Chapter 161: Grand Courtyard Canteen

Plans often can't keep up with changes.

This fish.

Following Shazhu's arrangement, we'll have to eat it for two or three days.

But with He Yushui's return, it seems even the fish soup can't be drunk.

He Yushui, returning from the hospital, looked pitiful, her pretty eyes also became red and swollen.

Shazhu took one look and knew He Yushui had been crying.

A thought involuntarily arose in his mind: who made their family's study‑averse little piggy He Yushui cry? After a moment's reflection, he vaguely guessed a reason, then suddenly felt unwilling to consider it further.

Too miserable.

This is the root cause.

Yu Li found a towel and handed it to He Yushui. Shazhu, wanting to ease the atmosphere, deliberately shifted the topic to the fish.

"Yushui, our mom once said something when we were little—I don't know if you remember—but she said you're someone blessed with good food. As her older brother I didn't believe it at first, but now I do. Not too early, not too late—now that you're back, the fish is stewed, wash your hands, eat rice, and have the fish soup with steamed buns, your favorite food from childhood."

He just wanted to find a cheerier topic.

But he didn't expect it to invite trouble—like letting a wolf into the house.

Hearing Shazhu say he'd caught a three‑to‑four‑catty fish that was already stewed and ready to eat.

In He Yushui's red‑rimmed eyes flashed a gleam that surprised Shazhu.

Who's the head of the household?

The little girl knows the score.

She went straight for the head of the household, Yu Li.

The big and small kings are clear about it—they know Yu Li is Shazhu's soft spot. Yu Li agreed, Shazhu couldn't object, and He Yushui pitifully told Yu Li about the hardships of her several teachers; due to various indescribable factors, those teachers' bodies are extremely weak.

Wanting to gather some mushrooms to make soup, she ended up picking poisonous ones, landing her family in the hospital. When Yushui returned, the few teachers who had gathered the mushrooms had just woken up; hearing the doctor say they needed nutrition, He Yushui burst into tears over this, crying her eyes red and swollen.

The implication is that our family lives near a super chef at the steel plant, so we're not lacking food; we wanted to give this fish and its soup to her teachers to help them regain strength.

Seeing Yu Li not respond, He Yushui quickly grabbed Yu Li's hand and began to coax her like swinging on a swing.

"Sister‑in‑law, if it really won't work, I'll take my brother's and my share; you eat yours—does that sound okay? My brother is a cook; in hard times there's no reason a cook should starve. Sister‑in‑law, please agree."

Shazhu's heart.

How cool, how cool.

You eat your portion, I'll take my brother's—he won't go hungry anyway.

Listen up.

That's what a younger sister ought to say.

"Yushui, sister‑in‑law didn't mean it that way; what you said is also right. Our situation isn't great, but it's still a bit better than some families. Now the neighbors are all half‑fed; if we can help, we should help as much as we can—after all, it's a living life."

"Sister‑in‑law, I know you're the best."

He Yushui kissed Yu Li on the cheek, then hopped over to the pot and took every last bit of the fish and soup.

During this, she didn't even glance at Shazhu.

This left Shazhu rather speechless.

After He Yushui carried off the fish meat, one person sat down on a stool.

"I'm not angry—why are you mad?" Yu Li comforted Shazhu: "Your younger sister is kind‑hearted, knows how to help people—isn't that a good thing? What's with the face? It's for her teachers, not for the folks in our courtyard."

Shazhu smiled at Yu Li.

A smile uglier than crying.

"I'm not angry; I resent this heartless little thing for not consulting me."

"In our house I have the final say—last night whoever said it, big matters you decide, small matters I decide. I can't even decide over a single fish?"

"I didn't say your decision doesn't count—I just feel a bit sorry; a whole fish, and you didn't eat any of it."

Yu Li's heart.

Warm and cozy.

She was moved by Shazhu's words.

Now she finally understands why her mother wanted her to marry Shazhu—because Shazhu truly dotes on his wife.

"I'm young and can hold my own; while you were away, Yushui didn't cause too much trouble for her teachers. I treat others a foot for a foot they give me, and I give them ten feet back—I think Yushui handled this well."

"I feel sorry for you."

Shazhu walked to the pot, saw the empty fish stew pot, reached for the nearby thermos, unscrewed its lid, and poured a little boiling water into the pot.

Rinse‑pot water.

Inside it holds the fish's aroma.

It can barely be called fish soup that isn't really fish soup.

He and Yu Li then managed to fill their stomachs.

Not long after finishing the meal.

Someone in the courtyard shouted that Yi Zhonghai would call a grand courtyard meeting, requiring everyone's attendance at 7:30 p. m.

……

Shazhu and Yu Li were the last to come out; when they emerged, the central courtyard was already packed with attendees.

It's not that the neighbors are especially enthusiastic—rather, every household lacks entertainment.

The whole siheyuan has only one radio—in Shazhu's home.

