I am Jia Dongjin in the Siheyuan (Courtyard House)

Chapter 20 Misread

He Yuzhu was feeling smug when he was suddenly hit on the head.

Holy crap, this is like daring to mess with someone, like lighting a lantern in a latrine—are you looking for death?!

He turned his head, ready to take revenge, but what came into view was a square face with a stern expression.

The perpetrator is not to be trifled with, much less humiliated.

He Yuzhu quickly canceled his retaliatory actions, turning his anger into a smile, and scratched his head with a silly grin.

"Uncle, it's you! I was just discussing with Brother Dongjin about trying out some new dishes tonight. We'll have a drink later; I still have some liquor."

After saying that, He Yuzhu shrank back a little. He had always been grateful to Yi Zhonghai but also fearful of him. If it were anyone else, he would have given them a good beating long ago.

He Yuzhu's monthly salary is only 22.5 yuan. Last time, the Lianbai liquor ran out, and he couldn't bear to buy it again, so he switched to cheaper bulk liquor.

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened; he was seething with anger and had no intention of paying any attention to He Yuzhu.

At this time, Qin Huairu had already taken over the job. Yi Zhonghai, He Yuzhu, and Qin Huairu all worked at the steel rolling mill. Just like in the original drama, under Yi Zhonghai's deliberate manipulation, the three of them developed the habit of leaving get off work together.

On his way home, He Yuzhu received pork tenderloin that his senior brother had prepared for him. Qin Huairu hinted to him several times that He Yuzhu should keep the meat safe.

Qin Huairu's original intention was good, but this fool swaggered around, carrying the meat and showing it off all the way, causing Yi Zhonghai to suffer all the way, and helping He Yuzhu to block countless open and hidden attacks, making him extremely tired.

Not all schemes can be avoided. Yan Fugui, all smiles, had already reserved his place at the banquet through some inside information, as had Liu Haizhong.

"Dongjin, I heard from your third uncle that you passed the electrician's certificate exam and will start working at the steel rolling mill tomorrow?" Yi Zhonghai asked Jia Dongjin with bright eyes. This was the most important thing he was concerned about right now, without exception.

"Uncle, I just passed the exam today. Director Wang from the neighborhood office recommended me to work at the steel rolling mill."

No sooner had Jia Dongjin finished speaking than He Yuzhu patted him on the shoulder and loudly congratulated him, "Great job, Dongjin! This is a joyous occasion, we must celebrate! Yushui, hurry up and get some money to buy some liquor, remember to buy loose liquor, just two jin will do, we must drink until we drop tonight!"

"It's truly a joyous occasion. We don't need to buy wine because of the rain. Your second and third uncles just mentioned that they'll be bringing wine and food, and I have some wine too. Shazhu, you and Dongjin are in charge of preparing the new dishes. Let's celebrate properly tonight."

Throughout the entire ordeal, Yi Zhonghai didn't even glance at the fool. He stopped He Yushui, who was going to get money to buy alcohol, thus setting the tone for their drinking that evening.

In July, the hutongs of Beijing resembled oranges scorched by the sun, with even the ivy at the base of the walls drooping its leaves, having lost its former vigor.

Qin Huairu leaned against the mottled brick wall, her blue overalls soaked with sweat, sticking uncomfortably to her back.

Erdan's mother wanted to introduce Jia Dongjin to a potential partner, implying that Jia Dongjin was no longer the same person he used to be. Qin Huairu couldn't hold back any longer and ran to hide in a corner of the alley outside the courtyard.

This corner is rather secluded, and whenever Qin Huairu is sad, she comes to this corner to calm her emotions.

The wind blew in from the alley entrance, carrying dust and the distant cries of popsicle vendors, but it couldn't dispel the suffocating feeling in her chest.

"He's a street hustler, a skilled one, a lecher! I saw through him long ago, and sure enough, he got a job so quickly, a high-paying electrician job at that. He's always putting on an act, but he's actually very cunning; even my mother-in-law was fooled. I pushed him and injured him, and then I took my job away from him. He resents me and took his anger out on me with a stick. I wouldn't be wrong about him..."

Qin Huairu murmured, her voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing against wood, an overwhelming sense of grievance welling up in her heart.

