Chapter 19: Who says egg soup can't be a gift?

Yi Zhonghai, who had just pushed the door open, saw Shazhu holding the last bowl of egg soup, about to walk outside, and the stone in his heart dropped at once.

In Yi Zhonghai's mind.

As long as Shazhu delivers this egg soup to Granny Long, it's fine.

As for the question of who to give it to first and who later,

Yi Zhonghai currently doesn't want to deal with it.

First bring Shazhu and Granny Long closer, then slowly plan.

The only thing that made Yi Zhonghai doubtful was that He Yushui, who was drinking the egg soup, looked utterly miserable, as if she had encountered the greatest obstacle in her life.

Shazhu walked away holding the egg soup.

Only Yushui and Yi Zhonghai remained in the room.

Just sitting there didn't accomplish anything.

Wanting to break the atmosphere, Yi Zhonghai asked a question.

"Yushui, what's wrong with you? Are you still feeling unwell? It's not that Eldest Uncle is saying this, but you're still young—you can't be drinking baijiu."

"Eldest Uncle, it's not that I'm feeling unwell; it's that my older brother insists Third Uncle give me extra lessons—I have school during the day, then tutoring after, and I don't even get to play."

Yi Zhonghai initially found it a bit funny, but hearing more, he gradually couldn't laugh.

After Yushui's explanation,

Yi Zhonghai then realized he had misunderstood Shazhu.

That bowl of egg soup wasn't for Granny Long; someone took it to Yan Fugui, saying it was a thank-you gift for his tutoring.

What's painful isn't the bowl of egg soup.

but rather some promises Yi Zhonghai made to Granny Long are becoming hard to keep.

Granny Long in the back courtyard is still waiting for Shazhu's egg soup.

Where there's egg soup, there's a solution.

The key is missing.

There's just a little left in He Yushui's bowl, plus this hot‑pot water—Yi Zhonghai surely can't pour He Yushui's leftover egg soup into the hot‑pot water and send it to Granny Long, can he?

Whoever sends it, it has to be Shazhu who does the sending.

Yi Zhonghai feels he really needs to have a good talk with Shazhu.

It concerns elder care.

Must not be careless.

……

Front courtyard.

I don't know if Yi Zhonghai is sitting and waiting for his own Shazhu.

Under the puzzled gazes of Yan Fugui's family, he placed the egg soup on the table.

"Shazhu, what is this?"

"Third Uncle, I made an egg soup for Yushui this morning, tossed in two eggs, I thought I should let you have a taste, so I brought you a bowl."

Yan Fugui was overjoyed.

Something that came for free.

As long as no money is spent.

Yan Fugui never turns away anyone who comes.

"I've long heard from the elders that your cooking, Shazhu, has inherited his true essence; I wanted to taste it that day—if a dish excels in color, aroma, and flavor, just smelling it tells you it's flawless."

"Third Uncle truly lives up to being an intellectual; that remark really hits the mark."

Shazhu and Yan Fugui engaged in mutual praise, each flattering the other, for about a minute.

Shazhu then shifted tone and proposed that Yan Fugui find time to tutor Yushui.

"Third Uncle, I have a favor to ask of you."

Yan Fugui furrowed his brows.

Where there is a gift, there is an ulterior motive.

Early this morning, Shazhu came bearing egg soup to give Yan Fugui a gift—there's definitely something up.

Small matters can be handled.

If it's a big matter,

This bowl of egg soup will probably have to be returned to Shazhu.

"Shazhu, Third Uncle is just an elementary school teacher; if you have business, you should go to Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle—one is a Grade‑4 worker at the steel mill, the other a Grade‑3 worker there—if you want to discuss apprentice‑worker promotion, you need to see them; Third Uncle has no connections for that."

Yan Fugui thought Shazhu had come to him about promoting to apprentice worker.

Rumors had been circulating since yesterday.

They said Shazhu, because he's too young, hasn't met the steel mill's requirement for moving from apprentice to apprentice worker.

Don't think it's just a single character difference.

The two sides differ in whether they earn money or not.

Apprentices only get food and drink.

Only apprentice workers can earn wages.

Shazhu also has his sister He Yushui to support.

"Third Uncle, you've misunderstood—I'm not the one bringing up apprentice‑worker promotion; Eldest Uncle told me I still have half a year as an apprentice, and once I turn seventeen next year I can be promoted to apprentice worker; I came to see you because of Yushui."

Yan Fugui's heart settled.

It's not about the steel mill.

It's He Yushui's matter.

Yagangchang doesn't carry much weight, but in its attached primary school, Yan Fugui still has some face.

The egg soup Shazhu brought looks like it'll fill the Yan Family's stomach.

"Shazhu, you speak."

"Our old man went to Baocheng; at home it's just me and Yushui. I've been thinking about how I suffered from lack of education, so I'd like to ask San Daye to spare some time to tutor Yushui, and I'll also sit in. The elders said, you only reap what you sow; no work, no gain. I'm just a cook with no other skills—all I can do is treat you to a meal. I hope San Daye won't take offense."

"I thought it was something else, but it's just tutoring Yushui, and then you, Shazhu, also want to sit in. San Daye agreed—since we're all neighbors in the same compound, it's also a response to the state's call to eliminate illiteracy, making a contribution."

It seemed like a riddling conversation.

In fact, both sides had settled their respective conditions.

Yan Fugui tutoring He Yushui is his labor contribution; the benefit he reaps is the meals Shazhu prepared. Both parties have completed this labor-for-meal exchange in the form of those meals.

It's not profiteering.

One side gives free tutoring.

One side gives free meals.

No one can find fault with it.

"It just so happens to be Sunday today; San Daye was thinking of going out fishing to improve his life, but then he decided not to go—I'll tutor Yushui this afternoon."

Yan Fugui tutors He Yushui once.

Shazhu treats Yan Fugui to a meal.

This is the makeup of their transaction.

He agreed to the invitation from Xu Daming for dinner.

They will have Xu Daming eat dumplings at Liu Bi Ju.

One sheep is also fed.

Two sheep are also slaughtered.

He steeled himself.

He stamped his foot.

"San Daye, you're also someone who enjoys good food—tonight I and Xu Daming are going to Liu Bi Ju for dumplings; you come along too."

Yan Fugui's small eyes lit up.

He then gave a hearty laugh.

"Shazhu, Xu Daming is treating you to a meal—it's not appropriate to bring San Daye along; change the time."

"San Daye, don't worry—I'm paying today, Xu Daming paid yesterday. Xu Daming worries he's wasting this money, so he insists I treat him tonight; that's settled—Liu Bi Ju tonight." Shazhu looked at Third Aunt and Yan Jiefang and the others, "I'm just an apprentice now, I don't earn money, so I can only treat San Daye at Liu Bi Ju, but I can pack a portion of dumplings for Third Aunt and Yan Jiefang to try."

Face is needed.

The inside is also needed.

Shazhu doesn't want to end up exactly like in his previous life, when the whole compound spoke ill of him, even the Jia Family, who helped him tirelessly, called him a blockhead behind his back.

Fundamentally change.

It's also to make Yan Fugui wholeheartedly tutor He Yushui, without playing the old trick of having the apprentice starve the master.