Siheyuan: Survival Guide for Courtyard No. 95

Zhao Shanhe didn't know much about the two families living in the back house, but he knew the two families in the back house very well. After all, his family also lived in the back house.

When his father was alive, the families living in the back house had a good relationship with his family, and he was also familiar with the children of those two families. From playing hide-and-seek in the yard to going to school together, they spent a happy childhood together.

But since his father passed away, the two families seemed to have become strangers overnight. When they met in the yard, they would just nod to each other as a greeting. As for the others, they were really like dogs with no hair on their faces - they turned their backs on each other.

So he was wary of everyone in the yard. After all, it was the legendary yard of beasts, and there was really no one he could confide in.

At this time, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui had also finished their research. They took a list and said to everyone in the yard.

“Dear neighbors, based on the discussion between me and the two uncles, we finally came to the conclusion that these four families can all get a share of the donation.

Let me explain the situation of these four companies in detail.

The first one is Old Xing. As I just said, he is a street sweeper, earning only 10 yuan a month. His two grandsons are already 15 or 16 years old. Old Xing, your eldest grandson should have graduated from junior high school this year, right? Is he still studying?"

Seeing Yi Zhonghai asking him a question, Old Xing had to stand up. Zhao Shanhe had heard from Yan Jiecheng that the old man seemed to be only in his 50s this year, but years of hard life and the deaths of several sons made people believe that the old man was 70 years old.

Old Xing stood up and said to Yi Zhonghai.

"He can't study anymore. He can't even afford the tuition. I plan to ask him to go to the street office to ask if there are any suitable odd jobs. He should make some money first. Otherwise, he won't be able to get married in a few years."

Old Yi has never been nice to these residents who have no money and are of no use to him, but today he was acting out of character. His kind expression made Zhao Shanhe think he was possessed by something.

Then he spoke to Old Xing with a righteous look on his face.

"Old Xing, you are right. Since you are not going to study anymore, you can't sit around doing nothing. Otherwise, if you do nothing all day, something bad will happen sooner or later. I will go to the street office to ask for you some other day. Logically, your family should be considered a poor family, so it shouldn't be difficult for the street office to find you a part-time job."

Old Xing knew a little about Old Yi's character, so he didn't want to pay much attention to Yi Zhonghai. When he heard him say "some other time", he just took it as a joke and only a fool would take it seriously.

However, Old Yi took the lead in donating the money today, so Old Xing still expressed his gratitude to him.

After Yi Zhonghai had dealt with one family, he looked at Li Siping's family.

"The second one is Li Siping's family. As everyone knows, it has been difficult for Li Siping to raise three children by himself since his wife died of complications during childbirth six years ago. His two children, Zhaodi and Laidi, are both over school age, but they have not been in school because they have no money.

Old Yan, you have to take responsibility for this matter. As the only teacher in the courtyard, what will happen if the children don't go to school when they reach the age? I'll make the decision on this matter. You take Li Siping's two daughters to the school tomorrow to ask. If they can be admitted, I'll pay for the tuition."

Zhao Shanhe was quite familiar with the two girls and one boy in Li Siping's family, because every time the children in the yard went to his house to read comic books, they could see the three of them. But he was not very familiar with Li Siping. He only heard from Li Zhaodi that her father worked in a scrap collection station and he went out early and came back late every day and he could hardly see him at all.

He had also wondered why these two children of school age did not go to school, but he never dared to ask. It was really the faces of those people in the back room that made him put away his kindness. He did not dare to be a pushover, so he decided to take care of himself first.

Seeing that no one had any objection, Yi Zhonghai continued reading from the list in his hand.

"Mrs. Bai from the back house has only her and her disabled son. They make a living by doing manual labor every month. Although there is a fixed amount of work, everyone can see what kind of life they live.

So this time the donation has a share for them.”

When Zhao Shanhe's father was alive, Aunt Bai was just like Dabao SOD honey, and they saw each other every day.

Every time when Zhao Dachuan's family prepared a meal, they would come over to ask for some. No matter whether it was white flour steamed buns or corn flour corn bread, they were not picky, as long as they could eat it. Zhao Dachuan saw that their family was indeed living in poverty and he himself did not lack this food, so he thought he would just give it to them and consider it as a good deed.

But as soon as he died, Aunt Bai became a different person. She didn't even bother to say hello to Zhao Shanhe when she saw him. This made Zhao Shanhe very angry. Fortunately, her disabled son still remembered Zhao Dachuan, so at least they could chat for a while when they saw Zhao Shanhe.

Kang Ruofei's family is similar to Li Siping's. A man has two children, a boy and a girl. It is said that his wife died of complications during childbirth before liberation. It can be seen that in that era when there was no caesarean section, giving birth was a life-and-death matter for women.

The only feeling Zhao Shanhe had about this family was that of indifference. They hardly expressed any opinions on anything happening inside or outside the yard. However, this family's life was really hard, and the people in the yard had no objection to the two uncles and Yi Zhonghai choosing their family.

Yi Zhonghai saw that the several needy families that he, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui had discussed had been recognized by everyone, so he struck while the iron was hot.

"Then this matter is settled. Let's discuss whether it is better to divide the money or the food."

There was nothing worth discussing about this matter. After the money was distributed, they would go to the pigeon market to buy food. The steamed bread was not enough to fill their stomachs, so how could they go to a restaurant with the money? The several selected families also had the same idea. They wished they could directly distribute the food, so that they could avoid a trip to the pigeon market and have less trouble.

Yan Bugui held the notebook and spoke to everyone.

"Today, our courtyard has collected a total of 198 yuan for those who don't have a fixed amount of food and those in need. If we go to the Pigeon Market to buy cornmeal, we can buy 3 kilograms. If we divide it equally among the four families, each family can get 991.5 kilograms of food, which should be able to alleviate the difficulties faced by these families.

This fully demonstrates that our compound is a compound full of unity and friendship.”

Liu Haizhong interrupted Lao Yan before he could finish speaking.

"Yes, what Old Yan said is right. Although in the past six months or so, several bad things have happened in our courtyard, which have tarnished the collective honor of our courtyard, even the sign of Advanced Siheyuan has been taken back by the Street Office.

But the facts prove that under the leadership of my uncle, most people in our courtyard still have a strong sense of collectivism. Through today's fundraising activities, we have further seen the cohesion of our courtyard. I believe that it won't be long before we can get the sign of Advanced Siheyuan back. Don't you agree?"

"Yes, Dad, you are absolutely right."

Guangfu and Guangqi were the first to shout. These two brothers must be the first to support their father, otherwise they will be beaten when they return home.

Next came the other people in the courtyard. These people thought that since they had donated the money, it wouldn't be a big deal to just shout out something, and they would also let the people in the neighboring courtyards hear what it means to be an advanced courtyard.

Everyone was discussing enthusiastically when to go to the Pigeon Market to buy corn noodles, when they saw a man coming in from the hanging flower gate. The man walked towards the eight-immortal table as he entered the yard, speaking loudly as he walked.

"Your yard is so lively today. Tell me, what are you talking about?"