A cat in the alley strolled slowly past her feet, brushing her ankle with its tail, but she seemed oblivious, her eyes fixed on the old locust tree at the alley entrance, as if the locust blossoms she had loved since childhood could offer her solace.

The cicadas' chirping was incredibly noisy, each note louder than the last, like countless tiny needles pricking Qin Huairu's temples. She slowly squatted down, burying her face in her knees, her shoulders trembling.

Her blue work cap tilted to the side, obscuring her face. Only suppressed sobs could be heard, mingling with the sound of the wind in the alley, drifting far, far away.

"Hey, does it sound like a woman is crying in the alley?"

He Yushui was picking vegetables when suddenly her ears seemed to perk up, and she vaguely heard something.

"Rain, how could anyone cry? You're just scaring people in broad daylight. If you want to be lazy, find another way. Hurry up and get to work. Pick the vegetables, wash them clean, and then start the fire. You have to earn your own benefits, and they have to be worthy of tonight's feast. I guarantee you'll eat with a smile on your face tonight."

The sobbing was faint; Jia Dongjin's mind was entirely on the feast. After instructing Xiaoyushui, he began to instruct He Yuzhu.

"Silly Zhu, your cooking skills far surpass mine, so don't embarrass me by ruining the pig liver. You'll also make the pig liver soup; I can learn from you. First, slice the pork tenderloin. Don't cut the slices too big, so there won't be enough for everyone. About the size of a coin will do, and the thinner the slices, the better. After slicing, marinate it with white wine and cornstarch soy sauce. If you have the resources later, you can use egg whites, but egg whites are too extravagant. It's a pity we don't have ginger powder, so we'll just have to chop it as finely as possible..."

If you need seasonings, you need a chef; if you need to cook, you need a chef. Although He Yuzhu's appearance is hard to describe and his home is messy, the He family's stove is spotless and luxuriously equipped, with two stoves, which can be used as a teaching place.

Boiled pork slices originated in ZG city and belong to the Sichuan cuisine home-style dish. It is made primarily with pork tenderloin and was created by Fan Ji'an, a famous chef from Zigong, in the 30s based on boiled beef.

The preparation process involves boiling the meat slices in water without frying them in oil, and then serving them with vegetables such as cabbage and bean sprouts. The core seasonings are broad bean paste, dried chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns. The chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns need to be fried until they turn brownish-red, and the broad bean paste is stir-fried to release its red oil before being used to make the soup. Finally, hot oil is poured over minced garlic to enhance the aroma.

The meat slices in this dish are tender and easy to chew, and the soup base is bright red. It has the flavor characteristics of "numbing, spicy, fresh and fragrant", and is often served as a side dish with rice.

Boiled pork slices are a Sichuan dish, which can expand He Yuzhu's culinary skills and techniques. As soon as He Yuzhu heard how to make it, he knew he had struck gold. He smiled with delight, and his cleaver danced so skillfully that Jia Dongjin was amazed.

"Silly Zhu, you're really something! Not only are your cooking skills excellent, but you also have fermented bean paste at home. That's it, today's going to be a real feast, unstoppable. Yushui, get to work quickly, a young lady like you can't be too lazy. Just wait and enjoy this delicious meal!"

Doubanjiang (containing chili peppers) in its modern sense appeared at least by the mid-19th century and became a signature condiment as Sichuan cuisine spread. Since Beijing has always been a gathering place for the powerful and wealthy, the He family naturally possessed doubanjiang.

In Beijing, soybean paste and sweet bean sauce are the main ingredients, used for cooking (such as stir-frying and stewing meat) or as a condiment (such as in rolled pancakes or with porridge).

At this time, food supplies were tight, and non-staple foods (including sauces) were rationed and consumed in limited quantities by ration coupons, so ordinary families consumed them in a relatively restrained manner.

Therefore, many families make their own sauces, such as fermented soybeans to make savory sauces, to supplement their daily needs.

In the traditional cuisine of Beijing, sweet bean sauce is the core seasoning for iconic dishes such as Peking duck and fried noodles with soybean paste. Even during times of scarcity, this traditional way of eating was preserved for festivals or special occasions.

He Yuzhu is a chef, which is why his family has the rare fermented soybean paste. This discovery delighted Jia Dongjin, who immediately decided to find a way to use He's family's condiments to satisfy his cravings.

