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

Even though what I'm saying is a lie, a lie can become the truth.

Sha Zhu remembered that Deputy Factory Director Yang had mentioned inviting Sha Zhu to his house to help cook a meal sometime.

Since rationing became increasingly difficult, the plan was temporarily abandoned, and the trip never materialized.

I can take the initiative to go there first thing tomorrow morning. Firstly, it will help me avoid this matter, and secondly, by making sure things are done properly, Xu Changfu won't be able to say anything.

Even if I can't go to Deputy Factory Director Yang's house, I can just hide there for one day on the weekend, and that will be fine.

So Sha Zhu said, "Uncle Xu, I'm not lying to you. Deputy Director Yang from our factory told me in advance that I should go and cook him a meal this weekend. If you don't believe me, you can ask Da Mao to inquire."

I have no reason to lie to you. If he weren't a high-ranking official who was in charge of me, I would have simply refused his job and gone to cook for Brother Da Mao.

But I can't afford to offend them. If I cancel the work I promised my boss for no reason, I won't be able to work at the factory anymore.

Secondly, it's going to be tough for me in this line of work. If I deliberately back out of promises, who will dare to hire me in the future?

"Are you referring to Uncle Xu?"

Xu Changfu was speechless, so he could only say reluctantly, "Well, since you promised your boss, then forget it. I won't make things difficult for you. I'll find someone else."

You all have dinner, I'll be leaving now.

Xu Changfu got up and deliberately didn't take the cigarettes and alcohol from the table.

Sha Zhu wouldn't leave it behind; he picked it up and was about to return it to Xu Changfu.

Xu Changfu pretended to be very polite and said, "It's been a long time since I've been to our courtyard. I didn't come to your wedding, and you didn't inform me. I'm keeping this for you as my wedding gift."

Sha Zhu wouldn't accept that, and quickly said, "That's not appropriate, Uncle Xu. I'm having a really tough time and can't gather all the things. But since we didn't have a wedding, we'll have one after this period is over and we'll have a child. We'll celebrate the child's third birthday and invite you to the banquet then. You'll have to be prepared with your wedding gift then."

"I can't accept this time. Your family is short of cigarettes and alcohol for their business. Please take it back."

Seeing how well Sha Zhu had put it, Xu Changfu had no choice but to accept the cigarettes and alcohol back.

He never really intended to give it to them; a few polite words would have been enough. As he left, Xu Changfu spat at Sha Zhu's door and muttered, "You stinking cook, you don't know what's good for you."

This look is very similar to Xu Damao sticking out his tongue. They really are father and son. Only then did Xu Changfu turn around and go back to the backyard.

Miya didn't understand Shazhu. After Xu Changfu left, she closed the door and pulled Shazhu to the west room to ask him the reason.

Sha Zhu explained to his wife Mi Ya, "First, Xu Damao's parents have been quite disgusting to the neighbors in the yard before. If I go to help, the neighbors will definitely hate me."

Second, Xu Damao and I have always had conflicts. Although Dalinzi helped us mediate, I believe that bastard Xu Damao hasn't forgotten and might be thinking of some dirty tricks again.

Thirdly, I simply don't want to serve that grandson. He doesn't even invite me to his wedding, yet he expects me to serve his entire family, including my maternal grandmother.

Fourth, given that everyone is facing such difficulties right now, I remembered what Da Linzi said: if we still dare to hold banquets and eat and drink extravagantly, it will definitely cause trouble. I'd better play it safe.

Fifth, if I really go, how will I calculate my labor fee with their family? It's hard to say whether they'll ask for too much or too little. Xu Huangshi is definitely an annoying person, so I'll avoid going to their house if possible.

When Miya heard this, she thought Shazhu's words were quite eloquent, especially the last two points, which she agreed with.

The reason I married Sha Zhu was because everyone was going through a tough time. It wasn't that I couldn't afford to hold a banquet, but it would offend too many people.

At this time, it's best to keep a low profile.

