Siheyuan, my new life

He Daqing sat on the bicycle, holding a bulging bag in his arms. He Yuzhu pedaled hard and said cheerfully, "Dad, make some braised pork for Yushui tonight. We have plenty of meat in the canteen of the Security Department, but Yushui and the old lady haven't eaten meat for several days."

He Daqing took a puff of his cigarette, then said tiredly, "Okay, you can do it when you get back. It's a good opportunity to see if your skills have improved."

He Yuzhu just nodded and did not object. He knew that He Daqing had been very tired in recent days. He needed to braise so much beef and usually had to cook in the kitchen himself. Even he, a good guy who had finished his own work and came to help, felt a little overwhelmed.

However, He Yuzhu had no complaints at all. Although he and his father worked hard enough, Secretary Lin did not forget them. Not only did he give He Daqing the same benefits as those of the directors, but even the things he gave to He Yuzhu were the same as those of the section chiefs.

Moreover, Su Wenshu had just given He Yuzhu an extra cloth bag and told him to look at it when he got home and not let anyone else see it. Now the cloth bag was hanging on the handlebars.

Although He Yuzhu was full of curiosity, he also understood that this must be something Secretary Lin sent specially. If other people found out, they would definitely be jealous.

Today, He Daqing and his son left work early. Usually, when He Daqing gets off work, he will check the safety of the cafeteria, check the dinner prepared for the security guards on duty and working overtime, and give instructions to the chef and the kitchen helper on duty. Only when he feels that everything is fine, will He Daqing and his son go home together.

In fact, all the staff of the Security Department left work early today. Even the security guards who were on duty or had to work overtime tonight began to take turns to leave work early and go home to quickly deliver the pork and beef they were allocated to their families so that their families could have a good meal of meat tonight.

Because they got off work early, when He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle into the gate of the courtyard, the workers who worked in the steel mill had not returned yet.

At this time, there were only some half-grown children in the yard, playing and chasing each other regardless of the cold.

He Yuzhu had sharp eyes and had already noticed that the third uncle Li Botao who lived in the front yard was walking towards them, with his mouth open as he walked.

Without waiting for Li Botao to finish his words, He Yuzhu held the large bag that He Daqing had placed on the back seat of the bicycle when he had lifted the bicycle through the gate with one hand, and steadied the handlebars with the other hand. He accelerated and passed through the Lotus Gate in a flash, ignoring the old women who were looking at him curiously, and walked quickly towards the backyard.

Li Botao saw He Yuzhu disappearing at the gate of the Lotus, smiled bitterly and shook his head, then said to He Daqing who was still standing in the front yard: "Old He, what happened to your Zhuzi? I'm just a little curious. Usually you two come back later than the workers in the steel mill. Why are you back so early today?"

He Daqing took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes, handed one to Li Botao, and said in a low voice with a smile: "I asked my fellow apprentices to help me buy some meat today. Xiao Yushui and the old lady at home haven't eaten meat for a while. Now it's the coldest time of the year, and it's so cold, we have to let the old man and the children eat more meat to replenish their bodies."

Li Botao works in a meat processing factory, so of course he would not lack for that little bit of money. Even if the supply of pork outside is tight now, those who work in the meat processing factory can still find a way to get some pork, and even more so some pig offal. As long as it is processed well, it can also be a delicious meat dish.

However, Li Botao simply did not believe what He Daqing had just said. In his opinion, there must be at least thirty or forty kilograms of meat in the big bag on the back seat of He Yuzhu's bicycle. With the current tight supply of pork outside, even the leaders of their meat processing plant could not approve so much meat to one person at a time. As far as Li Botao knew, their factory director would only approve three or two kilograms of meat at most for those relatives who could not be refused, and no more.

However, Li Botao would not dig into the matter, as that would offend others. Besides, He Daqing and his son have hooked up with Secretary Lin, who now lives at No. 98. Who knows, he might need help from them in the future.

Therefore, Li Botao pretended to be ignorant even though he knew the truth. He chatted with He Daqing for a few words, and then the two of them went back home separately.

In fact, Li Botao really had something to tell He Daqing today, that is, Jia Zhang from the Jia family in the Central Courtyard came back again, saying that she came back to spend the New Year reunion with her son's family.

He Daqing didn't take it to heart. Not to mention that without Yi Zhonghai's support behind her, Jia Zhang was just a shrew who only knew how to throw tantrums and act like a rogue. In the past, Yi Zhonghai always used the excuse that things in the yard should be solved in the yard. Relying on his status as the manager, he always favored and protected Jia Zhang, which made Jia Zhang even more unscrupulous.

Every time Jia Zhang got into trouble, Yi Zhonghai would always come out to smooth things over, under the slogan of uniting the neighbors. He would always say that Jia Dongxu was the only one working in the Jia family, and that Jia Dongxu was the only one in the family of five who had food supplies. It was not easy for the Jia family to come up with such high-sounding excuses, so they tried every way to exonerate Jia Zhang, causing complaints from the neighbors in the courtyard.

Now that Yi Zhonghai has fallen from grace, his wife Qu Xiuqin has taken all the family property and left, and Yi Zhonghai is having a hard time now; Jia family's daughter-in-law Qin Huairu's image as a virtuous woman has also collapsed, and who among the residents living near Nanluoguxiang doesn't know about her reputation as a slut?

Some time ago, Jia Zhang was escorted back to her hometown in the countryside by the newly appointed director Wang of the street office.

Now Jia Zhang returned to the courtyard under the pretext of spending the New Year reunion with her son. He Daqing immediately made up his mind that if Jia Zhang was not honest again, he would directly notify the street office and send her back to her hometown.

To be honest, after Jia Zhang, the troublemaker, was gone from No. 95 Siheyuan, the whole courtyard became much calmer. He Daqing sighed to himself as he walked towards the main house in the middle courtyard. There was no sign of a bicycle at the door, so it was obvious that his son went directly to the old lady in the backyard.

The son is responsible for preparing dinner tonight. He Daqing has to go home and light the stove in advance. Otherwise, in such cold weather, if there is no coal stove to keep warm at night, people will really freeze to death.

He Daqing really envied the courtyard house No. 98 that Secretary Lin had just built. All the rooms there were equipped with heating. Even in the cold winter weather, one only needed to wear an autumn coat in the house and would not feel the cold at all.