With a professional chef present, Jia Dongjin was happy to enjoy some leisure time. He used his words to instruct He Yuzhu to slice and marinate the pork tenderloin and pork liver, and to arrange for He Yushui to light the fires on the two stoves so that the boiled pork slices and pork liver soup could be served at the same time.

Out of a desire for petty revenge, Jia Dongjin also arranged for He Yushui to pick and wash vegetables. He was long-winded and kept the He siblings running around in circles.

Xiaoyu pouted angrily, but for the sake of the big meal, the little girl decided to endure it for now and find another opportunity to get revenge later.

Both dishes are home-style dishes, and the methods are not complicated. Soon, both dishes were successfully cooked.

"All done! Hmm, next time we need to cook it for a shorter time. The residual heat of the broth will also cook the meat slices, so it's better to cook them for a shorter time than a longer time. The same goes for the side vegetables; they need to be cooked as soon as they're slightly undercooked. As a chef, you know what I mean!" Jia Dongjin took the initiative and tried the new dish, boiled sliced ​​meat, first.

The aroma of freshly boiled pork slices is so enticing, it seems to magically fill your nostrils. First, a wave of spicy and savory flavor hits you, powerful and intense, instantly awakening your taste buds; then, the numbing fragrance of Sichuan peppercorns wafts up, carrying a unique spiciness that makes your mouth water; upon closer inspection, the rich aroma of the pork, enhanced by the heat of the vegetables, blends layer upon layer, permeating the air of the He family home.

The He family was also short of oil and fat, and pouring hot oil on the dishes was too extravagant, so the two of them canceled this step, but the aroma was still irresistible.

Xiao Yu took a deep breath, the aroma seeping down her throat, making her stomach tingle with cravings. She couldn't wait to pick up her chopsticks and start eating.

He Yuzhu also tried a piece. He savored it carefully, then gave a thumbs-up and said, "Brother Dongjin, you're quite the level of a level 10 chef, but your knife skills are terrible. I'll teach you sometime. This dish is simple to make, and the taste and appearance are both good. I got the recipe for free; I'll owe you a favor in the future."

"As long as the recipe is fine. I'm not a chef, why would I need such good knife skills? Enough is enough."

Influenced by the plot, Jia Dongjin was unwilling to have much contact with He Yuzhu. In his mind, the only person in the courtyard worth befriending was someone else.

Both of them left some food for their families. He Yuzhu was too embarrassed to leave more for his sister Yushui, but Jia Dongjin was very generous. He scooped out a bowl of boiled meat and then generously filled it with half a bowl of pork liver soup, which he then sent to his own family first.

He Yuzhu, watching from the side, grinned and said with self-deprecation, "Hey, you're really not being polite."

He Yushui watched from the side, laughing heartily. Jia Dongjin's dark face turned slightly red. He shamelessly argued, "Shazhu, Banggeng is still young and growing. My sister-in-law is pregnant, and my mother is bloated from hunger. All three of us need nutrition. The Jia family is suffering. I haven't been able to work. There's really nothing I can do."

The pig liver was bought by Jia Dongjin, and it filled two large bowls. Giving away one bowl was nothing.

The Jia family was indeed struggling financially. He Yuzhu nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. He picked up some roasted peanuts from the side and said, "It's only right. Sister Qin needs to eat well. Take some peanuts with you too. Banggeng loves my peanuts the most. Yushui, you're just a little girl. Can you eat that much food? Share some meat with Sister Qin, and also take a white steamed bun with you. Sister Qin needs nutrition; she can't just eat cornbread all the time."

Jia Dongjin: "......."

Those with thick skin get to eat their fill, while those with thin skin don't. He Yushui watched with great excitement from the sidelines, never expecting that the battle would spread to her, and the feast she was about to enjoy would be halved.

As fate would have it, He Yushui had just taken revenge on Jia Dongjin, exhausting all of Jia Dongjin's sweet talk and causing Bang Geng to cry loudly. Jia Dongjin was almost punished by Jia Zhangshi, and she was too embarrassed to turn her back on him again, so she gritted her teeth but couldn't do anything about it.

With nowhere to vent her anger, the little girl stomped her feet in frustration. In her impotent rage, she yelled at her brother, "Idiot brother, from now on I'll call you idiot brother!"

Jia Dongjin's sudden appearance has prevented He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu from having any romantic relationship so far. He Yushui has no problem with Qin Huairu, but just like in the plot, she still calls He Yuzhu "Silly Brother".

