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

Just as the two sides were locked in a dispute, the Ministry of Foreign Trade casually released a message through the People's Daily: "The comic strip 'Nezha Conquers the Dragon King,' created by young Chinese painter Zhang Dabiao, was warmly welcomed by international friends at the Canton Fair. More than 300,000 copies have been exported, earning the country a large amount of foreign exchange and effectively promoting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries..."

The message was short, but extremely important.

Especially the last sentence—"It has effectively promoted cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries."

The fewer the words, the bigger the matter.

The Zhang Dabiao incident...

It's so-so, anyway.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade's statement is tantamount to officially defining the nature of Zhang Dabiao's work.

Those old painters who criticized Zhang Dabiao for "worshiping foreign things and fawning on foreigners" were instantly silenced.

You may call it crooked and evil, but this "crooked and evil" approach can earn the country US dollars and make foreigners give it a thumbs up.

Where is your "Sunny Avenue"? Your works are displayed at the Canton Fair every year, so why don't any foreign guests rush to buy them? Don't you have any self-awareness?

No matter how high your artistic merit is, even if you're seven or eight stories high, or if you're a giant in the art world, foreign guests just won't like your work, and there's nothing you can do about it!

This heated debate thus came to a dramatic end.

Zhang Dabiao emerged unscathed; on the contrary, his reputation soared even higher after this battle.

His status in the comic book industry is already showing signs of becoming a "leading figure of the new generation".

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At the end of July, Beijing was as hot as a giant steamer.

The cicadas were chirping loudly in the trees, and the asphalt road was so soft from the sun that it felt sticky when you walked on it.

People in the courtyard houses stayed indoors as much as possible, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, sweating profusely.

That day, Zhang Dabiao looked at the crystal-clear swimming pool in the yard, and then at the drooping cucumber vines in the vegetable garden, and suddenly became interested.

Firstly, it was to celebrate the global sales of "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" exceeding 350,000 copies, and secondly, the successful delivery of "Heroes and Daughters" to the publisher—a double celebration. The Ministry of Foreign Trade also officially awarded him a bonus of 200 yuan and a certificate of merit.

Secondly, it was just too hot that day, and he wanted to soak in the water to cool off.

So he decided to hold a "barbecue pool party" in his east courtyard, a thing that would only happen in later generations.

Of course, the girls are in the pool, and the guys are having a barbecue.

If the men want to take a bath, they'll have to wait until the women have finished.

He first rode his motorcycle to the black market, using a few industrial coupons and grain coupons, along with some money, to exchange for a large piece of fresh lamb leg and a few chickens. Then he took a lot of pork belly, as well as various ingredients and seasonings, from the refrigerator in his "little nest".

Then I went to the supply and marketing cooperative and brought back a whole case of Arctic Ocean soda, which I put in a water tank.

In the afternoon, he called over his buddies Xu Damao, Liu Guangqi, and Yan Jiecheng.

"Don't be shy, bring your wives and kids! It's on me today, all you can eat, and you can drink as much Beibingyang soda as you want!"

The news brought joy to all the families.

These days, being able to eat a proper meal of grilled lamb skewers is a dream come true.

Not to mention the chilled Arctic Ocean soda!

As evening approached and the sun's intense heat subsided, the east courtyard came alive with activity.

Zhang Dabiao set up two new-style barbecue grills he had brought back from Hong Kong at the stable, and the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

Xu Damao, Liu Guangqi, and Yan Jiecheng, three grown men, stood around the grill, clumsily learning how to skewer the meat.

The lamb was cut into small pieces and marinated with onions, cumin, and salt. The chicken wings were also slit and brushed with a secret sauce.

Finally, getting annoyed, they dragged Sha Zhu over again. Anyway, it wasn't the first or second time they'd pulled Sha Zhu into being the cook.

On the other side, the pool area is dominated by women and children.

Zhang Dabiao specially used several huge bamboo curtains and the wildly growing grapevines in the yard to create a natural partition between the swimming pool and the barbecue area, which was both well-ventilated and ensured the privacy of the women.

The water in the pool had been changed with tap water, and all the remaining fish were taken out in the afternoon. It was a good opportunity to grill the fish and clean the pool, killing two birds with one stone.

He Yushui, Qin Jingru, Lou Xiao'e, and Yu Li and You Hongjuan, who had been called over, all changed into light clothing and sat by the pool, dipping their feet in the water, chatting and watching the children play. Yu Li, who was pregnant and about to give birth, could only sit by the pool to cool off and dared not soak in the water. Qin Jingru held Xiao Dang and fed her fruit by the pool, while Lou Xiao'e held Xu Xiaojun and watched everyone play. Xu Xiaojun was too young and could only nurse.

Liu Xiaoqing and Xiao Dang were splashing around in the specially designated shallow water area, having a great time and their laughter could be heard far and wide.

What stunned He Yushui and Qin Jingru the most was Mu Wanqing, who arrived late.

She changed her clothes in the changing room partitioned off by the pool. Today she was wearing a swimsuit that Zhang Dabiao had bought for her from Hong Kong. It was a one-piece swimsuit with a beautiful floral pattern. Although it would seem very conservative by today's standards, it was stunning enough to impress everyone in this era.

The well-fitting cut perfectly accentuated her slender figure, and her fair skin glowed with a radiant sheen in the sunset.

"Sister Wanqing, you...you look so beautiful in this dress." He Yushui stared at her, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Then she looked down at her own figure—could it be because she was too small that Zhang Dabiao didn't like her?

But how do you make this thing grow bigger?

Qin Jingru was extremely envious and whispered to Mu Wanqing, "Sister Wanqing, Brother Dabiao is so good to you. He even bought you such beautiful clothes."

Mu Wanqing felt a little embarrassed by their stares, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she sat down by the pool to join them in soaking their feet.

"Sizzle—"

At the stable, the first batch of lamb skewers has already been grilled.

The golden-brown meat skewers were still sizzling with oil, and the rich aroma of meat and cumin mingled together, instantly filling the entire courtyard and making everyone's mouths water.

"Come on, let's eat!" Zhang Dabiao came over with a large plate of grilled meat skewers, chicken wings, and pork belly, and first served them to the women and children.

Xu Damao, carrying a bottle of chilled Beibingyang soda, tilted his head back and gulped down half of it, then let out a long, satisfied burp.

Although the stables couldn't be submerged in water, there were electric fans, and Zhang Dabiao had even made a water curtain out of cotton rope, which served as a kind of cooling fan and worked reasonably well.

If the Red Star Daily Necessities Manufacturing Plant and the Ministry of Foreign Trade urge us again next month, we'll modify this thing a bit and submit it to make up the numbers—it's an air conditioner fan, after all.

"Burp—Awesome!" Xu Damao wiped his mouth and exclaimed sincerely, "Da Biao, you wouldn't trade your life for an emperor!"

Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng nodded in agreement, munching on skewers and drinking iced soda, their faces beaming with happiness.

Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air, the aroma of meat filled the air, and refreshing soda and cool pool water mingled with the sounds of laughter and chatter.

The east courtyard was like a secluded paradise, filled with the most luxurious pleasures of this era.

However, just a wall away in the middle courtyard.

Behind Qin Huairu's window, she was watching Banggeng do his homework. Summer vacation was too long, and she dared not let Banggeng run wild outside all day.

Banggeng lay on the table, writing reluctantly, muttering something under his breath.