Chapter 401: I lack everything but money

Upon hearing Liu Lan's words, Shazhu grinned, nodded, and said:

"That's pretty good, pretty good, pretty good."

"Hey, Liu Lan, I still have something to ask you."

"What are you doing these days?"

Liu Lan let out a long sigh and said: "Oh dear, I'm this old already, what am I still working for?"

"I'm not working anymore."

Shazhu thought for a moment and asked: "If I find a job as a cook's assistant, would you still be willing to come out and work?"

Liu Lan, without even thinking, replied: "Work where? Why not work?"

"Working with you would be so pleasant, and the pay wouldn't be bad either."

"Why wouldn't I work?"

Shazhu grinned, nodded, and said:

"Okay, okay, I get it, I get it, ah."

"Hey, how did you end up coming here?"

Liu Lan: "Didn't Ma Hua tell you about it?"

"We two now live in the same residential area."

Shazhu: "Oh, really?"

Liu Lan: "Right, right, do you know who I saw just now on my way here?"

Shazhu frowned and asked: "Who?"

Liu Lan hesitated a bit, then said: "It's one of those three elders you used to keep in your old compound, the one you raised."

"This ranking..."

Upon hearing that, Shazhu's brow furrowed even tighter.

Liu Lan thought for a moment and said: "Oh dear, I'm getting old, my memory's not what it used to be."

"I can't even remember what number rank he was."

"Do you know what he's up to?"

Shazhu asked: "What's he doing?"

Liu Lan let out a sigh and said: "Actually, it's rather pitiful."

"He's been rummaging through the trash cans on the street, turning over garbage."

"Wearing a hat, when he sees me he darts away, as if he thinks I wouldn't notice."

"I guess he must have recognized me and is afraid I'll tell you."

"Although I can't remember his exact rank."

"But I still recognized him at a glance."

"It's one of those three elders you kept in your compound."

Shazhu thought and said: "No way, did you maybe see wrong?"

Liu Lan: "What do you mean mistaken? I said I recognized him right away."

"No, Shazhu, I'm saying how can you not believe me?"

"Don't you know me yet?"

"We've worked together for decades; my eyesight has long been honed."

"Anyone I've dealt with or met, I simply won't forget."

"It's just that I'm old, my memory's poor, I can't recall his rank number."

Shazhu thought for a moment, nodded, and said: "Alright, then I know, I know."

"Hurry up, hurry home and cook."

Liu Lan: "Okay, okay, I'll head out first."

Shazhu nodded and said: "Alright, go on."

"Let's chat again another day."

Liu Lan: "Hey, if your thing works out, give me a call."

Shazhu: "Got it, got it, got it."

Liu Lan: "I'll be waiting for you."

Shazhu: "Alright, take care."

As soon as Liu Lan left, Shazhu's smile instantly froze.

Evening.

When Shazhu returned, everyone was in the room watching TV.

"Have you eaten yet?"

Qin Huairu asked.

Shazhu shook his head and said: "No, no, no, I'm watching TV."

Saying that, he came to the table, placed his hands on Liu Haizhong and Yan Bu Gui's shoulders, and said:

"No, Huairu, after the meal we need to have peanuts and melon seeds."

"Right? We can't just sit there doing nothing."

"Don't be so stingy."

Qin Huairu pursed her lips, gave Shazhu a sideways glance, and said nothing.

"He acts like he's rich, but now he can barely afford to keep the pot boiling, yet he still wants peanuts and melon seeds."

Yi Zhonghai: "Alright, alright, don't make it feel like New Year's every day."

Liu Haizhong glanced at Shazhu and said, "Exactly, just watch TV, that's enough—watch TV, ah."

Shazhu looked at Qin Huairu, who had been staring at him, nodded, gave her a look, then walked toward the inner room.

Qin Huairu, upon seeing this, became somewhat excited.

This Shazhu is probably going to give her money—how could she not be excited?

So, she quickly followed and went into the inner room.

The two arrived in the inner room, and Shazhu pulled out a stack of money from his pocket and handed it to Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu excitedly took it and whispered, "How much money is this?"

Shazhu said with a proud, smug look, "Two thousand."

Qin Huairu: "That's a lot—where did you get it?"

Shazhu: "Why ask so much?"

Take it, spend it freely—don't hold back for me.

Brother, we might lack everything, but we're not short on money.

Qin Huairu put the money in her pants pocket and said happily, "You talk as if you're rolling in money."

Shazhu laughed and said, "What's up with that?"

I really have never lacked this thing.

Do you still think this is something good?

Can a living person even be killed by holding in urine? Really.

Just then, Jia Zhangshi's shout came:

"Shazhu, come out and eat dumplings."

Shazhu answered and went out.

Jia Zhangshi: "Come on, these dumplings just came out of the pot, still hot."

Shazhu sat down, looked around at everyone, and asked, "Have you all eaten?"

Liu Haizhong: "We've all eaten."

Second Aunt stood up and said, "Alright, I'm going back to watch my drama."

Shazhu laughed and said, "Look, no melon seeds, no peanuts to eat, and Second Aunt is already leaving—do you see that?"

Second Aunt: "You say that, but it feels like New Year's every day."

Ah, with just our two salaries, it's nowhere near enough.

You know how much you each put in each month—I've got it figured.

San Da Ma let out a long sigh, nodded, and showed her agreement.

Second Aunt then said, "Shazhu, if you're going to say that, I'm not leaving."

Shazhu nodded satisfied and said, "All right."

That's how it should be.

Second Aunt, wait—you all wait.

There'll definitely be melon seeds for you to crack.

Second Aunt laughed and said, "Crack what? My teeth can't handle it."

Suddenly.

Shazhu looked at Yan Bu Gui, who had been happily watching TV, and asked:

"San Da Ye, what have you been busy with lately?"

Yan Bu Gui laughed and said, "I've been singing and dancing in that park."

Shazhu frowned and asked, "Dancing? Singing?"

Yan Bu Gui nodded.

Shazhu looked at San Da Ma and said, "San Da Ma, aren't you afraid San Da Ye will dance his way back with another one?"

San Da Ma laughed and said, "If he has the money to support it, he'll bring one back."

Shazhu looked at Yan Bu Gui and asked again, "San Da Ye, I heard you've recently struck it rich?"

Yan Bu Gui frowned and said, "No, I was just teasing Shazhu, using you San Da Ye for fun."

Shazhu: "What fun am I having with you then?"

Is it that you can just pick up wallets whenever you go out?

Yan Bu Gui said somewhat unhappily, "If you don't let me watch TV at your place, I'll leave."