Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, hiccuping from drinking, returned home and even prepared a bowl of leftovers for their second aunt.

Auntie Er took the groceries she brought back, her face lighting up with delight: "So many delicious dishes!"

"That's right. What is Xu Damao's status now? In the entire steel rolling mill, only Director Li has a higher official position than him."

If we don't curry favor with him, who else should we curry favor with?

Liu Guangfu chimed in, "That's right. That's what it means to be an official."

The second aunt nodded in agreement.

Liu Haizhong stared at the two of them with a dark expression.

He should have been the most prominent figure in the academy. His apprentice was coming to visit him today, bringing gifts.

Of the three old men, only he received this treatment.

He has always been proud of this treatment.

But what about this year?
Not a single apprentice came.

He waited all day, but none of his former apprentices, who usually fawned over him, showed up.

Liu Guangtian saw Liu Haizhong's expression and sneered.

"What are you looking at? Xu Damao is the deputy director of the steel rolling mill. So many people want to give him gifts."

What about you?

He couldn't even handle being a team leader properly; he was removed after only a few days.

Auntie said, "Your father is resentful of his apprentices. Not one of them came to visit him this Chinese New Year."

Liu Guangtian said, "It's normal that he didn't come. When my dad was the leader of the workers' disciplinary team, he was ruthless and didn't care about anyone, not even his own family."

How many people has he offended?

His disciples didn't gain any advantage by following him.

When he was down on his luck, everything went wrong with him.

"It's only because I was quick-witted and sided with Xu Damao that I didn't suffer the same fate."

The second aunt repeatedly praised Liu Guangtian for doing the right thing. That's how the Liu family's rule is: whoever has the higher position is right.

Liu Guangtian now holds the highest official position, so his second aunt naturally has to flatter him.

"Guangtian, you've had quite a bit to drink. Go back and rest now."

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu then went back to their room to rest.

Auntie Er heated up the meat and brought it to the table: "Don't look so sullen. Have some."

Liu Haizhong said defiantly, "I won't eat it."

The second aunt didn't like him: "Fine, don't eat then, I'll eat."

You, you became an official earlier than Xu Damao, and you stepped down from office much faster.

If you just listen to Director Li and don't mess with Sha Zhu...

Will our family be like that?
"That deputy director, Xu Damao, is yours. These things we have now were gifts from someone else."

Liu Haizhong said with dissatisfaction, "Can you shut up?"

How can you blame me for this?
Sha Zhu and Director Li have such a good relationship, why didn't he tell me?

If he tells me, can I go and cause him trouble?

He was jealous of me because I became a leader, and he deliberately set a trap for me.

The second aunt pursed her lips and ignored him. It's pointless to say anything now.

She'll be counting on Liu Guangtian from now on.

Liu Haizhong hadn't eaten dinner, but the smell of meat and the sight of his second aunt eating so deliciously made his mouth water.

"Leave some for me."

"You said you wouldn't eat it."

"Why wouldn't I eat? You two little brats, you only care about eating yourselves and don't even bother to invite me."

"Why did I call you? Does Xu Damao like you?"

Liu Haizhong, no longer caring about arguing with his second aunt, picked up his chopsticks and started fighting with her for them.

Since he stepped down, his salary has been reduced, and he can no longer eat and drink well like before.

He hadn't eaten meat in a long time.

The next day, Qin Huairu was washing clothes by the pool when she saw Yi Zhonghai come out.

"Grandpa, you're up."

Yi Zhonghai glanced at He Yuzhu's house and said with a smile, "Get up. The weather is nice today. Help me tidy up the house and air out the bedding later."

Qin Huairu smiled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking of telling you. I'll bring you breakfast now, and after you've eaten, I'll help you tidy up."

Yi Zhonghai waited in the courtyard with a smile.

He Yushui said, "Neither of them finds it annoying. Especially Qin Huairu. Even though it was Yi Zhonghai who reminded her, she still said it was her own idea."

He Yuzhu said, "What does this have to do with you? Qin Huairu may be annoying, but her method of dealing with others is still quite endearing."

You should all learn something from this.

He Yushui said, "You're making me learn from her again. When I was little, she always told me not to learn from her."

He Yuzhu said, "You said it yourself, that was when you were a child. You didn't understand anything when you were a child, what if you learned bad things from her?"
Now that I have the ability to discern, I should learn from her so I won't suffer losses in the future.

Qin Huairu went inside and didn't come out. Jia Zhangshi came out of the house.

"He's an old man, let's still celebrate the New Year together this year."

Yi Zhonghai's smile vanished. He was naturally willing to spend the New Year together, but spending it together meant he would have to pay for everything.

He didn't want to pay, so he never brought it up.

There are only three days left until Chinese New Year. If we don't prepare now, we won't be able to eat anything good during the holiday.

Having no other choice, Yi Zhonghai could only say, "Sister-in-law, if you're willing, we can celebrate the New Year together."

Because he was unwilling to pay, he didn't agree immediately.

But Jia Zhangshi didn't care about all that. No matter how many conflicts she had with Yi Zhonghai, she had to put them aside when it came to the New Year.

She didn't want to spend money on the Lunar New Year.

"Then let's celebrate the New Year together."

After saying that, Jia Zhangshi turned around and went home.

A short while later, Qin Huairu came out carrying a steamed bun.

"Uncle, my mother-in-law said that our two families will celebrate the New Year together."

Yi Zhonghai knew he couldn't avoid it, so he had no choice but to take the initiative.

"I'll give you two yuan to buy some meat so we can have dumplings for the New Year."

Qin Huairu looked disgusted. She was hoping to get something out of Yi Zhonghai during the New Year, since it was such a rare occasion.

As a result, Yi Zhonghai was only willing to pay two yuan. What can that do?

Qin Huairu carried a steamed bun into Yi Zhonghai's room.

He Yuzhu waited for the two of them to go inside before coming out of the house.

The two of them were performing this at the door early in the morning; who knows what their purpose was?

He Yuzhu felt that the two had ill intentions, and he was too lazy to argue with them, so he refused to come out.

After he finished tidying up, He Yuzhu remembered He Daqing's matter.

"Did you two write to Dad?"

He Yuqing said, "I wrote it and sent things over there. Dad said that his factory leader told him to cook for the New Year, so he won't be coming over for the New Year."

He Yuzhu stopped caring once he heard that they had resolved the issue.

"I'm cooking for someone tonight, so don't wait for me to eat."

Lin Jinghan instructed, "Then be careful tonight."

He Yuzhu said "I understand" and went to work.

He Yushui also hurriedly packed her things and rode her bicycle to work.

Only He Yuqing doesn't need to go to work; she stays home tidying up the house.

When He Yuzhu arrived at the steel rolling mill, he was notified that there would be a lunch reception.

He couldn't help but complain, "They're all pigs, each one can eat more than the last."

The steel rolling mill's song committee now has one director and seven deputy directors.

Apart from Li Huaide, Xu Damao, and Deputy Director Nie, everyone else has been replaced.

The people they brought in were all people with connections; they couldn't do anything but eat.

To prevent them from causing trouble, Li Huaide trained them to be foodies.

Those guys practically wanted to be treated to meals three times a day, every single one. They not only ate there themselves, but also brought their friends along.

There were two tables at noon today.

To show off, they specifically asked He Yuzhu to do it himself.

He Yuzhu had no choice but to agree, not wanting to offend anyone. (End of Chapter)