Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

But he knew very well in his heart that Li Huaide was a man who loved drinking and women and enjoyed flattery, but before the 1980s, you really wouldn't suffer if you hung out with this kind of person.

A keen eye for talent, a willingness to utilize it, and a generous approach to spending money are rare qualities even in a factory.

"Alright, it's settled then." Li Huaide got up to leave, but paused just before leaving, his gaze suddenly sweeping over the dusty old wine jar on top of the cabinet.

"Hey, Pillar, what's that jar...?"

"Tiger bone wine, I brewed it myself, it's good for strengthening muscles and bones," He Yuzhu said casually. "Would you like me to bring you a couple of bottles to try tomorrow?"

"Oh, that's great!" Li Huaide's eyes lit up, and he smiled so broadly that wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. "I was really embarrassed to bring it up if you hadn't mentioned it, and what a coincidence, that's exactly what I've been craving!"

The two exchanged a smile, one seeing the other to the door, the other turning back to the table.

He had barely sat down when his face immediately darkened: "Are you a bunch of reincarnated starving ghosts? You only left me some vegetable soup to mix with cornbread? Not even a scrap of meat!"

"Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, don't be angry!" Xu Damao quickly said with a smile, "I'll go get my dad's lunchbox and make you some more!"

"Alright, alright, this is enough." He Yuzhu waved his hand and picked up a black cornbread bun to eat.

I was thinking of saving half for breakfast tomorrow, but now it seems like I can forget about it.

But after he'd only taken a couple of bites, Xu Damao leaned closer, looking mysterious: "Brother Zhu, when did you get in touch with Director Li?"

Seventeen-year-old Xu Damao saw Li Huaide as an extremely important figure.

Unexpectedly, this important figure personally came to He Yuzhu's door to ask him to cook. Compared to him, He Yuzhu himself instantly became a nobody.

"Good morning." He Yuzhu swallowed a mouthful of coarse grains, his tone as indifferent as if he were drinking cold water. "Back in the day, he was a regular at Fengzeyuan."

In the past two years, he has often asked me to cook.

"So who exactly are you doing this for?" Xu Damao's eyes widened. "Is it some important, influential person?"

"This can't be discussed." He Yuzhu picked up a piece of kimchi with his chopsticks and slowly put it in his mouth. "When you become a level five or six projectionist, maybe you'll find out some inside information."

Now? Let's figure out film cameras first.

They can still talk about the past, but if he were to reveal the secret of giving special treatment to the leaders, Xu Damao would definitely sit at the alley entrance and brag about it for three days and three nights straight.

That kid, after downing two ounces of liquor, could make his own father sound like the top leader of the central government.

"Brother Zhu!" Xu Damao exclaimed anxiously, deciding to go all out, "Tell me, and I'll take you to a great place another day! It'll definitely make you feel comfortable!"

"Oh?" He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow, glancing at him. "Which 'good place'?"

Seeing Xu Damao stammering while still smiling, his lewdness impossible to hide, his heart skipped a beat—the image of this guy's behavior when he was hooking up with Qin Huairu in his past life immediately flashed before his eyes.

"Fine, you even dare to go to places like that?" He Yuzhu sneered. "Aren't you afraid of being dragged into an alley one day, knocked unconscious with a brick, and double-crossed?"

"It's alright! I have connections, it's perfectly safe!" Xu Damao patted his chest confidently. "Do you want to come along?"

"I'm not going." He Yuzhu put down his bowl decisively. "If you're asking for trouble, go by yourself. Don't blame me if you get into trouble later."

No matter how eloquent Xu Damao was, He Yuzhu remained as unyielding as a rock.

How could a few sweet words pry open the vigilance honed over decades of hard work?

Seeing that he couldn't get any information out of him, Xu Damao had no choice but to get up dejectedly and walk out looking disheveled.

As soon as the person left, He Yuzhu picked up the bowls and chopsticks and walked to the sink. After washing the last dish, a roar suddenly erupted from the backyard:

"Which bastard stole my lunchbox?!"

……

In the backyard, Liu Haizhong was fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan to cool off when he heard the noise. He frowned, slipped on his shoes, and came out: "Xu Damao, what's with the wailing? It's giving me a headache in the middle of the night."

"Second Uncle!" Xu Damao jumped up, his face turning green. "My house has been burgled! I left the lunchbox inside for a little while, and it's gone in the blink of an eye! Someone must have stolen it!"

Liu Haizhong was taken aback: "The lunchbox is missing? Has anything else been touched?"

Xu Damao's face contorted with rage. He clenched his fist and roared, "Nothing's missing! The few cents in the cupboard are still there, only a lunchbox is missing! Second Uncle, did you see anyone go into the backyard just now?"

Uncle Er slowly shook his head, tapping his pipe: "I haven't left the house since I finished eating, and I haven't seen anything outside."

Guangfu, you're back late. Did you see anyone on the way?

Liu Guangfu frowned and recalled: "It seems... Banggeng went through the backyard. I wasn't paying attention to whether he was carrying anything or not. He bumped into me and then darted past."

"It really was him!" Xu Damao gritted his teeth, his eyes practically spitting fire. "That little brat Banggeng definitely tried to steal from my house! Second Uncle, you're the one in charge of the backyard, aren't you going to do anything about this kind of petty theft?"

