Starting as a Train Driver to Enter the Ministry
Chapter 8 - The Water Tyrant of Old Peking!

Chapter 8: The Water Tyrant of Old Peking!

Maihua pouted, “Then I’ll go to the backyard and find Old Lady Shuisan first! Hope I don’t run into the deaf old lady next door or that drunkard from the east side!”

Shuisan of the courtyard used to be a water carrier in the South Luogu Alley. In old Peking, daily water supply relied entirely on shallow wells. The city’s terrain was fan-shaped, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with plenty of rivers and lakes, so shallow wells were abundant. Back then, the new nation had no proper water supply system. Even when one was eventually built, only wealthy households could afford it—ordinary folks still relied on well water!

But this well water wasn’t free. During feudal times, it was managed by Dongshan-born army cooks under the Qing Dynasty. After the Qing collapsed, these cooks took over the sweetwater wells, becoming what people called “water tyrants!”

These water tyrants hired young men from Dongshan as water carriers, who pushed wheelbarrows with two large water tanks, delivering water door-to-door in the alleys! Old Pekingers called these Dongshan youths “Shui Sai’er,” but over time, the name morphed into “Shuisan,” and eventually, “Old Brother San!”

The era of water tyrants lasted until 1954 when the city’s water network expanded, ending the reliance on well water—and with it, the profession of water carriers. After the founding of the nation, these tyrants were classified as landlords and local despots!

Before liberation, they swaggered around with unchecked power, but after, they had to grovel and keep their heads down.

In the courtyard’s backyard lived one such Shuisan. Every year during festivals, he’d give the residents vermicelli noodles—supposedly a Dongshan specialty, but in truth, they were just bought on credit from noodle shops. Each household got anywhere from two to five pounds, and while it was called a “gift,” they had to pay—and pay extra—or else face minor inconveniences when the water deliveries resumed the next year.

No one wanted to stir up trouble over a small sum.

But while Shuisan was a feared water tyrant in the neighborhood before 1949, there was one household he never dared to mess with—the Chen family. Chen Shi was just too ruthless. At fifteen, he’d once chased a night-soil tyrant ten blocks with a cleaver. Back then, any water carrier who dared disrespect the Chen family would face his wrath.

So while Shuisan was a tyrant to others, to the Chens, he was surprisingly amicable. The two families had a long history of mutual favors.

Shuisan’s mother was from Dongshan, the city of kites, famous for its paper-cutting. Whenever there was a celebration in the courtyard, she’d help with decorative cuttings—though before liberation, her services weren’t free and came at a steep price. Now, just to survive, she offered them for free to the working-class families in the compound.

Chen Maihua carefully avoided the drunkard’s house and called out, “Auntie Shuisan, my brother’s getting married. Could you help cut some red double-happiness characters?”

“Ah, no problem! Come on, Maihua, I’ll go with you. Might as well help your mother tidy up too.”

“Maihua!”

Turning around, Maihua saw the frail He Yushui, her eyes bright with excitement. “Yushui! Thank goodness you’re here! Mom’s got me working again, and you know how bad I am at it. If you weren’t here, I’d get scolded for sure!”

Born in 1943, Maihua was the same age as Yushui—both nine this year. Having grown up together in the courtyard, Maihua had often tagged along with Yushui for meals back when He Daqing was still around.

The two were close. After He Daqing left, Yushui’s life got harder, so Maihua always found ways to include her in chores at her own home.

Yushui asked, “Is Brother Chen Shi really getting married?”

“Yeah, he’s already twenty. Dad says he can’t let him keep fooling around. This time, he even got mixed up with an executed criminal—who knows what trouble he’ll stir up next? Mom says all he needs is a wife to settle him down. Oh, Yushui, your brother’s eighteen now, right? Two more years, and he’ll be looking for a wife too?”

Yushui sighed. “That idiot brother of mine? Forget it. I’ve done the math—he won’t find a wife before thirty!”

Maihua giggled. “Really? I saw him staring at Qin Huairu earlier. I thought my brother might’ve picked her too!”

With Chen Shi’s wedding coming up, the Chen household was bustling—yet Chen Shi himself strolled leisurely behind Old Chen, hands in his pockets, looking utterly unbothered as they headed to the Military Control Commission.

Meanwhile, Qin Huairu and Shen Youchu, led by Matchmaker Wang, were about to board a bus. Jia Dongxiu gazed at Huairu with lovesick eyes. “Huairu, hurry back with the marriage papers. I’ll wait here for you! My master said we’ll get the certificate first, then throw a banquet in the courtyard!”

Blushing, Huairu nodded. In an era where a bag of rice could secure a bride, there was no fuss over betrothal gifts or dowries. Everyone was poor—once Huairu returned from her bridal visit, the Jias would just give some grain or five yuan as a token gesture.

Yi Zhonghai watched Chen Shi with a calm gaze. “Chen Shi, once you’re married, you’ll need to straighten up. No more of your reckless ways.”

Chen Shi raised an eyebrow. Well, well, if it isn’t the old schemer. If he hadn’t spoken, Chen Shi might’ve forgotten about the stunt he pulled during the matchmaking earlier.

Getting played by this old fox today… If I don’t pay him back, I won’t sleep tonight!

But how to retaliate without tarnishing his reputation? Not that he had much of one in these alleys, but if Yi Zhonghai caught him slipping, he’d be branded a born troublemaker—just like Xu Damao, forever at a disadvantage in the courtyard.

Then it hit him. Got it!

“Dad, you and Director Wang seemed familiar earlier?”

Old Chen’s eyes gleamed. “Hmph. Met once during work.”

“Then how about you handle the marriage papers for me? You’ve got our household register anyway. I just got myself a wife—can’t bear to be apart. I’ll go with her to get her papers!”

Old Chen’s face darkened. “You little brat! This isn’t some trivial matter! You—”

“Thanks, Dad! You’ve got this! Come on, Youchu, let’s go!”

Before Shen Youchu could react, Chen Shi tugged her toward the bus stop. Watching his shameless son, Old Chen coughed in fury.

Yi Zhonghai smirked, eyes glinting with schadenfreude. “Old Chen, that son of yours… his temper’s hard to change. Dongxiu, now—he listens to whatever I say.”

Jia Dongxiu watched enviously as Chen Shi walked off hand-in-hand with Shen Youchu. Truth was, he didn’t want to part with Huairu either.

But he had to obey his master.

Huairu quickened her pace to the bus stop, stealing a curious glance at Chen Shi. A flicker of regret passed through her eyes. Honestly… Chen Shi’s much better-looking than Jia Dongxiu.