Chapter 35: If You Want to Eat, You Have to Work

Because Zhao Gangzi was hosting the meal outdoors.

Therefore, it wasn't just Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu who were watching with envy; that aroma even wafted throughout the entire Siheyuan.

Third Uncle Yan Bugui, who lived in the Front Courtyard, had it a bit better, but Liu Haizhong, who lived close to Zhao Gangzi, began to curse.

Originally, with three sons in the house, the eldest son's marriage had nearly emptied out old Liu's savings, and now the two brothers, Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangtian, were also eating for free at home every day; a family of four couldn't even afford a bite of oily meat in a month.

Originally, they could have saved a little by tightening their belts.

But that would only mean eating one extra egg.

Looking at the thin, watery soup in his bowl, Liu Haizhong was so angry he slammed his bowl and chopsticks down and said sourly, "This Zhao Gangzi is truly inconsiderate; he didn't even know to invite me, his Second Uncle, for a meal for such a big event as moving house!"

"Instead, he lets those laborers who put in the work eat and drink well, and even eats in the courtyard—isn't this humiliating me?"

Liu Haizhong couldn't help but curse loudly, and even his two sons were drooling with greed, staring unblinkingly at the outside.

By comparison, Zhao Gangzi was eating delicacies, while his own family was eating worse than the swill left over by others!

"Sigh, look at Shazhu, he recognized the First Uncle as his father and is now living the high life; if I go and recognize Zhao Gangzi as my father, I'll be eating and drinking well too," the wisest thought of his life flashed through Liu Guangfu's mind.

But before Liu Guangfu could continue, old Liu's heavy slap had already landed on Liu Guangfu's face.

Slap!

A single slap from Liu Haizhong left a five-finger print directly on Liu Guangfu's face.

Even Liu Guangtian, who had been eating honestly, didn't escape and was slapped by old Liu as well.

"Dad, it's one thing to hit Guangfu, but why hit me?" Liu Guangtian had tears streaming down.

Liu Guangfu, on the side, was even worse off; his mouth was swollen from the hit, and he couldn't even blurt out a word.

"If it weren't for you two money-losing wretches, with my salary of over sixty yuan a month, wouldn't I be eating and drinking well every day?"

"Now that your wings have hardened, you dare to be sarcastic in front of me," Liu Haizhong pointed at their noses and scolded the two brothers.

He then slammed down his bowl and chopsticks, put his hands behind his back, and walked out the door.

"The kids' father, where are you going without finishing your meal!" the Second Aunt asked, confused.

"Going to mooch a meal from Zhao Gangzi; no matter what, I am still the Second Uncle, he has to give me some face!"

Liu Haizhong didn't even look back.

He walked toward Zhao Gangzi's direction with his head held high and chest puffed out.

Over here.

Zhao Gangzi and the ten masters who came to help were still feasting; considering there were many people, they had made a lot of stir-fried dishes—so many that the large table couldn't even hold them all.

And in the distance, Bang Geng was lying on the ground like a pug with his tongue lolling out, and from time to time, quite a few bones would be tossed over from Zhao Gangzi's side.

And Jia Dongxu was tired too; looking at the fragrant bones, he couldn't help but let sad tears flow from the corners of his mouth.

"Damn it, this Zhao Gangzi is so wasteful; he didn't even gnaw the meat clean before throwing it away!"

"I'll just have to reluctantly accept it; after all, waste is shameful..."

Soon, Jia Dongxu and Bang Geng became rivals, nearly fighting over a single bone.

Watching the scene of fatherly kindness and filial piety in the distance, one of the working masters sighed and said, "Sigh, it seems the kids' father is also a product of inbreeding; how pitiful..."

"I have a neighbor who is dating his cousin; I must go back and properly advise them—this won't do!"

"..."

Right now, only Qin Huairu was still moving luggage for their home, but having not eaten for a long time, her stomach couldn't help but growl.

But fortunately, her reason suppressed her desire, and she didn't make a fool of herself like Jia Dongxu and the others.

