Chapter 110: Reading

In the courtyard, San Da Ye is currently the happiest.

He had actually gotten in Chen Hong's good graces before she revealed the old lady's identity.

He gave himself a thumbs-up for being clever.

Unlike Yi Zhonghai's fawning, he seemed much more sincere.

Moreover, he and Chen Hong were on the same front.

"My goodness," suddenly San Da Ye stood up.

From now on, Yan Fu Gui dared to speak a little louder in this courtyard.

That was doubly satisfying.

Thinking about these, he pulled two scallions out of his own flowerpot.

San Da Ma took a look.

"Head of the household, we're having corn porridge today—why are you pulling scallions?"

Yan Fu Gui straightened his back, holding the two scallions.

"What do you know?"

"I'm taking these to Yang Qing—his family has a happy occasion today, I'm going to go season things for him."

"I won't be eating at home."

Saying that, he walked off toward the backyard with his hands behind his back.

He knew that Sha Zhu was cooking at Yang Qing's place today.

Moreover, since it was the old lady's first day visiting, Yang Qing couldn't afford to do a poor job.

Wrong.

He thought of something and turned back.

Today is a happy occasion; he couldn't be clueless—mooching a meal was fine, but he couldn't mooch all the staple food.

That would make people dislike him.

San Da Ma watched Yan Fu Gui hurry back; before she could speak, he grabbed two steamed buns and rushed out again.

By then, He Yuzhu had already summoned his wife and He Yushui.

Liu Shumin still felt a bit embarrassed.

Since she married in, she's never given the Yang family a pleasant look.

Now going to someone else's house to mooch a meal makes her lose face a bit.

"Sha Zhu, maybe I shouldn't go?"

"Our two families aren't on good terms—how awkward would that be?"

He Yuzhu brought all his family's steamed buns.

"There's nothing awkward—I go out to cook for others for five bucks; what's wrong with him sharing a dish?"

"Just eat."

He Yushui now couldn't quite figure out his sister-in-law's character.

To say she's been especially good to him—no, she's been the same as before; but at least there's no problem with meals.

Because Qin Huairu stopped mooching off them, there's enough grain.

If you say she's not good, her words sound pleasant, but mostly they're just talk—you can only listen.

Moreover, she discovered that over the past two days, the household grain has decreased.

He Yushui sighed.

This sister-in-law not only takes money to support her natal family, but she's even started taking rations.

"Ah, we don't know anything, we can't say anything."

All the way to the backyard, he saw Yi Da Ma walking out.

Yi Da Ma saw He Yuzhu's family.

"Zhuzi, what's this?"

Liu Shumin spoke directly.

"Yang Qing invited us over to eat together."

Yi Da Ma took one look at Liu Shumin's attitude toward her and knew this woman knew a lot.

"Ah, then go ahead."

He also didn't say much more and just left.

Arriving at Yang Qing's house, the old lady, seeing that she hadn't seen He Yushui before, pulled out a few pieces of candy and stuffed them into her hand.

"Eat candy, eat candy—this young lady, aside from being a bit thin, is a beauty."

"She'll marry into a good family someday."

When He Yuzhu heard the old lady say He Yushui was thin, he felt embarrassed and went straight to the outdoor stove.

Yang Qing had already washed and prepared the vegetables.

This was his specialty, and it wouldn't be right to let He the cook do it.

After all, according to his observation, Liu Shumin was no penny-pincher.

In the future, He Yuzhu would likely be the one to suffer.

The two of them were outside preparing the vegetables.

A group of women were inside chatting.

Such a sight was uncommon at this time.

At that moment, Yan Fu Gui also came over.

He Yuzhu saw Yan Fu Gui holding two scallions and two steamed buns, and teased.

San Da Ye, what a good calculation!

Two scallions exchanged for a meal.

Yan Fu Gui said unhappily.

What exchange?

You're here to help; the scallions are just for flavoring.

I'm afraid that after helping, Yang Qing won't let me leave.

Nowadays everyone's having a tough time; I'm not just bringing my own dry rations, am I?

We can't let Yang Qing lose the staple food as well.

Sha Zhu, don't say that about me?

I also brought a steamed bun; you're just a rice-eater.

Yang Qing needed to come out and smooth things over at this point.

It's nothing; Comrade He Yuzhu brought a pot of steamed buns.

His family is eating here today.

San Da Ye, you've brought the right scallions; we're just missing two.

Saying that, he enthusiastically took the two scallions.

A gift sent a thousand miles may be light, but the sentiment is heavy; San Da Ye, I, Yang Qing, accept this kindness. Let's interact more in the future. Bring the steamed buns over, and I'll steam them together.

Yang Qing's words made San Da Ye very happy.

Still, Yang Qing knows how to speak.

San Da Ye's place isn't lacking in matters either.

If anything comes up in the future, just come find me.

Those who have the ability to help, San Da Ye will definitely help.

Yang Qing laughed upon hearing that.

Ah, that's great.

Now I really have another matter; please trouble San Da Ye.

"Gah!" San Da Ye almost choked.

Polite talk, polite talk—do you understand?

You can't borrow money or grain from me; my family's also having a hard time.

Yang Qing, you, you say...

His speech was a bit stammering.

Yang Qing found it a bit funny; San Da Ye cares most about money and food, and in these times he's also most afraid of others borrowing grain or money.

It's nothing big; I just can't read characters.

I just thought I'd study a bit myself.

In the future I might need to trouble San Da Ye to explain the meaning of characters.

Yan Fu Gui, upon hearing it was this matter, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Oh, it's this matter; it's simple—just ask me if you don't know.

If you have time to attend school lectures, that's fine; I'll arrange it for you.

Yan Fu Gui's ready agreement also exceeded Yang Qing's expectations.

Elder, you're not going to extort something, are you?

San Da Ye was still relieved that Yang Qing hadn't borrowed money or grain, and didn't have the bandwidth to think about this.

He Yuzhu hadn't expected Yang Qing to actually want to study.

Yang Qing, you do odd jobs all day; you don't need to study, right?

What, you think studying will get you a job?

You should know Yan Jie Cheng graduated middle school but still has no job.

You're half-baked, with even less hope.

Yang Qing laughed.

Study, study—at least learn to recognize characters and numbers.

My wife finished junior high; I at least ought to be able to read and recognize characters.

He Yuzhu didn't care; his wife is still a high school student, so what—she still married him.

The key is still having skill; look at our culinary skills—we not only get by in the factory, but can also marry a pretty high school girl.

What's the use of studying and recognizing characters? Yan Jie Cheng still can't find a job, just doing odd jobs everywhere.

Yan Fu Gui, however, thought differently from Sha Zhu.

Yang Qing's idea is good.

Studying may not determine how well you can get by.

But studying and recognizing characters set your lower limit.

Don't think that Jiecheng, lacking a formal job and doing odd jobs, is the same as an illiterate person doing odd jobs; in this regard, Yang Qing should know.

Moreover, in the work assignment priority, Jiecheng is also ranked ahead.

What Yan Fu Gui said was indeed the case.

If Yan Jie Cheng hadn't hit the big layoff, he wouldn't have been unemployed for so long, only able to do odd jobs.