Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

Meanwhile, Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangwei were hiding in a corner eating stinky tofu; they hadn't gone home. Their father, Liu Haizhong, never considered his sons first when he had something good, so why would he take it home to share now that he'd gotten something "good"?

"Delicious!" "This stinky tofu smells so good!" "Brother Yang's cooking is amazing!" The two brothers ate and praised it endlessly, their only regret being that the portion was too small.

Just then, a small figure suddenly darted out, pointing at them and yelling, "Wow, you guys are eating shit!"

It's Bang Geng, that ingrate! How dare he say they eat shit? Liu Guangwei and his brother's faces instantly turned ugly: "Bang Geng, you little brat, you're asking for it!" They shouted angrily and chased after him.

Bang Geng turned and ran, but he was no match for the two brothers and was caught in a few moves. Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangwei specifically targeted his body, as hitting his face would be easily noticed, and it would be troublesome if Jia Zhangshi and He Yuzhu came knocking. They only stopped when his wrists were burning with pain, and Bang Geng cried from the beating.

"Banggeng, what do you know? This is stinky tofu, given to me by Uncle Yang, it's super delicious!" Liu Guangfu proudly stepped on Banggeng's head and showed off the stinky tofu in front of him. The two brothers each took a bite, and Banggeng stared at it, swallowing hard. The stinky smell entered his nose and turned into an enticing aroma.

Suddenly, with a burst of energy, Banggeng leaped up and snatched the stinky tofu. There were only two pieces left in the bowl, and the two brothers weren't about to let it go, chasing after him and yelling, "Banggeng, put it down right now!"

Ignoring the stick, he grabbed a piece and stuffed it into his mouth. Hearing so many people say it was delicious, he had to try it. The moment it entered his mouth, the taste invigorated him: It was so delicious! "This Yang Wei, even if he put shit in stinky tofu, it would still taste this good!" he exclaimed inwardly.

Liu Guangwei and his brother caught up, and Liu Guangfu slapped Banggeng's thin body away, sending him sprawling face-first into the mud. Banggeng's nose stung, but seeing the last piece of stinky tofu lying in front of him, he picked it up and stuffed it into his mouth, not caring that it was covered in dust.

The two brothers stared in disbelief: "This kid's got some nerve, he's willing to risk everything for food!" Seeing that Bang Geng's nose was bleeding from the fall, and fearing that Jia Zhangshi would fight them, they didn't attack again, only cursing, "We'll let you off this time, but if you try to steal from us again, we'll beat you to death!"

Banggeng scrambled to his feet and ran home as if fleeing. When Jia Zhangshi saw his nosebleed, she looked at him with concern, asking, "My dear grandson, what happened to your nose?"

Banggeng immediately exclaimed, "Grandma, I want to eat Yang Wei's stinky tofu! Even though it has poop in it, it's delicious!" He was certain it had poop in it, firstly because of the stench, and secondly because Jia Zhangshi had already convinced that Yang Wei's stinky tofu was made of poop. His nose still hurt, but compared to the deliciousness of the stinky tofu, what was a little pain?

As Jia Zhangshi pondered this, she wondered: Had Bang Geng gone to Yang Wei's place to steal stinky tofu and gotten beaten up?

Before she could figure it out, Banggeng's wailing erupted: "I stole Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangwei's... Grandma, I want to eat! Quickly ask Yang Wei for stinky tofu..."

Banggeng threw a tantrum regardless of the consequences, knowing that this trick always worked; as long as he made a scene, Grandma would surely give him something to eat.

Jia Zhangshi's face instantly darkened. She had just witnessed He Yuzhu helping the deaf old lady beg for stinky tofu, but Yang Wei wouldn't give it to her. How could the Jia family possibly succeed in begging for it?

"That Yang Wei, he's a slacker!" she cursed. "He'd never give anything away!"

"If he keeps hoarding everything like this, he'll be strangled by a machine in a few days!" Jia Dongxu chimed in.

"I want to eat stinky tofu with shit on it!" When no one paid attention to him, Bang Geng simply rolled on the ground and cried his heart out.

Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu's faces darkened further, while Qin Huairu looked helpless; she simply couldn't stop the child from making a fuss.

"Heh, it's just fried tofu, who can't do that?" Jia Zhangshi sneered, a sudden thought flashing through her mind. She had just seen Yang Wei making stinky tofu and thought it was quite simple, so she blurted it out.

Qin Huairu was inwardly puzzled: Her mother-in-law made it sound so easy! Making stinky tofu wasn't that simple. But she didn't dare to argue and could only keep it to herself.

"Qin Huairu, you jinx, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and buy tofu to make stinky tofu for my precious grandson!" Madam Jia scolded, hands on her hips.

"Mother-in-law, I've never made stinky tofu before..." Qin Huairu said softly.

"Never made one? You've been raised to your current state for nothing!" Madam Jia raised her voice. "Jia Dongxu married you for nothing! You can't even make stinky tofu properly, what use are you?"

Jia Dongxu chimed in, "Aren't you going yet?"

Qin Huairu could only leave the house feeling wronged and go to the market to buy tofu.

Meanwhile, Xu Damao had just returned home when he heard several people say that Yang Wei's stinky tofu was delicious. He immediately asked Lou Xiao'e, "Xiao'e, have you tried Yang Wei's stinky tofu?"

"I tried it, it's delicious." Lou Xiao'e nodded, but when she thought of Yang Wei's competence and looked at Xu Damao, she couldn't help but feel unhappy, though she didn't show it on her face.

"Then buy some tofu to make it!" Xu Damao drooled. He had tasted stinky tofu before and knew how delicious it was, but he couldn't bring himself to ask Yang Wei for it, so he could only let Lou Xiao'e make it herself.

"I don't have Yang Wei's skills," Lou Xiao'e frowned.

"Go buy it first!" Xu Damao ignored her and Lou Xiao'e had no choice but to go to the market.

An old man's "scheme": making stinky tofu for a deaf old lady

Meanwhile, an old man named Yi Zhonghai was also thinking at home: the deaf old lady must want to eat stinky tofu. If he made it for her, she would definitely be more inclined to support him!

He immediately said to the older woman, "Honey, go to the market and buy some tofu to make stinky tofu. The deaf old lady really craves it!"

The elderly woman had no choice but to go out and buy tofu as well.

Three families scramble for tofu: The "tofu craze" in the market.

As luck would have it, within a short period of time, members of the Jia, Xu, and Yi families all went to the market to buy tofu to make stinky tofu.

Yang Wei was naturally unaware of the "tofu incident" outside. After finishing his stinky tofu, it was already late, and he fell into a good sleep. Now that his body was stronger, he wasn't afraid of the cold and didn't even need to light a stove.

The next day he didn't go to work, slept until he naturally woke up, and went out to wash up. In those days, washing up and getting water were all done in the same place. Coincidentally, as soon as he went out, he bumped into Lou Xiao'e, Yu Li, and Qin Huairu. All three women had good figures and stood out there.

"Yang Wei, good morning!" Lou Xiao'e greeted him first. "Thank you so much for your stinky tofu yesterday, it was delicious! Next time Da Mao brings back some local specialties, I'll treat you to some too!"

Just as Yang Wei finished the last sip of his soy milk, Lou Xiao'e came over with an enamel basin, greeting him with a smile, "Wei Zi, you're up early today!"

"Good morning, sister-in-law!" Yang Wei put down his bowl. "Are you going to fetch water? Shall I hold the basin for you?"

"No, no!" Lou Xiao'e waved her hand, the green vegetable leaves in the basin trembling. "The stinky tofu you gave me yesterday, my husband said it's even better than the ones in restaurants!"

Yu Li was picking vegetables at the door. When she heard the noise, she looked up and smiled, then quickly lowered her head again. Yan Bugui's second son peeked out of the house. Afraid of being accused of "not being a proper wife," she only dared to glance at Yang Wei out of the corner of her eye.

