Silly Zhu's Moving: The Old Neighbor's Nightmare

In the early morning, the sun generously bathed the earth, shining warmly and brightly on every inch of land.

The room was brightly lit, with the electric lights casting a faint glow. Sha Zhu opened his sleepy eyes.

My head was a little dizzy. I glanced at the alarm clock in my room and was startled to see that it was already past seven o'clock.

He quickly woke up Yushui, who was still sleeping next to him, pulled the cord on the wall, and turned off the light.

"Rain, wake up! You have to go to school, you can't stay in bed any longer." Rain rubbed her sleepy eyes and realized it was already broad daylight.

She quickly got out of bed and asked anxiously, "Brother, what time is it? I'm going to be late for school, why haven't Xu Xiaoqin and Er Ya come to wake me up yet?"

"You little rascal, all you do is look at picture books and never pay attention to the time. What time did you go to bed last night?"

"Silly Pillar said reproachfully. Rainy Water scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "I don't know either, I just fell asleep while watching."

Sha Zhu glanced at the time and said, "It's already 7:10, hurry up and wash your face and brush your teeth. What time do you guys usually go to school?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Shui immediately became anxious: "We usually leave for school at 7:20. This is terrible, we won't even have time for breakfast. Brother, did you make breakfast?"

Sha Zhu shook his head: "I got up with you, how could I have time to make breakfast? What did Dad prepare for you this morning?"

Rain said, "Dad buys me fried dough sticks and steamed buns, cooks some cornmeal porridge, and sometimes buys me tofu pudding."

Sha Zhu asked curiously, "Oh? Didn't you say yesterday that Dad feeds you cornbread every day?"

Rain stuck out his tongue: "Brother, I just wanted to eat something good."

Sha Zhu chuckled and shook his head: "You're already lying to your brother at such a young age. Alright, Dad didn't come back this morning either, let's go out to eat. Are you ready?"

Rain quickly nodded: "Okay, brother. Can I take the comic book to school?"

Sha Zhu said seriously, "No, you can look at it when you get back. If you look at it at school, the teacher will confiscate it, and if so many other kids tear it up, you'll cry again."

"Come on, I'm bored at home anyway. We'll buy you breakfast on the way."

Pulling Yushui out of the house, Yushui shook off Shazhu's hand and said, "Brother, wait for me, I'm going to call Xu Xiaoqin and Erya and Sanni." After saying that, she ran towards the backyard.

With no other option, Sha Zhu had to wait at the Intermediate People's Court.

"Hey, Shazhu. Are you taking your sister to school? You're not going to cooking class today," asked Liugen's wife, who was washing dishes at the sink.

"Yeah, I had something to do today, so I didn't go to the cooking class. Did my Uncle Liugen leave for work?"

"Yes, it's already so late. Most people in our department have to be at work before seven o'clock. Everyone who's supposed to be at work has already left."

Just then, five or six children came chattering over from the backyard: Xu Damao and his sister Xu Xiaoqin, Liu Guangtian, Wang Erya, Zhang Sanni, and Yushui.

Xu Damao spotted Shazhu immediately and rushed over.

"Hey Shazhu, when did you get back? Why didn't you come hang out with me? I haven't seen you in ages. You're such a bad friend."

Hmm, judging from Xu Damao's appearance, the two haven't started fighting yet. Some scenes of their relationship flashed through my mind.

Indeed, the two got along quite well, going fishing in the river together on weekends and watching acrobatics on the overpass. Apart from the nickname "Silly Pillar," there were really no scenes of them going against each other.

When did these two start to dislike each other? Should I go easy on Sha Mao when I deal with these beasts in the yard in the future?

As he was thinking about these things, Xu Damao patted him on the shoulder again and said, "Silly Zhu, what are you thinking about?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just back from my apprenticeship. Haven't seen you in ages. Come on, Sha Mao, I'll treat you to breakfast."

"Sha Zhu said, putting his arm around Xu Damao's shoulder and walking out.

Xu Damao was taken aback when he heard the nickname "Silly Mao". "What 'Silly Mao'? Silly Zhu? My name is Xu Damao, not 'Silly Mao'."

"Ah, right, Silly Mao, what grade are you in now?"

"What grade? I'm in the first year of junior high. And my name is Xu Damao, not Sha Mao."

"Silly Mao. Aren't we buddies? Why are you worrying about this? What do you want for breakfast later? It's on me."

"Silly Zhu, get off me and let go of me. I've already eaten." Heh heh, with your small frame, you still want to struggle.

