Chapter 37: The Full Courtyard Assembly

When Yi Zhonghai arrived at the courtyard, several people were busy tilling the soil and sowing seeds, clearly enjoying their work.

"Why aren't you cooking? What are you doing here?" Liu Haizhong barked, his face stern as he addressed the Second Aunt.

"Dinner can be made later, it’s not an emergency. Why are you shouting?" the Second Aunt retorted.

"You..."

Liu Haizhong was so infuriated he huffed and puffed, his mustache twitching, but he couldn't do anything about her. He was quick to use his fists on his sons, but he dared not raise a hand against his wife.

Yi Zhonghai remained silent, instead observing the layout of the courtyard. When he noticed the private toilet and bathhouse, a flicker of greed crossed his eyes, and his mind began to race with plans.

As for Yan Bugui, he had returned home to find that enormous Huckleberry melon and immediately understood the situation. The Third Aunt was certainly not one to suffer a loss.

"Alright, it's getting late. Everyone go home and make dinner," Yi Zhonghai called out. Only then did the group put down their tools, promising Lin Shaowen they would return to help him plant flowers the next day.

Before leaving, Yi Zhonghai added, "By the way, there is an all-courtyard meeting tonight. Lin Shaowen, make sure you attend on time."

"Understood," Lin Shaowen replied, continuing his work.

Once Qin Huairu returned, she helped shut the gate to Lin Shaowen's courtyard before slipping through the side door to start cooking. Her culinary skills were average, but she was blessed with an abundance of ingredients. Seeing the two pounds of beef soaking in water, her eyes crinkled into crescents of delight.

Soon, the beef was sizzling in the pan. After a splash of white liquor, the aroma of beef filled the entire courtyard.

"Is that bastard Lin Shaowen eating meat again?"

Many people began to grumble, but despite their complaints, no one dared to cause trouble.

Sha Zhu was also cooking at home. Ever since Qin Huairu moved to the back courtyard, he had felt a hollow void in his heart. Before, he could easily slip over to the middle courtyard to see her, but now... he was a grown man; he couldn't just go wandering into the back courtyard, could he?

"Lin Shaowen is such a fool. Even with Sister Qin living outside, he still keeps the gate locked every day," Sha Zhu sneered to himself.

There were many in the courtyard who wanted to catch Lin Shaowen in a compromising position. He and Jia Dongxu had once staked out Qin Huairu’s door, but after several nights of watching, she never emerged once she went inside. As for Lin Shaowen... he barely opened the main gate except to go home.

"Dinner's ready."

Qin Huairu waved at Lin Shaowen, who was busy working in the flower bed. Once he came over, she set a basin of water before him so he could wash his face and hands.

The two returned inside to eat. Qin Huairu chattered excitedly about interesting things happening at the factory. Lin Shaowen didn't talk much while eating, but he listened attentively, which made Qin Huairu very happy. Before they even finished the meal or cleaned up, she wanted to pull him toward the bedroom.

"Sister Qin, there's an all-courtyard meeting tonight," Lin Shaowen said with a wry smile.

"Is that so?"

Qin Huairu’s cheeks flushed pink as she glanced toward the tatami mat in the study.

...

An hour later.

Sha Zhu had knocked on the door three times before Qin Huairu finally emerged, her face still flushed.

"Sister Qin, are you alright?" Sha Zhu asked with concern.

"I might have caught a chill; I’m not feeling well," Qin Huairu shook her head.

"Should I take you to the hospital?"

Sha Zhu took a step forward, and Qin Huairu subtly retreated.

"No need, let’s go to the meeting."

"What meeting? That kid Lin Shaowen hasn't even shown up yet," Sha Zhu said irritably.

"Little Lin? What does the all-courtyard meeting have to do with him?" Qin Huairu asked softly.

"The kid is too arrogant. The First Uncle wants to discipline him..."

