Siheyuan, my new life

After lighting the stove and smoking a cigarette, He Daqing opened the door and walked out. He vaguely saw a figure flash behind the curtain of the west wing. He couldn't help but sneer inwardly. He knew without guessing that the person who could hide behind the curtain and peek out so stealthily must be Jia Zhang who had just returned.

As he walked towards the backyard, He Daqing sighed softly. With the return of Jia Zhang, there would most likely be trouble in the courtyard. In the past, he never wanted to get involved in those messy things in the courtyard, but now that he has become the manager, he can only bite the bullet and try his best to deal with it.

As soon as I walked into the main door of the backyard, Xiao Yushui came running over with her short legs, calling sweetly, "Dad, why are you so slow? My brother is almost done cooking. Brother Zhuzi is making braised pork today, saying it's for grandma and Xiao Yushui to nourish their bodies."

He Daqing bent down and picked up the little girl, smiling and said, "Has Yu Shui been naughty at home today? Did you make grandma angry?"

The little girl shook her head, hugged her father's neck tightly with both hands, and said with a smile: "Yu Shui is very good. If Dad doesn't believe me, you can ask grandma."

He Daqing said to the deaf old lady who was sitting at the eight-immortal table and looking at his father and daughter happily, "Old lady, the weather has been too cold recently, and it has snowed several times in a row. Your legs and feet are not in good condition, so try to go out less."

The deaf old lady said cheerfully, "Okay, I get it. Anyway, if you need to buy something, you can ask Aunt Niu for help. By the way, Zhuzi just brought back so much pork and beef, and a small bag. Xiao Yushui opened it and saw two bags of milk powder and two packets of chocolate candies."

He Daqing sat at the eight-immortal table, picked up the teapot on the table and poured tea for the old lady first, then poured himself a cup, and said with a low smile: "Old lady, these pork and beef are welfare benefits issued by our Security Department. I heard that the Security Department's action team just cracked a major enemy case, and Secretary Lin specially rewarded the members of the action team with ten kilograms of pork and ten kilograms of beef each. In order to avoid jealousy from other people in the Security Department, two kilograms of pork and two kilograms of beef were issued to ordinary security guards and clerks in the Security Department, five kilograms of pork and five kilograms of beef to cadres above the section level, and ten kilograms of pork and ten kilograms of beef to cadres at the department level. Secretary Lin specially instructed that I should be given welfare benefits according to the standards of department-level cadres, and our Zhuzi should be given welfare benefits according to the standards of section-level cadres. The milk powder and chocolate candies in the small bag were specially rewarded to me by Secretary Lin. Recently, Zhuzi and I have been busy cooking beef and braised beef every day. Secretary Lin also knows that we have worked hard, so he has given us a lot of extra welfare benefits."

The deaf old lady patted her thigh happily, "Nowadays, people who want to buy meat in the supply and marketing cooperative line up in long queues all day long. I heard from Aunt Niu that the supply of pork is very tight this year, and there is no one selling meat in the pigeon market. I heard that the price of pork in the black market has reached more than two yuan per catty. This time, with the meat you two have distributed, we don't have to go to the pigeon market to look for pork. Today, Aunt Niu went to line up to buy meat early in the morning, but when it was almost nine o'clock, the pork in the supply and marketing cooperative was sold out. She came back and kept complaining about her bad luck."

He Daqing put down his teacup and whispered, "Old lady, what do you think about asking Xiao Yushui to send two kilograms of pork and two kilograms of beef to Aunt Niu's house later? I think Aunt Niu has done a good job these days. She has kept the house clean and tidy, and even washed Xiao Yushui's clothes. We didn't ask her to wash the children's clothes at the beginning."

The deaf old lady hesitated: "Daqing, isn't it too much to give us so much meat at once? Besides, we have to save some for the New Year."

He Daqing smiled softly and said, "Old lady, don't worry. The meat distributed today is just a favor to the action team. It is not our security department's year-end welfare. When I was serving food to the leaders of the small cafeteria, I occasionally heard a few words. At the end of the year, the security department will have more welfare than this time."

The deaf old lady agreed immediately after hearing this. How much is a few kilograms of meat worth? It's just that the supply is tight and it's hard to buy. Although the deaf old lady handed over all the gold that Yi Zhonghai saw to the street office and was commended by the district government, it was really nothing compared to her family assets.

He Daqing stood up and carried Xiao Yushui into the kitchen, where he saw his son waving a spatula in front of the stove.

He Yuzhu noticed that He Daqing and his daughter walked into the kitchen. While he was frying the dishes in the pot, he said, "The pork and vermicelli stew in the pot will be ready in a while, and we can eat soon."

He Daqing looked at the dishes his son cooked and nodded slightly: "Not bad, since you started learning Kung Fu from Deputy Director Xiong, your cooking skills have improved a lot. Now you are about 50% to 60% of my level."

Although He Yuzhu was very happy after hearing this, he still said, "How many years have you been a chef? I've only been cooking alone for a few days. I guess when you were my age, you were not as good as me."

He Daqing was speechless because of his son's blockage. He had no choice but to walk to the chopping board, put down Xiao Yushui, picked up a kitchen knife, cut a piece of pork and a piece of beef, took a small basin, put the meat in it, and then said to his daughter: "Yushui, you can take these pork and beef to Aunt Niu's home."

Little Rain agreed obediently and walked out carrying the small basin.

He Yuzhu asked curiously, "Why did you give so much meat to Aunt Niu's family?"

He Daqing snorted, obviously still upset about what his son had just said, but he still explained in a low voice: "Today, Aunt Niu went to the supply and marketing cooperative to queue up but didn't buy any meat. The main reason was that she kept the old lady's house clean and often washed clothes for Xiao Yu. Our family doesn't lack this little meat. Since Aunt Niu did a good job, we should also show some appreciation."

He Yuzhu nodded and said, "Mrs. Niu did a great job. That's enough. You can go back to the living room and take a rest."

He Daqing shook his head helplessly, smiled bitterly and walked back to the living room.

The deaf old lady had heard the conversation between the father and son just now. Seeing He Daqing's bitter smile, she couldn't help but said with a smile: "Zhu Zi has grown up now. You have to be more careful about what you say in the future. Zhu Zi needs to save face now."

He Daqing sat down on the chair and sighed: "This kid's words can make people feel depressed."

The deaf old lady is now completely focused on her two children. After hearing what He Daqing said, she snorted, "I think Zhuzi is right. When you were the same age as Zhuzi, you were probably not as good as him."

He Daqing opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. It was true that his son's current level was definitely much better than his own.