Courtyard House: In this life, I have a new home!

Liu Hai was burning with anxiety. He just wanted to make a name for himself in front of the leaders, even if it was just to get a small team leader position. Yi Zhonghai didn't want a promotion; he just wanted to sit at that table, have a drink, and let everyone in the compound see that he had a special relationship with the leaders.

As for becoming an official? Yi Zhonghai knew perfectly well that his limited education was simply insufficient.

It took him so many years to finally decipher all the words on the blueprints. If he truly had the skill, he would have become an engineer long ago. Unfortunately, that threshold was too high for him to cross.

Factory Director Yang originally wanted to invite Yi Zhonghai to sit with him, after all, he was an eighth-grade fitter. But since they were at Li Weidong's house, he couldn't make the decision for the host.

Thankfully, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong turned and left on their own. Standing there any longer would have been like being slapped in the face in public.

"Dr. Li, do you have a conflict with Master Yi?"

Li Huaide's eyes darted around, and he asked with a smile.

"That utterly despicable wretch!"

Li Weidong made no attempt to hide anything: "It would be a miracle if I could get along with those two-faced old geezers."

Secretary Zhang frowned: "Dr. Li, what's wrong with you...?"

He really didn't expect that someone with a master's degree would speak so bluntly.

"If you don't tell now, you'll probably want to slap him a couple of times when you find out what he's done later."

Li Weidong waved his hand, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, I'll go get the wine."

Factory Director Yang and Secretary Zhang exchanged a glance, both feeling uneasy.

In their minds, Yi Zhonghai had always been a kind and gentle person. How did he come across as different in Dr. Li's words?

Li Weidong came out of the bedroom carrying two bottles of Moutai. The three factory leaders' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

But then I thought about Li Weidong's abilities, and realized that it wasn't surprising that he had the wine.

Xiao Xi poked her head out of the house, her big eyes fixed on the wine bottle.

"Xiao Xi, this is wine, you can't drink it."

Li Weidong bent down and softened his tone, "Let's go eat with your sister, there's good food there."

"Brother, I want some sour hawthorn."

Xiao Xi clung to his leg and wouldn't let go.

"Sister has some, go quickly. Brother has to entertain the guests."

Li Weidong coaxed him with a few words.

"Okay, brother!"

Xiao Xi nodded her little head and skipped away.

Seeing how patient Li Weidong was with the child, Secretary Zhang and Director Yang both felt that even if he had a bad temper, he couldn't be that bad.

Thinking back to his evaluation of Yi Zhonghai, the two of them had the same thought: either Yi Zhonghai himself had a problem, or they had some kind of grudge.

"Here, have a taste of Moutai."

Li Weidong unscrewed the bottle cap. This wine was collected from signing in; there were quite a few good ones, and he was taking out two bottles to enjoy today.

Each of the four people had a small black bowl in front of them, and the bottle filled all four bowls perfectly. As soon as the wine was poured, the aroma seemed to have grown claws, wafting straight into their noses and making them itch with desire.

"That little brat has no respect for his elders at all."

The deaf old woman sat in the yard, muttering to herself.

She would brag all day in the yard about her close relationship with Director Yang. But when they actually got there, she didn't even have the courage to approach him. Director Yang didn't know who she was at all.

Why did she say that in the compound? It's because most of the people in the compound are employees of the steel mill. With that kind of talk, others would have to give her some face.

Yi Zhonghai returned to his home in the Intermediate People's Court and kicked a stool by the door as soon as he entered.

"Ouch!"

He hopped on one foot several times.

My cloth shoes slammed against the old wooden stool, and my toes felt like they were broken.

"Zhonghai, who's offended you again? Why are you picking on your own chair?"

The woman, in her late forties or early fifties, spoke in a calm voice. A prominent, deep wrinkle ran across her forehead.

"Who else could it be? That little bastard Li Weidong."

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth, "I have to teach him a lesson."

Yi Zhonghai said this, but he knew in his heart that teaching Li Weidong a lesson was harder than climbing to heaven. Putting aside his status as an eighth-grade fitter, he was just an ordinary worker.

Who is Li Weidong? He has a legitimate master's degree and is also a level eight fitter, which makes him an engineer-level figure.

Even if he was resentful, Yi Zhonghai understood that in Li Weidong's eyes, he was at best a gofer, someone who could only do odd jobs if Li Weidong was willing to.

"Hey old man, come out for a drink!"

Sha Zhu shouted at the top of his lungs, "The pig's head meat is fresh out of the pot, and we also have two catties of loose beef here!"

Yi Zhonghai composed himself and strode out: "You little rascal, with such good snacks to go with your drinks, you're just drinking your cheap liquor?"

"You're an old man here? Oh no! I have two bottles of Fenjiu hidden here, we'll drink that tonight."

As soon as Yi Zhonghai stepped outside, he saw Sha Zhu scooping pig heads out of the pot and putting them into a large basin. Jia Dongxu and Bang Geng stood to one side, while Jia Zhangshi's hand was already outstretched to grab one.

But as soon as it touched the meat, it was burned and quickly pulled back.

"Ouch, it's so hot! You dim-witted idiot, didn't you even cut a piece for this old man to try?"

Spittle flew everywhere from Jia Zhangshi's mouth.

Upon seeing this, Yi Zhonghai's temper flared instantly: "Jia Dongxu, take your mother back! What kind of nonsense is this? The old lady's portion hasn't even been delivered yet, and you're already eating it?"

