Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

The festive atmosphere of the year-end season dissipated silently, as if blown away by a spring breeze.

The firecracker debris on the streets and alleys had long been swept away, leaving only a faint aftertaste of fireworks, which still lingered in the air.

The children in each household put away their playful spirit from the New Year celebrations, put on their cloth schoolbags, and returned to school one after another in the morning light.

The entire city of Beijing is gradually returning to its usual bustling and lively atmosphere, having transitioned from the relaxed and leisurely atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

After giving several reports on heroic deeds, He Yuzhu finally had some free time.

He had just returned victorious from the battlefield of the Korean War and was a combat hero praised by everyone. His job after being demobilized was not yet finalized.

During this period, apart from occasionally going out for a stroll, he spent most of his time wandering around the courtyard house.

In the huge courtyard, there are old people, young people, students, and workers.

Only He Yuzhu, this young and strong man, seemed to be wandering around aimlessly all day.

Even though he goes out every day, he doesn't really stay at home doing nothing.

But gossip, like weeds in the corner of a wall, still sprouted up silently and spread like wildfire throughout the courtyard.

The whispers behind their backs were increasingly harsh, all directed at He Yuzhu.

"So what if he's done some good deeds and won a few battles? What's so great about that? Is he planning to be a street urchin for the rest of his life?"

"I think he probably got stupid from fighting on the battlefield. His brain isn't working properly anymore, and he can't do any other work. Otherwise, why would he leave the army and come back to civilian life?"

"That's right, just because he's a war hero, he dares to laze around all day. If it were anyone else, they would have been ridiculed to death by now."

Every single one of these harsh words reached Chen Lanxiang's ears.

She sat at her doorway, sewing shoe soles, listening to the gossip, feeling as if her heart was being pricked by needles.

His face turned ashen instantly, and his fingers, gripping the needle and thread, trembled slightly.

But she felt sorry for her son from the bottom of her heart and couldn't bear to see others mistreat He Yuzhu like that.

When He Daqing got home from get off work that evening, he casually mentioned to her the gossip about He Yuzhu in the courtyard, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang immediately exploded and got into a fight with He Daqing.

Her eyes were red, and her voice was filled with aggrieved yet defiant anger.

"My son is a hero who defended our country, he fought his way through gunfire on the battlefield, why should they talk about him like this!"

"It's not like Zhu Zi isn't looking for a job, he just hasn't settled on one yet. What do they know? All they do is gossip!"

He Daqing was speechless after being confronted by his wife. It wasn't that he disliked his son for not having a job.

He just felt that his son was wandering around the yard all day, and the neighbors were talking about him like this. It was too awful to let the rumors get out, and he was really upset.

The family sees each other all the time, and hearing these gossips every day makes life unpleasant.

He Yuzhu saw and heard everything, and understood it all perfectly.

He watched his mother argue with his father over him, and saw the strange looks from the people in the yard. He knew in his heart that staying idle like this was not a solution.

Rather than letting others speculate and gossip, it's better to get the work settled as soon as possible.

He immediately made up his mind to choose a date to go to the military control commission and complete the transfer procedures thoroughly.

Also, determine your demobilization level and assigned work unit.

Before we knew it, it was Monday morning.

As dawn broke and the eastern sky began to lighten with a pale, fish-belly white, the morning breeze carried a slight chill.

He Yuzhu got up early and carefully changed into a crisp military uniform.

His military uniform was ironed without a single wrinkle, and the collar and cuffs were neatly trimmed. Wearing it on his tall and upright figure, he looked even more dashing.

He slung a clean, military-green satchel over his shoulder and quickly tidied up his personal documents.

He turned around, greeted Chen Lanxiang inside the house, and then stepped out to leave.

As they approached the courtyard gate, Chen Lanxiang, still worried, quickly caught up with them.

She reached out and gently straightened He Yuzhu's military uniform collar, her eyes full of admonition and expectation.

"Zhu Zi, when you get to the Military Control Commission, be sure to speak politely and communicate well with the staff."

"When choosing a company, you have to keep your eyes open and pick a stable and reliable one."

Chen Lanxiang has little education and knows nothing about the positions and career development in various organizations.

But deep down she felt that her son was brave and capable, and could handle any position with ease.

In fact, she already had a dream job in mind: a steel rolling mill not far from her home.

The steel rolling mill was a large-scale, legitimate state-owned enterprise with generous wages and benefits, making it one of the better companies in Beijing.

Most importantly, working in a steel rolling mill is safe and secure, without the fear and anxiety one might experience on a battlefield.

