Chapter 158: Eating Comes First; Making a Living Is Crucial

The next day.

Shazhu woke up with a sore waist and aching back.

He was different from others.

In just one night he seemed to have grown up, transformed into a true man—what people commonly call shouldering family responsibilities.

This change.

Shazhu himself found it quite strange.

Before marrying Yu Li, perhaps because the times were different and the burdens differed, Shazhu had never borne this kind of family-like responsibility.

He took a wife.

His mindset underwent a qualitative shift.

Sunday.

No need to go to work.

After getting up and washing up, Shazhu sat alone quietly on a stool.

Yu Li thought Shazhu was tired from yesterday's work and his body was exhausted, so she wanted him to rest well; she had no idea that the Shazhu sitting quietly on the stool was full of worries.

All his worries boiled down to one word.

Eat!

A special season.

A special time of year.

A special day.

How to eat enough had become the top priority facing Shazhu.

Marry a man, marry a man, wear clothes and eat.

Yu Li married into the family, becoming Shazhu's wife; Shazhu now had to support the household. He was a man and the head of the He Family, responsible for feeding his wife and sister-in-law—a duty he could not avoid.

Even a clever wife cannot cook without rice.

There are conditions.

Food and drink are not lacking.

Shazhu wouldn't have worried this much back then.

To joke about it, even a mouse that runs around inside would leave in tears, and a thief who breaks in would still have to leave something behind as relief.

This shows how dire the situation is.

Last night, while eating with Xu Daming and the others, Xu Daming casually mentioned the Yagangchang factory, saying its situation wasn't good either—warehouse stock was down to one or two out of ten, sometimes even that couldn't be maintained, and everyone coming and going was being inspected, for fear you'd pull a sneaky theft.

Upon hearing this, Shazhu's head swelled like a bucket; he felt irritable. He had just checked the rice bin at home and saw only a little bit of coarse cornmeal and millet—enough for Yu Li, Shazhu, and He Yushui to eat and drink for about ten days.

People can't just not eat, right?

We can't let Yu Li go hungry, can we?

Shazhu's gaze fell on Yu Li.

Strictly speaking.

It was the thing in Yu Li's hand that caught Shazhu's attention.

A fishing rod.

In Shazhu's mind, the origin of the fishing rod sprang up unbidden: five years ago he had accidentally seen Yan Fugui fishing by the lake, wanted to learn to show off from Yan Fugui, and under Yan Fugui's guidance made this rod; after finishing it, Shazhu went out to cook, and the rod lay indoors gathering dust.

The dust‑sealed memory was opened.

Suddenly he had an idea.

Fishing.

Later generations fish perhaps purely as a hobby to cultivate their sentiments; Shazhu's fishing now is aimed at solving the food and drink problem for his family of three.

If we can't have steamed buns or cornmeal porridge, we can still drink fish soup and eat fish meat, right?

"Wife, you and Yushui cook lunch for yourselves at home; there's still some sausage, you two stir‑fry it and eat, so the folks in the courtyard won't stare." The face‑conscious Shazhu, facing his wife, still didn't choose to tell the truth but instead found an excuse for leisure: "I won't be eating at home today; I haven't come back in over five years, and suddenly I want to go fishing."

Shazhu thought that by fabricating such lies he could fool everyone.

He overestimated himself.

And he underestimated Yu Li.

The clever Yu Li casually handed the fishing rod to Shazhu; though she knew certain things full well she wouldn't say them out loud, she understood Shazhu and knew this was a common male failing.

The reason Yu Li married Shazhu.

Was that Shazhu had responsibility.

As Shazhu was about to go out, the quick‑eyed and quick‑handed Yu Li stuffed the two leftover steamed buns from yesterday into a lunch box, poured boiling water into a thermos, placed the thermos holding the buns and water into a green little satchel, fastened the flap, handed the satchel to Shazhu, and also helped tidy his clothes.

"I'm not hungry; leave the steamed buns for you to eat—I'm a cook, what could possibly make me hungry?"

Shazhu clung stubbornly like a dead duck.

Yu Li was even more stubborn.

"I'm a woman; women naturally eat less than men. I'm at home with all this food—how could I go hungry? You're my man and the backbone of our family; you need to eat well. If you collapse, who will I rely on? Who will Yushui rely on? Who will our future children rely on?"

Shazhu's heart.

Warm.

On Yu Li's person he experienced a wife's care for her husband—a care he had never felt from Qin Huairu in his previous life; in that past life, Qin Huairu ultimately used Shazhu, treating him as a supply depot for the Jia Family.

"Wait for me at home; tonight we'll eat fish meat when I return."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

Yu Li leaned against the doorframe.

Gentle as a little fairy, she watched Shazhu tidy his bicycle, tidy his fishing rod, and push the bicycle outward.

…… (just ellipsis). Should translate as "……" maybe keep as "……"? Usually ellipsis stays same. We'll output "【61】 ……"

Jia Family.

Jia Zhangshi's cursing and grumbling voice again swirled inside the Jia Family house.

