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

The deaf old woman shook her head: "Zhonghai, although you are getting old, you have misunderstood one thing."

I know Dongxu is a good kid, and I know he's filial.

But in their family, there's Jia Zhangshi. Can Jia Zhangshi make her son take care of you in your old age without worry?

And that Qin Huairu, judging from my opinion, she's not a good person either.

You need to be more prepared.

I'm relieved to have you two to support me in my old age, but I'm worried about the Jia family.

I told your wife about this yesterday so you would have a backup plan. I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't listen to your elders, you'll regret it.

At my age, would I lie to you?

If Jia Dongxu from their family has a heavy burden in the future and can't support you in your old age, you still have Zhuzi, or that Dalinzi you mentioned.

As the saying goes, "He who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present."

Having more options can prevent things from going awry, right?

Dongxu is a decent kid, but he's too indecisive. You might think it's good that he's indecisive, because he can control everything.

However, such people also have drawbacks, namely that they will have a difficult life in the future.

I'm afraid that he might want to be filial to you in the future, but he won't be able to.

"Silly Zhu, if you want to get married, can't you find him someone with a good temper, someone easy to control?"

I have to say, I'm doing this for your own good. Old Yi has learned a lot from the old deaf man.

As the saying goes, old age brings wisdom, but of course, many also become senile.

Obviously, the old deaf man isn't one.

Yi Zhonghai thought about what the old lady said and nodded, saying, "Okay, Grandma, I'll listen to you. I'll keep an eye on Zhuzi's wife from now on."

Yi Zhonghai knew that the old lady was also very stubborn, and besides, it wouldn't be difficult to introduce a wife who was easy to control to Sha Zhu.

It would be best to find a daughter from a good working colleague's family; this wouldn't cost much effort or money.

Sha Zhu should be grateful to himself later; he can at least lay a small step for himself.

Yi Zhonghai agreed to the old deaf man's request, and the two chatted for a while longer before Yi Zhonghai went home.

After the first batch of dumplings was ready, Yang Dalin sent a plate of dumplings to Grandpa Qi.

There are more than thirty of them.

When delivering dumplings, Yang Dalin happened to run into Sha Zhu, who had just returned home.

When Sha Zhu saw Yang Dalin carrying dumplings out, he asked, "Dalin, where are you going? Are you going to deliver dumplings to the old lady in the backyard?"

Yang Dalin was stunned. Damn, could this idiot have gotten close to the old deaf man already?

Why should we send dumplings to her family when my family made them? Who does she think she is? If she were truly a martyr's family member, sending some dumplings would be no big deal.

She gave shoes to the Red Army? That's ridiculous!

The Red Army's activities never extended to Beijing, except for underground party members, of course.

Yang Dalin, still holding the dumplings in one hand, said irritably, "No, I'm giving a plate to Grandpa Qi. He's been very kind to me."

Yang Dalin didn't want to pay attention to this fool at the moment, so he took the dumplings and went to Grandpa Qi's house.

Upon hearing Yang Dalin's words, Sha Zhu felt it was necessary to give his new little brother a proper talking-to.

He may not yet know the deeds of the old ancestor in the backyard.

I have a responsibility and an obligation to tell him.

So he wasn't very angry and just waited for Yang Dalin next to the hanging flower gate.

Yang Dalin poured the dumplings into a plate at Grandpa Qi's house.

He had just come out, carrying the plate, and was walking back when he ran into Sha Zhu again.

"What's wrong, Brother Zhu? Is there something else?"

Sha Zhu's attitude was quite good, and he didn't seem to get angry: "It's okay, I smell meat and vegetables. Your family even cooked meat. How about it, I'll take advantage of you today. You bring out a plate of dumplings, and I'll bring out the vegetables and drinks. How about we have another drink?"

Several times when Yang Dalin went to Sha Zhu's house for drinks, he only brought a pack of cigarettes and nothing else, which was really not good.