This is what Chen Lanxiang values ​​most; she only hopes that her son will be safe and sound in the future.

However, both Wang Cuiping and Wang Hongxia had previously mentioned to her that they wanted He Yuzhu to work in their respective units.

Chen Lanxiang kept her thoughts about the steel rolling mill to herself. She knew that her son was capable and would never lack good job opportunities.

Looking at his mother's concerned eyes, He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart and obediently nodded in agreement.

"I understand, Mother. I know what I'm doing, so please don't worry."

After saying that, he strode off toward the military control commission.

He walked briskly, and soon He Yuzhu arrived at the Military Control Commission.

Staff members were busy coming and going in the military control commission, and all office work was carried out in an orderly manner.

He found the window in charge of resettling demobilized soldiers and went up to explain his purpose.

The staff member in charge looked up at him and first checked his identity information and transfer documents.

They then politely inquired about He Yuzhu's preferred workplace.

However, He Yuzhu had just returned from the army and knew nothing about the various local units, so he naturally didn't have any clear ideas.

Seeing his blank expression, the clerk took out a thick stack of job postings from a drawer and handed them to him.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, you can take a look at these units first. They are all excellent places to receive demobilized soldiers. You can take your time to choose."

He Yuzhu took the brochure and began to carefully read it.

The list above mainly consists of state-owned factories and mines, as well as various large enterprises.

The positions assigned to demobilized soldiers were mostly officers in the security department of factories or grassroots positions within the public security system.

He was able to choose his unit independently entirely because of his outstanding military achievements on the battlefield and his corresponding demobilization rank.

If it were an ordinary demobilized soldier, there would be no such preferential treatment; they would be assigned a fixed position without any recourse.

He Yuzhu flipped through the pages one by one. Most of the units listed were the same and had nothing special about them.

Until he turned to the last page, a unique company profile instantly caught his attention.

It was a newly established company called Hardware and Electrical Import Company.

The position being advertised is that of an external procurement specialist.

In those days, "imports" and "purchases from abroad" were extremely new terms, quite different from those used in other factories, mines, and public security positions.

He Yuzhu immediately became interested, his fingertips lingering on the introduction for a long time.

Xiao Wei, the staff member in charge of handling the matter, noticed his actions at a glance, frowned, and immediately tried to dissuade him.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, you should put this job description aside. This company is not suitable for you. You should look at other options."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu raised his head, his eyes filled with doubt, and asked in a deep voice.

"Oh? Why is it unsuitable? I'd like to hear the reason."

Xiao Wei spoke casually, his tone somewhat perfunctory and with a hint of barely perceptible disdain.

"This company has very high requirements. The most important one is that you must be fluent in a foreign language and communicate with foreigners on a daily basis. You simply don't meet the requirements."

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow and continued to press for answers.

"Besides foreign language skills, what other requirements are there? And what aspects of me are unsuitable?"

Seeing that he kept asking questions, Xiao Wei became increasingly impatient and casually added.

"It also requires professional knowledge related to mechanics and electrical engineering; not just anyone can do it."

He thought that by making these demands, He Yuzhu would back down.

Unexpectedly, He Yuzhu immediately grabbed the brief in his hand and said in a firm tone.

"This is it. I'll choose the purchasing position at this hardware and electrical import company."

Xiao Wei didn't expect him to be so stubborn, and his face immediately darkened, his tone also carrying a hint of displeasure.

"Why are you so stubborn and won't listen to advice, comrade!"

"If it weren't for your meritorious service on the battlefield, the organization wouldn't have given you the right to choose your unit independently, but that right isn't something you can just choose randomly!"

"Some positions have too high entry requirements; you can't just choose them if you want to!"

He Yuzhu felt a surge of displeasure seeing Xiao Wei's condescending and disdainful attitude.

He didn't say anything more, but looked at Xiao Wei and suddenly asked in fluent and standard English.

Are you sure?

The pure British pronunciation, clear and fluent, came out of He Yuzhu's mouth.

Xiao Wei has never studied a foreign language and is used to working in Chinese every day, so he can't understand English at all.

He stood there stunned, completely bewildered, his eyes filled with confusion, utterly clueless about what He Yuzhu had said.

Seeing his dazed expression, He Yuzhu asked again in fluent Korean.

Are you sure?

Xiao Wei was still completely bewildered, utterly dumbfounded, unable to even react.

He Yuzhu remained calm, then switched to fluent Russian and asked clearly.

Are you sure?

These three foreign language skills were all system rewards he received when he checked in during his time in the military.

When He Yuzhu first acquired this skill, he felt confused, thinking that since he wasn't going abroad, learning these things wouldn't be very useful.

