Chapter 42: Bait, the Treasure for Pacifying the Home

In a famine year, cooks won't starve—this saying refers to the unique aspect of this skill.

Speaking of cooking skills, Yang Qing still has some ability; he runs errands, eats a lot, has seen a lot, and occasionally cooks.

But in this era, cooking skills also require grading.

As an amateur cook, he probably can't easily snatch a bowl from others.

If he dares to cut prices randomly, he'll likely be besieged; if he doesn't cut prices, why would anyone hire an amateur cook when there are ready-made cooks?

The cook's circle is also a martial world.

However, one can start by filling in as a substitute.

Yang Qing bid farewell to the old lady, on his way back he turned into the Jiedao Office, and from Aunt Liu he obtained Chen Hong's temporary worker paperwork.

When Director Liu handed him the paperwork, he told him.

"Go to your Jiedao Office to register; also, Director Wang is looking for you."

Seeing Director Liu's scrutinizing gaze, Yang Qing knew he had been sold out.

Indeed, upon seeing Yang Qing, Director Wang started scolding.

"Yang Qing, I never expected you to be hiding things from me."

"These past two years, I've worried myself sick for you, yet you eat well and sleep well!"

Faced with Aunt Wang's aggressive stare, Yang Qing surrendered.

"Auntie, don't get angry first; ruining your health isn't worth it."

"Think carefully, haven't I told you I can handle it?"

"Jia Zhangshi has allocated me a fixed amount of grain; you want to manage it, but I already told you my grain supply is sufficient."

"I've hinted to you several times already."

Director Wang strode up to him in a few steps and poked his forehead with her finger.

"Or am I wrong? Am I not smart enough?"

"Speak plainly about this—could you die? Could I still take it from you?"

Yang Qing drooped his head and recalled the past.

Ah, those damned days.

"Wasn't I timid back then? I feared the news would leak; if it really did, I'd be finished."

"These past two years, I can't find any odd jobs."

Seeing his state, Director Wang couldn't muster anger either.

She returned to her seat and began talking about another matter.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this for now."

"Your house repair matter—don't know who leaked it—today a crowd surged over to watch the spectacle."

"Master Lei fears trouble, so he told you to go back and handle it."

Upon hearing that, Yang Qing immediately perked up; things are developing according to his plan.

Many go to see, not to check whether those capitalists' houses have left any valuables behind?

They might even be probing that portion of unexplained wealth.

Let them go look; he couldn't ask for more.

Moreover, when outsiders enter the big courtyard, they inevitably clash with its residents.

Let them fight like dogs—how entertaining.

Decided, these days he'll avoid going home as much as possible, letting them revel.

I reckon Master Lei can still hold the fort.

"Ah, did this happen?"

Yang Qing feigned surprise.

"What's there to see about house repairs?"

Director Wang gave him a complex look.

"Who knows what madness they've caught."

"Go chase them away; don't let them delay Master Lei's work."

Yang Qing agreed repeatedly.

"Alright, I'll go back now to maintain order."

"Watching the spectacle is fine, but we can't delay work, right?"

After bidding farewell to Aunt Wang, Yang Qing headed straight home.

Sure enough, a crowd gathered around his house to watch the spectacle.

Yang Qing finally squeezed in, discovering that the courtyard's residents were at the front, firmly blocking the outsiders.

Meanwhile, Master Lei kept shouting.

"Hey, what's there to see about house repairs? Everyone, don't crowd forward—it's dangerous."

San Da Ma spoke confidently.

"Yang Qing is one of our courtyard's people; of course we must watch over him."

"Things like beam-pressing money, peace-of-the-house money—all have their reasons; we can't break the rules and harm the fortune."

San Da Ma isn't just talking; she actually knows quite a bit.

Perhaps when they previously demolished other rooms, she had seen it.

Others hearing this chimed in agreement.

"Yes, yes, this is a major matter; we can't be careless."

According to rumor, this lintel money cannot touch the ground.

I also heard that this house-guarding money has its own sayings.

What sayings?

Hehe, ordinary families use copper coins, wealthy families possibly use silver coins, and rich and noble families possibly use gold coins.

This house-guarding money is a kind of lintel money, and it indeed carries great significance.

The people in the courtyard listened and became even more excited.

Go away, go away, what sayings? That's our courtyard's business, what does it have to do with you.

I said why are there so many people coming today; it turns out you're aiming for this.

Get lost, get lost out of our courtyard.

The outsiders became excited.

On what basis?

