Siheyuan: Starting from the Police

Sha Zhu and Yu Shui brought the dishes to Xu Guangfu's house, and the three of them sat down and started eating.

After Xu Guangfu had finished his meal, he took a cigarette from the table and lit it.

He took out some wine and poured it for Sha Zhu, explaining, "You're still drunk, so I won't accompany you. I'll drink soda."

After saying that, he picked up the soda and handed one to Yushui.

For a moment, the three of them were speechless.

"Brother Zhu, let me make one thing clear first. Don't be angry if I tell you this. I'll only say this once. It's up to you whether you listen or not."

"First of all, when I moved to the compound, you had already lived there for a long time. Before your father ran away, we were not familiar with each other. After your father left, my mother took care of you and your sister, and then we became a little familiar with each other."

"Of course, when your father passed away, you were already 16 and worked as a kitchen helper in the steel mill. You didn't need to be taken care of. Only Yushui ate, lived and played with me every day. When I passed away, in 58, you were 24 and Yushui was 16, just entering high school."

"I remember I advised you to find a partner, but you never seemed to succeed. Before I left, I reminded you to ask your blind date. Did you go?"

Hearing this, Sha Zhu shook his head awkwardly and said, "It's fine if they don't like me, but why would I ask that? I'm not bad in terms of conditions, so if they don't like me, then just find someone else. It would be so embarrassing if I didn't ask!"

Seeing this, Xu Guangfu sighed, poured wine for Sha Zhu, handed him a cigarette and lit it, then spoke:

"Okay. Second thing, tell me about your salary."

"I calculated for you the other day. You should have at least 2000 yuan in savings. Where did your money go?"

Sha Zhu was silent, smoking without saying anything.

Xu Guangfu looked at Sha Zhu and said calmly, "I know even if you don't tell me that you gave it to the Jia family! To be exact, you gave it to Qin Huairu!"

Sha Zhu remained silent. He just took a gulp of wine and poured himself another one.

"Brother Zhu, do you still remember why you gave money to the Jia family?"

This time, Sha Zhu did not remain silent. He said in a low voice, "The uncle said that Sister Qin's family was in trouble and asked me to help more. I usually bring some leftovers from the cafeteria. Later, I also helped to pay for it a few times."

Xu Guangfu chuckled and said, "How many times? I heard that when the daughter of the Jia family, Xiaodang, was born, you were the one who took care of everything, right? When his son was sick, you were also the one who took care of him. Did the Jia family never worry about sending him to the hospital for treatment or buying medicine?"

Sha Zhu nodded and said, "Yes, it's not easy to look after the Jia family. They have such a hard time! The whole family depends on Jia Dongxu alone, and Jia Dongxu is not reliable. We are all neighbors, so I will lend a hand!"

"Then let me ask you, how much do you earn a month? How much does Jia Dongxu earn a month?"

"I'm making 35 yuan a month now. Didn't you tell me that last time? Jia Dongxu is a second-level worker, making 5 yuan a month."

“You help needy families whose salaries are higher than yours?”

"You can't say that. If I'm full, my whole family won't be hungry. But there are so many people in the Jia family! I spend my salary alone, but Jia Dongxu's whole family spends it."

"Let's talk it out. Why did you give Qin Huairu money? What is your relationship with the Jia family?"

Sha Zhu was a little unconvinced. Perhaps it was because he had deceived himself so many times that he began to take it seriously.

"I just like to help others! It's okay, I'm a warm-hearted person. We are neighbors in the same courtyard, I..."

Xu Guangfu felt uncomfortable listening to this and quickly interrupted him: "Alright, alright! Stop talking. Do you know what it means to be helpful? And you're kind-hearted, bah!"

"You know Aunt Zhang who lives in the front yard, right? She has a paralyzed son. She sweeps the streets and earns about 10 yuan a month! Her son also needs medicine. Is her family in financial difficulty?"

"Sister Liu, who lives next door to the Jia family in your Central Court, lost her husband and left two children. She is ill and cannot do heavy work, so she makes 10 yuan a month by pasting paper boxes at home? I don't think so! That girl's name is Shi Liu, she is 14 years old this year? She is outside picking up trash with her brother to sell for money. Isn't her family in financial difficulty?"

"In the backyard, Mr. Zhou and his wife have no children. They used to pull rickshaws, but now they are too old to work and make a living by picking up garbage. Are they in financial difficulty?"

"Can you tell me again that you have helped others? Are you willing to help others?"

Sha Zhu's face became uglier as he listened. He didn't know how to refute and could only drink in silence.

