The clerk, Xiao Zhu, riding his bicycle, entered a narrow alley and stopped in front of a dilapidated courtyard.
“We’re here!” Xiao Zhu’s cheerful voice rang out.
“Thanks! Comrade Xiao Zhu!” Lu De Min, excited to finally reach his home in the capital, hopped off the bike.
Xiao Zhu grinned and said, “Don’t mention it! I don’t like staying at the station all day either. Bringing you here is a good chance to get some fresh air. I enjoy it!”
Lu De Min liked Xiao Zhu’s personality. He smiled and curiously looked around.
“Huh! Number 95, Nan Luo Gu Xiang! So familiar!”
Lu De Min subconsciously glanced at the house number plate on the upper right corner of the courtyard gate. His brows furrowed slightly, a strange feeling growing stronger.
Xiao Zhu said with a smile:
“This courtyard might be a bit rundown, but the rooms inside are decent after a bit of tidying. It’s much better than where I live. Plus, this courtyard was awarded the Advanced Courtyard by the Military Control Committee last year. You’re so lucky to get such a good courtyard!”
Lu De Min also hoped to have good neighbors. After all, a neighbor is better than a distant relative. Hearing Xiao Zhu praise his new home, he felt quite happy and expectant.
“Let’s go! I’ll take you in!”
“Alright!”
Xiao Zhu pushed his bike and followed Lu De Min through the street gate into the courtyard.
Xiao Zhu enthusiastically introduced, “This is the front yard! Oh! Uncle Yan, are you polishing your beloved treasure again?
Xiao Lu, let me introduce you. This is Teacher Yan who lives in the front yard. He teaches elementary school Chinese at Hongxing Elementary School. He’s a very good teacher and a well-respected elder in the courtyard. In the future, if you have any problems, you can ask him for advice…”
While Xiao Zhu spoke, Lu De Min looked towards the front of a house, where a middle-aged man was polishing a Flying Pigeon bicycle.
He froze instantly.
He couldn’t believe his eyes.
This man, wearing reading glasses, was thin with a sallow complexion, a sign of years of malnutrition.
However, what caught Lu De Min’s attention wasn’t his thinness or complexion, but his striking resemblance to the classic character, Yan Bu Gui, the Third Master in the courtyard, from the television drama. Of course, this man was about ten years younger than his television counterpart.
This drama was a classic because it featured several characters that made viewers fume with anger and frustration.
And, this "Yan Bu Gui!" was one of them.
As Xiao Zhu had introduced, he was a Chinese teacher.
A man who lived in the courtyard, extremely petty, cunning, and loved to nitpick, obsessed with calculating, and incredibly stingy. He would often act clever, scheming for small gains.
How could such a neighbor be the warm-hearted and simple neighbor Xiao Zhu described?
Was there a misunderstanding?
That’s right.
Xiao Zhu rarely visited and his knowledge about the residents of the courtyard at Number 95 was probably based on their being awarded the Advanced Courtyard. The image was likely a deceptive facade.
Of course, even though this Yan Bu Gui couldn’t be called a warm-hearted and simple neighbor, he was still a "good person" compared to other despicable neighbors in the courtyard.
Yes.
Lu De Min’s feeling grew stronger. He had time-traveled into the world of "Love in the Courtyard."
…
It happened quickly.
While Lu De Min sized up Yan Bu Gui, Yan Bu Gui sized up Lu De Min.
Knowing Xiao Zhu was a clerk from the Military Control Committee, similar to the later neighborhood committee cadres, he was held in great awe and respect by ordinary people, especially since his military uniform represented the government and held greater authority.
Therefore, Yan Bu Gui immediately abandoned his "beloved work," stopped polishing his precious bicycle, walked over, and greeted him with a smile, trying to ingratiate himself, “Comrade Xiao Zhu, long time no see. You look more energetic than ever. Who is this comrade beside you…?”
Xiao Zhu seemed accustomed to Yan Bu Gui’s flattering attitude. He simply introduced Lu De Min and emphasized that he would also be working in the Military Control Station.
When Yan Bu Gui heard that Lu De Min was the new resident of the courtyard, he wasn't very interested at first. But upon learning that Lu De Min also worked in the Military Control Committee, his gaze towards Lu De Min immediately became more enthusiastic and friendly.
“So, you are Comrade Xiao Lu. Welcome to our courtyard family.
My name is Yan Bu Gui. I’m an elder in this courtyard and I’m respected by everyone…”
No way!
It really is Yan Bu Gui!
It really is the world of "Love in the Courtyard."
Lu De Min was dumbfounded.
Meeting such a group of eccentric neighbors. It’s going to be interesting.
…
“Right! Comrade Xiao Lu, what courtyard is your room in?” Yan Bu Gui’s heart skipped a beat and he immediately asked.