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

Yan Jie felt like he'd been stepped on. He hadn't gone to Yi Zhonghai's house from the start, thinking he shouldn't stand out, otherwise he might be asked to pay money.

There's no escaping it now.

"On what grounds?"

Yang Ruihua slammed his hand on the table: "Tell me, why should you? You're the eldest son of the Yan family, you're capable of earning money, shouldn't you contribute?"

Yan Jiecheng's monthly salary was only eighteen yuan. He was still an apprentice at the steel rolling mill. He had to send money home every month, not only for food and lodging but also for the child support that his father had been stingy with.

Today I added another huge debt of fifty yuan to my account.

Yan Jiecheng was very upset: "As the eldest brother, shouldn't I pay for this?"

I didn't see a single one of those gifts.

Why don't you mention the second and third brothers, and the little sister? Why should I be the one to pay?

Yang Ruihua comforted Yan Jiecheng: "Boss, don't worry, the two hundred is split equally among the four of you siblings."

They each have fifty, and that will continue later.

Yan Jiefang, Yan Jiekuang, and a bewildered Yan Jiedi all looked at their mother with considerable hostility.

We haven't even earned money yet, and we're already burdened with a staggering debt of fifty dollars.

Immediately, Yan Jiefang, Yan Jiekuang, and Yan Jiecheng joined forces to launch a "punishment" against their biological mother, Yang Ruihua.

Yan Jiedi ate two more cornbreads at the Yi family's house, and was quite full for dinner.

She's sleepy now; at seven years old, she's starting to understand things.

I climbed into bed on my own and went to sleep. I ate a lot tonight, so I thought it would be better to go to bed early.

I'm too young to understand or know anything else.

The He family, Sha Zhu, divided the two hundred yuan into four parts.

Sha Zhu took fifty yuan for He Yushui.

The remaining three portions of 150 yuan were given to Yang Dalin.

Yang Dalin: "Brother Zhu, this isn't appropriate. You were the one who negotiated the money. This is a matter between our two families, so let's split it 50/50."

Sha Zhu pressed down on Yang Dalin's hand, which was about to take the money: "Brother, we can't divide it like that. The four of you went out, so the cost should be split equally among the four of you. You were the one who put in the most effort, so you should actually get more."

I feel like I've already taken advantage of you, so let's just leave it at that.

In the end, Yang Dalin left Sha Zhu's house with a huge sum of 150 yuan.

This silly guy did a good job tonight.

Yang Dalin was still satisfied. He hadn't really stood out much; it was all his "good older brother" who had stepped up and he'd even gotten 150 yuan.

He did the things that offended people, and he said the things that offended people.

That's great, we can train Sha Zhu properly from now on.

In this courtyard, being your own "henchman," your "big brother," and your own "number one enforcer"—how wonderful that would be!

I'll remain a nobody, make more money, and then have this guy with good cooking skills take care of me in my old age, cooking delicious meals for me.

They intercepted Yi Zhonghai and the old deaf man, leaving them with nowhere to go.

Or perhaps they could be drawn into their own fold.

If I recruit a few more young and strong men, and have two powerful backers, I can conquer this place in no time.

If Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and the old deaf man harbor ill intentions towards me, I wouldn't mind sending them thousands of miles away.

With a happy heart, Yang Dalin returned home.

As he walked those two steps, he softly hummed, "Seeing you off, a thousand miles away, I don't distinguish between right and wrong..."

When Qi Yanhua was asked to write a letter of understanding earlier, everyone learned about the 200 yuan compensation.

Aunt Qi originally thought that since they were all neighbors across the hall, there shouldn't be too many of them.

But then I thought, I said I'd put Dalinzi in charge, so I'll let him take full responsibility.

We mustn't undermine Da Linzi.

He'll be in charge of this household sooner or later.

He Yushui was happy to know she still had fifty yuan left. It was getting late, so she went back to find Sha Zhu to split the money.

