Chapter 44

Although Yi Daye and the other two insisted on attending this dinner, even if it meant spending money, San Daye wasn't worried in his heart; as long as He Yuzhu came to eat, that was enough.

Yi Daye might try moral blackmail; he still saved that pocket watch.

"If I had known, I would have bought a good pocket watch; spending this money is really aggravating." San Daye regrettedly slapped his thigh—this is what happens when you don't plan well.

He Yuzhu finished the supply team's work at the Steel Rolling Mill, rode his new bike back in a flash, and the Grocery shop was already ready.

Even Yushui had quickly finished the paperwork and gone to work.

After strolling around the Grocery shop, there wasn't much increase in stock; this place was originally a small Supply and Marketing Cooperative, so it wouldn't have many resources directed here.

"Are there many customers today?" He Yuzhu sat down in a chair, "Are you still adjusting here?"

"Not many customers, about the same as before at the Grocery shop." Yushui leaned on the counter, "This job is really leisurely—no wonder everyone wants to do it."

That's certain—shop clerks and movie theater ticket takers are currently hot positions.

Character handed He Yuzhu a cup of hot tea and said: "The San Daye of the Courtyard House wants to treat us to a meal, saying it's to welcome the new comrade; Yi Daye and Second Elder will also attend."

This is a bit absurd—when did San Daye become so generous? Usually meals in the Courtyard House are initiated by Yi Daye, directed by Second Elder, and I, the big spender, do the cooking.

San Daye just talked.

San Daye probably still minds the projectionist position.

"Brother, we definitely have to go today; the Courtyard House says San Daye treating guests is rare, and everyone's waiting to see what dishes there are. If we don't go, they'll say we're putting on airs."

He Yuzhu also intended to move a bit; this system ought to reward him with something new.

"Like this, Character, you just handle eating; don't worry about anything else. Yushui and I will handle talking back." He Yuzhu assigned the roles.

Today I will definitely leave San Daye a deep impression.

Upon arriving at San Daye's house, the table was already filled with steaming hot dishes; Yi Daye and Second Elder each had a cup of baijiu in front of them, and from the looks of it, the preparations were decent.

""Zhuzi, hurry over and eat." Yi Daye called out, "San Daye treating guests isn't easy; his household is large, and he doesn't have much money or coupons.""

He Yuzhu neither agreed nor disagreed.

"Try your Third Aunt's cooking; this braised cabbage is her family's skill."

Character was not polite; she had been training as an athlete, so her appetite goes without saying—she started with a big bowl of cabbage and then picked up a bone to gnaw on.

Several elders were stunned by her hearty eating.

"You're a famous master chef; tell us how this dish is."

Yi Daye added on the side: "This is something San Daye made with care, specially prepared to welcome you."

He Yuzhu pursed his lips; the intention behind this table of dishes wasn't simple, but he just wanted to use this to exchange for a projectionist position—he was dreaming, yet San Daye was really stingy.

"This cabbage is of average quality, probably discounted at the market; the bone doesn't even need mentioning—nowadays nothing is valuable anywhere, and the other dishes aren't worth mentioning."

"You... San Daye's household is struggling." Yi Daye took two sips of wine, then began to spout nonsense, "He's asking you to handle things; we're all from the same Courtyard House, you can't just eat and not help."

San Daye stared at He Yuzhu with burning eyes, waiting for his reply.

"Ask me to handle things, don't joke—he's a school teacher, I'm a canteen cook; although we both have the character 'teacher' in our titles, the difference is quite big."

"I really came to you with something, my dad wants..." Yan Jiecheng hadn't finished speaking when San Daye kicked him. This couldn't be said now.

He thought He Yuzhu was like a fish just hooked; reeling in so early would scare the fish away.

"I'm saying this meal can't be free; with San Daye's personality, if you eat a bite of his cabbage, he'll also try to get a cabbage from you." He Yushui took a few bites and felt the taste wasn't good.

"Yushui, saying that, I truly welcome you."

Character nodded, then swept the dishes on the table again. Now the plates only had some soupy liquid left, and the several elders had to put down their chopsticks.

"San Daye, this meal was shoddily done; people shouldn't do that. If you want to host, do it properly—your approach just muddles things."

San Daye's face turned a bit red; trying to achieve big things with little money probably wouldn't work, and besides, Yi Daye and the others are here, so he can't even give away the pocket watch.

He gave his son a look, signaling him to quickly refill Yi Daye's wine, get them drunk, and then he could speak privately with He Yuzhu for a few words.

"Is the food at San Daye's house not tasty? Consult your conscience and say how today's meal was." Yi Daye tapped the table and asked.

"I ate a bellyful of cabbage." Yushui snorted.

"Even if I'm just an ordinary worker, you can't bring two morally corrupt people here to accompany guests; what are you treating me as?"

Upon hearing this, Second Elder was unwilling; he was about to rise in anger when San Daye held him back. If they started fighting, breaking a plate or bowl would pain him to death.

He Yuzhu smiled and said to San Daye: "Actually, I know what you want me to do."

San Daye was tense all over; He Yuzhu's words could decide his fate—whether he'd end up a poor teacher or a projectionist hinged on this sentence.

"You don't really think I can decide who gets to be a projectionist, do you? That's the Factory Director's authority; saying they want me to recommend is just polite talk—I can't be oblivious."

Upon hearing this, San Daye felt as if his heart were bleeding; the table of dishes he had prepared, plus that pocket watch—this money wasn't spent for nothing.

Yan Jiecheng excitedly stood up; at that moment Character slapped the table and said bluntly: "No good feast, no good dishes—we might as well leave."

He Yuzhu left San Daye's house with his head held high, chest out.

"Haha, San Daye's expression is awful." Yushui laughed freely.

"Ding, the host this time slightly teased San Daye, really just a little, just a little…"

He Yuzhu was waiting for the reward.

"Reward: five catties of grain, five catties of oil, opening industrial goods—toys."

Again, it's a useless thing; nowadays children's toys are homemade—a rope, a thin stick, even a blade of grass can be a toy.

Going to the store to buy toys for kids to play with would require an extraordinarily well-off family.

It's a pity such people generally wouldn't come here to buy things.