I never expected it would come in so handy on this occasion.

Xiao Wei stood there, completely dumbfounded, his mouth slightly open, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

He Yuzhu ignored his reaction, reached into his military satchel, and slowly took out two brand-new vocational school graduation certificates.

He gently placed the certificate on the desk and pushed it in front of Xiao Wei.

Then, in Chinese, with a calm yet undeniably authoritative tone, he asked again.

Are you sure?

Xiao Wei looked down at the vocational school diploma on the table, then looked up at He Yuzhu, who had a calm expression, and his face turned pale instantly.

His heart skipped a beat; this was such a slap in the face, making him feel utterly ashamed.

He had always looked down on He Yuzhu, thinking that he was only favored because of his bravery in battle.

To put it bluntly, he was just a roughneck with little education, no different from those demobilized soldiers who came from literacy classes.

But to his utter surprise, the young combat hero in front of him was fluent in three foreign languages ​​and even had a professional vocational school diploma.

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in cadre attire and with a composed demeanor walked into the office.

He was clearly the office manager; he noticed the commotion and asked what was going on.

"Xiao Wei, what's going on here all this noise?"

Xiao Wei snapped out of his daze, his face flushed with embarrassment and panic, and quickly began to report.

"Section Chief, Comrade He Yuzhu has chosen a position at the Hardware and Electrical Import Company. I told him that this company has high requirements and is not suitable for him. I didn't expect that this comrade knows so much."

Section Chief Tang frowned and immediately reprimanded him.

"You! What have I been telling you all along?!"

"Do you think all the heroes who come back from the battlefield are just people who only attended literacy classes? There are many hidden talents among them, including many educated and capable college students!"

"Hurry up and apologize to Comrade Xiao He, and admit your mistake for your attitude just now!"

Section Chief Tang naturally recognized He Yuzhu, the young combat hero who was well-known among demobilized soldiers in Beijing.

He also knew that He Yuzhu had excellent culinary skills, and he already had a higher opinion of him.

Xiao Wei was reluctant and felt he would lose face, but he had no choice but to speak up because of the section chief's orders.

"I'm sorry, Comrade He Yuzhu, I shouldn't have looked down on you!"

His voice was soft, and his tone was perfunctory, showing no sign of genuine remorse.

He Yuzhu glanced at him indifferently, his tone cold and ruthless.

"You're not just looking down on me; you're looking down on all soldiers who came from the Korean Peninsula battlefield."

"We fought bloody battles on the front lines to defend our country, not the uncultured, uneducated brutes you portray us as."

One sentence made Xiao Wei's face turn red and white, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Seeing this, Section Chief Tang quickly stepped in to smooth things over, not wanting the situation to escalate further.

"Alright, Xiao Wei, this is none of your business. I'll handle Xiao He's resettlement procedures myself. You can go and do other things."

"Yes, Section Chief."

Xiao Wei felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and quickly lowered his head and left the desk.

Section Chief Tang picked up He Yuzhu's transfer documents from the table, a gentle smile on his face, and said politely.

"Comrade Xiao He, come to my office with me, and we'll discuss the formalities later."

He Yuzhu nodded slightly and responded calmly.

"Um."

The two walked into the section chief's office, one after the other.

Section Chief Tang gestured for He Yuzhu to sit in the chair in front of his desk and personally poured him a cup of hot water.

He then began to introduce himself.

"Hello, Comrade Xiao He, I am the head of the resettlement section, my name is Tang Jing."

He Yuzhu stood up and politely shook hands with him.

"Hello, Section Chief Tang."

After sitting down, Tang Jing recalled what had just happened and, filled with curiosity, couldn't help but ask.

"Comrade Xiao He, may I ask what language you and Xiao Wei were speaking to each other just now?"

He Yuzhu picked up his water glass, took a small sip, and responded in a flat tone.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just asked him 'Are you sure?' once each in English, Korean, and Russian."

Upon hearing this, Tang Jing looked somewhat surprised, then somewhat helpless.

He thought to himself, "This kid is too clever, too good at manipulating people. He knows his subordinates don't understand, yet he still asks questions in three different foreign languages."

It's true that the subordinate's attitude was bad, but this kind of slap in the face is really embarrassing.

However, he also knew in his heart that it was his subordinates who had spoken disparagingly first, and the fault lay with him.

Tang Jing suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and continued to ask questions.

"So, you're fluent in English, Korean, and Russian?"

He Yuzhu showed no modesty whatsoever, simply nodding and responding crisply.

"Um."

Tang Jing's gaze fell on the two vocational school diplomas on the table, and he spoke again.