Yang Dalin handed 150 yuan to Aunt Qi: "Auntie, the Yan family paid a total of 200 yuan in compensation. This is 150 yuan from Brother Zhuzi. It's all the compensation from the Yan family, so it's all for you."

Aunt Qi counted the money.

He then divided the money into two parts: one of thirty and one of ninety.

"Kids, I've divided this money into three parts. Dalin, who did the most work, gets this share of ninety yuan. Yanhua and Xiaoning also suffered some injustice, but since Dalin risked his life to be at the forefront, you two can each take thirty yuan. Is that alright?"

The Qi sisters had no objections and nodded repeatedly, "No problem, Mom."

Yang Dalin had no interest in the money, while Qi Xiaoning was overjoyed and was just about to go up and take it.

As a result, her own mother slapped her hand.

"What do you need so much money for, you're just a kid? This money will be yours sooner or later. Keep it with Mom for now. If you want to spend it, ask me for permission."

I have one one-yuan note here, I'll give it to you first. You still have twenty-nine yuan left, keep it with me.

Qi Xiaoning looked aggrieved as she watched the three big black tens being taken away, her heart aching.

Qi Yanhua was more sensible than Qi Xiaoning, and said directly, "Mom, I don't need to spend money, I'll save it all for you."

Look at this eldest daughter, how clever she is, knowing how to read her mother's mood.

Thirty yuan is equivalent to a month's wages for an ordinary worker, so why would Qi's mother give it all to them?

Qi Yulan still took out a dollar and handed it to Qi Yanhua: "My eldest daughter is the most sensible. You can take this dollar as pocket money. If you run out, just ask your mother for more."

In fact, Qi Yanhua also had some money, which Yang Dalin secretly gave her.

Yang Dalin had a few dozen yuan left, but he didn't have any spatial storage or anything like that, and he didn't plan to take it with him.

Then he said, "Auntie, ninety is too much for me. I don't need money right now. I still have some on me. You can keep it all and use it for household expenses."

Aunt Qi nodded, pleased, but then said, "Dalin, I know you're sensible, and I'm very happy. But you're a young man now, and you should make some friends. Take these and keep them in your room so you can use them whenever you need them."

Aunt Qi wanted to give all ninety yuan to Yang Dalin.

These words made Qi Xiaoning so envious and jealous that she kept making faces at Qi Yulan.

The lips clearly said, "That's too biased."

Yang Dalin still refused: "Auntie, I really don't need it for now. Please keep it for me. Really, if you need it at home, just spend it. I still have several tens of yuan on hand."

I can't carry this much money with me when I go out to work, right?

"Let's keep it for now and see if there's a chance. Maybe we can buy something big for our house, like a bicycle, and leave it with you for now."

When Aunt Qi heard that Yang Dalin absolutely refused, she decided to keep the money for now. She knew she would need to buy Dalin a bicycle later, so it would be more convenient for him to go out and do long-distance work.

"Okay, then leave it with me for now. Just ask me for it if you need it."

"Okay, Auntie."

Yang Dalin helped the three women to the toilet before everyone returned to wash their feet and go to bed.

Before going to bed, Qi Xiaoning said that she hadn't taken a shower in a long time and wanted to take one.

It's cold in the north, so it's not really convenient to take a shower every day at home. There aren't the conditions, otherwise it's easy to catch a cold.

However, the steel rolling mill has the advantage that workers can take a shower and go home after work.

Yang Dalin sweats a lot every day because of the heavy work he does, and because of his habit from his previous life, he would go to the bathhouse to shower before going home.

Although he didn't have a bath ticket, he could just pay more money.

The two sisters in the family and Aunt Qi didn't have that kind of means.

Go back and look for Sha Zhu, maybe you can get a few bath tickets from the steel rolling mill.

Tell him to take Qi's mother and daughter and his sister to the factory's bathhouse for a bath.

Aunt Qi's bath tickets were also limited.