Chapter 77: with translation of chapter title

The Siberian cold surge swept in, and overnight the whole city seemed to be shrouded in an ice‑snow world; everyone in the Courtyard House hid indoors, only Character braving the heavy snow to practice horse stance.

He Yuzhu had prepared dumpling soup in the morning, urging them to eat quickly; with such heavy snow, he needed to go to the factory early, as the canteen might be short-staffed.

Just as he reached the canteen door, the Factory Director's secretary was already inside waiting for him, saying that guests would come at noon and he should prepare hot‑pot lamb.

This is still quite simple; just prepare some hand‑sliced lamb and a few vegetables, at most also some sugar‑garlic.

"Ma Hua, go to the storeroom and get things." He Yuzhu ordered, "Scrub the copper pot clean."

In the howling wind and snow, He Yuzhu busied himself all day; by quitting time he also craved a bite of hot pot, but given his position and who knows how many eyes on him, he couldn't take anything from the canteen.

He deliberately went to the market to buy lamb and tofu; as for vegetables, he still had some at home, so after thinking it over he also specially bought some lamb bones to bring back.

On such a cold day, being able to enjoy a nice bowl of lamb soup is also nice.

In the Courtyard House, the Eldest Master who had been lounging at the Garbage Disposal Station somehow returned; he grabbed a big broom and swept snow in the central courtyard, seeing He Yuzhu come back he said nothing and kept his head down, continuing his work.

"Zhu, Zhu, you bought all this—what delicious dish are you making tonight?" Third Elder came out of the Jia Family, smiling, "As expected, a cook's skill is great—you can make whatever you want to eat."

"They're just simple dishes, nothing much." He Yuzhu glanced at Third Elder, "It's so late—why are you still here? Aren't you afraid Eldest Madam will get angry?"

Third Elder smiled and said he came over for proper business, not to casually enter a widow's home. As it turns out, isn't there a rule that Third Elder may take ten percent each day?

He thought it was too troublesome, so he agreed with Jia Zhangshi to settle accounts once a week.

He Yuzhu nodded, went home to prepare food; Third Elder happily took his money and left, only the Eldest Master remained there sweeping snow vigorously.

Jia Zhangshi was fuming on the kang over the money issue; after all her effort picking up trash outside, handing it over to the Courtyard House was bad enough—why should she also have to give Third Elder a cut?

This policy is wrong.

She saw the Eldest Master outside, her eyes darted, she jumped off the kang without even putting on her outer clothes, and hauled the Eldest Master back to her place by pulling and dragging.

"Jia Zhangshi, Jia Zhangshi, what are you doing? If someone sees you, there'll be gossip." The Eldest Master patted the snow off himself, "From now on you can't keep tugging and pulling like that—you're not a kid anymore."

Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips, "This isn't anything surprising; after staying at the factory for a few days you've become a bit distant—before you used to come over three times a week."

"I still have things to do—hurry up and cook, Qin Huairu will be back soon, and you need to give her something hot to eat."

Jia Zhangshi grabbed the Eldest Master and wouldn't let him leave, saying that in his absence she'd suffered a loss, the Courtyard House had fallen into disarray, and asking when he could return to take charge.

The Eldest Master sighed and shook his head helplessly.

"I know, it's all that damned Shazu's fault—you say we're all in the same courtyard, so why does he oppose you?"

Nonsense, Jia Zhangshi also understands this reason—now He Yuzhu won't accept the Eldest Master's orders, nor is he willing to contribute anything for the Courtyard House.

This is their fundamental contradiction.

"We still need you to step up and take charge in our courtyard—look what He Yuzhu has become, buying stuff and coming back without even asking if we want a share."

Jia Zhangshi chattered on about these things; the Eldest Master understood in his heart, but he could do nothing—whenever he contended with He Yuzhu, he was always at a disadvantage.

Of course Jia Zhangshi's nagging isn't meant to provoke He Yuzhu; she just wants the Eldest Master to step forward and tell the Deaf Granny's side to stop giving Third Elder that ten percent.

Or hand over eighty percent and keep twenty percent for herself.

"Ah, elder sister-in-law." The Eldest Master patted Jia Zhangshi's back, "Picking up trash for a week, ten percent isn't much—just a few cents; let it slide."

"They say the garbage disposal station can assimilate a person, but you've only been there a short while and already treat money like dirt." Jia Zhangshi didn't believe it.

The Eldest Master smiled, about to leave the Jia Family; he's doing fine at the Garbage Disposal Station and doesn't want to come out like this and become a target again.

Jia Zhangshi could only resort to her final move—she flung herself at the Eldest Master's feet, letting him see what kind of state her household had fallen into.

Her two granddaughters were as hungry as bean sprouts.

"That Shazu, black‑hearted, eats meat at home and never offers us any—you can't do that, you're the Eldest Master of our courtyard, always helping the poor."

If He Yuzhu were here, he'd surely give Jia Zhangshi a beating—what's the point of not giving him meat? Back then there were so many delicacies; when did they ever think to leave him a bite?

Qin Huairu, dragging her weary body home after sweeping snow at the factory, had just entered the central courtyard when she heard noises from inside the house.

She pushed the door open and was startled—her mother‑in‑law Jia Zhangshi was kneeling on the ground, both hands gripping the Eldest Master's belt, shaking him back and forth.

The Eldest Master's expression seemed somewhat odd.

While she was still dazed, the Eldest Master hurriedly said he would consider the matter.

"Whenever you come back it's just a jinx." Jia Zhangshi glared at Qin Huairu, then turned and lay back down on the kang.

The Eldest Master returned home and also got scolded by Eldest Madam.

"You claim you don't care about worldly affairs at the garbage disposal station, yet as soon as you're back you run to the widow's house—have you been reformed or not?"

The Eldest Master sat there, seeming not to hear Eldest Madam's nagging.

"The Jia family isn't exactly easy……"

The Eldest Master suddenly perked up, saying: "You know the Jia family isn't easy; as the Eldest Master I went to inquire what's happening—I don't meddle in worldly affairs, but I still have a heart that delights in helping others."

"You help the little widow and still claim it's for the joy of helping? What's your motive—do you think nobody notices?"

"What motive? I'm just helping for the joy of it." The Eldest Master glared, "I can't be like Zhu, becoming a leader and refusing to acknowledge people."

Eldest Madam still wanted to say something, but the Eldest Master waved his hand, saying he knew his own mind, he wouldn't clash with He Yuzhu, and right now he didn't want to deal with that cold‑hearted person.