"Are these two vocational school diplomas really yours?"

He Yuzhu answered with certainty.

"right."

Tang Jing reached out and picked up the two graduation certificates, carefully flipping through them to examine them.

Upon seeing this, he was stunned.

The two diplomas were issued by the same vocational school, but for different majors.

He enrolled in 1949 and graduated in 1950, which coincided with the time He Yuzhu joined the army.

The timeline matches perfectly, which is enough to prove that He Yuzhu voluntarily joined the army and went to the battlefield after graduation.

Upon seeing this information, Tang Jing's anger subsided considerably.

He increasingly felt that his subordinate, Xiao Wei, was handling things inappropriately.

Without inquiring about He Yuzhu's professional skills and educational level beforehand, they directly concluded that he was unsuitable, and their attitude was so arrogant.

It's no wonder He Yuzhu reacted this way. Anyone would feel uncomfortable being looked down upon like that.

Tang Jing closed the graduation certificate, put it back on the table, looked at He Yuzhu, and asked seriously.

"Comrade He, do you know exactly what this hardware and electrical import company does?"

In those days, "imported" was an extremely unfamiliar term to many ordinary people.

He Yuzhu had only inquired about it when he had nothing else to do, and that's how he learned a little bit about it.

He looked up at Tang Jing and answered calmly.

"Isn't it just a company that specializes in purchasing materials from abroad and shipping them back to China?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Jing's eyes flashed with approval, and he smiled as he spoke.

"So you knew all along, Comrade He. You really are quite knowledgeable."

He Yuzhu responded calmly, his tone remaining humble.

"Nothing much, I just inquired about it a few times."

Tang Jing then raised his doubts.

"Regarding the hardware and electrical work, I see you studied mechanical and civil engineering, which aren't exactly related to electrical engineering. Are you confident in your abilities?"

He Yuzhu smiled slightly and explained with certainty.

"Hardware and electrical work covers a wide range of items, including all kinds of metal parts and motor equipment, from large factory lathes to a single screw."

"The specific job duties will depend on the company's main business. My major is mechanical engineering, which is a perfect fit for me."

Listening to his clear and logical analysis, Tang Jing felt completely relieved and nodded repeatedly.

"It seems you are really suited for this position and have done your homework on the job."

"But I need to make it clear to you, this company requires a separate interview, and you can only officially start working there after passing the interview. Is that okay with you?"

In fact, according to the normal transfer and assignment process, there is no need for an interview at all; you can be directly assigned and report for duty.

However, this hardware and electrical import company is of a very high level, directly under the management of the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

The external procurement department, in particular, has extremely high requirements for its staff, which is why an interview process was specifically added.

Just now, Xiao Wei was deliberately trying to obstruct He Yuzhu by using the procurement department's stringent requirements.

He Yuzhu's eyes were firm, and without the slightest hesitation, he immediately agreed.

"No problem, I can attend the interview."

Seeing this, Tang Jing smiled and nodded.

"Okay, I'll submit your application materials to the company first. You can go home and wait for the interview notification."

"Of course, if you change your mind halfway through and want to choose another unit, you can come back to me at any time to handle it."

He Yuzhu stood up and politely thanked Tang Jing.

"Okay, thank you for your trouble, Section Chief Tang."

After saying that, he put away his identification and documents, turned around and left the military control commission.

According to the procedure, he first needs to go to the subdistrict office to obtain a personnel relationship certificate, and then go to the police station to transfer his household registration back to the compound.

In two years, China will begin to fully implement various types of coupons, such as grain coupons and cloth coupons.

Without a household registration, one cannot receive food, daily necessities, and other necessities.

Although He Yuzhu had supplies in hand, he didn't care about this small amount of grain.

However, household registration is a legitimate identity document, and it is something that must be implemented without any carelessness.

He Yuzhu went straight to the Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office.

He was a combat hero in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and had given several reports on his deeds here before. He was a household name in the entire Jiaodaokou Subdistrict.

As soon as he stepped into the gate of the subdistrict office, he was greeted warmly by a group of staff members.

"Comrade Xiao He, you've finally arrived!"

"Comrade Xiao He, are you here to see Director Wang?"

"Comrade He, please come in. What brings you here today?"

The staff members greeted him warmly, their greetings echoing throughout the room.

He Yuzhu smiled and responded politely to everyone.

But the constant greetings were giving him a bit of a headache.

If I don't respond, I'll seem impolite or putting on airs.

Responding to each one was exhausting and left him feeling overwhelmed.

After finally making his way through the crowd, he arrived at Wang Hongxia's office door and gently knocked.

