Chapter 65: They will surely be drowned in the vast sea of the working people!

Usually, these aunties are the least united.

At the slightest thing, they first ponder, then scheme.

But this time, everyone is on the same side; we definitely need to help Lu Yuan speak up.

This isn't helping Lu Yuan; it's so we can all eat a bit more meat!

Immediately, Lu Yuan led seven or eight highly respected aunties from the courtyard, marching proudly to the middle courtyard and knocked on Kou Yang's door.

When the door opened, we saw Kou Yang yawning.

These aunties first lurked outside, not entering; if Lu Yuan's persuasion didn't work, then we'd go in and speak.

Kou Yang saw Lu Yuan standing alone at the door and couldn't help frowning:

"What are you doing?!"

Lu Yuan chuckled, squeezed straight into the house, then said:

"Like this: the day after tomorrow, I and your sister-in-law are preparing a feast; we need a cook—you and your dad come help?"

After Lu Yuan finished, Kou Yang blinked, then raised an eyebrow:

"You should have thrown a feast for Sister Su long ago!!"

"Is Sister Su easy to take for granted? She works every day and waits on you; in this winter month her hands are chapped red—what a wonderful woman, how can you not cherish her?"

Lu Yuan: "???"

No, I asked you to make a meal, and you launch into a tirade at me?

Moreover, why do you say that so strangely?

Then Kou Yang directly said:

"Don't worry, for Sister Su's sake I'll handle this properly—if we have the ingredients, I'll make whatever you need."

However, just as Kou Yang finished, a middle-aged man's voice came from the inner room:

"What do you mean, 'okay'? We can help, but not for free."

After that voice spoke, Kou Zhi Guo came out—not the usual pot-bellied cook, but looking sharp and capable.

Even before Kou Zhi Guo finished speaking, before Lu Yuan could say anything, Kou Yang beside him was already unhappy:

"Dad, why money? We and Sister Su live in the same siheyuan; helping out is no big deal—besides, the day after tomorrow is Sunday, the forging bureau has no work, so we're home resting."

Kou Zhi Guo really wanted to give his stupid son two smacks—your Sister Su is already married, what are you still pining for!

Those creaking noises these past days could be heard all over the middle courtyard—are you deaf?!

Lu Yuan also guessed this outcome, wasn't panicked at all, and said directly:

"I have no money."

As soon as Lu Yuan said that, Kou Zhi Guo glared:

"You have no money—what feast are you planning?"

Facing Kou Zhi Guo, Lu Yuan couldn't help raising an eyebrow:

"You won't help, right?"

After Lu Yuan spoke, Kou Zhi Guo lost his temper, immediately glaring:

"Well well, what else do you want to do?"

Lu Yuan grinned, did nothing, walked to the door, and pulled it open.

The aunties lurking under the windowsill were already poised to strike.

Lu Yuan stepped aside, waved his thumb inside, and said:

"Aunties, go."

The next second, seven or eight aunties rushed in.

Upon entering, they immediately took the moral high ground, pointing fingers at Kou Zhi Guo.

"I say, why is the Kou family like this? We're all in the same courtyard—helping out costs you nothing, you don't even lose a bite."

"Exactly, you won't be holding feasts in your home anymore, right? And Kou Yang will never marry, right?"

"Your family won't need anyone else's help anymore?"

Lu Yuan stood at the door, silently lit a cigarette, and incidentally closed the door.

Half a cigarette later, the door opened; the seven or eight aunties came out heads high, chests out, full of pride.

Kou Zhi Guo drooped his head, followed behind like a prisoner.

As they came out, seeing Lu Yuan with a cigarette dangling, Kou Zhi Guo glared hard at him.

Just now Kou Zhi Guo was dumbfounded—not…

How did all the aunties in this courtyard band together to help Lu Yuan!!

Usually we despise this good-for-nothing the most, right?!!

Lu Yuan grinned, and didn't bother speaking to Kou Zhi Guo.

Who dares to defy the will of the working people?

They will surely be drowned in the vast sea of the working people!

Great men truly never deceive me~

Leading this crowd back to the rear courtyard, I smelled a fragrant waft—Su Liyan had already sliced and fried the tofu, and now she was by the pool killing fish.

Su Liyan truly cleaned the fish swiftly—with a small knife she scraped off the scales in a swish, twisted her hand in the gills, then pulled, and the gills came out at once.