"Manage it! Of course we'll manage it!" Liu Haizhong jumped to his feet, his face darkening. "Let's go, we're going to Zhongyuan right now to get to the bottom of this!"

Just as the two set off, He Yuzhu came out of the kitchen, his dishes gleaming. He spotted them charging forward aggressively and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Hey, Xu Damao, lost your treasure?"

"The lunchbox my dad left is gone!" Xu Damao's voice was fierce. "I'm going to find this thief today!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already rushed to the Jia family's door, raising his hand to pound on it repeatedly. The wooden door rattled loudly, as if it were about to be smashed through: "Jia Dongxu! Get out here! Your son stole my lunchbox and dared to hide it?!"

That shout was so loud it startled the entire alley.

After dinner, when everyone was bored out of their minds, the neighbors pricked up their ears and started looking around. In no time, a crowd had gathered at the base of the wall.

A sharp curse suddenly erupted from inside the door—

"Bullshit! Xu Damao, you son of a bitch, are you spouting nonsense? How dare you accuse my grandson of stealing? You'll die a horrible death!"

Jia Zhangshi's voice was rough and harsh, like sandpaper rubbing against sheet metal.

"You old hag! Liu Guangfu saw Banggeng sneaking into the backyard with his own eyes, and you still dare to protect your own?!" Xu Damao was trembling with rage, kicking the doorframe. "Open the door! Let Banggeng come out and confront us!"

As tensions rose, an elderly man named Yi Zhonghai finally lost his temper. He strode out from the crowd, his face dark, and shouted, "Xu Damao! What kind of business is it to block someone's door with your men? Qin Huairu is pregnant! If something bad happens and she miscarries, can you take responsibility? Old Liu, you joined in the fray too? Are you out of your mind?"

Upon hearing that a pregnant woman was involved, Liu Haizhong's heart tightened, and he quickly distanced himself: "I... I was dragged here by Xu Damao. He said that the missing items needed to be verified..."

"So, you think you can cause trouble just because you've checked?" Yi Zhonghai glared at them coldly. "You lost something and didn't you consult with us, the Third Uncle? You jump out and act as judge yourself? Do you have the authority? Do you have the ability?"

His words were so suffocating that the onlookers immediately fell silent.

Taking advantage of the situation, Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and said, "Everyone, disperse! The matter hasn't been investigated yet, what kind of behavior is it to stand here watching the show! Leave this to us three old men, Lao Liu, what do you say?"

Liu Haizhong, feeling like he was being roasted over a fire, could only nod in agreement: "Yes, yes, listen to Grandpa, everyone go back first."

The two old men took turns urging people to leave, and although the neighbors were itching to get away, they had no choice but to gradually disperse.

Before long, the Third Uncle also arrived after hearing the news.

Only three old men, Liu Guangfu, Xu Damao, and He Yuzhu remained at the scene, leaning lazily against their door frame with their arms crossed and a cold smile on their faces.

Yi Zhonghai frowned: "Shazhu, what are you still standing there for? Didn't you hear me say we're disbanding?"

"Tsk." He Yuzhu grinned crookedly. "Is this something new? I'm not even allowed to stand in front of my house anymore? Besides, Xu Damao just ate at my house, and I even cooked the dishes. Half of the lunchbox came from here—am I not even a party involved? I'm not even allowed to see it?"

Yi Zhonghai felt a lump in his throat, his face turning ashen, but he was too lazy to argue any further, simply tossing out, "Whatever! Watch if you want!"

But he had already made a mental note: this hothead will get what's coming to him sooner or later.

He turned around, his tone softening, and knocked on the door: "Dongxu, it's me, Master."

"Open the door and say something; making a scene won't be good for anyone."

After a moment of silence, Jia Dongxu's low, hoarse voice came from inside the room: "Master...please come in."

squeak-

The door opened a crack, and Qin Huairu stood behind it, her face pale, one hand protecting her stomach, leaving only a narrow gap for one person to pass through.

The crowd looked at each other, none daring to force their way in.

After all, if something serious really happens, no one can cover it up.

Yi Zhonghai squeezed in sideways.

The room was a mess. The dining table hadn't been cleared yet. Next to two empty plates, there was a greasy lunchbox with the lid half open, revealing half a piece of braised pork inside, with oil droplets still trembling slightly.

Yi Zhonghai frowned, his eyes turning cold, and he was already pretty sure that the Jia family was behind this.

"Dongxu, you..." He said in a low voice, as if he were squeezing it out from between his teeth.

Jia Dongxu hung his head, his face bitter: "Master, Banggeng was crying from hunger, saying that someone gave him that lunchbox... We didn't think much of it, so..."

Before he could finish speaking, the room erupted in chaos again.

With her hands on her hips, Jia Zhangshi began to curse, spitting as she spoke: "It's all because of that childless Xu Damao! He dares to show off a worthless fish? To tempt my grandson! And that dog of a cook, Sha Zhu, who is he trying to impress with his delicious cooking? To show off his skills, is he? A lowly kitchen worker..."

"Mom!" Qin Huairu hurriedly tugged at her sleeve, glancing at Yi Zhonghai, and lowered her voice, "There's an old man right here, what are you yelling about!"

Jia Dongxu also came to his senses and quickly interrupted, "Alright, Mom, stop talking. Listen to my master's arrangements."

He turned to look at Yi Zhonghai, his tone respectful: "Master, whatever you say, I'll do as you say."