The argument continued.
A short man with a shrewd face squeezed to the front, hands behind his back, and said:
"In my opinion, this matter must be handled according to the rules. Since the small Four Courtyard belongs to the public, we must wait for the public officials to arrange it. We common people shouldn't interfere blindly."
"Yan Bugui," Zheng Tieshan continued to introduce, "works as a teacher at Red Star Primary School Company. He's very shrewd, can split a penny in half, but he's a decent person."
"Abacus Master" Yan Bugui! Li Ming felt as if he had walked into a living TV series.
At this moment, Zheng Tieshan stepped forward and shouted loudly: "comrades, stop arguing!"
As soon as everyone saw that it was someone from the Military Control Commission, they immediately quieted down and made way.
"Hello, Director Zheng!" Yi Zhonghai quickly came up to greet him, "Why did you come in person today?"
Zheng Tieshan patted Yi Zhonghai's shoulder: "I'm here to introduce a new resident to you. This is Comrade Li Ming, an Engineer who returned from studying abroad. He is a key talent nurtured by the country. The superior decided to let him live in the small Four Courtyard of courtyard 95."
As soon as these words came out, the courtyard was silent for a few seconds, and then burst into a buzzing discussion.
"Returned from studying abroad?"
"An Engineer? Isn't that amazing?"
"Going to live in the small Four Courtyard?"
Jia Zhangshi's face became very ugly, but she didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of Zheng Tieshan. She just pouted and muttered something softly.
Yi Zhonghai enthusiastically extended his hand to Li Ming: "Welcome, Engineer Li! I am Yi Zhonghai, a section chief at the Rolling Mill. If you need any help, just say so!"
Li Ming held Yi Zhonghai's hand and found that this "Master Yi" had a broad and powerful palm, clearly the hand of a worker who had done many years of physical labor.
Yi Zhonghai looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, very different from his image in the TV series—at this time, he was full of energy, with bright eyes, looking ambitious, and did not yet have the calculating demeanor he would later develop.
"Hello, Master Yi, I am Li Ming. I just returned from studying in the Star-Striped Alliance. Thank you for your care," Li Ming replied humbly.
Liu Haizhong also came over: "I am Liu Haizhong. Engineer Li returned from an foreign school, so his knowledge must be profound!"
Liu Haizhong was a few years younger than Yi Zhonghai, looking about thirty-four or thirty-five, tall and stout.
Yan Bugui was not to be outdone: "I am Yan Bugui, working at a foreign trade company. Engineer Li returning to serve the country is truly patriotic!"
His small eyes darted around, appearing a bit too shrewd.
Just like in the TV series, he seemed to be the type who liked to quibble over trivial matters.
Zheng Tieshan said to everyone: "Comrade Li Ming is a key technical talent nurtured by the country. The superior specifically arranged for him to live here, hoping that everyone can help each other and let him work in peace. His work concerns key national projects, so I hope the comrades in the courtyard will take good care of him and not disturb his rest."
"Guaranteed to complete the mission!" Yi Zhonghai was the first to express his stance, patting his chest and assuring, "We will take good care of Engineer Li."
Zheng Tieshan nodded with satisfaction, then said to Li Ming: "Come, I'll show you the small Four Courtyard."
The group passed through the main gate and entered the Four Courtyard.
Li Ming looked around curiously, finding that this courtyard was much larger and more lively than it appeared in the TV series.
In the center of the courtyard was a tall crabapple tree, with several stone benches under it, seemingly a place for the residents to cool off and chat.
Around it was a typical Beijing Four Courtyard layout: the main house on the north side, wing rooms on the east and west sides, and inverted rooms on the south side.
In front of each house was a small open space, some planted with vegetables, some with flower pots, and some with miscellaneous items.
Many people were scattered around the courtyard. Seeing Zheng Tieshan bringing people in, they all gathered around curiously.
"That's Xu Fugui's home," Zheng Tieshan pointed to a room on the north side of the west wing, "Xu Fugui and his son Xu Damao live there. Xu Fugui also works at the Rolling Mill, an honest man. His son Xu Damao is just fifteen this year, and I heard he's an apprentice following him to show movies."
Li Ming followed Zheng Tieshan's refer to and saw a thin young man peeking out of the window.
Is that the future "First Blood Master" Xu Damao? At this time, he was still an ignorant youth, without the worldly and shrewd look he would later develop.
"Over there is the He family," Zheng Tieshan continued to introduce, pointing to the main house in the central courtyard, "He Daqing works at both Fengzeyuan and the Rolling Mill. His son He Yuzhu is also fifteen this year, and I heard he's working as an assistant in the cafeteria, a very capable kid."
"Lick-dog War God" He Yuzhu, still a teenager at this time!
A tall, thin boy about the same age as Xu Damao was scooping water in the courtyard, moving deftly, looking indeed much older than his peers.
"The Jia family lives in the west wing of the central courtyard," Zheng Tieshan lowered his voice, "Jia Dongxu also works at the Rolling Mill, an honest man. The one who was arguing for the small Four Courtyard is Jia Dongxu's mother, Jia Zhangshi. This family doesn't quite understand the rules; don't bother with them."
Li Ming glimpsed a young woman in her early twenties standing at the main door, holding a baby, looking timidly this way.
That must be Qin Huairu—the legendary "Blood-sucking White Lotus."
At this time, she was still very young, with a beautiful face and clear eyes, without the worldliness and calculation she would later possess.
"That baby should be 'Bang Geng'," Li Ming thought, "I didn't expect him to be an ignorant baby now."
"The inverted room is Deaf Old Lady's home," Zheng Tieshan pointed to the house to the north, "Her ears aren't good, but she's very kind, and everyone in the courtyard respects her."
Li Ming saw a white-haired old woman sitting in front of the inverted room, basking in the sun.
"Sea-Calming Divine Needle" Deaf Old Lady, she was a formidable character in the TV series!
"The small Four Courtyard is right behind," Zheng Tieshan led Li Ming through the courtyard to a small gate, "This gate is usually locked. I've already prepared the key."
He took out an old-fashioned brass key from his pocket and opened the small gate. Behind the gate was a small courtyard with three rooms, simply laid out but very tidy.
"The Four Courtyard is quieter than the main courtyard, very suitable for your work and study," Zheng Tieshan said, "It has complete furniture, and there's a well, so daily life is very convenient."
Li Ming walked into the Four Courtyard and found that it was indeed much quieter than the main courtyard.
Among the three rooms, the middle one was the largest, likely the living room; the one on the right was smaller, with a wooden bed and a wardrobe, serving as the bedroom; and the one on the left was the kitchen, with a stove and simple utensils.
In the center of the courtyard was a well, with a bucket and dipper beside it.
There was also a small patch of land by the courtyard wall, with a few vegetables growing, looking like they hadn't been tended for a long time, but still growing tenaciously.
"How is it, are you satisfied?" Zheng Tieshan asked.