Chapter 80: Let's Discuss

After a morning of discussion, Yi Daye and San Daye finally settled the terms; they unanimously agreed that this year's banquet should be better, and they would try to let everyone eat meat dishes.

As for how to make it happen, they hadn't thought about it at all; anyway, when the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way.

The two walked back into the Courtyard House heads high and chests out, just about to go find He Yuzhu to discuss the details, when Jia Zhangshi stopped them in the central courtyard.

"Sirs, I heard He Yuzhu say this year's banquet can only be cabbage soup—what kind of banquet is that? My family eats better than this."

San Daye pursed his lips, saying given the Jia Family's situation, they probably couldn't even afford cabbage.

"Just joking—if our Courtyard House banquet were cabbage soup, that would be a laughingstock; no way, absolutely impossible."

Hearing Yi Daye say that so confidently, Jia Zhangshi relaxed a bit; she discussed with Yi Daye whether the year's surplus could be given directly to her.

San Daye pushed Jia Zhangshi aside, saying they had official business, no time to wrangle with her here; they hadn't even done it yet, and she was already eyeing the surplus—if they did that, they'd still lose the pot.

The two entered He Yuzhu's house and found him sitting on a stool reading, his absorbed look truly showing a zeal for learning.

"Zhuzi, let's discuss the cooking arrangements."

He Yuzhu glanced at them, set the book on the table, and indicated he was busy with work now, probably no time to cook, so better find someone else.

Yi Daye snorted twice, indicating the cooking matter should be put on hold, and asked if he was saying this year they could only eat cabbage soup—wasn't that saying the Courtyard House would regress?

This is still not clear on the situation.

"This is calculated based on past funds—you surely know the situation." He Yuzhu chuckled, "Why have you lost your morals, forgetting so completely?"

Yi Daye then realized there was no money to chip in this year, so the banquet would probably really be cabbage soup with steamed buns.

San Daye's eyes widened; he exclaimed, "This won't do! Zhuzi, you're the famous chef of the Steel Rolling Mill—surely you can think of a good solution."

Everyone knows He Yuzhu's status in the cafeteria; even with a month's effort, he can't make do with scraps to cook—who would believe such a tiny Courtyard House could manage?

Or are they just after some authority?

"How about this: we appoint you as the supervisor for this banquet, to come up with ideas for the Courtyard House feast—making you the third-in-command."

"Third-in-command? That's just letting himself be the first-in-command—he has no intention of doing that either."

He Yuzhu shook his head, indicating he couldn't do it.

Yi Daye's face darkened; he felt He Yuzhu was making things difficult for him—this was for the whole Courtyard House, not for himself or the Jia Family.

He snorted angrily and strode away.

"Zhuzi, let's discuss again—this is a major affair for our Courtyard House; you can't mess up." San Daye said while walking out.

Arriving at Yi Daye's home, San Daye also urged Yi Daye not to be angry; this time their discussion indeed had some shortcomings, but they could discuss further—just couldn't drop the responsibility.

Yi Daye also knew it wasn't the time to be angry; if the banquet wasn't handled well, he'd truly become a good-for-nothing.

"What do you have? The supplies or money definitely can't be too much, or else nobody would join; but if there's too little, what's the point—everyone could just eat cabbage soup."

"That definitely won't do—there has to be meat somehow."

They hadn't expected the banquet to be this difficult; San Daye's eyes shifted, and he said with a grin, "I have a good idea—just no money, right? Why not have Yi Daye chip in a bit more this year, and that'll do it."

Yi Daye gave San Daye a gloomy look, saying, "What a lousy idea—I don't have much money either; it's all been taken by He Yuzhu."

"I'm not saying I have no money—if I had money, everything would be easy."

"Then we still need to discuss with He Yuzhu—how to handle having no money; probably only he knows. You mustn't get angry; you should talk nicely with him."

Yi Daye refused to go, letting San Daye go alone; the only principle was that the banquet must proceed normally and must not be cabbage soup.

San Daye beamed, feeling he had become the person in charge of the Courtyard House.

Returning to He Yuzhu's house, San Daye smiled and asked, "Zhuzi, the banquet really can't happen without you—just tell me, how can you agree to it?"

"I won't say more—I can recommend a chef for you; as for the rest, handle it however you like."

Hearing that a chef could be recommended, San Daye breathed a sigh of relief; with a chef it would be easy to arrange, and if worse came to worst, they could discuss having the chef do it.

"How much should each household contribute this year?" He Yuzhu asked after sipping tea, "I've made it clear—I'll only contribute after everyone else has handed theirs in."

Whoever he meant, San Daye understood—it was the Jia Family.

"Each household contributes one mao of money, or some white flour or such." San Daye frankly said, "With me around, nobody will refuse to pay."

Chef He Yuzhu planned to recommend Ma Hua over; this apprentice of his really needed practice, and only by cooking more could he hone his skills.

Having come up with nothing else, San Daye returned to Yi Daye's house.

"Old Yi, with me on the job there's no problem. Let's start gathering supplies—begin with the Jia Family; this time we won't collect much, we estimate we can finish in a day."

Upon hearing about gathering supplies, Yi Daye hesitated again.

The Jia Family's side will surely be hard to collect from.

"Old Yan, should we switch families? The Jia Family side might be tough to talk to—let's start from the front courtyard, beginning with your house, to set an example for everyone."

"There's nothing to discuss—if the Jia Family doesn't contribute, what banquet are we talking about? Everyone just go home."

Yi Daye arrived at the Jia Family unwillingly, explained his purpose, San Daye stood at the doorway waiting to receive items, and He Yuzhu was there watching the spectacle.

This time I don't know if another old lady will come to battle Yi Daye again.

"What! We still have to take out money—no need to think; I rise early and work late picking trash just for this—you can't learn from those black-hearted."

Yi Daye and Jia Zhangshi explained.

"I won't listen to this—tell me I have not a cent; if you don't let me eat, I'll smash your pot." Jia Zhangshi grabbed Yi Daye's collar by the fist, "Bullying orphans and widows deserves hell."

Yi Daye turned his head toward the doorway where San Daye stood, hoping he could say a few words.

"What are you looking at? No money is no money; nobody coming would help."

Jia Zhangshi shoved Yi Daye out the door.

"A Level 8 Senior Worker can't even handle an old widow—really, cherishing fragrance and pitying jade."