Siheyuan: There are three little cats at home

Chapter 324 Brother Silly Zhu, come to my house during the Chinese New Year

The sky is clear, and before evening, the setting sun hangs at the end of the sky, and the afterglow cast by it makes the winter afternoon look particularly special.

Especially in the past two days, there has been no snow and it has been sunny again. The snow on the roof of the compound is frozen and hard like white eggshells, which is very dazzling under the setting sun.

The snow on the top of the wall melted a little, and the snow water slowly flowed along the wall, soaking the mottled and old wall, leaving behind stains.

Water was dripping from the eaves, and Xu Qing was standing at the door of the house with his son in his arms, talking to Sha Zhu about some trivia about the festival.

"Brother Silly Zhu, Yushui is married. You are the only one this year. Why don't you do anything else and come to my house to celebrate the New Year together on New Year's Eve."

Silly Zhu held a cigarette in his mouth, stretched out his hand to tease Xiao Hongzhi, and said to Xu Qing: "Forget it, the old man told the big mother to let me go to their house and make friends with them. You know, there are only the couple in the old man's house." , I’ll just go to his side.”

Xu Qing thought about it: "Last year, you and Yu Yu spent the New Year at the uncle's house, right?"

"Ah."

Sha Zhu nodded, raised his hand to flick the ash off.

Xu Qingdao: "Last year you spent the New Year at the uncle's house, this year you will come to my house. Anyway, Feng Ming is also here this year. Wouldn't it be more lively if there are more people? Then I will call the old lady over."

"This" Silly Zhu hesitated.

Xu Qing said directly: "Brother Silly Zhu, you can't be with the uncle every year, right? You come to my house this year, so it's settled. I'll go talk to the uncle in the morning."

Silly Zhu scratched his hair, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Before Xu Qing got married, he and Yu Shui came to the backyard, and the two families celebrated the New Year together several times.

It's just that Yi Zhonghai told him last year that Xu Qing is married, and it's different from before. He has to support his family, and he has a wife and children, plus younger brothers and sisters, and a big family. .

In fact, Shazhu has also thought about this. After all, being married is different from being unmarried.

Xu Qing is not married, so it's okay for him to go to Xu Qing's house every day.

They didn't have a family anyway, they were all old men, and the other people in the yard saw it, and there was nothing to chew on.

But Xu Qing was married, and there was Ma Jinghong in the house, so it was wrong for him to go to the backyard to look for Xu Qing if he had nothing to do.

A good relationship is a good relationship, but since he is a bachelor, he is not afraid of people in the courtyard gossiping, but it would be bad if Xu Qing and Jinghong were in trouble.

In any case, he had a deep understanding of the temperament of these people in the compound earlier than Xu Qing.

However, Xu Qing did not give Si Zhu a chance to refuse.

Early the next morning, Mrs. Jia Zhang from the Middle Court came to the backyard early in the morning with Xiao Dang, Yi Zhonghai and Mama, all carrying soybeans and preparing to use the iron roller brought by Xu Qing.

Xu Qing took the opportunity to pull Yi Zhonghai aside, took out a cigarette and handed it to him, and said:
"Grandpa, this year's Chinese New Year, I discussed with my wife and my brother and sister, and I want Sha Zhu to come to my house for the Chinese New Year, as well as the old lady."

Yi Zhonghai looked at Xu Qing and said with a smile, "Your wife agrees?"

"Hey, grandpa, what does my wife disagree with? In the past few years, brother Shazhu helped my family a lot, and my younger siblings were often taken care of by him. In those few years, our two families also celebrated the New Year together. .

The old lady helped Jinghong and I take care of my son a lot this year.

Now that I am a cadre of our compound, it is not right that I have to help you and the second and third uncles share the burden. "

Yi Zhonghai looked at Xu Qing with a smile, took a puff of smoke and said:
"Well, as long as your wife has no objections, that Zhuzi and the old lady will celebrate the New Year with you."

While Xu Qing and Yi Zhonghai were talking, Jia Zhang, who had a sharp ear, heard the conversation between the two, told Xiaodang to use a bucket to grind the soy milk with an iron mill, and hurried over.

