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

The two happily rode their bikes home, and Yang Dalin parked the bikes in front of the door.

I told Aunt Qi that I wouldn't be having dinner at home that night.

It's about going to Yi Zhonghai's house.

Then he went to his room and took out two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

Then he cut a small piece from his own mutton, about a pound, wrapped it in oil paper, and tied it with hemp rope.

No one else can tell what's inside.

After waiting for a while, they heard Yi Zhonghai greeting people in the courtyard as he finished get off work, and knew he had returned. After waiting a little longer, Yang Dalin and Ma San went over together.

Otherwise, if you go there early, Yi Zhonghai won't be home, so what's the point of talking to Wen Xiumei?

Sure enough, when the two arrived at Yi Zhonghai's door, Yang Dalin knocked and found Qin Huairu peeking through the crack in the door.

Yang Dalin and Ma San were welcomed into the Yi family home.

After exchanging a few polite words with Yi Zhonghai, I sat down.

Wen Xiumei, of course, pretended to be angry and said, "You two came, that's fine, but you even brought wine and meat. You're too kind."

While exchanging pleasantries with Wen Xiumei, Yang Dalin kept an eye on the apartment across the hall.

He heard Qin Huairu say, "Dongxu, Ma San and Yang Dalin went to our master's house. Ma San was carrying wine, and Yang Dalin was carrying an oil paper package."

Why don't you go and sit down for a while?

"Don't tell me you're discussing something."

Jia Dongxu was taken aback for a moment, then said nonchalantly, "What could have happened? Yang Dalin must have felt anxious yesterday because Ma San was beaten up, and he didn't give Master enough face before handling the matter. He'll just go apologize today."

If someone apologizes and I go, they'll feel embarrassed.

The master didn't call me, and it would be even more embarrassing for me to go empty-handed, like I was just trying to freeload.

Alright, stop worrying about useless things and hurry up and cook your meal.

Jia Dongxu still has some shame, and now he's really regretting marrying a wife who likes to take advantage of him; he'll have a lot of trouble in the future.

Qin Huairu muttered a couple of things and went to cook, without saying anything more. Yang Dalin heard Jia Dongxu's words and knew he wouldn't come, so he stopped paying attention to his house.

He said to Wen Xiumei and Yi Zhonghai, "As a junior, how can I come empty-handed for a meal?"

We should also observe proper etiquette.

These words made Yi Zhonghai and his wife very happy, especially since Yang Dalin had brought about a pound of mutton.

This made Wen Xiumei, the cook, feel much more comfortable.

Otherwise, all they have to offer are peanuts, eggs, and a little cured meat.

This extra pound of mutton means we can have another dish.

It also shows that their family values ​​them.

Yang Dalin and Yi Zhonghai exchanged a few useless but meaningful words.

After Wen Xiumei cooked all the mutton, she served it on the table.

Yang Dalin took one look and realized that the Yi family was quite generous, not stingy at all.

On the table was a plate of peanuts, a plate of scrambled eggs with scallions, a plate of stir-fried cured pork with cabbage, and a plate of stir-fried mutton with radish.

It seems they used all the mutton.

There wasn't a single thing left; these dishes were already quite good at this point.

After several rounds of drinks, Yi Zhonghai finally revealed his intentions.

"Third son, you're not wronged, are you? Don't blame your old man."

Yesterday, the old man was also thinking of the neighbors in the courtyard. Teacher Yan came to see me in advance and said that Yan Jiecheng is getting old and it's time for him to get married. He asked me to give him some face.

Make him apologize to you privately after the meeting.

"I, your old man, didn't think this through. I called you all here today to explain."

Ma San quickly stood up and said, "Uncle Yi, you don't need to be so polite. It's all a small matter, it's all in the past, let's not talk about it anymore."

Yang Dalin also spoke up: "Yes, Uncle Yi, it's nothing serious, it's all in the past. You were just trying to help your neighbors, how could we blame you?"

When Yi Zhonghai heard that the two people weren't angry with him, he was relieved.

He continued, "Okay, I'm glad you understand. Let's not talk about it anymore, it's all in the past."

Dalinzi, San'er, I called you here today because I want to ask you something.

