Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

"Zhu Zi, you are already an adult, but you are still in such a hurry. We can't rush this matter. The situation is a bit serious now. We have to take a long-term view. I am talking about the situation when we really have no choice.

Which city should we go to? Who will give us a letter of introduction? What if no one accepts us? We have to think these things through, otherwise we will be sent back in less than three days. Besides, our roots are in the city of Beijing, and I don’t want to leave even if I have no choice now that I am old.”

"You still say that I'm impetuous, but how are you better than me? You're so old and you still want to find another one, so go ahead and find someone, but you have to find Chen Lanlan. It's all your fault that I'm in this state now."

"Have I asked you about this? You didn't stop me at the time, and you agreed. You even wanted to be Zhao Shanhe's brother. Now you blame me. Why didn't I stop you?"

"Alright, stop arguing. What's the point of arguing? It's just that the salary is a little lower. Zhuzi, you had a much harder time with Yu Shui, but you made it through. I also made it through with my two younger brothers. What's the big deal?"

There are five people in our family, and our salary of 18.5 is already below the poverty line. Tomorrow I will go to the street office to see if I can get some work making matchboxes. Dad, you can go see if there is anyone making banquets. I don’t believe that we can’t make ends meet. As long as we work hard, things will get better.”

"Dongmei, you are right. I will go out and take a look tomorrow. Zhuzi, you did not marry the wrong wife."

"Zhu Zi, can you still drink? I'm not happy, how about we drink a little?"

"Drink, I am not happy either."

"Wait, I'll go get some peanuts. I have some peanuts in my room." Soon He Daqing came back and brought some peanuts.

While drinking, He Daqing suddenly said, "Oh, I suddenly remembered something."

"what's up."

"Old Yi, have we forgotten about Yi Zhonghai? He has made you spend a lot of money to support him in your old age. This old guy almost coveted Yu Shui's living expenses, and we haven't settled the accounts with him yet. Now is the time for him to contribute.

I remember that when he asked Banggeng to take care of him in his old age, he gave him 20 yuan a month. His money will be yours sooner or later. Now that you can’t make ends meet, he has to help you. Thirty yuan a month is not too much, right? He only gets a salary of 100 yuan.”

"Can it be done?"

"Zhu Zi, I think what Dad said is right. He has to do it even if he can't. There are only a few people in the courtyard. Zhao Shanhe will definitely not provide for his retirement. He is not short of money. It is impossible that the three sons of the second uncle are not here.

He has given up Bang Geng and has gone to the countryside. He doesn't know when he will be back. Xu Damao has parents, and only the third uncle's son is left. He is even less afraid. The third uncle has taught them to be calculating. It would be better for Yi Zhonghai to find you than them. He has to do it even if he can't do it."

"Zhu Zi, I told you that you married a good wife. Your analysis is absolutely correct. Even if Lao Yi is not happy, he has to accept it. We used to earn a salary but it was hard to ask for it. Now we are below the poverty line and he can't refuse."

"Then Dad, go quickly."

"I told you that you can't keep your cool, but you still refuse to accept it. You can't rush this matter. You have to take your time. I just lost my job, and you haven't even started working at the factory yet. It's only the end of the month, and it would be embarrassing to go and eat now."

"Then what do you think we should do?"

"We need to wait at least a few days. We need to let He Dong and He Hua go first. Old Yi loves these two children. Without a salary, their living standard will be poor. It's not too much to let the children go to Old Yi's house if they don't eat well. It will be natural for them to go there later."

"Okay, Dad, I'll listen to you, but you still have to go when the time comes."

"I didn't intend to let you go in the first place. With your brain, you were sold out by Old Yi and you're still counting money for him. If Dongmei hadn't promised Yi Zhonghai, the deaf old lady's house would have been ours and the property would have been left to you. The two widows across the street were smart.

Zhuzi, I know you get angry easily, and I know you hate Lao Yi for deceiving you, but you must remember that there are no eternal enemies in this world, only eternal interests. If the interests are sufficient, enemies can also be friends. "

"Dad, I'm smart too, okay? Just tell me, besides Yi Zhonghai, who has ever taken advantage of me?"

"Stop bragging. You don't even know your last name after drinking. No one has taken advantage of you, except for the two widows across the street. I still remember the first time I came to your house, the house was emptied, you had no savings, and you were thin as rain. How dare you say that?" Ma Dongmei teased.

Sha Zhu's face immediately turned red, and he said stubbornly, "Well, I just felt sorry for them, the orphans and widows, and I just wanted to help them."

"Yes, yes, you are such a kind-hearted person, you just like to help the widow, but in the end, you are just throwing meat buns at dogs."

"Ma Dongmei, come out here. You beat my son today. You must give me an explanation."

Zhao Shanhe had just finished his meal and was walking towards the backyard when he heard Xu Damao's voice and walked over.

"What's the matter, Damao? How did Shazhu offend you again?"

"Shanhe, look at your nephew. He Dong, that little bastard, beat him up. His eyes are all black and blue."

"Then what are you talking about here? Hurry up and take the child to see a doctor. The child's matter is more important."

"I've already finished watching and am back. I'm here to settle accounts with them. Shanhe, you have to take charge of your nephew."

"First, is there anything wrong with the child's eyes?"

"The eye is fine, just bruised. How is the child going to school tomorrow?"

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Um, I don't know. I just got used to it after every fight with Stupid Zhu, so I just ran over here. How about paying me some money?"

"Your son, ask me, did you ask Xu Sheng, why did the two kids fight?"

"I forgot to ask, anyway, hitting people is wrong."

"It is wrong to hit someone, but what exactly is the reason for the fight? Children are still young and this is the time to educate them. We should establish correct values ​​from an early age."

"Xu Sheng, come and tell Uncle Zhao why He Dong hit you?"

"I, I, I didn't want to play with him, so he beat me up." Xu Sheng spoke hesitantly, his eyes wandering, and it was obvious that he was lying.

"You are lying," He Dong ran out and said.

Ma Dongmei and He Daqing and others inside did not go out immediately after hearing that Zhao Shanhe had arrived. They wanted to see what Zhao Shanhe's attitude was. Unexpectedly, after their son went out, He Daqing and Ma Dongmei followed him out.

"He Dong, come and tell Uncle Zhao why you beat Xu Sheng?"

"He called my dad a stinky toilet cleaner, and he also called my sister and me little stinky toilet cleaners. He also said we were stinky and wouldn't let An Tong and the others play with us. The first time I didn't argue with him and took my sister home, but the second time he stopped me and kept scolding me, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I beat him up."

"Xu Sheng, tell Uncle Zhao if what He Dong said is true. Lying is not a good thing."