Chapter 1090

After the thirtieth comes the first day of the New Year.

Just as the sky was brightening, Shazhu led the three siblings—Banggeng, Xiaodang, and Huaihua—to sneak into Xu Damao's home to demand New Year's money.

The three children knelt before Xu Damao's bed, tapping their bowls and reciting the *shulaibao* rhymes Shazhu had taught them; Xu Damao, trapped under his quilt, had no choice but to grit his teeth and pay up.

After getting the money from Xu Damao, Shazhu took Banggeng and his siblings to the Yan family, repeating the same trick to make the Third Uncle pay up.

As for Cao Weiguo?

He was a leader in the factory, and Shazhu still felt a bit intimidated by him.

Offending him on such a big holiday—if Cao Weiguo played dirty and kicked him out of the cafeteria, wouldn't that be a loss?

However, was the Third Uncle's money really that easy to get?

After breakfast, the three managing uncles organized a New Year's greeting meeting.

One eight-immortal table, three tea mugs.

As the First Uncle of the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai started with an opening, and then the three uncles began discussing the New Year's greeting meeting.

After Liu Haizhong threw out some fancy words, the Third Uncle began to denounce Shazhu.

"Everyone agreed to the New Year's greetings, but there's someone who insists on acting alone!"

The residents asked curiously, "Who is it! Who is so bold! Daring to disobey the decision of you three old brothers!"

Yan Fugui said angrily, "Who else could it be! Shazhu, of course! Alright! This morning, just as the sky was brightening, he brought the three children from Qin Huairu's family, plopped down at our doorstep, knelt, and started wishing us a Happy New Year. First Uncle, Second Uncle, you two tell me, could I not give them money?"

The Third Aunt clapped her hands angrily, "They knelt on the ground and wouldn't leave unless they got money!"

Xu Damao shouted indignantly, "Third Uncle! Let me tell you! I had the same experience! If you don't believe me, ask my wife. Early in the morning, we were still in bed when these three brats came in, plopped down on their knees, and started shouting for money with chopsticks and bowls. I couldn't not give it! I dare say, this whole thing was instigated by Shazhu."

The Second Uncle, Liu Haizhong, asked with a pretentious tone, "Shazhu! Is what this Xu Damao and this Third Uncle said true?"

Shazhu replied righteously, "It's true."

Liu Haizhong asked, "Why!"

Shazhu feigned innocence, "No reason, just wanted to wish them a Happy New Year, for good luck."

Liu Haizhong said with a straight face, "Did you attend the meeting that day or not?"

Shazhu played dumb, "Did I? I don't remember clearly!"

Liu Haizhong glared at Shazhu, "You're being unreasonable!"

The Second Aunt, Third Aunt, and others chimed in from the side, "Exactly! He's playing dumb!"

Liu Haizhong looked at Yi Zhonghai, "I say, Old Yi! You tell me, for someone like this! Someone who has no respect for elders! No respect for the rules of the courtyard! What should be done?"

Yi Zhonghai kicked the ball away, "Everyone speak! Everyone say what should be done!"

Xu Damao said, "What else? Compensation! Make him spit the money back out! Without rules, there's no order! If this continues, these three uncles will have no prestige in the courtyard!"

Yan Fugui dropped his melon seed shells and looked at Shazhu, "Isn't that right! This is unheard of! Wishing a Happy New Year is one thing! Kneeling and kowtowing, fine! But tapping bowls, like a beggar—my whole year is going to be unlucky."

Xu Damao, "Exactly! Refund the money!"

The money was taken by Banggeng and the three children; Xu Damao wanted to find Qin Huairu, but she had hidden away early in the morning.

With no other choice, everyone told Shazhu to refund the money first.

Shazhu sat on the bench in a grand manner, "Come on! Refund it!"

Yan Fugui looked at Shazhu, "I'm telling you to refund the money, what's with that attitude of yours!"

Shazhu acted rowdy, "Want money? Kowtow to me! Don't you get it! Did the three kids kowtow to you or not! Surely that kowtow wasn't for free! You want the money but don't want to return the kowtow, how does that work! Third Uncle! However you kowtow to me, that's how I'll refund the money to you. Of course, you're the Third Uncle, I can't let you kowtow, so who—Yan Jiecheng, come kowtow to me on behalf of your father. You kowtow to me, and I'll refund the money."

This made Yan Jiecheng so angry he started cursing, "Shazhu, you're full of crap!"

Shazhu pointed at Yan Jiecheng and scolded, "Listen! Everyone listen! Is this the kind of talk from a teacher's child? No respect for elders! Not kowtowing, right? Fine! No money!"

These words made the Third Uncle grit his teeth and shake his head, wishing he could slap Shazhu a few times.

At this moment, Shazhu turned his spear toward Xu Damao, "Xu Damao! He Wenjie! Come! You two are a couple, just step forward, kowtow to me, and I'll refund the money to you!"

He Wenjie was so angry she picked up a bench to hit him, "Shazhu! You're bullying people, right! See if I don't beat you to death!"

"Ouch!"

Caught off guard, Shazhu took a hit on the shoulder and fell flat on his back on the spot.

Xu Damao rushed over and kicked him, "Shazhu, you bastard! Still want me to kowtow to you! Grandpa here will kick you to death first!"

Seeing his godson being beaten, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly stood up and shouted, "What are you doing! What are you doing! Fighting on such a big holiday! Is the New Year over!"

Shazhu struggled up from the ground, grabbed a bench, and was about to start fighting when Cao Weiguo shouted sternly, "Shazhu! It's one thing to stir up trouble on the New Year! Why do you want to fight! Is the New Year's Eve dinner not to your liking, or do you want to go eat cornmeal buns in jail!"

Yi Zhonghai grabbed Shazhu's arm, "Zhuzi, you can't make a move!"

Shazhu glared with his bull-like eyes, "So I just took a beating for nothing!"

Xu Damao shouted, "You deserved that beating! Stirring up trouble on the New Year! Refund my money!"

Shazhu stiffened his neck, "Kowtow! You return the kowtow, and I'll return the money!"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth in anger; He Wenjie pulled Xu Damao away, "Let's go! It's not worth it on the New Year! We'll settle this account with him later!"

Shazhu looked at Xu Damao and his wife and shouted, "Don't go! Kowtow! I'm waiting to refund your money!"

Seeing this, the Second Uncle, Liu Haizhong, waved his hand, "Alright! Disperse, disperse! Everyone is still busy!"

Shazhu looked at the Third Uncle, "Third Uncle, don't you want your money anymore?"

Yan Fugui pointed at Shazhu, "Shazhu! You remember this! From now on! I won't lower myself to your level!"

Shazhu glared, "Third Uncle! I won't bother with you on New Year's Eve! But on the first day of the New Year, I must piss you off! I'll make you take things and not get the job done!"

Yan Fugui spat in anger, "Pah!"

Shazhu opened his mouth to retaliate, "Pah, pah!"

The Third Aunt pushed Yan Fugui away, pointing angrily at Shazhu, "You stirrer of shit! You're not a human being!"

Once the Third Uncle, Third Aunt, and the neighbors left, only Shazhu was left standing alone in the courtyard.

The perfectly good New Year's greeting meeting had been ruined by Shazhu just like that!