Chapter 779: Tiger Fallen on the Plains

Nanluoguxiang

The winter night in the north was biting with cold wind. Cao Cao Weiguo stoked the coal stove until it was burning bright, and the whole room was warm. Little Ping'an was wobbling around, never idle. Seeing Song Song Yulan and Song Cousin Yujuan knitting sweaters, he mischievously ran over to pull at the yarn, then received two smacks on his little bottom, and ran to Cao Cao Weiguo for comfort, crying loudly.

"Don't cry. My Ping'an is a man; don't cry."

Cao Cao Weiguo picked up his son and placed him on his lap, scraping his son’s chubby cheeks, then reached out to grab a rattle.

Holding the rattle, Cao Ping'an stopped crying and began to play with Cao Cao Weiguo, giggling.

After playing for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Cao Cao Weiguo gave Song Song Yulan a look.

Song Song Yulan’s pretty face flushed. She understood, said a few words to Song Cousin Yujuan, and then coaxed her son to go back to the room with Song Cousin Yujuan to sleep.

Cao Cao Weiguo leaned in and hugged his little wife: "Wife, are you cold?"

Song Song Yulan shyly slapped Cao Cao Weiguo’s naughty hand: "Oh, your mind is only on that. Sister Juan hasn't gone far yet; have no shame."

"I’ve locked the door."

"You still have to wait a while; Sister Juan will be coming out to pour the foot-washing water in a moment."

"I’m uncomfortable."

"Have no shame, I really can't do anything with you."

"Good wife, I’ve missed you to death."

"Mm."

Accompanied by heart-stirring whispers, an indescribable activity caused the room temperature to rise rapidly. Even the biting cold winter could not block the thick spring atmosphere.

"Are you a wolf? How can you never get enough? Do you not want me to live?"

I don't know how much time passed, but the bustling bedroom gradually became quiet. Song Song Yulan weakly slapped Cao Cao Weiguo’s restless hand: "Stop moving."

Cao Cao Weiguo grabbed his wife’s hand with a cheeky grin: "Wife, you are so beautiful. Let’s give Ping'an a younger brother or sister. Look how lonely Ping'an is."

Song Song Yulan’s face was flushed: "You only know how to torment me. Who told me to marry you? You are the head of the house; whatever you say goes."

Cao Cao Weiguo hugged his wife tightly: "Wife, you are so good."

Song Song Yulan said lazily: "Cao Weiguo, when I was selling vegetables this afternoon, I passed by the Red Star Sihe Academy and heard that Yi Yi Zhonghai is back."

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Mm, he’s back."

Song Song Yulan: "Is he okay?"

Cao Cao Weiguo shook his head: "Don't know, forget him. That old thing is no good bird anyway. From now on, our family should just not associate with his family. Let him do whatever he wants. As long as we don't cross paths, don't bother with him. That old dog is full of evil schemes. Even if you run into him on the road, don't greet him; just treat him like air."

Song Song Yulan had always been obedient to Cao Cao Weiguo’s words. Lying in his hot embrace, she nodded meekly: "I know."

Cao Cao Weiguo’s hand began to be restless again, and he laughed wickedly: "Wife, you’ve worked hard lately; let me serve you well."

"Oh!"

……

Red Star Sihe Academy

Yi Yi Zhonghai brought Lady Yi and the Deaf Old Lady to the door of the Jia family to discuss borrowing a room with Qin Qin Huairu and Jia Jia Zhangshi. It was no wonder Seeing Shazhu brought up renting a house at the dinner table; four people squeezed into one room was truly awkward, especially with the smell on Seeing Shazhu. If you didn't close the window, you’d freeze to death; if you closed it, you’d be suffocated by the stench.

Moreover, there was only one single bed in He He Yushui’s room, which naturally went to the oldest, the Deaf Old Lady. Lady Yi and Seeing Shazhu each built two beds with bricks and wooden boards, which was barely enough to sleep on, but this left no room to step in the room. Once Yi Yi Zhonghai returned, it was even worse—they couldn't even squeeze in.

There was no other way but to think of another method. After thinking it over, Yi Yi Zhonghai shamelessly went to find Old Li in the front courtyard to borrow a room.

That’s right, borrow, not rent.

Yi Yi Zhonghai pulled Old Li and said: "Old Li, your wife passed away early, and your son is a soldier out of town. You living alone in these two rooms is truly a waste, and it’s been empty for too long without any human presence. I’ve come to you today to discuss whether you can lend me that empty room to live in."

Old Li pushed Yi Yi Zhonghai’s hand away: "Old Yi, what are you saying? Lend me your empty house to live in? What kind of beautiful dream are you having! Whether my house is empty or not is my business; it has nothing to do with you. You open your mouth and ask me to lend you a house—you’re so old, and you don't even know how to be ashamed."

Yi Yi Zhonghai angrily brought out his signature skill and began to lecture Old Li: "Old Li, how can you talk like that? One cannot be too selfish. Back when your wife passed away, I was the one running around to organize the funeral. When you were in trouble, I didn't stand idly by. How can you turn your back on me now that I’m in trouble? As neighbors living in the same courtyard, we should support each other when one is in trouble and live in harmony. You tell me, how can you be so selfish? You clearly have an empty house with no one living in it, while we are homeless. Can’t you lend the house to us? Can’t you have a spirit of helping others? Old Li, you are not a selfish person in my heart. If you are so selfish and only care about yourself, be careful that no one will help you when you encounter trouble in the future."