In most households, only flashlights and lights count as electrical appliances; many treat the grand courtyard meeting as a pastime, watching the three stewards perform monkey tricks.

As expected.

The belatedly arriving couple, Shazhu and his wife, became the focus of everyone's attention.

Fish is the biggest factor.

When He Yushui went out carrying the fish, the aroma made many people drool and cry; even Jia Family's Bangeng started a fuss with Jia Dongxu, provoking him and getting beaten up by Jia Dongxu.

Some people even thought Shazhu was biased, preferring to give the fish meat to outsiders rather than share it with us neighbors.

Like Jia Zhangshi, that's exactly how she thought.

I don't know if he was acting on Yi Zhonghai's instructions.

He served as the vanguard of the hypocrite.

He unleashed a barrage of criticism at Shazhu and his wife.

"Shazhu, Yu Li, what's going on? Everyone in the courtyard attended the meeting, we all came, but you two didn't, and you still don't keep the three elders in mind."

You can scold him, but you can't scold his wife.

Shazhu was about to speak.

But Yu Li blocked him.

Jia Zhangshi is an old widow.

If Shazhu confronts Jia Zhangshi, regardless of winning or losing, it will leave people with a bad impression that Shazhu is as narrow-minded as an old widow, which is not good for his development.

Before, without Yu Li, he had to step in himself.

Now that we have Yu Li, there's naturally no need for Shazhu to step forward.

"Aunt Jia, I'm asking you, what time did the person who notified us of the meeting say?"

"Seven thirty." Jia Zhangshi, puzzled, countered Yu Li: "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"Look at what time it is now." Yu Li pointed to their just-turned-off radio, listing her reasons: "It's not even twenty past seven yet; why say that? The news hasn't even ended. Besides, even if we're late, you, Aunt Jia, don't need to get all flushed and angry—can't this lousy courtyard meeting be more important than the news on someone's radio? We two are learning from the news; are you wrong, Aunt Jia, or do the neighbors have objections? If you don't believe me, ask someone in the courtyard who has a watch to see what time it is now, whether it's reached seven thirty."

The scene turned into a silent ocean.

Only the sound of people's heavy breathing echoed in their ears.

Comparing the courtyard meeting to the news.

Even a fool knows which is more important.

Jia Zhangshi turned into a wooden statue.

She was scared.

The three managers sitting on the stools as elders also turned deathly pale.

After a long while.

Only then did Yi Zhonghai, with a hoarse voice, smooth things over.

"Jia Zhangshi, what nonsense are you spouting? It's only thanks to Shazhu and his wife being broad-minded that they don't argue with you; otherwise, anyone else would have dragged you away by now."

"He's the elder—no, wait, Shazhu, Yu Li, my old lady has gone mad; you all must not treat her like an ordinary person, neighbors."

"Jia Zhangshi, say less." Yi Zhonghai looked at the crowd: "Everyone's here, now we open the courtyard meeting. We gathered the neighbors today not for any other reason but to see who can't afford a pot, who still has surplus grain—all are neighbors of the courtyard; if we can help, we will. After years as neighbors, it's impossible to watch a neighbor unable to cook and feel nothing."

Yu Li grabbed Shazhu's hand.

Feeling the warmth transmitted from Yu Li's palm.

Shazhu let out a long sigh.

This lot of moral blackmailers, especially Yi Zhonghai, surely have no good intentions.

Having lived two lives.

I know Yi Zhonghai's nature too well; the hypocrite always has his own selfish motives in anything he does, claiming to help neighbors mutually, but in fact the only person he cares about is Qin Huairu.

White flour, huh.

Being able to send the white flour meant for the deaf old lady to the Jia family, the excuse being that Qin Huairu needs to eat white flour because she's pregnant.

Hehe!

"Zhuzi, who in our courtyard is the most capable? I'd nominate you first. Remember a few years ago, you got the three-turn one-response set ready, the Three Elders' family's bicycle—still bought your used bike—and now you've gone to work at the steel mill cafeteria."

As soon as Yi Zhonghai arrived, he put a tall hat on Shazhu.

The hypocrite's rank is high!

He certainly isn't sincerely praising Shazhu; he says that for his own ulterior motives.

The conversation turned.

He finally stated his purpose.

"Considering that some families in our courtyard can't afford to cook, while others can barely manage half-full meals, I discussed it with Old Liu and Old Yan, and decided we should just set up a courtyard canteen."

Yi Zhonghai's words, once spoken, immediately gained strong approval from some people.

The Jia family.

Forever the first enthusiastic follower of Yi Zhonghai.

Some people, however, are not very enthusiastic.

Setting up a courtyard canteen is a good idea, but where will the food come from? As for the basic staples and dishes, you have them, right? Who will provide these things?

Don't forget.

People have selfish motives.

Shazhu doesn't think highly of taking charge of the courtyard canteen.

