Courtyard House: A Carefree Life Begins with a Lottery of Wish Power

Yan Jiefang also took a deep sniff and said:

"Brother, this looks familiar, isn't it douzhi (fermented mung bean juice)?"

Yan Jiecheng nodded and said:

"That's right, I bet it's either an old man, Xu Damao, or Shazhu who bought douzhi (fermented mung bean juice)."

In terms of economic conditions, these three families in the compound are considered to be quite good.

The old man, an eighth-level fitter, is not short of money. Xu Damao and Shazhu are both bachelors with good jobs and are not short of money either. When they are lazy, they just buy some ready-made things for themselves.

Uncle Erda has a decent income, but with a large family, he can't bear to buy anything.

Yan Jiefang, with his sharp eyes, noticed that Lin Zhuo's door was open and Lin Zhuo was sitting by the stove, slurping something with a spoon. He quickly whispered:

"Brother, look, Lin Zhuo bought it."

Lin Zhuo had already spotted the two Yan brothers out of the corner of his eye.

He slowly picked up the sesame seed cake, broke it open, put a fried dough ring in it, opened his mouth wide, and took a big bite.

He then used his chopsticks to pick up a few strands of pickled vegetables and put them in his mouth.

The sweet and sour taste of douzhi (fermented mung bean juice), the salty and spicy taste of pickled vegetables, and the aroma of jiaoquan (fried dough rings) and shaobing (baked flatbread) blend together, creating a truly wonderful experience.

Lin Zhuo looked at the Yan brothers with a satisfied expression and mumbled:

"The sesame seed cakes are alright, but the fried dough rings are a bit cold and not as crispy as when they were fresh out of the oven."

The two Yan brothers stared wide-eyed, smelling the enticing aroma and seeing Lin Zhuo's blissful expression; they were almost unable to move.

"+3 from Yan Jiecheng's wish power".

"+3 from Yan Jiefang's vow power".

Yan Bugui found it strange that his two sons were standing at the door and not leaving.

Seeing his two sons staring intently at Lin Zhuo's house, he followed their gaze and couldn't help but swallow hard.

"What are you standing there for? Go do what you're supposed to be doing."

After struggling with his conscience for a while, Yan Bugui finally succumbed to the temptation of the delicious food and walked to Lin Zhuo's door.

Lin Zhuo had just finished eating one sesame seed cake when he picked up a second one, slowly broke it open, added a fried dough ring, and then took a big bite.

Yan Bugui swallowed hard, watching the scene.

"Lin Zhuo, this is breakfast I bought when I went out."

Lin Zhuo quickly stood up and said:

"Third Uncle, come in quickly."

Only then did the third uncle enter Lin Zhuo's room.

Uncle San himself couldn't even remember how long it had been since his family had drunk douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) and eaten jiaoquan (deep-fried dough rings).

It seems like I haven't bought breakfast since I had children.

Hopefully, Lin Zhuo is perceptive enough to offer even half a fried dough ring, just to satisfy his craving.

The third uncle stared longingly at Lin Zhuo's lavish breakfast and said:

"Your breakfast must be quite lavish; it must taste good."

The old man was almost about to say, "Can I have some to try?"

Lin Zhuo, however, seemed completely oblivious to the unspoken meaning in the Third Uncle's words.

Nodding, he mumbled indistinctly:

"Yes, it's really good."

"+2 from the Third Uncle's wish power."

Lin Zhuo pretended not to notice the Third Uncle's unpleasant expression and continued:

"Uncle, have you eaten? What did you eat?"

The old man felt a tightness in his chest when he thought about his family's breakfast.

He could only force a smile and say:

"I haven't eaten yet. Breakfast at home isn't as lavish as yours; it's just cornbread and pickled vegetables."

Lin Zhuo looked at the sesame seed cake in his hand and said apologetically:

"Uncle, I was so hungry that I ate too fast and I already bit into some. Otherwise, I would have given you a fried dough ring to take home and try."

