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

After leaving the Wang family, Yang Dalin checked the time and realized he wouldn't have time to go to the nearby street office. He decided to stop by on his way out in the afternoon.

I need to get back to work as soon as possible.

In the afternoon, Yang Dalin drove around the city. On his way back, he stopped by the local street office.

I told the neighborhood committee's house repair team that I needed to quickly tidy up the east wing of the Wang family's house.

They agreed and will start working tomorrow.

Yang Dalin doesn't need to worry about wages; his work unit and the street office are in charge. The house repair team's task is to thoroughly repair the house next spring. Since it's not the right season, they'll just go and do a simple repair on the east wing.

Having work is better than being idle; having work means having income.

Yang Dalin didn't want food provided; it was a simple task. However, he did give the other party two packs of ordinary cigarettes.

This is a way of thanking them.

After get off work in the afternoon, Yang Dalin asked Ma San to call Xu Damao out in advance.

She found a secluded spot outside and waited for him.

After Xu Damao came out, Yang Dalin handed him a burlap sack.

Inside were the wild rabbits and pheasants that Xu Damao wanted.

Xu Damao opened it and asked, "Brother, you're so fast! I thought it would be at least Saturday."

How heavy is this? Money or a ticket, bro?

Yang Dalin said, "I didn't weigh it, I just didn't weigh it. I don't even want the money or receipts. Brother Damao, go back and get a scale, weigh it, and then calculate the price. Consider it as offsetting part of the money I borrowed from you. Any overpayment will be refunded, and any underpayment will be collected. Is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao said, "That's fine. I'll calculate it for you at the black market price. Brother, I won't let you suffer a loss."

I'll weigh it later and tell you the weight.

Then Xu Damao carried the sack home first.

Yang Dalin naturally knew the actual weight; he could roughly estimate it by hand, a skill many people possessed at that time.

While not perfectly accurate, the approximate weight won't differ by much.

The department store also has some very skilled sales clerks.

He didn't tell Xu Damao because he wanted to see if Xu Damao would pull any tricks.

If they're roughly the same, then Xu Damao is someone I can still hang out with.

If the difference is too great, then you should stay away from this person in the future.

Yang Dalin borrowed 260 yuan from Xu Damao when he bought the three-wheeled vehicle last time.

Yang Dalin originally planned to pay it back in two or three years.

It seems that in the past two years, I've been able to pay off part of the debt by bringing in wild pheasants and rabbits.

Next year, 61, will be the year with the highest black market grain prices. This year, 60, is almost over, and prices are already quite high.

Currently, the price of a pound of fatty pork on the black market has reached eight or nine yuan. Although it hasn't reached ten yuan per pound yet, this price is still not low.

A pound of rabbit meat costs at least four or five yuan, if not eight or nine. A wild rabbit weighs four or five pounds.

Pheasants typically weigh only two or three pounds, and each pound costs five yuan.

Five rabbits and five pheasants should be worth at least 150 yuan.

We'll see what Xu Damao has to say in a moment.

Yang Dalin arrived home and had dinner with Aunt Qi, not long after.

Xu Damao arrived.

Xu Damao even wrote a note that clearly stated how many kilograms each rabbit and pheasant weighed.

If we calculate it at five yuan per jin, the total is 162 yuan.

Yang Dalin took one look and thought, "This grandson of Xu Damao's character isn't so bad after all."

I didn't screw myself over.

I guess this kid's favorite target is Sha Zhu.

He's quite honest with himself, though.

I estimated it to be around 150 yuan, but he calculated it to be 162 yuan. This guy is alright.

He also took out the IOU that Yang Dalin had written last time from his pocket: "Here, brother, this IOU is for you. You can take it back. 260 minus 162 is still 98 short."

Don't write any more IOUs; just keep it in mind.

Yang Dalin stopped him: "No, Brother Da Mao, let's keep things separate. Don't calculate it as 162. Round it down to 160. It's easier to calculate that way. You're still 100 short."

I'm taking back this IOU and writing you a new one.

Yang Dalin was about to go back into the house to get paper and pen.

Xu Damao pulled him back: "Brother, don't rush."

Please sit down.

I have a question for you. Can you get some of that dried seafood from last time?

Sea fish or salted fish are both fine.

There are only wild rabbits and pheasants; we're still a bit short.

Pork is hard to come by, so we can only try to find a solution from this area.

Having multiple fish on the table counts as meat.

I've also invited my supervisor from work, and your sister-in-law's family also has some guests coming over.

Wild rabbits and pheasants are really not presentable.

Your sister-in-law's clients are all quite well-off, so we can't be too shabby!

I was right to listen to you. Luckily, I didn't invite Sha Zhu. If he had really caused me any trouble, I would have been in big trouble.

I specifically asked my dad to find a master chef.

They can handle anything, whether it's from the sea or on land.

Brother, think of a solution for your older brother.

Seeing that Xu Damao was pleading with him with his hands clasped together, and that his attitude was not bad, and that he didn't seem to be trying to cheat him.

Yang Dalin even proactively reminded Xu Damao, "Brother Damao, you've made up your mind. Everyone's having a tough time right now. Isn't what you're doing a bit too conspicuous?"

Xu Damao shook his head: "Brother, I know about this. Originally, it was just something I asked my colleagues and neighbors to talk to."

The key issue is that there are also guests from your sister-in-law's side, right?

Your sister-in-law's family said they absolutely have to set up several more tables.

His family paid for it because they didn't have enough money.

My dad definitely couldn't accept the money from them, but he had to bite the bullet and do it to save face.

no way."

Yang Dalin realized that Xu Damao's new wife was probably a capitalist's daughter.

Rich and concerned with appearances.

Given that they'll likely bring a substantial dowry, Xu Changfu is bound to throw a big party.

Otherwise, it would be too shabby and would make the in-laws look down on it.

"It's hard to reason with a devil who's asking for trouble," Yang Dalin said. "Alright, I'll ask my colleagues who've been to Jinhai before. They can get you some seafood and fish."

How many do you want?

Do you want the hundred-dollar one?

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao was relieved that Yang Dalin could get his hands on the items.

You can't buy much with 100 yuan without a receipt.

He then took out another forty from his pocket.

"Brother, give me more. I'll add another forty, otherwise it'll be troublesome if it's not enough."

That way, we're even, and we don't need to write any more IOUs.

Yang Dalin silently put away the forty yuan and nodded: "Okay, then wait for me outside after get off work tomorrow, and I'll give it to you directly from outside."

There's something else I need to tell you. I'm not sure about the time this weekend.

I heard from my boss that I have to go on a long business trip in the next few days. The exact time is not yet determined, but I may not be able to make it to your wedding.

I will have my aunt take the money and gifts over.

Just don't blame me later.

Xu Damao waved his hand: "No, I can understand."

Focus on your work first.

When you come back, we can have a drink alone, just the two of us.

Otherwise, with so many people that day, the two of us wouldn't be able to drink properly.

Seeing that Xu Damao didn't care about the matter, Yang Dalin didn't bring it up again. The two chatted for a few more minutes before Yang Dalin saw Xu Damao out the door.