Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1091 Old Kou's Scheme
A new day has begun, and Nanluoguxiang is gradually no longer as noisy and bustling as it was in the early morning. Children on holiday were playing wildly at the entrances of various alleys, and now this place has become their domain.

Sha Zhu knew in his heart that he was bringing food for Qin Huairu. The canteen director had informed him last night that there would be a banquet tonight, and the ingredients had been purchased and delivered to the small storeroom.

Sha Zhu isn't stupid; on the contrary, he's quite clever. Right now, his relationship with the Jia family isn't close enough for him to pay out of his own pocket to cook for them. Anyway, the vegetables are all from the factory, so it doesn't cost him any money. It's just a favor he's doing. As for him, he'll definitely be eating in the kitchen while they're eating, since there's no one waiting for him at home.

The day's work came to a successful end, and the steel rolling mill workers all went home. Groups of people poured out of the gate and then went their separate ways in twos and threes.

Yi Zhonghai walked home with Liu Gen, chatting as they went. Behind them, Liu Haizhong was surrounded by a group of his disciples who were going the same way, also walking and laughing.

Today, Yan Bugui was waiting at the gate of No. 95 courtyard early in the morning. When he saw the neighbors coming home from get off work or the housewives coming home from grocery shopping, he greeted them warmly.

In the front yard, Liu Jiacheng and Liu Yuanyuan's father had just finished get off work. He works at a machine repair shop. Today, the factory repaired a batch of machines sent by Beicheng Machinery Factory. To thank these repairmen, Beicheng Machinery Factory prepared five catties of eggs for each of them, which were placed in a bamboo basket.

Liu Laoshi, the father of the Liu siblings, was happily heading home. But when people get carried away, trouble is bound to happen. As he reached the door, he bumped into Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui's eyes immediately fell on Old Liu's eggs. He threw down the iron watering can and stepped forward, laughing, "Hey, isn't this Old Liu? You're off work? Look how happy you are! Oh, these are eggs, right? This must weigh about five pounds!"

Liu Laoshi regretted it. In his excitement, he had forgotten about the door god across the street. Helpless, he said, "Yes, Uncle San, you're off work early. Are you watering the flowers?"

While verbally placating Yan Bugui, his eyes darted around, and his mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. Yan Bugui was cunning; he immediately guessed what Old Liu was thinking and started working on it, saying, "Let me see, why is this egg so big? I'll take it."

Just as Yan Bugui reached for Teacher Liu's bamboo basket, a clear voice suddenly came from behind him, "Dad, what are you dawdling about here? Mom is waiting to cook the eggs."

As soon as the words were spoken, Liu Laoshi's daughter, Liu Yuanyuan, snatched the egg basket and ran home. Liu Laoshi's eyes lit up, and he ran a few steps after her, calling out, "Be careful, don't break it. You're always so impulsive."

Only Yan Bugui remained, stunned, standing at the screen wall by the entrance, still in the posture of reaching out his hand.

"Uncle, what are you doing? Are you exercising? Your posture is quite unique." Liu Gen walked in through the gate with a teasing tone, followed by Yi Zhonghai, who also found Yan Bugui's appearance quite amusing.

Yan Bugui snapped out of his daze and said with a smile, "No, I was watering the flowers just now and I accidentally slipped."

Liu Gen laughed heartily and said, "You weren't blinded by watering the flowers, you were blinded by Old Liu's daughter, hahaha."

After saying that, he turned and walked into the courtyard. Yi Zhonghai also walked away with a smile. Yan Bugui was embarrassed for a few seconds before he realized that Yi Zhonghai and Liu Gen had seen what had just happened.

Yan Bugui turned to look for the watering can. Just then, Liu Haizhong returned, walked into the courtyard, and said perfunctorily, "Old Yan, still watering the flowers? You're quite diligent." Without waiting for Yan Bugui's reply, he walked directly into the courtyard.

