Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

The next day, the weather was not very good. The sky was gloomy, as if a huge gray curtain was pressing down on the top of the head, giving people a feeling of suffocation and depression.

However, this did not affect the lively atmosphere of Courtyard 95 at all.

After breakfast, Liu Haizhong and his son excitedly went to Yi Zhonghai's home in the central courtyard, carrying two kilograms of the best pork belly and two bottles of canned fruit.

Liu Guangfu was the only one left at home. He sulked in a corner, muttering Yi Zhonghai's name and complaining in a swearing manner.

Thinking back to when Tan Guihua passed away, he, Sha Zhu, Xu Damao and others were busy running around, but what happened? Yi Zhonghai turned his face away and kept saying that he looked down on Liu Guangfu. Did this make Liu Guangfu very upset?

However, no matter how angry you are, reality is reality.

Even if Yi Zhonghai really listed him as one of the candidates, Liu Haizhong would not agree.

Because in Liu Haizhong's eyes, all the benefits in the family should belong to Liu Guangqi, and it is already very good to be able to find a job for Liu Guangfu.

Besides, Liu Guangqi has the highest academic qualifications among the four candidates, which is also the source of Liu Haizhong's confidence. He believes that if Yi Zhonghai is not stupid, he will naturally know who to choose.

As if they had made an appointment in advance, Yan Bugui brought his two sons, two pounds of meat and two bottles of canned fruit to the middle courtyard. Unlike the pork belly in Liu Haizhong's bag, he brought beef.

In comparison, what Cui Dake prepared seemed a little simple, just a bag of eggs and some seasonal vegetables. However, Cui Dake was not uneasy because he had his own plans.

Cui Dake was the chef today and could show off his skills in the kitchen. In his opinion, this was a plus for him. More importantly, he had privately contacted Li Huaide yesterday and asked him to say a few good words for him in front of Yi Zhonghai. With this relationship, he believed that he had a great chance of winning.

In this way, the four families came to Yi Zhonghai's house with their respective gifts, ready to start a fierce "contest".

I have to say that Cui Dake is really good at cooking. Although he can't say that he is proficient in everything, he knows a thing or two about steaming, stir-frying, cooking and frying. His skills may not be as good as Sha Zhu's, but they are much better than ordinary people.

"This smell is so delicious!" Erlu leaned against the pillar of the veranda, sniffing the fragrance wafting from Yi Zhonghai's house, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

The idle people in the courtyard also gathered together, talking about what happened today.

Someone couldn't help but ask curiously: "I didn't expect Cui Dake's cooking skills to be so good, but I wonder how it compares to Sha Zhu?"

"Compare with me?" Sha Zhu was unhappy when he heard this. "Who the hell is Cui Da? How can he compare with me? My craftsmanship is inherited from my ancestors. What can he compare with me?"

Sha Zhu in the crowd obviously didn't want others to compare him with Cui Dake. In his heart, his cooking skills were unmatched. At least in Nanluoguxiang and in the steel mill, he was the best.

"Then why didn't Yi Zhonghai invite you, Shazhu?" someone joked.

"What do you know, kid?" Sha Zhu glared at the man. "With my skills, do you think anyone can hire me?" After saying that, he glared fiercely at Cui Dake who was busy in the distance. He was so angry that it was hard to describe in words.

"Hahaha..." Everyone burst into laughter. Sha Zhu's arrogant and confident words made everyone laugh. As neighbors for many years, they naturally knew Sha Zhu's temper, which was inexplicably self-confidence and particularly stubbornness.

"Okay, just have a good laugh. I won't accompany you anymore."

Sha Zhu turned and walked away. He wanted to go to the office to see if the little girl Lele was there. These days, he had gotten used to hearing the little girl sweetly calling him uncle every day. That voice was so sweet that it touched his heart. He didn't know when he started to look forward to hearing that voice and seeing that cute smiling face every day.

"What a fool, really."

Seeing Sha Zhu leave, the people who had gathered together began to leave one after another and went back to do their own things.

They don't need help at other people's banquets, and they don't want to stay any longer. Watching others feasting is an unbearable torture for them, especially in this era of scarce oil and water.

When Li Huaide slowly arrived at the courtyard, the banquet officially began.

After the toasts, everyone said some nice words to please the crowd, and then started drinking happily.

During the whole process, no one mentioned the matter of providing for Yi Zhonghai's retirement. They all understood that such a matter could not be settled in a few words. At least they had to wait until they were full, smoked cigarettes, and talked slowly.

It is not known whether Yi Zhonghai did it on purpose or not. He kept urging people to drink and claimed that only those who did not act slyly at the table were real people and good comrades, and only they could be trusted.

As soon as these words came out, Liu Guangqi, Yan Jiefang, Yan Jiekuang and Cui Dake all became excited. They thought this was Yi Zhonghai's test, and they all drank like they were competing with each other. Even though they were a little top-heavy, they had to hold on. As the saying goes, a donkey can stand on its frame even if it falls down. As long as they can hold on, they will be the ones who laugh last.

The young people were drinking enthusiastically, while Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui accompanied Li Huaide and drank slowly.

"Godfather, you guys drink first, I'll go make some hot and sour soup." Cui Dake said.

It must be said that Cui Dake is not only a big drinker, but also very smart, which can be seen from the way he addresses Yi Zhonghai. At this time, the other three people were almost lying on the table, but he was still thinking about making soup for everyone.

Cui Dake's words left Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui stunned. They looked at Yi Zhonghai in disbelief and almost asked directly: Have you already chosen Cui Dake?

Seeing the inquiring looks in the two people's eyes, Yi Zhonghai shook his head imperceptibly, which gave them a reassurance.

After a while, Cui Dake came back and made the soup very quickly. However, he did not serve it immediately because everyone was still in high spirits.

After a long while, until everyone had almost finished drinking, Yi Zhonghai stopped Cui Dake, who was holding the table and wanted to serve the soup, and went to the kitchen himself.

As soon as he arrived at the kitchen, Yi Zhonghai took out a paper bag from his arms with trembling hands, quickly poured the powder inside into the hot and sour soup, and did not forget to add a few drops of sesame oil.

When he came out with the soup, he found that Li Huaide was missing. He guessed that Li Huaide had gone to the toilet while Yi Zhonghai was in the kitchen. He not only drank a lot of wine, but also a lot of boiled water.

Yi Zhonghai didn't care about so much. After serving a bowl of soup to each of the remaining people, he sat aside and watched Liu Haizhong and others drink the bowl of soup with added ingredients quietly.

The few people who had finished drinking almost all of the wine smelled the tempting aroma of sesame oil. They didn't bother to ask Yi Zhonghai why he didn't drink the soup. They each lowered their heads and drank their own portions contentedly.

People who often get drunk know that drinking a bowl of hot and sour soup after drinking is the most wonderful enjoyment.

Then he got up and went back to the bedroom, and when he came out he had a pair of scissors hidden in his sleeve.

Obviously, Yi Zhonghai had been prepared for this. On such a hot day, when others had changed into shirts, he was still wearing the washed-out work clothes, probably to hide the scissors.

Then he closed one of the doors and leaned there waiting, waiting for Li Huaide to come back.