Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Zhang Dabiao glanced at Xu Damao.

This bastard may be incredibly wicked, but he's absolutely devoted to his wife and kids.

Moreover, Xu Damao is a pragmatic person who never opposes him. On the contrary, he has helped him a lot along with Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng.

Back then, when he broke Sha Zhu's hand, he was arrested by the steel mill's security department. It was he who went to the Lou family overnight to ask people to come and bail him out. When I first started going to the countryside to purchase goods, he was also busy helping me.

Helping him is no problem, but Zhang Dabiao was a little puzzled.

"Brother Da Mao, your father-in-law is Lou Bancheng."

"Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse; getting some nutritional supplements for the Lou family is a piece of cake."

"Why are you coming to me for help?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao looked around, lowered his voice, and leaned closer to Zhang Dabiao.

"Brother, you don't know this."

My father-in-law has been acting strangely lately.

"When I accompanied Ezi back to Loujia a while ago, my father-in-law said that the wind was blowing strangely lately."

"Those above are keeping a close eye on people with similar backgrounds."

"I don't dare to have any contact with those people I used to have!"

"We don't even dare to eat much meat at home now, for fear of giving someone a reason to do something wrong. We don't even dare to ride in a car when we go out."

"How could he dare to openly pursue any high-end nutritional supplements?"

"I've provided half of the nutrients for the moths over the past few months, and they've also provided a lot, but they're getting harder and harder to find on the market."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dabiao's heart stirred slightly.

It's only 1962 now.

Everyone is still worried about filling their stomachs, who has the time to keep an eye on capitalists?

However, Lou Bancheng's political acumen is indeed keen.

This old fox probably sensed something and started keeping a low profile.

Anyway, this matter had nothing to do with him, so Zhang Dabiao was too lazy to care.

"Okay, Damao, I'll take care of this."

"Come find me tomorrow night to pick up your things."

Xu Damao was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly.

"Da Biao, you're like a brother to me!"

"If you ever need anything from your brother, just let me know!"

After seeing Xu Damao off, Zhang Dabiao made an excuse to leave.

He rode his bicycle to a deserted alley, went straight into his "little nest," and then headed to Hong Kong.

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, he went directly to the flagship store of Mixue Ice Cream.

Ah Xiang is now the store manager, wearing a white shirt and tie, and working very hard.

Zhang Dabiao casually gave a few instructions, asking A Xiang to send his men to purchase a batch of imported milk powder, Ovaltine (containing malt extract), Vitasoy soy milk, Garden "Life Bread", and also to buy a few plump old hens from the live poultry market.

He no longer needs to personally handle these trivial matters.

Originally, I could have bought bird's nest and "Lau Yee Chei" Bai Feng Wan (a traditional Chinese medicine), but unfortunately, Xu Damao only gave me 200 yuan, so there was nothing I could do. I couldn't just pay for it myself, could I?

------------

Meanwhile, a fierce argument broke out in the front yard of the Yan family's courtyard house.

Yan Jiecheng's wife, Yu Li, is also about to give birth; her belly is sticking out quite high.

Yu Li's family home was a bit far away, so she thought she would ask her mother-in-law, Yang Ruihua, to help take care of her during her postpartum period.

Yan Jiecheng reluctantly went to Yan Bugui to discuss the matter.

Yan Bugui sat at the octagonal table, a pair of black-rimmed glasses wrapped with tape on his nose.

He was holding a small abacus, which he was clicking away on.

"Jiecheng, even brothers need to keep clear accounts, let alone us who have already separated and are living separately."

"Your mother took care of you during your postpartum period; that was her doing the work."

"Cooking three meals a day, washing diapers, and making soup are all physically demanding tasks."

"Five yuan a month isn't much, is it?"

"If you can't afford the money, thirty pounds of cornmeal will do."

Yan Jiecheng's face turned red upon hearing this.

"Dad, what are you saying!"

"Yu Li is carrying your own grandson!"

"Isn't it a grandmother's duty to take care of her grandson?"

