Along the way, Xushu’s thoughts drifted like willow catkins in the wind, filled with curiosity and anticipation for his new destination. Before he knew it, the two arrived before a magnificent structure.
"We’re here. This is the Red Star Courtyard."
Chen Jun’s clear voice was like a gentle breeze, brushing away the flurry of thoughts in Xushu’s mind. Xushu slowly lifted his eyes and beheld a grand, three-tiered courtyard. The vermilion gates were tall and sturdy, standing in silent witness to the passage of time. The copper door knockers shimmered with faint light under the sun's caress, and the stone lions beside the gate squatted in majestic, wide-eyed vigilance. The courtyard walls rose high, topped with neatly arranged tiles, while the eaves were adorned with exquisite carvings—flowers, birds, insects, and fish all rendered with the lifelike touch of a master craftsman.
No sooner had Chen Jun and Xushu stepped into the courtyard than they were intercepted by a stout, kind-faced woman.
"Stop right there. I’m the Third Aunt of this courtyard. What are you two doing here, and what business do you have in our home?"
Though Third Aunt’s tone carried a hint of wariness, it was understandable. Given the current climate, in order to guard against foreign agents, no one in the city would easily let a stranger inside. Chen Jun, well aware of this, quickly pulled his work ID from his pocket.
"Third Aunt, I’m from the Rolling Mill. We have a new recruit in our department, this is Xushu. He’s been assigned a room here in your courtyard, and I’m bringing him over to take a look."
As he spoke, Chen Jun handed his ID over to Third Aunt with a polite smile. Third Aunt took the document, scanning it with a look of scrutiny and caution. She had attended literacy classes and could read quite a few characters. Confirming everything was in order, she nodded slightly and returned the ID to Chen Jun.
"Since that’s the case, come on in. Which room were you assigned, anyway?"
Her expression softened, and her tone held a newfound curiosity.
Chen Jun quickly replied, "Oh, it’s the empty back-row house in the back courtyard."
Hearing it was that particular room, Third Aunt’s heart skipped a beat, and a fleeting, imperceptible shadow of disappointment crossed her face. Clearly, she had had her own designs on that room. But now that it had been assigned, she had no choice but to bury those small hopes and put a smile back on her face.
"Oh, well, I’m free right now, so let me show you the way," Third Aunt offered warmly.
Chen Jun quickly expressed his gratitude: "All right, thank you, Third Aunt."
Third Aunt led the way as they walked into the courtyard. Since it was working hours, the courtyard was mostly occupied by older women and young wives. They were gathered in the middle courtyard, some scrubbing laundry by the well, others sitting in groups, stitching and chatting animatedly. Four or five children were running wild, playing in the yard.
Seeing Third Aunt lead two strange men inside, the crowd’s curiosity was instantly piqued, and all eyes turned toward them. A stout woman with fleshy, triangular eyes was the first to confront them.
"Third Aunt, who are these two behind you? This courtyard isn't just for anyone to walk into. Let's hope they aren't people of questionable origins who will ruin the peace of our neighborhood."
As she spoke, Mrs. Jia eyed Xushu and Chen Jun sideways, her expression full of suspicion and disdain.
Third Aunt patiently explained, "Oh, Mrs. Jia, they’re from the Rolling Mill. They said the back-row house in the back courtyard was assigned to this young man, and he’s here to see the place today."
Hearing this, Mrs. Jia exploded. Her fleshy face quivered violently as she shrieked, "What? The back-row house? That place has been empty for ages; our Jia Family has had our eye on it for a long time! By what right is it suddenly being given to this kid? This is completely unreasonable!"
She stepped forward, hands on her hips, looking as if she were about to demand justice. Xushu frowned slightly, stepped forward, and said in a calm, firm voice, "Ma'am, the room was allocated by the factory, and all the paperwork is in order. I've just arrived here, and I hope we can all get along well in the future."
"Hmph, easy for you to say! 'Paperwork is in order'? Who knows what back-door dealings you pulled. Matters in this courtyard aren't for an outsider like you to stick your nose into." Mrs. Jia, fuming, refused to back down.
Seeing this, Chen Jun hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "Ma'am, please calm down. This is the factory's standard allocation process. Xushu earned his spot at the Rolling Mill through his own merit, and the housing was assigned according to the rules."
But Mrs. Jia was relentless. She turned to Third Aunt and demanded, "Third Aunt, you grew up watching over this courtyard—are you just going to let an outsider take a good house so easily? We have so many people in this neighborhood still waiting for rooms!"
Third Aunt looked embarrassed and said helplessly, "My family doesn't work at the Rolling Mill, so this has nothing to do with me."
The surrounding crowd began to whisper. Some sided with Mrs. Jia, feeling the assignment was unfair, while others looked on, curious to see how things would unfold.
Xushu took a deep breath and raised his voice. "Everyone, I understand how much you value housing. But since I am here, I hope to become a part of this community. If anyone needs help in the future, I will certainly not refuse. The factory assigned this house to me. If you have any objections, you can go to the Rolling Mill and talk to the leaders in charge."