"Grandpa, Sha Zhu can't come to Xu Qing's house. Didn't our middle court agree that we will celebrate the New Year together, and Sha Zhu will be the cook. Without him, I don't have the strength to chop stuffing for this dumpling."

Jia Zhang was talking about chopping stuffing, but actually she wanted Sha Zhu to watch and buy the New Year pork.

Silly Zhu didn't have a family, and he earned a lot of money. They joined together in the middle school for the New Year, and it was not Sha Zhu's decision to buy meat.

Even buying and doing it on behalf of others, Shazhu can be said to be rounded up. Naturally, Jia Zhang is not willing to let Shazhu go to Xu Qing's house for the New Year.

In fact, Yi Zhonghai didn't want Sha Zhu to come to Xu Qing's house. He and his aunt had no children, and he wanted Sha Zhu to help them take care of themselves until they died. He had been helping Sha Zhu arrange blind dates in the courtyard over the years. Why did Shazhu and Yushui come to his house during festivals?
It's not that I hope that Shazhu can read him well, so that he and the first mother can take care of them when they get old.

As for taking advantage of Silly Zhu, Yi Zhonghai had never thought about it.

Yi Zhonghai himself is an eighth-level fitter, and his salary in the factory is considered to be the highest among the young workers.

Even for Xu Qing, a first-level clerk, his salary was not as high as his. Naturally, he looked down upon Silly Zhu's small amount of money.

Even Yan Bugui, the third master of the front yard, said in the past that Lao Yi is a rich man, has no children to collect debts, earns high wages, and is not willing to spend money on weekdays. Uncle is none other than.

It's just that in the past two years, Yan Bugui didn't say that anymore, because there was Xu Qing and Jinghong in the courtyard, both of them were working, and they were both cadres, and their salary was higher than Yi Zhonghai's.

Furthermore, there is also Xu Damao, the deputy director, whose salary is not low.

In addition, Qin Jingru, who was arranged by Xu Damao, also went to work. Although he was just an ordinary worker, the monthly income of the two of them together was quite a lot.

Yan Bugui calculated the salaries of everyone in the compound with small calculations in his heart, and calculated them cracklingly.

However, if you want to ask who has the most money in Yanbu Guiyuan, for now, it is Yi Zhonghai.

Xu Qing and Jing Hong got married not long ago.

Xu Damaosheng's deputy director has only been in the past two years.

And for so many years, Yi Zhonghai has already become an eighth-level fitter, but he has been living frugally with his aunt, and he is not even willing to buy a bicycle.

Naturally, this uncle is the richest.

The main reason why Yi Zhonghai acted like this was because he had no children. The couple was scrimping on food and clothing, thinking that when they got old, they would have to save money for retirement.

The candidate to help them provide for their old age is naturally Silly Zhu.

Because apart from Sha Zhu, the other people in the compound, they couldn't count on it at all.

There are four brothers and sisters Yan Xiecheng in the front yard, including Yan Pugui and his wife.

In the backyard, Xu Damao has his parents.

The three Liu Guangtian brothers are naturally the oldest couple in Liu Hai.

As for Xu Qing's four brothers and sisters, Yi Zhonghai hadn't thought of helping them or helping them in the early years, and he was unwilling to let Xu Qing be his apprentice in the factory.

Then, if they wanted to rely on Xu Qing in the future, Yi Zhonghai couldn't have imagined that it would be difficult.

Although he and his aunt have tried desperately to maintain their relationship with Xu Qing's family in the past few years.

But when Xu Qing was in the most difficult time, they didn't stretch out their hands to help, and the remedy afterwards was like a chicken rib.

Therefore, Yi Zhonghai and his wife placed their bets on Fuzhu.

For this reason, Yi Zhonghai didn't want Si Zhu to go to Xu Qing's house during the Chinese New Year.

If Shazhu becomes estranged from his family, who will he and his aunt look forward to taking care of in their old age in the future?
However, Yi Zhonghai couldn't refuse Xu Qing's words just now.

