Scholars in the courtyard

The Zhou family, like the Yang family, owns two houses.

The difference is that their family has a large population. It is a bit crowded for a family of five to live in two rooms.

But there is nothing we can do. Although houses are allocated these days, it is not easy to buy or sell them.

You have to buy the house first and then sell it.

If a house is allocated, who will spend money to buy it?

In the courtyard house, Yang Xiaotao knew that only his family, the first master's family and Shazhu's family had bought it, and the others could only be regarded as rented.

There is a right of use but no right of disposal.

"Aunt Zhou! Are you at home?"

At the door, Yang Xiaotao shouted at the top of his lungs. Soon a woman in plain clothes with prominent wrinkles on her face came out of the house and laughed immediately when she saw Yang Xiaotao.

"Xiao Tao, why are you free today?"

"I'm passing by, it's time for dinner, so I can buy some things and come here to find something to eat!"

"You kid, just come and eat. What do you want to bring?"

While talking, Yang Xiaotao was invited into the room.

It's similar to the Yang family. The room is simple enough. The table is quite old and has more marks than Aunt Zhou's pleats.

Yang Xiaotao put the net bag on the table, and then a young man walked out of the room. He was not tall and had a thin face.

"Brother Tao!"

The young man is Zhou Peng. The factory is on holiday for the past two days and the cat is at home.

"What's wrong? You have nothing to do at home?"

"No way, the exam is coming soon, and I want to give it a try!"

"Where's Brother Tao? Do you want to try?"

Zhou Peng and Yang Xiaotao are both fitter apprentices in the third workshop. They both went together. Although they were in different groups, they learned similar things.

"Of course I have to give it a try. If I pass it, I will become a regular employee, have a stable job, and get a one-level salary increase!"

Yang Xiaotao said with a smile. Zhou Peng was also happy when he heard the salary. The pressure of family life these days is on his shoulders, making him almost breathless.

"Brother Tao!"

At this time, a weak voice sounded. Looking up, it was Zhou Yun, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family, who was studying in school and doing well in her studies.

"Xiaoyun, it's vacation! How about studying?"

"It is okay!"

The little girl was a little restrained and her speech was still weak.

Several people talked again, and a tall figure walked in from outside and blocked the door.

Needless to say, it must be Zhou Kui, the eldest son of the Zhou family.

"Tao, Brother Tao!"

Although Zhou Kuichang is tall and tall, he is several months younger than Yang Xiaotao, and because of his stuttering, he can speak sparingly.

He was holding a grass carp in his hand, which was tied to a long length. It had dead fish eyes and its clothes were covered with ice in the cold weather.

"Going to the West Sea?"

"Uh-huh!"

Zhou Kui walked into the house, and Zhou Li ran in behind him. He looked at the fish and jumped twice happily, "Eat fish, eat fish!"

In the house, Aunt Zhou became a monk and took the fish to be processed. This small amount of fish was only enough for each person to have a mouthful of soup.

"Aunt Zhou, take these too."

Yang Xiaotao opened the net bag, but Zhou Peng stepped forward to stop him, "Brother Tao, just come and eat, you can take your things back!"

"What are you talking about? It's like you're looking down on someone. Let go!"

Yang Xiaotao pulled Zhou Peng away. Zhou Kui on the other side also wanted to step forward, but was stopped by Yang Xiaotao's look.

"Brother Tao!"

Zhou Peng hesitated to speak, but couldn't say something.

"Kuizi, close the door!"

Yang Xiaotao waved to Zhou Kui, who immediately closed the door.

These days, to eat something good, you really have to avoid people and avoid gossiping.

The door was closed, the brown paper was opened, and the aroma of meat suddenly wafted out.

"Meat!"

"It's meat!"

"Pork, and chicken!"

Gudong

The sounds of swallowing came one after another, and Zhou Kui touched his stomach. These days, he could only eat until he was three-thirds full, and then drink enough water.

Seeing the meat, the Zhou family's eyes turned green, but no one came forward.

"Xiao Tao, why did you buy so much meat? You can't live anymore?"

Aunt Zhou was also shocked to see so much meat. Even when her men were around, they never ate so much during the Chinese New Year.

Yang Xiaotao smiled and said, "Auntie, if I can eat enough for myself, the whole family will not be hungry. Besides, you have to eat well to live your life!"

With that said, he tore off two chicken legs and stuffed them into Zhou Yun and Zhou Li's hands.

Zhou Yun took the chicken leg and looked at her mother, but Zhou Li couldn't help but take a bite.

"Fast food!"

Yang Xiaotao said something and took out the steamed buns, "Aunt, it's time to heat them up and eat them together."

Aunt Zhou couldn't do anything when she saw this, but she took out the roasted chicken and prepared stew.

After a while, the dining table was filled with pots and plates.

In addition to the twice-cooked pork and Kung Pao chicken brought by Yang Xiaotao, there are also stews with chicken and potatoes, and braised grass carp.

The staple food is a pot of steamed buns with stick noodles, plus the ten steamed buns I brought.

Several people gathered around the table, enjoying the rare occasion of eating such delicious pork, and their mouths were full of oil.

