Chapter 4: Boy, Give Up the House

A group of seven or eight people swarmed toward the backyard. Meanwhile, Lin Shaowen was biting on a pencil, busily recording which parts of the house needed repairs.

If all went according to plan, he would likely live here for many years. Since he was going to start construction, he might as well renovate everything that needed attention all at once. For instance, he was particularly concerned about the toilet and bathroom. Currently, the courtyard had no private restrooms, and every morning, the residents had to line up at a communal outhouse.

As a youth of the new era, he had no intention of sharing a public facility with others. He could go without many things, but a private toilet was non-negotiable.

He was in the middle of sketching a design when a group of people suddenly barged in.

"Hmm, what is it?" Lin Shaowen asked, surprised.

"Hello, I am Yi Zhonghai, the First Master of this courtyard," Yi Zhonghai declared, establishing his status.

"Wow, a pretty boy, isn't he?" Sha Zhu mocked.

Qin Huairu, standing in the crowd, took a sneaky glance at Lin Shaowen and could not help but blush. For any woman, Lin Shaowen was undeniably striking. With his fair skin, handsome features, slender waist, and broad shoulders, the way he held a pencil between his teeth gave him an air of refined, scholarly charm.

"Is there something you need?"

Lin Shaowen ignored Sha Zhu and looked directly at Yi Zhonghai.

"It’s like this: we’d like to ask how you managed to get this place assigned to you?" Liu Haizhong asked, adopting a bureaucratic tone.

"The company assigned it to me," Lin Shaowen shrugged.

"Which room is yours?" Old Lady Jia asked. She had her eye on the one against the wall; it was the most spacious and had the best sunlight. If that was his room, she would surely find a way to make him switch once she got her hands on the house.

"Which one?" Lin Shaowen gestured toward the building. "All three rooms are mine."

"Bullshit!" Old Lady Jia shrieked, waving her arms. "Kid, don't you go spouting nonsense."

"Who are you?" Lin Shaowen said, looking annoyed. "If you don't believe me, get lost. Who gave you the right to run your mouth here?"

"Get lost? You little brat, I was living here before your mother even gave birth to you!" Old Lady Jia retorted arrogantly.

"So what? Does that make you special because you're old?" Lin Shaowen rolled his eyes.

"I'll tear your mouth off!" As Old Lady Jia moved to lunge at him, Qin Huairu grabbed her and held her back.

"Kid, you’re pretty arrogant, aren't you?" Sha Zhu shouted.

"Do you have business here or not? If not, get lost," Lin Shaowen waved his hand, not wanting to waste his energy on them.

"Damn it..."

Sha Zhu stepped forward, intending to teach Lin Shaowen a lesson, but he was scolded back by Yi Zhonghai.

"Young comrade, this behavior is not right," Yi Zhonghai said with a grave expression. "If you don't unite with your neighbors, this courtyard won't have a place for you."

"Oh, and who might you be?" Lin Shaowen asked with disdain.

"I am the First Master of the courtyard," Yi Zhonghai declared loudly.

"To hell with that," Lin Shaowen pointed at the house. "All three rooms are mine. Even if you were the Jade Emperor, it wouldn't change a thing. You say this courtyard won't have a place for me? If you're capable enough, try kicking me out."

"You..." A vein throbbed on Yi Zhonghai's forehead; he itched to slap Lin Shaowen across the face.

"First Master, let me handle him," Sha Zhu said, rushing forward with a raised fist, intending to land a punch on Lin Shaowen.

But Lin Shaowen sidestepped, delivering a swift back-kick to Sha Zhu’s abdomen that folded him like a shrimp. Before Sha Zhu could recover, Lin Shaowen followed up with a knee strike to his face, sending him tumbling backward onto the ground.

"How can you just start hitting people?" Yan Bugui stepped forward to reprimand him.

"Hitting people? Did you ever go to school? This is called self-defense," Lin Shaowen said calmly.

