Chapter 159

Su Xiaoxiao knocked on the study door while holding a skewer of grilled meat.

Han Cheng was busy with the paperwork he brought back. When he saw Su Xiaoxiao entering with the skewer, he pinched his nose and said, “You guys, go ahead and eat. I’ll join you once I finish this.”

Su Xiaoxiao closed the door behind her and placed the skewer on the table. Tilting her head, she stared at Han Cheng with rare seriousness.

Han Cheng reached out and pulled her onto his lap to sit, kissing her cheek. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Su Xiaoxiao turned her head, cupping his face with both hands and gazing into his eyes. “Han Cheng, have we ever argued since we met till now? How about we have a little argument?”

Han Cheng took a moment to process, staring at his wife in bewilderment. “Why would we argue?” he asked.

Su Xiaoxiao took a bite of the grilled meat and offered it to Han Cheng, urging him to take a bite too. They finished the skewer together, and then Su Xiaoxiao spoke, “Because you never told me you’re from the capital and about the courtyard we have there.”

Han Cheng thought something serious had happened, but it turned out to be this. He took another skewer and fed Su Xiaoxiao a bite of meat. “I thought something was wrong. Yes, I was born in the capital. My grandfather was indeed a prominent figure, and my grandmother was a diplomat. I studied in the capital for a few years before my grandparents passed away, and then I followed my parents to the military district. The rest of my relatives went their separate ways, and we lost contact. So, I never mentioned it. Some bad things happened in that courtyard, and I don’t plan to go back and live there. Let’s handle them together this time.”

Su Xiaoxiao blinked, chewing on the meat, and looked at Han Cheng. “So, you’re from a prestigious family. Then why did the matchmaker say you’re from the provincial capital?”

Han Cheng fed Su Xiaoxiao another bite of meat and took one for himself, shaking his head. “Commissioner Tan and Zhou Cuihua are from the provincial capital. Commissioner Tan was my teacher and elder. He indeed had plans to adopt me, but I didn’t agree. Of course, Zhou Cuihua wouldn’t agree either. I did spend some time studying in the provincial capital. The teacher who recommended me to the matchmaker is well-known there and knows all about my situation. Knowing I didn’t intend to return to the capital, he simply said I’m from the provincial capital serving as a soldier in Qingfeng Town, to avoid further inquiries. Actually, the matchmaker is quite reliable, and with his recommendation, the matchmaker introduced you to me.”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded. “The matchmaker is well-known in our area. Almost all marriages there are arranged by her. Everyone trusts her recommendations. So, Han Cheng, do we really have a courtyard? What do you mean by handling it?”

Han Cheng thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes, it’s not far from Peking University. But I haven’t visited in years, and no one lives there. I don’t know its current condition. I’m thinking of selling it or exchanging it for something else.”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “Don’t sell it. If you really don’t like it, we can either stay or exchange it with someone else for a smaller one, but we can’t sell it.”

Just kidding. Decades later, a courtyard in the capital would be an extremely rare resource, not to mention its symbolism of status and position. A well-maintained courtyard could be worth billions. They weren’t short of money now, and even if they sold it, they wouldn’t be able to buy it back in the future.

Han Cheng looked at Su Xiaoxiao with confusion.

Su Xiaoxiao hugged Han Cheng’s neck and rubbed her head against his, saying, “I’ve read about the courtyards in the capital’s alleys in many excellent literary works. Old alleys, old locust trees, and courtyards represent culture and sentiment. I’ve always admired them. If you really don’t feel comfortable, can we exchange it with someone else?”

Han Cheng agreed to whatever she proposed. He wouldn’t refuse such trivial matters.

“If you like it, let’s keep it, but we won’t live there,” Han Cheng said, remembering something. He picked Su Xiaoxiao up and walked to the bookcase, taking out a book from the top.

Then, Su Xiaoxiao watched as he took out a piece of gold from inside.

Su Xiaoxiao widened her eyes. “Han Cheng, you actually hid gold in the books? Aren’t you afraid the kids will find it when they flip through the books? Fantuan would definitely shout that there’s gold in the books if he saw it.”

Han Cheng said, “This is from the old chief, Zhang Hongtu’s father. It was a gift for you. When we got married, I went to the capital for a business trip, and he asked me to give it to you as a gift. I didn’t see the need for it, so I put it in the book. Now that the price of gold is good, this piece should be enough for us to buy a smaller courtyard near the university in the capital.”

“Is it for me?” Su Xiaoxiao shook her head repeatedly. “It’s too precious; we can’t accept it.”

Han Cheng said, “It’s not a rare thing. We should have buried a jar of gold in our courtyard.” He didn’t mention the past for many years, and Han Cheng didn’t know where to start.

Han Cheng said, “It’s nothing rare. There should be a jar of gold buried in our courtyard.” It had been many years since he had mentioned the past. Han Cheng was unsure where to start. “When my grandparents passed away in a hurry, they didn’t have time to explain where they buried the gold. My eldest uncle’s family searched the entire courtyard in order to find the gold. They dug three feet deep but found nothing. In the end, they were about to tear down the courtyard. My father and aunt objected, and then they had a big fight. My eldest uncle accidentally hit my aunt on the head with a shovel, and that’s how she died.”

Han Cheng clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh without feeling any pain. He was still young at that time, but he still remembered vividly the day his aunt bled so much, almost staining the entire courtyard red. But her last words before passing away were, “A harmonious family brings prosperity. Don’t blame my eldest brother, don’t investigate, and never mention it to anyone. It was my own fault for slipping and falling. It’s just an accident.”