Wang Hongxia's cheerful voice immediately rang out from the office.

"Enter!"

He Yuzhu gently pushed open the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind him.

When Wang Hongxia looked up and saw it was him, a smile immediately appeared on her face, and her tone carried a hint of reproach.

"Zhu Zi, you've finally come! I've asked you to come work at our neighborhood office countless times lately, but you wouldn't come no matter what I said. Why did you come all this way today?"

He Yuzhu touched the tip of his nose and explained with a helpless smile.

"Aunt Xia, it's not that I didn't want to come, it's just that you're all too hospitable, I just couldn't handle it, that's why I didn't dare to come."

"I came here today to get a personnel relationship certificate. After that, I need to go to the police station to transfer my household registration."

Wang Hongxia rolled her eyes at him and teased him with a smile.

"You brat, all I'm doing is asking you to give a few more presentations to the residents, and you're acting like it's your life!"

He Yuzhu nodded repeatedly with a bitter face, expressing his agreement.

"Pretty much. I'm afraid of speaking on stage; it makes me more nervous than fighting on the battlefield."

Wang Hongxia couldn't help but laugh when she saw his expression, but then she remembered the important matter and asked.

"Did you go to the military control commission today?"

He Yuzhu nodded slightly and replied simply.

"Um."

Wang Hongxia put down her pen, leaned forward slightly, and eagerly pressed for an answer.

"Have all the resettlement procedures been completed? Which unit have you been assigned to?"

He Yuzhu answered calmly.

"I'd say it's half done. The paperwork isn't completely finished yet. I've got my eye on a company, but I need to go for an interview. I can only start working there if I pass the interview."

Upon hearing this, Wang Hongxia looked surprised and asked with a puzzled expression.

"interview?"

"Any employer would dare look down on a war hero like you? They have no idea what they're missing!"

He Yuzhu quickly waved his hand and explained with a smile.

"Aunt Xia, no, it's just that this company is quite special and has high requirements for professional skills, which is why we need to conduct interviews to screen candidates."

Wang Hongxia became increasingly curious, raised her eyebrows slightly, and continued to press for answers.

"What kind of unit has such high requirements? Putting aside the rank you already have after transferring to civilian work, with all your military achievements, which unit wouldn't be fighting to recruit you?"

"I remember you have two vocational school diplomas and you speak a foreign language. Even with those qualifications, you still don't meet their requirements?"

He Yuzhu patiently explained.

"I haven't met the person in charge of the employing unit yet. It was a staff member from the Military Control Commission who told me that the job requirements are indeed very strict."

Hearing him say that, Wang Hongxia's curiosity grew even stronger, and she quickly asked.

"Now that you mention it, I'm even more curious. What kind of unit is it?"

He Yuzhu answered truthfully.

"Hardware and electrical equipment import company".

Wang Hongxia frowned, thought it over carefully in her mind, and said with a puzzled look on her face.

"What kind of unit is this? I've worked in the neighborhood committee for so long, how come I've never heard of it? Is it located in Beijing?"

He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

"It should be in Beijing. I saw in the company profile that it's a new company that was just established last year, and it seems to be directly under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation."

Upon hearing that it was a unit directly under the central government, Wang Hongxia took it even more seriously and immediately spoke up.

"Should I ask your Uncle Zhao to find out more about this company? He has a lot of connections; maybe he can know someone there and help you smooth things over?"

He Yuzhu quickly waved his hand in refusal, speaking firmly.

"No need, Aunt Xia, I'll go to the interview myself and get the job based on my own abilities."

"If I really don't pass the interview, we can consider other companies. With your relationship with Aunt Wang Cuiping, do you think you can't arrange a good job for me?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Hongxia smiled proudly and patted her chest as she spoke.

"That's true! My son is so outstanding, he could find any good job!"

"Young people should have this drive and earn their living through their own abilities. Aunt Xia supports you!"

He Yuzhu scratched his head and said with a smile.

"Hehe, I don't know if I'll pass the interview. Maybe in the end, I'll still have to trouble Aunt Xia to bail me out."

Wang Hongxia smiled and waved her hand, speaking with certainty.

"Whether you pass the interview or not, you'll still have to bother me! Since your employment relationship is being transferred, you'll eventually have to come back to me to complete the paperwork. There's no escaping it!"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu slapped his forehead, realizing what he had just said, and said with a face full of annoyance.

"Oh, I forgot about that."

Wang Hongxia couldn't help but laugh at his dazed look, and then stood up and said.

