Siheyuan: I live next door to Xu Damao, my last name is Cao

When the meal is ready, it's time to call people.

After Sha Zhu and Xu Damao left Sha Zhu's house, they first walked towards Yan Bugui's house in the front yard.

At this time, the setting sun slanted across the yard, outlining a tranquil picture.

The sunlight shines through the mottled leaves, casting patches of golden light, like a field of broken gold.

Under the reflection of the setting sun, the walls of the yard were dyed a light orange-red, adding a warm atmosphere to the entire yard.

After Yan Bugui arrived home, he sat down leisurely on a chair in the main room. The chair was quite old and made a creaking sound when he sat on it.

He didn't plan to cook. He was just thinking about something and waiting for Sha Zhu to come and call him for dinner.

With such a big event happening today, Sha Zhu will definitely have a meal with Xu Damao. At that time, Sha Zhu will definitely ask him to be a witness, and he doesn't want to miss this good opportunity to have a meal.

"Knock, knock, knock," there was a knock on the door. The knock was particularly clear in the quiet courtyard, as if it was knocking on Yan Bugui's heart.

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up and he quickly stood up to open the door. His movements were a little hasty and he almost tripped over the leg of a chair.

When he saw that it was Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, his face was instantly filled with a smile, and there was a hint of success in that smile, like a cat that had stolen a fish.

He smiled and said, "Oh, it's you two, what's going on?"

Sha Zhu smiled and said, "Uncle Yan, we cooked a table of dishes and wanted to invite you to come over and eat with us. Today's meal needs you to be there to make it more lively."

Yan Bugui was so happy, thinking that he could eat for free and save some food for his family, but he still pretended to refuse: "How can I do this? You young people can just get together by yourselves. It would be too much of a hindrance for an old man like me to go."

As he spoke, he glanced at Sha Zhu and Xu Damao out of the corner of his eye, observing their expressions.

Sha Zhu saw through his thoughts and said with a smile: "Uncle Yan, please don't refuse. If you don't go, this meal will have no taste. You are highly respected in the courtyard. With you here, this meal will be meaningful."

Xu Damao also chimed in: "Yes, Master Yan, you are highly respected. What can we do in the courtyard without you? Please do me the honor of going. You have a wide range of knowledge, and we would like to talk to you more."

Yan Bugui laughed and said, "Okay, since you are so enthusiastic, I won't be polite."

Then he shouted into the house, "Jiecheng, tell your mom not to cook for me anymore. I'm going to eat at Shazhu's."

There was a hint of pride in his voice, as if he had received some precious gift.

Yan Jiecheng ran out from the inner room, staring at his father with envy on his face: "Dad, I want to go eat too."

His eyes were full of desire, a longing for delicious food.

Yan Bugui glared at him and said with disdain: "Why are you joining in the fun? Stay at home. This is an adult matter, don't get involved as a child."

He didn't want his son to eat with him. After all, one more person meant one more mouth to feed, and Yan Jiecheng was a young man who needed to eat a lot.

Yan Jiecheng muttered, "Humph, it's always like this. You won't let me go even when there's something delicious to eat."

Yan Bugui ignored him and turned to Sha Zhu and Xu Damao and said, "Let's go. Don't let the food get cold."

As he spoke, he took the lead and walked out the door, his steps so brisk that he seemed several years younger.

Then, they came to Yi Zhonghai's home in the middle courtyard. Sha Zhu went forward and knocked on the door. The knock was steady and rhythmic. Yi Zhonghai opened the door and saw that it was them, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He didn't expect that Sha Zhu and Xu Damao would come together, and judging from their looks, it seemed like they had something important to tell them.

Sha Zhu smiled and said, "Uncle Yi, Damao and I have reconciled today. This is a great joyous event. We have prepared a table of food and specially invited you and Auntie to come over to eat together."

Just as Yi Zhonghai was about to speak, an old lady came out of the house. She was wearing an apron and her hands were covered with flour. She must be cooking. She saw Sha Zhu and Xu Damao and said with a smile, "Oh, you are so thoughtful. But I have already prepared the meal. You can eat now."

Yi Zhonghai also nodded: "Yes, you guys celebrate well, we won't go."

His tone was a little flat, and he didn't seem to be very interested in the meal.

Sha Zhu said quickly, "Uncle Yi, Aunt Yi, this won't do. You two are the backbone of the courtyard and have been taking care of us. The harmony in our courtyard is maintained by you two. Today we can reconcile, thanks to the atmosphere in the courtyard, and also inseparable from your teachings. This meal is to thank you and everyone in the courtyard. If you don't go, we will feel bad. And Damao also wants to have a drink with you, let's have a good chat, how nice it is."

Xu Damao also nodded quickly: "Yes, Uncle Yi, our yard hasn't been so lively for a long time, you must come. If you don't come, this meal will seem like something is missing. Just think of it as giving us face and letting us thank you properly."

Yi Zhonghai and the aunt looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and sighed: "You two kids, there's really nothing I can do about you, let's go."

The aunt smiled and said, "Okay, Lao Yi, you go by yourself. I won't go, or the food at home will be wasted. You men can eat together."

Sha Zhu thought about it and it was okay, since an old man was here anyway.

Finally, they came to Liu Haizhong's house in the backyard. Before they entered the house, they heard Xu Fugui coughing in the yard. The cough sounded dull, as if there was something wrong with his lungs.

They walked into the yard and saw Liu Haizhongzheng and Xu Fugui sitting in the yard chatting.

Xu Fugui saw them and stood up with a smile: "Hey, what are you doing?"

Sha Zhu smiled and said, "Uncle Xu, Uncle Liu, we have prepared a meal and would like to invite you two to come over and eat together. Today is the day we reconcile, so let's have some fun together."

Xu Fugui smiled and nodded: "This is a good thing."

When Liu Haizhong saw Sha Zhu, Xu Damao, and Yi Zhonghai, his expression changed slightly, especially when he saw Yi Zhonghai, he felt unhappy.

There have always been some conflicts between him and Yi Zhonghai. They both have equal status in the courtyard and both want to compete with each other, so it is always awkward when they meet. His original intention of not wanting to go became stronger, and his brows frowned unconsciously.

Liu Haizhong snorted but said nothing.

He felt a little conflicted. On the one hand, he didn't want to eat at the same table with Yi Zhonghai, but on the other hand, he didn't want to offend Sha Zhu and Xu Damao.

Seeing this, Xu Fugui pulled the corner of his clothes in his bangs and whispered, "Old Liu, the children have come to invite us, this is a happy thing, let's not offend the children. We are all in the same yard, don't make trouble over a small matter."

Liu Haizhong frowned and thought: Why should I hide from Yi Zhonghai? I am the eldest uncle in the hospital and I cannot let others look down on me.

So he put out his cigarette, stood up, and said loudly, "Since we're here, I must go. Let's go before the food gets cold."

As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at Yi Zhonghai with a hint of competition in his eyes, and then strode forward, as if he wanted to display his power to the fullest.

Yi Zhonghai looked disdainful, snorted coldly, and followed behind.

He was very dissatisfied with Liu Haizhong's behavior, but he didn't want to conflict with him at this time. After all, today was the day when Sha Zhu and Xu Damao reconciled.

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