Laoqianpo, upon seeing the intimate actions of Yu Li and Shazhu, blurted out the term 'dog man and woman' without thinking.

Qin Huairu sitting on the bed.

Her face changed in an instant.

An upright person fears no crooked shadow.

Qin Huairu, on the contrary, had done many guilty deeds and worried that ghosts would come knocking.

The term 'dog man and woman' from Jia Zhangshi made Qin Huairu habitually place herself in that category; upon reflection, she and Yi Zhonghai were exactly the outstanding representatives of the 'dog man and woman' Jia Zhangshi spoke of, weren't they?

A dog woman.

A dog man.

Together they make a dog man and woman that everyone spits upon.

"Ma!"

That cry of 'Ma'.

She called out in an affected, coquettish manner.

"They are a married couple, just newlywed."

"Shameless." Jia Zhangshi spat on the ground, saying, "In broad daylight, right at the doorstep, they just did that—one acting as if she'd never seen a man, the other as if he'd never seen a woman, plus they ate fish and meat at night, a shameless scoundrel. My daughter-in-law is big with pregnancy, about to give birth, yet he doesn't say to return the ten jin of pork, instead he's carrying the pork around, who knows where he's hidden it."

After finishing scolding Shazhu and Yu Li.

Jia Zhangshi then started scolding Long Laotaitai.

"And there's that immortal old lady in the Hou Yuan, a damned ancestor of the Dayuan—I've told her myself, saying Shazhu has ten jin of pork, so why don't you get Yi Zhonghai to ask him for it? She doesn't even let out a fart, and still expects me, the old woman, to go out myself."

Jia Zhangshi jumped up from the bed with a sudden 'peng'.

Just having reached the doorway.

Suddenly she turned back again.

A smile appeared on her face.

??? Not.

Thus: "\"Huairu, Mama will support you to go to the Elder Sir's house for a while; remember, when you get to the Elder Sir's house, say that the child in your belly needs nutrition, say you want to eat pork. The simpleton is Yi Zhonghai's adopted grandson; my adopted grandson needs good food and drink, so this adoptive grandfather must step forward. \"" We'll output.

One who wants to use Qin Huairu to persuade Yi Zhonghai to ask Shazhu for meat.

One who, because of Jia Dongxu's abnormal reaction, wants to discuss with Yi Zhonghai and work out concrete countermeasures.

A turtle met a big tortoise.

They made eye contact.

Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, both harboring ulterior motives, supported each other as they walked toward the Yi household opposite; the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law never paid any attention to Jia Dongxu from start to finish.

Everyone thought Jia Dongxu was asleep.

In fact, it was not so.

Although Jia Dongxu appeared to be asleep, dreaming of Zhou Gong, he caught every word of Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu's conversation without missing a bit.

The child in her belly needs nutrition.

So she went to find Yi Zhonghai.

Jia Dongxu's head buzzed; he sat up straight and, looking through the glass, saw Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu walking toward the Yi household in the courtyard.

"If you, Qin Huairu, feel embarrassed to speak up, it's fine—I, Jia Zhangshi, will find an opportunity to send the Elder Lady away, so you and Yi Zhonghai can talk alone!"

Isn't this just creating an opportunity for the two of them?

Jia Dongxu seemed to have guessed exactly how Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai had hooked up.

Everyone blamed his mother.

"Bangeng!"

"Dad." The sturdy, bowl‑cut‑headed Bangeng lifted his face to look at Jia Dongxu and asked, "What's up?"

"Let's play hide‑and‑seek," Jia Dongxu coaxed Bangeng, instructing him, "After a while, when your grandma and the Elder Lady come out, sneak over and hide beneath the Elder Sir's windowsill, listen to what the Elder Sir and your mother are saying; as long as you aren't discovered, you tell their words to Dad, and Dad will give you money to buy firecrackers."

"Give the money first."

"You little brat, can your dad still fool you?" Jia Dongxu pulled out five mao from his pocket and stuffed it into Bangeng's hand, saying, "Remember, don't let them find out, or else the later sum of money will be gone."

"Dad, rest assured."

Bangeng leapt out of the Jia Family.

"Wild seed!"

Shouting at Bangeng's retreating figure.

Jia Dongxu muttered an unfriendly word under his breath.

The three children of the Jia Family.

They have always been a thorn in Jia Dongxu's side.

Jia Duànmìng has never regarded the three Jia children as his own flesh and blood.

…… => ellipsis.

At the gate of the Siheyuan.

Shazhu met Yan Fugui, who was holding a watering can and watering the flowers.

Both were somewhat taken aback.

Shazhu had previously told Yan Fugui to pull out these flowers and grasses and plant some chives or tomatoes or whatever, to supplement the household as much as possible.

How come we haven't seen each other in five years?

Yan Fugui had his priorities reversed.

Still fussing with flowers and grasses.

In times of scarce supplies, why not grow some vegetables yourself?

Shazhu stared at Yan Fugui with wide eyes.

Yan Fugui glanced at Shazhu with a squint, his face showing an incredulous, strange expression, and his gaze then fell on the fishing rod in Shazhu's hand.

Quite obvious.

