The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

When He Yushui returned, Qi Xiaoning didn't forget to give her the notebooks and autographs that Yang Dalin had helped buy.

Completely bewildered, Sha Zhu was pulled back by his sister.

After Sha Zhu and his sister left, Aunt Qi closed the door and asked Yang Dalin, "Dalin, did you not eat enough? Here are four leftover buns from this morning, let me heat them up for you!"

"No need, Auntie. I don't work tonight, so this is fine. I'll have a good breakfast before I go to work tomorrow."

Keep those steamed buns for tomorrow morning. I'll bring back something else tomorrow night.

Seeing that Yang Dalin insisted on not eating, Aunt Qi knew that the boy was filial, so she took out the sweet potato that Yang Dalin had brought last time: "If you won't eat the steamed buns, how about you have a roasted sweet potato?"

Yang Dalin glanced at Qi Xiaoning, who was still looking a bit hungry, and said, "Alright, Auntie, I can grill it myself."

Aunt Qi sat down with relief after seeing Yang Dalin take the sweet potato: "Dalin, you're a smart kid. You're better at judging people and things than I am. I don't have much contact with rainwater, so I really didn't think that much about it. But I hope you'll be more careful with your words and actions in the future."

Sometimes, even if you see through other people's affairs, it's not necessarily a good thing to say it out loud.

Do you understand?

Yang Dalin understood what Aunt Qi meant. Before, when Yang Dalin wasn't in the courtyard, they also preferred to avoid trouble.

It's fair to say that most people in the neighborhood are like this, and besides, it's not necessarily right to be nosy about other people's family affairs.

Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes.

Don't mention that Yang Dalin, Sha Zhu, and He Yushui aren't that close yet. Would it be bad to say more?

Yang Dalin nodded: "Auntie, I understand. I was too talkative today. I will be more careful in the future."

Yang Dalin followed Aunt Qi's lead.

Actually, what he was thinking was that he had spoken out of turn on purpose today, and he wanted to see if he could use the silly Zhu siblings in the future.

He Yushui might be able to find a policeman to marry in the future.

Sha Zhu will have his own good fortune in the future. For example, he will be able to meet a high-ranking leader. If Yang Dalin still hasn't settled his household registration by then, it won't be difficult for him to find a job.

Or after reform and opening up, it would be good to build some connections.

If the two siblings really have no use to me.

From now on, we'll just be ordinary neighbors.

We won't concern ourselves with who Sha Zhu marries or who he takes care of in his old age.

Friends are those who can help you when you need them, lend you money when you're short of cash, and share a drink when you're happy.

Mind your own business.

Today, I'm reminding He Yushui not to be so foolish in the future and to prevent her from leading Xiaoning astray.

Let's see how He Yuzhu reacts.

No sooner had the sweet potatoes been roasted than Sha Zhu came knocking on the door again, insisting on returning a pound of flour to Aunt Qi.

Aunt Qi couldn't stop her, so she accepted it.

After returning the white-faced, silly Zhu said, "Auntie, I'll ask Brother Dalin to come to my room to play for a while."

Yang Dalin cut the roasted sweet potato in half and gave it to the Qi sisters.

Without eating, she went out: "Auntie, I'm going out to chat with Brother Zhu for a while. You two can either go to sleep first, don't worry about me."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Aunt Qi added, "Alright then, Dalin, come back early later."

"Okay, Auntie."

Yang Dalin followed Sha Zhu back to Sha Zhu's house.

On Sha Zhu's table, there were four dishes, a bottle of wine, and two wine cups.

The meal consisted of four dishes: a cold cabbage heart salad, scrambled eggs with scallions, peanuts, and stir-fried bean curd sheets.

Goodness, four dishes. It's nothing special normally, but it's already quite good these days.

No wonder he's a chef; he certainly has plenty of ingredients at home.

Sha Zhu probably doesn't usually live such a luxurious life. This is probably because he's preparing to invite Da Linzi. In these days, it's really quite nice.

"Brother, sit down. I was really in a rush today, so I only made four dishes. Don't be offended by the state of things these days. Here, I have to thank you today. Let me treat you to a drink."

Yang Dalin sat down and said, "Brother Zhu, this dish is already very good. It still tastes better when cooked by a chef."

Is there anything you want to thank me for today?

Sha Zhu picked up his glass: "Come on, brother, have a sip first, then we'll talk."

Alright, it seems Yang Dalin won't be able to leave without a drink today. Since Sha Zhu is so kind, then let's have a little.