He also understood Yi Zhonghai's meaning: wanting to borrow everyone's strength to gain their gratitude, while actually achieving the sinister goal of having everyone help Yi Zhonghai support the deaf old lady and Qin Huairu.

Over a hundred people.

Who will cook?

Naturally, it's Shazhu.

Yi Zhonghai's earlier remark laid the groundwork—you, Shazhu, have entered the steel mill cafeteria.

Everyone knows that working in the cafeteria gets you a free meal; if there's overtime at night, it's like getting two free meals, which amounts to saving a day's worth of supplies.

What should we do with the saved supplies?

Naturally, it's to be divided among these people in the courtyard.

Shazhu had said that Yi Zhonghai always has his own selfish motives in everything; the praise he just gave Shazhu was meant to expect a certain return.

Now it's time for Shazhu to repay.

He just praised you, saying you have good conditions, so you ought to show some appreciation; if you don't, you're a heartless person.

Yu Li got a little angry, wanted to speak, but this time it was Shazhu who stopped her.

It's just moral blackmail!

What's the big deal?

See how the head of the household will turn the tables on them.

Shazhu stepped forward and said to those neighbors, "I think Head Steward's proposal is not bad; let me handle the cooking business. Everyone knows I'm a cook, my skills are decent, plus I have a bicycle so I can get back in time at noon and evening. The only thing is our pot is a bit small—I estimate I'll have to stir-fry two or three pots of vegetables."

Yu Li smiled.

With Shazhu present, Yi Zhonghai and the others couldn't moral-blackmail to get benefits.

Don't even think about it.

Those with money contribute money, those without contribute labor; that's the rule.

Since Shazhu voluntarily took on the cooking business, Yi Zhonghai naturally couldn't keep demanding that Shazhu provide supplies.

One can't expect Shazhu to contribute both labor and supplies, can one?

Yu Li also got a clear look at the true nature of all those scoundrels in the courtyard.

The hypocritical, sanctimonious Head Steward; the sly, ruthless, official-obsessed Second Steward; the scheming, white-lotus Qin Huiru; the shrewish expert Jia Zhangshi; and the deaf matriarch of the courtyard, Elder Lady Long.

She is now a bit puzzled.

Who has such power to actually gather this bunch of extreme troublemakers together?

Just two words.

Absolute.

No one's possessions come from thin air; Shazhu has no obligation to feed this pack of bastards, and nobody owes anyone anything.

Yu Li followed up on Shazhu's remark with a sentence.

"My husband's cooking skills—those leaders at the steel mill all praise them; my husband cooks, and the neighbors will surely like it. I just moved in, I don't have much else to do, so I'll take charge of washing pots and vegetables."

Yi Zhonghai was dumbfounded.

Jia Zhangshi was confused.

The goal of establishing the courtyard canteen was those ten pounds of pork in Shazhu's hands.

Jia Zhangshi, unaware of the situation, told Yi Zhonghai, saying that Shazhu was worried the courtyard neighbors would come to him for meat, so he used a trick under the guise of taking the meat out openly, then at night when no one was around he brought the meat back home, claiming someone saw Shazhu carrying meat from Yu Li's house back to his own when they went to the latrine at night.

Yi Zhonghai believed it, and then came the proposal for the courtyard canteen.

Just as Yu Li thought, the couple contributed labor and even brought out their own pot to help, so they couldn't be forced to hand over pork.

The dilemma fell to Yi Zhonghai and them.

In a moment's time.

Yi Zhonghai felt that the proposal for the courtyard canteen amounted to supporting Shazhu and his wife—one as the cook, the other to help wash vegetables.

Light hand, heavy hand.

A half-pound difference emerged.

The situation of nicely sucking blood from Shazhu will turn into the neighbors being sucked blood by Shazhu instead.

What can be done about this?

"Shazhu, Head Steward means your family's conditions are the best; you can't just watch the neighbors go hungry without reacting, can you?"

"Head Steward, are you suggesting that we two not only have to help with cooking but also need to contribute some supplies?" Yu Li ignored Jia Zhangshi's interjection and turned her focus directly to Yi Zhonghai: "Don't tell me your proposal for the courtyard canteen is actually just us two putting in money and labor to feed over a hundred people in the courtyard."

Shazhu secretly cheered.

This wife.

Truly worth marrying.

Knowing when to speak and when not to.

A thorny rhetorical question.

It left Yi Zhonghai unsure how to answer—would he dare nod and admit Yu Li's accusation?

This is inside the courtyard.

No outsiders.

If this got out, who knows how they'd stab them in the back?

Really, just being a Head Steward makes you think you're something special.

Pfft.

Yi Zhonghai was outmaneuvered by Shazhu and his wife, feeling terrible inside.

The hypocrite was left speechless.

Yet someone insisted on stepping forward.

In the courtyard there really are bold and shameless people.

Jia Zhangshi.

Laoqianpo first craved Shazhu's pork, then his fish.