Siheyuan: Returning from studying abroad, with extraordinary understanding

"Changqing, it's like this. Because most of the dishes on the menu are meat dishes, the price is a bit expensive. It will probably cost 8 yuan per table."

"There are more than ten families living in our courtyard, with a total of 62 people. If we assume that there are eight people at each table, we need to set up eight tables, so it will cost at least 8 yuan."

"When we hold a banquet, in addition to eating this meal, we also need to buy some things. Although we come to help and don't need to pay, some necessary expenses are still required."

"So, to host this banquet, it will cost at least 70 yuan."

Yan Bugui's words made sense and if Lin Changqing didn't know who he was, he would really believe that he could organize the banquet well.

After hearing Yan Bugui's words, Lin Changqing did not answer immediately, but thought quietly.

I want to see what else Yan Bugui can say.

A table costs only 8 dollars, they really know how to eat!

Lin Changqing knew that a table of normal banquet would never cost more than 5 yuan.

Yan Bugui and others actually wanted to cheat him out of 70 yuan, which was almost one-third of a bicycle and more than one month's salary for his father Lin Fuxing.

Yan Bugui is truly worthy of his reputation as a man of great calculations.

But what does this have to do with me, Lin Changqing?

If you want to have a feast, just do it yourself.

Lin Changqing didn't say anything, and Yan Bugui thought it was because he spent too much money.

But in his heart, it doesn’t feel expensive at all!

This time, the wedding banquet only cost one-third of the price of a bicycle.

You can spend 220 yuan on buying a bicycle, and if you take out one-third of it to hold the wedding banquet, it will be more than enough!

However, it was impossible for him to speak out what was in his heart.

Seeing Lin Changqing looking hesitant, Yan Bugui knew that if he tried harder, he would be able to convince him.

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses with his hand, smiled and said:

"Changqing, this banquet will cost at most one-third of the money you spent on the bicycle. Don't think it's too expensive. We usually spend about the same amount on banquets."

"Think about it! If you don't spend more money and make the banquet more upscale than usual, how can you possibly live up to your status as an international student?"

"After all, you are an intellectual. Money is not important to you. Just like me, I regard money as dirt."

"Using it to hold banquets can help everyone get to know you better and integrate you into everyone's lives. From now on, the residents of our courtyard will all be your best neighbors. From now on, no matter what happens, as long as you say a word, everyone will respond."

"So, spending 70 yuan on a banquet is not expensive at all."

Liu Haizhong, who was standing by, saw Yan Bugui talking the whole time, which made him feel itchy. As the second-in-command, he couldn't even say a word.

This made him very uncomfortable, so he interrupted before Lin Changqing could speak.

"Hey, Changqing, what Old Yan said is right. The menu we ordered has so much meat, and 8 yuan is already very cheap. We are all trying to save money for you. Generally, a wealthy family would spend at least ten yuan for a table."

"To be honest, with 8 yuan, you can't even buy the century-old Quan De Ju roast duck. That roast duck costs 10 yuan each!"

Both of them look like they are trying to save you money and organize a good banquet for you.

"Really? I understand."

Lin Changqing nodded pretentiously, indicating that he agreed with Yan Bugui's words, which made Yan Bugui very happy.

It seems that he was convinced by me. Yan Bugui looked straight at Lin Changqing, wanting to hear the answer he wanted.

Liu Haizhong was also happy because he finally got a chance to speak and he was no longer just a second-in-command.

If he didn't also want to gain benefits from the banquet, he would not have followed Yan Bugui to persuade Lin Changqing.

"I understand. It's not expensive. Teacher Yan, I have another question. Is it just one meal when hosting a banquet?"

"Ah?" A trace of embarrassment flashed across Yan Bugui's face. How could he have forgotten it?

"Oh! Changqing, if you hadn't asked, I would have forgotten. Generally speaking, it's a full meal, and there are relatives who come earlier, so they need to be entertained, so the cost is less."

"Including us helping out, it will probably cost about a hundred dollars."

Seeing that Lin Changqing knew nothing about the banquet, Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were even happier. They looked at each other and saw the profit in each other's eyes.

So, the two of them reached a cooperation agreement through eye contact and worked together to trick Lin Changqing.

"So, all the expenses added up to only a hundred dollars, right?"

Lin Changqing asked again, as if to say that this was just small change and he didn't care how much it cost at all.

When Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong saw Lin Changqing's expression, they immediately exchanged glances. It seemed that Lin Changqing didn't care about money at all. Their budget was short!

The two of them immediately started to think about it, their eyes lit up, and in the blink of an eye, they understood what each other meant.

Yan Bugui smiled even more, put on a amiable expression, and looked at Lin Changqing.

"Yes! That's true. Changqing, however, I think that just having one meal is no different from any other banquet. We also know that when those wealthy families hold banquets, they usually have a three-day banquet."

"But, we are not a wealthy family, so we can't hold a three-day banquet. But your status is different, so we can just have two meals."

"This way, you can save money and let others know that you are different from them!"

As soon as Yan Bugui finished speaking, Liu Haizhong immediately interrupted him, obviously not wanting to give Lin Changqing time to think.

"Old Yan is right. You are the only foreign student and college student in our courtyard. This is the honor of our courtyard."

"You will be an official in the future, sitting in an office, and you will definitely be different from everyone else, so you can't hold the same banquet as everyone else. Otherwise, it will not be worthy of your status."

As he said this, the corners of Liu Haizhong's mouth twitched. He also wanted to be an official and wanted to be superior to others, but unfortunately he did not have the ability.

If he were an international student, he would never even look at this courtyard. Only Lin Changqing, a young man with little knowledge, obediently returned to this courtyard.

At the same time, his identity cannot be changed now, so he wants to change his destiny by currying favor with Lin Changqing.

Unfortunately, his calculation was wrong.

"Are you done talking?"

Lin Changqing said this out of the blue, leaving the two of them stunned for a moment.

Seeing Lin Changqing looking at them with a smile, the two of them had not yet realized the seriousness of the problem. They thought that Lin Changqing was flattered by them, so they both smiled and answered:

"That's it!"

"Changqing, what do you think of holding a banquet like this?"

"Now that you've finished talking, go back. I'm going back to the house."

Lin Changqing quietly watched the performance of Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong. He was watching the two of them playing with monkeys. Since there were fewer entertainment activities nowadays, he was happy to watch.