Siheyuan: I just want to live

Yi Zhonghai still left Chen Feng's house. After being pouted by Chen Feng for the first sentence, he tried to persuade Chen Feng a few more times, but Chen Feng didn't give him a good look. Finally, Yi Zhonghai went to the deaf old lady's house with a dark face and took the deaf old lady to his home.

After Yi Zhonghai left, Chen Feng looked at the time. It was already five o'clock. Chen Feng felt that the time was about right, so he put the pen and notebook into the bedroom.

Then he went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Chen Feng took the side dishes and mushrooms he bought at noon to the kitchen. Then he caught a grass carp weighing about two kilograms from the space, and took out the kilogram of meat sent by Section Chief Hou, as well as a pheasant, fish pieces and pickled wild boar meat.

After preparing all the ingredients, Chen Feng started to cook the New Year's Eve dinner. Chen Feng first started to mix a piece of dough, which was for making dumplings. In the north, people don't have to eat anything else during the New Year, but dumplings are a must for the New Year's Eve dinner.

After kneading the dough, he put it aside to wake up. Chen Feng took another bowl from the cupboard and let the mushrooms soak in it. Then he started to make the dumpling filling.

While Chen Feng was busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, the mother and son of the Jia family in the Central Courtyard were also talking about something at home.

Jia Dongxu said to Jia Zhang with a bitter face and some embarrassment, "Mom, are you really not going to bring the meat to my master's house?"

Jia Zhang had a completely different attitude towards this matter and her son's embarrassment. She looked as if it was natural and shamelessly said

"It was Yi Zhonghai who invited us to dinner, not us who had to go! Why should we use our own meat when we are a guest? Why should we give our meat to outsiders? Can't we eat it ourselves?"

Qin Huairu stood aside and listened quietly. She had no right to express her opinion on this matter. She just followed the arrangements made by the mother and son of the Jia family.

After hearing Jia Zhang's twisted theories, Jia Dongxu still said with a bitter face, "I heard that Shazhu not only produced a pound of meat, but also ten eggs. Shazhu only has two people, him and Yushui, but our family went to eat, but in the end, nothing was produced. Isn't this a bit bad?"

Jia Zhang thought about it and felt that what Jia Dongxu said was right. It was not good to go to a guest empty-handed. But it was absolutely impossible for her to send the meat away!

Jia Zhang touched her chin, her eyes moved left and right, and she instantly had an idea. She said to Jia Dongxu, "Son! Why don't you go to the cellar and pick up two cabbages... No! Pick up a cabbage and send it to Yi Zhonghai's house, and it will be considered as our own."

Jia Dongxu still said with a bitter face, "Just a cabbage? I won't go and give it to you. It's too embarrassing. If I want to give it to you, you should give it to me."

Jia Zhang looked at Jia Dongxu who had a bitter face, and said indifferently, "Who asked you to deliver it? Let Qin Huairu deliver it, and she can stay at Yi Zhonghai's house to help. Come back and ask us to come over to eat after the meal is ready. Isn't that enough?"

Jia Zhang turned around and yelled at Qin Huairu, "Why are you still standing there? Go to the cellar and pick up some cabbage to send to Old Yi's house! Remember to call me early when it's time to eat, or you won't be able to eat anything if you're too late!"

Qin Huairu was frightened by Jia Zhang's roar, and then she replied as if she had just woken up from a dream, "Oh...Oh, Mom, I know, I'll go right away!"

After Qin Huairu finished speaking, she quickly turned around and left the room.

When Jia Zhang saw Qin Huairu leave, she turned around and said to Jia Dongxu, "Look at the country wife you married. She has been married to the city for so long, but she still has no sense of propriety!"

Jia Dongxu listened to Jia Zhang's constant complaints, but did not dare to refute her. He just sat on the stool with a bitter face and sulked.

The stool that Jia Dongxu was sitting on was the one he borrowed from Sha Zhu's house last time. The tables, chairs, benches, pots, pans, and bowls have not been returned yet.

Qin Huairu came to Yi Zhonghai's house and saw that the door was not closed, so she stepped in.

When Yi Zhonghai, who was sitting on a stool chatting with a deaf old lady, heard the voice, he looked up and saw Qin Huairu coming in holding a cabbage.

Yi Zhonghai smiled and asked, "Xiao Qin is here! Why are you here alone? Where are your mother-in-law and Dongxu? Why haven't they come yet?"

Qin Huairu stood in the room, holding a cabbage in her arms, and smiled awkwardly, saying, "My mother asked me to bring a piece of cabbage over first, and stay here to help. She and Dongxu will come over with the child later!"

Yi Zhonghai looked at the cabbage in Qin Huairu's arms again, and then he understood. Maybe Jia Zhang was lazy and didn't want to take the meat, so she asked Qin Huairu to hold the cabbage first.

Yi Zhonghai thought about it and didn't want to say anything unpleasant to Qin Huairu. So, he told Qin Huairu, "Your aunt is watching the rain in the inner room, and Shazhu is too busy in the kitchen, so you should go over and help!"

Qin Huairu was obviously relieved when she heard Yi Zhonghai's words, and then said to Yi Zhonghai, "Uncle, I'll go in and help first!"

Then he quickly carried the cabbage into the kitchen.

Sha Zhu, who was busy in the kitchen, saw Qin Huairu coming in and said enthusiastically, "Sister Qin! Why are you in the kitchen?"

Qin Huairu also replied with a smile, "I'm here to deliver some cabbage. The old man said you can't handle it alone, so he asked me to come in and help. By the way, if you need me for anything, just tell me!"

