Chapter 110: Yan Butgui's Good Disciple

Li Qiang quickly returned to his own small courtyard after arranging the affairs of the siheyuan.

"Big brother, Zhuzi, He Xiao, we'll first erect the anti-seismic shed with the wood and waterproof cloth we bought a few days ago; I have plenty of space here, you can stay at my place for these few days," Li Qiang said to the several people.

"Okay," Li Bin agreed without even thinking.

With many hands and ready-made materials, it didn't take long for several people to erect two earthquake-resistant sheds in Li Qiang's small courtyard.

"Zhuzi, I've just told the neighbors that these few days we'll still need to trouble the two of you to cook several meals for everyone," Li Qiang said to He Yuzhu after finishing the shed.

"Sure, second brother, I'll do whatever you arrange," He Yuzhu was also not someone who lacks sense of the bigger picture.

"Okay, then for these two days please trouble you with He Xiao; I'll have them gather the food and hand it over to you. I estimate that relief supplies from above should arrive in another two or three days."

"Don't worry, second brother, I know the priorities."

As the sky just began to lighten, a light rain started to fall, and He Yuzhu and his son also began cooking a big pot of food for everyone.

"Qiangzi, taking this opportunity I'll bring a few young people to clear the courtyard's drainage ditch; I'm afraid that if it rains heavily later and the water can't drain, it'll be trouble," Yi Zhonghai came up to Li Qiang and said.

"Sure, then trouble you, Master Yi," Li Qiang agreed, and he really had overlooked this issue.

"Zhuzi, you stay at home and keep watch; I need to go check the factory," Li Qiang, as the Security Section Chief, certainly had to go inspect the factory at this time.

"You go about your business, second brother; we'll take care of things at home," He Yuzhu nodded and said.

Li Qiang made a round of the Yagangchang factory and found the damage not severe; Li Huade had already begun organizing workers to repair the workshop.

At noon Li Qiang finally returned to the siheyuan, and the people inside began preparing to eat.

"Second brother, hurry up and wash your hands to get ready for dinner," He Yuzhu said as soon as he saw Li Qiang return.

"Okay."

Li Qiang had just lifted his bowl to eat when Liu Haizhong hurriedly rushed in.

"What's wrong, Elder Second? What happened?" Li Qiang asked anxiously.

"Qiangzi, go check the middle courtyard," Liu Haizhong said urgently.

"What's up? Elder Second," Li Qiang asked Liu Haizhong.

"Ah, the old Yan family's daughter and son brought people over and tore down the old Yan family's anti-seismic shed," Liu Haizhong sighed and said.

"You mean the anti-seismic shed of Yan Butgui's family was torn down by his son and daughter?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Indeed, Yan Jiefang said the wood used for the old Yan family's anti-seismic shed was originally gathered by him and his siblings; now that he wants to build a shed, he's taken the wood away," Liu Haizhong explained.

"Serves him right; this is the good disciple Yan Butgui taught," He Yuzhu said with a sneer.

Hearing this, Li Qiang also understood; indeed, this plot existed in the original story—Yan Butgui originally wanted to go to the middle courtyard to squeeze in, but after the middle courtyard was full, Yi Zhonghai had Qin Huairu go to the rear courtyard to talk to Xu Damao, hoping to arrange Yan Butgui and his group there, since Xu Damao's anti-seismic shed already housed him and his wife plus Bang Geng; however, Xu Damao ultimately didn't agree, and over this Bang Geng he almost came to blows with Yan Jiecheng.

"Sure, I'll go take a look with you; if it rains tonight and we don't arrange things properly, they might truly have nowhere to sleep," Li Qiang put down his bowl and was about to head out.

"Second brother, let's get this straight first—don't go playing the nice guy; your small courtyard is already full with our few families," He Yuzhu warned Li Qiang specifically, worried he'd bring Yan Butgui back to the small courtyard.

"Okay, I know," Li Qiang would never bring Yan Butgui back anyway—given his character of never having enough to eat and being incapable of anything, bringing him back wouldn't even be enough to make him angry.

"No, I have to go with you to check," He Yuzhu said, still uneasy.

"Suit yourself," Li Qiang said helplessly.

Li Qiang and the others followed Liu Haizhong to the middle courtyard, where they saw Yan Butgui leading a few people from the front courtyard standing awkwardly in front of the anti-seismic shed built by Jia Dongxu in the middle courtyard; although Jia Dongxu had fallen out with Yi Zhonghai, now it's a special period, Yi Zhonghai still stays in Jia Dongxu's shed, and Jia Dongxu doesn't hold a grudge over this.

"Hey, Teacher Yan, you really are willing to risk your life but not your money, huh?" He Yuzhu teased, looking at Yan Butgui clutching his own small TV.

"Ah, Zhuzi, don't say anything," Yan Butgui now wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into; it's too embarrassing, being put on the spot by his own children, and saying it out loud is indeed embarrassing.

"Serves you right; this is the result of your teaching, see if you're still scheming," He Yuzhu said with a sneer.

"Qiangzi, you're the elder of this courtyard, you can't just ignore us," Yan Jiecheng said as soon as he saw Li Qiang approach.

"What's up, Yan Jiecheng, are you planning to cling to my second brother because you can't get along with your younger siblings?" He Yuzhu glared at Yan Jiecheng and asked.

"That's not what I mean; it's just that Qiangzi is the elder, we can't just watch us end up on the streets," Yan Jiecheng said to He Yuzhu, who actually made him a bit intimidated; upon hearing He Yuzhu say that, he immediately changed his tone.

"Virtue," He Yuzhu saw him wilt and didn't say anything else.

"Thanks, Teacher Yan, I still have some wood left over there; in a bit you bring some people over to carry a few pieces and first erect the anti-seismic shed, then we'll talk," Li Qiang really didn't say anything else at this moment, after all there were still other neighbors in the front courtyard.

"All right, thanks, Qiangzi," Yan Butgui said gratefully.

"First, let's be clear—it's a loan, and it has to be returned later," He Yuzhu, knowing Yan Butgui's scheming, felt he needed to state this upfront.

"Of course," Yan Butgui had already eyed Li Qiang's wood; if He Yuzhu hadn't said that, he really would have intended not to return it. But now, with so many people watching, if he refused, Li Qiang wouldn't lend it, and then they'd truly be sleeping on the streets tonight.

"Qiangzi, do you have any more over there? Could you lend us some?" At this moment a neighbor asked.

"What's wrong? Didn't you manage to grab your food?" Li Qiang asked in surprise.

"No, we've gotten our food out, but the Third Elder's household has none; today we've only been eating from our few families, and our remaining food is at most enough for tonight," a neighbor said, looking resentfully at Yan Butgui.

"I say, Old Yan the miser, at this point you're still scheming?" He Yuzhu instantly flared up.

"No, Zhuzi, don't misunderstand; wasn't it said there were aftershocks? I didn't dare go back to fetch it." Yan Butgui's excuse was too far-fetched—others could go back to get it, but he couldn't.

"Then go back and get it now; if it's not enough we'll talk later," He Yuzhu wouldn't indulge him.

"Fine, I'll go get it now," Yan Butgui knew his scheming had been seen through by others.