Yan Bugui looked at Liu Haizhong who was greeting him, and suddenly thought of something. He jogged after Liu Haizhong, calling out as he ran, "Old Liu, wait a minute, I have something to ask you, it won't take you more than a few minutes."

Liu Haizhong stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Old Liu, doesn't Sha Zhu usually leave work with you guys? Why is he still nowhere to be seen even though you're all back?" Yan Bugui asked. "How would I know? He works in the cafeteria, and I work in the workshop. We live far apart. Is there anything else?" Liu Haizhong replied.

Yan Bugui shook his head, Liu Haizhong turned and left, and Yan Bugui gritted his teeth and continued to wait.

In the west wing of the central courtyard, Qin Huairu was coaxing Banggeng to do his homework. Banggeng looked at his grandmother. Although Jia Zhangshi was becoming more unreasonable, she still understood some things and didn't even look at Banggeng.

Qin Huairu said, "Son, do you know that your uncle knows our family is struggling and doesn't have much food? This morning when he left, he said he would bring us four dishes. I was originally planning to eat no more than two boxes tonight, but as long as you do your homework well, I will let you try all of them. All four are meat dishes."

Qin Huairu's words instantly ignited the Jia family. Bang Geng said, "Really? Then I won't eat dinner later, I'll just wait for Sha Zhu's meat dishes."

“You have to call him Uncle Silly. You have no manners. Now, get back to your homework,” Qin Huairu said.

“That’s just becoming, what’s the difference? No, Qin Huairu, are you hiding something from me? Has this silly Zhu lost his mind? Why did he think of bringing four dishes to our family? We’re usually lucky to have one box.” Jia Zhangshi said to Qin Huairu.

Fearing it would affect Bang Geng's studies, Qin Huairu pulled Jia Zhangshi into the inner room and whispered that Yi Zhonghai had told him last night that there would be a banquet at the canteen today. She had gone out early this morning and lied to Sha Zhu, saying it was her birthday. When Sha Zhu heard it was her birthday, he said he would bring four dishes to her family that night.

After the whole story was explained, Jia Zhangshi understood that the idea came from Yi Zhonghai, in order to improve her family's meals. Oh well, she decided not to ask any more questions; as long as they had something to eat, that was enough.

Jia Zhangshi said, "Then I'll eat less for dinner and wait to get my lunchbox." After saying that, she turned and left.

Time passed by, and it was no longer summer. The weather turned cool at night. Yan Bugui stood at the door for more than two hours without seeing Sha Zhu. Just as he was about to turn around and go home to have some hot tea before coming out again, Sha Zhu came swaying over from the alley entrance, carrying a net bag with four large lunch boxes inside.

Yan Bugui was getting impatient, but he quickly calmed down and realized that Sha Zhu was ignoring him, so he pretended to be going out. Just then, Yan Bugui happened to run into Sha Zhu at the door. Sha Zhu saw him too and said, "Third Uncle, why are you going out for a stroll in the middle of the night? You have quite the refined taste."

After saying that, Sha Zhu was about to go into the yard when Yan Bugui said, "Go to the toilet. You just got back. You must be tired." After saying that, he also walked out of the yard.

Suddenly Yan Bugui stopped and turned around, saying, "Wait a minute, Shazhu, I have some good news. Do you want to hear it?"

Sha Zhu stopped, turned around, and said, "Old Man Yan, you're not after my lunchbox, are you? What kind of trouble are you up to now? Let me tell you, this lunchbox has an owner, it has nothing to do with you, so don't bother with it."

"Look at what you're saying. I meant well, but fine, I guess I was being nosy. I won't talk to you about the school's youth social club anymore. Go on with your business." Yan Bugui said, then turned and walked out.

Sha Zhu was taken aback, thinking to himself, "A youth social event? Isn't that just a matchmaking event? And it's at a school, so aren't all the participants female teachers?"

Sha Zhu suddenly woke up and saw that Yan Bugui had already walked to the middle of the alley. He quickly ran after him, "Wait a minute, Third Uncle, my good Third Uncle, let's have a chat."

(End of this chapter)