Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

Everyone was busy for the whole afternoon, steaming chicken pieces, fish pieces, whole chickens and whole fish in the steamer. Now, the fragrance spread from ten miles away, and the whole courtyard was filled with aroma.

"It's delicious."

When Sha Zhu and his two companions came home from get off work, they smelled the fragrance in the alley.

"Silly Zhu, didn't this new guy invite you to his wedding banquet?"

Smelling the fragrance in the yard, Yi Zhonghai's face looked a little unhappy.

"If you don't want to find it, then don't look for it. I can still have some free time."

Sha Zhu curled his lips with a look of disdain.

"Master, did this newcomer invite you?"

Qin Huairu asked this question for some unknown reason.

"Humph! I see clearly that the newcomer is also a person who doesn't know etiquette. He doesn't want to have a good relationship with the people in the compound. He will regret it in the future."

After hearing Qin Huairu's words, Yi Zhonghai's face became even uglier.

"You know what, the chef they hired is really good."

As a chef, Sha Zhu can naturally learn a lot from the taste.

"Silly Zhu, how about competing with you?"

Ordinary people just feel that the fragrance is unusual, but they can’t tell exactly what’s unusual about it. This is how Yi Zhonghai feels.

"It's hard to say, but what is certain is that his level is not higher than mine."

As a chef, Sha Zhu naturally has his own pride.

"That means I'm not as good as you. I've always believed that your cooking skills are the best."

"Sister Qin, you are really my sister. Thank you."

In this world, there is no one who doesn't like nice words, not to mention that Qin Huairu is the white moonlight in Sha Zhu's heart. To hear words of praise from her, Sha Zhu feels as sweet as eating honey.

Qin Huairu asked again: "Master, do you think anyone in our courtyard will give gifts?"

Yi Zhonghai said confidently: "Probably not, because there is no one taking the lead in our hospital now."

"If you ask me, the subdistrict office should restore the management uncle in our courtyard. Only under the leadership of the uncle can there be cohesion."

Who says Shazhu is uneducated? Look at the little lyrics he created, the cohesion is so clear.

"Silly Zhu, don't talk nonsense, and don't criticize the Street Office."

A smile appeared on Yi Zhonghai's face, and he felt relieved to hear what Sha Zhu said.

"What's the use of recovery? People's hearts have long been scattered."

Compared to Sha Zhu, Qin Huairu now misses the time when Yi Zhonghai was a big boss. How good it was back then. Yi Zhonghai wanted fame, and the Jia family wanted profit. Life didn't have to be like it is now, where people have to live so carefully and calculate their money every day, otherwise they really wouldn't make it until the day when they get their paycheck.

"Just wait. When I pass the eighth-level fitter exam this year, I will definitely take back what we lost."

"Master, are you confident about this year's exam?"

"Huai Ru, can you be more confident and remove the word 'ma'?"

"Then I congratulate Master in advance."

"Huai Ru, let's just talk among ourselves, don't spread it outside."

"I understand, master."

When the TV series started, Yi Zhonghai was already an eighth-level fitter, which means that it was a foregone conclusion that Yi Zhonghai would become an eighth-level fitter.

"Uncle, you better be careful recently and don't let others break your legs again."

"Humph!"

Yi Zhonghai was a little unhappy, so he quickened his pace, trying to stay away from Sha Zhu.

"Silly Zhu, you are such a fool, you bring up all sorts of issues."

"Sister Qin, am I wrong to remind an old man out of kindness?"

"What do you say?"

Qin Huairu gave Sha Zhu a displeased look.

Sha Zhu muttered, "You don't know how to appreciate kindness."

"Silly Zhu, be careful with your words next time."

Qin Huairu said this and patted Shazhu lightly with her hand.

Sha Zhu was delighted, as this meant that he and Qin Huairu were getting closer and closer. He felt very happy and had a promising future!

As soon as Yi Zhonghai and his two companions arrived home, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui met at the gate of the courtyard. Liu Haizhong looked up, had a bulging belly, and put his hands behind his back, almost using his chin to see the road.

Yan Bugui was holding a fishing rod and an empty bucket, looking listless.

"Old Yan, we are out of luck again today."

It is not time for school to start yet, but Yan Bugui goes to break an ice hole to fish every day.

"Alas, it's cold, the fish aren't active, there's nothing we can do."

"Old Yan, you've been freezing all day and you want to eat two more steamed buns when you get home. What do you want?"

"Old Liu, I can't compete with you. You are a seventh-level worker in the steel mill. Not counting subsidies, your salary is 84.5 yuan per month, which is three times as much as mine. We didn't have meat during the Chinese New Year this year, so I have to find ways to satisfy the children's cravings."

Liu Haizhong was very pleased with Yan Bugui's envious look, and he raised his head even higher.

"By the way, Old Yan, the new resident is getting married, have you given a gift?"

"No, I have trouble even eating, so why should I give gifts? Besides, I am the third uncle, so I can't rush to give gifts."

Yi Zhonghai is not the only one who is obsessed with the uncle in charge. Yan Bugui now dreams that the street office can restore their "positions" so that he can get some benefits in the name of management.

"I am still the second uncle. The backyard is under my jurisdiction. It is understandable that the new guy did not invite you, but it is a bit unreasonable for him not to invite me."

"Old Liu, smell this, it's really fragrant. Li Dabao is willing to spend a lot of money on this."

"Old Yan, he is a purchaser for the textile factory. He is also good friends with Liu Guozheng and Xu Damao from the old Xu family. They always call each other brother. Naturally, he is not short of these things."

"Old Liu, have you ever thought about building a good relationship with Liu Guozheng?"

"Haha, you know Liu Guohao, right? He's Liu Guozheng's younger brother, and he lives in the front yard. Why don't you want to build a good relationship with him?"

"Old Liu, I do want to, but they rarely live in our courtyard."

"You have to work hard. If you can catch up with Liu Guozheng, you won't have to go fishing in the cold weather anymore."

"I have to think about it."

"Okay, Lao Yan, take your time to think about it. I'm going home first."

Liu Haizhong had just returned home, and before he even sat down, Wu Airong said angrily, "The head of the family is really amazing."

"You old woman, what's the big deal?"

"Your good son."

"What? Guangqi sent a letter?"

"Boss, where are you thinking about? It's broad daylight."

"That beast Liu Guangtian is causing trouble again?"

"It's not a big deal."

"You...Wu Airong, do you believe I can beat you up?"

"Boss, I gave the newcomer a fifty-cent gift today."

"Just give it as a gift. What's the big deal? Guangtian is an adult now, so he naturally has his own ideas."

"In the whole hospital, only Guangtian and Wang Sigen followed. Tell me, doesn't this make them look bad? Both of them have no jobs. When Guangtian comes back, you must teach him a lesson and let him know his own worth."

"Wu Airong, do you know how much you weigh?"

"You, the head of the family?"

"Someone is having a wedding in the backyard, and I'm at home disciplining my son. Aren't you obviously trying to embarrass my Liu family?"

"Hey, don't be angry, boss. I mean wait until this period of time is over before teaching him a lesson."

"We can think about this. Now let's go cook. I can eat two more steamed buns today just by smelling this aroma."

"That's true."

Liu Haizhong sat in a chair drinking tea while Wu Airong poked the coal fire and started cooking.