The bones others threw on the ground—not to mention the loss of face, they were also too dirty.

"But if I wash them, they should be fine for making soup tonight..."

Taking advantage of no one noticing her, Qin Huairu quietly picked up a few bones from the ground that hadn't been fully gnawed and secretly tucked them into her pocket.

Zhao Gangzi, who was eating meat, saw Liu Haizhong walking over with a face full of smiles out of the corner of his eye and waved directly at old Liu, saying, "Second Uncle, you've come to the wrong place; the toilet is in the Middle Courtyard. Shazhu isn't home today, so hurry up and go use the toilet!"

Hearing this, old Liu's face, which had been full of smiles, stiffened instantly.

He really knew how to hit a sore spot.

That incident had happened nearly a month ago, and he was still bringing it up.

If it were any other time, old Liu would have definitely blown his top, but now he wanted to mooch a meal, so he forced a smile again.

"Cough, that, Gangzi!"

"Look at you, celebrating your housewarming today; you must have forgotten to notify your Second Uncle!"

"But your Second Uncle has a good memory and won't hold it against you; after all, you're the younger generation, and I, as an elder, should be magnanimous!"

As he spoke, old Liu suddenly took a folding stool from behind his back and, shamelessly, found a spot among the crowd and sat down with a thud.

He even brought his own bowl and chopsticks; this scene stunned the Liu brothers in the distance—it turned out their own father was the most thick-skinned one of all.

He just sat down at the table like that?

Liu Guangfu's heart began to itch with desire at this moment.

Although the ten working masters were a bit surprised, they didn't say anything; after all, this was the employer's neighbor, and they seemed to have an incredibly good relationship.

"Gangzi, to be so successful at such a young age, you'll be extraordinary in the future! You must help out your Second Uncle..."

Liu Haizhong was talking, but his eyes were fixed on the delicacies covering the table, and saliva was already hanging from the corner of his mouth.

He then couldn't help but pick up his own bowl and chopsticks to reach into the plate, while Zhao Gangzi had a cold sneer on his lips, watching Liu Haizhong's performance with a smile.

Just as old Liu's chopsticks were about to reach the plate, Zhao Gangzi directly blocked them with his own chopsticks; old Liu's chopsticks didn't even touch the oil.

"What does Second Uncle mean by this? Trying to come here and eat and drink for free?" Zhao Gangzi's words were full of aggression.

"How could that be?"

"Do I, Liu Haizhong, look like the kind of person who eats and drinks for free?"

"I'm here to congratulate you on moving; which neighbor could have the treatment you have? Be content, Gangzi."

Liu Haizhong said with a stern face.

Although he looked very serious on the surface, he had already started cursing Zhao Gangzi in his heart; this Zhao Gangzi really had no tact at all.

He was deliberately making him look bad in front of so many people.

After all, Second Uncle was famous for being obsessed with saving face, but since things had already reached this point, Liu did not want to have made the trip for nothing.

As for Zhao Gangzi, his System Panel had increased by over three thousand Hatred Value from Liu Haizhong.

Now, Zhao Gangzi was even less likely to agree to let him sponge off his food and drink here.

"For Second Uncle to come and congratulate me, it naturally brings great honor to my humble dwelling, but you can't just come empty-handed, can you?"

"This..."

Liu Haizhong was momentarily speechless; he had not expected that Zhao Gangzi would actually dare to ask him for a gift—he was clearly determined to humiliate him!

"Furthermore, look at everyone at this table; aren't they all people who have done work for our family? You can't just eat and drink for free. How about this:

our family still has two large wardrobes; if you lend a hand and carry them to the Middle Courtyard, otherwise, please head back!"

Zhao Gangzi's words were crisp and decisive.

Even if Liu Haizhong wanted to play dumb, he could no longer do so.

The few masters on the side also understood; it turned out the relationship between these two was not very good!

At this moment, Liu Haizhong's old face turned pitch black.