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ashen. Jia Zhangshi, this shrew who hadn't yet become a shrew, scurried back to her room like a ball of flesh upon seeing this.

She knew perfectly well that her son's future success depended entirely on whether Yi Zhonghai was willing to put in the effort. She dared not offend this powerful figure.

Sha Zhu quickly removed half of the pig's face, cut off a piece of the pig's snout with a knife, added a few slices of fat, and put it in the bowl. Bang Geng, who was standing next to him, was so tempted that his mouth watered and he reached out to grab it.

Jia Dongxu grabbed him, saying, "Wait! This is for the deaf old lady. With so much meat, you can't be left out!"

As he spoke, Jia Dongxu unconsciously swallowed. He only earned twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents a month, barely enough to support his family of several people. Eating meat was something he couldn't even dream of!

Luckily, there's that silly Zhu who brings them boxed lunches every now and then. Over the years, it's all thanks to the oil and fat in those boxed lunches that this whole family has managed to grow up healthy and strong.

As for why Sha Zhu was being so kind, it was obvious. Jia Dongxu simply pretended not to see it; as long as Qin Huairu didn't do anything outrageous, he would turn a blind eye.

The deaf old woman took the meat from Sha Zhu and was about to speak when Sha Zhu had already run off in a flash.

"Grandma, you keep it for yourself, I have to go see Director Yang right away!"

The old woman stared at the bowl of golden-yellow cornbread and glistening pig's head meat, her mouth moved slightly, but she had already disappeared.

On the other side, Yi Zhonghai, with a gloomy face, carried the meat in his hand to his own home.

He turned to Shazhu and instructed, "Zhuzi, take this meat to the old lady, and I'll take the rest back. While you're at it, call Second Uncle over and ask him to come over for a couple of drinks."

"I'll cook two more vegetarian dishes when you get back. Oh, and Dongxu, bring your wife and kids along."

Jia Dongxu was stunned: "But what about my mother..."

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened further: "You think you're starving? Look at your mother's figure, how fat she's become! At least half of the good stuff Zhuzi brought back has ended up in her stomach!"

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, he left with the meat without looking back. Sha Zhu raised an eyebrow at Jia Dongxu, picked up his bowl, and followed him out.

Jia Dongxu stood there, feeling embarrassed.

In his heart, he was cursing: "That old bastard, seeing that I can't make any money and still have to support a whole family, he wants to kick me out and doesn't expect me to take care of him in his old age."

Think beautifully.

Don't even think about stopping me from supporting you; I still need you to support me now.

When you die, the house and the money will all be mine.

You want to get Sha Zhu to take care of you in your old age? No way! As long as I'm here, that's a pipe dream.

Banggeng was already impatient, tugging at Jia Dongxu's sleeve and shaking it: "Dad, let's go, let's go eat meat!"

Inside the house, Li Weidong and the others had already poured wine, clinked glasses, and were eating.

Li Weidong invited everyone, "Try this spicy duck neck, I brought it back from the south."

Actually, this was the first time he had received braised food after signing in, and it even tasted like a certain black duck from later generations.

Li Huaide took a bite, slurping loudly from the spiciness, and exclaimed, "That's spicy! Really spicy! Much better than Sha Zhu's Sichuan food!"

Secretary Zhang and Factory Director Yang were engrossed in gnawing on duck necks, their mouths never stopping.

Sha Zhu happened to be walking to the door when he heard this, and his anger flared up instantly.

The bandage on his arm has been removed. Although he still can't exert much force, he can move around without any problems.

"I'll see what tastes better than my food!"

Sha Zhu reached out and grabbed the duck neck from the plate.

"Get lost! This is no place for you to just barge in!"

Li Weidong swung the end of his chopsticks backward and struck Sha Zhu's hand directly.

Two streaks of blood immediately appeared.

"Oh my...you..."

Sha Zhu almost exploded, but when he looked up, he saw Secretary Zhang and Factory Director Yang staring at him, and his mind instantly cleared.

Secretary Zhang frowned and said, "Shazhu, what are you doing? This is Dr. Li's house. You're just grabbing food without any manners."

Sha Zhu's face stiffened, and he forced a smile: "I was just joking with Dr. Li, it was really just a joke. Please continue eating, and call me anytime if you need help cooking..."

"I don't need you. Go find somewhere cool to stay!"

Li Huaide waved his hand as if shooing away flies.

Sha Zhu suppressed his anger and walked back to the central courtyard with his head down.

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were already waiting at Yi Zhonghai's door. A table was set up in the middle of the yard, and Yi Zhonghai brought out several plates of cold dishes and some wine.

Jia Dongxu was also sitting at the table. Bang Geng stared intently at the pig's head on the table, and Yan Bugui was no better off, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Zhu Zi, your aunt cooked two vegetarian dishes, so you don't need to lift a finger."

Yi Zhonghai greeted him with a smile, "Sit down and have a drink to calm your nerves."

"Damn it, I'm going to kill that bastard Li Weidong!"

Sha Zhu plopped down, grabbed his glass, and downed it in one gulp. "He's deliberately trying to embarrass me!"

"Keep your voice down, a dog that bites doesn't bark."

Yan Bugui lowered his voice, a sinister glint in his eyes, "Let's figure out how to teach this kid a lesson."

"What a load of crap!"

Sha Zhu scoffed, "Wasn't it all your doing? And what was the result? You said your family would get a job, the Jia family would get a job plus pay, Second Uncle would get a house, and I could marry Lin Yurou. And now?"

"Damn, from now on, he thinks he can get enough to eat at the factory? Dream on!"