May 11, 1951.
Sijiucheng (Old Beijing).
Military Control Commission, District Public Security Department for Jiaodaokou Street and Qianmen Street areas.
"Comrade He Yushan, all your onboarding procedures have been completed. The organization understands you haven't been home in over a decade."
"We're giving you three days off before you officially start your job. Take this time to reunite with your family."
A middle-aged man with a square face said this while signing He Yushan's housing application form.
"Take your housing application to the Personnel and Labor Section and find Sister Huang. She will handle it for you. If you have any questions or are unclear about anything, just ask Sister Huang."
He Yushan took the housing application with both hands.
"Thank you, Minister Li!"
After leaving the Minister's office, He Yushan went to the Personnel and Labor Section.
He quickly found Sister Huang, whom Minister Li Aiguo had mentioned. She was a middle-aged woman with a neat short haircut and black-rimmed glasses.
Sister Huang didn't waste any words. After verifying the application form, she immediately pulled out a document and began to look through it.
She continued to look through it, head bowed, while also explaining things to He Yushan.
"You're a cadre transferring from the military, so for housing, you can choose an apartment building, or you can choose a courtyard house, a multi-family courtyard, or a dormitory-style building..."
What was most valuable? Of course, it was the courtyard house.
But it was only 1951 now.
Courtyard houses wouldn't become valuable until the 1990s.
He Yushan felt it wasn't worth sacrificing his comfort for three or four decades just for a valuable courtyard.
Moreover!
If he wanted a courtyard house later, he could just buy one himself.
He was a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Public Security under the Military Control Commission. When the time came, he could find a way to get himself a good courtyard house; he had plenty of methods.
"Sister Huang, if there's an apartment building available, I'd like to choose an apartment."
Sister Huang didn't even lift her head, quickly flipping through the document in her hand, then stopped on one page.
"Everyone wants an apartment, so apartment resources are very tight. But you're in luck; there just happens to be one apartment available."
Sister Huang said, pushing the document over for He Yushan to see.
"This apartment is on Hou Dajie in Ximianhua Hutong. I see from the records that your family is at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard. The distance between the two places is only a few kilometers."
"However, there are still empty rooms in your courtyard, right in the front yard, and they're two rooms connected together. If you choose your courtyard, I can process it for you right now."
He Yushan quickly said, "Since there's an apartment building, I'll choose the apartment. Thank you, Sister Huang."
As He Yushan spoke, he took two cans from his satchel and placed them on the table, pushing them towards Sister Huang.
Sister Huang looked at the two foreign-brand cans with great delight.
One was fruit preserves, the other beef preserves. She had never seen either before, clearly spoils of war that He Yushan had captured or received while in the military.
"Alright, although several units are eyeing this apartment, such as the new Logistics Director from the Lou Family Steel Plant, which is affiliated with No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard where your family resides."
"But don't worry, since we work in the same department, I'll definitely prioritize helping you secure the apartment."
Sister Huang said, subtly tucking the two cans into her drawer.
"Then thank you, Sister Huang. I'll treat you to a meal later."
"I estimate there will be a result within three days. Oh, and don't forget to take this; turn left out the door, go to the third office, and find Comrade Xiao Wang to get your uniform."
"Also, calling me Sister Huang sounds too formal. My name is Huang Yuan, so from now on, just call me Sister Huang!"
Sister Huang said, signing a note for He Yushan.
"Thank you, Sister Huang!"
He Yushan left the Personnel and Labor Section with the signed note.
Indeed, giving gifts was the quickest way to build relationships.
Don't let the small difference between 'Sister Huang' and 'Sister Huang' fool you; the relationships they represented were worlds apart.
Just think... everyone else called her Sister Huang, but He Yushan called her Sister Huang.
After He Yushan found Xiao Wang, whom Huang Yuan had mentioned, Xiao Wang looked at the note and immediately put down her current work to prioritize assisting He Yushan.
He Yushan successfully received his supplies.
Two new cadre uniforms, both for summer wear; two more for winter would be issued separately later.
There were also daily necessities like a quilt, bedsheets, two pairs of socks, cloth shoes, a thermos, an enamel washbasin, and a cup.
As for his firearm, it would be issued three days later, after He Yushan officially took office.
Before He Yushan left, Xiao Wang also told He Yushan that if his socks wore out or his thermos broke, he could come directly to her for replacements.
"Comrade Xiao Wang, I bought an extra box of Pehchaolin vanishing cream. I think it's perfect for you, so I've left it on your desk."
Xiao Wang looked at the box of Pehchaolin vanishing cream on the table with great joy.
He Yushan said he bought an extra box?
She naturally didn't believe it.
She had been proactive in handling things, partly because of He Yushan's position, and also because of the special mark on Huang Yuan's note.
Normally, when busy, if someone needed special attention, Huang Yuan would leave a special mark on the note when signing it.
Xiao Wang, a girl with a freckled face, gazed out the window at He Yushan's departing figure, lost in thought.
No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard.
He Yushan stood at the entrance, his heart filled with emotion as he was about to enter.
Because he was a transmigrator.
Five years ago, he had transmigrated onto the body of He Yushan, who was on the verge of death, or rather, already dead, on the battlefield.
Subsequently, relying on his experience from two lives, he not only survived on the battlefield but also performed some meritorious deeds and became a cadre.
Therefore, now returning from military service, he was assigned to the Military Control Commission.
He became the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Public Security for the Jiaodaokou Street and Qianmen Street areas of the Military Control Commission.
Originally, He Yushan could have directly become a Minister, but the higher-ups felt He Yushan was too young, only 24 years old now, and decided to let him gain some experience first.
The reason he was assigned to the Jiaodaokou Street and Qianmen Street areas was because Minister Li Aiguo had connections; as long as he didn't make any major mistakes, promotion was inevitable in two or three years at most.
Once Li Aiguo was promoted, He Yushan, with two or three years of work experience, would naturally be able to rise to Minister.
He Yushan's family lived at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard.
His cheap father was named He Daqing, and his mother was Song Meimei.
He also had a younger brother named He Yuzhu.
As a transmigrator, He Yushan knew he had transmigrated into the world of the Courtyard House.
He had become the elder brother of Sha Zhu, the protagonist of the Courtyard House. By now, he should also have a younger sister named He Yushui, and as for his cheap mother, Song Meimei, she should have unfortunately passed away a few years ago.
After composing himself, He Yushan stepped into No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard.
Just then.
A system notification sound suddenly rang in He Yushan's mind.
"【Suitable host found, Daily Intelligence System successfully bound!】"
"【Today's Intelligence: He Daqing of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard is preparing to run away tonight with the widow Bai Dongmei due to falsifying his background!】"
???
He Yushan was stunned!
He had transmigrated for so many years.
And finally activated the system?
However, he had just awakened the system, and the gossip was about himself.
His cheap father, He Daqing, was preparing to run away tonight?
The reason was falsifying his background?
Before transmigrating, He Yushan had read some novels about the Courtyard House.
Didn't they all say that He Daqing ran away with the widow Bai because He Daqing liked the widow, and then was tricked by Yi Zhonghai and the Deaf Old Lady into going to Baocheng?
He Yushan walked into the courtyard, full of doubt.
Because he was wearing a military uniform, He Yushan immediately attracted the attention of the people in the front yard.