Chapter 8

This must be lard blocking the heart; I've only ever heard of it happening to someone, and now I've actually seen it.

Chen Hong concluded.

Yang Qing also said.

One can only say that one thing subdues another; Jia Zhangshi fears neither heaven nor earth, only fears Old Lady Long; Sha Zhu doesn't care about anyone, but upon meeting Qin Huairu he becomes a dog; in this courtyard everyone bullies me, except the deaf old lady who never provokes me; she knows that pushing someone to desperation means "person dies, net breaks"; as an old lady she is the most dangerous; the world is just so wonderful.

Chen Hong thought about the affairs in this courtyard, and her head felt numb; forging iron still requires one's own strength; as the Family of a Martyr, we can only start to use it, relying on our new status; you cause trouble as soon as someone new arrives, and that's entirely your fault.

After a long time, the deterrent effect won't be that strong; most will just treat it as a neighborhood dispute, otherwise the Martyr's Family would run rampant.

Come eat, eat more, grow strong; if anyone bullies us, we'll beat them up.

In a bit, don't really hold a big meeting as you said.

Upon hearing that, Yang Qing hurriedly opened the pot and scooped rice, each person a bowl of congee, and they began eating it noisily.

Not long after, someone indeed came to notify that the central courtyard would hold a meeting.

Chen Hong and Yang Qing glanced at each other, then continued eating at a leisurely pace.

Knowing full well they were targeting us, who would rush over?

At least we need to eat our fill and drink enough to have the strength to contend with them.

While they were scrubbing the pots and pans with snow, they already urged us for a second round.

As soon as we entered the central courtyard, Liu Hai Zhong's loud voice started blaring.

Yang Qing, do you still have any discipline, do you still have any organization?

In such cold weather, making so many people wait for you, who do you think you are?

Chen Hong and Yang Qing completely ignored his words, instead squeezing together and leaning against the Moon Gate from afar.

You hold your meeting, don't bother us.

Yi Zhonghai tapped the table and said.

Yang Qing, you two come up front and tell us your matter.

Yang Qing stretched his head out from Chen Hong's armpit and said doubtfully.

Elder Uncle, what business do I have with you? My family's belongings have already been emptied out by you.

Everything else was brought by my wife, and she is a Martyr's Family.

If you dare to take her things, just wait to eat gunfire.

Having said that, he immediately shrank his head back.

Chen Hong said nothing, merely coldly staring at everyone present from within the shadows.

For a moment the scene grew a little quiet.

Cough cough……

Today we're discussing your marriage; according to the old custom, one courtyard gets one table of food—let's hold it this weekend.

Yang Qing poked his head out again.

Then everyone should first produce the gift money; over the years I've also given plenty of gifts, gifts should be reciprocated, and this year it's my turn to receive.

Yi Zhonghai.

Yours won't be missing, old custom—when the time comes, San Da Ye will write the gift register.

Yang Qing knows full well what they're planning; nowadays it's a famine year, grain rations keep being cut, and black-market grain prices keep rising.

Now holding a banquet would first ruin their reputation; holding a feast in such times is practically inviting disaster—others are starving, yet you, a capitalist's child, would open the feast.

By then Chen Hong's reputation would likely be ruined; who would sympathize with someone like her?

Second, they want to starve him to death; if they go ahead with it, what will they eat later? If they really do it, he guarantees the gift money will absolutely not cover even a tenth of the banquet's cost.

With such a huge shortfall, how could it be made up? Yi Zhonghai, that bastard, will definitely take the opportunity to borrow money.

If they can't repay it then, the house will cover the debt.

Elder Uncle, we have no money; otherwise, let's first collect the gift money and I'll take it to make preparations.

Yi Zhonghai disagreed.

Who ever heard of collecting gift money first? San Da Ye, you tell me, isn't that right?

Yan Fu Gui nodded.

There's no such reasoning, there's no such reasoning; this breaks the rule and invites ridicule.

I think, Little Yang, you should first borrow some money, then repay it with the gift money later.

Yi Zhonghai said generously.

I have a hundred here; Yang Qing, take it and use it first.

A crowd of people also chimed in.

Yang Qing, Elder Uncle has already put up the money for you; why don't you agree quickly?

Exactly, exactly.

Upon hearing that, Chen Hong took a few steps to Yi Zhonghai, reached out and grabbed the money into her hand.

After a few more steps, she returned to the Moon Gate.

Yi Zhonghai saw this and immediately became pleased.

Good, the matter is settled; Zhuzi, you're the head cook, help Yang Qing buy the vegetables.

This weekend we'll hold the feast.

Hold the feast, hold the feast……

A crowd of people shouted excitedly.

In their hearts they were thinking, just give a single cent as gift money, a token gesture, and by then they figured Yang Qing wouldn't dare make a big fuss.

Even Jia Zhangshi didn't want to contribute a single cent.

Chen Hong said at this moment.

"This matter should be left to Director Wang to handle, after all she is the matchmaker for the two of us."

"Whatever Director Wang says we should do, we'll do."

"Besides, didn't the elder say to settle the account with the wedding gifts?"

"Just give everything to the elder; any excess will be returned, any shortfall made up."

The courtyard fell silent in an instant; Yi Zhonghai's face turned as black as a pot bottom, and he hurriedly said.

"Well, this is a courtyard matter; we'd better not disturb Director Wang."

Chen Hong snorted.

"A courtyard matter?"

"Hehe………."

"Elder, in this year of famine you force the two of us to hold a banquet, that's no longer a courtyard matter."

"You want us to die."

"Putting aside the fact that we have not a single cent left, in this famine year you make us hold a banquet, you make the whole Jingcheng look at us, forcing us to stand out now—what are you trying to do?"

"This is a courtyard matter? This is murder and heart‑punishment."

"This is a blindfold for the bigger picture; what's your ulterior motive?"

Yang Qing also poked his head out.

"These years the elder has forced me to give out wedding gifts; it's not two hundred, but about one hundred and eighty, right?"

"Elder, remember to collect the money and send the eighty coins to the two of us."

"We're poor; in the dead of winter we can't even light a single coal fire. You mustn't cheat us out of our money."

"Wife, let's go back and crawl into the quilt to warm up; unlike others who have coal fires, we can only rely on hot blood for warmth."

Saying that, the two of them sauntered away, leaving behind a crowd waiting for the banquet.

San Da Ye.

"Old Yi, this banquet—are we still going to eat it?"

"Let me tell you, the wedding gifts can't even reach one hundred and eighty; at most a few dozen."

He looked around.

"I think it won't exceed ten coins."

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened; with a slap, he struck the table.

"Eat? Eat a fart? Whoever has ever received Yang Qing's wedding gifts, remember to send them to me."

"As for the eighty coins, forget it; after enduring so much, how could he possibly give them?"

"What's most infuriating is that Yang Qing got a hundred coins."

"This is like trying to steal a chicken and ending up losing the rice; it turns out the wedding gifts are something Yang Qing will never return."

"After all his hard work, it only cheapened Yang Qing."

"Especially Chen Hong's words, which tore his disguise apart and painted him as a scheming petty person."

"We'll cancel the wedding; that'll save us from people saying our intentions are bad. Who am I working so hard for?"

"A dog bites Lü Dongbin, not recognizing a good heart."

Having said that, he turned and went home.