Chapter 16: The Full Assembly (2)

Chapter 16: The Whole Courtyard Meeting (2)

After dinner, Yi Zhonghai estimated that He Yuzhu would be back soon. He began calling everyone together, arranging tables and stools in the courtyard, and asked each household to send someone. They planned to start the meeting as soon as He Yuzhu arrived, giving him no time to react.

Once everyone had their small stools ready, it wasn’t long before He Yuzhu returned with Yushui.

“Oh? What’s going on? Everyone’s here?” He Yuzhu said, noticing the gathering.

“Zhu, we’ve been waiting for you. Come join the meeting quickly so you don’t keep everyone waiting,” Yi Zhonghai urged.

“You all go ahead. Why wait for me? Besides, you never told me there was a meeting. How am I the one holding things up?” He Yuzhu replied as he walked home.

“Zhu, didn’t I say there’s a meeting? What else are you doing?” Yi Zhonghai pressed.

“You guys start without me. I’ll put down my things and settle Yushui, then I’ll come,” He Yuzhu said casually, continuing indoors.

“This meeting is about you. How can we start without you?” Yi Zhonghai insisted.

Hearing this, He Yuzhu wondered what they were up to. He thought that since he hadn’t given them face in the morning, now they wanted to hold a full courtyard meeting to criticize him.

“Then don’t start,” He Yuzhu said deliberately.

“This is a whole courtyard meeting. You have to be here,” Yi Zhonghai said firmly.

“Then I’ll be there soon. Let me put down my things first,” He Yuzhu snapped.

He stopped his bicycle, brought Yushui inside, and set down their things. To Yushui, he said, “Stay home quietly. I’ll go see what they want.”

“Be careful, brother,” Yushui said.

“Don’t worry. They can’t do anything to me,” He Yuzhu reassured her.

He stepped back outside and saw Xu Damao nearby. Approaching him, He Yuzhu asked, “Damao, do you know what this is about?”

“No idea, but looks like it’s aimed at you,” Xu Damao said with a hint of schadenfreude.

“Zhu, what are you standing there for? Come up here,” Yi Zhonghai called.

“I’m coming,” He Yuzhu moved forward to see what Yi Zhonghai wanted.

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s start. Our courtyard has always been a model of progress, setting an example for the entire neighborhood. But today, someone has broken our rules of mutual help, unity, kindness, and respect for elders. We must punish this, or others will follow suit, and our courtyard’s honor will be lost.”

“He Yuzhu, this morning you hit Mrs. Jia Zhang, showing disrespect to your elders. The punishment is to compensate Mrs. Jia Zhang with one yuan and clean the courtyard for a month. Do you agree?” Yi Zhonghai said.

“I agree my foot! Why should I pay her? You never mention that Mrs. Jia Zhang tried to forcibly take my house. When I disagreed, she threw a tantrum. I only pushed her out of my home—how does that become hitting?” He Yuzhu shouted.

Upon hearing that Mrs. Jia Zhang tried to seize He Yuzhu’s house, the crowd began to murmur.

“Who said she tried to take your house? It’s renting,” Mrs. Jia Zhang called out.

“Right, renting. When you refused to rent to her, she barged in and occupied it!” He Yuzhu retorted.

“Enough. We’re talking about your disrespect to your elders. Whatever else happened, Mrs. Jia Zhang is your elder. How can you lay hands on her?” Yi Zhonghai said.

“That’s right. Make him pay,” Mrs. Jia Zhang added.

“She tried to force a rental, barged into my home, and threw a tantrum. How can I not drive her out? Besides, her surname is Zhang, her son’s surname is Jia, and mine is He. How is she my elder?” He Yuzhu said.

“No matter what, she’s older now, an elder. Shouldn’t you respect your elders?” Yi Zhonghai said.

“How old is Mrs. Jia? An elder? Is there such a young and strong elder? Yi Zhonghai, if you’re going to side with the Jia family like this, I’ll take this to the neighborhood committee. I don’t believe there’s no justice in this new society,” He Yuzhu said, clearly ready to fight.

“Old Jia, come back and see! Someone’s bullying our poor widow here. Come and take him away!” Mrs. Jia Zhang, seeing He Yuzhu ready to go to the neighborhood committee, began throwing a tantrum, summoning all manner of complaints.

“Courtyard matters should be resolved within the courtyard. If you take this outside, what will become of the courtyard’s honor?” Yi Zhonghai said, frustrated.

“You’re Jia Dongxu’s master, and you have two rooms. Why don’t you give one to Jia Dongxu? Why insist on taking my house? That house was bought by my father, left to me and Yushui. No one’s taking it,” He Yuzhu said and then went back inside.

Seeing the looks Mrs. Jia and Jia Dongxu gave Yi Zhonghai, he knew their intentions. He said, “That’s all. Meeting adjourned.”

Without looking back, Yi Zhonghai walked away.

And so, the meeting ended in confusion and frustration.