As he spoke, Lin Zhuo shook the half-eaten sesame seed cake in his hand.

Yan Bugui swallowed hard and kept saying no.

My plan to freeload today is ruined; I'll have to try again later.

After a brief, casual chat, he turned and went home, somewhat dejected.

"+3 from Yan Bugui's wish power".

As soon as Yan Bugui entered the house, Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang rushed over, looking at him expectantly:

"Dad, that soy milk smells so good."

"Dad, I also want to eat a sesame seed cake with fried dough rings."

Yan Jiedi also came over and said:

"Dad, we haven't bought breakfast for several years."

Yan Bugui was annoyed by what the children were saying, and said:

"Eat, eat, eat! All you ever think about is eating."

"Do you know how much Lin Zhuo's breakfast cost?"

"Come on, let me calculate it for you."

「豆汁2分钱，2个焦圈儿6分钱，一份鹹菜1分钱，2个烧饼8分钱。」

"This meal cost a full 17 cents, not including food coupons. Our whole family's breakfast wouldn't even cost 17 cents."

"What's the use of eating so deliciously if you still have to poop it out?"

"I've always told you, you won't go broke from eating or dressing, but you will go broke if you don't plan ahead."

"Can't you guys learn your lesson?"

Yan Bugui said irritably:

"Just you wait and see."

"With Lin Zhuo's approach, he won't even be able to get a wife in the future."

"With a monthly salary of just over ten yuan, I dare to spend 17 cents on breakfast."

"In my opinion, he's only relying on the small amount of compensation his father left behind after his death."

"Sooner or later, he'll run out of money."

"You all need to remember this: when you're looking for a partner, make sure they're good at managing a household."

Yan Bugui looked at Yan Jiecheng and continued:

"Jiecheng, have you received your salary this month? If so, please hand it over to the family as soon as possible."

The topic changed so quickly that Yan Jiecheng was stunned for a moment and could only respond dejectedly.

After giving a long speech, Yan Bugui felt much better.

Although they didn't succeed in getting free food and drinks, it was still quite good to use Lin Zhuo as a negative example to teach the three children a lesson.

Lin Zhuo spends money so lavishly, I need to figure out how to get some benefits from him.

"+3 from Yan Jiecheng's wish power".

"+3 from Yan Jiefang's vow power".

"+2 from Yan Jiedi's wish power".

"+3 from Yan Bugui's wish power".

Hearing the system notification in his mind, which sounded like heavenly music, Lin Zhuo felt that the 17 cents he spent that morning was well worth it.

Lin Zhuo gradually developed some new ideas.

If one wants to gain power from these beasts in the courtyard, then openly shouting for battle is certainly the most direct way.

But it can also be done in a completely nonchalant and unnoticed manner.

For beasts, living a better and more carefree life than them, and not letting them leech off them, is the greatest blow to them.

Lin Zhuo increasingly enjoys this feeling of "you can't stand me, but you can't do anything about me."

Lin Zhuo left for work in a cheerful mood.

The courtyard house isn't far from the steel rolling mill, but you still need to take a bus.

At that time, there were all kinds of buses, mostly foreign models.

Some are buses, and some are converted trucks.

Due to the national fuel shortage, buses are equipped with large gas cylinders on top, using gas as fuel.

Lin Zhuo couldn't help but recall an article he had read before: an iron man came to Beijing and saw buses with air bubbles on their roofs, and vowed to remove the label of "oil-poor country" from the city.

Now that the major oil fields in Northeast China have begun to be developed, the days of oil shortage will soon be over.

Lin Zhuo boarded the bus, but the bus was already old and crowded, making it quite uncomfortable. He should try to get a bicycle.

The days leading up to the exam were very fulfilling for Lin Zhuo.

Every morning, I would buy different kinds of breakfast and then show them off to everyone.

What bad intentions could I possibly have? I was just showing everyone how much I enjoyed my meal.

Once at the factory, Lin Zhuo diligently followed Huang Fusheng to learn how to operate the equipment.

Soon, the day of the exam arrived.