The entire courtyard is full of villains

Chapter 84 Living a Good Life

"Uncle, I..." Sha Zhu tried to argue, but Yi Zhonghai suddenly stood up and interrupted him: "Alright, Zhu, I've made the decision! On New Year's Eve, bring some meat and flour, and I'll have your aunt wait at home." With that, he put his hands behind his back and walked out without looking back.

As soon as Yi Zhonghai stepped out, Sha Zhu slammed his hand on the table and cursed, "That son of a bitch Yi Zhonghai! I even cut him extra fatty meat at the factory today, and he turns around and tries to scheme against me!"

Turning his head, he saw He Yushui frowning and lost in thought. "Yushui, did you hear me?" Shazhu said angrily.

"Brother, you have to be careful." He Yushui looked up. "That bastard Yi Zhonghai has his eyes on our family again."

"What?" Sha Zhu sat up abruptly. "What's he up to now?"

“Jia Dongxu is in jail. Although Qin Huairu has taken over the post, how much can that old sow Jia Zhangshi eat? Their grain ration has been reduced again, so they definitely won't have enough to eat,” He Yushui analyzed. “Yi Zhonghai has two ideas: either he will help the Jia family himself, or he will mobilize the people in the courtyard to help them, especially to find a sucker to lead the way.”

She stared straight at Sha Zhu, who looked furious: "The bastard you're talking about, you wouldn't happen to be me, would you?"

"Who else could it be? Who told you to call him 'Silly Pillar'?" He Yushui pouted.

"I won't do it!" Sha Zhu exclaimed anxiously.

"Even if you don't do it, you can't stop them from scheming against you," He Yushui sighed. "Tonight, Yi Zhonghai came over and invited us to eat dumplings together. Where's the fun in that? He's clearly trying to trap you, making you willingly hand over the meat and flour!"

"What... what should we do?" Sha Zhu was at a loss for what to do and became a little nervous.

"What else can we do? We'll just have to deal with whatever comes our way." He Yushui shrugged.

Yan Bugui from the Intermediate People's Court was overjoyed this afternoon—the basin of water used for washing vegetables was now covered with a thick layer of oil. Seeing that it was completely dark and no one was coming back, he quickly told Yang Ruihua to take the basin into the kitchen and put it away. He then stood at the door, calculating: tomorrow was the last day to buy grain. After buying the grain, he would send Jiefang to Zuojiazhuang to exchange it for some sweet potatoes. They could eat something good for the three days of the New Year, but after the New Year, they would still need sweet potatoes to fill their stomachs; otherwise, with their meager rations, they would starve to death.

Just then, he saw Zhang Erhe carrying Zhang Jiao and Guan Xue, pushing a bicycle towards the front gate. Yan Bugui shrank back in fright and quickly hid inside the house. Yang Ruihua was startled: "Old Yan, what are you doing?"

"Zhang Erhe is here!" Yan Bugui said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Yang Ruihua abruptly put down the awl in her hand, her eyes lighting up: "Zhang Erhe is here? He's the deputy director now, he'll definitely get a lot of meat. You hurry up and go out and get some more fat!"

"Touch my ass!" Yan Bugui cursed angrily. "Zhang Erhe said that night that he would beat me every time he saw me! Would I be asking for a beating if I went out? You old woman, you don't appreciate your man at all, you just want to push me into a fire pit!"

In the east wing of the front yard, Zhang Erhe carefully placed the sleeping Zhang Jiao on the bed and tucked her in: "Stay at home and be good. I'm going to deliver some New Year's gifts to my master."

"Erhe, you're not going to the black market to buy things again, are you?" Guan Xue asked with some concern.

"No, I left some in the small warehouse when I was helping the factory with the purchases. I'll go get them now and deliver them directly." Zhang Erhe smiled. "I was supposed to go a couple of days ago, but my teacher's wife is sick and hospitalized. I'll just go see her on my way tonight."

Guan Xue carefully tied his scarf and helped him put on his hat, repeatedly reminding him, "Be careful on the road."

Stepping out the door, Zhang Erhe turned into a quiet alley, slipped into his spatial dimension, found a burlap sack, and stuffed it with 10 jin of lard, 10 jin of fresh meat, and a 50-jin bag of flour. Noticing a few cans of adult milk powder nearby, he grabbed two cans as well, then tossed in a few cans of other food, instantly filling the sack to the brim. He carried the sack to the back of his bicycle and rode towards his master's house.

The master's house wasn't far; it only took about ten minutes by bike to get there. The gate looked closed, but upon closer inspection, it was ajar. Zhang Erhe pushed the gate open and went inside. As soon as he entered the courtyard, the curtain was lifted, and his junior apprentice, Wu Zhonghua, ran out: "Second Brother! You've finally arrived!"

"Zhonghua, when did you come back?"

Wu Zhonghua deftly helped lift the bicycle over the threshold, grinning as he said, "We're off this afternoon too."

"Where's your little wife?" Zhang Erhe teased.

Wu Zhonghua blushed and scratched his head: "Lili went back to her home for the New Year."

