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

In this way, the group walked towards Sha Zhu's house, and everyone's thoughts were as complex and subtle as the interweaving light and shadow in the yard.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, lengthening their shadows, which were intertwined on the ground, just like their complicated relationship. Some of them were thinking about past grievances, some were calculating their own interests, and some were simply looking forward to this dinner.

When everyone walked into Sha Zhu's house, their eyes lit up when they saw the table full of unusually sumptuous dinner, and their throats moved unconsciously as they swallowed their saliva.

Yan Bugui was the first to speak, and with a big smile on his face, he praised: "Shazhu, your cooking skills are amazing! Just looking at the food, you can tell it's delicious. You are worthy of being the chef of the steel mill. There is no one else in the whole hospital who can match your level."

His eyes revealed greed and satisfaction, and as he spoke, he picked up the chopsticks to pick up some food.

Several other uncles also nodded in praise.

Yi Zhonghai nodded slightly and said, "Shazhu's cooking skills are indeed quite good, and he is one of the best in this courtyard. This braised pork has a nice color and aroma, and you can tell that he put a lot of effort into it."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted from the food to Sha Zhu, with a hint of relief in his eyes.

Sha Zhu felt a little embarrassed by the compliments, scratched his head, and said with a smile: "My dear uncles, stop complimenting me and take your seats to eat, or the food will get cold."

As he spoke, he warmly invited everyone to take a seat. His enthusiasm was as warm and real as the food on the table.

Xu Damao also greeted them warmly: "Everyone, please take a seat. Today's meal is to thank you all. Let's eat and chat at the same time."

His eyes swept across everyone's faces, with a smile always on his lips, but that smile seemed somewhat meaningful under the light, as if it concealed many unknown secrets.

Everyone took their seats one after another, and for a moment, the room was bustling with activity.

Sha Zhu picked up the wine jug and poured wine for the elders. The wine rippled in the cup, giving off a mellow aroma.

The wine was like flowing amber, sparkling with charming luster under the light, flowing slowly down the wall of the cup and gathering into a pool of fragrance at the bottom of the cup.

Xu Damao picked up the chopsticks and picked up food for everyone, saying non-stop: "Uncle Yi, try this braised pork. This is Sha Zhu's specialty. It melts in your mouth and is very fragrant."

His movements seemed casual, but they were deliberately attentive.

Yi Zhonghai took it with a smile, put it in his mouth and chewed it for a few times, praising: "Well, it's really good. Sha Zhu's cooking skills are really getting better and better. The meat is fatty but not greasy, the cooking time is just right, and the saltiness and sweetness are moderate."

As he spoke, he savored the flavor of the braised pork, with a satisfied look on his face.

Yan Bugui was not idle either. While eating the pork intestines, he said vaguely: "This pork intestines is processed so cleanly, there is no peculiar smell at all, and the taste is so smooth. Shazhu, do you have a secret recipe?"

His eyes narrowed into slits, immersed in the enjoyment of the food, and the chopsticks in his hand kept picking up the pig intestines and putting them into his mouth.

Sha Zhu smiled and said, "There is no secret recipe. It's just about doing it carefully. This pig intestine needs to be washed repeatedly. First, rub it with salt and vinegar several times, and then soak it in clean water for a while. This way, all the dirt inside can be cleaned out."

He explained patiently, his love for cooking shining in his eyes.

Everyone was eating, laughing and chatting, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious.

However, everyone's eyes seemed to hide something. Liu Haizhong looked at Yi Zhonghai from time to time, and there was still a hint of competition in his eyes.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai eating with gusto, he felt secretly dissatisfied and thought that he could not lose to him in this regard. So he participated more actively in eating and drinking, and from time to time put forward some of his own opinions on the food, trying to gain the upper hand in this invisible contest.

Yi Zhonghai remained calm, but secretly dissatisfied with Liu Haizhong's behavior, thinking that he was a little petty for trying to be the center of attention in such an occasion. But he didn't want to destroy this rare harmonious atmosphere, so he just frowned slightly and then calmed down.

Xu Damao had a smile on his face, but there was a subtle hint of something strange in that smile. He seemed to be entertaining everyone enthusiastically, serving everyone food and pouring wine, but his eyes would occasionally fall on Sha Zhu, revealing a complex emotion, with calculations and a hint of hesitation.

He repeatedly weighed his plan in his mind, thinking about the feasibility of each step, and all of this was cleverly hidden under that seemingly sincere smile.

Sha Zhu was only interested in making everyone happy and hoped that this meal would really bring everyone closer together, but he didn't notice these subtle details.

He was immersed in this lively atmosphere, serving everyone non-stop, telling everyone how each dish was prepared and interesting stories about it, trying to make everyone happier.

His eyes were full of sincerity and enthusiasm, without any impurities, just like a child sharing his most precious treasure with everyone.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, everyone started talking more and more.

Yan Bugui drank a few glasses of wine, his face flushed, and he became more talkative: "You say, it would be great if our courtyard could be as harmonious as it is today. Without those quarrels, everyone would help each other, which would be much less troublesome."

His eyes were a little blurry, with a hint of longing, as if he had already seen the harmonious and beautiful future in the yard.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Yi Zhonghai put down his glass and said with emotion: "Yes, the people in our courtyard should be like a family. The bumps and bruises in the past were just small things and should not affect our relationship."

His words revealed the dignity of an elder and his desire for harmony in the courtyard.

Liu Haizhong also agreed, "That's right. We all live in the same courtyard. We see each other every day. We should be more understanding and tolerant. What Shazhu and Damao did today was very good. They set a good example for us."

He looked at Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, and the competitive look in his eyes seemed to fade a little, replaced by a kind of recognition.

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