This is Yang Qing's house; on what basis do you drive people away.

I understand; initially they demolished four rooms of theirs, and now they won't let these three rooms go either.

You people of the big courtyard are really ruthless.

The people of the big courtyard.

What do you mean, framing us?

Cut it out, you still use framing; who among us doesn't know who?

Get out, drive them out.

As for driving them out, our big courtyard does not welcome you.

I still want to see.

I won't let you see.

Ah, you stepped on my foot.

You deserved it.

Ah, you did it on purpose, my foot.

The crowd pushed and shoved, seeing that things were about to get out of control, Yang Qing regretted; it's not the time to have come back.

He is now here, cannot ignore such matters, can only step forward and speak.

Ah ah ah!

Everyone listen to me.

This lintel money and house-guarding money only exist in the main room; this annex room, or side room, does not have them.

This place used to be where the inner family cooked and washed clothes; how could there be such things.

If there were, it would be in those middle rooms.

Yang Qing pointed; that area is all garbage.

The crowd instantly looked over.

Someone said.

Ah, this house has become rubble.

Another person said softly.

Are you stupid? The lintel money is gone, but the house-guarding money is still there.

It's underground.

For a moment the crowd looked at that garbage heap, their eyes shining.

Upon hearing this, Yang Qing almost laughed out loud; this comic relief came just in time.

He walked up to the people of the big courtyard and spoke softly.

They say that place still has house-guarding money; is that true?

Yi Da Ma shook her head.

I don't know.

Er Dama: 'It should be there.'

San Da Ma: 'I didn't notice at first.'

Longtou Da Ma: 'It's buried in the ground, so of course you can't see it.'

Yang Qing stroked his beard.

In a few hours it'll be off work; then let the elders decide.

Letting the elders decide means Yang Qing pushes this possible house-guarding money onto the big courtyard.

After that he also didn't care about this matter.

Seeing Master Lei, Yang Qing said.

Ah, even repairing a house is this lively.

At this moment, Master Lei relaxed his whole body and exhaled.

Who says it isn't? I'm also seeing for the first time people watching a house being repaired, watching to this extent.

You've come just in time; today we'll finish removing the tiles.

Tomorrow we'll repair the beams, columns, purlins and rafters; this is the most time-consuming, needing to replace the rotten and problematic parts, and for minor cracks we need to reinforce and also do pest control.

It won't take more than a few days.

You said double-layer doors and windows, so almost everything needs to be completely dismantled and remade.

The rest is the wall issue; some places have already collapsed, needing to be demolished and rebuilt.

Some parts of the foundation have sunk and cracked due to poor maintenance, and they also need to be dealt with.

Finally, it's the floor; the floor tiles are extensively damaged and need to be replaced.

How do you plan to handle it?

Yang Qing exclaimed in surprise.

Could Master Lei still get floor tiles?

Lei Shifu shook his head.

There aren't any; those are used only in important places, and we can't get them.

We have a few options here; you choose.

One is to lay blue bricks, two is to apply cement, three is to go elsewhere to find old floor tiles to patch with.

Finally, if you need, some people have gold bricks stored at home; I can help you gather them and lay them down, but the cost would be rather high.

Yang Qing was tempted by the gold bricks, but he dared not use them.

Blue bricks are hard to clean, and cement floors are also not good, mainly because they are used too much and are troublesome.

Like this, Master Lei, you see which of the floor tiles here are still usable and keep them; the unusable ones, we'll cut out the damaged parts and piece them together.

Afterwards, he pointed outside again.

There are still floor tiles in four rooms over there; they're insisting on digging up the house-guarding money, so when they dig, you keep the floor tiles.

Sorry for the trouble, everyone; I'll charge a processing fee.

What do you think?

Lei Shifu originally didn't want to get involved in that trouble, but when Yang Qing said he'd pay extra, he held back.

Originally, the situation here was too complicated; we didn't want to invite complications, but since you said so, we also want to give you face, so I've taken on this job.

Yang Qing was overjoyed upon hearing that.

Then thank you, Master Lei; if there are enough floor tiles, we'll also lay them in this courtyard and the shed to the south.

If there are any left over, we'll lay a path leading into the courtyard.

These days, while you're building the house, I'll go to Shichahai to fish for you.

I'll definitely not let anyone down.

Lei Shifu and his fellow workers, upon hearing that, were all delighted.

This host is not bad; he provides meals and even fish.

Workers, make sure the work is done carefully; don't let down the host's kindness.