Chapter 731 Master's Position 7
After several days of intensive and tireless efforts, the safety inspection of the courtyard is finally coming to an end like a long battle. During these days, everyone worked together with clear division of labor, leaving no corner untouched and carefully checking every detail.
Those sheds that were originally built in the yard in a disorderly manner were like stubborn "psoriasis", which seriously affected the overall beauty and order of the courtyard. Now, with everyone's unremitting efforts, they have been demolished one by one. During the demolition process, the workers carefully operated the tools to minimize the damage to the surrounding environment. As the sheds fell to the ground, the space originally occupied by them gradually appeared, and the originally narrow passage became spacious and bright, as if the "Ren and Du meridians" had been reopened.
The aged wires are like time bombs hidden in the dark, which may cause serious safety accidents at any time. The electricians worked tirelessly, climbing up and down, carefully checking each line. They replaced the aged wires one by one with professional tools and superb skills. The newly replaced wires were neatly arranged, like rows of well-trained soldiers, protecting the safety of the courtyard.
After this drastic renovation, the entire courtyard seems to have undergone a magical transformation, as if it had been reborn. The original messy and dilapidated scene is gone, replaced by a new look of neatness, order, safety and reliability. There are no more random piles of debris in the yard, the ground has been cleaned so clean that even a fallen leaf is hard to find; the stains on the wall have also been cleaned up, revealing the original simple brick color; the replaced wires are shining with metallic luster in the sun, as if telling of safety guarantees.
However, just when everyone was filled with joy and thought that the storm that brought the Siheyuan back to life was finally over and that the Siheyuan could return to its former tranquility and peace, new troubles arrived quietly like an uninvited guest.
The subdistrict office suddenly announced a big news: in order to improve the image and quality of the entire community and create a more livable, beautiful and modern living environment, it decided to renovate the appearance of the courtyard houses in a unified way. This news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, which once again stirred up a thousand waves in the courtyard houses and caused an uproar.
This time, the residents' reaction was more intense than the last safety inspection. After all, the safety inspection only checked and rectified some potential safety hazards, while this exterior renovation directly involved the "face" of the courtyard house and everyone's living habits over the years. Many people have lived in the courtyard for most of their lives and have deep feelings for every brick and tile of the courtyard house. These bricks and tiles have witnessed their growth, their laughter and tears, and carry their countless memories and emotions.
"Why do we have to renovate this nice courtyard? We have lived here for so many years and have long been accustomed to it. We don't know what it will look like after this change." An old man with gray hair sat on a stone bench at the door, his hands resting weakly on his knees, frowning and looking reluctant. His eyes revealed his attachment to his past life and his worry about unknown changes. His eyes slowly swept across every corner of the courtyard, as if he wanted to engrave these familiar scenes in his heart forever.
"That's right. Every brick and tile of this courtyard has its own story. If it is renovated, won't all these stories be gone?" A middle-aged woman also stood aside, holding her hands in front of her chest, and said angrily. Her eyes were full of reluctance and anxiety. She was worried that the renovated courtyard would become monotonous and lose its original charm and characteristics.
"The old locust tree in front of our house has been passed down from generation to generation. What will happen if it is cut down during the renovation?" Another resident also echoed anxiously, with a worried look on his face. This old locust tree is like a guardian of the courtyard, witnessing countless springs, summers, autumns and winters. Its existence has become an indispensable part of the lives of the residents.
Everyone was talking, their voices getting louder and louder, their emotions getting more and more excited. The whole courtyard was filled with a tense and anxious atmosphere, as if a new storm was about to come. Everyone was worried about their homes, afraid that this renovation would disrupt their originally peaceful and beautiful lives.
"That's right, the renovation will definitely cost a lot of money. It's not a small amount! We work hard to make a living and have to spend every penny carefully. Who should pay for this sudden renovation cost? If the street office asks us residents to pay for it out of our own pockets, that would be too unreasonable! We don't want to pay this extra money for no reason. If we spend this money, the family expenses will be tight in the future. The children's tuition and the elderly's medical expenses, all of them will cost money!" A middle-aged woman put her hands on her hips, her brows tightly furrowed into the shape of a "川" character, her eyes full of worry and dissatisfaction, and she kept muttering, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances in her heart.
The more she spoke, the more excited she became, and her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels: "We've lived in this courtyard for so many years, and we've never seen any major problems. Why does it suddenly have to be renovated? I think this may be an idea that the street office came up with in order to complete some task, and they don't consider the feelings and actual situation of us residents at all. What should we do if our quality of life doesn't improve after the renovation, and we end up wasting money?" The surrounding residents listened and nodded in agreement. Everyone started talking about it, and the yard suddenly became a mess.
