Siheyuan, my new life

After listening to the deaf old lady's analysis, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He had to admit the old lady's vision and insight. He let out a long breath and praised: "Old lady, you are so sharp-eyed. If it weren't for your reminder, I would have really made a mistake today. Old lady, what do you think I should do in the future?"

The deaf old lady pondered for a while before speaking: "When you meet someone, just say hello. Don't try too hard to get close to them, and don't provoke them. After all, people should not fight officials. We are just ordinary people. We should just live our own lives behind closed doors. Leaders like them will be wary of people who deliberately approach them. After all, the current social environment is not very stable. As for you wanting to ask for help, you have to wait for a year or so until everyone is really familiar with each other. In addition, you have to remind your apprentice's mother not to use the tricks of throwing tantrums and playing rogue on the person next door, otherwise you will end up in jail and don't regret it."

Yi Zhonghai nodded solemnly in agreement, chatted with the old lady for a few more words, and then left with the dishes.

In the conversation with the deaf old lady just now, Yi Zhonghai did not mention the adoption of a child at all. Ever since the old lady made her position clear, he never brought up this topic in front of her again.

While Yi Zhonghai was talking to the deaf old lady, Yan Bugui in the front yard kept sighing at home. Third Aunt Yang Ruihua asked anxiously: "Dad, what's wrong with you? You've been like this since you came back just now. What happened?"

Yan Bugui sighed heavily and said dejectedly: "I was blinded by greed today and almost caused a big disaster."

Upon hearing Yan Bugui's words, Yang Ruihua immediately became anxious. She grabbed Yan Bugui's hand tightly and asked anxiously: "Dad, please tell me what's going on."

Yan Bugui struggled to break free from his wife's pull, and said with some annoyance: "I, Yan Bugui, claim to be good at calculating, but today I made a mistake. I only thought about getting some benefits, so I encouraged Yi Zhonghai to go with me to find the young man who just moved into the west wing. Liu Haizhong also clamored to go over and explain the rules to the new residents, meaning that he wanted the new residents to set up a few tables for banquets. I thought that no matter what, since the three of us were here, the young man couldn't be stingy, right? But Yi Zhonghai said that he was too tired after a day's work, and asked the two of us to go by ourselves."

When Yang Ruihua heard about setting up several tables for guests, his eyes widened and he swallowed his saliva while saying, "This is a great thing! We haven't eaten meat since the Chinese New Year, so we will definitely have a good meal then."

Yan Bugui waved his hands weakly: "If I could have a good meal, I wouldn't be so anxious. At first, I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity, but after hearing what Yi Zhonghai said, I realized that I was asking for trouble. I was so busy calculating some benefits that I forgot his identity. That guy is a public security officer, and he drives a car. If I make him unhappy, he can find a reason to beat me up. Even if he is ruthless, my job will be affected."

Yang Ruihua said hesitantly: "Isn't it just asking him to treat us to a meal? Even if he is a police officer, he can't bully people for no reason, right?"

Yan Bugui looked at his wife with a bit of disappointment: "I have explained it so clearly, why don't you understand? Who would willingly let others scheme against you? If you are schemed against by others, don't you want to retaliate? Would you be willing to suffer in silence? Don't the police have many ways to punish people? Don't you think about it? Every month, we go to the black market to sell food coupons, fine grains, and corn flour. If they really target us, according to the current regulations, if we go to the black market and are caught, those with formal jobs will be criticized and fined at the least, or directly fired at the worst. As for the severity of the case, it is up to them to decide."

Yang Ruihua suddenly realized what was going on. She was thankful: "Yes, yes, yes. If I had been schemed against by someone, I would have tried every possible means to retaliate double. Fortunately, you reacted today, otherwise I would have been in trouble."

Yan Bugui shook his head and said, "Even if I didn't go today, I'm still worried that someone would tip off the matter. When Liu Haizhong and I were talking at Yi Zhonghai's house just now, our voices were quite loud. I guess those families in the middle courtyard could have heard it, especially those two foul-mouthed Jia Zhang and Sha Zhu. If they knew anything, it wouldn't take more than a day for the news to spread not only in our courtyard but also outside. Alas, Yi Zhonghai is smart. He refused it outright at the time. I used to look down on these hard laborers, but who knew that you can't judge a person by his appearance."

Seeing her husband's annoyance, Yang Ruihua quickly comforted him: "Anyway, you are just talking and you didn't really come to my house. I don't think the young man would really retaliate even if he knew."

Yan Bugui sighed and said, "I hope so." He looked up at his three sons who were sitting around the dinner table and reminded them, "Don't tell anyone about what happened today. Also, next time you meet that man from the west wing, be sweeter and call him uncle. Don't be mute." The eldest son, Yan Jiecheng, who was already eleven or twelve years old, nodded in agreement. As for the second son, Yan Jiefang, who was only seven or eight years old, and the youngest son, Yan Jiekuang, who was four or five years old, they just hummed and continued to gnaw on the cornmeal steamed buns in their hands.

The atmosphere in Liu Haizhong's home in the backyard was extremely tense. Liu Haizhong sat at the dining table with an angry face, eating scrambled eggs and drinking white wine. His three sons were gnawed on steamed buns made of two-grain flour with trembling eyes, and their eyes were constantly glancing at the plate of scrambled eggs in front of Liu Haizhong. Even the eldest son, Liu Guangqi, who was usually the most favored son in the family, was so scared that he dared not say a word today.

Liu Haizhong looked very unhappy when he came back. He was silent and gloomy. It was obvious that he was already unable to suppress his anger. The three sons were so frightened that they dared not make a sound, fearing that they would be beaten by Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong can be considered a strange flower in the No. 95 courtyard. He is a complete fool but always dreams of becoming an official. He spends all day thinking about how to become a leader. He always likes to imitate the leaders of the factory in his every move, and has made many jokes by imitating others.

Liu Haizhong was just an ordinary fifth-level blacksmith in the factory, and the second uncle who was in charge of the No. 95 courtyard became his most valued identity.

Every day in the courtyard, Liu Haizhong always spoke in a lecturing tone, which made the neighbors dislike him privately. But Liu Haizhong was completely unaware of it and always thought that he was the respected leader of the courtyard.

This evening, after learning that someone had already moved into the west wing, Liu Haizhong learned that the young man had not taken the initiative to visit him, the second uncle in charge of the courtyard. In Liu Haizhong's mind, this was clearly a lack of respect for him as a leader, so he immediately ran to find the first uncle, Yi Zhonghai, and wanted to go together to explain the rules to the new tenant. He insisted that the ignorant guy set up a few tables of banquets to apologize to him.

But what Liu Haizhong never expected was that Yi Zhonghai actually became a coward, and when Yan Bugui heard that Yi Zhonghai was not going, he immediately gave up and slipped back home. It was obvious that in Yan Bugui's eyes, there was only Yi Zhonghai, the first uncle, and he did not pay any attention to himself, the second uncle.

While drinking, Liu Haizhong racked his brains, thinking about how to really overshadow Yi Zhonghai, the big boss, and let the residents in the courtyard see his power.