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

The room was filled with the rich smell of wine and the tempting aroma of food. Liu Haizhong, Cao Wei and Xu Damao were sitting around a round table filled with all kinds of delicacies, toasting each other lively.

Their faces were all filled with satisfaction and happiness, as if there were no other worries in the world.

Just then, the appearance of Jia Zhang broke this harmony.

She stood at the door, in tattered clothes and looking embarrassed, obviously begging for food.

As soon as Liu Haizhong saw her, his face, which was originally flushed due to the alcohol, suddenly became as gloomy as the sky before a storm.

He was having a great time drinking with Cao Wei and Xu Damao, so how could he tolerate anyone disturbing this rare happy time?

Liu Haizhong frowned, his thick eyebrows seemed to be twisted into a knot, and his tone was full of obvious impatience. He said loudly: "Jia Zhang, what are you doing? We are having a meal here, and you come here to beg for food. Isn't this ruining the fun? Go back quickly and don't be an eyesore here!"

His voice echoed in the room, carrying an unquestionable force.

After hearing what Liu Haizhong said, Jia Zhang's face instantly felt hot, as if she had been slapped hard in the face, hot and painful.

She lowered her head even deeper, almost burying it in her chest, and her hands tightly grasped the corners of her clothes, her fingertips turning white from the force.

Her heart was filled with humiliation and helplessness, but she refused to leave because there was no food left at home and the children were still hungry.

Jia Zhang hesitated for a moment, her lips trembling as she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing. She just stood there silently, her eyes full of pleading.

"Uncle, I... I have no choice. Banggeng and Dongxu are starving, and the child is making a fuss. I have the nerve to come and beg you..."

Before she finished her words, Cao Wei stood up, with a gentle smile on his face, and interrupted Liu Haizhong slowly.

"Second uncle, please don't be angry. Jia Zhang's family is really having a hard time. We are all neighbors, so we should help as much as we can."

His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze, gently blowing through everyone's hearts.

Liu Haizhong was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting Cao Wei to speak for Jia Zhang.

He looked at Cao Wei in confusion, then turned his gaze to Jia Zhang, frowning even tighter as if he could pinch a fly to death.

"Cao Wei, what do you mean? We were eating well, and she came here to beg for food. Isn't this deliberately making things difficult for us?"

Cao Wei smiled, his tone gentle but persuasive.

"Second uncle, you see we have almost finished our meal, and there are still a lot of dishes left on the table. Jia Zhang's family is in trouble, and we, as neighbors, should lend a hand and do our part. Besides, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative, and helping each other is also the tradition of our courtyard."

After hearing what Cao Wei said, Liu Haizhong's expression eased slightly, but he still muttered with some dissatisfaction.

"Having said that, it's annoying when it happens every time."

Seeing this, Cao Wei continued, "Second Master, who in our courtyard doesn't have difficulties? Didn't you say before that everyone has difficulties, and we should help them if we can. Jia Zhang is in a difficult time now, and we should help her if we can. When we have difficulties in the future, we also hope that others can help us."

After hearing what Cao Wei said, Liu Haizhong completely lost his temper.

Liu Haizhong was silent for a moment, his eyes slowly swept across the leftovers on the table, and finally nodded.

There are still a few pieces of braised pork left, the color is still bright red and attractive, but it lacks the heat it had when it was first served.

There were only a few crabs left, their shells gleaming under the light. There were also some scattered vegetables next to them, some of which no longer looked appetizing, but at least they were edible.

He thought, since he couldn't finish all the food anyway, he might as well do a favor and gain a good reputation.

Moreover, Cao Wei had just taken these crabs from home, so he was indeed qualified to decide whether to give them away or not.

"Okay, since Cao Wei has said so, let's do it."

Liu Haizhong waved his hand as if to drive away some trouble, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"Ms. Jia Zhang, please pack up the remaining food and take it away. Don't stand here."

When Jia Zhang heard this, a look of gratitude immediately appeared on her face, and a ray of hope instantly ignited in her originally dim eyes.

She nodded and bowed her head hurriedly to express her thanks, so much so that it seemed as if she was going to break herself in half.

"Thank you, Second Master, and thank you, Cao Wei. You are really good people! I will clean up right away so as not to delay your meal."

