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

After discussing it with Aunt Qi, Yang Dalin went to fetch bathwater for them.

Today is the first day I'm using the black lacquered oil bucket. It was quite hot this afternoon.

When I turned on the water, it was quite hot. But I'm not worried about the temperature; I can just add some cold water if it gets too hot.

I'm afraid the temperature will be too low, otherwise I'll have to boil the water.

Women are naturally sensitive to cold, so they need to use warm water to take a bath in the summer.

Unlike Yang Dalin and Ma San, who are both young and energetic, they can be rinsed with cold water directly.

Qi Xiaoning saw Yang Dalin busy, running around looking at this room and that room.

She ran over to Yang Dalin and said, "Brother Dalin, I want to live here from now on. I want a private room."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Qi flicked her forehead and said, "Sure, you can live here by yourself from now on, and sleep in whichever room you want."

I'll cook for myself here, then run five kilometers back to practice martial arts with your sister-in-law Miya in the morning, and then go to school.

Upon hearing this, Qi Xiaoning was dumbfounded.

If I had to take care of myself every day, I would have to run five kilometers to get back to practice martial arts and then go to school.

That would exhaust you.

Then he lost his temper and never mentioned living alone again.

After taking a bath in the evening, Yang Dalin took Ma San to rest.

Yang Dalin slept well that night.

The room wasn't so hot anymore. Yang Dalin got up early and checked in. The system didn't have any obstacles, just like when he was on business trips before, he could check in smoothly.

They did not lock him within courtyard number 95.

And this morning I also received a new home gift package.

It contains many things that will be useful in the new home.

There are some appliances that Yang Dalin can't conveniently take out, such as a television set. Although it's black and white, it's clearly a foreign brand. Yang Dalin certainly can't take it out now; he can only wait a few years.

Get up early in the morning.

Yang Dalin went out and bought breakfast.

I need to go home early in the morning.

Because Aunt Qi works in Jiaodaokou Street, five kilometers away, and Sister Yanhua and Qi Xiaoning also go to school there.

In the morning, Sister Yanhua and Qi Xiaoning still had to practice martial arts with Shazhu's wife, Miya.

The two of them had amazing perseverance, persisting every day without fail.

Since I live far away, I naturally want to go back as soon as possible.

After breakfast, Yang Dalin rode his bicycle with Qi Xiaoning as a passenger, while Ma San rode his tricycle with Aunt Qi and Sister Yanhua as passengers, so they could get back to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard earlier.

On summer mornings, the weather is still slightly cool, without any hot, warm breezes.

The air quality is alright.

Half an hour later, Yang Dalin brought Aunt Qi and the others to his doorstep.

Just as I arrived at the gate of No. 95 courtyard, I saw the gatekeeper, Uncle Qi, opening the gate.

Grandpa Qi saw that it was Yang Dalin who had returned.

A warm greeting: "Dalinzi's back!"

Yang Dalin saw someone in the yard preparing to go to the toilet, so he didn't directly say that he had moved to a new house.

"Yes, you're back, Uncle Qi. I was just thinking of having a drink with you yesterday."

He couldn't come back because of something.

Grandpa Qi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Well, it's alright. We can have a drink anytime we want."

Did your family go out yesterday?

Alright, go back now.

I still need to make breakfast.

Aunt Qi and her sister Qi Yanhua said goodbye to Uncle Qi and went home first.

Yang Dalin told Ma San to boil some water and take a pot of water with him to work.

He stayed and continued chatting with Grandpa Qi.

Because he felt that Grandpa Qi seemed to have something else to say.

He noticed the fleeting look of unease on Grandpa Qi's face.

Yang Dalin followed Grandpa Qi into his house.

He offered Grandpa Qi a cigarette and said, "Grandpa Qi, is something the matter? I noticed you seemed to be about to say something just now?"

Grandpa Qi took the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear, not letting Yang Dalin light it for him right away, and said, "Good lad, you have good eyesight, there's something you need."

None of your families came back yesterday.

Ma San rode my bike and didn't put it back.

As a result, Lao Yan's wife and his eldest son came to ask me about it.

Old Yan's family told the people in the yard that your family owed them money, and that they had agreed to pay it back in a few days. But suddenly this family disappeared; they probably ran away.

He ran away to avoid his debts; he doesn't want to pay them back.

Many people in the courtyard didn't believe it.

However, some people also agreed with what the Yan family was saying.

"Oh, really? Who are they?"

Is it Qin Huairu from the Jia family?

"Wow, you're really smarter than a monkey."

Yes, that's right, it was her. The things she said were really awful. It was mainly her; no one else said that.

Everyone says it's not that serious; the house is still here, how could the whole family run away over a little money?

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Lao Er also said that things were probably not like that.

They probably went to visit relatives, which was too far away, and haven't come back yet.

Tell everyone not to talk nonsense.

Zhu Zi and Xu Damao, along with a few other young people, were alright; they all spoke up for you.

However, I also saw something strange.

Xu Damao spoke up for you. His wife is acting strangely. She hid among the women in the dark, thinking I didn't see her, but I could hear her clearly. She said a few things that seemed like she was just being short-sighted.

It seems like they're deliberately trying to mislead people into thinking your family is wrong.

However, Xu Damao quickly noticed and pulled her back.

My family was only away for one night, and someone in this courtyard is already causing trouble.

Especially Yang Ruihua and Yan Jiecheng.

This would definitely not have been possible without Yan Bugui's tacit approval.

Then I'm sorry, Lao Yan, you're talking nonsense and spreading rumors about my family. Your eldest son shouldn't rush into marriage, and as for the future Yan Jiekuang, he's no better than a good guy. Let him stay single for decades first.

Also, experience what it's like to be a single man in your late twenties.

I just don't know why Xu Damao's wife had to interfere.

Could it be because she found out that she had also borrowed money from Xu Damao?

Xu Damao wasn't even worried about not being able to pay it back, so what did this woman mean?

She's a rich girl from a capitalist family who went to high school. Even though Xu Damao didn't marry Lou Xiao'e, who came from a wealthier family, she shouldn't have such limited knowledge.

Nowadays, graduating from high school is considered being educated.

Could it be because he got married and spent too much time with a bunch of gossipy women in the neighborhood that his brain has become dulled?

Or was it that Qin Huairu was close to her, and she spoke on Qin Huairu's behalf?

When Jia Dongxu passed away last time, Yang Dalin overheard a conversation between Jia Zhangshi and her daughter-in-law Qin Huairu.

Jia Zhangshi instructed Qin Huairu to avoid Xu Damao and instead spend more time with Xu Damao's wife, Wei Xiaona.

Besides the Qi family, the Yi family, and Sha Zhu's family, the Xu family was probably the only other family in the courtyard with good living conditions.

Xu Damao often goes to the countryside to show movies, and he can buy some local specialties from the countryside at low prices.

He's rarely home; the best course of action is to go to his house and plead poverty.

Wei Xiaona is a new bride and is very generous.

They're naive and easily fooled.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Xu Damao often brings back local specialties from the countryside. He can and dares to take cheap local products like mushrooms, scallions, ginger, and garlic for free.

If someone dared to ask for something like an old hen without paying, they would have been reported countless times in this day and age.

He came back and bragged that it was a gift from someone else, which was just him trying to make himself look good.

The rural commune invited Xu Damao from the steel rolling mill to show movies, and at most, they would just sell him some old hens at a discount.

It's impossible for it to be given away for free, because it's unlikely that only one person would be showing the movie.

We also need to carry the generator.

There are also projection equipment, film tape, and other similar items.

Xu Damao couldn't have done it alone.