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

Yi Zhonghai also realized what was happening, picked up his chopsticks, and his expression softened a bit: "Yes, it's alright. San'er is all grown up now, and it's good that he has his own ideas. If he wants to change his mind later, he can come to me again."

Come on, eat your vegetables.

They lost interest in drinking more. Yang Dalin and Ma San quickly finished their drinks with Yi Zhonghai, ate two steamed buns, and then said goodbye and left.

Yang Dalin and Ma San returned home. Aunt Qi was still awake, and there was still food that Aunt Qi had left for them on the table, covered with a plate.

Aunt Qi was waiting for Yang Dalin and his companion because she was worried they would go out drinking and not get enough to eat.

Yang Dalin first greeted his aunt, saying he had something to discuss with Ma San and would come out to eat something later.

Yang Dalin pulled Ma San into his room and closed the door.

Yang Dalin asked Ma San, "San'er, is it because you don't want to learn fitter work, or because of what I told you on the way back, or because you've seen through Yi Zhonghai's plans?"

Ma San thought for a moment and said, "Brother, if I hadn't met you, I would have definitely agreed to Yi Zhonghai's suggestion."

I'll learn from him and take care of him in his old age.

I know that I should repay kindness.

He can train me and teach me skills, so I have no problem supporting them in their old age.

But he's only saying now that even if the job you mentioned weren't available, I still wouldn't go.

I want to take care of my aunt with you in the future; he said it too late.

Why didn't you do this earlier? You only discovered me after I was living comfortably at your house. How should I put it?

"Taking advantage of someone's misfortune, or rather, bro, I don't know how to express it, but it just doesn't feel right."

Yang Dalin nodded: "Okay, it wasn't for nothing that you followed me. It's not quite right. He has Jia Dongxu to support him in his old age, and he wants to take you as his apprentice. He's just trying to pave another path for himself and have double insurance."

Moreover, he doesn't want to invest too much, he has too many ideas, and he always wants to reap what he sows.

It implies a desire for something for nothing, and I'm quite pleased that you think that way today.

This person just needs to save face from now on.

Try to avoid dealing with him.

First, practice pedaling the tricycle properly and get your body in good shape. I'll find you some books to read later, and you can start learning.

Who knows, I might be able to get you into our team in less than two years.

"From now on, stick with me. I promise I won't let you go hungry for three days straight."

Ma San smiled and said, "Yeah, I still prefer to hang out with my brother. I always feel that he's too serious, being with an old man like him."

Moreover, Jia Dongxu had been learning from him for so many years, but his skill level had never improved. He didn't know if Jia Dongxu was holding back some skills or simply couldn't teach his apprentices well; in any case, he felt very uncomfortable around Jia Dongxu.

Yang Dalin nodded: "Indeed, it's good that you understand. I'll arrange things for you in the future, don't worry. Even if you can't get into the racing team, I'll find you other good jobs."

After Yang Dalin finished speaking with Ma San, he instructed Ma San again: "Don't mention this to anyone, and don't let your aunt know either. It's enough that the two of us know."

Let's go out and eat some more steamed buns. I didn't get full the two times I went to other people's houses for drinks.

"Next time, bring your own steamed buns."

The two of them went out to eat some more steamed buns.

At Yi Zhonghai's home, Wen Xiumei massaged the shoulders of the depressed Yi Zhonghai and said, "Forget it, don't think about it anymore."

Da Linzi saved Ma San's life, and Yu Lan was so good to Ma San.

If Ma San were to turn around and become your disciple, I'd be afraid that the kid would be ungrateful.

It's just that we didn't notice this child sooner.

No, let's ask Yulan to help us look for him at the relief station. I heard that Yulan observed Dalinzi at the relief station for three days before deciding to bring him back.

It is said that Da Linzi hadn't slept for three days and had been taking care of his grandmother.

But his grandmother didn't make it through.

Yi Zhonghai asked in a low voice, "Are you sure you're bringing back someone as outstanding as Da Linzi, someone who's as good to Qi Yulan's family as Da Linzi is?"

Don't run into another ingrate.

Besides, food is so hard to come by right now, even if we were to receive it, we'd have to wait until this famine year is over.

Even if you encountered an ungrateful person back then, the worst you'd lose was some food.

Wen Xiumei, unwilling to give up, said, "Then why don't we adopt a younger one? The younger one won't remember anything, and we can treat him as our own son."

And it doesn't cost much food.

I always felt that Dongxu was unreliable, since he's no longer your apprentice.

What if he changes his mind later?

We must consider this matter in advance.

"Don't wait until he changes his mind, then we'll have no way out, and that would be a real problem."

The reason Yi Zhonghai agreed to let Ma San come was because he was worried about Jia Dongxu, wasn't it?

Indeed, it's hard to say whether this apprentice will change his mind in the future.

He's currently apprenticing with someone else, and he's only with me on his way to and from get off work every day. It's better to have a backup plan; that would be safer and more secure.

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Okay, what you said makes sense, but let's skip this year. The New Year is coming soon, let's see next year."

First, see if there are any suitable candidates around.

If all else fails and we can't find another suitable candidate, we'll do as you said.

When Wen Xiumei saw that Yi Zhonghai had agreed, her furrowed brows relaxed.

I tidied up the leftover food on the table and went to rest.

……

That evening, Qi Yulan asked Yang Dalin what he had gone to Old Yi's house for. Yang Dalin made up an excuse and said, "Uncle Yi was worried that Ma San had been wronged yesterday, so he called us over to explain."

Let's make a good connection, just in case Ma San gets angry with him later.

It's nothing serious, Auntie, don't worry.

San'er and I have already talked things out.

Qi Yulan said softly, "Okay, it's good to talk it out. Old Yi has no children, so he sometimes lacks confidence in his words and actions. Try to smooth things over as much as possible. All the old neighbors in the courtyard know this."

You all know what I mean.

Don't blame him too much.

Yang Dalin and Ma San both nodded in agreement: "Understood, Auntie."

After Yang Dalin finished eating, Aunt Qi insisted on washing the dishes and chopsticks, and then told them to go and rest.

Lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), Yang Dalin thought to himself, "Old Yi is already planning to find a backup plan for retirement, which is much better than in the drama."

In the drama, he only decided to take care of Sha Zhu in 1965.

Unlike many novels, he didn't plan ahead to trick He Daqing into leaving and then cultivate Sha Zhu.

He has some thoughts, but not to this extent.

He Daqing clearly brought this upon himself.

Otherwise, why would Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai look down on He Daqing when he came back?

He Daqing was also incredibly cowardly when he came back.

I'm definitely wrong, sorry.

The reason Yi Zhonghai is looking for a backup plan now is probably because he saw that Jia Dongxu has gone to learn repairmanship from someone else, and he is afraid of losing this apprentice.

Therefore, it is advisable to prepare in advance.

That's only human nature.

I just don't understand why they don't go to a relief station or orphanage to adopt a few children.

There were many orphans in those days.

Is he genuinely stingy and unwilling to make sacrifices, or is there another reason?

That's hard to say.

I went to the Yi family's for dinner today, maybe I should go to the Liu family's tomorrow.

Let's have a drink with Liu Haizhong too, so that this second uncle won't overthink things.

Yang Dalin thought this was a good idea.

We should treat everyone fairly. We can also ask Lao Liu about Yi Zhonghai's younger days.