Jia Dongjin couldn't say whether He Yuzhu was stupid or kind. Since He Yuzhu wasn't stupid, he could only define him as someone with a kind heart that wasn't entirely innocent.

Seeing this, Jia Dongjin quickly advised, "Yushui is so thin, she needs nutrition too. There's no need to divide the meat and vegetables. Just give my sister-in-law a white flour bun and give Banggeng some peanuts."

"This is food for humans! My son! My son can't possibly make food like this?!"

Jia Zhangshi was somewhat bewildered; she stared blankly at the dishes on the table.

Now, Madam Jia is somewhat similar to a certain empress dowager in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. She is puzzled by her own belly, wondering why it is so fertile that it has given birth to such a precious child as Jia Dongjin. Once again, he has cooked the dishes as beautifully as flowers, making her feel unbearable at any moment.

Even worse, he could find a job on his own, and it was a low-paying job as an electrician, which made Jia Zhangshi feel extremely embarrassed.

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi's feelings were complicated. When Qin Huairu returned home earlier, she noticed her sadness and knew that Qin Huairu was struggling with whether to remarry her brother-in-law.

But Jia Dongjin is different from the previous ones; as a mother, she has to think about her younger son.

You wouldn't notice it in a day or two, but now that they've been living together for a month, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are amazed by Jia Dongjin's ability to make a living, especially now that he's even become an electrician.

Madam Jia knew in her heart that with Jia Dongjin's current abilities, marrying a pretty girl from the city wouldn't be a problem, but marrying a widow with a child would be a huge loss.

For the sake of her distant cousin, Erdan's mother deliberately spouted nonsense at the Jia family home, and Qin Huairu should have understood the meaning behind it.

Madam Jia was reluctant to let her youngest son marry his widowed sister-in-law, but when she saw the teacup left by Jia Dongxu on the cabinet, her heartstrings trembled, and she sighed inwardly, "Fine, for Dongxu's sake, I'll bring up the idea of ​​brother succeeding brother one last time. Whether it works or not is up to God."

"Alright, stop staring like an idiot and hurry up and eat, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Jia Zhangshi brandished her chopsticks and began her fierce attack.

Besides the pork liver soup, what attracted Jia Zhangshi's eye the most was the boiled pork slices. In the He family's white porcelain bowl, the scallions looked like a green velvet carpet, and underneath were tender pork tenderloin slices, with the soup glistening with an enticing sheen.

The bright red broth submerged the vibrant green vegetables, and the slices of meat trembled slightly on the surface. The originally pale pink meat slices were dyed a glossy red by the chili oil, their edges curling slightly. Even the vegetables at the bottom of the bowl had absorbed the aroma. A uniquely fragrant, spicy aroma wafted into Jia Zhangshi's nostrils, making her eyes slightly moist.

The freshly served boiled pork slices were still steaming, their surface glistening with tiny sparkles of red oil. A flick of the chopsticks revealed slices of meat so tender they almost slipped through the fingers. Upon entering her mouth, the aroma of the spices first spread across Qin Huairu's tongue, followed by the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns that leaped from her tongue to her lips. Then, the fresh spiciness of the chili peppers spread throughout her mouth, and finally, the tender, juicy pork slices, mingled with the savory flavor of the broth, unfolded layer upon layer in her mouth, leaving the woman both immensely happy and wistfully melancholic.

Even the broth at the bottom of the bowl is infused with a rich, savory sauce flavor. When eaten with cornbread, the spicy and savory taste coats the cornbread, making the cornbread stick out one bite after another, smacking its lips as if it's never enough.

"Huai Ru, Dong Jin is truly excellent. He's a worthy son of mine. Old Jia deserves credit. You just heard Gao Cuilan say that electricians earn high wages, even more than fitters. Think about it again?"

Madam Jia touched her belly and said with a smug look on her face.

"Mom, Dongxu just left not long ago, I... I really didn't want to."

Qin Huairu touched her belly and refused the suggestion again.

Just like Jia Zhangshi earlier, she also saw Jia Dongxu's tea mug. Her past life flooded her mind, and in an instant, her confidence was strengthened.

