Chapter 60: A Big Feast

Finding a single yuan in a day is really asking too much; if they really had that income, everyone would go pick up trash. Knowing that He Yuzhu's previous monthly wage was only thirty-seven yuan and five fen, there are still many in the factory who earn less than him.

Jia Zhangshi only harvested one fen today.

"Qin Huairu, hurry up and cook, fetch water." Jia Zhangshi started shouting as soon as she entered the house, "If San Daye were in the past, he'd definitely be a landlord and rich man; today I haven't touched a drop of water all day."

Qin Huairu took out cornbread steamed buns and old pickled vegetables.

"Just give me this to eat; I've also been busy all day, I want to eat white flour steamed buns with braised pork." Jia Zhangshi felt she had also gone out to work, so she should eat a bit better.

Qin Huairu showed no expression; she asked, "You've been out working all day, how much money did you earn for the family? And you're eating white flour steamed buns and big meat—why don't you want to eat meat and egg dumplings?"

But the fragrant aroma outside made Jia Zhangshi feel uneasy; she kept causing trouble at home, just wanting to eat white flour steamed buns, and since there weren't any at home, she hurried to think of a way.

Everyone goes out to work, so why can't she eat better?

San Daye came to the deaf old lady's room, feeling extremely apprehensive; today he had only earned one fen, so did he really have to make up the remaining nine fen himself?

Looking at San Daye's somewhat apprehensive face, the deaf old lady told him, "Money isn't the main point; the key is to let Jia Zhangshi be punished, so she can't run amok in the Courtyard House."

As for the money collected, once there's a certain amount, we'll take it out to let the whole Courtyard House have a big feast. We'll stew big bones in the pot, and the whole courtyard will make dumplings together.

"Old lady, with your teeth you can even eat bones; let's just make some meat."

"Bones are also delicious; look at the dish Zhuzi made—it's so tasty."

When San Daye was heading home, he couldn't help himself from smelling the aroma from the central courtyard, and seeing that bowl of dish in the old lady's room, he quickened his steps toward home.

If he couldn't smell it, he wouldn't think about it.

That's right, these dishes and their tempting aroma all come from He Yuzhu's house; he had something to do at noon, so this spicy lamb spine was delayed until evening.

Moreover, the vegetable and seafood buns also contained many other things.

So he also added braised eggplant, dry-fried yellow croaker, and sea clam tofu soup.

"Brother, these are really made for us to eat." Yushui looked at the abundant food, somewhat unable to believe it, "This is too extravagant."

Character also looked on with eyes full of excitement.

She really seems to have married just because she met a cook.

After taking a sip of sea clam soup, a fresh flavor burst directly in his mouth; it felt like he wasn't eating sea clams but standing by the sea. The warm sea breeze blew over his face, lifting strands of his beautiful hair.

"Where did you buy these sea clams? They taste better than the ones I ate in Lu Province Gangcheng."

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "This is from Lu Province Gangcheng, but not from Changyang—it's from another place."

"Hurry up and eat; if it gets cold, it won't be good."

The three of them ate heartily, and slowly a fine sweat appeared on their bodies, their faces also turning slightly red.

While everyone was happily eating, an uninvited guest barged in; Yi Daye's face darkened as he looked at the full table, seeming to want to deliver a long-winded speech.

But Character stared at him tigerishly, and he felt a bit unsure in his heart.

He actually didn't want to come here at all, but Jia Zhangshi was loudly arguing at his house, saying her daughter-in-law mistreated her and didn't give her food.

She didn't even ask for big fish or meat; having half a dish from He Yuzhu's house would be enough for her.

"Yi Daye, aren't you going the wrong way at this hour? Your destination should be elsewhere." He Yuzhu spoke sarcastically, "We don't have anyone here who shares your foul smell."

"Zhuzi, how can you talk like that? Do you have some hostility toward me? This is unacceptable." Yi Daye said, putting on a bold face.

"Brother, that's your fault—how can you have hostility?" Yushui looked at her brother, "You should go straight to hostile actions."

She picked up a bone from the table, flung it hard at Yi Daye's feet, telling him to grab the bone and scram; a respectable eighth-level worker, coming out to beg for food, isn't even ashamed.

"Character, you've received collective education, yet you just watch them bully the old man like this."

Character smiled, then launched a series of kicks at Yi Daye's chest, directly kicking him out the door.

"I won't say anything; I'll just take action."

Yi Daye was like a kicked hungry dog, slinking back home with his tail between his legs.

Jia Zhangshi had been waiting at Yi Daye's house, growing impatient; although she also knew Yi Daye's face wasn't enough, she still hoped to somehow bring back something to eat.

She had already figured it out: as long as He Yuzhu let something slip from his hand, it would be enough for her to have a big feast. As for Qin Huairu and the two granddaughters, she hadn't even thought about them.

"Yi Daye, you're finally back; I'm so hungry my stomach feels flat—what did you bring back?"

Yi Daye pointed to the footprints on his chest, shaking his head somewhat dejectedly. Now Jia Zhangshi could see clearly; she figured in her heart that he had been beaten out.

If she hadn't gone herself, she would have been beaten even worse.

"Yi Daye, He Yuzhu gives you no face at all; he's feasting at home while we starve, even though we all work a day out—what gives him the right?"

Yi dama glanced at her and said, "What work did you do? You just picked through trash all day and didn't even earn two fen, yet you have the nerve to say you worked a day."

"Anyway, I worked a day, and it's my first day, so I should be given something tasty to eat." Jia Zhangshi argued unreasonably, "If there aren't many tasty things, you can fry an egg for me—that would be fine."

Yi Daye waved his hand, telling Yi dama to handle it.

Yi dama had no intention of moving; she looked at Yi Daye and told him, "I'm not even clear what we have at home—this month's eggs have already been eaten up."

Jia Zhangshi was about to start causing a scene.

Yi Daye considered himself impartial, so he couldn't lay hands on Jia Zhangshi; Yi dama was in poor health, so she could only sit there and seethe.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Jia Zhangshi patted her butt and left Yi Daye's house; seeing the bright lights at He Yuzhu's home, she still didn't dare to stir up trouble.

"What ability are you showing off? In the Courtyard House, who still gives you face?" Yi dama complained, "Can't you associate with decent people? You only hang out with good-for-nothing ruffians."

Yi Daye's face looked grim; "What kind of talk is this? Why is everything directed at me?"

"I..."

"What 'I'? Can't you use a bit of brains? Don't rush toward good things just because you see them; even if you're not eating them yourself, it still makes people dislike you." Yi dama continued, "Take a look—does Old Wang in the front courtyard still talk to you?"