Chapter 267: Don't worry about others, just worry about yourself

Hearing this, Yan Bu Gui sighed and said:

"No matter how busy, I won't let you be bullied by Xu Damao."

"Shengli is so filial; as long as you tell him, he'll definitely stand up for you."

Yi Zhonghai shook his head, saying nothing.

Yan Bu Gui thought for a moment, then continued:

"Or, let's do this, Lao Yi."

"I've also thought it over; today I'll just lay my heart out to you."

"We three elders, none of us should act as the eldest."

"What we say counts, okay?"

Yi Zhonghai let out a long sigh and said:

"I'm worried about Lao Liu, and also about you."

Yan Bu Gui became somewhat displeased: "No, what are you worried about me for?"

"I'm not like Lao Liu."

Yi Zhonghai: "What's different about it?"

"Just make sure, can your few children support you in your old age?"

San Da Ma frowned, waved her hand, and said:

"As the eldest uncle, you don't need to worry about that."

"Our children."

"Scheming is scheming, but they wouldn't do such inhumane things, so don't worry about that, ah."

Yi Zhonghai gave a cold chuckle and said: "Not necessarily."

Then.

With hands behind his back, amidst Yan Bu Gui and San Da Ma's gloom, he walked toward the Siheyuan.

Yan Bu Gui: "No, Lao Yi, I don't like hearing that."

While saying that, he followed and went inside.

Qin Huairu let out a long sigh, followed along, and said:

"San Da Ye, whether you like to hear it or not, you ought to listen."

"I actually think the eldest uncle's words make sense."

"So you and San Da Ma need to get along well with the children."

"And stop scheming all the time."

"I think it's time for you to let the children come back."

"Get along well, stop scheming, ah."

Yan Bu Gui glanced at Qin Huairu, wore a gloomy expression, and said:

"You also say that."

"No, why are you worried about our family?"

"Do you look down on me?"

Qin Huairu smiled and said: "I don't mean that."

After saying that, she quickened her pace and headed toward the Zhongyuan.

Evening.

The back kitchen of the Chunfeng Fandian run by Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng.

Shazhu sliced a plate of potato shreds, handed it to Pangzi, who stood respectfully behind him, and said:

"Focus on the flavor when stir-frying."

Pangzi nodded respectfully, took it, and said:

"Alright, Master, please rest assured."

Pangzi had barely walked away when Yu Li came in.

She glanced at Pangzi, who was stir-frying, walked over to Shazhu's side, and asked:

"Shazhu, I called for you to come alone; why did you bring an apprentice too?"

Shazhu glanced at Yu Li, annoyed, and retorted:

"Did I ask you for extra money?"

Yu Li: "No, I had you come to work as the cook."

"You brought an apprentice to cook, trying to fool me?"

Shazhu: "Don't worry, he's already received my true teachings."

"Working together, the dishes we make won't disappoint the customers."

"If they're not satisfied, tell me and I'll personally cook."

Yu Li: "Fine, I've figured it out."

"I'll give you two thousand, you want two thousand five hundred."

"So that extra five hundred is for your apprentice?"

Shazhu nodded and said:

"Exactly, a sensible person."

"You can't make someone work without paying them, right?"

Yu Li: "I just can't figure it out."

You cook your own dishes, isn't that just earning an extra five hundred?

Shazhu: "You want to work me to death?"

Yu Li thought it over, still feeling reluctant: "You really know how to settle accounts."

I'm the one who let you take charge of the cooking.

Shazhu: "I told you, something went wrong with the food, come find me."

Yu Li gave a snort and turned to leave.

After work, Shazhu had just gotten home when Yi Zhonghai walked in.

"Yo, Eldest Uncle, honored guest, please sit down."

Yi Zhonghai hasn't been to Shazhu's place in a long time.

Shazhu is feeling somewhat excited now.

After sitting down, Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment and said:

"Shazhu, I have a proposal."

Shazhu: "What proposal? Say it, as long as it's not excessive, I'll agree."

Yi Zhonghai hesitated a moment, then said:

"Shengli, Xiao Juan, and the kids are heading to the Northeast tomorrow."

"He said the state sent him, but didn't say exactly what he's to do."

"I figure it's probably a state secret, so I didn't press further."

Upon hearing this, Shazhu's face filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment:

"Shengli is really impressive."

However, he still feels quite happy and looking forward to it.

Once Lin Shengli leaves, he'll become the king of the Siheyuan.

Yi Zhonghai: "He also wanted me to go with your Eldest Aunt, but I thought it over and I and your Eldest Aunt have already gotten used to life here."

"Although he said he'd be back in at most half a year."

"But I still don't want to leave Sijiucheng."

Shazhu: "Exactly, exactly, Shengli is going to do big things."

"Are you coming along to do that?"

"It's too cold there; you wouldn't be used to it."

"You, just stay here with your Eldest Aunt and wait for them to return."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said: "That's right, I and your Eldest Aunt think exactly that."

Shazhu: "Right, we must think that way. What about your proposal?"

Yi Zhonghai: "I already mentioned it to Qin Huairu today, and she agreed."

"Now we just don't know what you think."

"It's just that I and your Eldest Aunt will give you money, my monthly pension."

"Then I and your Eldest Aunt will be considered as joining in."

Shazhu frowned and said: "Wait, I'm not quite clear yet."

"What do you mean by 'joining in'?"

Yi Zhonghai: "Don't worry, Shengli said he'll be back in at most half a year."

"So even if we join in, it would only be for up to half a year."

"Shengli also said that if I and your Eldest Aunt don't go with him, we should hire a nanny to look after us."

"But we feel we still prefer to eat your cooking."

Shazhu: "I see, you and your Eldest Aunt would come to my place and join in?"

"But I'm busy with work."

Yi Zhonghai: "It's not joining at your place, but at the Zhongyuan; I'll eat whatever Qin Huairu makes."

Shazhu: "Oh, that means the leftover dishes and rice I bring back will also go to you?"

Yi Zhonghai: "Whatever you want. Anyway, I'm joining in at Qin Huairu's place—I'll eat whatever they eat."

Shazhu: "All right, then if I bring back leftovers, we'll all eat them together."

"Anyway, I can't finish it all by myself, right?"

Yi Zhonghai: "Then it's settled."

Shazhu nodded and thought to himself:

"If I found a partner, humph, I wouldn't agree."

"Qin Huairu, you're really getting more and more outrageous."

"You took Eldest Uncle's money, didn't give me a cent, yet you want me to bring back leftovers."

"That's wishful thinking!"

As Shazhu was brooding over this, Yi Zhonghai's voice came from nearby:

"Shazhu, how about letting Second Elder and Second Aunt also join in?"

Shazhu frowned, shook his head, and said:

"Not really."

"If they join in, the money would also be collected by Qin Huairu."

"But with more people, will the leftovers I bring back be enough to eat?"