"Oh, so you've started calling her Lili now? How affectionate," Zhang Erhe teased him with a smile.

"Second brother, you're teasing me too!" Wu Zhonghua said somewhat embarrassedly. "Come inside quickly, I'll help you get your things."

"Can you carry the sacks inside?" Zhang Erhe pointed to the back seat.

"No problem! I'm a grown man!" Wu Zhonghua confidently slung the sack over his shoulder, only to stumble from the weight. "Second brother, what's this? It's so heavy!"

Zhang Erhe stepped forward to lend a hand, and the two of them carried the sacks into the house together. Master Wu Liqun came out from the inner room and frowned upon seeing the commotion: "Erhe, why did you bring so much stuff?"

"Is it a lot? Not really." Zhang Erhe said, taking out the lard, fresh meat, flour, and canned food one by one, and finally took out two cans of milk powder. "Master, this is adult milk powder. Your wife just got out of the hospital and is weak. Make her a cup in the morning and evening to help her recover."

"This is too valuable! You should return it immediately!" Wu Liqun waved his hand repeatedly.

“It’s alright, Master. The price I got wasn’t high. Your wife’s health is more important,” Zhang Erhe insisted.

"That won't do! Why don't you take it home and give it to Guan Xue to drink? She's pregnant!" Wu Liqun wouldn't budge.

"Master, how could I forget Guan Xue? We've already prepared these at home. Please keep these two jars for your wife." Zhang Erhe turned and glared at Wu Zhonghua. "You brat, don't even think about taking them for your mother-in-law!"

"Absolutely not!" Wu Zhonghua hurriedly waved his hand.

Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Wu Liqun had no choice but to accept the milk powder. He then turned around and took out two bottles of wine from the inner room: "Erhe, this was given to me by someone else. I don't drink alcohol, so you can take it back."

"Master, this..."

"Erhe, take this!" Wu Liqun shoved the wine directly into Zhang Erhe's arms. "Let's not pass it around like this, or we'll make a fool of ourselves in front of outsiders."

Zhang Erhe stopped refusing and accepted it readily: "Alright, I'll do as my master says. By the way, Zhonghua, have you two set a date?"

“It’s settled, it’s settled!” Wu Zhonghua nodded hurriedly. “After the Lunar New Year, on the second day of the second lunar month, we’ll get engaged first, and then get married the following Saturday.”

"How come it's already February?" Zhang Erhe raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't it supposed to be January? Could something strange have happened over there?"

"No, no!" Wu Liqun quickly explained, "Lili's family has a tradition that 'no weddings in the twelfth lunar month, no marriages in the first lunar month,' so they moved the date to the second day of the second lunar month. I'll have to trouble you to help Zhonghua out then."

"What's the trouble?" Zhang Erhe patted his chest. "I can't guarantee anything else, but I'll take care of all the meat and flour needed for the Zhonghua project!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Liqun's worried expression immediately vanished—the grain rations had been reduced, and he and his wife were racking their brains over where to find the meat and flour needed for the wedding. Unexpectedly, Zhang Erhe readily agreed. "Erhe, thank you so much! Without you, this wedding in Zhonghua would have been truly difficult to arrange smoothly."

“Master, you’re being too polite,” Zhang Erhe sighed. “Back when my father had just passed away, if you hadn’t taken me in at the factory, with my fiery temper, who knows what trouble I would have gotten into. This little favor is nothing.”

"Alright, it's the New Year, don't say such discouraging things." Wu Liqun patted his shoulder. "From now on, live a good life and continue the Zhang family line. Your father in heaven will be happy."

Chapter 85 A hopeless case

On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, Zhang Erhe woke up exceptionally early. His parents and brother were buried in their old village on the outskirts of the city. Time was tight today, so he had to get there early to offer incense and burn some paper money for them.

Just after washing up, Zhang Jiao, the daughter, came out of the inner room. "Dad, take me there, I want to see Grandpa and Grandma too." The child's grandparents had passed away not long after she was born, and she had never seen their faces, only their images in photographs.

"Okay, since you want to go, I'll take you."

"Erhe, take me with you too." Guan Xue said, and came out from inside.

"You shouldn't go and join in the fun."

“No.” Guan Xue’s attitude was exceptionally firm, her expression serious. “I have to tell my parents-in-law about my pregnancy in person. This time, I will definitely give them a big, healthy grandson.”

"Alright, alright," Zhang Erhe reluctantly agreed, "Then let's pack up and leave early."

The three of them quickly got ready. Zhang Erhe pushed out the old-fashioned bicycle, picked up Zhang Jiao, and placed her on the front bar. Guan Xue also took a few quick steps and sat sideways on the back seat.

Just as they stepped out of the alley, Yan Bugui came out of the courtyard and saw the three people's backs.

"Old Yan, what are you looking at?" his wife, Yang Ruihua, asked from inside the house.

"I saw Zhang Erhe with Zhang Jiao and Guan Xue, but I don't know where they went," Yan Bugui replied.

"Perhaps he went back to his father-in-law's house for the New Year?"

