimated.
Jia Dongxu finally relaxed. "Alright, if Master is on the case, I’m not worried. Wife, let’s go back inside." He reached out and pulled Qin Huairu, who was standing to the side. She blushed, looking shy, and though she pulled back slightly, she was still tugged into the inner room.
The West Side Room was originally a single large space. After Jia Dongxu married Qin Huairu, Mrs. Jia had used wooden boards to partition it so the couple could have privacy. The inner room served as their bedroom, while the outer room was where Mrs. Jia and Banggen slept, with a small corner carved out as a kitchen.
At that moment, Banggen was already asleep under his quilt on the outer bed. Mrs. Jia looked at the closed door of the inner room, sighed, took off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed, but she remained restless, turning over and over, unable to fall asleep as she continued to dwell on the house.