After hearing what Qin Huairu said, Sha Zhu couldn't stop smiling and said cheerfully, "I've already wrapped the dumplings, so there's basically nothing else I need your help with. How about this! Peel two more potatoes, wash the cabbage you're holding, and we'll add two more dishes."

Qin Huairu also nodded with a smile, and then said, "Okay, I'll listen to you and do it right away!"

Afterwards, Qin Huairu began to busily shuttle around in the kitchen. She skillfully picked up a large cabbage and carefully washed each leaf. Sha Zhu stood aside, quietly watching Qin Huairu wash the cabbage carefully. A warm current surged in his heart, and he couldn't help but laugh silently again.

Sha Zhu also came to the stove, turned on the fire skillfully, and started cooking. The spatula flew in the pot, making a crisp sound. While he was frying the dishes, he looked back at Qin Huairu from time to time, and his gentle eyes seemed to melt her.

During the whole cooking process, Sha Zhu's face was always filled with a happy smile, which never stopped.

Shazhu in the kitchen was immersed in this sweet atmosphere, working hard for a delicious dinner.

At the same time, Yi Zhonghai was drinking tea leisurely with the deaf old lady in the main room. They were talking in low voices and the atmosphere was harmonious.

The aunt in the inner room was playing with Yu Shui on the bed, with laughter coming from everyone. Everyone was enjoying the tranquility and joy of the moment.

At this moment, if a stranger happened to pass by Yi Zhonghai's house and saw such a harmonious and happy picture, he would probably mistakenly think that this was a big family with four generations living together happily. This place is full of warmth and family affection, making people feel endless happiness.

Soon it was eight o'clock, and Sha Zhu had already cooked all the dishes. Of the two pounds of meat, Sha Zhu used one pound to make dumplings and the other pound to make the braised pork that Yu Shui loved the most.

The chicken that Yi Zhonghai bought was minced by Sha Zhu to make Kung Pao Chicken, and the skeleton was not discarded, which was boiled into chicken soup. He also made a few vegetarian dishes, and this is today's New Year's Eve dinner.

If it weren't for Sha Zhu's talent as a chef, he would have been able to prepare eight dishes and two soups with just this little bit of food. Chen Feng definitely wouldn't have that ability.

Seeing that all the dishes were ready, Sha Zhu said to Qin Huairu, "Sister Qin, the dishes are ready. Go out and ask someone to clear the table and prepare for dinner. I'll clean up the kitchen and then leave."

After hearing what Sha Zhu said, Qin Huairu nodded and left the kitchen.

When they arrived at the main hall, Qin Huairu said to Yi Zhonghai who was still chatting, "Uncle, the food is ready. I'll go back and call my mother-in-law and Dongxu over!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead! Tell them to come quickly, or the food will get cold and won't taste good!"

After hearing what Yi Zhonghai said, Qin Huairu immediately turned around and left, going back to call Jia Dongxu and Jia Zhangshi, without even setting up the table and chairs.

Yi Zhonghai had to pull out the table and put the benches in place by himself, then go to the inner room to call Auntie and Yu Shui out, and finally go to the kitchen and bring the dishes to the table with Sha Zhu.

Soon all the Jia family members arrived, and Qin Huairu also brought Xiaodang over.

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai helped the deaf old lady to sit in the main seat, and then everyone started to take their seats.

After seeing everyone was seated, Yi Zhonghai took a bottle of Lianhua Bai, poured himself a glass, and poured one glass each for Sha Zhu and Jia Dongxu.

Then he raised his glass and said, "I am very happy that everyone can give me face this year. Let's get together for the New Year's Eve dinner. Come on, let's drink a toast and wish everyone a happy new year!"

Everyone raised their glasses, and those who didn't have wine raised their bowls of boiled water. After finishing a glass of wine, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly called out, "Come on, everyone, start eating. Don't wait!"

Yi Zhonghai didn't say much, just said a few simple words and announced that the meal would begin.

After saying that, he first picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in the deaf old lady's bowl, then picked up another piece and put it in his own mouth.

When the Jia family saw that Yi Zhonghai had started to eat, they stopped being polite and raised their chopsticks to eat the braised pork.

Sha Zhu just picked up a piece for Yu Shui, and when he was about to pick up a piece for himself, he found that the meat was gone.

When the deaf old lady saw the Jia family's attitude, she stopped pretending and joined the fight for food.

In less than ten minutes, the table was filled with ten dishes, but now only empty plates were left. Jia Zhang used the steamed buns to wipe the plates that had held the braised pork clean.

Then he touched his stomach and said to Yi Zhonghai, "Old Yi! I'm full now. I'll go back first."

After saying that, he ignored Yi Zhonghai, who looked a little unhappy, and forcibly dragged Jia Dongxu away. Qin Huairu saw this situation, holding Xiaodang and holding Banggeng. She smiled apologetically at Yi Zhonghai and followed him away.

After all the Jia family members had left, the deaf old lady also stood up and said to Yi Zhonghai, "Xiao Yi! It's getting late. I'm going to go back and rest first."

Seeing this situation, Yi Zhonghai could only hold back his anger towards the Jia family. He turned to the deaf old lady and said, "It's dark now and the road is slippery. How about this! Yushui, you take the old lady back!"

Because you were young, Yu Shui didn't get to eat much. But after hearing what Yi Zhonghai said, she got up and helped the deaf old lady out of the Yi family.

After Yi Zhonghai saw them leave, he looked down at the mess on the table. He turned to Sha Zhu and said tiredly, "Sha Zhu, there are still some peanuts in the kitchen. Go fry them. Then, have a few drinks with me."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu said nothing and turned into the kitchen. The aunt sighed, cleared the table, and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Only the silent Yi Zhonghai was left in the living room.