Xu Qing is now a cadre, and his prestige in the courtyard is not lower than that of his uncle.

Regardless of Xu Qing's young age, he was only in his 20s, but Yi Zhonghai knew that if Xu Qing said a word in the courtyard, it would be even easier to use than him, who is an old man.

What's more, today, the big guys in the courtyard all use the iron roller made by Xu Qing to make tofu at home, and Xu Qing is not like the old Yan in the front yard, who took the opportunity to ask for some benefits and let it be used for nothing.

All the people in the compound, including him, are all under Xu Qing's favor today.

Even if Yi Zhonghai could pull off his old face, he was too embarrassed to open his mouth.

After all, he is just the uncle in charge of the middle court, not Sha Zhu's parents, whoever Sha Zhu wants to go to celebrate the New Year, can he stop him?
At this time, Jia Zhang, who was standing in front of Xu Qing and Yi Zhonghai, saw that the elder was silent, and hurriedly winked, but Yi Zhonghai turned a blind eye, took two puffs of cigarettes, and said:

"Sister-in-law, if Silly Zhu is not here, don't you still have my old bones, just the dumpling stuffing, I'll chop it up."

How could Yi Zhonghai not know about Jia Zhang's calculations, which were just to take advantage of Silly Zhu.

For others, Yi Zhonghai would not care about Jia Zhang, but Shazhu, he would not allow Jia Zhang to catch him and plot against him.

Silly Zhu was his candidate for retirement. How could Yi Zhonghai, the middle-aged courtyard steward, just sit idly by and ignore Jia Zhang's actions.

Speaking of which, just because the Jia family always treated Sha Zhu as a silly boy, Yi Zhonghai secretly helped Sha Zhu to save the Jia family.

However, Jia Zhang's always making progress, which made Yi Zhonghai very annoyed.

Since they all live in the middle courtyard, he usually just turns a blind eye or closes one eye.

But at this moment, Jia Zhang was still thinking about taking advantage of Shazhu again before the New Year, Yi Zhonghai was completely annoyed.

And Xu Qing was very clear about what happened to Sha Zhu.

It's just that Silly Zhu fell in love with Qin Huairu, so I can't say much about it.

Who makes Silly Zhu take the initiative to help Jia's family every time, just like he helped his family from time to time.

Xu Qing knows that Shazhu is kind-hearted, he likes to fight against injustices, he doesn't like to see people being bullied, and he likes to help when someone's life is not good.

It would not be appropriate for Xu Qing to stop Shazhu.

After all, the situation of Jia's family is really not good in the compound.

However, Xu Qing also helped Qin Huairu in private. During Qin Huairu's promotion in the factory over the years, Xu Qing did not secretly contribute.

After all, Xu Qing is a cadre. People in the factory know that Qin Huairu and Xu Qing live in the same compound. Even if they know that Qin Huairu's ability is not enough and he is not qualified for promotion, they still have to give Xu Qing face no matter what. Let Qin Huairu's work level be upgraded.

It's a pity that even if Qin Huairu's salary keeps rising, the Jia family still has to ask for help.

Is it really because of poverty that you can't uncover the pot?
Apparently not.

Although Banggeng and Xiaodang still have Sophora japonica, as they grow up, Jia's family has more places to spend money, and their expenses have also increased.

But according to Qin Huairu's current job grade in the factory, her monthly salary of 42 yuan is definitely enough to guarantee her family's life.

There is no need for help from others.

But what the Jia family showed was poverty.

Do poor people eat white flour steamed buns every meal? !

It's not that Xu Qing doesn't know.

But every time when Xu Qing and Sha Zhu were drinking, whenever he mentioned this matter, Sha Zhu would say:

"Qingzi, Banggen, Xiaodang and Sophora japonica are all growing up. Sister Qin and Aunt Zhang let them eat something good, it's normal."

What can Xu Qing say, drink.
It's just that during the Chinese New Year this year, Xu Qing will not let Jia Zhang succeed again.

At this moment, Mrs. Jia Zhang heard what Yi Zhonghai said just now, and saw Xu Qing ignoring her. She couldn't explain her thoughts about wanting Silly Zhu to buy meat, so she had to walk away angrily.

