Siheyuan: I live next door to Xu Damao, my last name is Cao

Night slowly fell, covering the yard with a hazy veil.

In Liu Haizhong's home, warm yellow light gently sprinkles on every corner, reflecting the happy scene in the house.

The table was filled with sumptuous dishes, each of which exuded an enticing aroma, as if silently telling of the liveliness of the evening.

The plate of braised pork was bright red and attractive, as if it was dyed with a layer of gorgeous color by the sunset.

Pieces of fat and lean meat are carefully stewed, and the soft and glutinous fat and firm lean meat are perfectly blended. Just looking at it makes people drool.

Xu Damao and Cao Wei's chopsticks seemed to be cast with magic. They frequently reached for the plate of meat. Every time they picked up a piece and put it in their mouths, they couldn't help but let out an exclamation of satisfaction.

The sweet and sour fish on the side is equally delicious, with the crispy outside and tender inside fish meat wrapped in a layer of crystal clear, sweet and sour sauce.

Take a gentle bite and you will first feel the crispness of the fish skin, then the tender fish meat spreads on the tip of your tongue. The sweet and sour taste instantly spreads in your mouth, stimulating your taste buds and making you unable to stop.

There was also a plate of lush green vegetables, which were fried by Second Aunt at just the right temperature. They were bright in color, refreshing and delicious.

Against the backdrop of a host of meat dishes, it appears particularly fresh and refined, adding a different touch of color to this sumptuous dinner and increasing one's appetite.

In this cheerful atmosphere, Liu Haizhong's face was filled with a satisfied smile, which was like a blooming flower, spreading from the corners of his mouth to the corners of his eyes.

He poured himself another glass of wine, and the rich aroma of the wine instantly filled the air.

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, his throat rolling as he swallowed all the joy in his heart along with the wine.

Then, he patted Cao Wei's shoulder, his strong hand seemed to convey endless gratitude, and said with a smile: "Cao Wei, thanks to your advice today, I was able to vent my anger. If you need me in the future, just let me know!"

His voice was loud and hearty, a little drunken, and echoed in the house.

Cao Wei smiled modestly, and that smile was like the spring breeze, gentle and humble.

He waved his hand and said, "Second uncle, you are too polite. This is just a matter between neighbors. It is only natural for us to help each other."

His tone was sincere, and his eyes revealed a hint of humility and gratitude, as if telling of the preciousness of this neighborly friendship.

While they were chatting animatedly, the Jia Zhang family's home in the central courtyard seemed to be in another world.

The dim light seemed to be covered with a thick layer of dust, weak and dim, and could only barely illuminate the small space in the room.

The light flickered, as if it would go out at any time, adding a sense of depression to the already dull room.

Jia Zhang and Bang Geng sat under the dim light, holding a dry steamed bun in their hands and chewing it with difficulty with pickles.

The steamed corn bread was hard and difficult to swallow. Every bite felt like chewing a hard stone and it took a lot of effort to crush it.

The rough texture scratched my throat and it hurt, but I had to endure it and continue swallowing with difficulty.

The salty and astringent taste of the pickles is like a surging tide, instantly filling the entire mouth and bringing an unbearable bitterness.

The salty taste lingers on the tip of the tongue for a long time, making people want to drink water immediately to dilute it, but water is also a scarce resource here.

Jia Dongxu was lying on the bed, his face as pale as paper, bloodless, as if all his life had been drained away.

He gnawed the steamed bun listlessly, and every bite seemed like he was completing a difficult task.

Jia Dongxu let out a low moan from time to time, and the sound was full of pain and helplessness.

Jia Dongxu muttered, "When will this end? I'm about to vomit from eating this stuff every day."

His voice was weak and hoarse, filled with deep despair.

They seemed to be shrouded in the shadow of poverty and could not see a glimmer of hope.

In this cold room, there was nothing else except the sound of chewing, as if the whole world had stopped and they were the only ones struggling with the hard-to-swallow food.

Outside the house, people's laughter and joy seemed so distant and unreal, as if they were from two completely different worlds.

Banggeng's little face turned red with anger and dissatisfaction, as bright as a ripe apple.

Tears of grievance sparkled in his clear eyes, sparkling and translucent like two shining gems.

Under the dim light, the tears looked even more moving, as if reflecting the turmoil in his heart.

He slammed the chopsticks down heavily, and there was a crisp and loud "pop" sound, which was particularly harsh in this small and dim room. It seemed like a cry against this difficult life, venting his dissatisfaction and helplessness in his heart.

