Chapter 28

Doesn't want to do makeup lessons.

What good thing are you thinking about?

The He family is counting on you, He Yushui, to stand out.

Shazhu still thought about searching the streets these days, looking to see where someone sold those elementary school exam papers.

Winter break was about to begin.

We need to make He Yushui's winter break fulfilling.

"Isn't skipping makeup class important?" Shazhu pointed at the melon seeds and peanuts in He Yushui's hand, "Or is it more important that you keep these things for yourself to eat alone?"

The little girl chose to eat.

She hopped and jumped toward her room.

It was clearly deliberate.

He headed for his own little room without textbooks.

"You little brat, you really have a lot of tricks, not wanting to do makeup class—nice for you."

Shazhu laughed and scolded.

He was about to go to Yan Fugui's room to sit and discuss with Third Aunt making new clothes for He Yushui later, but before he could move, Yi Zhonghai stopped him.

Shazhu felt a bit overwhelmed.

Yi Zhonghai's attitude was like a persistent dogskin plaster.

All day, nothing happened.

Stopped him several times.

"Elder Uncle, do you have something?"

He didn't like it.

But he forced a smile on his face.

And his tone lacked any retort.

We're the type who uses our brains.

"Shazhu, you did well on this; the old lady just came to see Elder Uncle, saying she wanted to eat dumplings but there's no meat, wondering how to wrap them, Elder Uncle thought we really couldn't…"

Shazhu felt a strong sense of crisis.

For the deaf old lady.

Shazhu truly bore no grudge; after all, they gave him a room and also matched him with Lou Xiaoe.

Without the deaf old lady.

Shazhu really ended up with no descendants.

This is the deaf old lady's kindness to Shazhu.

Shazhu does not deny it.

But the deaf old lady is also the beginning of Shazhu's miserable fate.

In the TV drama, Liu Haizhong feels vexed because his children are unfilial.

Yi Zhonghai persuaded Liu Haizhong, saying that at first he wanted to let Jia Dongxu support him in old age, taking Jia Dongxu as an apprentice, but the deaf old lady told Yi Zhonghai that Shazhu, whom she had watched grow up, was honest and simple, the most suitable person to support Yi Zhonghai in old age.

The hypocrite, having heard the deaf old lady's suggestion, began scheming to let Shazhu support him in old age; later he arranged for Shazhu to help Qin Huairu, including Lou Xiaoe bringing her child back to find Shazhu, and Yi Zhonghai not letting Shazhu see his own son, all with the aim of supporting him in old age.

When did the deaf old lady start to think Shazhu was good?

It was from when He Daqing ran to Baocheng and thought Shazhu was not bad.

In view of these reasons.

Shazhu felt resistance; he didn't want to get too entangled with the deaf old lady, nor repeat his past life's mistakes because of her.

As soon as he heard it was related to the deaf old lady.

He hurriedly took advantage of the moment before Yi Zhonghai finished speaking.

He quickly interrupted Yi Zhonghai.

"Elder Uncle, you said cooking this is really inconvenient; tonight I have no time, Xu Daming still hopes I'll treat him to a meal, so tonight's dumplings will have to be prepared by you and Elder Aunt; since there aren't many people, we can manage, no meat is fine, we can eat vegetable-filled dumplings."

Yi Zhonghai couldn't say the rest.

The hypocrite's original intention was to let Shazhu take the deaf old lady to Liu Bi Ju to eat dumplings, thereby bringing them closer.

Just now the deaf old lady told Yi Zhonghai that she felt her relationship with Shazhu had become a bit distant because He Daqing had left.

Not spending money.

Still want to eat dumplings.

From the siheyuan to Liu Bi Ju there is still a stretch of road to walk.

Shazhu could guess with his toes: either he would carry the deaf old lady, or the deaf old lady would have Xu Daming carry her.

The deaf old lady doesn't like Xu Daming.

The only one who can suffer is Shazhu himself.

Rather than let Yi Zhonghai say it later and embarrass both, Shazhu gave Yi Zhonghai a reverse moral blackmail: the deaf old lady isn't just wanting to eat dumplings—you two make them.

"Shazhu, who says that isn't the case? I just told the old lady the same thing, old kid, old kid."

It's very obvious.

Yi Zhonghai is not giving up.

Preparing to let Shazhu bring some dumplings to the deaf old lady.

This is also Third Aunt's good intention turning into a bad deed.

In order to show Shazhu's conduct, they told the siheyuan neighbors what Shazhu said this morning at Yan Fugui's house, the original intention being to praise Shazhu.

The result made the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai have other thoughts; you can let Yan Fugui pack, but you can't pack a dumpling portion for my old lady!

It's just a matter of saying a few words.

"The eldest elder's meaning, I understand; you want me to pack a portion for the old lady."

Yi Zhonghai nodded.

At last we've gotten to the main point.

"By rights, what the old lady said makes sense; I also have to give face to the eldest elder. Think about it: tonight Xu Daming will be there, and the third elder will be there, and I need to have a good talk with the third elder about Yushui's tutoring. This conversation could run late—if it ends early we could finish by eight, but if not, I expect it'll go to ten or eleven. Will the old lady still eat this meal?"

Shazhu also learned how to use words to manipulate people.

He refused Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old lady's demands.

Yet it also gave a glimmer of hope.

"The old lady wants dumplings; tomorrow have the eldest aunt get some meat from the supply and marketing cooperative, and I'll cook tonight. What do you think?"

Previously, Jia Zhangshi's tactic was to bleed everyone dry.

Shazhu copied it over.

I'm helping make dumplings, so I have to eat them before I go!

I still have to support my sister—I can't let her go hungry after I eat!

Dinner was miraculously settled.

All it took was a bit of effort, and I got a plate of fragrant dumplings.

This deal.

A tenfold return.

However, according to Shazhu's thinking, tomorrow night nobody will be able to eat these dumplings properly—they'll be too anxious to eat.

Tomorrow morning Shazhu goes to the steel mill to ask about being recommended as an apprentice; having secured a cafeteria manager position through Yi Zhonghai's influential connection, they will, per Yi Zhonghai's idea, delay Shazhu's apprenticeship recommendation, and this afternoon Shazhu will go to work at the scrap yard on the pretext that he cannot be recommended as an apprentice.

Yi Zhonghai's efforts were like trying to carry water in a bamboo basket—all in vain.

In the plan to take a hot spring bath.

It'd be a miracle if anyone could be in the mood to eat dumplings.

Thus.

Shazhu also wouldn't hold back on making empty promises; since they can't be cashed, he might as well go all out with extravagant claims.

An opening was given to Yi Zhonghai.

If Yi Zhonghai weren't stupid.

They would seize the opportunity Shazhu created to back out gracefully.

"Shazhu, you're right, but we can't let the old lady wait alone; let's do as you say, Shazhu, and tonight let you show your stuff."

"Eldest elder, hearing you say that, my heart's stone has settled; I was worried you wouldn't take it well, thinking I wasn't giving you face. Then we have a deal: tomorrow night I'll provide the labor, you provide the materials, and let the old lady enjoy a plate of fragrant dumplings."