Siheyuan: Survival Guide for Courtyard No. 95

Old Yi cleared his throat, attracted everyone's attention, and then spoke.

"The main reason we gathered everyone here today is to continue what we did yesterday. Now that we have the money, when are we going to buy food? Since everyone is here today, let's make a decision early."

After saying this, Sha Zhu stood up and said.

"Uncle, there is basically no one in charge of the pigeon market now. The higher-ups know that there is a severe food shortage, so they are turning a blind eye. In order to prevent the price of cornmeal from rising again, I think it's best to buy the food back early tomorrow morning."

Yi Zhonghai was very satisfied with Sha Zhu's supporting role. He nodded approvingly and then spoke to everyone.

"Zhu Zi's suggestion is good. The price of grain changes every day, so we should buy it back earlier. But I have another idea, and I'd like to share it with you all for your reference.

Since we are going to buy food, why don't we buy a little more? If every family stores some food, even if the famine lasts longer, no one will be afraid of having nothing to eat."

When it comes to matters concerning personal interests, everyone in the courtyard is very active. From time to time, someone stands up and expresses their opinions, saying that they also want to buy some food and stockpile it.

Finally, Yi Zhonghai asked Yan Bugui to take a notebook and count the residents who wanted to buy grain together. After the count, he would collect the money directly. Tomorrow morning, he and the second uncle would lead a team and take all the men over 15 years old in the yard to buy grain together.

Why did so many people go? The main reason was to buy more than 1,000 kilograms of food at one time. If there were not enough people, it would be easy to be robbed. No one could bear such a heavy responsibility, so Lao Yi brought all the strong men in the yard.

Through this incident, Lao Yi easily seized the power of the courtyard, and at the same time commanded all the men in the courtyard. Zhao Shanhe had no good way to deal with Lao Yi's conspiracy. At least on the surface, the other party was wholeheartedly working for the people in the courtyard. What would the people in the courtyard think if he said he didn't want to go?

The next morning, just after dawn, the people who had made their reservations yesterday gathered at the door. Sha Zhu and Yan Jiecheng each pushed a human-powered tricycle borrowed from Lao Wang next door, and a group of people headed towards the pigeon market at Dengshikou.

Originally, everyone wanted to go to Yongdingmen for the meeting yesterday, but it was too far away, and it would take more than two hours to walk there. It would be okay if it was not during work hours, but in the end, it was Kang Ruofei who suggested going to Dengshikou. Although the pigeon market there is not as big as the one at Yongdingmen, it sells a wide variety of things, and it is less than an hour away from Nanluoguxiang, so we can go early and come back early, and it won’t delay everyone’s work.

The process of buying grain went smoothly. Most of the people in this group were good young men and no one dared to have any bad ideas. When they returned to the yard after buying the grain, it was just past 7 o'clock. Yi Zhonghai took the notebook and started delivering grain door to door. No matter what, the first thing he did after returning made everyone in the yard very satisfied.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. One evening, Zhao Shanhe had just returned from Chen Xueru's place when he was blocked by Xu Damao who was guarding the door.

"Shanhe, why did you come back just now? I've been waiting for you here for a long time."

Zhao Shanhe looked at Xu Damao who looked anxious, wondering why this guy was looking for him? But no matter how anxious you are, you have to let me go home first, right?

"Da Mao, I just came back from the countryside. You know how bad the roads outside the city are. It's good enough that I can come back at this time.

What do you want from me? Tell me quickly so I can go back and eat."

"Shanhe, my buddy is getting married. The wedding will be held this Sunday. The banquet is almost ready, but the meat is not easy to buy. I want you to help me think of a solution."

Zhao Shanhe was stunned after hearing what the other party said. Is this kid really quick, or is it that the Lou family is pushing him too hard?

How could he know that these days some people get married the next day after a blind date, and Xu Damao's was considered slow.

In other words, he still had the love thinking from his previous life in his mind, and Chen Xueru had been married twice and had certain concerns about remarriage, otherwise they would have been together a long time ago.

If it were any other time, getting some meat for Xu Damao would not be a big deal, but during this period of time, Zhao Shanhe had to provide Qiao Laoliu with 1000 kilograms of meat every month, which he would deliver to the factory. Plus, there had been no news from Cao the hunter in Xiangfang Village, so the rabbits and chickens in his small world were barely enough. If he took out another batch to hold a banquet for Xu Damao, it would disrupt the ecological cycle.

He frowned and looked at Xu Damao and said.

"Da Mao, congratulations, I didn't expect you to be the first among us young people to get married.

Logically speaking, since you have come to me for help, I should definitely help you get things done, but the situation in the countryside is too difficult right now. Even a lot of chickens in Wang Lizhuang Village have been killed, and we really can’t afford to feed them.

Tell me first, where are you going to hold the banquet? How many tables are you going to have? At least you need to come up with a plan, then I can see if I can help you."

"I'm a little anxious to see you come back.

I also heard from Section Chief Li Lianjie that most of the meat in the factory now is sourced through your help, so they came to you for help.

My dad wants to hold it in the yard. The government now advocates thrift and does not allow extravagance, so we plan to set up only 10 tables for the banquet. We may invite some factory leaders and some friends who have a good relationship with my dad to come over, so the banquet cannot be too shabby. "

Zhao Shanhe thought, 10 tables is not considered extravagant? Don't you see who else in this courtyard dares to do this besides yours? But then he thought again, this is Lou Bancheng marrying his daughter. If it was before liberation, at least three days of buffet would be set up.

Although I know what's going on, I have to pretend I know nothing.

"Ten tables? If the leaders are coming as you said, then every table must have chicken and fish. I'll go to the countryside to ask around tomorrow. I believe that as long as the money is in place, we should be able to get it."

Xu Damao understood what Zhao Shanhe meant. Isn't it just about money? As long as Lou Xiao'e is married in a grand manner, what will money mean in the future?

He took out 10 big black tens from his pocket.

"Brother, I'm leaving this matter to you. Take this hundred dollars first, and we'll refund you the extra money or give you the extra money. As long as you can buy the meat, the price is negotiable."

Zhao Shanhe was not going to play any tricks with Xu Damao. He said, "Just take it. Your Xu family is not short of money anyway." He planned to take out ten chickens and rabbits that were to be sent to Sixth Brother. He believed that the factory would not complain to Sixth Brother because of the loss of a few dozen kilograms of meat.

Just do the same with the fish. Get out ten grass carps weighing three pounds and send them to Xu Damao. That way you will have three meat dishes. Finally, get some eggs from the small world. At this time, you can have four meat dishes at the wedding banquet, and no one will complain.