At this moment, Liu Haizhong couldn't hold back his desire to show off. He always felt that he was a well-known figure in the Siheyuan. In his opinion, this renovation was undoubtedly a great opportunity to re-establish his authority. He cleared his throat, adjusted his collar, and then strode to the center of the yard. Like a leader who was about to make an important speech, he said loudly: "Don't panic, be quiet and listen to me! I have to take the lead in this renovation. I, Liu Haizhong, have been in the Siheyuan for so many years and have done a lot of practical things for everyone. Everyone has seen it. I promise to strive for the greatest interests for everyone, so that the renovation will not only meet the requirements of the street office, but also retain the characteristics of our Siheyuan to the greatest extent. I will communicate well with the street office and reflect our ideas and opinions. I will never let anyone suffer!"
As he spoke, he waved his arms, his eyes revealing a kind of confidence and pride, as if he had seen himself successfully solving the renovation problem and being praised by everyone. When the surrounding residents heard this, some showed expectant eyes, thinking that Liu Haizhong was really capable and might be able to get things done this time; but some showed doubts, after all, such a big thing as renovation is not so easy to handle.
Yi Zhonghai looked at Liu Haizhong's eagerness to show off, and he couldn't help but feel a little worried. He and Liu Haizhong have known each other for many years, and he knows that although Liu Haizhong is warm-hearted and willing to do things for everyone, he is sometimes too impulsive and does not consider things thoroughly. He is worried that Liu Haizhong will rashly take the lead in doing this without fully understanding the situation, and it is likely to mess things up. Not only will the problem not be solved, but it will also make everyone more dissatisfied.
So, Yi Zhonghai stepped forward, with a gentle smile on his face, and said softly: "Lao Liu, the renovation is indeed very important. It is related to the vital interests of every resident of our courtyard, but we can't act blindly. This renovation involves many aspects, such as the renovation plan. We need to know how the street office plans to make changes, whether it is to make minor repairs or to make a big move; the source of funds is also critical, whether the street office will pay the full amount or we residents will have to share part of it; and the construction time. If the construction period is too long, our lives will definitely be greatly affected. We need to communicate well with the street office on these matters and make decisions after understanding the situation clearly. We can't just rush forward with enthusiasm."
After hearing what Yi Zhonghai said, Liu Haizhong's smile froze a little. He didn't expect Yi Zhonghai to refute him in front of so many people. He felt a little unconvinced, but he still resisted the urge to get angry. He just said perfunctorily: "Old Yi, I know what you said. I know what you said. Don't worry about it. I will definitely get it done."
Yi Zhonghai looked at Liu Haizhong's disapproving expression and shook his head helplessly. He knew that Liu Haizhong didn't really listen to his words. He could only pray secretly that this transformation would go smoothly and nothing would go wrong.
Liu Haizhong was a little unhappy, and his face, which was originally flushed due to excitement, was now even more red like a ripe tomato. He folded his hands in front of his chest, his neck straightened like an angry rooster, and shouted loudly: "Yi Zhonghai, you are too cautious! How can you do anything if you always think about everything before and after? By the time you have considered all the situations, it will be too late and you will have no chance! We must be more adventurous and can't always be timid."
As he spoke, he paced back and forth in his place, his steps were quick and powerful, as if he wanted to vent all his dissatisfaction through these steps. "Think about it, the street office said that it wants to renovate, this is such a good thing! We must take action first, take the initiative, show our attitude to the street office, let them know that we attach great importance to the renovation. Maybe if we are more proactive, the street office can get more benefits for our courtyard. If you are like you, waiting and watching everything, you will get nothing in the end!"
Yi Zhonghai looked at Liu Haizhong's impatient look, his brows furrowed tightly into the shape of a "川" character. He took a deep breath, tried to keep his tone calm, and said, "Lao Liu, I understand your desire to do things for everyone, but this is not a trivial matter. There are too many aspects involved in the renovation, such as how to allocate funds, whether the construction will affect everyone's normal life, and whether the effect of the renovation can satisfy everyone. These must be considered clearly. If we act rashly and something goes wrong, who will be responsible? How will everyone live?"
The two began to argue fiercely again, and the noise became louder and louder, as if they were going to blow the roof off the courtyard. The residents around them were originally still talking quietly, but now they were also attracted by their argument and gathered around, and soon they split into two groups.