"Let's go, I'll go with you to the police station. You're not familiar with the people there, so it'll be inconvenient for you to get things done. It'll be much faster if I take you."

As they spoke, Wang Hongxia picked up He Yuzhu's documents, quickly filled out the form, signed it, and stamped it with the street office's official seal, her movements swift and efficient.

He Yuzhu looked at her busy figure and said with a smile.

"Although I don't know them, they should all know me."

He was, after all, a well-known combat hero in Beijing, and the police station staff had most likely seen his file.

Wang Hongxia thought about it and agreed that it made sense. She immediately sat back down in her chair and said with a smile.

"That's right, then you can go and do it yourself, so I won't have to make the trip."

He Yuzhu picked up the completed certificate and said with a smile.

"Okay, Aunt Xia, you go ahead with your work. I'll come see you again when I have time."

Wang Hongxia looked at him and didn't forget to give him some advice.

"If you have some free time, please come and give a few more speeches for our neighborhood. I'd love to have you there!"

Upon hearing the speech, He Yuzhu felt a headache coming on and quickly waved his hands.

"No, no, no, Aunt Xia, please spare me. If it's a speech, I'd rather not come."

Wang Hongxia glared at him and said, feigning anger.

"You dare!"

He Yuzhu immediately backed down and nodded repeatedly.

"No, no, I was wrong, I'll go now, Aunt Xia."

"I'll make a special trip to visit Principal Wang and Grandma Wang another day."

Wang Hongxia then calmed down and said with a smile.

"They'll be so happy to see you, and they'll get to enjoy your delicious cooking! Alright, get on with your business."

He Yuzhu replied with a smile.

"Okay!"

After saying that, he got up, gathered all the documents, turned around, walked out of the office, and gently closed the door.

After leaving the street office, He Yuzhu went straight to the local police station.

The process went exceptionally smoothly.

He Yuzhu did not know any of the staff at the police station.

But all the police officers and leaders in the station knew him as a famous combat hero.

They were all incredibly enthusiastic, taking the initiative to greet him and making sure everything went smoothly for him.

There was even a deputy director who personally accompanied him throughout the entire process of handling his household registration transfer.

During a break in the process, the deputy director earnestly tried to win him over, asking with a smile.

"Comrade He, since you're leaving the military and looking for work, have you considered working at our police station? We'd welcome you anytime!"

He Yuzhu was well aware of the situation within the public security system, so he didn't refuse directly. Instead, he smiled and spoke tactfully.

"Deputy Director, thank you for your high regard, but if I join the public security system and don't go to the Dongcheng Branch where Aunt Cuiping works, I'm afraid I'll get into trouble."

Upon hearing this, the deputy director immediately realized what was happening, slapped his forehead, and suddenly understood.

He then remembered that Wang Cuiping from the Dongcheng branch was He Yuzhu's neighbor in the courtyard house, and they were very close.

In terms of connections and resources, their police station simply couldn't compete with Wang Cuiping.

Moreover, many young officers in the station are eager to work under Wang Cuiping.

Following Wang Cuiping, one can get involved in major cases and has more opportunities to earn merit and receive awards.

The deputy director immediately abandoned the idea of ​​trying to win him over and didn't mention the matter again.

He Yuzhu quickly completed the household registration transfer procedures, said goodbye to everyone at the police station, and embarked on his journey home.

Walking home, He Yuzhu strolled slowly, when something suddenly came to mind.

Now I have to walk the whole time to go out, which is really inconvenient.

He remembered that his system space still contained a large number of brand-new second-hand bicycles.

Whether for daily commuting or travel, it couldn't be more convenient.

We need to find a way to get two of them and use them openly and legitimately.

However, these bicycles are all without proper documentation, and using them directly will inevitably attract criticism.

He remembers that in those days, there were trust shops that could handle the formal procedures for second-hand goods.

However, it is currently unknown whether the trust store has officially opened for business.

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment, and realized that among the people in the courtyard, the one with the best information and the most knowledge of these unorthodox methods was Xu Damao.

In the past few years, besides going to school, this kid has been out and about a lot, and he knows all the tricks of the trade.

Presumably only he would know the specific details of the trust store.

He Yuzhu made up his mind to go home and ask Xu Damao for information.

Walking along, we soon arrived at the entrance of the courtyard house.

Just as they reached the gate, they ran into Yang Ruihua, the daughter-in-law of the Yan family.

Yang Ruihua was leaning against the door frame, looking around, seemingly sunbathing, but actually watching the people coming and going in the yard.

He Yuzhu glanced at her and inwardly scoffed.

The Yan family really can't shake their scheming and stalking habits; they've started guarding the courtyard gate, watching everyone's every move.

