Siheyuan: Yan Jiekuang's carefree life

There was no conversation that night. The next morning, Liu Haizhong had breakfast and went out with his lunch box in hand. As he walked to the front yard, Yan Bugui just came out of his house. The two greeted each other. Liu Haizhong was about to go out the door when Jia Dongxu's voice rang out: "Second uncle! Third uncle! Are you two here?!"

Liu Haizhong stopped and turned to look at Jia Dongxu. Yan Bugui also looked at Jia Dongxu and asked, "Dongxu, what's the matter?!"

Jia Dongxu said: "Second uncle, third uncle, I'm sure you've all heard about my wife's pregnancy, right?!"

Yan Bugui replied, "I heard about it!" Then he asked, "What's the matter?!"

Jia Dongxu said: "Although I have gone to the foundry workshop and my salary and quota have increased, my family is still living a tight life. Huairu is pregnant again now."

Before Jia Dongxu could finish his words, Yan Bugui interrupted him and said, "Dongxu, stop talking. We all understand what you mean. But it's not easy for everyone right now. How can we help your family? Dongxu, I think it's really not possible. Send your wife, mother and children back to the countryside! After all, their household registration is there. And life in the countryside is relatively easier."

Jia Dongxu's face changed instantly. At this time, Yi Zhonghai came out of the middle courtyard and said, "Old Yan, you can't say that. Even if everyone's life is difficult now, it doesn't matter if we squeeze in." Then Yi Zhonghai saw He Yuzhu and his wife coming out of the middle courtyard with their children, and hurriedly said, "Shazhu, you and your wife work in the cafeteria. You basically eat in the cafeteria every day. You and your wife can save a lot of food in a month. It is said that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Give the saved food to the Jia family!"

He Yuzhu was stunned by Yi Zhonghai's words. But Liu Lan reacted quickly and said, "Who are you?! You live by the sea?! You are too nosy, aren't you?! Don't think you can take advantage of your age just because you are old. It is said that a thousand-year-old turtle lives for ten thousand years. They are old enough, right?! Why don't you catch one to claim as your father?! I tell you! Yi Zhonghai, how our family was born has nothing to do with you. If you want to help, that's your business. Don't drag us into it." Then Liu Lan looked at the neighbors standing by and watching the fun, and continued, "Everyone, stay away from Yi Zhonghai in the future, especially on rainy days. Be careful not to be implicated when you are struck by lightning!"

"When Yi Zhonghai was the steward, he favored the Jia family. That was because he was Jia Dongxu's master. I didn't expect that now that he is no longer the steward and no longer has a master-disciple relationship with Jia Dongxu, he still speaks for the Jia family. What does Yi Zhonghai want?!"

"It's being rumored that both of Jia Dongxu's children are Yi Zhonghai's. Could it be that Qin Huairu's baby is also Yi Zhonghai's?! Otherwise, why would Yi Zhonghai be so active in speaking up for the Jia family?!"...

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ugly when he heard the neighbors' comments. Liu Haizhong did not forget to add a stab at this time, saying: "Old Yi, last time I saw you and Qin Huairu arguing in the public toilet. Are there really any unclear things between the two of you?!"

"Liu Haizhong! Don't slander me!" Yi Zhonghai shouted at Liu Haizhong with a trembling voice, and said, "It's unreasonable!" Then he pushed away the neighbors who surrounded him and hurried out of the courtyard.

After Yi Zhonghai left, Yan Bugui said, "Everyone, go away! Go to work if you need to, go to school if you need to, don't waste time." Then Yan Bugui patted Jia Dongxu's shoulder meaningfully and said, "Dongxu, the situation is not good now. It's not shameful to send your mother and wife back to the countryside. After a while, when there is no shortage of food, you can bring them back."

Jia Dongxu said, "Uncle, I appreciate your kindness. But I have to hurry to work, so I won't tell you anymore."

After Jia Dongxu left, He Yuzhu asked, "Uncle, what's going on with Yi Zhonghai today?!"

Yan Bugui replied: "What's going on? Don't you understand? If you don't understand, ask your wife. Your wife understands it better than you do."

After listening to Yan Bugui's words, He Yuzhu looked at Liu Lan. Liu Lan complained, "I really don't know if you are really stupid or just pretending to be stupid?! Yi Zhonghai is like a bald man with lice on his head. It's obvious that he wants others to help him raise his children."

He Yuzhu scratched his head and said, "This Yi Zhonghai is too wicked?!"

Yan Bugui replied: "Silly Zhu, now it seems that the best thing you have done in your life is to marry Liu Lan."

He Yuzhu smiled and agreed, "Uncle, this is called a fool has a fool's luck! You can't enjoy my blessing. I won't tell you anymore. Let's go first!" After that, He Yuzhu took his wife and children out of the courtyard. When they reached the door, He Yuzhu said, "Wife, say hello to the people in the cafeteria today. From now on, don't let Yi Zhonghai eat too much!"

Liu Lan replied: "Don't worry! I will definitely teach him a lesson this time!"

It's not to mention that although there are few female workers in the steel mill, these women are very good at spreading information. When Liu Lan arrived at the steel mill, she spread the news about Yi Zhonghai. One person spread it to ten people, ten spread it to a hundred people, and by noon, all the workshops in the steel mill knew about Yi Zhonghai's story. If Yi Zhonghai wasn't so thick-skinned, he would have been forced to leave the workshop.

Because He Yuzhu had given a heads-up in advance, Yi Zhonghai did not have a good lunch today. Usually, he would at least eat until he was 80% full. Today, he was only 50% full. Yi Zhonghai wanted to argue with the canteen staff, but they gave him the base dishes. He could not say that the canteen staff had deducted his food. He could only swallow the bitter fruit of his own actions.

After work, Yi Zhonghai did not go home directly, but appeared in a courtyard not far from the steel mill. Yi Zhonghai knocked on the door of the east wing of the courtyard. Not long after, the door opened. A man with shifty eyes poked his head out to look at Yi Zhonghai, made way, and said, "Come in!"

Yi Zhonghai entered the room, closed the door, took out a hundred yuan from his pocket and put it on the table, and said, "Xie Laoliu, this matter is done. You and I don't owe each other anything from now on."

Xie Laoliu picked up the money, counted it, and asked, "Yi Zhonghai, what on earth are you up to?! I wanted to take Jia Dongxu out to play before, but you wouldn't let me. Why are you letting me take him out to play now?!"

Yi Zhonghai replied: "He used to be my apprentice, and I relied on him for my old age. But not anymore. Besides, his family is really greedy. I don't want to be depended on by them for the rest of my life."

Xie Laoliu thought about it, put the money in his pocket, and agreed: "Okay! I'll take care of it." Then he asked: "Yi Zhonghai, did you forget anything?!"

Yi Zhonghai smiled and took out a wooden sign from his pocket and put it on the table, saying: "Okay! Now we are completely even. I'm leaving first!" After that, Yi Zhonghai opened the door and walked out directly.

Watching Yi Zhonghai's back disappear at the door, Xie Laoliu picked up the wooden sign and muttered, "Yi Zhonghai, do you really think I'm a fool?! Forget it, who made our family owe Yi Zhonghai a meal?! This can be considered as a tit-for-tat!"