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

An older woman named Yu Mei came over, her forehead furrowed in worry, and advised, "Grandma, go back inside. Zhonghai Factory is about to ship out a new one; they'll buy you one then."

The deaf old woman curled her lip and snorted, "What's so great about buying one? Zhonghai is also an eighth-grade worker, I can just have him make one for me, that's all."

Li Weidong was too lazy to reply. He pulled out a large canvas bag from under the crossbar of his bicycle, took out a lot of Bodhi seeds, and casually threw them into the bamboo basket in the covered walkway.

Xiao Xi, with her sharp eyes, leaned over and exclaimed, "Brother, these are mushrooms! I recognize them. Sister picked a few the other day and made delicious soup."

As he spoke, he reached out to grab it.

Li Weidong quickly stopped her: "Xiaoxi, don't touch it. This thing is poisonous. It has to be cooked before you can eat it."

At this moment, Xiao Dang and Huaihua ran out of the house and squatted down with Xiao Xi by the basket to look at the mushrooms.

Li Weidong instructed, "Xiao Rou and Yu Shui will cook together; we'll make braised pork for lunch. I'll go hang up the electric fan."

Xiao Xi immediately pulled Xiao Dang and Huaihua into the main room.

Li Weidong spent twenty minutes fixing the electric fan in place, and when he turned it on, a cool breeze blew out. He made the fan himself, and it was quite large.

Then he moved a stool to the doorway and sat down, chopping bamboo with a bamboo knife. He planned to weave two square bamboo baskets, string them together with two bamboo poles, and tie them to the back rack of his bicycle. This would make it easier to carry things when he went fishing or hunting.

He signed in, received an eight-stone ox horn bow, and was thinking about going for a stroll in the mountains. These days, there are plenty of wild rabbits and wild boars in the suburban forests; the only question is whether you can bring them back.

Xiao Xi, along with Xiao Dang and Huaihua, were playing wildly in the main room, making all sorts of movements with a single rope. Li Weidong couldn't understand where the little girl's happiness came from.

He knew the game was called cat's cradle, but he just couldn't understand how they could play it so enthusiastically.

Li Weidong was chopping bamboo when Liu Guangtian strolled over and stood beside him, watching intently without saying a word. But Li Weidong immediately understood the eagerness in his eyes—this kid wanted to learn.

Liu Guangfu is eighteen years old this year. He has stopped studying and can't find a job. At home, he gets beaten by Liu Haizhong all the time and has become his punching bag.

"Want to learn?"

Li Weidong asked.

Liu Guangtian nodded vigorously: "Yes! Brother Dong, are you willing to teach me?"

They used to be quite close, but after not seeing each other for four years, they've become a bit estranged.

"Just stand there and watch, this isn't difficult."

Li Weidong said it casually.

Li Weidong felt a little sorry for Liu Guangtian, but his other thought was to plant a spy in the Liu family.

He Yushui came out of the kitchen, glanced at the Boletus luridus in the bamboo basket, and frowned: "Brother Dong, it seems like there are a few less mushrooms."

"No way..."

Li Weidong was taken aback for a moment. "There are a few missing. Xiaoxi and the others have been inside the whole time."

"The sticky bird just circled around here."

Liu Guangtian chimed in.

He Yushui's temper flared: "No need to ask, it must have been that brat who stole it. My silly brother spoiled him so much that he became a thief."

Li Weidong sneered: "It's not just your silly brother's achievement; his grandma and dad also contributed a lot."

Jia Dongxu used to be a petty thief. If he hadn't had a child, he'd probably still be showing off his skills in the yard.

As Li Weidong fiddled with the bamboo strips in his hand, he said, "Rainwater has to be cut into uniform thicknesses and fried in oil. The oil must be very hot. After frying it, stir-fry it with garlic to season it."

He paused and then said, "If the garlic slices are a normal color, not black or blue, they're safe to eat."