Yang Ruihua shuddered instantly when He Yuzhu swept her with that cold glance.

She had something to hide; just a few days ago, she was in the courtyard with others, gossiping about He Yuzhu for being idle and not looking for work.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, she was filled with fear and panic, and dared not greet him at all. She turned around and quickly ran home.

He Yuzhu watched her fleeing figure, a disdainful sneer curling at the corner of his mouth, not taking it to heart.

He stepped into the courtyard house, and just as he passed through the front yard, he ran into Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu was holding a vegetable basket and was about to go out to buy groceries.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, her eyes darted away, her face paled slightly, and she didn't dare say a word. With her head down, she quickly walked past him and hurried back to her own house.

The people in the courtyard seemed to avoid him, not daring to greet him.

He Yuzhu felt not angry at all, but rather extremely comfortable.

Without these insincere social obligations, there is actually less trouble.

He knew in his heart that the people in the courtyard were all bullies who preyed on the weak and feared the strong.

The reason people dared to gossip about him behind his back was because they thought he was easy to bully since he was idle at home.

Now that they see his powerful aura and that he has completed the necessary work procedures, none of them dare to provoke him anymore.

If anyone dares to come looking for trouble, he will absolutely not show any mercy.

As for work-related matters, let those who love to gossip talk as much as they want.

Once my job is fully secured and I receive my official job offer, all these gossips will naturally shut up.

He Yuzhu walked through the front yard and into the middle yard, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the passageway to the east.

He thought of Li Guihua, who used to live there, but he hadn't seen her in the courtyard for a while.

I couldn't help but wonder, had Li Guihua already moved out of this courtyard house?

But after carefully examining the room in the east hall, he found that the doors and windows were intact and the items inside were neatly arranged, showing no signs of anyone moving out.

He Yuzhu frowned, but didn't think about it anymore. He turned around and walked back to his home.

As soon as she entered the room, Chen Lanxiang heard the noise and immediately put down the two babies she was holding and quickly came out from the inner room.

Her face was full of urgency, her eyes were full of expectation, and she immediately asked a series of questions.

"Zhu Zi, you're finally back! How did it go? Which unit did the Military Control Commission assign you to? What exactly is your job?"

Looking at his mother's expectant face, He Yuzhu smiled and gently comforted her.

"Mom, my job isn't finalized yet. There's no way the transfer procedures can be completed in one trip."

The expectation on Chen Lanxiang's face faded instantly, and she said with a look of disappointment.

"Huh? I thought you'd get the job settled after a trip to the military control commission. Why haven't we heard anything yet?"

He Yuzhu patiently explained.

"The procedures with the Military Control Commission have been completed, but the unit I chose is special. I still need to go to the unit for an interview, and I can only officially start working there after they pass my interview."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang immediately perked up and asked with bright eyes.

"So you've already chosen a company? All that's left is the interview?"

He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I chose a position that interests me, but I have to wait for the interview notification, which will take a few days."

Chen Lanxiang looked puzzled and asked in confusion.

"Isn't it normal to be assigned a job after being transferred to civilian work? I've asked both of your aunts, and they've never heard of having to go through an interview."

He Yuzhu repeated it again.

"Mom, let me tell you, that company is different from ordinary factories and mines; it's quite special, so it has many requirements."

Chen Lanxiang nodded as if she understood, and said with a worried expression.

"Sigh, I don't understand these big principles either. If you really don't pass the interview, don't try to be brave. Go find your two Aunt Wangs right away."

"If all else fails, have your dad go to the steel mill and ask the managers there. They'll be able to find you a good job."

Seeing his mother's excessive worry, He Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh and tease her.

"Mother, your son is so capable, does he look like someone no one wants? You can rest assured."

Chen Lanxiang smiled, reached out and patted him gently, and said softly.

"No, that's not it. I'm just worried that the job you choose won't suit your taste, and you'll suffer."

He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart and said softly.

"I understand, Mother. Don't worry, I'll go to the kitchen to cook for you."

Chen Lanxiang quickly grabbed him, pointed to his military uniform, and gave him some instructions.

"Don't rush to cook. Quickly change out of this military uniform. Don't get it dirty. This is your honor in the army."

He Yuzhu nodded obediently.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Mother. I'll go change my clothes now."

After saying that, he turned and went into the inner room to change out of his crisp military uniform.

In the evening, He Daqing went home after finishing his shift at the steel rolling mill.

As soon as he entered the door, he immediately asked He Yuzhu about the work.

He Daqing knew a little more about the rules of job assignment after demobilization than Chen Lanxiang, but he didn't know much about them either.

