Siheyuan: Thunderous means to suppress the beasts in the courtyard

"I can't even stop you from eating, and there are only two eggs left at home."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong’s wife glared at the two brothers and tapped the edge of the bowl with her chopsticks.

"Hehe, it's easy to eat eggs if you want them. Give me five more dollars a month, and I'll let your mother feed you eggs three times a month."

Liu Haizhong looked at his two sons, who were tearing the scrambled eggs into pieces and eating them bit by bit. He was now able to get out of bed.

"Qin Jingru is really something. She is unwilling to set up a few tables for the four happy occasions. She is even more stingy than the Yan family next door."

The wife in Liu Haizhong felt unhappy when she thought about returning empty-handed last afternoon.

"In my opinion, she should not be a aunt if she is so stingy."

Liu Guangtian showed a look of disdain on his face when he heard this and reluctantly took a bite of the stewed cabbage.

"Humph! They're eating and drinking lavishly every day, and they're spending all our money, more than 700 yuan!"

When Liu Haizhong's wife thought about the 700 yuan rent, her heart began to bleed.

"...Mom, everyone else in the courtyard has new clothes to wear, and you promised to make me a new dress."

Liu Guangdang looked up and said pitifully.

"Yes, Mom, didn't you say you would make me a pair of shoes? I gave you all the money, but I haven't seen the shoes yet."

Seeing this, Liu Guangtian also spoke.

"Go ask Jiang Wei and Qin Jingru for it. They have taken all your money. Don't mention this to me again."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong's wife put down her chopsticks, stared at the two brothers and said.

"Dad, after dinner, go talk to Uncle Yan and think of a way to get the big idiot couple to set up a few tables."

After a moment's silence, Liu Guangtian suddenly looked up and said to Liu Haizhong.

"I do not……"

Before Liu Haizhong finished speaking, Yan Bugui's voice was heard outside the house.

"Lao Liu, are you home? Lao Liu, I want to discuss something with you."

Liu Haizhong and the other three looked at each other, and Liu Guangtian stood up and opened the door.

"Are you eating?"

Yan Bugui walked in with the support of Yan Jiecheng, took a quick look around, and said with a smile.

"Old Yan, have you and your son eaten yet? Why don't you sit down and eat something?"

As Liu Haizhong said this, he picked up the remaining egg and stuffed it into his mouth, then drank up the porridge in the bowl in one gulp.

Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng were speechless upon seeing this.

You must be so afraid that my father and I would eat your eggs. You finished the palm-sized egg in one bite and half a bowl of porridge in one bite. The key point is that the porridge was still steaming.

Seeing this, Yan Bugui and his son smiled awkwardly.

"No need, I've eaten. My father and I have eaten."

Yan Jiecheng's words made Liu Haizhong's family of four feel relieved.

"Come on, uncle, please sit down. I'll go get you a glass of water."

Liu Haizhong’s wife stood up and went to get the thermos.

"Old Yan, what do you want from me? Now we are no longer the...hiccup...masters in the courtyard. There is nothing for us to do during the New Year."

Liu Haizhong knew very well that Yan Bugui was the kind of person who would not come to see him unless there was something important, so he must have something important to ask him.

Yan Bugui sighed secretly upon hearing this and said, "Yes, we are no longer the masters of the courtyard. The old is replaced by the new. I came to you to discuss how to let this new aunt set up a few tables for the feast."

After saying this, Liu Guangtian and his brother looked at each other and saw the excitement on each other's faces and eyes.

"Oh, this matter"

Liu Haizhong was delighted when he heard this. He also wanted to have a feast. Although he had fried eggs every now and then, he had only tasted meat once this month.

"Dad, Master Yan, this is a big deal, you must take it seriously."

Liu Guangtian couldn't hold back his excitement and spoke first.

"Dad, I want to eat meat too."

When the nerd Liu Guangdang thought about meat, his saliva started to flow like crazy.

"Haha, do you have any good ideas for this matter, Lao Liu?"

Yan Bugui looked at his son, then turned and asked Liu Haizhong with a smile.

Liu Haizhong didn't say anything, but seemed to be thinking. After his wife came back empty-handed yesterday, he had thought about what method to use, but he just couldn't think of a good one.

"I do have an idea. Old Liu, please help me with some advice."

Seeing this, Yan Bugui narrowed his eyes and smiled and said, "The New Year is coming in two days. Why don't we celebrate the New Year together in the courtyard before the New Year? Set up a few tables in the middle courtyard and have a good time together."

Liu Haizhong was stunned when he heard this, and a look of doubt appeared in his eyes. The two brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangdang also looked confused.

"As for the money for the banquet, it is through donations. As the first mother in the courtyard, Qin Jingru must not donate less. If my daughter-in-law donates instead, Qin Jingru can't donate forty?"

Yan Bugui said this with a confident look on his face.

"But...but this means every household will have to pay for it. Do you agree?"

Liu Haizhong looked at Yan Bugui and asked with a frown, and the Liu Guangtian brothers nodded when they heard it.

"Hey, we can get together and discuss it first, and agree on how much each household should donate, for example, 50 cents or one dollar per family, and a family of four or five will definitely be willing to have a big meal."

Liu Haizhong said nothing upon hearing this, waiting for Yan Bugui to continue.

"When the time comes, I will ask my daughter-in-law Yu Li to donate 20 yuan, and Qin Jingru will have to donate at least 30 or 40 yuan."

After Yan Bugui finished speaking, Liu Haizhong became even more confused.

"Uncle Yan, are you...are you willing to do this?"

After Liu Guangtian finished speaking, his face suddenly froze and he smiled awkwardly.

Yan Jiecheng glared at Liu Guangtian, Yan Bugui's expression froze, but he quickly smiled and said,

"I plan to ask Lao Liu's family to contribute 10 yuan for the 20 yuan."

"what?"

"Ten dollars?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong and his wife were stunned and speechless.

"Haha, don't worry, just listen to me."

Seeing this, Yan Bugui waved his hand and continued with a smile.

"These ten yuan will eventually return to you. Qin Jingru and Qin Huairu are illiterate. Who will manage the accounts if we donate? It must be my daughter-in-law who will manage the accounts..."

Yan Bugui didn't continue talking, Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up slightly after thinking about it for a while.

He understood Yan Bugui's conspiracy, no, what his plan was.

But Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangdang and his wife still didn't understand something.

"Old Yan, what if Qin Jingru doesn't behave?"

Liu Haizhong frowned again and asked.

"This is easy to handle."

"When the time comes, let's all get in touch in advance and start making a fuss together. Although we are no longer the masters of the courtyard, our old faces are still worth something. If Qin Jingru doesn't donate double or triple the money, how can she continue to be a aunt in the courtyard in the future?"

Yan Bugui pushed up the frame of his glasses and said with squinted eyes.

"Then...what if Qin Jingru just doesn't want to give it to me? She didn't agree to it yesterday."

Liu Guangtian, who wanted to understand, asked another question.