One group supported Liu Haizhong, led by several young and strong men. One of the men, wearing blue overalls, waved his arms and said loudly: "I think Uncle Liu is right! We must actively fight for our rights and interests, and can't always wait for others to arrange things. If we wait for the street office to decide everything, we won't even have a say. We have to let them know that the residents of our courtyard are not easy to mess with, and we have our own ideas and demands!" The people around him listened and nodded in agreement, their eyes revealing an eagerness to try.
The other group supported Yi Zhonghai, mainly several elderly women. An elderly woman with gray hair and wrinkles on her face pulled Yi Zhonghai's arm and said anxiously: "Old Yi is right! We can't act impulsively. This renovation is not a child's play. We can't just change it. What if the renovation is not done well and our courtyard is completely unrecognizable? We'd better be cautious and wait until we have figured out the situation." Other elderly women also echoed, their eyes full of worry and caution.
Just when everyone was arguing and each of them was holding their own opinions, and no one could convince the other, the staff of the subdistrict office came to the courtyard. They were dressed in neat uniforms, holding thick documents in their hands and wearing polite smiles on their faces. The leading staff member stepped forward, cleared his throat, and said loudly: "Dear residents, please be quiet for a moment. We are here today to bring you a detailed renovation plan and budget, and to explain to you the purpose and significance of the renovation."
As he spoke, he handed the document in his hand to the residents next to him for everyone to read. "This renovation is mainly to improve the overall environment of our community and improve everyone's living conditions. You see, some roads in the community are bumpy and there is serious water accumulation on rainy days; some public facilities are aging and pose safety hazards. Our renovation this time is to solve these problems and make everyone live more comfortably and safely."
He then introduced the budget in detail: "Most of the renovation funds will be borne by the street office, and residents only need to bear a small part. This part of the funds is mainly used for some personalized renovations. For example, if you want to plant some flowers or build a small garden at your doorstep, or make some minor repairs to the doors and windows of your home, you will need to pay a little bit of this cost yourself. But don't worry, we will also try our best to obtain more subsidies for you to reduce your burden."
After listening to the staff's explanation, the residents calmed down a little. The originally heated debate gradually died down, and everyone gathered together, carefully looking at the documents in their hands and discussing quietly. However, everyone still had some doubts about the renovation plan, and their eyes revealed worry and uncertainty.
A middle-aged man frowned, pointed to a part of the document and asked: "Can the effect of the renovation be guaranteed? We are worried that after the renovation, it will be different from what we imagined. We will spend money and still not achieve the expected results, which will be a big loss." Other residents nodded, expressing the same concerns.
The staff smiled and patiently explained: "Don't worry, this renovation plan was developed after many investigations and demonstrations. During the renovation process, we will also fully listen to everyone's opinions and suggestions and try our best to meet everyone's needs. In addition, we will invite professional design teams and construction teams to carry out the renovation to ensure that the effect after the renovation is both beautiful and practical."
Although the staff explained in detail, the doubts in the minds of the residents were not completely eliminated. Everyone still looked at each other with half belief and half doubt, waiting for further news.
Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong decided to put aside their differences for the time being and communicate with the staff of the subdistrict office. They raised the concerns and suggestions of the residents and hoped that the subdistrict office could further optimize the renovation plan.
The staff of the subdistrict office said that they would seriously consider their suggestions and make appropriate adjustments to the renovation plan. In the next few days, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong ran around to collect residents' opinions and negotiated with the subdistrict office many times.
After some efforts, the renovation plan was finally recognized by most residents. The renovation project was officially launched, and the courtyard was busy. Workers came in and out, and the roar of machines was heard one after another.
During the renovation process, some new problems emerged. Some residents were dissatisfied with the construction time and felt that the noise was too loud and affected their rest; some residents had doubts about the quality of the construction materials and worried that it would affect the effect of the renovation.
Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong stood up again, calming the residents and communicating with the construction party. They asked the construction party to arrange the construction time reasonably to minimize the impact on the lives of residents; at the same time, strictly control the construction materials to ensure the quality of the renovation.
With their efforts, the problems were solved one by one. As time went by, the appearance of the courtyard house gradually changed. The originally dilapidated walls were repainted, and the tiles on the roof were replaced, giving the whole courtyard a brand new look.
When the renovation was completed, the residents looked at the new courtyard house with pleasant smiles. Although the renovation process experienced many twists and turns, the final result still made everyone satisfied.