Siheyuan: Struggle in the Red Era

Chen Zhaodi was almost certain that Xiao Li was a time traveler.

Still a not very good brain.

In this day and age, if you don't watch your words and actions, buy meat every day, and don't avoid people, aren't you asking for trouble?

Didn't you see the implicit guidance from Qin Huairu, or the ambiguous evidence from the aunt, saying that you are rich and buy things capriciously? If someone is jealous, they will report directly, saying that your spending is inconsistent with your income, and you will see if the police will come to arrest you.

So he stopped watching and walked around the crowd and went home, secretly alerting himself in his heart: I must be careful with my words in the future and not bring the habits of later generations into the present, otherwise, it will really make people suspicious.

For example, nowadays no one would ever call the police.

No one says goodbye when they say goodbye.

At dinner time, Chen Datou came back with Chen Guangzong.

Chen Guangzong said excitedly: "Dad, is that Xiao Li's family really that rich? Does he buy meat every day?"

Chen Datou picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of warm boiled water, drank it in one breath, and felt relaxed all over. Then he said, "The Jia family lives next door to his house. The Jia family said that they eat meat every day, so they must eat a lot of meat. To be able to eat so much meat, they must be rich."

Chen Guangzong was greedy and said to Chen Datou: "Dad, I want to eat meat too. Let's buy some meat too."

Chen Datou scolded with a stern face: "It's not a festival, why are you eating meat? Wait until your mother comes back."

"No, no, why can the idiots eat meat but I can't? I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat!"

Chen Datou was exhausted after a long day, and after Chen Guangzong's disturbance, even though he was his beloved son, he was still annoyed. He slapped him and scolded him, "Eat, eat, eat, all you know is to eat. I told you to buy some meat when your mother comes back."

He cursed again, "Zhao Di, where have you been? Where's the food? Bring it to me quickly, are you trying to starve me to death?"

Chen Zhaodi remained silent, and quickly brought up a basket of steamed buns made of kneaded flour, three bowls of cornmeal porridge, a plate of spicy stir-fried cabbage, and a stack of pickled vegetables. Then she held her own steamed bread and sat down in the lower seat.

After finishing the meal and cleaning up, I heard Liu Guangqi calling people outside: "There will be a general meeting at 7 o'clock in the evening. Every family must have someone present."

Chen Zhaodi thought that this was the famous general meeting of the Siheyuan.

It was late December in the city of Beijing. It was already dark at seven o'clock and the temperature outside was about ten degrees below zero. It was so cold that people could not stand it. However, many people still came to the whole institute meeting except those who had to attend.

Before dinner, Chen Zhaodi hurriedly made a cotton vest when no one was at home. She wore it under her cotton-padded jacket, so she wasn't too cold. So she moved a small stool and squeezed into the crowd to watch the fun.

When the time came, the three uncles each held a teacup and sat down in front of the tables and chairs that had been placed in advance. The second uncle spoke first.

"Today, we are holding this meeting. What is the reason? It's because this newcomer, Xiao Li, has had a conflict with Jia Zhang. This is not good. We need to be united and harmonious in our compound. We can't cause trouble..."

He talked a lot of nonsense, and the people watching below were getting impatient. Someone shouted, "Come on, Uncle Er, you've been talking on and on for so long. Let's get down to business. It's so cold, and I'm tired of listening to your nonsense."

Liu Haizhong was so angry that his face turned red and he stopped speaking while holding the teacup.

Yan Bugui stared at the teacup, as if flowers were blooming on it.

Yi Zhonghai coughed twice and said, "The main reason for holding this meeting today is because of the matter between Xiao Li and the Jia family. Specifically, the Jia family hasn't eaten meat for a long time, and they smell the meat from Xiao Li's house next door every day. They were so greedy that they forgot to say hello to Xiao Li and ate his meat first."

Xiao Li stood up and cursed: "You took my meat and ate it. Stealing is stealing. Don't talk so nicely! Yi Zhonghai, if you can't put your butt straight, let's go to the police to seek justice."

Yi Zhonghai's face froze. Ever since he became the big boss, no one dared to save face in front of him for a long time.

Jia Zhang cursed: "Who told you to cook meat every day and not share it with my family? You should bring two bowls to my family, but now you want us to get it ourselves."

"Bah, you are ugly but you think beautifully. I would rather feed you than give you food, even if I feed you to pigs or dogs. Who do you think you are? You are just a thief, a thief!"

Yi Zhonghai said seriously: "Xiao Li, I am going to criticize you here. The country is still very poor and famine is everywhere. The leaders not only insist on saving and oppose waste, but also advocate saving to the masses. Eating meat every day is too extravagant."

Xiao Li stuck his neck out and said, "I have never eaten meat since I was a child. Now that my conditions have finally improved, I spent money to buy two kilograms of meat. What's wrong with eating a few bites a day? Is this considered a luxury?"

He looked around at the people sitting around him and said, "Tell me, now that you have more money, do you want to buy some meat? If you cook more for one meal, can you only eat two pieces a day and then eat for a few more days?"

Someone in the audience started to make a noise: "Of course, who wouldn't want to buy more meat if they have money?"

Someone else said: "I am different from Xiao Li. I want to finish my meal in one go and eat until I am full."

"Hahaha, with your big belly, if you want to eat meat until you're full, two kilograms is definitely not enough, five kilograms is about right."

"Oh my God, you still want to buy five pounds of meat and eat it all in one meal. Can you eat five pounds of meat in a year?"

Xiao Li pointed at Jia Zhang and said, "In the end, the meat that I was reluctant to eat was all stolen and eaten by this fat pig. Is it okay for me to ask her for compensation? If it were you, who wouldn't ask for compensation if someone stole their meat?"

Everyone became agitated. Thinking about it this way, there was indeed no problem. If someone really stole their meat, they would feel itchy and want to beat someone up. Well, this guy Xiao Li was too polite and a cultured man.

Qin Huairu stood up, tears in her eyes, her voice trembling a little, "Brother Li, I'm really sorry, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have watched Banggeng being tempted by the smell of meat every day, but not being able to eat meat, and making a fuss every day. I really couldn't stand it, so I took some of your meat and gave it to Banggeng first, so that he would stop making a fuss. The child is too young, and I was afraid he would get sick."

The aunties and grandmas here who have children at home can all relate to this: if children start making a fuss and can't be stopped, they can really get into trouble.

I did feel a little sympathy for Qin Huairu. It is really difficult to have a child who is so troublesome.

She continued, "A few days ago, I wanted to borrow some meat from Brother Li, but he was eating roast duck that day, and it smelled really good. This was too precious, so I couldn't ask for it. Then he asked for venison and donkey meat, which are not edible for people like us. It was only today, when you were eating pork, that I dared to borrow some."

As soon as she said this, Xiao Li's face turned pale and cold sweat broke out on his forehead, while the crowd started to make a noise.