Siheyuan: Survival Guide for Courtyard No. 95

The return journey was peaceful, and nothing embarrassing happened. They showed their letter of introduction at the train station and bought train tickets to Guangzhou. Then they bought tickets again by following the same procedure when they arrived in Guangzhou.

Because there were not trains to Sijiucheng every day, the two stayed in Yangcheng for one night. Zhao Shanhe took this opportunity to buy some water chestnut cakes and wife cakes from Yangcheng. At dawn, the two boarded the train to Sijiucheng.

More than 90 hours passed, and in late September, the two finally returned to Beijing. After waving goodbye at the train station, Lou Xiao'e went to the Lou family's small Western-style building. She always felt that something was not right with her eldest brother, and she wanted to have a good talk with her father.

Zhao Shanhe went to find Captain Ding. His trip was a mission assigned by the army, so he had to go to Captain Ding first to repeat the whole process.

When he met Captain Ding, he found that the other party seemed to have known that he would come, and the tea on the table had already been brewed.

"Comrade Shanhe, I've been waiting for you for a long time. Come on, have some tea first."

"Commander, you already knew about this not long after I got off the train? This security force is really amazing."

Captain Ding said with a playful look on his face.

"In fact, I received the call as soon as you and Miss Lou boarded the train to Yangcheng. Don't you think about which department issued the letter of introduction you got?

And no matter what, I sent you out, so I must be responsible for your safety.

I just didn't expect you to come back so soon. Judging from the time, you probably haven't bought the machines yet, right?"

Zhao Shanhe smiled awkwardly. This question was really difficult for him to answer.

If he said that he had brought the machines back, it would definitely expose his secret, but if he didn't say it, how could he hand over those machines to the organization?

However, this was obviously not a good time to tell the truth, so he had to tell them that he and Lou Xiao'e were being targeted by foreign agents.

Captain Ding was very angry after hearing this and waved his fist.

"The leader said that imperialism will never give up its desire to destroy us.

You can see the truth of this statement from your experience of going to Hong Kong Island this time.

We didn't do anything bad in the past, we just wanted to buy some machines at a high price, but we are still staring at us. It seems that John Bull really wants to go all the way with the bald eagle.

Fortunately, you came back safely, otherwise I don’t know how to explain to my superiors.

But now your Secretary Yang is having a headache. It seems that your factory’s production plan will not be completed.”

Zhao Shanhe spread his hands.

"We have tried our best, and this is not what anyone wants to see."

Captain Ding waved his hand when he saw his expression.

"Okay, you've been tired enough on this trip. Do you have anything else to report? If not, go back and have a good rest."

Although Zhao Shanhe wanted to report the Lou family's branch in Hong Kong, he thought about how Huaxia couldn't possibly not know about such a large force. It must be that the higher-ups deliberately didn't say it, so he should not be so smart.

After saying goodbye to Captain Ding, I found a deserted place and took the bicycle out of the small world. Since it was still early, I went to the front gate.

Chen Xueru was also surprised when she saw Zhao Shanhe. She had originally planned to be away for more than half a month, but he had only been back for ten days. She thought the mission was going smoothly.

Zhao Shanhe didn't tell her what she was going to do specifically, but when there were no guests, he asked her if there was anything new happening in the yard recently.

Chen Xueru poured him a glass of water, sat beside him and slowly told him her story.

"Two days after you left, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong held a meeting of the entire hospital. Old Liu wanted to force Liu Guangtian to hand over his salary to his family, but Liu Guangtian disagreed. In the end, the two of them had a complete falling out and almost came to blows, which made the courtyards of the neighbors all watch the excitement."

What Zhao Shanhe predicted really happened. With Yi Zhonghai, the troublemaker, in the yard, just a few words could provoke Liu Haizhong to cause trouble for Liu Guangtian. If he was still in the yard, he could stop Lao Liu, but he was thousands of miles away, so Guangtian could only wish for the best.

"How did Guangtian finally manage to do this?"

"Liu Guangtian may have let out all the anger he had suppressed for so many years. He left the factory after saying a few harsh words. I heard from Jie Cheng that he had applied for factory dormitories from the logistics department. This time he will never return to the Siheyuan again."

Zhao Shanhe recalled Liu Guangtian's usual honest appearance and couldn't help but chuckle. Who said that honest people don't have temper? Do honest people have to be pointed at with guns?

"It seems that Guangtian is very smart. He knows that he can only live comfortably if he leaves the yard. Liu Haizhong only has the boss in his eyes. Sooner or later, he will suffer.

I will go back to the factory tomorrow and ask Guangtian again. I will help if I can. After all, it was me who helped to get him this job, so I will just give him a helping hand this time.

Apart from this, is there anything else? Did the gas tank at Jia's house cause you any trouble? "

When Chen Xueru heard Zhao Shanhe calling Jia Zhang a gas tank, she burst out laughing. Although she had heard Zhao Shanhe call her that before, every time she thought of Jia Zhang's figure, she felt that the nickname was correct.

PS: The first batch of gas cylinders in the old city was used in 62, which is advanced here.

"Jia Zhang came once and blocked the door to beg for food, but Yan Jiecheng scolded her and sent her back.

Of course Qin Huairu didn’t come, so Sha Zhu didn’t care.

Do you think Jia Zhang is seriously ill? She stays at home and sleeps in every day. She has never thought that even if she pastes matchboxes, she can earn a few dollars a month. Even if she can't buy fine grains, she can buy some coarse grains. Why does she go door to door to beg for food every day?

This is because Jia Dongxu is the disciple of the master. If it were someone else, he would have been kicked out of the courtyard long ago."

"Mrs. Jia Zhang is indeed ill. She is suffering from laziness, and it is incurable.

If she pastes matchboxes, does Qin Huairu have to join her? When Qin Huairu has earned enough money and has nothing to do, she will go back to her parents' home.

She has no one to serve her.”

Chen Xueru talked about several people and things in the courtyard, and finally talked about Jia Dongxu.

"Shanhe, I discovered Jia Dongxu's secret. This guy appears to be very honest and filial, but what he does behind the scenes is not human."

Zhao Shanhe finally became interested because Qin Huairu was pregnant with her third child. He sometimes wondered why Jia Dongxu died.

"Tell me, what did this kid do again?"

"It was raining a few days ago, so I closed the shop a little late. When I passed Shaojiu Hutong on my way back, I found Jia Dongxu sneaking around with a few strangers."

At this time, Zhao Shanhe recalled the alley from Qianmen to Nanluoguxiang in his mind. He remembered that it was the south side of Nanluoguxiang and was where the Bordered White Banner people lived in the past.

The steel rolling mill is on the north side of Nanluoguxiang, and it is impossible to pass by there after get off work.

"and then?"

Chen Xueru rolled her eyes at Zhao Shanhe, very unhappy with his interruption, but continued speaking anyway.

“I didn’t want to meddle in other people’s business, and the relationship between the Jia family and our family is not good.

But the next day, when the manager Gong Fang of my shop came to work, he told the old tailor that a new gambling den had appeared in Shaojiu Hutong. Then I remembered whether Jia Dongxu had also gone to gamble. If he didn’t go to gamble, what was he doing in Shaojiu Hutong?

I deliberately closed the shop two days later and went to Shaojiu Hutong every day to check. Yesterday I saw Jia Dongxu again, and then I was sure that the kid from the Jia family was really out to gamble.

Shanhe, do you think we should take care of this matter?"