Inside the Rolling Mill’s workshop, the roar of machinery echoed and intertwined. Yi Zhonghai walked with hasty steps, having just returned from the Housing Administration Section. He had gone there with a clear objective: to find out exactly who this newcomer, Xushu, really was. Yi Zhonghai had been suspicious; for a mere procurement officer to be allocated a house immediately upon arrival, there had to be something fishy going on behind the scenes.
However, after making inquiries, Yi Zhonghai hit a wall. The head of the Housing Administration Section was just as confused, admitting that he had only reserved that room for Xushu after receiving a directive from Li Huaide. Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai felt a deep sense of frustration. He had initially suspected Xushu had connections, but he hadn't expected those ties to lead directly to Li Huaide.
There was a long-standing grudge between Yi Zhonghai and Li Huaide. Because of the Deaf Old Lady, Yi Zhonghai had always stood firmly in Director Yang’s camp. Furthermore, as a Rank-Eight Worker with superb skills, he was somewhat arrogant and inwardly looked down upon people like Li Huaide, who climbed the social ladder by relying on his wife's family influence. Yet, he knew well that as a deputy factory director, Li Huaide held real power. While Yi Zhonghai had some status in the mill, confronting him head-on would be like an egg hitting a rock. A deputy director had countless ways to crush an ordinary worker, and that was a risk he couldn't afford.
With these thoughts, Yi Zhonghai decided to swallow his pride for the moment, intending to seize a better opportunity to deal with Xushu later. At that moment, Jia Dongxu, who had been slacking off in a corner, caught sight of Yi Zhonghai’s return and immediately perked up. Like a nimble little mouse, he quickly scanned his surroundings to ensure no one was watching. Then, stooping low, he hurried over to Yi Zhonghai and whispered, "Master, how did it go? What did the Housing Administration Section say?"
Yi Zhonghai’s expression was dejected. He shook his head slightly and sighed, "Sigh, I asked. They said this Xushu is Li Huaide’s man. I’m afraid it’ll be difficult to get him kicked out anytime soon."
Jia Dongxu felt a wave of disappointment. He had been coveting that house for a long time, and the thought of someone else taking it left him deeply unwilling to let it go. Yet, the mention of Li Huaide’s power made him shiver. Still, he wouldn't give up. Looking at Yi Zhonghai with wide, pleading eyes, he said, "Master, I believe you must have a way. Didn't we get those other people with connections kicked out of the courtyard in the end? Think about it some more; you’ll definitely come up with a plan."
Yi Zhonghai didn't answer immediately. He frowned and sank into deep thought. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice low but laced with ruthlessness. "Yes, there is definitely a way, but we can't be hasty. We must plan for the long term. From now on, have your mother and your wife keep a close watch on this Xushu in the courtyard. At the factory, let's keep a close eye on his every move. If he makes even the slightest mistake, we’ll hold a courtyard general meeting to denounce him and punish him by making him clean the courtyard or pay fines. At the same time, we’ll stick to the old rules and unite everyone to ostracize him. A few times of that, and if he’s smart, he’ll naturally realize he can’t stay."
Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu’s eyes lit up. Full of admiration, he gave Yi Zhonghai a thumbs-up and praised, "Master, it’s still you! I knew Xushu would be no match for you. With your prestige in the factory and the courtyard, dealing with a greenhorn is a piece of cake."
The corners of Yi Zhonghai’s mouth curled into a faint, smug smile, but he quickly straightened his face and said, "Enough, stop with the flattery. Go back to work. Look at you—how many parts have you finished today?"
Jia Dongxu nodded repeatedly and replied, "You got it, Master. I’m going back to work now."
After Jia Dongxu left, Yi Zhonghai did not return to his station immediately. He knew that to carry out this plan, he alone wouldn't be enough; he needed to recruit some helpers. The first person to come to mind was Liu Haizhong. Yi Zhonghai calculated that as long as he offered Liu Haizhong some benefits, there was an eighty-percent chance of success. He walked over to Liu Haizhong’s workstation. After some conversation and the promise of a small price to pay, Liu Haizhong agreed to join Yi Zhonghai’s camp.
Liu Haizhong weighed the situation internally. He knew that Yi Zhonghai’s status in both the factory and the courtyard was not to be underestimated. He wasn't about to offend Yi Zhonghai over some upstart named Xushu. Moreover, Yi Zhonghai had promised him tangible benefits, which was something Liu Haizhong found impossible to refuse. Thus, after weighing the pros and cons, Liu Haizhong immediately agreed to Yi Zhonghai’s request. His shortsightedness was apparent; he could only see the small gains right in front of him. With a brain like that, he would never be able to outmaneuver the deep-thinking Yi Zhonghai.
With Liu Haizhong on board, Yi Zhonghai headed off without delay to find Shazhu. Knowing Shazhu’s temperament well, Yi Zhonghai cleverly embellished his plan against Xushu. He exaggerated how Xushu was rude and disregarded the elders in the factory and the courtyard. Shazhu grew angry immediately; he despised people who didn't respect their elders and patted his chest in assurance, "First Uncle, don't you worry. Leave this to me. I’ll handle it perfectly for you!"
Yi Zhonghai was very pleased to see Shazhu’s determined look. The more obedient Shazhu was, the more successful his brainwashing had been. It also meant he had secured another reliable backup for his retirement. With everything arranged, Yi Zhonghai sauntered back to the workshop to begin processing parts. As a Rank-Eight Worker, his technical skills were superb, making him a heavyweight in the factory; even the workshop manager had to treat him with respect. After all, on the production line, a technical master like Yi Zhonghai was an indispensable pillar. Whenever there was a complex technical problem, Yi Zhonghai could basically solve it with a wave of his hand. Therefore, the workshop manager certainly wouldn't bother him over such petty private matters. It wasn't worth offending a Rank-Eight Worker who created such great value for the workshop.