Sha Zhu recounted the First Uncle’s plan with great gusto. Qin Huairu’s face turned pale. She was just about to find an excuse to return inside and warn Lin Shaowen when she saw the moon gate open.

Lin Shaowen didn't even glance at the two of them as he sauntered into the courtyard.

"Kid, keep being arrogant. I'll make you pay soon enough," Sha Zhu hissed with hatred.

Seeing this, Qin Huairu couldn't be bothered with him and hurried to catch up with Lin Shaowen.

In the courtyard.

Three tables had been set up, and the three "Uncles" were seated in positions of authority. The others were either sitting on small stools or, more commonly, standing or squatting, looking rather resigned.

"Lin Shaowen, do you have any sense of punctuality?" Yi Zhonghai roared, slamming the table.

"Are you out of your mind? You’re holding your meeting; what does it have to do with me whether I come or not?" Lin Shaowen pulled out a cigarette. Yan Bugui instinctively began to stand up, then realized he was sitting at the head table and sheepishly sat back down.

"This meeting is about you," Liu Haizhong also scolded.

"That’s laughable. Did I burn down your house or beat your son? It's about me? Who do you think you are?" Lin Shaowen didn't give Liu Haizhong an ounce of respect.

"Brother, you're a legend," Xu Damao said, giving Lin Shaowen a thumbs up.

"It’s nothing," Lin Shaowen handed him a cigarette.

"Whoa, Zhonghua brand?" Xu Damao gasped in surprise.

"Ahem, ahem!"

Yi Zhonghai coughed twice before speaking, "Today’s meeting is about the toilet in Lin Shaowen’s house. Perhaps you all aren't aware yet? Lin Shaowen has built a private toilet inside his home."

Whoosh!

Every eye in the courtyard turned toward Lin Shaowen. There was shock, envy, but mostly jealousy. Who actually wanted to line up at the public toilet early in the morning?

"So? Do you have an objection?" Lin Shaowen curled his lip.

"Of course I have an objection..." Yi Zhonghai slammed the table hard. "Who gave you permission to build a private toilet in the courtyard? Do you have any respect for the three of us Uncles at all?"

Many people in the crowd looked on with schadenfreude.

"Who do you think you are that I should respect you?" Lin Shaowen said dismissively.

"Kid, don't be arrogant. Do you think I won't go to the neighborhood committee and report you for unauthorized renovations?" Liu Haizhong also slammed the table.

"Go ahead. Go right now. If you don't go, you're my grandson," Lin Shaowen said nonchalantly.

"Fine, you want to be arrogant, do you?"

Liu Haizhong ran off in a fit of rage.

"Well, there goes one of them..." Xu Damao muttered.

"Haha!"

Many people began to laugh.

"Is there anything else? If not, I'm going back to rest. I don't have as much energy as you lot," Lin Shaowen yawned. Qin Huairu really was a temptress.

"Of course there is more." Seeing that Liu Haizhong hadn't returned, Yi Zhonghai spoke up again. "Regarding your toilet, we actually approve of it. After all, there are so many elderly people in the courtyard... it would be convenient for everyone."

As soon as these words were out, they were met with immediate agreement from the majority. The public toilet wasn't just used by this courtyard; people from other courtyards used it too. Sometimes you had to wait ten minutes just to use it, which was freezing in the winter. If there were a toilet in the courtyard, that would be a great blessing.

"Go on," Lin Shaowen said, his eyes half-closed.

Yi Zhonghai thought he was backing down and gained confidence. "Little Doctor Lin, respecting the elderly is a virtue of our courtyard. The Old Lady is getting on in years, and since your courtyard is large, you should let her live there. We won't take advantage of you; I, Yi Zhonghai, will give you ten yuan a month as compensation."

"Ten yuan."

The crowd was stunned.

"What about the Old Lady's meals?" Sha Zhu asked.

"Sha Zhu is such an idiot. With ten yuan, she’d obviously eat with Lin Shaowen," a neighbor chimed in.

In this day and age, ten yuan was enough to support an entire family.