"I don't think so." Yan Bugui shook his head and lowered his voice. "A couple of days ago, and yesterday I heard that Zhang Erhe, that bastard, hung his father-in-law up and beat him again! He was hanging in the yard, and the screams were so loud that the neighbors were terrified."

"Huh? No way?" Yang Ruihua looked surprised.

"Why wouldn't he?" Yan Bugui scoffed. "Our school's Teacher Ji lives next door to his father-in-law. Would he lie to me?"

"Ah, Zhang Erhe, he was just about to become the workshop director and his reputation had just improved a few days ago, but he started acting recklessly again. He's really hopeless."

Yan Bugui nodded in deep agreement: "That's right, you can't make something out of nothing!"

Zhang Erhe was completely unaware of the gossip behind his back. He rode his bicycle, carrying his wife and daughter, straight towards the outskirts. Even though he had recovered to his best physical condition, he was still drenched in sweat when he arrived at Zhangjia Village.

I had just parked my bicycle, intending to have a smoke and rest my feet, when I heard a "clattering" sound in the distance. A middle-aged man was slowly approaching, driving a oxcart with a pipe in his hand.

When the oxcart arrived, the middle-aged man pulled on the reins and jumped off. Only then did Zhang Erhe recognize him as Zhang Hongshan, a nephew of Jia Zhangshi!

“Uncle Erhe, I spotted someone riding a bicycle from afar. I think you're the only one in the village with that kind of style. But the oxcart is slow, and I couldn't catch up with it.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Guan Xue beside him.

"Uncle Erhe, is this your aunt?"

"Yes, this is your aunt, Guan Xue. Guan Xue, this is Jia Zhangshi's nephew, Hongshan."

Hongshan quickly waved his hand, looking somewhat embarrassed: "Uncle Erhe, please don't mention that scoundrel anymore. She's heartless! Our family hasn't had anything to do with her for years."

"Hmm." Zhang Erhe took a cigarette out of the cigarette pack and tossed it to him.

Hongshan took a look and grinned, "A filter? Uncle Erhe, you're living a really good life."

“It’s so-so, Jiaojiao,” Zhang Erhe said to his daughter, looking down at her. “This is your brother Hongshan.”

Zhang Jiao blinked her big eyes, looking at Hongshan with a puzzled expression: "Dad, this uncle looks older than you, why should I call him brother? Didn't you say that people older than me should be called uncle?"

"Hahaha!" Zhang Erhe burst into laughter, amused by his daughter's innocence.

Hongshan quickly explained with a smile, "Little Jiaojiao, you can't just call me that. My Uncle Erhe is a very senior person in this village! You have quite a few nephews and nieces back in the village. By the way, my eldest brother's son had a baby this year. When that child grows up a bit, he'll have to call you 'Grandma'."

"Huh? Great-aunt?" Jiao Jiao frowned. In her little mind, someone who called her Great-aunt must be very old.

After finishing his cigarette, Hongshan asked, "Uncle Erhe, aren't you coming back for the Chinese New Year this year?"

“I’m not coming back. Your aunt is in the city, all alone. You’ve been to my yard before, there’s a bunch of troublemakers there.”

“Exactly!” Hongshan wholeheartedly agreed. “Your courtyard is full of demons and monsters…” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his slip of the tongue and laughed awkwardly, “Uncle, I wasn’t talking about you.”

"Now that you've got Hongshan, you can go back first. I'll go burn paper money for your seventh grandparents and Uncle Dajiang, and then I'll head back."

"Alright, Uncle Erhe, I'll head back now." Hongshan waved and drove the oxcart away.

After he walked away, Guan Xue asked curiously, "Erhe, is this Jia Zhangshi's nephew?"

"Yes, he is her biological son. Jia Zhangshi has two older brothers, and Hongshan is her second brother's biological son."

"Hmm... how come I've never seen him in the city before?"

"What are you talking about!" Zhang Erhe scoffed. "Before Liberation, Jia Zhangshi stole her mother's hidden money, which angered her to death. From then on, she was kicked out of the clan and cut off from all ties."

After liberation, because her household registration was still there, the village allocated her land. She let her two older brothers farm the land, and they would send her some grain every year, which eased their relationship somewhat. But when the cooperative was established in 55, all the land became public, and Jia Zhangshi couldn't receive her grain. She came back and made a huge scene. That last bit of sibling affection was completely destroyed!

"My God!" Guan Xue exclaimed, her mouth agape in surprise. "Is Jia Zhangshi really that badly known back in her hometown?"

"What do you think?" Zhang Erhe said with a look of disdain. "It's only in the courtyard that she dares to act so arrogantly, relying on Yi Zhonghai, that old man without a son, to back her up. If it were in the village, her legs would have been broken countless times."

He paused, then instructed Guan Xue: "If she comes to our house again and tries to get close to you by calling you 'sister-in-law this' and 'sister-in-law that', just kick her out! If she dares to show her teeth, come back and tell me."

Guan Xue nodded, indicating that she understood.

The three of them set off again. Zhang Erhe lifted Zhang Jiao back onto the front bar of the bicycle, and this time Guan Xue did not sit on the back seat. Zhang Erhe pushed the bicycle, leading them towards the mountainside.