"Alright! I'll be frank! You're the greedy daughter-in-law of the Jia family, and you rushed over as soon as the eldest master said so. Don't talk about being kind-hearted! Jia Dongxu is the eldest master's apprentice, and it's reasonable for Yi Zhonghai to take care of the Jia family. What about you? You're not related to the Jia family, but you're still so proud of yourself after being deceived for a whole day."

Sha Zhu opened his mouth but said nothing in the end. He picked up the wine with a gloomy face and drank it all.

"That's enough. If you drink any more, you'll get drunk. Eat a few bites of food and smoke a cigarette."

Sha Zhu lit up a cigarette and said seriously, "Actually, the uncle is quite nice and has always taken good care of me. He didn't lie to me!"

Xu Guangfu was furious when he heard this. He rolled his eyes and said angrily, "You are a fool! How did he take care of you? Did he give you food or water? If he took care of you, it was just that he helped you after you beat up the people and helped you get into this state! What else?"

"This..." Sha Zhu was speechless for a moment. It was indeed true.

"Okay, let me tell you the third thing now! That's why the deaf old lady and the old man are so partial to you."

"Why else? Because you like me! Because you feel sorry for me and the rain!"

"Let's talk about the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai first. Both of them have no children. What do you think they are most worried about?"

Sha Zhu understood a little, but he didn't dare to believe it. His face was uncertain. He swallowed his saliva and asked, "What?"

"The deaf old lady is worried about what will happen after her death. She is afraid that she will die without anyone to help her. Yi Zhonghai is also worried about this, but he is still far from death, so the most important thing now is to take care of his old age."

"The deaf old lady is a five-guarantee household. The government provides for her old age and even takes care of her after her death, so her kindness to you is more pure."

"Yi Zhonghai is different. He also has no children, so he has to find someone to take care of him in his old age! As for why he didn't adopt a child, I don't know. So he chose two people. Jia Dongxu and you."

"Jia Dongxu is a softie and obedient. So he accepted Jia Dongxu as his apprentice, hoping to provide for his retirement. This is also the reason why Yi Zhonghai lied to you to help the Jia family. He hoped that the Jia family would remember his kindness."

"As for you, you're a scoundrel! But luckily you're filial to the old lady, and your father is gone, so you're also a filial child, so you count as well! Although your father is gone, he left too late. At that time, he had already chosen Jia Dongxu, so you weren't his first choice! After your father left, he counted you in. Let's put it this way, you're Jia Dongxu's substitute!"

"That's why!"

"That's impossible! Are they planning to take care of me in my old age? I don't believe it! What you said is too far-fetched! They are taking care of me out of kindness!"

"Then ask Yu Shui, have they ever taken care of her?" Seeing Yu Shui shaking her head, Xu Guangfu asked again, "You are brother and sister, why are you treated differently?"

"One last thing. Yi Zhonghai took the money and letter your father sent you. You probably didn't know about this. You can go to the post office and ask. There was a portion of the money from Yu Shui, or most of it was from Yu Shui, because you didn't need your father to support you at that time! So you have to go and get the money back!"

"You can't survive in this compound without a brain! That's why I told Yu Shui not to come back to the compound when I left."

Sha Zhu fell silent again, nodded and said no more.

"I've finished what I said. I'm doing this for Yu Shui's sake! Of course, I won't say these words again. Saying them three times stinks worse than shit. Whether you want to listen or not, I don't care and I won't ask. It's all up to you! You can walk your own path in the future. Just don't regret it! Of course, don't blame Yu Shui!"

After saying this, Xu Guangfu no longer cared about Sha Zhu and chatted with Yu Shui while drinking soda. They were having a great time.

There was a silly Zhu who was silent, smoking a cigarette and drinking a glass of wine. Soon he was drunk.

Xu Guangfu and Yushui helped Shazhu back home and threw him on the bed. Yushui looked at Shazhu and asked Xu Guangfu with red eyes: "Brother Guangfu, do you think Shazhu can change?"

"It can't be changed. He's useless unless he leaves here."

"Why don't the deaf old lady help the silly brother?"

"She is supported by Yi Zhonghai, so I dare not and cannot help her! Besides, she and Yi Zhonghai still have many secrets, so they cannot turn against each other."

"Then I'll advise Silly Brother to move out!"

"It's useless unless you leave Sijiu City! And it will be very dangerous for you to do so, forget it!"

……

ps: Dear brothers and sisters, come out and have some fun~

It’s over tonight, let’s talk about it tomorrow.