Since Sha Zhu was willing to speak up, Yang Dalin also felt that he shouldn't keep taking advantage of others.

Otherwise, it would seem like Yang Dalin was too stingy. It would be a good opportunity for me to go and ask Sha Zhu what was going on with the old deaf man.

So he agreed: "Okay, Brother Zhu, I'll go get the dumplings and come find you right now. Oh, by the way, Yushui is eating at my house."

When Sha Zhu heard that Yu Shui had gone to the Qi family to freeload again, he felt a little embarrassed: "I'm really sorry for what Yu Shui did, brother. I'll get some more food coupons for your family later."

I was actually quite embarrassed to ask to try your dumplings, but now I feel too awkward.

Actually, Sha Zhu didn't think too much about it at first. He's a straightforward person, and asking Yang Dalin to serve him a plate of dumplings was just an excuse for him to have another chat with Yang Dalin.

We chatted about the deaf old lady in the courtyard, and casually mentioned that you should make dumplings, and he should prepare some dishes and wine, and we should all go over and sit for a while.

Hearing that his younger sister had gone to someone else's house to freeload again, Sha Zhu suddenly remembered how precious meat was these days, and he felt a little embarrassed.

Yang Dalin waved his hand: "It's nothing, Brother Zhu. Last time, your family gave us too much flour. Every time I went to your place, you always provided the wine and dishes."

"Wait here, I'll bring the dumplings and come wait for me right away."

When Yang Dalin got home, he told Aunt Qi and then took a large bowl of dumplings to the middle courtyard.

Moreover, when entering Shazhu's house, Yang Dalin also took out a pound of pork from his spatial storage and carried it in his hand.

Sha Zhu heard the knocking and quickly came over to lift the curtain.

In Yang Dalin's hand, there was not only a plate of dumplings, but also a pound of good meat.

"Brother, you've gone to all that trouble, why did you even bring meat?"

"Then don't worry about it. I have enough to eat at home and during the rain. I'll try your cooking today. Hurry up and make it, or the dumplings will get cold."

Seeing how generous Yang Dalin was, Sha Zhu didn't hesitate and first found a plate to cover the dumplings.

He took the meat and said, "Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll treat you to some meat later when I buy some myself."

Yang Dalin's eyes darted around, and he added to Sha Zhu, who was preparing to stir-fry the vegetables, "If anyone comes later, just say that you asked your canteen's purchasing agent to buy this piece of meat. Don't say that I gave it to you."

Silly Zhu, slow-witted, asked in confusion, "Why is that?"

Yang Dalin said, "Just say it like that, otherwise the aroma will attract some people. If they know it's meat I brought, they'll all ask me to come eat with them or ask me to help them buy meat. What am I supposed to do then? Remember, if anyone asks, just say you bought the meat yourself, that you asked someone to buy it on the black market, and that it only cost you five yuan per pound of pork."

Sha Zhu understood; Brother Da Lin was afraid of getting into trouble later.

He wanted to be at the front, but since he was going to get a piece of meat from him today, being at the front was fine, what was the big deal?

So Shazhu agreed.

Then he focused on cooking.

Sha Zhu's stir-fries taste better; this guy is more willing to use oil.

He also opened the window above the stove, and the smell dissipated.

The Jia family was the first to be affected.

They were almost finished eating, and Banggeng had even forgotten the taste of the meat from earlier.

Now I can smell it again.

Bang Geng is eating slower and slower, and he's looking at Qin Huairu with pitiful eyes.

That means, "Look, this smells so good, I really want to eat it, Mom, do you want to go get some?"

Jia Xiaodang was even younger and hadn't yet learned to read Jia Dongxu's mood. She blurted out, "Mom, meat smells delicious. I want to eat meat."

Then Jia Zhangshi chimed in, "Whose family is this? They've done one thing before, and now they're doing another. Aren't they just trying to entice people? Honestly."