Li Weidong looked up at Liu Guangtian and said, "I'll go to the Intermediate Court and give them a shout. You come and chop bamboo strips, the same size as the one I have here. Be careful not to hurt your hand."

Liu Guangtian took the bamboo knife, his face full of surprise. He knew that if he mastered this bamboo weaving skill, he would be able to support himself in the future.

Li Weidong walked to the pond in the middle courtyard and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Whose brat stole my wild green mushrooms? Those things are poisonous; you can't eat them if you don't know how to cook them!"

He swept the yard around and said, "You stole it, so what? If you don't want to return it, fine, just throw it away. I admit defeat and will pay you this dollar."

An older woman named Na Yumei stood at the entrance without saying a word. Yan Bugui and Yang Yuhua passed through the hanging flower gate and arrived at the central courtyard.

Many children and women came out to watch the excitement. But not a single ghost appeared in the Jia family's house.

Is there any need to guess? It's obvious they did it.

The onlookers all stared at Li Weidong, and no one spoke.

Li Weidong added, "I won't repeat myself, but those mushrooms really are poisonous. Don't blame me if you get sick from eating them."

He turned to Yan Bugui and said, "Teacher Yan, you're the mediator. I've already told you about this. How you handle it is up to you. If anything goes wrong, hehe, you'll be held responsible."

After saying that, Li Weidong turned and left.

Yan Bugui's face turned green. Of the three mediators, he was the only one at home. If those mushrooms really caused someone's death, he would really have to take the blame.

But Li Weidong had already given instructions, so it had nothing to do with him.

"What kind of nonsense is this!"

Yan Bugui was so angry that his glasses almost slipped off.

Inside the Jia family's house, Banggeng stared wide-eyed and asked, "These mushrooms are poisonous? Then why did I bring them back? Throw them away right now."

Jia Zhangshi's fat face was full of smugness: "My dear grandson, that little bastard Li Weidong was lying. He was just trying to scare us and deliberately prevent you from eating."

Bang Geng was stunned for a moment: "That kid is a real jerk! So much good stuff, what's wrong with me taking a little? I'll find a chance to go to their house and get some meat!"

Jia Zhangshi spat as she spoke, "That's right! That beast is a piece of trash. He has money but doesn't even help our family! No wonder his parents died young. If he were any sensible, he would bring us good food and show respect to this old man!"

"Mom, don't teach these things to pigeons."

Qin Huairu looked exhausted.

"Get out of here! Who gave you the right to speak? You good-for-nothing, all you do is use your face to seduce men."

Madam Jia roared, "Can't I even teach my grandson?"

Following Li Weidong's instructions, He Yushui sliced ​​the Boletus luridus into thin slices, so thin they were translucent.

She chopped a few more cloves of garlic and added lard to the pot.

When the oil was hot, she caught a glimpse of Banggeng leaning against the window, his eyes darting around as he peered into the kitchen.

Li Weidong was teaching Liu Guangtian how to split bamboo in the yard.

"The bamboo strips must be even, and the wrist must be steady when making the cut, without varying the pressure."

He handed the bamboo knife to Liu Guangtian and demonstrated a few movements.

Liu Guangtian nodded repeatedly, studying diligently.

Banggeng watched the entire process of He Yushui stir-frying mushrooms, swallowed hard, and turned to run away.

As soon as he entered the house, he shouted, "Grandma! I know how to cook it now!"

"That good-for-nothing He Yushui used lard to stir-fry the mushrooms first, then added garlic, and finally sprinkled salt. It smelled amazing!"

As he spoke, his saliva was practically dripping down his face.

Qin Huairu breathed a sigh of relief.

She was being cautious not because she was afraid that Jia Zhangshi would eat her alive—the sooner that old woman died, the better.

What she was afraid of was something happening to Bang Geng.

"We're out of lard, let's use vegetable oil instead."

Qin Huairu said.

She put the mushrooms into the pan, and just as they were cooked, before she could even taste them, Jia Zhangshi rushed over and took the whole plate away.