San'er has been working on the streets, but pedaling a tricycle isn't a long-term solution. Has he thought about finding a proper job in the future?

"Does San'er have any ideas about working in a steel rolling mill? Would he like to learn to be a fitter?"

Yang Dalin and Ma San exchanged a glance.

Yang Dalin understood Yi Zhonghai's meaning. Yi Zhonghai wanted to take Ma San as his apprentice, and then he would arrange for Ma San to come to the factory to learn fitter work from him.

Of course, the underlying meaning is that we'll have to support Yi Zhonghai in his old age.

Actually, Yang Dalin thought that if Ma San hadn't met him, with Yi Zhonghai protecting him at the steel rolling mill, learning to be a fitter wouldn't have been bad.

Yi Zhonghai just wanted to find a reliable person to take care of him in his old age.

As long as someone can support him in his old age, he's quite good to them.

It all depends on what Ma San thinks. Yang Dalin had previously mentioned that Ma San should learn cooking from Sha Zhu.

In the future, Sha Zhu will take on an apprentice named Ma Hua, and another apprentice named Ma Qiang Ma San.

Forming a pair of apprentices is also a good idea.

However, learning to cook is quite hard work.

Sha Zhu wouldn't neglect to teach Ma San properly, considering his own reputation.

To hell with that chubby apprentice.

Everyone says that Sha Zhu held back a trick for his chubby apprentice, but from the protagonist's perspective...

The fact that the chubby boy was willing to betray his master for money proves that Sha Zhu was right not to teach him.

Back then, apprentices were the master's sons, unlike now.

If this isn't handled properly, Sha Zhu might have already figured out what kind of person the little fat boy is and deliberately avoided teaching him.

Three years of odd jobs, three years of apprenticeship, several years in total, and the master wasted his time?

If a master doesn't properly assess his apprentice, he might teach his best skills to an apprentice with poor character.

How could that be?

What about Yi Zhonghai, a senior fitter?

Yang Dalin couldn't say anything.

In the drama, Liu Haizhong's teaching of his apprentices was genuine, while Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-grade worker, was never seen to have any apprentices.

If Ma San were to learn fitter work from him, would this old man, as many people say, not teach him properly in order to control his apprentice?

Or is it that Yi Zhonghai simply can't teach his apprentices well and doesn't know how to teach them?

Yang Dalin wanted to see what Ma San meant.

Regardless of the circumstances, Yang Dalin would explain everything to Ma San afterwards and let Ma San make his own decision.

To everyone's surprise, Ma San immediately said, "Thank you, Uncle Yi, and thank you, Aunt Yi, for your concern. I still quite like riding a tricycle; it's quite liberating."

Besides, Aunt Qi's family and my brother have been very good to me. Aunt Qi and my brother have both been kind to me; my brother saved my life. I still prefer to stay with my brother. I'm still young, not even sixteen yet. It's hard to get into a factory when I'm too young. Factories are all weeding out people these days. I'll wait a few years until I'm old enough.

Ma San was quite clever; firstly, he didn't reveal that he had arranged for Ma San to join the freight station's truck team in the future.

After all, nothing's been decided yet; it's still a long way off.

Of course, you can't just say things like that.

Secondly, it was also implied that he did not want to become Yi Zhonghai's apprentice and did not want to support him in his old age.

Then she added that she was a sentimental person and would repay the kindness of Yang Dalin and Aunt Qi in the future.

It seems Ma San didn't follow me for nothing; he even knows how to express several things tactfully.

She politely declined Yi Zhonghai's offer without embarrassing him too much.

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai and Wen Xiumei naturally understood what Ma San meant.

They don't have that kind of interest, so all our efforts are in vain.

Yi Zhonghai was inevitably a little disappointed, but after thinking about it, he understood.

If he can forget Ma Sanlian's life-saving grace and Qi Yulan's kindness to him, and instead come to live with his own family, then this child is fickle and easily swayed; it would be better not to have him at all.

What I value most about him is his sentimental nature, isn't it?

Since the child doesn't want to, then forget it.

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai looked a little unwell, Wen Xiumei quickly picked up her chopsticks and put some food on Ma San's plate, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. Ma San is not a child anymore. It's good that he has his own opinions. Come on, eat your food."