The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

Yang Dalin said, "Sure, Da Mao, want to join us tonight?"

Xu Damao glanced at Sha Zhu, somewhat tempted, but said, "Who would drink with a stupid cook?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu put down the iron pot, picked up a spoon, and prepared to beat Xu Damao. When Xu Damao saw this, he immediately ran to the backyard.

Yang Dalin grabbed Shazhu, but Shazhu couldn't break free.

"Alright, Brother Zhu, since we did something naughty together today, tonight you cook, I'll prepare the dishes, and Brother Da Mao will get the drinks. Let's have a drink together, okay?"

This time, Xu Damao didn't say anything sarcastic. Sha Zhu said, "Fine, I'll do it for your sake. Otherwise, would Sha Mao be able to eat my cooking, Grandma?"

Xu Damao hid behind a pillar in a covered walkway, sticking out his hair: "Tch, if it weren't for Da Linzi's sake, I wouldn't eat even if you begged me to."

Sha Zhu pretended to hit Xu Damao again, which scared Xu Damao so much that he immediately ran home.

He ran home and immediately locked the door. Xu Damao hid behind the door, peeked through the curtains, and seeing that Sha Zhu hadn't chased after him, patted his chest and said, "That scared the hell out of me."

When Yang Dalin took Sha Zhu home.

Yan Bugui's family was overjoyed to see a large pile of dishwater in bowls of all sizes.

Even Yan Jiekuang wanted to try it, but Yan Bugui hit him and made him give up.

Yang Ruihua glanced at the bowls and, noting that none of them had a reddish-brown color, said, "Old Yan, why does the water in these bowls look so clear to me?"

Yan Bugui explained to her, "Of course, it's cold water, and the brown sugar hasn't dissolved yet. The top few bowls will definitely be clear. Just heat it up and stir it in a bit."

Yang Ruihua agreed with Yan Bugui's point of view: "But we don't have a stove and pot that big at home."

"If we heat all of these together, how much fuel and how big of a pot will it take?"

Yan Bugui got anxious when he heard what this spendthrift woman said: "Are you stupid? How can we finish all this in one meal? We can heat up the top few bowls first, and then each of us can have a bowl."

The sweetest thing can be saved for last; it's not like the weather will spoil.

We can drink a little each day; I'm planning to drink it for a week.

Save the sweetest, most nutritious essence for last.

There are still some seafood porridge residue at the bottom.

Yang Ruihua gave a thumbs up: "Yes, the old man is right."

Do as you say.

Shall I start making lunch?

Yan Bugui nodded: "Okay, don't cook porridge later, just give each person a bowl of brown sugar water."

One person, one cornbread, with brown sugar water—that's a kind of enjoyment too.

More than half an hour later, the Yan family started their meal.

A family of six, each with a small steamed bun, and a small dish of pickled radish strips on the table.

The radish strips were divided into three per person.

Yan Laokou was absolutely fair in this regard.

Then each person received a bowl of slightly cloudy hot brown sugar water used for washing the pot.

Undeterred by the heat, Yan Jiekuang took a sip, smacked his lips, and noticed a faint sweetness, so subtle that it was almost imperceptible.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Dad, why isn't it very sweet?"

Yan Bugui also took a sip, and it was indeed not as sweet as the cold one he had drunk. But he still gave the same reason: "Didn't I tell you, this is the top one? The brown sugar has all settled to the bottom."

This definitely isn't sweet.

However, upon closer inspection, it does have a slightly sweet taste.

You should savor it carefully, take a sip, close your eyes, and imagine the sweetness of the brown sugar water.

That way you can taste it.

Yan Jiedi tried her father's method, took a sip, closed her eyes, and savored it; it did indeed have a slightly sweet taste.

The innocent Yan Jiedi said, "It really is, Dad, it does taste sweet."

And so the family of six were all immersed in the wonderful dishwater.

Yang Dalin overheard the conversation at the Yan family's home, and almost choked on his food.

Aunt Qi asked him, "What's making you so happy?"

Yang Dalin wiped his mouth: "It's nothing, it's nothing, Auntie, I just remembered a joke."

Qi Xiaoning tugged at Yang Dalin's sleeve and said, "Brother Dalin, tell me a joke."

I love hearing jokes.

Yang Dalin said, "Okay, but we can't talk about it while we're eating. I'll tell you after you finish eating."

Qi Xiaoning asked him, "Why can't we talk about it while we're eating?"

Yang Dalin said, "In ancient times, people said that one should not talk while eating or sleeping, and there is a reason for that. For example, I just remembered a joke and almost spat out the steamed bun in my mouth."

You're still young. What if you choke on a joke while eating?

Right? So, I'll tell you after everyone's eaten, okay?

Qi Xiaoning said, "That makes sense. I'll eat first, and you can tell me after I finish eating."

Qi Xiaoning sped up her eating and finished first. She looked longingly at her mother and sister, who, having no other choice, also sped up their eating.

Then he looked at Yang Dalin, who took a bite of his steamed bun without slowing down: "Another point is that you shouldn't eat too fast, as it doesn't help with digestion."

Seeing Qi Xiaoning about to rush over and pull Yang Dalin's ear, Yang Dalin blocked her with one hand: "Okay, I'll eat quickly."

After everyone finished eating, Yang Dalin noticed that the three of them were looking at him.

He said very seriously, "Everyone listen carefully."

Xiaoning, have you ever seen a turtle shake its head?

Qi Xiaoning thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I've never seen it before."

Yang Dalin pointed to himself, stood up, and said, "I've seen him before."

Then he went back to his room and locked the door.

Aunt Qi and Qi Yanhua didn't react at first, but after Yang Dalin hid inside the house, Qi Yanhua was the first to react: "Haha, hahaha."

Qi Yulan was a little confused. What was her eldest daughter laughing at? Was this a joke? Why was she suddenly laughing?

Qi Yanhua laughed for a while, then pulled Aunt Qi aside and whispered something in her ear.

Aunt Qi then realized what was happening and burst into laughter.

Qi Xiaoning saw her sister and mother laughing happily, and looked at her sister innocently, asking, "Sis, what are you laughing at? Why did Brother Dalin run into the house?"

Qi Yanhua kept smiling and didn't explain anything to her. This silly girl hadn't realized what was going on yet.

It wasn't until Qi Xiaoning tickled Qi Yanhua for a while that Qi Yanhua begged for mercy, saying, "Okay, okay, I'll tell you."

Just now, when your brother Lin asked you that question, you happened to shake your head.

Upon hearing this, Qi Xiaoning understood. "Fine, you're calling me a little bastard."

Enraged, the little girl went to Yang Dalin's door, kicked it open, and shouted, "Yang Dalin, come out here! Come out and face your death!"

Yang Dalin, hiding inside, said, "Xiaoning, tell me a joke, isn't it funny?"

Qi Xiaoning kicked the door again and said, "What's so funny? You're playing me. I don't believe you can hide in there forever. I'm going to stick with you today. When you come out, I'll bite ten watches off your hand."

No, a hundred watch (tooth marks).

Believe it or not, open the door now, or I'll only bite fifty.