He knew his son was decisive and knew how to act appropriately, so he didn't ask for details. He simply gave him a few instructions and then said no more.

The old lady in the family was surprisingly calm when she learned that He Yuzhu had gone to complete the transfer procedures.

She didn't ask a single question about work from beginning to end.

In the old lady's heart, she had more confidence in her eldest grandson than in her son and daughter-in-law.

She firmly believes that her grandson will do his best in whatever he does, and no one else needs to worry about him.

After dinner, everyone in the family rested.

He Yuzhu remembered the bicycle and immediately got up to go find Xu Damao.

He went straight to Xu Damao's door and knocked.

Xu Damao opened the door and saw He Yuzhu. He greeted him warmly.

"Brother Zhu, what brings you here? Come in and have a seat!"

He Yuzhu walked into the house and got straight to the point, asking directly.

"Da Mao, I'm asking you, do you know anyone at the trust store?"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded, saying smugly.

"Yes, I know him! I actually know a clerk at a trust store, and we're on pretty good terms!"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu was overjoyed and said...

"That's good. There's something I'd like you to help me with."

Xu Damao patted his chest and said with great pride.

"Brother Zhu, you said it, as long as I can do it, there's absolutely no problem!"

He Yuzhu spoke up.

"I have a batch of used bicycles and I want to go through the proper procedures at the trust store to get them properly registered. I will pay all the due fees."

"Could you ask someone you know if this can be done?"

Upon hearing that there were secondhand bicycles, Xu Damao immediately became interested and asked with shining eyes.

"A bicycle? Brother Zhu, you actually have connections? Could you get me one too?"

He Yuzhu looked him up and down and asked in return.

"Do you have the money to buy it? Or is your dad willing to give you money to buy a bicycle?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao immediately deflated, his head drooping, unable to utter a single word.

His family is not well-off, and he is still in school, so he simply cannot afford to buy a bicycle.

Seeing his dejected look, He Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh and said something.

"Alright, I was just kidding."

"If you can get this done, I'll get you a bicycle, but you have to tell everyone that you borrowed money from me to buy it, and you can't let it get out."

Xu Damao immediately perked up, his face beaming with joy, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Sure! No problem! Leave this to me, I guarantee I'll negotiate the lowest possible commission!"

Suddenly, he remembered something and asked.

"By the way, Brother Zhu, is this urgent? I want to ask him as soon as possible."

He Yuzhu said calmly.

"There's no rush. Just go and find out for me first."

Xu Damao chuckled and said with a sly look in his eyes.

"So, you mean, you're saying bicycles are always available? That's some pretty unconventional stuff!"

After these years of experience, Xu Damao is no longer the naive and ignorant young man he once was; he has a lot more to his name now.

He Yuzhu glanced at him indifferently, without giving a direct answer, and instead dropped another bombshell.

"Not only bicycles, I also have watches, all genuine high-quality items."

Upon hearing the word "watch," Xu Damao jumped up excitedly, grabbed He Yuzhu's arm, and said urgently.

"A watch? Brother Zhu, you'd better save one for me!"

He Yuzhu shook his head helplessly and said.

"Don't think about these things now. You're still in school. What are you planning, getting a bicycle and a watch?"

Xu Damao, his face full of determination, grabbed He Yuzhu's arm and pleaded earnestly.

"I don't care, Brother Zhu, you absolutely have to save one for me! I've been dreaming of owning a watch!"

Seeing his persistent look, He Yuzhu reluctantly agreed.

"Okay, you'll get your share. I'll save one for you."

Xu Damao was overjoyed and couldn't wait to say it.

"Brother Zhu, can you show me now? I want to see what styles they have!"

He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

"Wait, I'll go home and get you a few pieces."

After saying that, he turned around and went back to his home, where he selected several watches from the system space that were particularly avant-garde in terms of style.

These watches are all famous foreign brands, in excellent condition and exquisitely crafted.

He Yuzhu took the watch and returned to Xu Damao's house.

Xu Damao took the watch, examining each piece carefully.

He looked at each piece from left to right, touching them with obvious delight, his eyes filled with fascination, unwilling to put any of them down.

He Yuzhu looked at his infatuated expression and spoke.

"Alright, stop getting overwhelmed by the choices. You can only bring one now. Whichever one I have left will be yours."

Xu Damao immediately became anxious and waved his hands repeatedly.

"No, no, no, Brother Zhu, I'll choose now, so you don't leave me any trouble!"

He spent a long time looking through the watch, finally clutching a nearly new Omega watch tightly, refusing to let go.