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

As soon as Zhang Dabiao spoke, the courtyard fell silent.

Yan Bugui was taken aback, then adjusted his glasses: "Da Biao, we're doing this for your own good!"

"For my own good?" Zhang Dabiao chuckled. He took two steps forward, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Let me ask you, do I really need those few dozen dollars? How much interest do I earn every month?"

Yan Bugui was about to nod subconsciously, but he swallowed the words back. Lacking? This kid has over 300,000 yuan in savings, what does he need? The interest is only a little over a thousand yuan a month; the entire hospital's salaries combined might not even cover his interest. So, does it matter whether his salary is tens or hundreds of yuan?

Zhang Dabiao looked around and continued, "Do I lack a place to live? That cadre apartment at the Ministry of Foreign Trade is mine; I can move in anytime I want. This entire east wing of the compound is mine, plus two small side rooms and a small courtyard. I even bought a two-courtyard house for my fiancée. Do I lack a place to live?"

Liu Haizhong's old face turned a deep purplish-red; he wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

"Do I need the 'three turns and one sound' (referring to a bicycle, sewing machine, radio, and watch)? I have a bicycle, and the factory even provided me with a tricycle for purchasing. I also have a motorcycle with a sidecar. As for watches, I can't even wear them all on both hands. Sewing machines and radios? The ones I have in the warehouse that haven't been opened are just gathering dust."

With each word Zhang Dabiao spoke, the three old men's faces grew increasingly grim. The other neighbors who had been peeking around in the courtyard fell silent, like chickens with their necks being choked.

These words were like invisible slaps to their pitiful understanding and values.

Finally, Zhang Dabiao shrugged, his face displaying an indifferent expression that made everyone grit their teeth in hatred.

"I lack nothing. Wherever I work, isn't it all about serving the people? I'm happy to do it. I just love painting and want a peaceful and carefree life, is that so wrong?"

"Money can't buy my happiness, you know?"

--boom--

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the minds of all the birds.

Yan Bugui's palm-leaf fan fell to the ground with a "thud." He was completely stunned, repeatedly muttering, "Money can't buy willingness... money can't buy willingness..."

These six words completely shattered his lifelong belief in meticulous thrift. He realized that when you have enough money, you really can do whatever you want, even disregarding your future and a secure job.

Liu Haizhong was trembling with rage. He pointed at Zhang Dabiao and stammered "You, you, you" for a long time before finally letting out a heavy snort and turning back to the backyard. He couldn't talk anymore; if he stayed any longer, he felt that his official authority would be shattered by this kid's money.

Yi Zhonghai gave Zhang Dabiao a deep look, the last trace of regret in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a profound sense of powerlessness. He silently turned and went back into the house, closing the door behind him.

They are not from the same world.

He understood completely.

In the midst of this awkward silence, a burst of laughter suddenly erupted from the backyard.

"Hahahaha! Well said! Da Biao, you're absolutely right!"

Xu Damao walked out of the backyard with a smile on his face, followed by Liu Guangqi, who was also smiling.

"I've had enough of these old guys for a long time. All they do is scheme for a pittance, they don't know anything!" Xu Damao walked up to Zhang Dabiao and patted him hard on the shoulder. "Come on, you're graduating today and you've found a great job, double happiness! We have to celebrate! I'll throw a party at my place tonight!"

Liu Guangqi nodded with a smile, "That's right, we should celebrate! Da Mao, you bring the drinks, I'll go home and have my wife cook a couple of dishes, let's have a good drink!"

"By the way, Liugen has also graduated and been assigned a job. He teaches history at Yan Laokou's Red Star Elementary School and is Yan Laokou's colleague."

"He just got back today, so let's get together."

Zhang Dabiao waved his hand: "Don't bother, just eat here. Have Sha Zhu come over and cook a couple of dishes; I have plenty of meat and vegetables!"

"Okay!" Xu Damao's eyes lit up even more upon hearing this.

In the courtyard, Yan Bugui picked up the palm-leaf fan in a daze. Looking at the young people in the east wing, chatting and laughing with their arms around each other, he felt a tightness in his chest and almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He felt that his whole life had been a joke.

As evening fell, the east courtyard was brightly lit, and the aroma of meat filled the air.

Sha Zhu, wearing an apron, wielded a large ladle in front of the makeshift stove, his face glowing red in the firelight.

You know what, Sha Zhu actually respects Zhang Dabiao and Liu Guangqi. He's also a member of the Youth Mutual Aid Association. He can't do anything else but cook some dishes. There's room for him to show off and fit in here, so naturally he's willing to come.

Several main dishes were already laid out on the table.

The braised pork belly was fatty but not greasy, with a bright red color; the steamed carp was freshly caught from the fishpond in the yard, incredibly tender; and there was a fat chicken roasted until golden brown and dripping with oil, which Zhang Dabiao took directly from his spatial storage, its aroma domineeringly filling everyone's nostrils.

Xu Damao, clutching a bottle of his prized Xifeng liquor, practically drooling, exclaimed, "Good heavens, Da Biao, you're living a more decadent life than a capitalist! This chicken, this meat—you couldn't buy it anywhere else even if you had the money!"

Liu Gen also brought a lot of mountain products, including a dried chicken and a rabbit, as well as a piece of cured meat weighing a full five pounds.

If Zhang Dabiao hadn't forced him back then, how could he have gotten into a teachers' college and become a teacher?

So Liu Gen's family also took more things to help Liu Gen and Zhang Dabiao get closer.

Yan Jiecheng didn't bring anything fancy, but he did bring a lot of wild vegetables, vermicelli, kelp, and strings of dried chili peppers and mushrooms.

Zhang Dabiao chuckled and brought out several more plates of roast duck, duck necks, and braised beef from inside the house...

Zhang Dabiao never lacked food.

Liu Guangqi arrived with his wife You Hongjuan, carrying Liu Xiaoqing and Andy Lau. Liu Guangqi was also carrying a basket of eggs. They were all astonished by the feast on the table.

Qin Jingru and He Yushui were helping to serve dishes and wash dishes in the kitchen, while Mu Wanqing sat quietly next to Zhang Dabiao, pouring him wine, her eyes full of gentle smiles.

This lively and warm scene stood in stark contrast to the desolation of the rest of the courtyard.

The Intermediate People's Court, the Jia family.

Madam Jia, pressed against the window, salivated at the aroma of meat wafting in. She cursed viciously, "Eat! Eat yourselves to death, you heartless bastards! Your mouths are drooling with oil, and you don't even offer a helping hand to us orphans and widows!"

Bang Geng couldn't stand the stimulation and paced restlessly around the room. Finally, he couldn't help but shout at Qin Huairu, "Mom! I want to eat meat too! I want to eat meat too!"

Qin Huairu sat on the edge of the bed, her face ashen, and waved her hand wearily: "Where would you get meat... Just bear with it, I'll buy you some meat when I get my wages in the middle of the month."

In the front yard, at Yan Bugui's house, his third aunt had stir-fried a plate of cabbage. The family sat around the table, no one speaking. Yan Bugui picked at the cornbread in his bowl, finding it tasteless. The aroma of meat was like an invisible hand, scratching at his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, making him feel uncomfortable.

[How does Zhang Dabiao manage to be so capable?]