Mrs. Jia still looked thoroughly dissatisfied. Just then, First Aunt and Qin Huairu hurriedly pulled her back. Though she was furious, she wasn't a fool; not knowing Xushu’s background, she wouldn't make any reckless moves just yet. She let out a cold snort and threw out a parting shot: "This isn't over! Let's see what Yi Zhonghai has to say when he gets back!"
With that, she turned on her heel and stomped off. Third Aunt looked at the others and said, "Alright, if no one else has anything to say, I'll take them to the back courtyard now."
She led Xushu and Chen Jun toward the back of the property.
From the moment Xushu had stepped into the courtyard and seen Third Aunt, he had been quietly observing the expressions of the people around him. Everywhere he looked, he saw only coldness and suspicion; there was hardly a single friendly gaze to be found. Xushu thought to himself that it seemed there wasn't a single person in this courtyard who would be easy to deal with.
With this in mind, he silently made a decision: he would hold off on bringing his mother here for now. The waters here were too deep; he needed to fully understand the situation before making any plans. He knew his mother too well. In Xu Village, her straightforward nature was never a problem, but this was a courtyard in Sijiu City, where the social dynamics were entirely different. If his mother’s blunt personality were to arrive here, she would surely be eaten alive.
Just as he was thinking, Chen Jun tapped him gently and called his name. Xushu snapped out of his trance, took the key from his pocket, and opened the door.
The moment the door was pushed open, a pungent, musty odor rushed out like a vintage of neglect, instantly filling the air. The three of them were choked by the smell and had to scramble back into the courtyard, coughing incessantly.
Standing to the side, Third Aunt seized the moment: "If you don't need anything else, I'll be going."
Xushu steadied himself and replied politely, "Yes, thank you, Third Aunt."
After she left, Xushu and Chen Jun stood in the courtyard for nearly ten minutes. Guessing the mustiness had dispersed enough, they cautiously entered the room again.
The interior was plain and square, roughly twenty square meters. The furnishings were dilapidated—a cabinet stood crookedly, its door hanging off and appearing as if it might collapse at any moment. A square table was propped up on only three legs, as if a slight touch would send it falling apart. Two benches had six legs between them, but both wobbled dangerously. In the innermost corner against the wall was a stone bed, its surface mottled and covered in a thick, visible layer of dust. There was also a rusty stove, though it was unclear if it could still be used. In another corner stood a water vat, which appeared to be the only thing in one piece.
Looking at the wreckage, Xushu felt a wave of helplessness. He wanted to clean it up, but the task felt so overwhelming he didn't know where to start.
Chen Jun saw this and patted Xushu on the shoulder, comforting him. "It’s alright, Xiaoshu. Put your things down first. I’ll take you to the Neighborhood Office to get your residency registered. Then we can go to the grain bureau to set up your grain ration book, and you’ll be able to eat on the state’s supply from now on."
Xushu took a deep breath, gathered his resolve, and replied, "All right."
He placed his two bundles on the stone bed and followed Chen Jun out of the room, remembering to lock the door behind him.
The two left the courtyard and headed toward the Neighborhood Office. About twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Nanluoguxiang Neighborhood Office. Fortunately, Xushu had all his paperwork in order, and the government workers at the time were truly dedicated to serving the people, making the process highly efficient. Before long, Xushu successfully received his household registration book.
A staff member walked over enthusiastically and said to him, "Young man, since you’ve just been assigned a house, you must be missing quite a few things. Our Neighborhood Office has a warehouse with some items you might need. Want to go take a look?"
The image of that empty, decrepit room flashed through Xushu’s mind, and he didn't hesitate to nod in agreement. The staff member spoke to a colleague, then led Xushu and Chen Jun to the office warehouse.
The warehouse was packed with all sorts of things, from old furniture to daily necessities. Xushu picked through them carefully, eventually choosing a square table, four benches, a wardrobe, a cupboard, two washbasins, a bucket, and two earthenware jars for storing grain. These items had been recovered from vacant properties, so the Neighborhood Office didn't have high costs for them, making the prices relatively cheap. Even so, Xushu still spent fifty-three yuan.
Luckily, he had accepted the twenty yuan Xu Feng had given him at the gate of the Rolling Mill. Otherwise, the fifty yuan his mother, Li Xiurong, had stuffed into his pocket back in Xu Village would not have been enough to buy everything. Xushu had never been to Sijiu City before. Back in Xu Village, whenever he needed furniture, he would chop down trees in the mountains, ask the village uncles to help him build them, and simply reward them with a home-cooked meal. He had never imagined the cost of living in Sijiu City would be so high.
Afterward, because they still needed to go to the grain bureau for the ration book, Xushu and Chen Jun made arrangements with the staff member to pick up the items later, and they even borrowed a flatbed cart in advance.
Then, the two left the Neighborhood Office and headed toward the grain bureau. The process of applying for the ration book went smoothly, without a hitch, and was finished shortly after.