He further told me that once a circular flowerbed sat in the middle of the courtyard, but now the kitchen has replaced it. He then pointed to the front of the house facing the door, saying that this was the oldest house inside the courtyard that has not been reconstructed. "This siheyuan was once a temple for nuns, while the main gate was to the left side of No. 17, accompanied by two 200-year-old locust trees on each side."

Enough researchers following Hu's footsteps have paid visits to Zhonggu to turn Jiang into something of an expert himself on the writer, including Geng Yunzhi, a historian and a well-known expert on Hu from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who wanted a glimpse at the writer's temporary habitat.

When Jiang's family bought the siheyuan and moved in, Hu had already moved on. Today, a modern public toilet stands right outside the door, bringing more convenience to the not one, but five families currently inhabiting this small courtyard.