Let's also try the wine from this era and see what it's like.

I wasn't full at home anyway, so I might as well take advantage of this free meal.

Yang Dalin picked up his wine cup and clinked it against Sha Zhu's: "Brother Zhu, let's make this clear first, I don't like to pressure people to drink. I'll have a little with you, but I think we should stop when we've had enough, okay?"

This was also Yang Dalin's habit, because in his previous life he made a bet with a man from Heihe in Northeast China. When he got home from get off work at night, he didn't eat a single dish, but drank three cups of baijiu (Chinese liquor) in the same kind of ceramic teacup with a lid that used to be used for drinking tea.

Three cups would weigh at least one and a half jin (approximately 500 grams).

Then I felt terrible for three days and three nights. During those three days, I was so bad that I would vomit even after drinking millet porridge.

From then on, no matter who he drank with, Yang Dalin developed a habit: he would not drink if he could avoid it, and once he had drunk a certain amount, no amount of persuasion would work.

Because only you know how painful it is.

Sha Zhu was taken aback, then looked at Yang Dalin, who was also young, and said, "Okay, no problem. After all, you're still young. A little bit won't hurt. If you drink enough, I promise I won't pressure you to drink more, okay?"

Yang Dalin liked this. He hated those who pressured people to drink, even though he was from Shandong Province in both his past and present lives.

People from Shandong province not only like to urge others to drink, but they are also very particular about seating arrangements and pouring drinks.

"Okay, good that you agreed, Brother Zhu. Let's do it."

Hmm, not bad, a light-flavored Erguotou, Yang Dalin can accept it.

He doesn't like the aroma of soy sauce-flavored liquor, even Moutai.

He can drink more of the lightly aromatic kind.

It's mainly about the memories carried by the soul. Northerners don't like to drink soy sauce-flavored drinks, especially those like him who can't drink it.

When Sha Zhu saw that Yang Dalin had finished his drink in one gulp, he also finished his drink and tried to fill Yang Dalin's glass. Yang Dalin snatched the bottle, poured Sha Zhu's glass first, and then filled his own glass to about eight-tenths full.

Lu Erge's family has always maintained proper etiquette at the dinner table.

The younger generation pours wine for the older generation, and juniors pour wine for elders; it's unheard of for an older person to pour wine for a younger one.

Regardless of the circumstances, these are the things that people in Shandong province value; they're ingrained in their very being.

Of course, the officialdom and the business world are different; this is at home.

"Brother, we were short on time today and didn't have any good ingredients. Next time, I'll definitely cook you a good meal."

I want to thank you twice today. Yushui told me everything when she got back. First, you took her out to play and bought her notebooks and pens. They ran into three thugs, and I didn't expect you to beat them all up.

"Brother Zhu..."

"Brother, don't rush, let me finish speaking."

Secondly, you explained a lot of principles to Yushui. Although you and Yushui are the same age, I can tell that you are more experienced, and what you said makes sense.

Don't laugh at me, but I only graduated from elementary school, and then I started learning to cook.

He spends all his time with the people in the kitchen. He knows a lot of principles but can't put them into words, and he doesn't know how to teach Yushui.

She came back crying today, and when she repeated what you told her to me, I knew that you are a reasonable person.

"Thank you, bro. Have another drink, please."

Okay, I haven't even had a bite of food, and I'm already having another drink.

Fortunately, Yang Dalin had eaten dumplings before leaving home.

This body doesn't seem to have much aversion to alcohol, so it appears it can hold its liquor.

"Brother Zhu, you don't need to be so polite. I'll be living in our compound from now on, and I'll inevitably need your help sometime."

No need for so many words of thanks, that's too kind.

The first thing I encountered was those three thugs. At that time, there was not only rain, but also my sister Yanhua and my little sister Xiaoning. I couldn't just run away.

"Even a man like me wouldn't do that."

"Yes, you're right, brother."

"The second thing is, I hope Brother Zhu doesn't think I'm being nosy. But the more I talk about Yushui, the more unfair it seems to you. You're still not married at your age."

I feel sorry for you because you sacrificed so much to take care of her, Brother Zhu, please don't take offense at my words.

"No way, brother, I think what you said today is good."

Oh, right, I haven't paid you for the notebooks and pencils yet.

"Forget it, Brother Zhu, it's not much money. Besides, you just bought me drinks, so it's really not much. I wouldn't take it even if you gave it to me."

"That won't do, brother. You've just arrived in Beijing and don't have a local household registration. When my father passed away, I was the same age as you, so I know how tough it was."