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

Yang Dalin felt that this matter could be handled.

I'll go tomorrow night.

How come Lao Liu had lent me money before?

We went to Yi Zhonghai's house for dinner, but not to his house, lest that old rascal overthink things.

It wouldn't hurt to go.

That's settled.

After thinking it through, Yang Dalin quickly fell asleep.

I went to work as usual the next day.

On the way, when Ma San is working during the day, he should pay attention to the steel rolling mill. When he gets close to the mill, he should go to the mill and tell Liu Haizhong.

I'm going to his house as a guest tonight.

Sure enough, Liu Haizhong heard that Ma San and Yang Dalin were coming to drink with him, his second uncle, that night.

Uncle Liu Haizhong was very happy: "Okay, come over after get off work tonight, and I'll have your aunt cook you something delicious."

So when Yang Dalin got off work that evening, he did the same thing as yesterday.

I prepared two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and a pound of mutton.

I went to Liu Haizhong's house.

When I went to Liu Haizhong’s house, I also met Yi Zhonghai’s wife, Wen Xiumei.

Yang Dalin even took the initiative to greet her.

Wen Xiumei asked, "Dalinzi, what's this?"

Yang Dalin answered directly and cheerfully, "Oh, Aunt Yi, I visited your house yesterday, and I was thinking of going to Uncle Liu's house today."

Wen Xiumei nodded, a little confused: "Oh, okay, then you guys go ahead."

Yang Dalin and Ma San went to the backyard.

Wen Xiumei quickly went back into the house and told Yi Zhonghai about it: "Old Yi, Old Yi, Da Linzi and Ma San went to visit Old Liu's house again just now."

Do you think Ma San might want to become Lao Liu's apprentice?

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai pondered for a moment and waved his hand, saying, "What are you thinking? You're overthinking it."

Why would he abandon a level 7 fitter to become an apprentice of a level 6 fitter?

I suspect it was Dalinzi who brought it up.

He was probably afraid that Lao Liu was overthinking things.

After all, they came to our house as guests last night. If we don't take the initiative to visit Old Liu's house today, you know how petty Old Liu is.

Let Lao Liu keep overthinking things.

It's okay, let them go. We can't stop them from going.

Putting everything else aside, Dalin is quite experienced in dealing with people and situations.

He's better than the younger generation in the courtyard.

What a pity I didn't meet him sooner.

Why……".

Old Yi has been quite depressed these past two days.

Two promising talents, but I didn't manage to snag either of them.

It seems I need to pay more attention to the people around me.

Even if it's not from courtyard number 95, it's fine. Ma San is a good example.

I used to only focus on courtyard number 95, why didn't I think about the surrounding courtyards?

If we find a suitable candidate, we can just find a way to get this courtyard.

If it doesn't work out, we can just move to a different house. What's the big deal?

I was too narrow-minded before.

Yi Zhonghai instructed his wife, Wen Xiumei: "Xiumei, when you chat with the old women in and around the yard, ask around and see if there are any suitable children in the surrounding yards."

The focus should be on individuals who have no parents, are loyal and affectionate, come from impoverished families, and have no other burdens.

Then let's get to know him slowly, help him as much as possible, and if it's suitable, we can take him on as an apprentice. We should let the surrounding neighbors and the people in the neighborhood office know about helping him.

Even if we encounter an ungrateful person in the future, we'll still have a good reputation among our neighbors and the local government.

Finally, if things really go well, I'll become his godfather in front of all the neighbors.

We'll help him get married and have children in the future, and treat him well.

That way, it wouldn't make sense for him not to support us in our old age.

When Wen Xiumei heard Yi Zhonghai's idea, her eyes lit up: "Great, great, I'll start inquiring tomorrow."

If you had thought of that sooner, I probably would have found out by now.

There must be quite a few people like this around the streets, after all, it's only been a few years since the war started.

"During the war against North Korea a few years ago, many people from our neighborhood went and never came back, leaving behind many orphans and widows."

Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment and said, "Yes, these are still the children of martyrs. If we find a suitable family, we might even receive an award. Let's add another criterion: try to find children of martyrs."

While Yi Zhonghai was at home, he and Wen Xiumei were excitedly discussing finding a replacement for the elderly.

Yang Dalin knocked on Liu Haizhong's door.

When Liu Haizhong's wife, Wang Yuhuan, saw Yang Dalin and Ma San carrying wine and an oil paper package, she warmly invited them in.

When Liu Haizhong saw Yang Dalin arrive, he quickly stood up.

There are also his two sons, the second son Liu Guangtian and the third son Liu Guangfu.

Liu Haizhong's eldest son, Liu Guangqi, has graduated from vocational school and has been assigned a job. He doesn't come home often and lives in a single dormitory, but he is not married yet. However, he is old enough and should be getting married soon.

Liu Haizhong asked Liu Guangtian to make tea.

He also exchanged a few pleasantries: "Why did you bring any wine or dishes when you came to my house for dinner? You can come anytime you want in the future."

Anyone can say polite words, but these days, how can you go to someone's house for a meal empty-handed?

Moreover, some food coupons had to be left after the meal.

Otherwise, who would dare to host a dinner party, and who could afford it?

Yesterday, Yang Dalin left a pound of grain coupons when he went to Yi Zhonghai's house for dinner.

They didn't just bring wine and mutton, but Wen Xiumei declined to accept them in the end.

Whether or not they want it is the Yi family's business; whether or not they give it is their own business.

Yang Dalin opened the pound of mutton again and handed it to Aunt Liu and Wang Yuhuan.

Aunt Liu was overjoyed.

This pound of mutton has a good balance of lean and fat, and you can even render some mutton fat from the fat.

It was definitely worth the invitation.

Yang Dalin and Ma San sat down.

He exchanged polite words with Liu Haizhong.

Liu Guangtian, who is a year older than Yang Dalin, was pouring water and serving tea.

A short while later, Liu Haizhong sent him to the kitchen to help his mother.

As for Liu Guangfu, who was only twelve years old, he stayed in the kitchen helping out the whole time and didn't come out.

It's clear that Liu Haizhong doesn't really like his second and third sons.

When the meal was ready, everyone sat down at the table, but Yang Dalin noticed that Aunt Liu and the third brother, Liu Guangfu, hadn't even sat down.

Only the second son, Liu Guangtian, and Liu Haizhong accompanied the guests.

Yang Dalin asked curiously, "Uncle Liu, where are Aunt Liu and Guangfu?"

We're all family here, so let's not act like outsiders and let them eat together.

Otherwise, how are we supposed to eat?

If outsiders found out that I, Yang Dalin, came to your house as a guest, and Aunt Liu and Brother Guangfu had to hide in the kitchen to eat, I would never dare to visit again.

At first, Liu Haizhong didn't want Wang Yuhuan and Liu Guangfu to sit at the table, but Yang Dalin insisted.

Only then did the mother and son from the kitchen bring over the bowls.

Yang Dalin glanced at the food on the table. The Liu family was more cunning than the Yi family; they used some mutton, but not much.

Either the kitchen had already cooked everything, and there was still a lot left that hadn't been brought over.

Either I cut off a little and stir-fried it, and kept the rest for myself.

That's normal.

Yang Dalin could understand; after all, everyone was struggling to make ends meet these days.

It's fine to save the food for your own children, but you can't just serve all the dishes to entertain guests and not let your own children have a single bite.

However, sometimes everything is served, and the guests will deliberately leave a lot of dishes uneaten.

There are no guests who eat all the food prepared by the host.