"Hey Sha Mao, aren't we buddies? I'll treat you to a cigarette, a Zhonghua with a filter, and we'll drink Lai Mao liquor. After you're resting, I'll treat you to Peking duck. Tell me, Sha Mao, do you agree?"

"Tch, you're just bragging. 'Chinese culture'? Show me Fragrant Hills and peonies, and I'll believe you."

Lai Mao? Never even heard of it. My buddy often steals my dad's Fenjiu, have you ever tried it? Not that I look down on you.

"You're destined to serve others your whole life. When I grow up, you'll cook for me, and I'll treat you to the best food and drinks." Xu Damao mocked Sha Zhu with a boastful tone.

Sha Zhu was speechless. Xu Damao was only 14 years old, and he already wanted to take Sha Zhu as his follower.

At least that's what the other good brothers think: they're both afraid their brother is suffering and afraid their brother is driving a Land Rover.

Then look at the Da Mao brothers. They're only 14 years old, and they've already treated Sha Zhu like a servant, for life. Would Sha Zhu agree to that?

No wonder they're so competitive and always fighting when they meet. I definitely can't leave you out when I'm dealing with this beast in the future.

He released Sha Mao, took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and...

Mei Mei exhaled a smoke ring, ignoring Sha Mao, and looked at her sister, "Rain Water, what do you want to eat?"

Rain knew her brother had money; she had been terribly cheated by her brother yesterday and was determined to make it up to him.

Looking at the breakfast shops on both sides of the street, I smelled the aroma in the air.

"Brother, buy me two big meat buns so I can eat them on the way, or I'll be late."

Xu Damao, who was standing next to him, snapped out of his daze and said, "Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, it really is a Zhonghua cigarette with a filter! Give me one."

Look at his bottom line! From the moment they met, he kept calling him "Silly Zhu," but as soon as he saw something good, he immediately started calling him "Brother Zhu," and Silly Zhu ignored him.

Walking towards the steamed bun shop, I said, "Boss, do you still have any of these big meat buns? I have five or six kids here, plus me, so I'll have two each."

"Alright, two for each person, right? Wait here." The waiter said, picking up the oil paper and wrapping them up.

These buns are huge, each wrapped in oil paper. Liu Guangtian excitedly asked from the side, "Brother Zhu, do I get one too?"

Looking at the excited children, Sha Zhu said, "Yes, yes, everyone has one. Guangtian, what grade are you in at school?"

“Brother Zhu, I’m in fourth grade,” Liu Guangtian quickly said.

"Okay, you'll have to help out at school from now on, so that no outsiders can bully you, okay? I'll treat you to meat buns next time."

"Brother Zhu, don't worry, I'll fight anyone who dares to bully Yushui," Guangtian quickly assured him.

After everyone had their steamed buns, Sha Zhu paid the bill and led them towards the school.

Xu Damao followed beside Sha Zhu, smelling the aroma of the meat buns, and said reluctantly,

"Brother Zhu, I'll give you the meat bun, but can you trade me a Zhonghua cigarette?" he thought to himself. He could ask his dad for money to buy the meat bun anyway, but he really couldn't afford the Zhonghua cigarettes; he'd never seen them at the nearby supply and marketing cooperative.

"Sha Mao, how old are you? Smoking is bad for your health. You're too young. Be careful your body doesn't develop properly. Wait a few more years before you start smoking. Listen to me, I'm doing this for your own good." Sha Zhu lectured Sha Mao with an air of concern for him.

"Brother Zhu, please, just one. I never smoke normally. I won't smoke even if you give me one. I just want to take it to school so my friends can broaden their horizons," Xu Damao pleaded.

“Call me Master Zhu!” Sha Zhu said.

"Grandpa Zhu, Grandpa Zhu! Hehe," Xu Damao said with a fawning expression. And you know what? He was incredibly shameless.

Sha Zhu waved the whole pack of cigarettes in front of Xu Damao, then pulled one out and handed it to him.

"Sha Mao, you're not allowed to smoke anymore. It's bad for your health. Just this once. Wait until you're the same age as Brother Zhu before you think about smoking again. Then you'll know that smoking is harmful to your health."

Xu Damao took the cigarette, turned and ran in the other direction. After a few steps...

He stopped and immediately started yelling, "You stupid pig, you're such a stupid pig!" After a few curses, he turned and ran away.

Sha Zhu was completely dumbfounded; he started cursing right away, something he'd never done before. At this point, the two were about to begin.

Liu Guangtian, who was standing next to him, said, "Brother Zhu, Xu Damao is in the first year of junior high school. His school is not in the same direction as ours, so we will separate at this fork in the road. But their junior high school is not far away."