Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

The drinking session ended unhappily.

Yi Zhonghai frowned and left the backyard. As he was about to enter the gate, he called out to Yan Bugui.

"Old Yan, let's have a chat."

Yan Bugui glanced at Yi Zhonghai, guessed what he was thinking, and followed him into Yi Zhonghai's room.

Once inside, Yi Zhonghai poured him a glass of water, then sat down and sighed.

Yan Bugui suddenly realized that he might have gone a bit too far with what he had just said.

He comforted Yi Zhonghai, saying, "Don't sigh. At least Huairu is filial."

This comforting remark did not ease the burden on Yi Zhonghai's heart; on the contrary, it made it even heavier.

Now he understands very well that being filial is not enough.

No matter how filial a person is, it's all for naught if they don't have money.

Aside from being filial, Qin Huairu has no other redeeming qualities.

"Hey, Lao Yan, do you think I was wrong?"

Yan Bugui looked at Yi Zhonghai with some confusion. The two had been good friends for decades, and he knew Yi Zhonghai very well.

Yi Zhonghai is not someone who admits his mistakes.

Fearing that Yi Zhonghai would hold a grudge, he began to feign ignorance: "I don't understand what you're saying."

Yi Zhonghai said with an embarrassed expression, "When the old lady was alive, she told me many times that Sha Zhu was the best person to take care of her in her old age."

But I didn't listen to the old lady because I saw he was disobedient.

Tell me, was I wrong?

Yan Bugui thought to himself, if He Yuzhu were willing to support them in their old age, he would have already joined forces with Yi Zhonghai.

With a chef like He Yuzhu serving him, he can eat well every day and has no worries about money.

Unfortunately, he knew that was impossible.

He Yuzhu showed hostility towards them from the very beginning.

It's understandable that Yi Zhonghai harbored resentment towards He Yuzhu for scheming against He Daqing.

He hadn't offended He Yuzhu, but He Yuzhu never gave him a kind look.

Yan Bugui certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to criticize Yi Zhonghai.

Who can guarantee that Yi Zhonghai won't change his mind after waking up?

The safest approach is to criticize He Yuzhu.

Yan Bugui thought this way, and he did this way.

"Old Yi, don't overthink it. We all know what Sha Zhu was like back then."

He showed absolutely no filial piety.

Even now, he doesn't provide for He Daqing in his old age; it's He Daqing's apprentice who provides for him.

"Silly Zhu will only contribute some money at most."

Yi Zhonghai didn't actually think he was wrong.

He was just dissatisfied with his current situation and it was just a whim.

Yan Bugui's words comforted his stubborn heart.

"Who says otherwise? I actually gave Sha Zhu a chance back then. But that brat just didn't get it."

The old lady always criticizes me, saying that I'm always eyeing the Jia family, and that the only person in the courtyard who can take care of me in my old age is Sha Zhu.

She just had too much prejudice against the Jia family.

Look at Huairu, how could he be even slightly unfilial?

Yan Bugui thought to himself, "Indeed, there's nothing wrong with that. He's already put me in bed. Who can accuse Qin Huai of being unfilial to Yi Zhonghai?"

He dared not say this in front of Yi Zhonghai, nor did he dare reveal it.

"Huai Ru is indeed filial, but his family is too poor."

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "She's a woman, not very knowledgeable, but she's managed to take good care of the family, which is quite impressive."

If anyone's to blame, it's the people in our compound who are so cold and heartless.

If everyone lent a hand, Huairu's life wouldn't be so bad.

Just you wait and see.

Now, the three of us older men are keeping things under control in the courtyard, so the younger generation doesn't dare to show their true colors.

"When we pass away, and no one cares about us anymore, none of the elderly people in the compound will be filial."

At this time, Yi Zhonghai once again began to pontificate about the courtyard house.

He didn't even consider who was responsible for the unfilial atmosphere in the courtyard.

He talks about being filial, but he actually forces people to be unfilial.