The air around seemed to freeze, and the whole room was shrouded in a heavy and depressing atmosphere.

Jia Zhang looked at them, feeling helpless and sad. Her eyes were complex and changeable, with anger, helplessness, deep guilt and powerlessness.

She glared at Banggeng, and in her eyes there was both flames of anger and a helpless sigh, as if she was blaming Banggeng for being ignorant and feeling sorry for his grievances and dissatisfaction.

Jia Zhang said with some dissatisfaction: "You kid, you are lucky to have steamed bread to eat, but you are still picky. Do you think making money is that easy?"

Her voice was a little tired and annoyed, as if she was suffocating under the burden of life.

The voice was hoarse and low, full of helplessness about life and confusion about the future. Jia Dongxu, lying on the bed, also sighed: "Mom, can't you think of a solution? How can I stay healthy if I eat this stuff every day?"

His voice was weak and a little complaining, and his face was full of desire for improved food.

His weak eyes stared straight at Jia Zhang, as if she was his last straw, and his eyes were full of expectation and dependence.

His slightly trembling body showed the severity of his illness and his dissatisfaction with life, as if he was silently protesting against the injustice of fate.

The whole room was filled with a heavy and depressing atmosphere, making people feel extremely suffocated and desperate.

There was a hint of sob in her voice and her eyes were slightly red, as if she was soaked in the bitterness of life.

At this time, a breeze blew by, like a naughty messenger, bringing the aroma of meat from Liu Haizhong's house into the house of Jia Zhang's family. The aroma was rich and tempting, like a hook, arousing the deepest desire in the hearts of the Jia family.

Bang Geng sniffed and his eyes suddenly lit up, flashing with excitement and desire, as if he saw a ray of light in the darkness.

He couldn't help swallowing, his whole body trembling slightly because of his desire for meat.

Banggeng said excitedly: "Grandma, I smell the aroma of meat. It must be Liu Haizhong's family eating meat. I want to eat meat. Go and get me some."

As he said this, he stood up, put his hands on his hips, and looked like he would not give up until he achieved his goal.

That little body seemed to contain endless stubbornness, as if as long as Jia Zhang didn't agree, he would stand there, refusing to eat or drink, until Jia Zhang compromised.

Jia Dongxu also echoed, "Mom, just go and see if you can get some food. We haven't had meat in a long time."

There was a hint of anticipation in his voice and his eyes were full of desire, as if he was expecting a sumptuous meal.

The delicious taste of various meats emerged in his mind, and his mouth opened involuntarily, as if he had already eaten the delicious meat.

Jia Zhang's face turned very ugly. She frowned, and her brows seemed to be tied into a knot that could not be untied for a long time.

Her heart was filled with helplessness and anger. She was helpless because her family was so poor that they could not afford to buy meat. She was angry because Liu Haizhong's family actually ate meat when they were hungry.

She thought to herself, "Why can their family eat meat to their heart's content while my family has to go hungry?"

But she couldn't get angry and could only suppress her anger. Looking at the longing eyes of Banggeng and Jia Dongxu, she felt even more uncomfortable.

Jia Dongxu also kept persuading her: "Mom, just go for the sake of the child. Otherwise, Banggeng will keep crying and I won't be at peace. Anyway, Qin Huairu often went to ask for it before, so this time won't make a difference."

He looked at Jia Zhang eagerly, his eyes full of expectation, completely ignoring the embarrassment on Jia Zhang's face.

That look seemed to say that as long as you can eat meat, nothing else matters.

Jia Zhang's face turned pale and red, and she felt angry and anxious.

She remembered that when Qin Huairu went to other houses to ask for food, she could hide behind them, but now she had to go out on her own, which made her feel extremely embarrassed.

Seeing Banggeng crying and Jia Dongxu's expectant eyes, her heart softened again.

"Alas, I really owed you guys this in my previous life."

Jia Zhang let out a long sigh, and the sigh seemed to come from the depths of her soul, full of helplessness and exhaustion.

She stood up slowly and smoothed her hair with her bony hands, which looked like dry branches, lifeless.

Jia Zhang's originally black hair had long turned gray, and the traces of time had carved deep wrinkles on her face, each of which seemed to be telling of the hardships and sufferings she had experienced.

Then Jia Zhang brushed the dust off her body, as if this could give her some courage.

She was wearing a ragged dress that had been washed so long ago that it had turned white and had several patches on it.