Shazhu was going to go fishing.

San Daye, what are you staring at? This is what you taught me to do, and it's been useless all along— a fishing rod that never catches a fish isn't just coming into this world for nothing, is it? Shazhu hefted the fishing rod in his hand, "Let him see the world, so when he returns he'll have something to show for it."

Yan Fugui rolled his eyes at Shazhu.

San Daye, what do you mean? You don't believe me.

Don't say it.

Yan Fugui really didn't believe Shazhu.

They're all like thousand-year-old Liaozhai tales.

What fox tricks are you playing?

Five years ago.

Shazhu didn't fish.

Five years later.

Shazhu went fishing.

This isn't a louse on a monk's head— it's obvious, isn't it?

Shazhu. Yan Fugui sized him up, pondered briefly, and said, "You've changed, become sensible, realize you need to think of the family— you're really going fishing? This is just using fishing as an excuse to fill your stomach."

Shazhu's thumb.

It was raised before Yan Fugui's eyes.

Among the people in the siheyuan, nobody could look down on anyone else.

Useless.

San Daye, how is it useless?

Do you think you're the only one who thought of using fishing to fill your stomach? Since last year, crowds have been jamming the shores of Shichahai to fish— wolves many, meat few; you might not catch a fish even after a whole day.

Give it a try, who knows— maybe.

With a 'pah' sound.

It wasn't a slap.

but Yan Fugui's hand slapping his own thigh.

The ancients said a single leaf can block the view of Mount Tai; I, Yan Fugui, have had my mind thrown into confusion by a single fishing line. Anyway, whether I stay or not, I might as well try— who knows if I'll hook a fish, then my wife and kids could live a bit better, San Daye, I'll listen to you, Shazhu.

I think the same. Shazhu invited Yan Fugui, "San Daye, shall we walk together?"

Yan Fugui was the siheyuan's only fishing enthusiast.

There are fish there, the fish are big, you can hook big fish there— Lao Kou knows.

Otherwise Shazhu wouldn't be standing at the siheyuan gate, chatting with Yan Fugui like this.

Wait a moment.

Yan Fugui put down the watering can, turned, and went back inside.

Less than ten minutes.

Yan Fugui, having changed clothes and carrying his fishing rod, walked straight toward Shazhu.

San Daye, you're not riding your bike?

If we two each rode our own bikes, people would gossip; San Daye, you can ride on my bike.

San Daye, you're too stingy— now you're openly mooching off my bike, no wonder your family lives well.

Nonsense— our siheyuan is doing well, your family's the best, then the Jia and Yi families, San Daye you're last; Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang, Yan Jiekuang, Yan Jie Di are all grown, and the eldest and second sons are about to marry— you really can't not count them.

All right, all right, I know I can't win an argument with you— let's go.

Shazhu carried Lao Kou.

Heading toward Beihai Park.

Lao Kou's meaning was that Beihai Park has plenty of fish; whether you can catch any depends on your own skill.

On the way.

The two chatted aimlessly, exchanging occasional remarks.

They mainly talked about food.

Yan Fugui sighed, saying that in his experience, no matter how hard the times, there's no reason a chef should starve to death— someone like Shazhu, who finds his own meals, is the first such chef he's ever met in his half‑century of life.

Shazhu replied with a 'this time, that time' answer.

Yan Fugui added that Shazhu's cooking skills are genuinely good— why not cater weddings and banquets for others? He could earn money and enjoy good food and drink.

Before Shazhu could answer,

Yan Fugui realized he had asked an inappropriate question.

Nowadays most people marry simply, just handing out some fruit candy to relatives and friends and that's it.

As for banquet feasts,

I can't even imagine it.

The biggest reason is the lack of cooking ingredients.

With ten jin of pork, Shazhu put the siheyuan's head steward and the Yagangchang level‑8 technician Yi Zhonghai in a bind, not knowing how to settle the matter.

Unless you treat people to air.

The second reason is that everyone lacks nutrition; this feast of yours might be the only chance they have all year to eat meat or improve their lives, so everyone eats heartily.

Receipts for purchases.

If things go badly, a single banquet could leave your whole family hungry for several months.

It's still better not to hold the banquet.

There is danger.

I'll fix you a big meal to report on that you won't be able to finish.

Thus.

No wonder Shazhu would come fishing with a fishing rod.

If it were him, Yan Fugui, he too would have to fish as eagerly as Shazhu.

"San Daye, why are you growing flowers again?"

"San Daye knows what you want to say; you don't know. San Daye followed your method, pulled out those flowers and grasses, and planted some cucumbers, tomatoes and such vegetables."

"It couldn't be that they didn't grow, right?"

"They did grow, but for some reason they just didn't bear fruit. San Daye heard people say it was due to lack of fertilizer in the soil, so he deliberately put some manure in there; the result was a stench filling the house, yet still no fruit. Finally, he hardened his heart, stomped his foot, and pulled them out."

"I thought something else was going on."

"Shazhu, don't you need to bring your wife back to her parents today?"

"Yesterday I discussed with Zhuli's parents; their opinion is that everything should be renewed."