In those days, you needed ration coupons to buy anything. The family gritted their teeth, steeled their resolve, and finally managed to buy some meat, hoping to nourish their child.

How did Yi Zhonghai do it?

They used filial piety and mutual assistance to force others to give the meat to the deaf old lady and the Jia family.

How do these things appear in the eyes of a child?

The child might think that their parents would rather give the good things to others than give them to them.

It's one thing if it happens once or twice, but if it happens too often, it's no wonder the child won't be filial.

Yan Bugui simply could not agree with Yi Zhonghai's theory of mutual assistance.

In his opinion, everyone should rely on their own abilities to gain an advantage.

Those with ability eat meat, while those without ability starve.

He was too lazy to talk about this with Yi Zhonghai, and instead started talking about the Liu brothers, Liu Guangtian and Liu Zhonghai.

"Judging by the time, Guangtian and the other two should have arrived in Shanghai by now. I wonder when they'll be able to transfer the money over."

Once the money arrives, we'll continue purchasing treasury bonds.

Yi Zhonghai glared at Yan Bugui with a frustrated expression. If he didn't want to talk to him about filial piety, fine, but why did he have to drag him into talking about making money?

Don't you know that what he hates most is doing business with others?
"You're just obsessed with money."

Yan Bugui said, "How can you say that? Treasury bonds are supposed to be sold this way."

They buy low, sell high, and then use the profits to continue buying.

That's how you make money.

Otherwise, how will you make back your investment?

"Let me tell you, if I weren't so old, I would definitely go and make those trips myself."

Yi Zhonghai was stunned.

Only then did he understand why Yan Bugui insisted on buying and selling treasury bonds.

Before this, he had never thought of buying and selling continuously.

He always thought it was a one-off deal.

However, Yi Zhonghai was still unwilling to do this, as it was too embarrassing.

In his entire life, when has he ever argued with someone until he was red in the face over a few cents?

"You said it yourself, you're getting old, so don't go through all that trouble."

Yan Bugui knew what Yi Zhonghai was thinking the moment he saw him; he felt that making money was shameful.

But in his view, how is making money shameful?

"Old Yi, if you don't find a way to make money, what will you do when you're really unable to move?"

Taking advantage of the situation, Yi Zhonghai tried to win over Yan Bugui and get him into his senior care group.

"Isn't there Huairu? Huairu's filial piety is well-known in our courtyard."

"Your mother-in-law is such a difficult one, but look at how Huai Ru has taken care of her for so many years, has she ever uttered a single complaint?"

Yan Bugui looked helpless. He had already said that without money, there was no way to retire, but Yi Zhonghai selectively forgot.

He did not comment on whether Qin Huai was filial or not.

He knew that having Qin Huairu help him in his old age would cost him money.

If he really wanted to spend money, he might as well ask his own son.

Having one's son support one's parents in old age is a way to keep the wealth within the family.

Giving the money to Qin Huairu would offend his son. After Qin Huairu passes away, would his son be willing to carry his funeral banner?

Will his son still remember him during holidays and festivals?
If Qin Huai could provide for him in his old age, he wouldn't think of him during holidays.

Yi Zhonghai has no son, so he has no choice; it doesn't matter who he marries. He can't accept that. He won't rely on someone else for his old age unless absolutely necessary.

"Old Yi, we're different."

“What’s the difference? None of the three of us will be able to support us in our old age. If we want someone to support us, we can only ask Huai Ru.” Yi Zhonghai didn’t understand.

They all have no one to care for them in their old age and see them off in death, so how can there be any difference?

In Yi Zhonghai's opinion, if it weren't for his insistence, Qin Huairu would definitely not have provided for Yan Bugui's retirement.

Yan Bugui has no right to be picky.

Even if they are picky, it's Qin Huairu who's picking.

What could Yan Bugui do? He told Yi Zhonghai that he still needed to consider the matter of his children paying respects to their ancestors during festivals and holidays.

Don't be ridiculous, that's rubbing salt into Yi Zhonghai's wounds.

He dared not. (End of Chapter)