Chapter 79: and translation of chapter title

Yi Daye being scolded was like a dog-blood splatter; he also didn't expect Jia Zhangshi to react so strongly—it's just doing a bit more work, isn't it? At the Garbage Disposal Station, he hasn't even thought about working yet.

Yi Daye returned to the Steel Rolling Mill in a dejected manner, continuing to hide in the Garbage Disposal Station.

San Daye sat at home thinking for a long time, planning to give the deaf old lady a suggestion: the money Jia Zhangshi earned from selling garbage shouldn't be saved any longer; it needs to be spent quickly.

Because this money has already caught Jia Zhangshi's eye, Yi Daye's unsuccessful attempt to intervene this time doesn't mean it won't happen again; if Jia Zhangshi takes it away, the loss will be everyone's interests.

This also includes his own family members.

"You mean we should move up the communal meal of our Courtyard House?" The deaf old lady thought for a moment, "That's not something I can decide; go discuss it with others."

"That's for sure; it's perfect because everyone will be around on the weekend."

San Daye stood in the central courtyard for a while, but still decided to first go find Yi Daye to discuss; after saying something at home, he hurried toward the Steel Rolling Mill.

The Steel Rolling Mill also had a few workers on the weekend; he inquired around and finally arrived at the Garbage Disposal Station.

"Lao Yi, I discussed with the old lady over there about moving up the communal meal; see if you can go back and take charge of the overall situation." San Daye said with a smile.

"What overall situation, what communal meal? I'm just idling here." Yi Daye sighed, "Don't come to me with this kind of thing; I don't want to get involved."

San Daye silently complained in his heart that Yi Daye had become a nervous wreck, not letting him meddle in the Courtyard House's affairs, yet he still insisted on intervening.

Now the Garbage Disposal Station is so relaxed, letting him do a bit of work, and he's even putting on airs here.

San Daye's eyes shifted, and he came up with a good idea.

"It's my oversight, Lao Yi—you're basically becoming a hermit." San Daye gave a slight smile, "I won't hold you up; just follow the previous examples, but if there's nothing, we can't split that much."

Relying solely on the money from picking up garbage is definitely not enough, so we also need to collect some from the Courtyard House; those who can't produce money or goods can't just eat to their heart's content.

Yi Daye pondered, "Who is this referring to? Isn't it Qin Huairu's family? In previous years, we've been taking care of them, plus He Yuzhu handling the cooking."

This meal is so oily it makes your mouth water.

If San Daye takes charge, with his stingy ways and He Yuzhu as head chef, Yi Daye fears the Jia Family won't even get to drink the soup.

By then, Jia Zhangshi will surely complain again.

"Lao Yan, don't go yet; let's discuss." Yi Daye hurried out, "How much money does the old lady have in total, and how do you plan to spend it specifically?"

San Daye looked triumphant, humming a couple of tunes as he said: "This year we won't do those fancy, flowery things like before; we'll just spend all the money, drinking from big bowls and eating big chunks of meat."

"Do you really have that much money? Even being able to eat a bowl of wontons would be good; you really think I don't know the numbers." Yi Daye shook his head.

"Let's think of a way; what should we organizers actually do?"

San Daye and Yi Daye were discussing heatedly, and the Courtyard House was stirred up by this matter, with everyone talking about what they could get to eat.

No need to guess; the news was leaked by San Daye's family.

"Let me tell you, this time our family definitely needs to eat our fill." Upon hearing about food, Jia Zhangshi got more excited than anyone, "Best to make meatballs that burst with oil when you bite."

Qin Huairu held a basin, washing the family's dirty clothes, and she nodded, saying, "If we could heat it up, that would be even better; the soup would taste wonderful."

Xiao Dang and Huai Hua had no impression of meatballs; they said they wanted to eat stir-fried meat, with wood ear mushrooms and cucumber slices, plus eggs.

"That's called mu xu meat, and it's also delicious; when the time comes, you two should eat a bit more, the money is what your grandmother earned."

Jia Zhangshi nodded frantically; she had it all figured out—at the time she'd first serve herself a full bowl, making sure to pick out the fatty meat for herself first, and then whatever leftovers remained would also be hers.

Cannot let He Yuzhu take it away.

If he insists on taking it, we'll definitely have to have a showdown with him.

The more she thought about it at home, the happier Jia Zhangshi became; she rushed out excitedly and saw Yi dama outside picking vegetables, eagerly expressing her idea, indicating that today she could finally eat her fill.

Yi dama, while working, said, "Which year haven't you eaten your fill? Which year haven't you overeaten and taken more than your share? How can you say that with a straight face? Don't you feel embarrassed?"

Jia Zhangshi paused, then added, "Today is different; this is money I earned myself."

"Heh, you don't even know how much you've earned, yet you want to eat mu xu meat and meatballs; I reckon even eating a bowl of rotten-meat noodles would be a stretch for us, with so many people—it's not just your family."

As for Jia Zhangshi, rotten-meat noodles would also be a decent meal, but it falls far short of her expectations.

"Rotten-meat noodles? Who said that—was it He Yuzhu? Is this kid still trying to grab a share during the communal meal? He's just an incorrigible, stinky cook." Countless

The more she thought about it, the angrier Jia Zhangshi became; she shouted in the central courtyard for He Yuzhu to come out and explain why they couldn't eat mu xu meat.

He Yuzhu looked at Jia Zhangshi standing in the middle of the courtyard and said, "What communal meal? What mu xu meat? I don't know anything about it; stop daydreaming—any good things won't even come your way."

If it weren't for my own help, the Jia Family wouldn't have gotten that much meat.

"Communal meal? You don't know anything about it." Jia Zhangshi widened her eyes, "This year we definitely have to eat mu xu meat and meatballs—you, as the head chef, need to figure something out!"

"How much are you paying me to hire me for the communal meal cooking? This year you guys find your own cook."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi was somewhat dumbfounded; He Yuzhu's culinary skills are unmatched—if someone else did it, they couldn't produce such a good flavor.

In the Courtyard House, he's the only cook; if he doesn't do it, who will?

"Zhuzi, why are you saying this? Although you usually like to take leftovers when you cook, nobody has complained about it; this isn't the time to hold a grudge—everyone is waiting for you."

He Yuzhu chuckled; this is him wanting to cook and also eat something good, but the Courtyard House doesn't have much money, and Jia Zhangshi surely knows that—this is just him trying to make up for it again.

"According to past precedent, plus this year's public funds, we might be able to have cabbage soup, plus a few steamed buns."

In previous years, what we ate was better than this; no matter how, you could still see meat in the cabbage, and sometimes there were even a few meatballs. Cabbage soup—we've been eating it all winter; who still has an appetite?

"Before, we could actually see meat."

"What was going on before? You don't know? Stop pretending to be clueless." He Yuzhu turned and went home.

Jia Zhangshi stood dazedly in the middle of the courtyard; her dream of eating a big meal seemed to have shattered.