"How can you possibly ask for money and food!"

Yan Bugui put down the abacus and put on a stern face.

"What do you mean by 'it's only natural'?"

"You won't go poor from eating or dressing, but you will if you don't plan ahead."

"If your mother goes to help with postpartum care, who will do the housework?"

"Who cooks for Jie Kuang and Jie Di?"

"I'm already giving you a discount by giving you five yuan for lost wages and hard work."

Yu Li stood at the doorway of the inner room, her large pregnant belly bulging, tears welling up in her eyes.

She felt so wronged.

After marrying into the Yan family, her in-laws were always scheming against her, and Yan Jiecheng was constantly paying off debts. Fortunately, they had separate housing and the family had separated. Moreover, both of them had jobs: Yan Jiecheng's factory was merged into Hongxing Daily Necessities Manufacturing Factory, while Yu Li was still working at a street food processing company. Together, they earned about 40 yuan a month, which was enough for them.

These days, when you give birth, it's bad enough that your father-in-law doesn't provide any nutritional supplements, but he even tries to charge you for postpartum care.

"Jiecheng, since Dad wants the money, let's not trouble Mom."

"I can manage on my own. If all else fails, I'll just have my mom come and take care of me," Yu Li said defiantly.

Yan Jiecheng was a cowardly man who was only brave at home and didn't dare to completely fall out with his father, so he could only turn back and persuade Yu Li.

"Stop stirring up trouble. Let's go back and discuss this further."

They have two rooms in the outer courtyard, enough for everyone, but the mother-in-law's personality...

If I come here, will I argue with my parents every day?

The Yan family was in complete chaos.

The sound carried into the courtyard, attracting many neighbors to point and whisper at the door.

The old man's stinginess extended to his own daughter-in-law, setting a new low for the behavior of people in the courtyard house.

------------

Meanwhile, the backyard was filled with joy and celebration.

Liu Haizhong has always considered himself a man of status, and now that his eldest son is about to have a new addition to the family, it is a momentous occasion that will bring glory to the family.

Liu Haizhong originally wanted to set up two tables of food and drink in the courtyard to show off.

But Liu Guangqi was a shrewd man, and he quickly stopped him.

"Dad, you're confused."

"These days, people can't even get enough to eat. Your extravagant celebration is just asking for trouble, isn't it?"

"Besides, the baby hasn't even been born yet, what kind of guests are you inviting?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong felt that his son made sense.

But he had a burning desire to show off inside him, and he couldn't stand not venting it, so he had to find someone to brag to.

He felt uneasy if he didn't treat everyone to a meal, just like how it's like being rich and powerful but not repaying debts, or walking in the dark!

So he asked his second aunt to fry a plate of eggs, chop a plate of pickled vegetables, prepare half a pound of pig's head meat, and also get a bottle of wine.

He made a special trip to the middle and front courtyards to invite Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui over.

The three old men sat at the octagonal table in the backyard.

Liu Haizhong held a wine glass, his face glowing.

"Old Yi, Old Yan, come on, let's have a toast."

"I called you all here today for no other reason than to express my happiness."

"As you've all heard, my Guangqi's wife is pregnant."

"Da Biao named him Andy Lau."

"This name is suitable for both boys and girls; it sounds impressive!"

Yi Zhonghai held his wine glass, his hand trembling slightly.

He was childless, and his biggest regret in life was not having any children.

Hearing Liu Haizhong call him "grandson" over and over again makes him feel like there's a thorn stuck in his heart.

Yan Bugui's mouth was full of bitterness.

He had just had a fight with his eldest son, and the house was in complete chaos.

Looking at Liu Haizhong's smug face, Yan Bugui wished he could smash the wine glass in his hand in his face—but this was wine and meat, so why not eat it!

Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui ate the meal with great discomfort, finding it utterly tasteless.

Liu Haizhong, however, was completely unaware and was enjoying his drink alone.

Human beings experience joys and sorrows differently from one another.