Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

"Well then," Yang Xingguo continued, "the factory is short-handed, so you can come and work here."

"Thank you, Director Yang! Thank you, Director Yang!" Sun Dali was so excited that she couldn't speak coherently, and tears streamed down her face again, this time tears of gratitude.

"However," Yang Xingguo changed the subject, "the forging workshop is all heavy work, which you, a woman, can't handle. I'll arrange an easier place for you."

He paused for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

"You can go work at... the third canteen. You'll be responsible for washing vegetables and doing odd jobs. It'll be tiring, but at least it'll be a permanent position, and the salary will be enough to support your family."

"To the cafeteria?" Sun Dali hesitated for a moment, then nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay! As long as I can work, I'll do anything! Thank you, factory manager!"

Liu Guangqi also expressed his gratitude profusely.

Yang Xingguo waved his hand, indicating that they could leave.

As Sun Dali emerged from the factory manager's office, she felt light as a feather, her steps light and graceful.

A ray of light suddenly shone into her desperate situation, giving her hope to live.

"Mom, that's good, there's hope for the family now." Liu Guangqi helped his mother up and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, it's all thanks to Director Yang," Sun Dali said gratefully, then added through gritted teeth, "It's all that bastard who beat up your dad. That son of a bitch! If it weren't for him, your dad wouldn't be in this state! Don't let me find out who he is, or I'll fight him to the death!"

Liu Guangqi didn't speak, but sighed inwardly.

With mixed feelings, the mother and son returned to the hospital.

As soon as I entered the ward, I heard Liu Haizhong's hoarse roar.

"Water! I need water! Are you two little bastards deaf or dead? Can't you hear me?!"

The two brothers, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, sat on a stool not far away. One was picking his nails, and the other was lost in thought. Neither of them paid any attention to Liu Haizhong on the bed.

Liu Haizhong was so angry that his face turned purple. He wanted to hit someone with something, but his hands and feet were in casts and he couldn't move at all. He could only rage helplessly.

"They've rebelled! They've all rebelled! Just wait until I recover, I'll break all your legs!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangtian looked up, rolled his eyes at Liu Haizhong, and muttered under his breath, "Let's talk about it when you're better, you cripple."

The sound wasn't loud, but the ward was quiet, and Liu Haizhong could hear it clearly.

"You...you beast!"

Liu Haizhong was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath and coughed violently, almost passing out.

"What are you two doing! Didn't you hear your dad wanting water?!" Sun Dali rushed over and slapped each of them on the head.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu reluctantly stood up and slowly went to pour water.

Looking at her husband, who was trembling with anger on the bed, and then at her two sons who looked completely indifferent, Sun Dali felt a pang of sorrow.

This family is now broken up.

Liu Guangqi stood aside, coldly observing everything. He looked at his father lying on the bed, writhing in a helpless rage, and then at his two younger brothers who couldn't wait for their father to die. Suddenly, a thought popped into his mind.

From now on, these two younger brothers will take care of Dad.

With this kind of care, who knows... how much longer can Dad hold on?

Perhaps, this is actually good news for this family.

..............

In the evening, Sun Dali dragged her tired body back to the courtyard house.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they were stopped by Yan Bugui and his wife in the front yard.

"Hey, Hai Zhong's family, you're back from the hospital? How's Hai Zhong doing?"

Yan Bugui stood with his hands in his pockets, looking concerned.

His wife, Yang Xiulian, also chimed in, "Yes, how badly is the injury? What did the doctor say?"

Sun Dali was annoyed, but she still forced a smile: "It's nothing, I'll be fine after some rest. Thank you for your concern."

She didn't want the people in the courtyard to laugh at her, and she especially didn't want them to know that Liu Haizhong had become a cripple.

"That's good, that's good." Yan Bugui nodded, his eyes darting around, and then asked, "So... what about work? This recovery must cost a lot of money, right?"

That's what he cares about most.

Now that Liu Haizhong has fallen from grace, is it possible for his family to get their money back?

When work is mentioned, Sun Dali straightens her back immediately.

She cleared her throat and spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, making sure everyone in the front yard could hear her.

"Director Yang has already taken care of the job!" she said with a hint of pride. "The factory is looking out for my family; they've let me take over my husband's shift. I'll be working at the steel mill's canteen tomorrow!"

What?!

Is Sun Dali going to work at the steel rolling mill?

These words caused an uproar throughout the front yard.

"Really? Succession?"

"My God, has the Liu family actually benefited from this misfortune?"

"The cafeteria is a great place, lots of juicy food!"

Whispers of envy and jealousy rose and fell.

In those days, being a regular worker in a steel rolling mill meant having a secure job, something countless people dreamed of.

Yan Bugui and his wife were also stunned, their expressions were quite interesting.

They thought the Liu family was completely finished, but unexpectedly, Sun Dali was able to take over and even work in the canteen.

"Well... then congratulations," Yan Bugui said dryly, feeling a pang of jealousy.

Sun Dali basked in the envious glances of others, all the humiliation and frustration she had accumulated over the past few days vanishing completely.

She straightened her back and raised her head, feeling for the first time that she could stand up straight in front of the people in the yard.

Amidst envious whispers, Sun Dali walked back to the backyard with her head held high.

The news that Sun Dali was going to work at the steel mill's canteen spread like wildfire throughout the entire courtyard in less than half an hour.

Intermediate People's Court.

"Have you heard? Sun Dali from the backyard is going to take over Liu Haizhong's job!"

"You bet! Going to the cafeteria! That's a lucrative job!"

"Tsk tsk, Liu Haizhong's beating wasn't for nothing."

Several women washing vegetables huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, their voices filled with barely concealed sourness and envy.

Qin Huairu squatted to the side, listening silently, her hands moving more slowly.

Sun Dali can go to work and earn money now...

She glanced at her dark little room, then thought of her bedridden mother-in-law and her husband far away on the farm, and felt a tightness in her chest.

When will I be able to have a job and stand tall with my head held high?

Just as the people in the courtyard were discussing the matter, Yi Zhonghai returned from outside with a dark expression on his face.

He was having a terrible time at the factory today, it was like living hell.

The nickname "Eunuch Yi" has become an indelible label on him. Wherever he goes, he can feel the pointing eyes and suppressed laughter behind his back.

Even when the workshop director talked to him, his eyes held a mixture of pity and strangeness.

He felt like he was sitting on pins and needles all day, and when he finally got off work, all he wanted to do was go home and hide away.

But as soon as he entered the courtyard, he sensed that something was wrong.

The neighbors looked at him with a mixture of mockery and schadenfreude.

"Hey, Master Yi's off work?" someone greeted him sarcastically.

Yi Zhonghai ignored him, lowered his head, and tried to leave quickly.