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

Mu Wanqing was stunned: "Stupid?"

"Do comic books need theme songs?"

Zhang Dabiao boasted, "Why not? I'm willing."

"I'm in charge of my own work!"

"Take it and practice."

"Once you've mastered it, just throw this song at any competition or performance."

"I guarantee that in the entire art academy, no one would dare say that you are singing decadent music."

"I'll go to the publisher today and add this to the last page of the book. Lyrics by Zhang Dabiao, music by you, Mu Wanqing. It's settled!"

"Practice at home as much as possible. You can practice at school after the book is published, understand?"

Mu Wanqing held the paper, her hands trembling.

She knew all too well the value of this song.

If she sings it well, it will definitely become her lucky charm.

"Big Brother Biao, you're amazing!"

Mu Wanqing suddenly threw herself into Zhang Dabiao's arms and hugged his neck tightly.

Zhang Dabiao patted her on the back, thinking to himself, "This is nothing. I'll copy whatever you want from now on."

As long as it allows you to get through the rest of your days in peace, copying a few songs is no big deal.

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

In the evening, He Yushui returned to the courtyard house from school; she was quite late that day.

As she pushed her bicycle through the door, Zhang Dabiao happened to be chatting idly with Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng in the front yard.

He Yushui has lost weight recently, and her chin is sharper, but she looks to be in good spirits.

"Da Biao".

He Yushui called out crisply.

Zhang Dabiao was still chatting when he turned around and called out to him.

"Hurry back to the courtyard, Jingru and Wanqing are cooking. Today they have stewed cured pork with dried green beans."

Upon hearing that there was meat, He Yushui swallowed hard and pushed the cart toward the courtyard.

When they arrived at the east courtyard, Qin Jingru had already served the food.

Besides the braised pork with dried green beans, there was also a plate of scrambled eggs, and the staple food was steamed white flour buns.

If this kind of food were in Beijing today, it would make people green with envy.

He Yushui washed her hands, grabbed a steamed bun and stuffed it into her mouth, wolfing it down along with the cured meat.

Zhang Dabiao walked in and sat down opposite him.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

He Yushui drank half a cup of water and swallowed the food in her mouth.

"Brother Biao, you have no idea what the situation is like at our school right now."

"The cafeteria's portion sizes have been reduced again. The cornbread is full of cornmeal and bran, and it's so tough on my throat. I didn't eat much for lunch."

"Yesterday in lab class, one of the boys in our class fainted from hunger on the table."

"Everyone worked together to carry him to the infirmary. The doctor said it was malnutrition and gave him a bowl of sugar water, which helped him recover."

Qin Jingru, who was listening nearby, was speechless with astonishment.

"Is it that serious?"

"In our courtyard, a few days ago, Jia Jiabang was so hungry that he was rolling on the ground. Qin Huairu cooked some porridge to keep him from starving."

Zhang Dabiao tapped the rim of his bowl with his chopsticks.

"We just need to keep this in mind."

"The most difficult days are almost over, and things should improve next year."

"You two remember, whether you're at school or on campus, don't show off."

"We can eat our fill behind closed doors, but when we go out, we should also call out if we're hungry."

"Don't flaunt your wealth, don't reveal your grain reserves, understand?"

He Yushui and Qin Jingru nodded repeatedly.

At this critical juncture, any household that smells of meat every day will definitely attract attention.

While we were eating, a loud argument suddenly broke out in the front yard.

The sound was loud, mixed with the sound of someone slamming a table.

Zhang Dabiao listened intently; it was the Yan family father and son.

In the front yard, inside Yan Bugui's house.

Yan Jiecheng's face turned bright red, and the veins on his neck bulged out.

Yu Li sat on the edge of the bed, holding her nearly one-month-old daughter Yan Xiaochen, with her head down, not daring to utter a sound.

"Dad, what do you mean by that?"

"My daughter is turning one month old, what's wrong with me throwing a banquet?"

