Courtyard Houses: The Great Masters of a Nation Hidden Within

Xu Damao and Shazhu were arguing so fiercely that their faces turned pale and sparks were practically flying from their eyes.

"Xu Damao, you tell me what's going on! You've been at odds with me since you were toddlers. Did I dig up your ancestral graves or kick down your front door?"

"Silly Zhu, listen up! Ever since you kicked me that year, and it hurt so much I couldn't straighten my back for half a month, we've been enemies!" Xu Damao was quite straightforward, admitting that he was deliberately picking a fight, and even squeezed his legs together as he spoke.

Before Sha Zhu could respond, Xu Damao realized what he meant first, "Hey, wait a minute, damn it, you're calling our family a widow's family, aren't you?"

Sha Zhu never says anything nice. "That's what you got yourself into. Who told you to bully my sister back then?"

Gao Jianguo glanced at the little movement on Xu Damao's leg and had a rough idea of ​​what was going on. Maybe Xu Damao couldn't have children because Sha Zhu had really ruined his manhood.

However, this matter cannot be discussed publicly. There is no evidence, and it happened a long time ago, so why bring it up?

Yi Zhonghai's face changed instantly. He refused to listen any further and slammed his teacup on the table. "Alright, you two are going to keep going on and on about your petty squabbles, aren't you? You don't care how embarrassing it is, but I feel ashamed for you."

He glared at Sha Zhu, "Sha Zhu, no matter what, you shouldn't have laid a hand on him. Go and apologize to Xu Damao."

Sha Zhu had no intention of backing down. He stiffened his neck, raised his chin, and rolled his eyes upwards. "I'm not going!"

Yi Zhonghai wasn't about to tolerate him. He immediately unleashed his most powerful weapon, saying, "If you keep being stubborn, I'll have the old lady use her cane to beat you, believe it or not."

The deaf old woman, as if her hearing had suddenly returned, turned and stared at Sha Zhu, "Sha Zhu~~~~~"

Sha Zhu didn't understand why these two bastards were both targeting him, but there was nothing he could do. If it weren't for these two protecting him, he and Yu Shui would probably have gone back to elementary school long ago.

He didn't move an inch, still maintaining an air of superiority, but his lips did move obediently, "I'm sorry."

Liu Haizhong, who hadn't been able to get a word in edgewise, finally got a chance to speak. "What kind of attitude is this? If you're going to apologize, at least look people in the eye."

Sha Zhu, standing in front of Liu Haizhong, suddenly reverted to his "I'm all cocky again" attitude, saying, "What else? That's all, take it or leave it."

Xu Damao didn't want any of that empty talk. "Just saying a few words isn't enough! You beat me up like this, pay up! If you don't, we'll go to the police station and settle this."

Yan Bugui had finally stumbled upon his most prized job. "Hmm, that makes sense. He should compensate. Da Mao got a real beating."

Upon hearing that his third uncle was backing him up, Xu Damao immediately became incredibly arrogant. "Did you all hear that? The third uncle said so, so enough nonsense, five yuan! I still need to go to the clinic to get my injury checked."

Liu Haizhong was unhappy. It was one thing that his words carried less weight than the eldest uncle's, but how come he couldn't even compare to Yan Bugui? It seemed that his second uncle was just a figurehead. He quickly came up with a topic of conversation, "Xu Damao, don't just focus on money. You ruined someone's relationship, and that's no good either."

Sha Zhu's whole morning was wasted. He even had to borrow money from Uncle San for that Zhongshan suit. What do you say to that?

Sha Zhu beamed with joy. "Second Uncle, you've really hit the nail on the head!"

These words were clearly meant to be spoken by Liu Haizhong, but coming from Sha Zhu's mouth, they sounded worse than an insult.

Sha Zhu himself realized something was off. "Ah, no, no, I misspoke. It's that what you said was quite sophisticated."

"Um?"

"Um?"

Seeing his uncles turning to stare at him, Sha Zhu lightly slapped his cheek. "Hey, look at my mouth."

Yi Zhonghai couldn't stand it anymore. "Sha Zhu was wrong to hit someone, and Xu Damao was no better for interfering with other people's blind dates. Both of them were in the wrong and suffered losses."

