Early the next morning, Li Ming was woken up by a knock on the door.
Opening the door, it was the driver who had come to pick him up: "Engineer Li, Minister Liu asked me to pick you up to see your new residence, and then go to the factory."
After a quick wash, Li Ming followed the driver to the guesthouse entrance, where a simple jeep was waiting.
Liu Ze was already waiting in the car, and seeing Li Ming, he quickly waved: "Comrade Li Ming, come, come, sit in the front."
After the car started, Liu Ze enthusiastically introduced: "We will first go to South Luogu Lane to see the residence, and then go to Hongxing Steel Rolling Plant. Today's schedule is quite full; we also need to report to the Military Control Commission to apply for your Beijing residence permit."
When Li Ming heard "Military Control Commission," he couldn't help but be stunned: "Military Control Commission? Is Beijing still under military control now?"
"Of course," Liu Ze looked at Li Ming with some surprise, "It's only been a little over a year since entering the city. The Military Control Commission is responsible for maintaining urban order, cracking down on counter-revolutionaries, and ensuring people's safety. You might not be familiar with this abroad; the domestic situation is complex now, and there are still remnants of the enemy in some areas that haven't been cleared. As the Capital, Beijing's security work is especially important."
Li Ming suddenly realized, secretly calculating the timeline: It was indeed still the period of military control.
As the car drove through the streets of Beijing, Li Ming curiously observed this strange yet familiar city through the window.
On both sides of the streets, some were traditional Four Courtyards, some were small brick-and-wood buildings, and some were newly built Soviet-style buildings, with mixed but harmoniously coexisting styles.
People's attire was generally simple; men mostly wore Zhongshan suits or blue cloth work clothes, while women wore gray-blue cloth clothes or dresses. There were also many soldiers in military uniforms patrolling the streets.
There were simple stalls on the street, selling breakfast items like jianbing guozi, douzhi, and fried dough sticks, with their aroma wafting everywhere.
"This is the taste of old Beijing!" Li Ming couldn't help but exclaim.
The scenes he had seen in TV dramas were now truly unfolding before his eyes.
Liu Ze casually explained: "Beijing has only recently been liberated; everything is waiting to be rebuilt, and conditions are still relatively difficult. However, compared to before the liberation, the lives of the common people are much better. Before, beggars were everywhere on these streets; now they have all been placed in factories and farms."
The car turned into a wide street, and Liu Ze pointed to a grand building in the distance: "That was the original princely mansion; now it's where the Military Control Commission works. We'll go there to report first."
Twenty minutes later, Li Ming followed Liu Ze into the Military Control Commission's office building.
Inside, people came and went, mostly cadres in military uniforms, interspersed with a small number of plainclothes personnel.
Liu Ze seemed very familiar with the place, easily leading Li Ming to an office on the third floor and knocking on the door.
"Come in!" A clear voice came from inside.
Liu Ze pushed open the door, and Li Ming saw a burly, resolute-faced middle-aged military officer working at his desk.
"Old Zheng, I've brought that returned student," Liu Ze said with a smile, "The one I mentioned to you yesterday, who is to be arranged at N Luogu Alley 95."
The officer looked up, sized up Li Ming, then stood up and extended his hand: "Welcome back! I am Zheng Tieshan, in charge of security work in the Xicheng District."
"Li Ming, aerospace engineering major," Li Ming shook Zheng Tieshan's hand, feeling as if it was clamped by pliers, "Thank you for the arrangement."
Zheng Tieshan's gaze was sharp but not unkind: "Director Liu said you are a talent, and you understand aircraft engines? This is a technology the country urgently needs!"
"I know a little," Li Ming replied modestly.
Zheng Tieshan smiled: "No need to be modest; the superiors have already given their instructions. I've read your file; it's very clean, with a clear family background and progressive thinking. The courtyard at N Luogu Alley 95 has many workers living there, which will help you understand the national conditions and integrate into collective life."
