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

Yang Dalin nodded and said, "No problem, Auntie, it's nothing. I can't do anything more than that. I can still get some food for you two. I'll bring it to you later. It's fine grains and eggs, right?"

Would you like some meat?

Yang Dalin's voice trailed off a little.

When Aunt Wang heard there was meat, she coughed excitedly, and Yang Dalin patted her back to help.

After Aunt Wang calmed down.

Aunt Wang whispered, "Is there really meat in it?"

"Yes, but not in large quantities; they are wild rabbits and pheasants."

"That's fine then, I'll have to trouble you, Dalinzi. Be careful. Your Uncle Wang went to the black market once and got robbed, so I never let him go to the black market again."

"I'll get you the money right now. How much is it per pound?"

Yang Dalin stopped Wang Dama: "Auntie, don't rush, let me bring it over first. I hunted these wild rabbits and pheasants myself in the wild when I was out driving. We can't sell them for money, but we can exchange them."

Otherwise it would be considered speculation and profiteering.

Don't worry, I have this skill. It's okay if I occasionally trade with you.

Don't worry.

"You and Uncle Wang should take good care of your health from now on, and wait for my brother Wang to come back and take care of you."

After hearing this, Aunt Wang became excited again, and her eyes reddened.

Grabbing Yang Dalin's hand and patting the back of his hand, she said, "Thank you so much, Dalin. I know the price of meat on the black market, so I won't let you suffer any losses."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Yang Dalin cleared out the net and then took his leave.

I told Uncle Li and Uncle Hou that I had troubled them with some fruit at noon today.

I need to go home early for dinner, and I can come back tomorrow when I have time.

Hearing that Yang Dalin was going to deliver fruit to his two neighbors, Aunt Wang praised Yang Dalin for being a thoughtful child.

Yang Dalin took out a net bag of pears from his bulging satchel and knocked on the door of the west wing.

Li Dasheng hadn't arrived home yet either. Yang Dalin left a bag of pears, exchanged a few pleasantries, and went to Hou Shuangxi's house in the back building without even entering the gate. Hou Shuangxi wasn't home either; they probably all walked to and from get off work and weren't as fast as Yang Dalin.

Seeing how polite Yang Dalin was, both families treated him with even greater enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, Yang Dalin had to rush back for dinner, so he didn't stay long and went home with Ma San.

When the men from the three families returned home that evening, they heard about Yang Dalin delivering fruit to their door. Without even having a sip of hot water, they all praised Yang Dalin as a good, considerate, and kind young man.

Especially when Aunt Wang told Wang Tonglin that Dalinzi had promised to get some fine grains and eggs, and even some meat for him to eat, Old Wang felt even more that Yang Dalin was a good kid.

The couple discussed that evening that if they didn't have anything to offer Yang Dalin in return, they would lower the price of the house.

Anyway, I'll need the money to buy nutritional supplements, and going to the black market is dangerous, so I might as well exchange it with Yang Dalin.

It's safe and also reduces Yang Dalin's burden.

The three families were happily eating the fruit that Yang Dalin had given them.

.........

.........

Yang Dalin hasn't arrived home yet at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

Xu Damao's father, Xu Changfu, was waiting at Shazhu's house.

As soon as Sha Zhu returned, he saw Xu Changfu sitting in his house.

Xu Changfu and Sha Zhu naturally recognized each other, but he was curious why Sha Zhu was in his house.

He and Xu Damao had never gotten along, and Xu Changfu was only polite to him on the surface, but they didn't really interact much.

Especially after Xu Changfu moved away, he has hardly spoken to anyone in the past few years.

However, seeing the wine and cigarettes on the table, Sha Zhu wouldn't slap the smiling man, and still said politely, "Oh, isn't this Uncle Xu? What wind blew you here?"

"Long time no see, Uncle Xu. How have you been at home lately?"

Sha Zhu and Xu Changfu became polite to each other.

Xu Changfu was also a man who cared about appearances.

Knowing that his son and Sha Zhu didn't get along, his son still insisted on asking Sha Zhu to cook.

He had no choice; Sha Zhu was still quite polite to him when he saw him again.

He didn't put on any airs of an elder.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xu Changfu explained his purpose.

"Zhu Zi, Da Mao is getting married this weekend."

"Oh, that's great news, Uncle Xu. Congratulations in advance! I'll buy some things for Damao later."

Is there anything else you need?

"Yes, Zhu Zi is quite smart. He could tell at a glance that Uncle really does need your help."

"No, Uncle Xu, I can't accept your request. Just tell me what you need, and I'll do whatever I can."

"Hey, Zhuzi, Da Mao is getting married and wants to set up a few tables. We need a chef to cook for us."

If you don't have the skill, I'll have to ask someone else. But we're neighbors, and you and Da Mao grew up together. I can't just ask someone else to do this without your knowledge, or we'll make a fool of ourselves in front of others.

So, Uncle's here to ask you to take charge of the cooking."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu thought, "You're such a nice person. You old schemer, do you think I don't know what kind of person you are?"

The couple moved out, claiming it was to make room for their son's wedding, but every long-time resident knew that they were a restless bunch.

Xu Changfu was treacherous, and Xu Damao's mother, Xu Huangshi, was shrewish. Because she had worked as a servant in the Lou family before, she still had a haughty attitude and often looked down on the poor neighbors in the courtyard and bullied them.

He also had many arguments with the people in the courtyard.

The people in the compound used to find the couple very annoying, but after all, Xu Huangshi worked as a maid in the Lou family, and Boss Lou was a major shareholder in the steel mill.

No one dared to offend the couple, for fear that Xu Huangshi would complain to the Lou family and affect their livelihood.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, life gradually stabilized, and the public-private partnership began. Boss Lou's authority declined, and the Lou family dismissed Xu Huangshi.

The couple realized they had offended too many people, which is why they moved out a few years ago.

They claimed it was to make room for their son's wedding.

Later in the show, the couple went to the canteen of the nursing home run by Sha Zhu for a meal. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and his wife, Yan Bugui and his wife, and others all found the couple very annoying.

It's clear that this couple is so repulsive to everyone.

Although Sha Zhu was polite on the surface, he really didn't want to cook for his old nemesis.

She didn't even want to think about serving him and his son herself.

They just didn't want to show it, seeing Xu Changfu's smiling face.

Sha Zhu was prepared to play along, but he couldn't go too far. He quickly came up with an excuse: "Uncle Xu, I have to thank you for appreciating my skills."

Why didn't you say so sooner? If you had, I definitely would have made time for it.

What a coincidence! I had plans with someone else for the weekend.

Uncle Xu, I'm so sorry.

Xu Changfu never expected that his kind invitation to Sha Zhu would be met with such a bluff from Sha Zhu.

In these difficult times, who would ask him to cook? You're kidding me.

Xu Changfu's eyes flashed with dissatisfaction, and he asked again, "Really? We can't turn down that offer, Zhuzi. I'm begging you this once, you can't lie to me on purpose."

We've been neighbors for decades.

You and Da Mao are good brothers.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for you, Da Mao.

"Can't you at least look after your old neighbor?"

Well, when Sha Zhu heard this, he realized that Xu Changfu was just using the kind of moral blackmail that Da Linzi was talking about.