As she spoke, she deftly took out an old lunch box from her arms.

The lunch box was already worn out, with traces of time all over it and the corners were a little worn.

Cao Wei smiled and waved his hand, indicating that she didn't need to be so polite.

"Thank you, Second Uncle, and thank you, Cao Wei. You are such kind people! If it weren't for you, I don't know how my family would survive."

As she spoke, she deftly took out an old lunch box from her arms.

The lunch box was already worn out, with traces of time all over it and the corners were a little worn.

Cao Wei smiled and waved his hand, indicating that she didn't need to be so polite.

"Neighbors should help each other. Jia Zhang, take good care of the children when you go back. Don't let them go hungry again."

She carefully put the leftovers on the table in, picking up every piece of braised pork and crab as if they were rare treasures.

Her movements were gentle and cautious, for fear of spilling any of it, and she kept muttering, "Banggeng loves to eat this, and Dongxu can also replenish his body..."

Xu Damao watched coldly from the side, with a sarcastic smile on his lips, that smile was full of contempt and disdain.

"Ms. Jia Zhang, you got a great bargain. Our leftovers have become your family's treasure."

After hearing this, Jia Zhang felt a little embarrassed, but then she smiled with gratitude.

"Xu Damao, you are right. These leftovers are really treasures for us. Our family hasn't had such delicious food for a long time. Thank you, and thank you everyone."

Having said that, she bowed to the others again, then carefully took the lunch box and left.

Cao Wei looked at her back and sighed.

"Oh, these days are really not easy."

"Who said it wasn't?" The second uncle also agreed.

"Let's help if we can. We are all neighbors."

"Thank you, Second Master, thank you, Cao Wei, thank you, Xu Damao. I, Jia Zhang, will always remember your kindness!"

Liu Haizhong waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of impatience, even a little disgust: "Alright, alright, go back quickly, don't be an eyesore here."

Jia Zhang nodded repeatedly, holding the lunch box, turned around and quickly left Liu Haizhong's house.

As soon as she went out, the smile on her face seemed to be blown away by the wind, replaced by a touch of bitterness and helplessness.

She looked down at the lunch box in her hand, feeling mixed emotions: relief that her family could have a good meal, humiliation of being humiliated, and endless regrets about the difficulties of life.

Jia Zhang had just walked out of Liu Haizhong's house and had not taken a few steps when she heard Cao Wei's voice coming from behind her.

"Jia Zhang, please wait a moment!"

Jia Zhang was stunned for a moment, stopped, turned around, with a hint of confusion and uneasiness on her face.

"Cao Wei, do you have anything else to say?"

Cao Wei walked over quickly with a gentle smile on his face. That smile was like the sun in winter, warm and bright.

"Mrs. Jia Zhang, your family is in financial difficulty, and these leftovers alone are not enough. I have some fruit at home, so you can go to my house later and get some for Banggeng and Dongxu to try."

When Jia Zhang heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up, like stars suddenly lighting up in the night sky. A look of gratitude appeared on her face and her eyes became slightly moist.

"Cao Wei, this... How can this be so embarrassing? You have already helped us so much, how can I ask for more from you?"

Cao Wei waved his hand, his tone relaxed, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.

"It's okay. We are all neighbors, and we should help each other. Besides, these fruits will become stale if they are left for a long time. If you take them, it will save them from waste."

When Jia Zhang heard this, a warm feeling surged in her heart, her eyes became slightly moist, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She nodded repeatedly and said with a sob: "Cao Wei, you are such a kind person! I...I thank you on behalf of Banggeng and Dongxu!"

Cao Wei smiled slightly and gently said, "Don't be polite. Just remember to come to my house to get it later. I'll go back and drink with Second Uncle and the others first."

Jia Zhang quickly nodded and agreed: "Okay, okay, you go ahead and I'll go later."

Cao Wei turned around and went back into the house. Jia Zhang stood there with mixed feelings.

She looked down at the lunch box in her hand, then looked up at Cao Wei's receding figure, her heart filled with gratitude yet a hint of sadness.

I am grateful for Cao Wei’s kindness and generosity, but I feel sad about my own desolation and helplessness.

In the dim courtyard, Jia Zhang held the lunch box and walked slowly forward. The night breeze blew gently, bringing a hint of coolness, and she couldn't help shivering.