Qin Huairu was squatting by the tap washing radishes when she heard the conversation, and the radishes in her hands rolled into the sink with a "glug".

"Why can they be so friendly with Yang Wei, but I have to pretend to be invisible?" She stared at Yang Wei's back, twisting the apron strap between her fingers. "What do I, Qin Huairu, lack compared to them? My face, my figure—aren't I 'Yang Wei's charms' in every way?"

She remembered the warmth of neighborly affection Yang Wei had shown Lou Xiao'e when he gave her stinky tofu yesterday. If she had received that kind of treatment, she could have saved enough money for cotton-padded trousers! She was unwilling to accept it! She suddenly stood up, picked up the empty basin, and walked towards the water pipe. As she passed Yang Wei, she "accidentally" tripped: "Yang Wei, why are you up so late? The stinky tofu from yesterday smelled so good!"

Yang Wei glanced at her out of the corner of his eye: her waist, wrapped in a red sweater, swayed like a water snake, and the mole on the corner of her mouth when she smiled was indeed alluring.

"Sister Qin, you overslept." He nodded perfunctorily, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the crack in the Jia family's window. There, Jia Zhangshi's old face was peeking through the window paper, looking like a rat stealing oil. This old hag was afraid that he would "seduce" her daughter-in-law!

Yang Wei laughed: If it weren't for his "charming nature," could Qin Huairu have captivated the Jia family so completely? But now, with Jia Zhangshi's eyes fixed on him, he didn't want to get himself into trouble.

Qin Huairu's smile froze on her face. Normally, a mere wink from her would send Master Wang from the steel mill and Li the bicycle repairman fawning over her. But Yang Wei? He was like a rock that couldn't be warmed! She sullenly walked back to the tap, scrubbing the radishes with a "snap, snap!" Inwardly cursing, "What a pretentious act! Such a hypocrite!"

Yang Wei returned home and had just pushed open the courtyard gate when the system notification sounded like a thunderclap: "Ding! Fishing with bait has triggered a silver treasure chest!"

With a thought, a virtual panel appeared before his eyes, and the silver treasure chest cracked open with a "click," releasing two beams of light:

[God-level Fishing Skill]: Can sense the location of fish schools within 10 meters, with a 30% chance of triggering a "big catch" (≥5 catties).

[Master-level painting technique]: Increases wall smoothness by 50% and improves moisture and mildew resistance by 70%.

"Wonderful!" Yang Wei slapped his thigh. In the past, he would spend an entire afternoon fishing and only catch a two-ounce crucian carp if he was lucky. Now that he can locate the fish schools, wouldn't it be possible to just go for a stroll in the moat and bring back a catfish?

As for painting? He glanced at the peeling paint on the walls of his north-facing room and thought to himself: buy a bucket of lime and a few bundles of hemp knives, paint it himself, and the room will retain more heat in winter and the lights won't be too bright at night. It's much better than living in a courtyard house "dormitory"!

Just as I was enjoying myself, the system chimed again: "New mission: Weekend fishing to cultivate your mind. Rewards: 1 Divine Pill (healing elixir), 1 Petty Person Talisman (to ward off slander), 3 catties of melon seeds, and 5 bottles of soda!"

Yang Wei was delighted: This task is easy! I can take my newly learned "god-level fishing skills" to the moat this weekend, catch some fish, get rewards, and at the same time dodge Qin Huairu's "flirting advances"—a triple win!

At the Jia family's window, Jia Zhangshi slammed the curtains shut, muttering under her breath, "You vixen! She can't get Yang Wei, so she dares to hang around right under my nose!"

Hearing the system notification, Yang Wei smiled. Fishing even has rewards? What's the point of staying at home? Anyway, it's a holiday today, so he immediately grabbed the fishing rod he bought before and rushed out the door excitedly.

Just as he reached the door, he bumped into Jia Zhangshi. Seeing him holding a fishing rod, she scoffed, "Yang Wei, you're actually going fishing? That's hilarious! With your skills, you think you can catch anything?"

She had personally witnessed Yang Wei's disheveled appearance when he returned empty-handed.

