Chapter 59

It was the weekend, and He Yuzhu rose early, busying himself. He put a pot of water on the stove, cleaned up the lamb spine he had obtained, ate lamb noodle soup in the morning, and at noon stewed the remaining lamb spine.

Five catties of lamb spine isn't much; it's the lamb's vertebral bone, with little meat, mainly you eat the accompanying dishes and its flavor.

As for its origin, it's similar to other dishes, having a big-name endorsement. This time it was a Mongol prince who, by chance, got to eat this lamb spine.

He found it tastier than lamb, used it to entertain guests, and gradually it spread.

The smell of stewing lamb bones was extremely overpowering; San Daye entered the middle courtyard and inhaled deeply, but Character was standing at the doorway doing a horse stance, so he didn't dare to mooch a bite.

Moreover, there was an important matter today.

He turned and went to the Jia Family.

At that time, Jia Zhangshi was still on the kang, not having gotten up, while Qin Huairu was there making millet porridge; seeing San Daye enter, she smiled and continued with her own chores.

"What are you here for?" Jia Zhangshi snorted, "My family has nothing cheap for you to take advantage of; go to He Yuzhu's place, they're stewing lamb bones right now."

San Daye said bluntly, "You think I like coming over? Today I have to hand over money to the old lady, so hurry out and pick up trash."

Jia Zhangshi's face turned black as could be.

"Hurry up, today you have to pick up enough stuff worth seven yuan."

Hearing this, Jia Zhangshi exploded—yesterday it was said to be one yuan, but now it's become seven; San Daye is being too greedy.

Qin Huairu didn't even care about the dough on her hands, hurriedly asking what was going on.

"I only have time today in the week; other times I have to work, I can't spend time watching your mother-in-law pick up trash, so today I have to finish a week's worth of picking up."

Qin Huairu nodded, thinking it was no problem, and continued cooking.

"My back hurts, I'm not going today; I'll put it on the account and pay one yuan later." Jia Zhangshi instantly came up with an excuse, "San Daye, you go back first; I still need to lie down later."

Heh, San Daye won't leave without seeing the money; not giving money, even stripping naked and lying down won't help.

"Take out the money, you can even wish to die."

Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips, rolled over twice on the kang, and told San Daye she had been eating poorly these days, had no strength at all, and didn't want to eat millet porridge today.

He Yuzhu was stewing bones at home; if someone could bring her a bowl of bone soup, she would go out today.

"Well, Old Yan, you give it a try; in this cold weather, you really should drink some hot soup." Yi Daye, who had entered at some point, said, "Just say I let you have it."

San Daye sat on the kang and asked Yi Daye what influence he had, being able to persuade He Yuzhu; moreover, picking up trash had been approved by the courtyard general meeting.

He's a morally corrupt element; what right does he have to deny it?

"Old Yan, your work attitude is unacceptable..."

"What does this have to do with you? Jia Zhangshi is your wife or your mother; coming over to visit so early in the morning, you have the time—why not help Aunt Yi with some housework?"

"Nothing much; why does he keep showing up at widows' houses?"

Yi Daye snorted and left.

"I'm not going, unless I can get lamb soup." Jia Zhangshi lay there motionless, "If you move me, I'll call for help."

San Daye had anticipated this situation; when dealing with someone like Jia Zhangshi, talking nicely won't work—she doesn't understand, only force can be used.

He picked up a thin, long bamboo stick from outside the door, and San Daye struck the quilt with it; the somewhat rotten quilt cover instantly revealed the black-yellow cotton inside.

"If you don't get up, I'll really whip you."

Jia Zhangshi swiftly got up from under the quilt, told San Daye she hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and asked him to go back and wait a bit; after she finished eating, she would go find him.

In reality, Jia Zhangshi planned to slip away, first finding a place to hide for the day.

"I haven't eaten either; let's eat together." San Daye said without hesitation, "My family also has millet porridge—why go back?"

Jia Zhangshi gave Qin Huairu a look while saying, "You know our situation—we don't have extra chopsticks for you; why don't you go home and get some?"

"What chopsticks do you need for millet porridge? No bowl either; I'll just hold the pot and drink."

Jia Zhangshi truly had no way out.

San Daye was not satisfied with this meal, not even a side of pickled vegetables. Jia Zhangshi is completely clueless, letting herself eat and drink well—today she wouldn't be giving him a hard time.

Holding the bamboo stick, they followed behind Jia Zhangshi; just as they stepped out of the house, they ran into He Yuzhu scrubbing a pot in the courtyard.

"San Daye, we're really setting out now—you'd better keep an eye on Jia Zhangshi; she's slippery and will use any trick." He Yuzhu glanced and said.

"I'm not that kind of person; don't talk nonsense."

San Daye brandished the bamboo stick in his hand, indicating he had found a method; if Jia Zhangshi dared to be lazy, he would whip her, and he would certainly not indulge her.

"Yuzhu, are you going to eat hot pot tonight?" San Daye noticed He Yuzhu was washing a copper pot, "Where did you get the lamb meat?"

"There's no lamb meat, just a few pieces of lamb bone."

Seeing that He Yuzhu had no intention of inviting him, San Daye fiercely whipped the bamboo stick, urging Jia Zhanghu to set off quickly—what time was it already?

Nowadays families follow the pattern of three years new, three years old, three years mended and patched, and children's clothes are also handed down. Most of what can be thrown outside is called filth, while only a small portion are things unsuitable to keep at home.

"Old Yan, what are we supposed to pick up out here?"

San Daye felt helpless; Jia Zhangshi has no brains at all—this issue should have been settled last night; now, getting into a sedan chair and piercing ears—does that work?

"It's you who goes out to pick up; I'm responsible for supervising you." San Daye said with a cold face, "Any waste paper, scrap iron—these can be picked up to earn money."

"There's none here."

San Daye's bamboo stick whipped Jia Zhangshi's leg as he barked, "What can you achieve just standing here? Hurry up, take the basket and search everywhere; if you don't scrounge up seven yuan today, you won't get to eat."

Jia Zhangshi winced and jumped a few times, only able to lower her head and hurry to search; along the way people seemed to be pointing and gossiping, and even someone as thick-skinned as Jia Zhangshi felt embarrassed.

"San Daye, is this enough? It's really embarrassing—let's go back."

San Daye was enjoying the fun of supervising; he whipped Jia Zhangshi once and scolded, "You're picking up gold leaves? With just this basket bottom, what can you accomplish?"

From morning until sunset, Jia Zhangshi returned to the courtyard house with a broken basket on her back, her steps unsteady.