"You..." Yan Bugui’s face flushed red. The remark hit a sore spot, as he prided himself on being a man of culture.

"Young comrade, regardless of the situation, hitting people is wrong," Yi Zhonghai said, helping Sha Zhu up. "You occupying three rooms all by yourself—taking more than your share—is not a good look."

"And so?" Lin Shaowen pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

"I’ll take charge of this matter; Sha Zhu won’t press charges," Yi Zhonghai said with a generous wave. Sha Zhu started to protest, but a glare from Yi Zhonghai made him swallow his words.

"So, I suppose I should thank you?" Lin Shaowen chuckled.

"The thanks aren't necessary, but you must give up two of those rooms," Yi Zhonghai said, finally showing his true colors. "Dongxu has children now; it's not appropriate for a family of four to be squeezed into one room..."

"Ahem, ahem," Yan Bugui coughed twice.

"The Third Master has a family of six; two rooms aren't enough for them either," Yi Zhonghai added.

Liu Haizhong opened his mouth, confused. *Who am I? Where am I? You’ve already divided up the house, so what am I here for?*

"Once the rooms are ours, both families will give you fifty yuan," Yi Zhonghai whispered.

"Right, I also think it's inappropriate," Liu Haizhong said righteously.

"And you are..."

"I am the Second Master of the courtyard and a Level 7 machinist," Liu Haizhong said proudly.

"So, according to your logic, I have no choice but to give up these rooms?" Lin Shaowen asked with a mocking smile.

"That's right, you have to," Old Lady Jia clamored.

"Fine. I'll go to the neighborhood office to handle the paperwork right now," Lin Shaowen said, turning to leave without a second thought.

"We'll wait here," Yi Zhonghai called out.

"The kid knows what's good for him, otherwise I would have beaten the crap out of him," Sha Zhu said, his nose bleeding, his voice muffled.

Qin Huairu glanced at him and lowered her head. If they kept fighting, Sha Zhu would probably end up dead.

Twenty minutes later, Director Wang arrived at the courtyard, her face cold as ice.

"Yi Zhonghai, what do you think you're doing?"

"Huh? Director Wang, why are you here?" Upon seeing her, Yi Zhonghai’s heart sank.

"If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known how 'mighty' you are," Director Wang said coldly. "Saying this courtyard has no room for young Lin? Does this courtyard belong to you? By what right do you say such things?"

"Director Wang, that’s not what I meant," Yi Zhonghai said, bracing himself. "I just wanted our new neighbor to foster unity; one thing led to another..."

"Spare me the nonsense." Director Wang pulled Lin Shaowen to her side and announced, "Those three rooms were assigned to young Lin by the Rolling Mill. If you have any objections, go talk to Director Yang at the plant. Stop bullying him."

"Assigned by the plant?" Yi Zhonghai and the others gasped in surprise. They hadn't expected this young man to work at the same unit as them.

"Young Lin, live here with peace of mind. If anyone bullies you, come tell me directly. See if I don't skin them alive," Director Wang’s tone was chilling, making everyone shudder.

"Understood, Director Wang. Please, watch your step."

After politely seeing Director Wang out, Lin Shaowen returned to the courtyard and looked at the dejected group. "I asked Director Wang, but she didn't agree. Perhaps I should go see the plant manager when I go to work tomorrow?"

"No!" Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong immediately stopped him.

"No?" Lin Shaowen looked at them with a mocking smile. "Then how are we going to settle the account for Sha Zhu attacking me?"

"You were the one who hit me!" Sha Zhu protested indignantly.

"Do you want me to give you a lesson on the concept of self-defense?" Lin Shaowen tilted his head.

"What do you want?" Yi Zhonghai grabbed the furious Sha Zhu.

"What do I want? Two choices: either pay me twenty yuan for emotional damages, or... help me clean this entire courtyard. Pick one," Lin Shaowen said, his eyes sharp.