Inside the house, Jia Dongxu heard his mother's mockery and joined in with a sneer: "He's probably gone mad with fish! This time, not only will he not catch anything, but he'll also fall into the river and drown!"

"Drowning would be too good for him!" Jia Zhangshi rolled her eyes. "I bet he'll get bitten to death by rabid dogs halfway there. Even dogs dislike those who try to eat alone!"

Jia Dongxu immediately chimed in, "Mom's right, he must have been bitten by a rabid dog!"

Having vented her anger, Jia Zhangshi turned and went back into the house. The Jia family was making stinky tofu, and she had to "direct" them. Actually, Qin Huairu did all the work; she just stood by and gave instructions, since she was the only one who had personally witnessed Yang Wei's method of frying stinky tofu.

"Okay, okay, let's make stinky tofu!" Banggeng clapped his hands and laughed. "Grandma, don't forget to put poop in it later! Stinky tofu with poop in it tastes better!" He remembered this "secret" very well.

24. Rakshasa, the king of sea fishing, caught a big catch!

Before long, Yang Wei arrived at Luochahai, a popular fishing spot near the courtyard house. The shore was packed with people, and rows of fishing rods were set up on both banks. In those days, resources were scarce, and every family lacked meat. If you could catch fish, your meals would immediately improve; if you were skilled and caught a lot, you could exchange them for food coupons and meat coupons.

But the fish are hard to catch. Yang Wei has been here a few times and has seen that the experts catch a maximum of ten or so fish a day, and that's only if they're lucky; if they're unlucky, they might have wasted their time, since there are more people than fish.

He glanced around and saw Uncle Yan Bugui sitting not far away, but didn't go over to greet him. Activating his divine fishing technique, he immediately sensed the location of the dense school of fish. Not far to his left, two men sat looking distressed; they hadn't caught anything for a long time, so their skills were probably lacking.

Yang Wei found an empty seat, baited his hook, and gently cast his line into the river. An elderly man nearby saw this and asked, "Young man, is this your first time here?"

Yang Wei had been here a few times before, so he wasn't a familiar face. He replied, "I've been here a few times."

The old man was even more convinced that he was a novice: "There aren't many fish here, and I haven't had a bite all day. I'll have to go somewhere else later."

Yang Wei smiled but didn't reply.

Yan Bugui, who was not far away, caught sight of him and sneered. This kid's trying to fish? He knew Yang Wei's skill level; he'd caught half the fish the last few times. After laughing, he started plotting: Yang Wei's technique was poor; he'd definitely get frustrated soon. If he went over and taught him, and Yang Wei caught a fish, wouldn't he be grateful? Once they were closer, wouldn't it be easier to scheme against his family's wealth?

The more he thought about it, the more smug he became. While fishing, he kept an eye on Yang Wei, ready to step in whenever Yang Wei showed signs of impatience. Yan Bugui was full of confidence: although his skills were average, he was more than capable of dealing with Yang Wei, this "newbie," and a few pointers would be of great benefit to him.

Just as he was making his calculations, Yang Wei's fishing rod suddenly moved.

"Young man, the fishing rod is moving! Judging by this, the fish you caught must be quite big!" an old man next to him reminded him.

As soon as Yang Wei's fishing rod moved, the old man next to him immediately spoke.

Yang Wei couldn't help but smile.

With his god-like fishing skills, catching fish is incredibly easy for him.

He can catch fish with even the most ordinary bait.

"I think so," Yang Wei replied.

After saying that, he pulled up the fishing rod and immediately pulled out a three-pound fish.

"Young man, you're incredibly lucky! You caught a fish like this the moment you sat down!"

The old man next to him looked on with envy.

The other person also looked over with immense envy.

This person was a young man, but he didn't seem to talk much.

So, she just looked at Yang Wei's fish with immense envy.

"It's alright," Yang Wei said with a smile.

After catching the fish, Yang Wei baited the hook and then put the fishing rod back into the water.

"Yang Wei, that kid, he's so lucky today! He caught one right away, and such a big one at that!"