Her footsteps were light, as if she was afraid of disturbing the silence of the night, or as if she was afraid of disturbing the humiliation deep in her heart.

The lunch box in Jia Zhang's hand was heavy, as if it contained all her hopes and humiliations. Every step she took seemed to measure the hardships of life.

Her thin body trembled slightly in the cold wind, and her steps staggered, as if she would be crushed by the burden of life at any time.

Her eyes revealed helplessness and despair, but also a bit of tenacity.

As she walked, she kept muttering to herself: "It's all for Banggeng and Dongxu, it's all for them... I don't care about my old face anymore." That voice seemed particularly sad in the silent night, like a wisp of sorrow in the night wind, floating in the air, making people feel sad.

At the same time, at Liu Haizhong's house, Cao Wei and Xu Damao were still drinking.

The room was filled with the smell of alcohol, and there were a few empty plates on the table, making it look a bit messy.

Liu Haizhong looked at the empty plate on the table and sighed, with a hint of doubt and unwillingness in his sigh.

He always felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, as if he felt that he had suffered a loss in this incident.

"Cao Wei, don't you think that if we do this, it will be too easy for Jia Zhangshi?"

Cao Wei smiled, picked up the wine glass and took a sip. His posture was elegant and calm, as if everything was under his control.

"Second uncle, don't think too much. We enjoyed this meal, and giving the remaining food to Jia Zhang is also a good deed. Besides, it is only natural for neighbors to help each other."

Cao Wei's words sounded reasonable, but in fact he had his own plans in mind.

He knew that doing so would establish a good image in front of his neighbors and would also be beneficial to his status in the yard.

Moreover, this is not the only thing he has to say. There will be more interesting things later.

His hatred for the Jia Zhang family is not just a little bit,

Xu Damao sneered at the side, his laughter full of ridicule and disdain: "Cao Wei, you are such a kind person.

There was obvious jealousy and dissatisfaction in this guy's tone.

He secretly thought to himself that he must find an opportunity in the future to let others see his "kindness".

Cao Wei shook his head disapprovingly, his movement firm and confident.

"Brother Damao, you can't say that. Jia Zhang's family is indeed in trouble, and we should help as much as we can. Besides, this little bit of leftovers is nothing to us, but it is a rare improvement for her family."

His tone was sincere and his eyes revealed sympathy for the Jia Zhang family.

Liu Haizhong listened and nodded, as if he was convinced: "Cao Wei is right, let's just do a good deed. Come on, keep drinking!"

The three of them raised their glasses again, and the atmosphere in the room became lively again.

However, no one noticed that in the night outside the window, Jia Zhang's back looked particularly lonely and desolate.

Her back was stretched out in the dim light, as if it was life's ruthless mockery of her.

When she reached the door of her house, she took a deep breath and tried to force a smile, but there was too much bitterness hidden in that smile.

As soon as he opened the door, Bang Geng came over immediately, and Jia Dongxu also looked over here eagerly.

"Grandma, did you get the meat?"

Banggeng's eyes were sparkling and full of anticipation, and his voice carried the eagerness that is unique to children.

Jia Zhang smiled and nodded, putting the lunch box on the table. Her smile contained fatigue, relief, and a hint of bitterness.

"I got it. Come and have a look. There are braised pork and crabs!"

When Bang Geng heard this, he immediately cheered: "Great! Finally we have meat to eat!"

He couldn't wait to open the lunch box. When he saw the food inside, his eyes widened and his mouth was watering.

Banggeng stretched out his hand to grab the meat, and his anxious look made people feel distressed.

Jia Dongxu also leaned over and a long-lost smile appeared on his face. That smile was filled with desire for food and gratitude towards his mother.

"Mom, you've worked so hard. This dish looks really good. We can finally have a good meal tonight."

Because Jia Dongxu was now lying in bed all the time, Jia Zhang moved the table a little closer to the bed so that she didn't have to bring meals to Jia Dongxu by the bed every day.

Seeing her son and grandson happy, Jia Zhang felt sad and tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back and said with a smile, "Eat quickly before it gets cold."

She watched them wolfing down the food, feeling both relieved and sad. She was relieved that her family could have a full meal, but she was sad that the hardships of life made them so eager for a simple meal of meat.

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