Da Mao got beaten up, Sha Zhu, you give him two yuan.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui chimed in, "Yes, yes, that's the way to do it."

Yi Zhonghai picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The three managers have all agreed on this. If anyone disagrees, they can go to the police station and report it to the authorities."

Meeting adjourned!

Xu Damao ruined Sha Zhu's marriage, and the few blows he took were all superficial injuries. He even managed to save two yuan, making him extremely happy.

This guy hadn't married Lou Xiao'e yet, and his pockets were much emptier than they were during the later TV series. He still valued every two yuan he held in his hand.

Sha Zhu beat up Xu Damao, which made him feel better. He also knew that he had provoked Xu Damao first and was not clean in the head, so he quickly took out two yuan from his pocket and threw it on the table.

Once the excitement was over, the people in the compound dispersed in twos and threes, each returning home.

Sha Zhu and Xu Damao both understood that Gao Jianguo had actually saved half of their lives today, and after they dispersed, they both came over to thank Gao Jianguo.

After watching the show for a while, Gao Jianguo thought that although the magic tricks performed by the three stewards and the deaf old woman were performed without leaving a trace, they were even more exciting than those of the two main actors.

But since everyone's taken their final bow, we should at least continue the ceremony properly.

There's not much to say to Xu Damao; a simple thank you and a polite reply are enough.

When they arrived at Sha Zhu's place, Gao Jianguo treated them to a meal, serving all the dishes himself while Sha Zhu did the cooking.

There was no way around it. Although Sha Zhu's skills weren't quite as amazing as they would later become, even now, his wok-flipping skills were far superior to Gao Jianguo's. Moreover, he was an absolute master at making Sichuan cuisine, something Gao Jianguo had loved in his past life.

Sha Zhu happily agreed, and Gao Jianguo simply told him to go back first, while he took the vegetables and went over himself.

It won't work on my side; I definitely won't have as many pots, pans, stoves, seasonings, spoons, and other household items as Sha Zhu has.

Sha Zhu responded and left first. Gao Jianguo thought for a moment, then simply grabbed a chicken, a piece of foreleg meat, and a pig liver, and headed to Sha Zhu's house.

Sha Zhu's eyes widened in disbelief. "My goodness, it's not even Chinese New Year yet, and you're doing this?"

Gao Jianguo put his things down and said, "It's alright, you can sit down first. I'll go invite one of my comrades over so we can all have some fun. Also, your family's rainwater needs to be consumed."

Stew the chicken until it's very tender and mushy, then take a portion to the old lady in the backyard.

If you're missing any side dishes or spices, just arrange them yourself; I won't worry about it.

Sha Zhu readily agreed, "Okay, okay, go get someone, I'll get things done here first."

Gao Jianguo went out the door and headed straight for Wang Tiezhu's house.

Wang Tiezhu happened to be at home when he heard that Gao Jianguo invited him to have a couple of drinks, so he happily went out with him.

Gao Jianguo said some polite words to Wan Yueying, after all, he had called the men away for the weekend.

Before leaving, he even took out a White Rabbit milk candy and teased Xiao Fang, making her call out "Uncle Gao" several times.

When they arrived at Sha Zhu's house, Gao Jianguo didn't say much, only introducing Wang Tiezhu as his comrade-in-arms, saying that they had eaten at the police station.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu quietly bent two fingers and tapped Gao Jianguo. That's how Sha Zhu and Tie Zhu got in touch.

Once the food was ready, Gao Jianguo went back to his room and brought out a few bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor). The three of them happily drank and chatted, while He Yushui watched and ate, her mouth greasy from the food.

Halfway through the meal, Gao Jianguo was still quite puzzled, "Where's that mischievous monkey from the Jia family? Didn't he smell the aroma and come over to mooch some meat?"

Sha Zhu grinned widely, "It's a good thing that the kid went back to his grandma's with his mom, otherwise I wouldn't even have been able to get a peaceful meal."

The three of them didn't stop until after eight o'clock. Sha Zhu got drunk again and passed out. Wang Tiezhu had a bit of alcohol on his face but it didn't bother him. He strolled home by himself.

Gao Jianguo saw Wang Tiezhu out, strolled back into the house to rest for a while, and went to bed early.

Tomorrow, I'll have to go to the factory to work properly.