Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Wang Feng looked at the honest-looking man, but he wasn't angry. He smiled slightly and handed him the cigarette again.

"Brother Hammer, you've seen it yourself, I'm a married man now. You shouldn't doubt that there's something between me and Comrade Lu Banxia, ​​right?"

Wang Tiechui scratched the back of his head awkwardly, took the cigarette, and smiled sheepishly.

"No, no, thank you, Brother Wang Feng. Banxia is my commander's niece. I was worried that she wasn't doing well on her own. Now that she has you two as friends and you're taking such good care of her, my commander can rest assured."

Wang Feng took out a cigarette, lit it for himself, and then lit one for Wang Tiechui, laughing:

"It's not really about taking care of us, it's just about having an extra pair of chopsticks. Besides, Comrade Lu Banxia also gave us money for food, so we're not at a loss."

Lu Banxia interjected, "Brother Tiechui, why don't you come inside and sit down for a cup of tea?"

Wang Tiechui waved his hand: "No need, Banxia. I came here to tell you that next Saturday is the Chief's wife's birthday. The Chief and his wife have been talking about you lately. If you have time next Saturday, go home and see them."

Lu Banxia nodded emphatically: "Don't worry, Brother Tiechui, I will definitely go back on Aunt Li's birthday."

"Alright, Banxia, ​​Brother Wang Feng, I snuck out here. I have something to do, so I'll head back now."

"Take care, Hammer Brothers."

"Brother Iron Hammer, you must take good care of my Uncle Li and the others," Lu Banxia said.

"Don't worry, I will."

After seeing Wang Tiechui walk through the hanging flower gate and disappear from sight, Wang Feng and Lu Banxia also went back into the house.

Back inside, Wang Feng asked, "Jingru, Aunt Wu cleaned the chicken innards so quickly?"

Qin Jingru rolled her eyes: "How could it be that fast? I just taught Aunt Wu how to handle it. Aunt Wu is going to be busy tonight."

Then, Qin Jingru looked at Lu Banxia and asked, "Banxia, ​​you told your uncle these things to his bodyguard. Won't your uncle come to our house to investigate?"

Lu Banxia smiled and nodded: "An investigation is certain, but they probably won't come in person. My Uncle Li is incredibly busy these days. I'll go back next week and explain things to them. Besides, Brother Feng isn't someone who can't withstand an investigation, so what's there to be afraid of?"

"Well, that's good too. When Wang Feng and your affair is exposed, your uncle and aunt won't be so embarrassed," Qin Jingru said with a smile.

Wang Feng stubbed out his cigarette and waved his hand: "Alright, Banxia, ​​go check if the hot water is ready. You've had a long day, so take a shower and go to sleep. We have so many dishes to cook tomorrow, and we have to get up early."

"Okay, Brother Feng, you and Sister Jingru rest for a while, I'll go get some bath water right away."

Lu Banxia smiled and agreed, then went to the kitchen.

A short while later, Lu Banxia prepared the bathwater and told Wang Feng to take a bath.

After the three of them finished showering, it was only a little past seven in the evening. There were no other entertainment activities that night, so they went to bed.

......

The next day, early in the morning.

Just like yesterday, the three of them got up before six o'clock in the morning, ate breakfast, and went to No. 28 Courtyard.

Lu Banxia was supposed to go to work at the steel rolling mill today, but things at home were definitely more important than things at the factory, so she had to ask for another day off. Anyway, asking for leave was very simple for her; she just had someone pass on a message.

Just as Wang Feng and his two companions stepped out of courtyard number 95, Yan Jiecheng and a thug were secretly watching them from the alley diagonally opposite courtyard number 95.

Yan Jiecheng pointed at Qin Jingru and said to the thug, "See her? She's the pregnant woman with the big belly. I don't need you to lay a hand on her. Just pretend you're being chased, or running really fast, and knock her down. It would be best if you knocked the baby out of her belly."

The thug nodded, a sinister look on his face: "No problem, but this is no small matter. One price, two hundred yuan."

Upon hearing that it would cost two hundred yuan, Yan Jiecheng was immediately shocked. Where would he get two hundred yuan? He had been working for so long and had saved up for so long, but he only had about twenty yuan in his pocket.

He had to pay back money to his father every month and also pay for food. He couldn't even save five yuan a month. It took him more than half a year to save up this twenty-odd yuan.

"Brother, all you have to do is hit someone and run, is it that simple? Two hundred yuan is too much, I'll only pay ten yuan at most."

Upon hearing this, the thug's eyes flashed menacingly: "Are you kidding me? This is the price. If you don't have money, don't come out here pretending to be a big shot. If you want to do it, do it; if not, forget it. But even if you don't do it, you still have to give me five dollars for a getaway fee, otherwise... you know what will happen."

Seeing the thug's fierce eyes, Yan Jiecheng reluctantly took out five yuan from his pocket and handed it over.

The thug took the money and scoffed disdainfully, "Poor bastard."

After saying that, the thug left.

Watching the thug's retreating figure, Yan Jiecheng's eyes turned bloodshot, and veins bulged on his forehead. He was both angry and heartbroken. Five yuan was gone just like that. He worked hard for a month and couldn't even save five yuan.

......

Courtyard 28.

"Brother Feng, Sister Jingru, Banxia, ​​you're here."

Lou Xiao'e got up before five o'clock today. When Wang Feng and the others arrived, she had already lit the fires on several stoves, and two of them were already boiling water.

Wang Feng smiled and nodded: "Son, have you had breakfast yet? You guys rest for a while, I'll go and bring back the ingredients and side dishes."

"We've already eaten. Have you eaten?" Lou Xiao'e asked.

"We've already eaten."

Qin Jingru responded with a smile, brought over a few stools from the house, and the three of them began to discuss how to cook more efficiently today.

Wang Feng wasted no time and went out with his empty cart.

After wandering around outside for twenty minutes, he took out 25 fish weighing over five pounds each, 30 wild rabbits, 15 geese, and other miscellaneous side dishes from his spatial storage, filling an entire cart.

The wild rabbits in the space are mostly around four pounds, and the geese are around ten pounds. Once they reach this weight, Wang Feng will store them in the space warehouse.

Today, without needing to pull pots, pans, or other utensils, Wang Feng only pulled two carts, and his task was complete.

However, Lou Xiao'e and Lu Banxia's task today was not easy either. Whether it was fish, rabbits, or geese, they all needed to be killed. The rabbits and geese, in particular, required plucking their feathers, which was the most troublesome.