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

Yi Zhonghai secretly lamented his mistake, realizing it was too late.

I should have come yesterday.

Although Yang Dalin was expressing his sincere gratitude, Yi Zhonghai felt that the other party was somewhat reluctant to get closer to him.

I don't know if it's because Yang Dalin and I aren't familiar with each other.

If Yang Dalin knew that Yi Zhonghai thought this way, he would definitely tell him seriously, "Yes, you're not mistaken."

I can bring home about five or ten yuan every day.

Shall I go with you to earn an apprentice's salary of eighteen yuan a month?

I'm just bored and have nothing better to do.

You're trying to take advantage of me, adding another option to your list of elderly parents? I'm not falling for that.

Aunt Qi wanted to say something, but seeing the affirming look in Yang Dalin's eyes, she held back and didn't interrupt.

Yi Zhonghai sat for a while longer before finally saying, "Dalinzi, if the job they introduce isn't ideal, then come back to Uncle Yi."

Yang Dalin naturally agreed with a smile: "Thank you very much, Uncle Yi."

After Yang Dalin saw the depressed Yi Zhonghai off, Aunt Qi quickly grabbed him, wanting to ask him about his work.

Yang Dalin raised his finger and shushed, then leaned closer to the door and listened carefully, but heard no noise outside.

Yang Dalin whispered to Aunt Qi, "Auntie, Sister Yan, Xiaoning, you all need to keep this a secret. One of those two older men who came today wants to introduce me to a job, but it's not confirmed yet. Don't tell anyone about this, keep it a secret."

If anyone else asks, just say what I told Yi Zhonghai.

And my auntie, someone's treating us to dinner at Quanjude tomorrow, let's go together.

When Qi Yulan heard that Yang Dalin had found a job, she was so happy that her eyes turned red. She hugged Yang Dalin and patted his back, saying, "Good boy, my Dalin is so promising. He has found a job on his own after only half a month here. Good boy, you have no idea how worried your aunt was."

Even though you earn so much money every day, your aunt was always worried that you wouldn't have a stable job and would be sent back home again. But now, everything's alright, everything's alright.

No wonder Yang Dalin always felt that Aunt Qi looked a little worried.

Now I understand that Aunt Qi's worries were justified.

Those who are unemployed or employed next year will be laid off and sent to rural areas.

Let alone him, a stranger from out of town who does odd jobs and doesn't have a formal job.

Since I've never had a formal job, no official household registration, and no fixed quota, there's a real possibility that I'll be laid off and sent home.

Especially starting next year, the country has reduced its population by more than 1900 million in the past few years, and the number of people reduced in Beijing alone is unknown.

She works on the street, so naturally she can hear what's going on.

So it's normal for Aunt Qi to be worried.

Yang Dalin's job search is finally looking promising, which makes Qi Yulan quite happy.

I just don't know what kind of job Yang Dalin can get.

With the help of these companies, Yang Dalin's chances of being laid off and returning to his hometown are much smaller.

If Yang Dalin performs well then, things will be stable.

Yang Dalin promised his aunt that once he got a job, he would work hard and try to become a permanent employee as soon as possible so that his aunt wouldn't have to worry anymore.

With this weight lifted from her heart, Aunt Qi had nothing to worry about anymore.

Nothing happened that night, and Yang Dalin slept soundly until dawn.

It's another beautiful day.

Yang Dalin checked in as soon as he woke up.

"Congratulations, host! Today's sign-in bonus includes 10 catties of premium tobacco leaves, 100 double-yolk salted duck eggs, and 10 catties of White Rabbit milk candy."

Wow, today is amazing! The system is incredibly lucky. I ate a White Rabbit candy yesterday, and the system is restocking it today?

Not bad, not bad, very good.

This is top-grade tobacco leaf; I don't smoke much in this life.

I usually give the Daqianmen cigarettes I carry to others; I only occasionally share one with myself.

It seems like they're asking me to deliver gifts again. Grandpa Qi likes to smoke pipes, so I'll send him some later. He didn't take much with him last night, so I'll restock his stock.

Yang Dalin went to wash up as usual.

They slept well yesterday, but several other families in the neighborhood didn't sleep well at all.

Like Yan Bugui's family, they envied Yang Dalin for getting so many things, and they were so envious that they couldn't sleep.

Qin Huairu was the same; although Jia Dongxu suppressed her and prevented her from playing the victim to borrow food from others.

But Qin Huairu was just like that by nature; she liked to take advantage of others and always found excuses to bring up the children.

Moreover, Jia Zhangshi also seemed to be encouraging Qin Huairu.

She wasn't thinking about satisfying her own appetite, but rather hoping that Qin Huairu could find more food so that her son wouldn't have to work so hard. Her son had lost a lot of weight over the past year, and how could she, as his mother, not feel sorry for him?

After washing up, Yang Dalin and Grandpa Qi went out.

Yang Dalin took out a pound of tobacco for Grandpa Qi and told him to light a bag.

After only a couple of puffs, Grandpa Qi insisted on rushing back to hide the tobacco leaves at home, refusing to take them with him to work.

I'm afraid I'll lose it.

Fortunately, they didn't go far before heading back.

After Yang Dalin and Grandpa Qi had hidden all the tobacco leaves, Yang Dalin carried only a small bag with him before heading back to the train station.

Someone invited him to dinner that evening, so Yang Dalin planned to go home early in the afternoon.

Yang Dalin had promised to buy some fruit candy for the children in the yard yesterday, so he thought he should go and find Uncle Duo.

After finishing their work early in the afternoon, Yang Dalin and Grandpa Qi went to Grandpa Duo's house.

When Yang Dalin, who was trying to take advantage of him again, arrived, Uncle Duo didn't give him a friendly look.

However, when Yang Dalin delivered half a jin of premium tobacco to Grandpa Duo, Grandpa Duo's face beamed with a smile like a chrysanthemum.

Nowadays, many cigarettes don't have filters. You can smoke cigarettes from paper packs, roll them yourself, or smoke them from a pipe. If you have premium tobacco leaves, that's a very important gift.

How could Lao Duo not be happy?

Yang Dalin not only bought five jin of fruit candy at a cheap price, but Grandpa Duo also gave him an extra jin.

He added, "Dalinzi, come visit often in the future. If you need anything, just come find me."

"Grandpa, I don't have that, but I'll try to find a way for you."

Look, people are very polite when gifts are delivered.

Reciprocity is key; don't try to take advantage of others.

Yang Dalin happily agreed and carried Grandpa Qi back home.

On the way, Yang Dalin also told Grandpa Qi about the parents of the children who had thanked him yesterday and their desire to find him a job.

They also mentioned that they would arrange a job for Grandpa Qi. Yang Dalin asked Grandpa Qi if he had any thoughts on it.

Grandpa Qi said, "It's fine to arrange it all for you, I don't need it, I'm fine working like this."

Yang Dalin advised him, "Uncle Qi, you have to listen to me this time. You're getting old soon. How many more years can you work? Listen to what they have to say. If they recommend an easy job, go for it. Really, you need to prepare for your retirement."

Once you start working formally, you can receive a retirement pension. Otherwise, how old can you work like this? Sixty? Or seventy?

What next?

Right? Just listen to me.

Qi Baogen fell silent after hearing Yang Dalin's words. Yes, how long could he work? Before he started working with Yang Dalin, his body was already starting to feel the strain.