Siheyuan, my new life

The aroma of barbecue in the west courtyard spread with the autumn wind. Most of the residents around were still awake. After smelling this refreshing aroma, many people couldn't help but walk out of their homes, trying to move their noses to find the source of the aroma. After all, this was a fascinating smell that had never been smelled before, and it seemed that all the cells in the body were calling out for it.

Although the lives of ordinary people in Beijing at this time are barely enough to make ends meet, among the residents living near No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, almost every family has one person who has a formal job. Although the salaries vary, they are already quite good compared to people in other places.

Although it is impossible for the residents living here to eat meat every day, they can generally eat meat once a month or even once a week.

Normally, there would be a smell coming from the neighbor's house when cooking meat, but the smell I smelled tonight was extremely special, I could even say it was a smell I had never smelled before.

More and more people were attracted by the aroma and came out of their homes. Some greedy children even started crying and clamoring for meat. It was almost nine o'clock in the evening, and they definitely didn't get to eat meat. However, the grumpy father happily treated his son to a meal of bamboo shoots and fried meat.

As a Jindan-stage cultivator, how could he not hear the movements around him? However, Lin Yu was in no mood to pay attention to it. Under the cold moonlight, a lonely figure sat at the stone table, drinking and eating barbecue.

Today is the first night living in the new home. At this moment, Lin Yu can't help but think of his wife and children in the previous life, as well as the original owner's mother and sister who are far away in Tianjin.

The neighbors who had gathered together in the nearby slum had already discovered that the fragrance was coming from the newly built small courtyard next door. After a few words of discussion, everyone went home to prepare for bed. After all, everyone had to go to work and do what they had to do tomorrow.

Although the aroma was mouth-watering, who would have the nerve to go to a stranger's door and ask for meat? Besides, the men in Beijing all valued their reputation, and most people would not do such a shameful thing.

But the people living in the courtyard next door, No. 95, are mostly weirdos. Liu Haizhong, who is not even 40 years old but already has a big belly, started his performance.

Liu Haizhong followed the factory leaders' example and put his hands behind his back. While swallowing his saliva, he said to the dozen residents beside him: "Our Siheyuan at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang is a well-known excellent collective. All residents should help each other and never allow anyone to eat alone or destroy the unity of the compound. The young man who just moved into the west wing doesn't know the rules. We should criticize his selfish behavior and urge him to integrate into our united and friendly excellent collective as soon as possible."

When the residents nearby, who had been drooling at the delicious smell, heard Liu Haizhong's words, they immediately responded in unison and agreed with what he said.

Liu Haizhong was in a bad mood tonight and drank a few more glasses. With the flattery from everyone, he immediately became excited. Usually in the courtyard, everyone would go to the eldest uncle Yi Zhonghai when they had something to do, and he, the second uncle, had no chance to show his leadership. Today he finally got the support of so many people, which had never happened before. He had to perform well and take the opportunity to suppress Yi Zhonghai's prestige and demonstrate his importance as the second uncle.

Liu Haizhong deliberately puffed out his belly and coughed twice. Then he instructed a young man in his twenties who had just praised him loudly: "Niu Erzhu, I'm going to give you an honorable task. Go and call out the young man inside. I'm going to teach him a lesson." As he spoke, he pointed to the lotus gate next to him that led to the west wing.

The young man named Niu Erzhu opened his eyes in disbelief. He just wanted to join in the fun and take advantage of the opportunity. He didn't expect Liu Haizhong to directly name him as the pioneer. He didn't want to be the first to come forward, but he didn't want to directly refuse Liu Haizhong's order. Niu Erzhu suddenly had an idea and pointed at the big lock on the lotus gate and said with a smile: "Second uncle, you are a noble man who forgets things. The lotus gate in the west wing is still locked. The man didn't go in through this gate at all. He went through the small alley next to it. Second uncle, I think you should take everyone over to teach that young man a lesson."

After hearing what Niu Erzhu said, Liu Haizhong's old face turned red. Fortunately, it was night time and no one could see his embarrassing appearance. He actually forgot that the lotus gate of the west wing was still locked. In order to hide his embarrassment, Liu Haizhong waved his hand and said, "Come on, everyone, let's go find the new tenant and have a good talk with him."

After Liu Haizhong finished speaking, he walked out first, and the dozen or so residents followed him.

Just as the group of people walked out of the middle courtyard, the door of the main house suddenly opened. A boy of about fifteen or sixteen was about to rush out of the door when a big hand firmly grabbed his right arm. The boy kept yelling, "Dad, let go quickly. Everyone else has gone over. I want to go and see the excitement too."

A burly, dark-faced middle-aged man walked out of the room, still holding the boy's arm tightly, cursing: "I called you Shazhu, but you can't really become a fool, right? How could I, He Daqing, who has been smart all my life, raise a fool like you?"

The young man replied unconvincedly: "How did I become a fool? Everyone went to criticize the guy in the west wing, what's wrong with me going to see the fun?"

He Daqing snorted and said, "I don't want to beat you tonight. If you don't understand why, just ask your uncle." Then he said to the shadows next to him, "Zhonghai, you uncle, come out and explain to this stupid boy."

As the words fell, a middle-aged man with an embarrassed look walked out of the shadows. He was Yi Zhonghai, the manager of Courtyard No. 95.

Sha Zhu asked in surprise: "Uncle, everyone has gone to the west wing, why are you, the uncle, hiding here?"

He Daqing reached out and slapped his son on the forehead, cursing: "If you can't speak, just shut up and act dumb. Your uncle is the wise one."

Yi Zhonghai forced a stiff smile on his face, walked over and said, "Daqing, don't always beat and scold Zhuzi. This child is honest. If there is anything, we should talk to him. After all, the child is still young. How can he know some things? We, as elders, must be patient."

He Daqing took out a pack of Peony cigarettes from his pocket, took out a cigarette and handed it to Yi Zhonghai, saying: "I really don't have that much patience for this silly boy. You should explain the ins and outs of this to him, so that he won't continue to make mistakes."

Yi Zhonghai took the cigarette and exclaimed: "You cadres are really impressive. Now you even smoke Peony cigarettes."

He Daqing struck a match and the two of them lit up a cigarette. After taking a puff, He Daqing continued, "I am a nobody as the deputy director of the canteen. I am just a cook. The factory entertained the senior leaders at noon today. The logistics director Li Huaide asked me to cook some of my specialties. He took out two boxes of cigarettes and one box was shared among everyone in the kitchen."

Sha Zhu snatched the cigarette box from his father He Daqing's hand, lit a cigarette for himself, and urged while smoking: "Uncle, why doesn't my father let me watch the fun?"