It was a family tragedy and a family shame. His father ultimately followed his aunt’s last wish by not calling the police and not blaming his eldest uncle. But he blamed himself all along. It was just a house. If his eldest brother wanted to tear it down, why did he try to stop him? No amount of houses or gold could outweigh a human life.

Han Cheng’s father didn’t kill his sister, so it can’t even be counted as his sister dying because of Han Cheng’s father. However, his righteous father considered it the only stain in his upright life. He felt he had let his sister down, his deceased parents down, and even his own military uniform down. He sought redemption in his own way, always applying to go wherever there was war and volunteering for the most dangerous missions others dared not undertake. He went, knowing full well the risks. His mother, knowing the pain in his father’s heart, chose to accompany him to the battlefield instead of staying with her children to see them grow up. In the end, they both fell on the battlefield.

When Han Cheng saw his parents’ bodies, they had serene expressions with a slight smile. Perhaps it was only at the moment they fell on the battlefield that his father felt he had cleansed the stains on his military uniform. He had a chance to meet his parents and his sister in the afterlife. His son would also become a clean martyr’s orphan. He sacrificed himself for the country without regret.

The past was too heavy, condensed into a few casual sentences in the end. Han Cheng subconsciously blocked out all memories of the house and his parents. When others asked about his parents, he simply said, “I am a martyr’s orphan. My parents died for the country.” If it weren’t for Su Xiaoxiao going to the capital to study, he might never have returned to the capital, let alone to that house.

Han Cheng had never told outsiders about the secrets of his family, not even Zhang Hongtu and Zhao Xianfeng. Even the old leader didn’t know. Outsiders only knew that his aunt died accidentally, and his eldest uncle’s family resigned from their positions and went abroad.

He had been carrying this heavy secret all along. Now, talking to his wife about it, it didn’t feel as painful as he had imagined. It was a relief to find someone to share the burden with.

Han Cheng’s unexpected narration made Su Xiaoxiao sigh endlessly, and he hugged Han Cheng and kissed his forehead with heartache. “I’m sorry, Han Cheng; I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” 

Han Cheng released his clenched fist and pinched his wife’s palm, saying, “It’s okay. Nobody knows about these things, but you’re not an outsider. I should have told you earlier.”

Su Xiaoxiao picked up Han Cheng’s hand and gently rubbed it with both of her own hands, saying, “Did you feel comfortable after saying it?”

Han Cheng nodded and took her hand and kissed her lips, saying, “It’s a lot easier.”

Su Xiaoxiao kissed him again and said, “It’s okay, I’ll be with you with the children.” Su Xiaoxiao was feeling hesitant but still asked, “So, what about your uncle’s family?”

Han Cheng shook his head and said, “I don’t know. After going overseas for over twenty years, there has been no news.”

Su Xiaoxiao asked again, “Under whose name is the courtyard house? Can we handle it ourselves?”

Su Xiaoxiao remembers that the reason why many courtyard houses in later generations could not be bought or sold was due to property rights issues. Before and after the Great Movement, many people’s properties were taken over, and the property rights of wealthy families at the landlord level became more complex.

At that time, housing was scarce. In order to solve the housing problems of some cadres or employees, they would rent these properties with unclear property rights to some staff and cadres. 

In the large courtyard houses, there are a few families or even a dozen families.

After the movement was over, the rehabilitated people naturally wanted to take back their properties, but they had to have a complete set of proof, such as a will and property deed. 

Generally, the list of inheritors of the property of such wealthy families is so long that it is difficult to find a complete list. Some of these contracts were in one person’s hands, and even some properties had no legal owners at all. In addition, the people living inside refuse to move. 

So, even if they know the house belongs to them, they cannot retrieve it, let alone buy or sell it.

Of course, Han Cheng’s courtyard house has never been confiscated, and there is no such situation. However, if a sale is to be made, it is still necessary to clarify the ownership of the property and provide documents such as a will and house deed.

Han Cheng thought for a moment and said, “My grandfather made a will before his death to divide it equally among the siblings. When my aunt passed away, she was not married yet and had no husband or children. Uncle felt guilty about it. Before leaving, he said he would give up his inheritance rights and let his father handle the house. My father was prepared to sacrifice at any time since the first time he went to the battlefield, so he also made a will early on for me to inherit the courtyard. The will and property deed should be there, but I don’t remember where they are. I need to look for them carefully.”

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t find the right words to say. How could such a large courtyard, with Comrade Han Cheng himself not knowing where the will and the contract were kept, be easily found by them? “You should search for them now. Be careful not to lose them.”

Han Cheng said, “I don’t usually throw things away randomly. They should still be there, but I’m not sure if they’ve been eaten by bugs.”

Su Xiaoxiao: “…..”

The camphor pills that Mother always stuffed into the clothes would’ve been helpful.

She pushed Han Cheng. “Then search quickly. If we find them, we can sell the courtyard and buy a new one. Anyway, we must be a family with a courtyard!”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t have such big ambitions before. Even if they wanted to buy, she would’ve waited until she earned money from her shop. But now the situation is different. They already had one. She admitted she was really greedy for a courtyard.

Han Cheng didn’t understand where Su Xiaoxiao’s persistence in having a courtyard came from. He was about to get up and search when Fantuan knocked on the door, calling out, “Mom, Dad, what are you doing? Xiao Roubao’s about to eat all the meat! Come out quickly and have dinner!”

The couple looked at each other, and Su Xiaoxiao said, “Let’s eat first and continue searching after dinner.”

Han Cheng sighed. “But what if we can’t find it?”

Su Xiaoxiao replied, “If we can’t find it, we can’t sell it. We won’t be able to change the house, and it’s sad to leave it there. We can’t live in it ourselves either. What should we do?”

Han Cheng: “……”

“Then I’ll just look for it carefully.”