Returning to the Big Courtyard, Zhang Guoqing found himself living a leisurely life.
For several days, he took his son out, and the father and son would catch crickets, raise grasshoppers, tether locusts, catch dragonflies, stick cicadas, play with fireflies, race beetles, or occasionally ride a bicycle to the countryside to forage for so rare snacks.
This lifestyle aroused Zhou Xiaozheng’s envy. After returning from work that day, he waited until dinner ti to see a little fool riding on the neck of a big fool, both covered in mud, coming back.
The little fool took off his small bamboo hat and, seeing Zhou Xiaozheng, happily boasted, "Grandpa, I went with Dad to help people herd cattle and helped harvest big waterlons. Look, this is what the team leader gave us."
The big fool cheerfully handed the net bag to Aunt Chen, "Today I took Ping’an to the village. It’s harvest season now, and you can see happy smiles everywhere. It’s much better than the past couple of years."
Zhou Xiaozheng joked, "Not bad, loving the people as your children." He then glanced at the waterlon, "Your Uncle Zhou sent word a few days ago that he’ll bring over so waterlons in a few days, so we won’t run out."
Zhang Guoqing knew who he was referring to, the team leader of that village in Jingjiao, where the family also had a courtyard. Unfortunately, it’s too far, and apart from passing by during Qingming and New Year visits to the mountains, they rarely go.
"Dad, why haven’t you set off yet this year?"
Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head, "Waiting a few more days. There’s still so unfinished business here."
Zhang Guoqing nodded but didn’t expose his thoughts. Probably he wanted to wait for Zhou Jiao to co back before leaving. Pointing at himself, he said, "I’ll take the child to bathe first."
"Yes, bathe and then eat. By the way, did you forget sothing?"
Zhang Guoqing looked at him, puzzled.
"Have you been to that small courtyard in the north?"
Zhang Guoqing slapped his forehead, laughing heartily, "I really forgot. Tomorrow, I’ll take Ping’an there to have a look; we’ll talk about it further when Jiao Jiao cos back."
Zhou Xiaozheng heard the unspoken aning and nodded, "No rush, go see it when you have ti." He then waved them off to hurry and bathe.
After dinner, the family moved to the stone table in the yard to enjoy the cool air. Even with a lit incense rope to repel mosquitoes, it was futile, so Ping’an, feeling sorry for his granny, ran inside to bring the dicine powder his mother had prepared, burning it and bringing her a sachet as well.
Lin Lishan cheerfully enjoyed the child’s filial piety, fanning him with a palm fan as she followed, delighting Old Mrs. Cheng, who had co to visit.
Zhang Guoqing saw the elderly couple coming together and hurriedly brought out a rocking chair for her from inside the house. It was said that this was Old Mrs. Cheng’s favorite wicker chair, bought in Hai City and shipped over. The family had two, and one was already given to the Cheng Family.
"Don’t fuss, sit down and rest."
"No problem, you can lie back and watch the stars."
On the stone table, Mr. Cheng and Zhou Xiaozheng had already set up a chess ga, starting to compete under the dim light. anwhile, several people were each doing their own thing, with Old Mrs. Cheng chatting with Lin Lishan, and Ping’an running to inform Aunt Chen to cut the waterlon.
Soon, just as the waterlon was brought over, Cheng Sijin and his wife ca over with a bucket of mung bean soup to join in the cool air, making it even more lively.
Zhang Guoqing took a sip of the soup and raised his eyebrows, wondering if the supply of sugar tickets increased this month. How co he didn’t know? The ration booklet was still under his care.
"... Drink less, there’s saccharin added."
Ping’an blinked, "Great-grandma, just a little was added, not a problem."
Suddenly realizing, Zhang Guoqing looked up at the sky, wondering when his wife would return. His heart and his stomach both longed for her.
"... I used cloth tickets to exchange for so sugar tickets, and sister-in-law can take so ho later."