Then, with the knife she slit the belly in a swish, removed the entrails, and washed away the black membrane inside.

Seeing this technique, Kou Yang's eyes lit up:

"Sister Su, your technique is amazing."

Huh?

Su Liyan turned her head to look at Kou Yang, her eyes full of confusion.

Who is this person?

Kou Yang was stunned, then he said with a black line across his face:

"Su Sis, I..."

No way…… Even if we don't live in the back courtyard, we at least live in the same siheyuan, and it's been so long—how do you still not know who I am……

Kou Yang was about to explain when Lu Yuan grabbed him by the collar and hauled him away.

Hurry up and talk about the important stuff—what are you saying to my wife for no reason!

Kou Yang felt bitter inside—he only knew that Su Sis was handy with household chores, but he didn't expect her cooking to be so skillful.

I can cook too—if I were with Su Sis, we'd be a perfect match made in heaven!

In the future we could run a restaurant together—Su Sis does the chopping, I do the stir-frying; just thinking about it is wonderful.

How did it end up being cheap for that bastard Lu Yuan?

In the end, everyone gathered at Lu Yuan's house and discussed for over half an hour.

This matter was thus settled.

The courtyard received a total of ninety yuan in gift money.

There were nine tables set up in total—seven for the courtyard residents and two for the workers of Bing Jia Chang.

Just the female workers led by Liu Sis could fill one table, and Lu Yuan will go to Bing Jia Chang tomorrow to round up a table of male workers—about that.

Originally the courtyard residents alone could fill nine tables, but everyone thought the child should have his own table, which would be really wasteful.

If Lu Yuan's family were hosting, that would be fine, but the problem is this banquet is being paid for by everyone together!

Since everyone is chipping in, the kid doesn't need a whole table—just set up a small set of chairs and give him two bowls of leftover stew from each pot.

Everyone is good at pinching pennies~

All the good stuff goes on the adults' table, so when we clear the tables, everyone can grab some, right?

As for Lu Yuan saying he'd bring two more tables from Bing Jia Chang, how should we collect and divide their gift money?

All of it should go to Lu Yuan.

The reason is that each table's standard is a solid ten yuan.

But the wedding isn't just this noon meal—there's also fruit, snacks, candy, red envelopes, and all sorts of miscellaneous expenses that aren't counted in that.

Especially peanuts and melon seeds—their cost is almost as much as the meat.

So everyone discussed just giving Bing Jia Chang's gift money directly to Lu Yuan, letting him buy fruit, snacks, etc., while everyone's gift money goes entirely toward the banquet.

Good grief, ten yuan per table!!

What kind of big fish and meat must this be—everyone's already drooling.

As for the money to buy fruit and snacks tomorrow, Lu Yuan doesn't have it yet—after all, he'll only have money once the Bing Jia Chang people arrive, right?

Then he'll have to borrow it.

Lu Yuan has no money anyway—don't ask; if you ask, he'll say he spent it on a bed and a sewing machine, but he's just broke.

Those candies and snacks will cost at least thirty-odd yuan.

Everyone thought it over and decided to chip in!

Chip in for Lu Yuan!

As for who will chip in this money……

It'll definitely be the courtyard residents with better living conditions.

Pang Kaige's family is definitely not getting away.

Pang Kaige's mother feels sorry but doesn't say it—she's worried Lu Yuan might take their money and not pay it back later.

However, Lu Yuan doesn't need to explain—the courtyard's aunties all step forward and say, with so many people watching.

Plus the second and third elders of the courtyard are here—Lu Yuan wouldn't dare not repay; once the gift money is collected, they'll immediately demand he pay it back.

At this point Lu Yuan also spoke up, saying that if Bing Jia Chang's gift money turns out to be more, he'll give Pang Kaige's family an extra two yuan as interest.

If it's not enough, he won't ask Pang Kaige's family for more—he'll make up the shortfall himself.

When Pang Kaige's mother heard this, she thought it was a sure profit with no loss, and happily went back inside to fetch the money.

While waiting for Pang Kaige's mother to come out of the house, she happened to run into Pang Kaige returning.

At that moment, Pang Kaige saw his mother about to give Lu Yuan thirty yuan and was stunned.

(End of chapter)