Time drifted by amidst the roar of the machines, and soon it was time to clock out. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Jia Dongxu, and Shazhu walked out of the workshop and headed toward the factory gate. Just as they reached the entrance, they saw Xushu flash past them on a bicycle. The bike was brand new and gleaming, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunset. Seeing that new bike, the four of them couldn't help but feel incredibly envious. After all, buying a bicycle in that era was no easy feat. A Phoenix-brand bicycle cost over one hundred and sixty yuan, which was nearly half a year’s salary for an average family. The key was that money alone wasn't enough; you also needed a bicycle permit. Those permits were the hardest thing to get. A massive factory like the Rolling Mill only received a few dozen permits a year. With so many monks and so little gruel, the competition was intense. Most people simply had no way to buy a bicycle on their own. Buying one on the black market was even more dangerous—if someone reported you, it was a major crime of speculation. At best, you went to prison; if your luck was bad, you might be facing a bullet.
Yi Zhonghai had once obtained a bicycle permit himself, as it was a benefit for the few Rank-Eight Workers in the mill. When he first received the permit, Yi Zhonghai had been thrilled. Images of himself riding a brand-new bike through the streets, showing off, had immediately filled his head. But he was an extremely selfish man, and his mind quickly turned to other matters. He worried that if he bought the bike, the people in the courtyard would surely try to borrow it. If he lent it to them, he wouldn't be happy about it—he already expected others to provide for his retirement, so how could he tolerate others getting a "free ride" on his bike? Furthermore, as the First Uncle, he couldn't charge his neighbors for borrowing it, which made him even more reluctant. But if he didn't lend it out, the reputation he had painstakingly built up in the courtyard would be ruined. The prestige he had spent so many years cultivating could easily vanish.
After much deliberation, Yi Zhonghai decided that buying the bike was simply not worth it. In the end, he didn't even tell First Aunt about the permit. Instead, under the cover of darkness that night, he snuck off to the black market, sold the permit, and pocketed the money.
Standing at the factory gate, Yi Zhonghai stared intently at Xushu’s back as he rode further and further away. At that moment, the flame of jealousy in his heart flared up. Back then, he had struggled to get a permit but, trapped by his own over-thinking and fear of being taken advantage of by the courtyard residents, he had ended up selling it. Yet now, Xushu had only been working at the Rolling Mill for a short time and was already riding a brand-new bicycle.
Yi Zhonghai’s gaze lingered on that bike, and the more he looked, the more it stung his eyes. The gleaming frame and the pristine tires looked much newer than the bikes of the other procurement officers. It was obvious to anyone that the factory had just bought it for him. Yi Zhonghai clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He was already resentful that Xushu had moved into the courtyard and taken the house he coveted. Now, seeing the bike, his resolve to drive Xushu away hardened. He felt as though a heavy rock were lodged in his chest, and every time he looked at Xushu, his discomfort grew. He thought to himself, "This kid, he’s only been here a short while and he’s already acting so high and mighty. I can’t let him live here so comfortably."
Xushu was completely unaware of the raging storm in Yi Zhonghai’s mind or the dramatic "plays" he had invented. All he wanted was to get home quickly and enjoy the convenience of his new bike. He pedaled lightly, the breeze brushing against his cheeks; compared to his colleagues who were walking home, his speed was naturally much faster. However, he still couldn't compare to Yan Bugui, who was always skilled at "slacking off" and slipping away early.
At that moment, Yan Bugui was guarding the gate of the courtyard, holding a worn-out watering can and carefully tending to his beloved flowers. Even though it was deep winter and the cold wind was biting, he was happily immersed in his work. Xushu saw this from afar and couldn't help but grumble to himself, "This Yan Bugui, fussing over these plants in this freezing weather—he’s not worried about them freezing to death?" However, Xushu was never one to meddle in others' affairs. His relationship with Yan Bugui was merely a polite nod; they only greeted each other in passing, so he didn't go over to ask.
Yan Bugui had sharp eyes. As soon as he looked up, he saw Xushu pushing his bicycle toward the courtyard. His small eyes lit up, flashing with calculating light. Almost instinctively, he put down his watering can, plastered his face with a sycophantic smile, and hurried toward Xushu like a fawning dog. Seeing Yan Bugui’s fawning manner, Xushu felt a sense of revulsion and nearly broke out in goosebumps.
Yan Bugui reached him, his eyes glued to the bike, and he spoke in a hypocritical tone, "Little Xu, where did you manage to get this bicycle? It’s so new!" As he spoke, he couldn't wait to reach out and touch the frame, running his hands over it back and forth. Although Xushu felt disgusted, he figured that just touching it wasn't a big deal, so he suppressed his discomfort and didn't stop him.
"Third Uncle, I’m a procurement officer, you see. The factory took into account that I have to travel long distances to the countryside to procure supplies, so they provided me with this bike," Xushu explained patiently.
Yan Bugui’s eyes remained fixed on the bike, his hands moving from the frame to the tires as he continued, "You young people really have the skills. Look at Xu Damao—he shows movies for the Rolling Mill, and they provided him with a bike. Now you have one too. By my count, our courtyard has two bicycles now. That’s unique among all the neighboring courtyards; no one else can compare to us!"