"My dear grandson, get the chopsticks! This taste, wow!"

When Jia Zhangshi sat down at the table, she looked just like an old sow, her plump body making the stool creak.

Banggeng grabbed his chopsticks and rushed over, shoving Jia Zhangshi aside: "I'll eat first! I'll eat first!"

He didn't mind the heat and popped the mushroom into his mouth.

Qin Huairu stood at the kitchen doorway, watching this scene, her fingers gripping the hem of her apron.

She knew perfectly well that eating these mushrooms might have unpredictable consequences.

But she didn't say anything.

Madam Jia was pushed so hard she stumbled, but she wasn't annoyed. Instead, she cheerfully grabbed the chopsticks, saying, "Leave some for Grandma, leave some for Grandma!"

The glutton ate without a care, his mouth glistening with oil.

Qin Huairu turned around and stared at the remaining mushroom slices on the cutting board.

The cut surface of the mushroom was initially white, but it soon turned bluish.

The color looks creepy.

The Lou family's braised pork had just come out of the pot. Bang Geng took a bite and his mouth burned, the meat juices gushing out.

"It smells so good! It tastes just like meat! If you stir-fry it with lard, it'll be even better than pork!"

Banggeng's hands never stopped, his mouth was stuffed full.

When Jia Zhangshi saw that the boy hadn't even left her any chopsticks, she couldn't wait any longer. She stuck her five dark fingers directly into the plate, grabbed a handful, and stuffed them into her mouth.

After chewing a couple of times, her cheeks puffed out and her lips glistened with oil: "It really is delicious. That little brat whose parents aren't around doesn't even know to offer me such good food; he has to make my precious grandson fetch it for him."

She smacked her lips and added, "My dear grandson, make more next time. Giving them this kind of stuff is a waste."

Qin Huairu walked over with chopsticks, originally wanting to taste what it was like. But when she saw Jia Zhangshi's hands, with dirt under her fingernails, rummaging through the plate, she instantly lost her appetite.

Watching the mother and child devour their food like pigs fighting over scraps, a thought suddenly struck her: "Why haven't Xiaodang and Huaihua returned yet?"

Bang Geng was furious upon hearing this: "They're eating at that little bastard Li Weidong's house! And there's braised pork!"

He got angrier and angrier as he spoke: "They didn't even invite me in to eat with them."

Jia Zhangshi gritted her teeth: "That good-for-nothing, who has no parents to rely on, is feeding those two good-for-nothings well. He should just lie on the side of the road."

"Yes! They deserve to die!"

The stalk followed suit, mimicking what the others said.

Qin Huairu sat to one side, her face clouded with worry. She knew perfectly well that if things continued this way, Banggeng would inevitably get into trouble sooner or later. But in the Jia family, she didn't dare to breathe loudly, let alone discipline him.

On the other side, Li Weidong entered the house.

The bamboo strips are almost ready; he just needs to weave the bamboo basket this afternoon. Once it's finished, he plans to go out and fetch his belongings, such as washbasins and towels, from outside.

He figured it was always better to be cautious.

If he simply pulled these things out of the house out of thin air, the neighbors would definitely have a lot of suspicions. But if they saw him move them in from outside, they would naturally come up with a reason for him—Li Weidong is capable and rich, these things must have been issued by the factory.

Moreover, the source of everything the system provided for him was clearly stated: it was all rewards from the factory. As long as it came from the system, there was no worry about not being able to explain it.

Liu Guangtian also went home for dinner.

The cornbread was placed on the table, and the pickled vegetables had a sour, farting smell. The aroma of braised pork from Li Weidong's house wafted in through the cracks in the window.

Who could swallow this food?

His mother, Zhang Cuihua, seeing him craning his neck to look outside, said impatiently, "Guangtian, you're helping that kid with the work, why doesn't he call you for dinner?"

"What? I was just learning a skill from someone else."