If someone reports you, or if someone is jealous of you, you probably won't have a good time.

Ordinary people live their lives cautiously, and even if they have wealth, they dare not flaunt it. Although the Xu family is well-off, this time, things could easily turn from good to bad.

Miya thought that Shazhu wasn't so stupid after all, and was actually quite smart. While He Yushui and Mili were in the living room, she rewarded Shazhu with a bite.

"Brother Zhu, you're right."

Sha Zhu was overjoyed to be kissed by someone who had sneaked up on him.

Just as I was about to turn Miya around and take another bite, Miya easily dodged it.

Leaving behind a silly Zhu who was still unsatisfied.

When Yang Dalin arrived home, he was ready to go home for dinner.

I heard a commotion coming from the Intermediate Court.

Yang Dalin parked his car and went to watch the excitement with Ma San and Qi Xiaoning.

Neither Aunt Qi nor Qi Yanhua, the eldest daughter of the Qi family, went.

When they arrived at the Intermediate People's Court, they found that it was Xu Damao causing trouble in front of Sha Zhu.

Yang Dalin didn't show up at first, but hid to the side and listened for a while before understanding what was going on.

Xu Damao asked his father, Xu Changfu, to invite Shazhu to cook at his wedding on the weekend.

As it turned out, Sha Zhu said he had something to do on the weekend and couldn't go.

When Xu Changfu went back and told Xu Damao, Xu Damao felt that Sha Zhu had deliberately lied to him and just didn't want to come.

After Xu Changfu returned to his home, Xu Damao drank a few glasses of wine and became increasingly angry. He then took advantage of his drunkenness to cause trouble in front of Shazhu's door.

Xu Damao stood outside Shazhu's door, pointing at him and saying, "Shazhu, you're just looking down on people and making excuses. Your neighbor has a big problem, and you don't even help. What kind of neighbor are you?"

Sha Zhu stood on the steps at the door and said, "Come on, Xu Damao, don't act like a woman because you're drunk. If you call me Sha Zhu again, I don't care if you've been drinking or not, I'll deal with you."

You don't want to have black eyes when you get married, do you?

Yi Zhonghai pulled Sha Zhu, and Liu Haizhong pulled Xu Damao.

Yi Zhonghai whispered in Sha Zhu's ear, "Zhu Zi, let's talk this out. Da Mao has been drinking, so don't take it personally. There was nothing wrong to begin with, but you hit him, so you're in the wrong now."

"Just explain the reason clearly, and that'll be fine."

Liu Haizhong also pulled Xu Damao aside and whispered to him, "Damao, don't go any closer. If you get hit, you'll just be wasting your time. Zhuzi already said not to let them freeze in place. You're just asking for a beating if you keep shouting."

Yang Dalin realized that Xu Damao had drunk a little, but not much, otherwise he wouldn't have been standing at a safe distance and just pretending to be drunk and shouting.

He was probably pretending on purpose to tarnish Sha Zhu's reputation.

When Xu Damao heard Sha Zhu threatening him, he wisely didn't get any closer and instead said, "You've got to be kidding me, you selfish little man."

You didn't even help your neighbor with something important. My dad asked you to cook, and he didn't just ask you for nothing; he even gave you cigarettes and alcohol.

You're doing this on purpose. You don't want to cook for your neighbors. You look down on people, you look down on the neighbors in the yard.

Who in the neighborhood has ever eaten your cooking? And why don't you ever offer to help with any of the important matters in the neighborhood?

I think you just look down on the poor neighbors in the yard. They offered you cigarettes and alcohol, and you refused. Isn't that disrespecting people?

Xu Damao was clearly someone who knew how to stir up trouble, and he even knew how to involve the other neighbors in the courtyard.

It's a bit like moral blackmail.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu got a little angry and was about to rush over and hit Xu Damao.

At this moment, Miya easily grabbed Shazhu and whispered in his ear, "Brother Zhu, don't worry, I'll take care of it."