Chapter 83: Stirring Up Trouble, Being Unreasonable

Ma Hua held a kitchen knife and was chopping the vegetables to be stir-fried on the cutting board, while He Yuzhu stood there with his arms crossed watching, and some neighbors of the courtyard house were also busy, occasionally glancing over.

Several children ran back and forth here, their laughter and chatter making Ma Hua feel much more relaxed.

The aroma of the cabbage buns kept coming from the pot; some impatient people were already waiting at their doorsteps, such as Jia Zhangshi drooling with hunger.

"Look at He Yuzhu—he hasn't done any work all afternoon, just standing there." Jia Zhangshi muttered at home, "That thing isn't someone we hired—can he actually do the job or not?"

Qin Huairu ignored her; whether he could do the job wasn't up to them to decide, and besides, Ma Hua was He Yuzhu's disciple—if you said his skills were poor, that would be slapping He Yuzhu in the face.

"Later you go get the buns—ten of them, and make sure they're big." Because of Yi Daye's words, Jia Zhangshi could only obediently hide at home, "Did you hear me?"

Each household's bun allotment is fixed; according to the rules, our family can only take five, but Yi Daye's side will definitely have their dishes placed at our house, so we can still eat some leftovers.

Going to get ten buns—isn't that just being unreasonable?

Jia Zhangshi didn't get a satisfactory answer; she was very unwilling in her heart, but asking for a few more wasn't a big deal—she knew that every year they made a little extra of this meal.

"Everyone's out to get the buns—hurry up!" As soon as San Daye said that, the courtyard house instantly flooded with people, everyone grabbing their vegetable basins and running over.

Ma Hua here started cooking; actually the dishes were quite simple. Besides stir-fried cabbage, there was just an added scrambled egg with chives—these two were provided by Yi Daye.

When the two dishes came out of the pot, He Yuzhu lightly nodded and said, "Ma Hua, tidy up—you don't need me to tell you how; once you're done, just go to my place to eat the buns."

Ma Hua had also worked in the canteen for quite a few days, so he knew a bit about this; the ingredients had been prepared in advance—actually it was nothing much, just a few pieces of pre-cooked meat plus an egg.

"Master, go eat; I'll take care of things here." Ma Hua happily tidied up—this was his first time coming out to cook, and also his first time making leftovers.

He Yuzhu originally wanted to go home, but San Daye pulled him, insisting he go to the main table. There weren't many people there—just San Daye and Yi Daye.

Plus Qin Huairu, who was pouring wine.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Yi Daye wasn't too satisfied—just two dishes and too simple; in previous years they could have eaten braised pork, so he glared and sighed.

Times are different now.

"We've all worked hard another year; let's eat together." Yi Daye raised his wine cup, "From now on we should help each other and strive to be better year after year."

Yi Daye's speech was passionate and inspiring, and those below were eating with great enthusiasm.

Finding it boring, Yi Daye also hurriedly started eating; after just two bites he heard a loud commotion outside, as if Jia Zhangshi was again getting into a conflict with someone.

It turned out Jia Zhangshi had already eaten four buns at home; although her stomach was full, she still kept thinking about the leftovers from the cooking, wanting to go to the stove to grab them first.

Too bad Ma Hua had already tidied everything up.

"You're He Yuzhu's disciple, we're all our own people—why are you still taking things home? If I tell your master, see if he'll break your dog legs."

Ma Hua snorted inwardly—this was what the master had him do; besides, your Jia family isn't what it used to be, and in front of He Yuzhu you have no say.

He ignored Jia Zhangshi, picked up his things, and wanted to leave.

Jia Zhangshi grabbed Ma Hua's lunch box with one hand and wouldn't let him leave unless he put things down.

"Good things can't be hogged by you alone; this is what I bought with my own money, so I must get half—otherwise nobody can make use of it, it's useless." Jia Zhangshi sat on the ground dragging Ma Hua.

The neighbors of the courtyard house came out to watch the excitement, eating buns while watching a shrew scold in the street, treating it like watching a monkey show.

"What are you doing, Jia Zhangshi?" Yi Daye stepped over a few paces, "What's the fuss—aren't you upset because you haven't tidied up?"

Qin Huairu tried to go up and pull Jia Zhangshi to her feet, but she kicked Qin Huairu away, lay down in front of Ma Hua, and told everyone she wouldn't get up unless they brought out the things.

It was utterly embarrassing.

Yi Daye turned to leave, but Qin Huairu grabbed his cuff; although she said nothing, the meaning was clear—she wanted Yi Daye to handle this matter.

"Well then, Ma Hua, why don't you just give her half? We all work at the same factory, so we shouldn't make things too stiff."

Ma Hua looked up at He Yuzhu.

"What do you mean 'just a factory'? Is Jia Zhangshi even considered a Steel Rolling Mill worker? You're not the factory director, nor the deputy director—you're just a piece of trash at the garbage disposal station, and you dare say that?" He Yuzhu glanced at Yi Daye, "Ma Hua, go eat the buns—I'll see who dares to stop you."

He Yuzhu stared fixedly at Qin Huairu, the meaning simple: if Jia Zhangshi keeps causing trouble, her days at the Steel Rolling Mill will be even harder!

Ma Hua stepped over Jia Zhangshi and went back to eat with He Yuzhu.

"What are you making a fuss about? Isn't everything that's yours already given to you? All day you're stirring up trouble—do you think picking up garbage isn't enough fun, or should you go sweep the toilets instead?"

After hearing San Daye's words, Jia Zhangshi flung herself at Yi Daye's feet, saying the people of the courtyard house were bullying her, that the things should have been hers, they'd been given to others, and she wasn't even allowed to speak about it.

No one in the courtyard house came out to say a word.

"Yi Daye, you promised to give me my things—go get them back for me, or else you won't have a peaceful life."

Yi Daye, strangely enough, actually went to He Yuzhu's place.

Character stood expressionless at the doorway; although she was just moving her limbs, Yi Daye's legs were already trembling, and he walked slower and slower.

The neighbors of the courtyard house were all there—if he got stepped on underfoot, what face would he have left to show anyone?

"Hurry up and look, hurry up and look."

Yi Daye shoved Jia Zhangshi aside, returned home expressionlessly, and didn't even eat.

"Ding, the host lacks a nimble tongue for scolding and also lacks the resolve to beat someone to death, but fortunately has a wife who can fight. Reward: five catties of rice cake, five catties of seafood, five catties of beef."

He Yuzhu laughed heartily—this was really great.

Jia Zhangshi outside was trembling with rage; suddenly she thought Yi Daye had gone back—maybe his table meal wouldn't be needed—and she bolted home.

San Daye had long spotted the opportunity, taken everything back, and all Jia Zhangshi saw was an empty table.

"Mom, San Daye took everything away—is there anything left to eat at home? I haven't had my meal yet."

"Trash, if you don't help me grab things, you can just go hungry."