Especially the twice-cooked pork and kung pao chicken are full of oil and water, and the taste is pure. You don't want to swallow it quickly when you eat it.

Zhou Kui and Zhou Peng on the other side also ate happily. Only with oil and water can they resist hunger and have strength to work.

Finally, all the plates were cleared, and Zhou Kui took the plate of Kung Pao chicken and wiped it over and over again with a woofou head, until there was no trace of oil or water left before putting it down.

After eating, the two girls went out to play, and Aunt Zhou next to them talked about the gossip around them in the past few days.

Zhou Peng is a person who can't hide things. He wanted to say it from the moment Yang Xiaotao entered the room, and now he showed his anger on his face.

"Brother Tao, you don't know! Those bastards have been saying bad things about you everywhere these days, especially Jia Dongxu. This bastard hangs out with Simaozi and a few others, spreading rumors everywhere. I bumped into him a few times, otherwise he wouldn't be able to run away. Quick, go up and give him a good beating!"

"It's so irritating!"

"Especially Qin Huairu, a girl who I thought was very nice in Brother Tao's house before, how can she be so evil-hearted?"

Zhou Peng kept chattering, and Yang Xiaotao heard what was going on and asked what was going on.

Then Aunt Zhou told the news she heard from house to house.

Why is Yang Xiaotao so narrow-minded that he can't stand other people's wives? He speaks rudely at the wedding and ruins other people's good deeds.

There is also talk about being evil-hearted, and the girl does not want to get married, so she wants to destroy the girl's innocence.

In short, the rumors have spread to the streets and alleys. In this street, Yang Xiaotao's reputation can be said to be as bad as the wind.

"hehe"

"I've used all kinds of dirty tricks, I guess I'm running out of tricks!"

Yang Xiaotao didn't care. He knew the beasts in the courtyard very well, and this method was not beyond his expectation.

Seeing Aunt Zhou's worried look, Yang Xiaotao quickly explained.

"Auntie, don't worry, this is what happened."

Then Yang Xiaotao told what happened in the courtyard.

After hearing that Yang Xiaotao was staying in the hospital these days, Aunt Zhou and others raised their voices an octave.

Zhou Kui was even ready to stand up, clenching his fists to vent his anger on Yang Xiaotao.

Yang Xiaotao finally calmed down a few people, "Auntie, don't worry."

"I know who these people are. If something happens to them, I won't be polite."

"Right now, it's okay if they don't mess with me, but if they mess with me, no one can live a stable life!"

After hearing what Aunt Zhou said, her eyes changed when she looked at Yang Xiaotao.

Yang Xiaotao would not have said this in the past. It seems that he has grown up after this period of silence.

After talking for a while, Yang Xiaotao stood up, took out twenty yuan from his arms, and put it in Aunt Zhou's hand.

"Auntie, this is the money I borrowed from your family last time."

"Don't say anything. If you borrow something, you return it. It's not difficult to borrow again."

"The extra $1.50 should be considered as meal money paid in advance. If I come to your house for dinner in the future, you can't shut me out!"

Aunt Zhou took the money and said, "You kid, you kid!"

"Okay, Auntie, please rest quickly, I'm leaving!"

"Dakui, don't go to the West Sea all day long. What if you fall in?"

"You can make a living by yourself, or if it doesn't work, work as a part-time worker. You can always make some money!"

"gone!"

"Brother Tao, walk slowly!"

The Zhou brothers sent Yang Xiaotao out of the door and then returned to the house.

"Mom, we don't care about this matter? Are we going to let those people frame Brother Tao?"

Zhou Peng asked.

"Yes, yes, mother, I'm going to beat them, beat them to death!"

Zhou Kui raised his fists. In his impression, Brother Tao was definitely not this kind of person.

"You two, don't get involved. I didn't listen to Xiaotao. He should handle it on his own!"

Aunt Zhou said calmly, and finally said to Zhou Kui, "There's nothing wrong with you, just keep an eye on me on the road when you go to and from get off work."

"I know, I know, mother!"

Yang Xiaotao left Zhou's house, calling Xiaowei in his heart.

Along the way, Yang Xiaotao also understood Xiaowei's abilities thoroughly. Although Xiaowei could not speak, she could understand Yang Xiaotao's words.

Moreover, there is no need to speak out between them, just like telepathy, as long as Yang Xiaotao calls Xiao Wei's name, Xiao Wei can hear it.

As for this distance, Yang Xiaotao doesn't know yet, but it shouldn't be too far.

Sure enough, when he heard Yang Xiaotao's call, he saw that the top branch of the persimmon tree in the yard suddenly bent, and a small piece of wood popped out from the end.

Then the wood fell away and the branches swooped back.

Before the wood could hit the ground, it flew up in the air. After seeing it clearly, it landed on Yang Xiaotao's right shoulder with a hiss.

Before entering Zhou's house, Xiaowei flew to the persimmon tree in the yard and used the persimmon tree to absorb light energy.

Looking at the little guy now, the green light on his body has been restrained, but it feels more rounded.

"Let's go, let's go home."

"Just in time to see what these beasts are up to."