Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

Before Yan Bugui could think of a reply...

Liu Haizhong walked in.

After leaving home, he found he had nowhere to go.

The only place they could go was Yi Zhonghai's home.

"Old Yan is here too."

Yan Bugui's expression darkened when he saw Liu Haizhong.

He came to Yi Zhonghai's house for two reasons: one was the fried chicken shop, and the other was Liu Haizhong's treat.

"Why aren't you at home drinking with Xu Damao? What are you doing here?"

Liu Haizhong failed to detect Yan Bugui's dissatisfaction.

In his view, he was paying for the meals himself, and he could invite whomever he wanted; it was no one else's business.

"I discussed business matters with Xu Damao today."

When business was mentioned, Yan Bugui stopped getting angry.

Business means making money.

He'd never mess with money, no matter who he's at odds with.

"How did your discussion with Xu Damao go? I heard he got a big project today, I reckon he'll make at least a few hundred thousand."

Liu Haizhong got angry: "Don't even mention it. That bastard Xu Damao didn't want to take me with him."

Tell me, why should he take me with him?

I wasn't taking advantage of him.

When this was mentioned, Yi Zhonghai had something to say: "He and Sha Zhu are the most selfish people in our compound."

They made money and never thought about us, their old neighbors.

Do you think he can help you make money?

Yan Bugui did not take Yi Zhonghai's words seriously.

No matter how much you say these things, it's just empty talk and has no real effect.

"Is Xu Damao still at your house? How about this, I'll go and talk to him."

Liu Haizhong shook his head: "He went home to sleep. When I came, all the lights in the house were off."

Yan Bugui sighed: "The way he's acting makes it clear that he doesn't want to take us with him."

Yi Zhonghai found Yan Bugui's words unpleasant; what did he mean by not taking them along?

They are elders, why should Xu Damao take care of them?

Even if they were to bring someone along, it would be them bringing Xu Damao.

"Old Yan, why are you boosting Xu Damao's morale while diminishing ours?"

His words displeased both Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong.

They were discussing serious matters, but Yi Zhonghai kept causing trouble.

Yan Bugui was mindful of Yi Zhonghai's feelings and didn't dare to refute him.

Liu Haizhong was in a bad mood and hadn't thought of this, so he just said it directly.

"Old Yi, if you don't understand business matters, don't interrupt."

Although we are Xu Damao's elders, when it comes to doing business, you can't help but admire him.

Society is different now than it used to be.

Nowadays, whoever makes the money calls the shots.

Look at Sha Zhu.

He used to work in a ministry. Didn't he resign later to earn more money?

When Yan Bugui saw that Liu Haizhong had spoken, he also said something.

"Old Yi, in today's society, the rich are the bosses, and the poor are the servants."

This was something Yan Bugui had wanted to say to Yi Zhonghai for a long time.

While they were working hard to make money at the fried chicken shop, only Yi Zhonghai was slacking off and cheating.

I feel unwilling every day.

Yan Bugui really wanted to tell Yi Zhonghai that if he didn't want to go, he shouldn't go.

Go there and don't do any work, yet you still want a share of the money? That's ridiculous.

Liu Haizhong agreed, saying, "That's right, that's exactly what I meant."

If you don't have any money on hand, you won't have the confidence to speak.

"Look at my family. Ever since my husband and I got some money, our children have become so much more filial."

Yan Bugui didn't speak, but he nodded, clearly agreeing with the statement.

If he were as rich as He Yuzhu, he would guarantee that his children would be more filial than the Liu family's children.

Yi Zhonghai, however, strongly resisted these words.

Because these words are completely different from his beliefs.

His core philosophy revolves around the concept of filial piety. This filial piety must come from the heart.

Only genuine filial piety can truly fulfill one's responsibility towards the elderly.

Only then can he retire in peace.

Peace of mind is his biggest need.

In his view, relying on money to secure retirement is highly unreliable.

Yi Zhonghai dared not take the risk.

"What happened to you two? Can money really be the only measure between people?"
"If neighbors don't have money, shouldn't they help each other out?"

“We didn’t mention the neighbors helping us.”

"Yes. This has nothing to do with the neighbors helping."

The two sides have different positions and can't agree on anything.

Yi Zhonghai sat sullenly to the side, ignoring the two of them.

With Yi Zhonghai no longer interrupting, Yan Bugui started asking about business matters again.

"What did Xu Damao say?"

Liu Haizhong said, "He said there are so many ways to make money outside, you can do whatever you want, just don't go looking for him."

Do you think he did it on purpose?

Yan Bugui pondered for a moment and said, "He didn't actually say anything wrong."

There are indeed many people making money outside, but it's just that making money isn't as easy as it is for him.

Look at the shops outside—clothing stores, pastry shops, tea shops—they're all making money.

He was referring to the shops in Nanluoguxiang.

Yan Bugui would go to check on these shops every day when there was no business at the fried chicken shop.

He asked a few questions today and a few more tomorrow, and over time, he managed to find out everything about the shop.

According to his calculations, these shops all earn more than he does.

Even the bicycle repair shops on the street earn more than their fried chicken shops.

Yan Bugui could never figure out why.
Other people's businesses are getting more and more successful.

Their business is barely surviving, with very few customers.

"Old Liu, you've seen a lot in your life. Analyze it for me and tell me why our business is not doing well."

Liu Haizhong was very pleased to hear Yan Bugui's request for advice: "Tell me about the situation, I'd like to hear it."

Yan Bugui then described it in detail: "Our fried chicken may not taste as good as the famous one that's known throughout the city, but it's not bad either..."

I just don't understand why there are so few people.

After listening for a while, Liu Haizhong realized that, according to Yan Bugui's description, there was nothing wrong with the fried chicken shop.

With his abilities, he simply couldn't see the problem.

But Yan Bugui had gone to great lengths to ask him for help, so he was embarrassed to admit that he couldn't tell.

"So, when will your fried chicken shop open? I'd like to come and take a look."

I'll tell you after I've seen it.

"I've discussed it with Lao Yi, and we'll open for business tomorrow."

Yi Zhonghai wanted to object, but Yan Bugui ignored him.

Liu Haizhong said, "Then it's settled. I'll go with you tomorrow and see what's going on."

After Qin Huai finished dealing with the Jia family's affairs, she became curious about what Yi Zhonghai and the other two were talking about.

She walked in and overheard Liu Haizhong's words.

"What are you all talking about? Why are you making such a fuss?"

Yan Bugui said, "I just wanted to invite Lao Liu to visit our fried chicken shop and see why our business is not doing well."

Huairu, are you going tomorrow?

"I'll go," Qin Huairu immediately agreed.

She also wanted to know why her fried chicken shop was doing so poorly.

Tang Yanling's expenses were getting higher and higher, and taking advantage of her pregnancy, he forced her to buy meat every day.

The pension that Yi Zhonghai provided was simply not enough.

Qin Huairu was almost forced to use his own savings.

Her secret stash of money was meant for her retirement. Every time it was used, it felt like cutting off a piece of her flesh.

Qin Huairu also hoped to find a way to make money.

The fried chicken shop is doing really badly right now.

It was much worse than she had imagined.

Yi Zhonghai raised his head, wanting to express his dissent.

However, the people present were all discussing the fried chicken shop, and no one listened to him. (End of Chapter)