Yan Jiecheng glared and roared.

Yan Bugui sat at the octagonal table, holding a chipped teacup in his hand, and slowly blew on the tea leaves.

"Jiecheng, you need to do the math on this."

"What era are we living in? Every household is struggling to make ends meet."

"You're hosting a banquet, so you need to buy vegetables and grain, right? Do you have meat ration coupons?"

"If you invite people over for a meal, how much will they have to give as gifts to break even? Why are you wasting money on this?"

"Take Dad's advice. The whole family should get together for a meal of cornmeal porridge, maybe with some meat and vegetables, and an egg. That will be enough to celebrate the baby's one-month birthday."

Yan Jiecheng was so angry that he trembled all over.

"Da Mao held a banquet when his son was born, and Guang Qi also held a banquet when his daughter was born."

"They even had Brother Biao recognize them as godparents."

"I also want to take advantage of the full moon celebration to invite Brother Biao over so that Xiaochen can recognize him as her godfather."

"With Brother Biao looking after us, our family's life will be a little easier."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui slammed his teacup heavily on the table.

"You're absolutely dreaming!"

"Why should Zhang Dabiao acknowledge you as his daughter?"

"Back then, when people reported Zhang Dabiao for speculation and profiteering, it was Liu Guangqi who issued him a temporary procurement permit."

"Zhang Dabiao broke Sha Zhu's arm and was arrested. Xu Damao used his connections to get him out of trouble."

"Their friendship is so deep, they'd risk their lives for each other. Who are you? All you do is pick up matches from Da Biao every day."

"Of course, you were somewhat useful, forcing Da Biao to invent the lighter and earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, but did you get a share of it? You had absolutely nothing to do with it."

"You're inviting him, but can you really get him to come? Will he be willing to give you money as a gift?"

"You're just putting on a show of wealth when you're not, you're only making a losing proposition!"

Yan Jiecheng finally snapped. Yes, he was nothing special, but he also wanted to be seated at the table and respected by everyone.

It's one thing if others say a few words, because these are facts, facts that can't be discussed openly. But for you, Yan Bugui, as his own father, to have this attitude is truly hurtful.

He kicked over the bench next to him.

"Who am I?"

"I'm nobody!"

"From childhood to adulthood, I've had to pay my salary, as well as accommodation and food expenses."

"You didn't contribute a single penny to my wedding, and now that my daughter is a month old, you still have the same attitude!"

"OK!"

"I'll host this banquet myself!"

"I don't need a single penny from you, Yanbugui!"

"I'm not inviting you either!"

"Yu Li, let's go back to our room!"

Yan Jiecheng pulled Yu Li up, slammed the door, and left without looking back.

Yan Bugui pointed outside the door, trembling with anger.

"Rebellion! Rebellion!"

"You've grown wings and dare to turn against me now!"

"I'd like to see what you're going to use to host this banquet!"

The three women sighed beside them.

"Old man, say less. Jiecheng is a father now."

Yan Bugui glared at him.

"So what if you're a father? Does being a father mean you don't have to keep accounts?"

"You won't go poor from eating or dressing up; it's poor planning that makes you poor!"

Yan Jiecheng is also a ruthless person.

After having a big argument with Yan Bugui, he gritted his teeth and went ahead with the full moon celebration.

The following evening, Yan Jiecheng set up two tables in the small courtyard that had been partitioned off from his outer courtyard.

They didn't invite any of the elders in the courtyard, and they didn't even call their own father, Yan Bugui.

Sitting at the table were Zhang Dabiao, Xu Damao, Liu Guangqi, Liu Guangtian, Lou Xiao'e, You Hongjuan, He Yushui, Mu Wanqing, Qin Jingru, Huzi, and Datou.

Liu Gen didn't come back from school, and Sha Zhu was pulled away to work overtime. So, it can be said that the younger generation of the courtyard house is all here again.