Qin Huairu was in low spirits tonight. She didn't feel the joy that Jia Zhangshi had imagined that Jia Dongjin had a job, which was a well-paid and easy job as an electrician. Instead, she felt a silent sadness, as if only the child in her womb could comfort her.

"Banggeng, eat more meat. Save the cornbread for tomorrow. Your uncle said not to fill your stomach too much. He told you to eat more meat slices and less pork liver. He'll buy pork liver again in the future, but meat will be hard to find."

Qin Huairu's gaze was slightly evasive. She turned her head and took care of Banggeng's meal.

"Hmph, so dramatic! Huai Ru, living is the most important thing. Whether a relationship works out or not is all about compatibility. Don't worry about Er Dan's mother's gossip. Let me tell you straight, I'm only asking you this one last time because of Dong Xu. Men's passion only lasts a short time. While Dong Jin still cherishes you, he'll listen to me. But once he's seen more women, it'll be harder for me to say anything. After this meal, I won't bring this up again, and you're not allowed to mention it either. There's no going back. You need to think this through. I don't know how many lifetimes a man has, but a woman only has one. If you agree, these dishes will foreshadow your good days. Don't bring up Dong Xu. If you go with Dong Jin, he'll be happy for you down there."

Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around twice, and she roughly understood Qin Huairu's thoughts.

Determined to eradicate evil completely, Jia Zhangshi didn't even leave the soup behind, drinking it all up. Even after the meal was finished, Qin Huairu still hadn't agreed.

Finally, to Jia Zhangshi's astonishment, she slowly shook her head.

"Ugh!"

-----------------------

With Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui joining, Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to invite another person. Xu Fugui from the backyard also joined the meal. The group had been neighbors for many years and were about the same age. It would be awkward for everyone not to invite Xu Fugui.

"My son Guangqi got into a vocational school, and we're celebrating with a banquet today. I brought three bottles of cabbage, but we still have more at home, so don't try to take them from me."

Liu Haizhong's family had even greater joy: his eldest son, Liu Guangqi, had just been admitted to a vocational school. This was truly a joyous occasion, and they were happy to celebrate together.

Due to the surge in the number of guests, Jia Dongjin and He Yuzhu joined forces to move the He family's dining table there as well.

Two tables were pushed together, and everyone was about to take their seats when Yan Fugui shamelessly led Yan Jiecheng to squeeze next to Jia Dongjin.

Liu Haizhong and Xu Fugui came from well-off families, and both brought cabbage and vegetables. Liu Haizhong brought a large plate of scrambled eggs and stir-fried vegetables with pork cracklings, as well as two catties of pig's head meat and three bottles of cabbage, which can be considered as spending a lot of money.

Seeing that Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui had both brought their sons, Xu Fugui called Xu Damao over as well.

Xu Fugui was a proud man, and his family was well-off. He even brought steamed cured pork, a large plate of cold black fungus salad, and a plate of daylily. Everyone praised Liu Haizhong and Xu Fugui for their generosity.

Yan Fugui still brought watered cabbage, but Yan Jiecheng brought over two dishes: a small dried fish and a cold wild celery salad. Surprisingly, one was meat and the other was vegetable, making it difficult for the foul-mouthed He Yuzhu to tell them to leave.

With the addition of the deaf elderly lady and the middle-aged woman sitting next to her, the eleven people filled the seats, creating a lively atmosphere.

The courtyard house was a gathering place for all sorts of birds, and Jia Dongjin was under immense pressure. In his previous life, he could also drink a little, though his alcohol tolerance was neither exceptional nor terrible. Therefore, he habitually pretended to be a quail, maintaining a harmless and lewd persona.

After Yi Zhonghai gave his opening remarks, and after several rounds of drinks and dishes, it was finally time for free discussion.

Liu Guangqi is the first probationary cadre in the institute, which is a truly joyous occasion, far better than Jia Dongjin becoming an electrician.

Originally, Liu Haizhong planned to set up several tables, but Yi Zhonghai persuaded him to keep the money for Liu Guangqi's expenses. He could only combine Jia Dongjin's happy event into the celebration.

Therefore, Liu Hai had a slight unease in his heart, but fortunately, the banquet was joyful, and as he ate and drank, he became happy and did not show it.

Everyone praised Liu Haizhong for his excellent parenting skills, lauded Liu Guangqi for his promising future, and told him not to forget his old neighbor when he became successful. They also mentioned the good places to go after graduating from vocational school and how high the salaries were.