"Yi Yi Zhonghai, what are you saying! Who is selfish! You have the nerve to call me selfish! You old bastard! What face do you have to point fingers at me! You did organize my funeral back then, but you didn't get less benefit from it, did you? Didn't I give you wine? Didn't you take all the leftovers? And you had Seeing Shazhu cook, charging one Brother Yuan for labor per table—twice as much as others. Do you think I’m a fool? I just didn't want to bother with you. You have the nerve to come here and claim credit? Do you have any shame? You dog, why didn't you die outside? You’ve done so many dirty and rotten things; you deserve to be a childless household, you deserve to sleep on the street. Get out, don't be an eyesore in my house. Be careful, or I’ll slap you to death."

This Old Li had been a militiaman and had worked in the Security Section for several years. Although he was usually silent and kept to himself in the courtyard, this old comrade didn't cause trouble, but that didn't mean he was afraid of it. Back then, he had used a big sword to hack at puppet soldiers; who was he trying to act like a hooligan with!

Facing the straightforward and aggressive Old Li, even Yi Yi Zhonghai, whose face was thicker than a city wall and who was used to moral kidnapping, couldn't help but feel intimidated. He was left speechless by the scolding and left in a sorry state with an ugly expression.

It was clearly impossible to talk to Old Li. Looking at it this way, even if he paid to rent a house, Old Li wouldn't rent to him. Since that was the case, he wouldn't ask for trouble. Taking advantage of the quiet of the night, he knocked on the Jia family’s door.

Soon, the two widows famous in Nanluoguxiang came out together. Jia Jia Zhangshi sprayed Yi Yi Zhonghai: "Yi Yi Zhonghai, you old thing, do you still want any face? Knocking on a widow’s door in the middle of the night—aren't you afraid of losing face? We, the Jia family, are afraid of losing face. If this gets out, won't our Jia family be pointed at by others?"

Yi Yi Zhonghai hurriedly said: "Old Sister-in-law, keep your voice down. I’m looking for you for a serious matter; I’m here to give you money."

Jia Jia Zhangshi’s eyes lit up: "Giving money? Where is the money? Bring it here quickly."

Yi Yi Zhonghai said: "Old Sister-in-law, don't be in such a hurry. You know that my house was sold, and now we have no place to live. Four people are squeezed into He He Yushui’s room; it’s really impossible to live. So I want to rent a place from you so we have a place to stay."

Jia Jia Zhangshi glared: "You old shameless thing, what kind of beautiful dream are you having? We have two widows in our house; you moving in—what kind of thing is that? No, you don't want face, but we do."

Yi Yi Zhonghai hurriedly said: "Old Sister-in-law, don't be in a hurry. Listen to me. I won't move into your house. Sha Zhuzi and I will still live in He Yushui’s room; my wife and the Deaf Old Lady will live in your house."

Jia Jia Zhangshi narrowed her eyes: "Then how much money are you giving? Let me tell you, it won't work if it’s too little. Our Jia family is a place of good feng shui. If it weren't for the sake of you being Jia Dongxu’s master, I would never agree to this."

Yi Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth: "I’ll give your family one Brother Yuan a month."

Jia Jia Zhangshi spat at Yi Yi Zhonghai: "Ptooey! You have the nerve to say that! Do you think our family is begging for food! One Brother Yuan isn't even enough to fill the gaps between teeth. If you can't afford it, don't live here. Public toilets are free; you can go live in a public toilet."

Yi Yi Zhonghai wiped the sour-smelling spit off his face and asked with forbearance: "Then how much do you want?"

Jia Jia Zhangshi raised a hand: "Considering the relationship between our two families, you give me five Brother Yuan a month. Not a penny less."

Yi Yi Zhonghai was stunned by Jia Jia Zhangshi’s lion’s mouth: "What, five Brother Yuan! Why don't you go rob someone!"

Jia Jia Zhangshi crossed her arms and sneered: "Just five Brother Yuan. Take it or leave it. If you think it’s expensive, you can go live in another house. See if anyone is willing to take you in. Don't forget, you are not an ordinary person now. Although you were released, Liu Haizhong said you are still under suspicion and could be taken away again at any time. I don't believe anyone can take you in."

"You! You!"

Yi Yi Zhonghai was trembling with anger, his teeth almost shattered.

Qin Qin Huairu pretended to persuade: "Mom, what are you doing? Although our family is not easy, Uncle Yi helped our family a lot in the past, and we should repay Uncle Yi."

"Presumptuous! Qin Qin Huairu! What are you? When did you have a say in the Jia family! Don't forget! This is the Jia family’s house; it’s not your turn, a person surnamed Qin, to make decisions! Get back to the room. Coming out to see a man in the middle of the night—aren't you ashamed?"

Jia Jia Zhangshi turned to Qin Qin Huairu and shouted sharply, scolding Qin Qin Huairu until she was ashamed and resentful. Yi Yi Zhonghai was moved and felt heartache: "Old Sister-in-law, don't scold Qin Huairu anymore. I accept Qin Huairu’s heart. Five Brother Yuan is five Brother Yuan, but my wife and the Deaf Old Lady must move into your house today."

Jia Jia Zhangshi said: "Fine, then from now until the end of the month counts as one month."