"Sure, I won’t stand on ceremony with you."
"That’s right, otherwise, how could I shalessly mooch from you?"
The gentle breeze, ho conversations, and laughter echoed in the courtyard until the lights-out horn sounded, and everyone reluctantly prepared to rest.
The next morning, after seeing off Zhou Xiaozheng and his wife who were going to work, Zhang Guoqing looked at the sky, worried that the weather might change, and gave up on the bicycle.
Getting off the bus, Zhang Guoqing put down his son, took his hand, and the father and son strolled leisurely down the street, planning to wander over to the small courtyard and check out the surroundings.
Following the house numbers, standing at the mouth of an alley, Zhang Guoqing was satisfied with what he saw. Unlike other narrow alleys that were noisy like a crowded courtyard.
There was an old locust tree at the alley entrance, and nearby was a small book vendor. The whole alley was 7 to 8 ters wide, and cars could park at the entrance. The entire alley was neat and spacious, with neighbors wearing gentle smiles.
The chirping of birds and the sound of pigeon whistles, lively and lodious. Along with the voices of children reading comics and kids’ newspapers at the small book vendor, the whole alley exuded a serene and harmonious atmosphere.
Zhang Guoqing glanced down at Ping’an and saw his face full of smiles. It was clear that although they hadn’t yet seen the small courtyard, the surroundings had already satisfied the child.
"Dad, look at the numbers, it should be a left turn ahead."
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. Just as Old Mrs. Cheng had said, a less than 200-ter walk and a left turn to the last courtyard would be their small courtyard.
The closely packed small courtyards all had their gates open, and even if so had shadow walls blocking them, one could still see so. Stone tables, stone benches, grape trellises, and occasionally crawling gourd racks...
The father and son stood at the entrance of the last courtyard with a blue-brick and tile house. There were two red-painted doors with traces of door knockers on them.
Zhang Guoqing took a bunch of keys from his pocket, selected one, unlocked it, and with a creak, he pushed the door open with both hands.
Inside the gate was a shadow wall, on which was engraved an obscure Manchu character for "fortune." Entering the courtyard, it was apparent that it had once been a Qing Dynasty one-entry courtyard.
The courtyard faced north to south. The north building had three rooms, with two bright and one dark, and the east and west wings each had two rooms, while the south had three rooms. The brickwork went up to the top, with ridge-tiled roofs. The courtyard had paved brick paths connecting the doorways of each building, with each having steps.
Currently, apart from the main house, east and west wings, and side rooms being undamaged, the brick carvings, stone carvings, and motifs in other areas had all been removed.
From the beams, brackets, wooden fraworks, and blue-brick and tile craftsmanship, through the patina of ti, even if the whole structure appeared old, you could still discern its forr elegant simplicity and exquisite construction.
The father and son stood in the study of the south building, pushing the muntins of the wooden window open, the view of the distant lake unfolded, and the breeze blew away the sumr heat, making it an ideal health retreat and residence.
"Dad, are we going to live here later?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, "We still have to live with your grandpa. We can co and stay for a couple of nights, and your grandparents can stay here when they visit."
"That’s a good idea. I still like living in the Big Courtyard; all my buddies are there."
Zhang Guoqing chuckled silently. It seed he made the right choice in not telling the child the truth. If his grandpa moves to the new Big Courtyard later, the commute for their work would be too far, so this would be a resting spot.
After closing the window, Zhang Guoqing took his son’s little hand and gave the wall one last look before leaving.
He ultimately did not open the secret chamber. It wasn’t that he worried his son couldn’t keep a secret, but he was concerned that the exposure of gold and silver would corrupt the child’s morals and dim his passion for striving.
He never intended for the child to find out early about the vast wealth at their disposal. If soone has endless money plus an illustrious lineage, what else could they want?
Sotis, too comfortable a life can extinguish one’s fighting spirit. Especially when about to face an impending storm, such a complacent mindset isn’t permissible.
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