胡同: lane, alley...
灿烂: to glitter, brilliant, splendid...
难处: trouble, difficulty, problem...
朝气蓬勃: full of youthful energy (idiom); vigorous, energetic, a bright spark...
一: one, single, a (article), as soon as, entire, whole, all, throughout...
喜洋洋: radiant with joy...
柔和: gentle, soft...
风风雨雨: disturbances, rumours, groundless talk...
杠杆: lever, pry bar, crowbar, financial leverage...
要不是: if it were not for, but for...