This dress bears witness to her frugality and the hardship of her life.

She walked towards the door step by step, and each step seemed extremely heavy, as if there were thousand-pound stones tied to her feet.

Jia Zhang knew that she would be looked down upon and ridiculed by others if she went, but for the sake of her grandson and son, she had no choice but to go.

The difficult days of the past emerged in her mind. Every moment when she had to bow her head for survival was like a thorn in her heart.

She knew that her life had long lost its dignity, but for the sake of this family, she had to put aside her face again and again.

When she opened the door, the aroma of meat instantly stimulated her taste buds. Her stomach rumbled involuntarily, but she suppressed her hunger and resolutely walked towards the direction where the smell of meat came from.

Jia Zhang knew that this road was destined to be difficult, but she had no choice.

Soon, Jia Zhang dragged her heavy steps to the door of Liu Haizhong's house.

The hands were raised and put down again, hesitating for several times, as if they weighed a thousand pounds and could not be lifted up.

She was filled with anxiety. After all, this was her first time visiting Liu Haizhong alone. She finally plucked up the courage to knock on the door.

"Who is it?" A cheerful voice came from Liu Hai's room.

Accompanied by the sound of tables and chairs being moved, it seemed to be reminding people of the joy inside the house and the embarrassment outside.

Jia Zhang took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound calmer: "It's me, Jia Zhang."

Her voice trembled slightly, with a hint of nervousness and uneasiness.

The door opened, and the warm, bright light from inside the house suddenly poured out, forming a sharp contrast with the dim courtyard behind Jia Zhang.

When Liu Haizhong saw Jia Zhang, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly greeted her warmly: "Hey, Jia Zhang, come in and sit down!"

His voice was enthusiastic, as if he was unaware of Jia Zhang's embarrassment.

Jia Zhang smiled awkwardly, a smile uglier than crying. She did not go into the house, but just stood there awkwardly.

She was in a state of confusion, not knowing how to start. She twisted her fingers nervously, her eyes wandering around, but she didn't dare to look directly at her bangs.

Seeing this, Liu Haizhong smiled even brighter. He took the initiative to step forward, gently patted Jia Zhang's shoulder, and said, "Don't stand there. Come in and have a cup of tea. Let's have a good chat."

Jia Zhang had no choice but to step into the house cautiously.

Liu Haizhong poured her a cup of hot tea, handed it to her, and said, "Have a cup of tea to warm yourself up."

Jia Zhang took the teacup and held it tightly in both hands, as if only in this way could she find a sense of security.

She took a sip of tea carefully, and the aroma of the tea spread in her mouth, relaxing her tense nerves a little.

Liu Haizhong sat opposite her, looked at her with a smile, and said, "Jia Zhang, why did you come to see me today?"

Jia Zhang raised her head and looked into Liu Haizhong's kind eyes. She struggled for a long time and finally mustered up the courage to speak: "Liu Haizhong, I..."

The words just came out of her mouth, but got stuck in her throat again, and she didn't know how to continue.

Liu Haizhong waited for her patiently without rushing her.

She whispered, "Um... Uncle Liu, I'm sorry to disturb you while you're having dinner."

Her voice was as small as the buzz of a mosquito, and the blush on her face spread all the way to her ears, as if she was ignited by shame.

At this time, Xu Damao also came over, with a hint of sarcasm on his face: "Jia Zhang, what's the matter at this time of night?"

There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a malicious smile, as if he was watching an amusing farce.

Jia Zhang's face instantly turned red, like a ripe tomato. She stammered, "My Banggeng and Dongxu... they were craving meat, and this child was making a fuss, so I... I was thinking, let's take a look at your family..."

She really couldn't go on, her voice became smaller and smaller, and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

The voice seemed to be swallowed up by shame and embarrassment.

Cao Wei raised his eyebrows and said with a hint of ridicule: "Jia Zhang, your family used to have a good life, how come you can't even eat meat now?"

There was a gleam of curiosity and teasing in his eyes, as if he was waiting to see Jia Zhang make a fool of himself.

That look was like a sharp sword, piercing Jia Zhang's heart.

Jia Zhang's face turned pale and red, she secretly complained in her heart, but she couldn't get angry, so she could only bite the bullet and explain: "Something happened at home, and now I am the only one left. It's really..."

There was a hint of sob in her voice and her eyes were slightly red.

Thinking of the hardships of these days, her heart ached. The voice seemed to be soaked in the hardships of life and full of bitterness.

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