Then, Zheng Tieshan took out a form and a small booklet, handing them to Li Ming: "This is a temporary residence permit and a grain transfer form. You need to fill in your basic information. If you have any difficulties in the future, you can come directly to me."
Li Ming took the form and filled it out carefully.
He noticed that the form was very simple, only requiring basic information such as name, gender, age, native place, and work unit.
After filling out the form, Zheng Tieshan stamped several large red seals and made a record in a register, then stood up:
"Let's go, I'll go with you to South Luogu Lane and check out the situation there. Recently, there have been some conflicts among the residents of South Luogu Lane, and I can mediate."
The three went downstairs together and got into the jeep.
Zheng Tieshan sat in the front row, occasionally directing the driver which way to go, as familiar with the roads as if it were his own backyard.
"South Luogu Lane is one of the most distinctive places in old Beijing," Zheng Tieshan introduced, "The hutong culture, you won't find that abroad. People from all walks of life live in the courtyards: workers, teachers, cadres, merchants, and some who remained from the old society..."
At this point, his tone slightly deepened, "In short, it's a miniature society; though the sparrow is small, it has all its internal organs."
Li Ming nodded, but his heart became tense.
If it was truly the Four Courtyard from "Love in the Siheyuan," then the characters there were all "celebrities"!
He wondered what it would be like to actually meet them.
The car turned a few corners and drove into a slightly narrower hutong.
On both sides were gray brick and tile courtyard walls, occasionally revealing large red-painted gates, adorned with copper nails or iron rings, appearing ancient and solemn.
"We're here, this is South Luogu Lane," Zheng Tieshan pointed ahead, "Number 95 is just a little further ahead."
From a distance, Li Ming heard a cacophony of arguing voices.
As he approached, he saw seven or eight people gathered in front of a large red gate, one of whom, a short-haired, slightly plump middle-aged woman, was pointing inside the gate and loudly shouting:
"Why isn't it allocated to my family? My family of three is squeezed into such a small room, isn't that small side courtyard empty a waste? The Military Control Commission said housing resources should be reasonably allocated!"
"Sister Jia," a gentle but authoritative voice sounded, "The small side courtyard has always been kept by the public, not just anyone can live there. Besides, although your room is small, it's much more spacious than the Xu family's or the Yan family's."
Li Ming looked in the direction of the voice, seeing a tall, dignified middle-aged man standing inside the courtyard gate, patiently explaining.
He was wearing a faded gray Zhongshan suit, standing ramrod straight, clearly a cultured and rule person.
"That's Yi Zhonghai," Zheng Tieshan whispered to Li Ming, "He's the patriarch of this courtyard, a worker, and a section chief at the Rolling Mill. He's upright and holds great prestige in the courtyard."
When Li Ming heard the name "Yi Zhonghai," his heart immediately surged with immense waves!
Isn't this precisely the "First Elder" from "Love in the Siheyuan"?
The character mockingly called "Moral Heavenly Venerable" by netizens?
Jia Zhangshi—Li Ming immediately recognized the short-haired, slightly plump woman—was still being unreasonable: "Brother Yi, you clearly know my family is small and cramped, why don't you speak up for us? If it weren't for your meddling, the Military Control Commission would have allocated the small side courtyard to us long ago!"
"When did I meddle?" Yi Zhonghai frowned, "The matter of the small side courtyard was decided by the superiors, not something I can influence. Besides, several families in the courtyard are cramped, not just yours."
At this moment, another tall, thin middle-aged man walked out, saying with a stern face:
"Sister Jia, Brother Yi is right, housing allocation is a public matter, not for us to point fingers at. Besides, your family of three living in a main room is already considered spacious compared to my family of five squeezed into a side room."
Zheng Tieshan again whispered: "That's Liu Haizhong, he also works at the Rolling Mill. He's a bit calculating, but still fair."
Liu Haizhong, who is "incompetent but ambitious"! Li Ming secretly thought, isn't this the Second Elder who always wanted to be an official but had no ability, and constantly put on airs?