Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

He Yuzhu ignored her and said with a smile, "Auntie, it's like this, I know a teacher from No. 5 Middle School. He happens to be in charge of the school's logistics. The school is going to open a canteen and is looking for a few housewives to work in the kitchen. They were originally planning to find them from among the students' parents, but when I heard... Auntie, wouldn't you be perfect? ​​Dongxu will be going to No. 5 Middle School in the future, right? So I just recommended you. It's two silver dollars a month, plus three meals a day. The money is a bit low, but it's better than making paper boxes, isn't it?"

"Yes! That's right!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's eyes immediately lit up.

Two silver dollars a month, plus meals... Doesn't that mean we don't need to cook at home?

Jia Dongxu ate with He Daqing.

I'll eat at the school, and when Dongxu goes to school later, I can help him out.

Oh my, just thinking about it makes me feel wonderful.

Huh?

There's also Jia Gui.

Madam Jia's face crinkled with laughter as she happily asked He Yuzhu, "Um... Zhuzi, you see, I still have to cook at home. If I go to school, your Uncle Gui won't have anyone to cook for him. How about letting Uncle Gui have a meal with Dongxu?"

Hey!

The abacus beads were flying so hard they almost hit my face!

This time, He Yuzhu didn't listen to Jia Zhangshi: "Auntie, why don't you stay home and cook for my Uncle Gui? I'll find someone else to help."

"Oh dear, how can that be?"

Madam Jia didn't want to let the cooked duck fly away, so she quickly pulled He Yuzhu along: "Auntie agreed, how could Auntie not agree? As for the meal, your Uncle Gui can figure it out himself. Zhuzi, when is Auntie going to work?"

"Auntie, the canteen is still under construction and hasn't opened yet. It will be open in a couple of days."

He Yuzhu looked at Jia Zhangshi's greedy face and laughed in anger.

Do you really think I can't control you?

He Yuzhu's tone was sincere, showing that he was being very candid: "But Auntie, although we're setting up the cafeteria these days, which is the kind of work where you do the physical labor but don't get paid, I still suggest you go early. The teachers there are all working with us. If you go early, won't you get to know the teachers better? When Dongxu goes to school, won't the teachers take extra care of him?"

"You know Tian Zao, right? Her brothers, after selling their steamed buns every day, spontaneously go to the garbage dump to collect broken bricks and tiles to help repair the road to the school. The teachers really like those kids. When they go to school, won't they take extra care of them?"

"If Dongxu studies hard, why would he need to be a factory worker? Wouldn't it be better to work in an office? He wouldn't be hot in the summer or cold in the winter, and the salary would be high..."

She listed a whole bunch of benefits, but in short, it boils down to one sentence: Jia Zhangshi, you also want Jia Dongxu to be successful, don't you?

If you want Jia Dongxu to amount to anything, he'd better work as my slave!

Jia Zhangshi was initially unhappy about having to do all the work for free, but after He Yuzhu's analysis, her eyes lit up: "Yes, yes, silly... Zhuzi, you're right. I'll pack up and go help. Oh... Zhuzi really cares about his aunt. I haven't spoiled you for nothing!"

You're so kind to me?

After giving his instructions, He Yuzhu went to school first.

Jia Zhangshi was a stubborn woman; she tidied herself up, ate a cold cornbread, and went to work at the school.

By evening, he returned home with a sore back and aching waist, cursing inwardly, "That little idiot Zhu, he's always ordering me around, he's a good-for-nothing."

When Jia Dongxu heard Jia Zhangshi mention his brother Zhuzi, he immediately became unhappy.

My brother Zhuzi found you a job, and you're still badmouthing him behind his back?

Isn't this ungrateful?

"Mom, don't scold Brother Zhu. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be able to go to school. You should know how to be grateful."

"Hey, you little brat! I've suffered so much, and you're taking the side of outsiders? You ingrate! Your whole family are ingrates!"

Madam Jia was shocked that her own son was siding with outsiders. Pointing to her own back, she said, "So you know how to be grateful, huh? Your mother's back hurts because of you. Give me a shoulder massage!"

Grateful, right?

You should be most grateful to your mother for raising you!

But Jia Dongxu thought differently: "Brother Zhu is tired too, I'll get him an egg to help him recover!"

"You good-for-nothing! Come back here!"

But Jia Dongxu acted as if he hadn't heard anything, and went to find He Yuzhu with the eggs in his hand.

Enraged, Jia Zhangshi cursed loudly from behind.

It's over, her son is no longer her son.

It's all Sha Zhu's fault!

But now Jia Zhangshi only dares to mutter a few words behind his back, and doesn't even dare to do so in front of Jia Dongxu. She's a little traitor. If she scolds him in front of him, she might just go and tell He Yuzhu on him.

Jia Zhangshi dared not do anything to He Yuzhu, and she had to greet him with a smile when she saw him. When she was working at the school, she saw He Yuzhu chatting and laughing with the teachers and principals. If she offended him, how would Jia Dongxu be able to study properly in the future?

"He's a great deity now, we have to treat him like royalty!"

Madam Jia only hoped that Jia Dongxu would become successful and become an official as soon as possible, so that she could finally hold her head high.

In the backyard, at Liu Haizhong's home.

The two brothers, Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangtian, were also discussing He Yuzhu.

They both attend No. 5 Middle School. Liu Guangqi is in the first year of high school, and Liu Guangtian is in the second year of junior high school. Liu Haizhong didn't intend to support their education indefinitely. He favored his eldest son, Liu Guangqi, so he supported him through high school and then university. Liu Guangtian, who was still in his mother's womb, would finish junior high school and then go to work in a factory making screws.

The two brothers helped with the construction of the school cafeteria during their physical education class and also got to taste the stew made by He Yuzhu.

It's very oily and fragrant.

When you eat it at home, it just doesn't taste the same.

Liu Guangtian, in particular, harbored the most resentment. All the good food was eaten by Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangqi, leaving him only scraps.

Liu Haizhong scoffed at He Yuzhu: "Shazhu is a fool. He should have gone sell steamed buns himself. He added more than ten burdens to his family just to go to school. Hey... He didn't finish his studies and went to cook, and he even cooks for free... Tsk tsk."

He took a sip of wine, ate a mouthful of egg, and began to comment, shaking his head: "If you ask me, the teachers at the school are like mercenaries (a Beijing slang term meaning to subdue someone by giving them small favors), they can't be sold for much! Their family has such a low standard, all they can do in their lives is flip a ladle."

Liu Haizhong felt that the problem lay with the name He Daqing's family had chosen: "If you ask me, the name He Daqing's family chose is wrong. Daqing... Daqing died a long time ago! Yuzhu? What pillar gets wet in the rain? That's just a clumsy fool! Look at him now, he's called Shazhu (Silly Pillar)."

Getting carried away, Liu Haizhong slurped down the wine in his cup, tapped the table, and the pregnant Wu Tiehuan immediately poured him more. Liu Haizhong continued, "Look at me, Liu Haizhong, right in the middle of a huge area. Where is our Beiping City? It's been right in the middle since the Ming Dynasty! And look at your mother, Wu Tiehuan, she's in good health. And look at the names I gave you brothers: the eldest is Liu Guangqi, the second is Liu Guangtian, and the third and fourth, regardless of gender, will be named Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangshou!"

Listening to Liu Haizhong spouting nonsensical theories, Liu Guangtian muttered under his breath, "The middle ground now is in the south!"

Liu Guangqi: ...

My second brother is so brave!