Unlike Jia Dongjin's previous life, vocational school graduates in the 1950s and 60s were highly valued, as they were not only exempt from tuition fees but also guaranteed job placement.

Students typically receive scholarships or living allowances, and after graduation, they are assigned jobs by the state, mostly entering state-owned enterprises, public security and judicial systems, or grassroots government agencies.

Admission is primarily through the high school entrance examination, with rigorous selection processes, high-quality students, and a clear educational positioning, making it considered one of the pathways to "elite education."

Secondary vocational schools belong to the high school education level, but they place more emphasis on vocational skills training than regular high schools. The study period is generally 3-4 years (some medical majors are longer).

At that time, before the formation of a "society based on academic qualifications", graduates of vocational high schools had a relatively high social status and were regarded as "state cadres" or "technical backbones".

With compliments flowing freely, Liu Haizhong's face lit up with joy. He immediately ordered his second aunt to add two more dishes and bring a bottle of Lianbai wine, saying, "Today we won't leave until we're drunk. I, Liu Haizhong, won't allow anyone to not get drunk."

After praising the Liu family, they moved on to praising the Jia family. Yan Fugui spoke first, saying to Jia Dongjin, "Dongjin, your third uncle was blind. I never expected you to be so capable, actually passing the electrician's certificate exam. That's impressive, truly impressive. Jiecheng, let's have a drink with Dongjin."

Xu Fugui also invited Xu Damao to join in the fun. He raised his glass and said enthusiastically, "Dongjin, have a drink with your Uncle Xu and Damao. From now on, we'll all be colleagues at the steel rolling mill."

Seeing Xu Fugui's high regard for him, Liu Guangqi, a prospective cadre, was filled with doubt and couldn't help but whisper to his father, Liu Haizhong, "Is being an electrician really that good?"

Liu Haizhong laughed and said, "Being an electrician is indeed not easy. There aren't many people in Beijing who can get an electrician's certificate. Electricians are a special type of worker. A level one electrician earns 30.5 yuan a month, which is much higher than a fitter or blacksmith of the same level. After five or six years, a level three electrician can earn 51 yuan, and a level four electrician earns 64 yuan, which is more than what most cadres earn. Factories say that electricians are easy and carefree. The work is light and not tiring, and there are extra benefits, but it is a little dangerous."

"You can get 30.5 yuan right from the start?"

The older folks who understood smiled silently, while the younger folks who didn't couldn't believe it.

He Yuzhu stared wide-eyed. He had worked hard in the factory for several years and had genuine culinary skills, but now his monthly salary was only 22.5 yuan. He couldn't help but feel resentful.

Yan Jiecheng, his eyes red, grabbed Jia Dongjin's hand and said earnestly, "Brother Dongjin, we've been brothers who carried loads together. You passed the electrician's certificate exam without even telling me. That's not very considerate. I didn't pass today, so you can't just ignore me. Could you help me teach him? You'll definitely benefit from it once he passes."

Yan Fugui brought Yan Jiecheng to the meeting specifically for the electrician's license exam. He quickly offered his support, saying, "Jiecheng, toast Dongjin three times. Dongjin is a kind-hearted man; he won't let your matter rest. He'll definitely help you pass the electrician's exam. You must remember Dongjin's kindness. Dongjin, your third uncle seems like an educated man, but his salary is only 27.5 yuan. He has to support six people; life is really tough, so tough! Your third uncle is suffering. It wasn't easy for your brother Jiecheng to grow up, but he doesn't have a job. I don't even dare to think about how he'll manage in the future. Let's not say anything more; from now on, you're family in the Yan family."

"Everyone knows who I, Yan Jiecheng, am. Brother Dongjin helped me, and I will definitely thank him properly!"

The Yan father and son worked together to lift Jia Dongjin up on the spot. Everyone looked at Jia Dongjin, and an older woman looked particularly worried.

Yan Fugui's family has it tough; they live a very frugal life, as everyone in the courtyard knows. But these days, everyone has it tough, and those who suffer have long since become numb to it.

Everyone remained unmoved by Yan Fugui's complaints, while Xu Fugui and his son even watched their performance with great interest.

He Yuzhu, the most easygoing person present, also raised his glass and advised, "Brother Dongjin, what Uncle San said makes sense, you have to help with this."