At this time, the third master in the front yard brought Yan Jiecheng, and each of them brought a large pot of soaked soybeans to the back yard.

Yan Bugui smiled at Xu Qing and said, "In the past, we used my stone roller to make tofu in our courtyard. This year, we will use you to make this iron guy."

Xu Qing smiled and said, "It's okay, Third Master, you don't have to pay for the electricity even if you use it."

When Yan Bugui heard this, his eyes lit up, and his face was filled with joy.

Last night he was still thinking about whether to give Xu Qing's iron roller a pack of cigarettes or a few pieces of tofu.

Now that it's fine, Xu Qing doesn't want anything, and Yan Bugui, the shrewd third uncle, is immediately filled with joy.

After a while, all the Jia family's soybeans were ground into pulp. Jia Zhang's left hand and right hand each carried an iron bucket, calling to Xiao Dang to quickly pick up the two basins and follow her home.

From the beginning to the end, Jia Zhang came to the backyard and left without even saying a word of thanks, because she felt that Xu Qing let Sha Zhu go to his house for the New Year, which ruined her good deed.

It was Xiaodang who stacked the two basins together and said to Xu Fengming and the little girl: "Thank you Uncle Fengming and Aunt Xiaoya."

Yan Bugui saw that Jia's soybeans were finished grinding so quickly, and secretly felt that the iron mill made by Xu Qing was really powerful.

When the eldest mother was about to pour her soybeans into the mill, Jia Zhang, who had just returned to the middle courtyard, shouted loudly with two iron buckets:

"Auntie, please wait a moment."

Jia Zhang hurriedly ran into the backyard, put the empty bucket under the roller, picked up the bucket containing water, and poured it into the roller.

The clear water rushed out, washing out all the bean dregs and pulp left in the mill.

Xu Feng's brows were raised as he looked at it, and the aunt looked helpless.

Yan Bugui held the basin in his hand and walked up to Mrs. Jia Zhang. He smiled bitterly in his heart and opened his mouth and said:
"You still know how to live. You clean it up every year, so Xu Qing can clean it up."

Jia Zhang said with a fake smile: "Hey, I can't compare to you, the third master. You are a good hand in life. You are careful and budgetary. It takes a long time to find a copper coin on the ground. I am poor at home. , and I don’t want to cause trouble for others.”

After Mrs. Jia Zhang finished speaking, she carried two buckets and left. Then the aunt poured her soybeans into the roller.

Yan Bugui stood aside, looking at the whirring iron rollers, and sighed:

"It's really a good thing. No one needs to push it. It turns on by itself when it is powered on. Let's just wait."

Xu Fengming echoed: "Third uncle, you are absolutely right, but it just wastes electricity!"

When Yan Bugui heard Feng Ming's words, his heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly turned his head to look at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing smiled and waved his hands, "It's okay, Third Master, Feng Ming is teasing you."

Xu Qing knew that the third uncle was afraid that when it was his turn later, the third brother would ask for the electricity bill for him.

After all, in the compound, if anyone was to say who was the most resourceful, it really wasn't Jia Zhang, but the third master.

But Xu Qing didn't want to argue with everyone in the compound over such a small electricity bill.

For one thing, it doesn't take much electricity.

Secondly, they are all neighbors of the same compound, and they can be seen without looking up. Xu Qing is not a stingy third uncle, so why should he be serious about such unworthy trivial matters and let the people in the compound complain behind his back.

The three uncles in the yard, although divided according to age, are the first, second, and third uncles.

But to be honest, the one who is really capable is Yan Pugui. He has more ink in his stomach than Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong.

I dare not say that I can give guidance to the country, but it is definitely more than enough to give guidance to the courtyard.

But Yan Bugui, the third uncle, was stingy and a bit stingy, so his prestige was not as high as that of Liu Haizhong, who was quite submissive in the courtyard.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be the uncle Yi Zhonghai who spoke in the yard, but the third uncle who lived in the front yard——Yan Pugui.

(End of this chapter)