Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1115 Dialogue with the Deaf
On New Year's Eve in Courtyard No. 95, every household was different. Around noon, Sha Zhu took his tools to the Jia family's house, where people were already busy in the kitchen.

An older woman, Li Cuilan, and Qin Huairu were sorting through the ingredients that an older man had brought over. Although the harvest was not good this year, the older man was, after all, a master craftsman at the steel rolling mill, and he received very generous benefits, including not only pork but also two catties of eggs and five catties of flour.

Originally, Sha Zhu had prepared more things, but he was careful and only brought half of them: a large carp and a chicken. That was all. Yi Zhonghai frowned when he saw what Sha Zhu had brought.

Sha Zhu said, "Uncle, I don't know if the rain will come back. If it does, and my family has nothing, I'll be in trouble. My finances are still in their hands, so please bear with me."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai realized that Sha Zhu had seen through his thoughts, but he could barely accept what Sha Zhu said, so he casually said, "What are you talking about? These days, it's already good if anyone can buy a fish in the market. Alright, don't overthink it, hurry up and cook."

Sha Zhu walked into the kitchen. The kitchen was too small. Sha Zhu said, "Auntie, Sister Qin, which of you two would like to rest for a while? This place is too small. We don't need so many people."

Qin Huairu looked at Li Cuilan, who chuckled and said, "Alright, I need to go to the backyard to pick up the old lady. You two can stay here."

Sha Zhu was secretly delighted, but on the surface he still maintained a serious expression and said, "Please rest assured, ma'am, if you want to complete the task, just wait until your jaw drops."

"You're so irresponsible, I'm leaving." Li Cuilan went straight out of the kitchen and into the main room. She saw only Xiao Dang playing with Huaihua on the bed. Li Cuilan called out to the kitchen, "Huairu, where are your mother-in-law and Banggeng?"

"Oh, they went out early this morning, and I don't know where they went. They haven't come back yet, but they know lunchtime is coming, so I guess they'll be back by then," Qin Huairu replied from the kitchen.

Li Cuilan didn't ask any more questions. She teased Xiao Dang and Huaihua for a bit, then left the Jia family and returned home.

Yi Zhonghai was at home drinking tea and reading a novel. He had nothing to do but wait for dinner to be served.

As soon as Yi Zhonghai saw Li Cuilan return, he asked, "Why are you back? Why aren't you helping out?"

Li Cuilan rolled her eyes and said, "Don't you know the Jia family's kitchen? It's so big that it's hard for three people to turn around in there. That's why Sha Zhu kicked me out. I'm going to the backyard to pick up the old lady."

Yi Zhonghai was stunned for a moment, then looked in the direction of the Jia family and suddenly smiled.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai's strange expression, Li Cuilan asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing. Aren't you going to pick up the old lady? Go ahead and pick her up here first. I'll chat with her for a bit. I'll go make some tea now." Yi Zhonghai got up and walked towards the bedroom.

Li Cuilan muttered to herself, "What's so strange about this?", but she still walked towards the backyard.

The deaf old woman smiled as soon as she saw her and said, "Cuilan, has Shazhu cooked?"

"Don't worry, Grandma, it's being prepared. Come on, let's go to my house and sit for a while. Old Yi said he'd brew you a pot of good tea," Li Cuilan replied as she busied herself putting a cotton-padded coat on the old lady.

When the two entered the Yi family home, Yi Zhonghai was carrying a teapot out of the kitchen. Upon seeing the deaf old lady, he quickly said, "Grandma, please sit down. I've prepared some fine tea for you here, genuine Zhang Yiyuan's 'Piaoxue' tea. It's not easy to buy these, so I'm doing this to honor you." "That's wonderful. I haven't had this tea in a long time. I'll try it today," the deaf old lady said with a smile as she sat down at the head of the square table.

Yi Zhonghai brewed the tea, and the two chatted and drank it, eventually talking about the Jia family.

Yi Zhonghai sighed and said, "Grandma, you know me. I've suffered so much. After all these years, I finally managed to raise Dongxu, but he left us around this time last year. I'm at a loss now. Sigh."

"Don't worry," the deaf old lady comforted her. "I never thought much of the Jia family either. We've been living here for a long time and know them all well. With that old woman from the Jia family around, I reckon even if Jia Dongxu were alive, your retirement would be in jeopardy."

Yi Zhonghai looked at the old lady and asked, "Grandma, what do you think of Qin Huairu?"

"Hmm?" The deaf old lady was a little surprised. She had always thought that after Jia Dongxu left, Yi Zhonghai would turn his attention to Sha Zhu. She didn't expect that he was eyeing Qin Huairu. The deaf old lady didn't say anything, took a sip of tea, and thought for a while.

Yi Zhonghai didn't rush to ask any questions and just sat quietly. Suddenly, the deaf old woman stared straight at Yi Zhonghai and said, "What are you planning? Are you thinking of scheming against Sha Zhu?"

Yi Zhonghai didn't expect the deaf old lady to understand his thoughts so quickly, but he couldn't admit that Sha Zhu held a heavy place in the old lady's heart. If he angered her, it would be a loss.

The deaf old lady didn't wait for Yi Zhonghai's answer. She turned her head, looked at Li Cuilan who was eating sunflower seeds, and asked, "Is Shazhu cooking in the Jia family's kitchen by himself?"

Li Cuilan was taken aback, but without thinking much of it, she said, "No, Qin Huairu is busy in the kitchen with him."

"What is Jia Zhangshi doing?" the deaf old woman continued to ask.

"She took Banggeng out early this morning, I don't know where she went. Now it's just the two of them in the house, and oh right, there are two kids playing on the bed in the bedroom," Li Cuilan said.

The deaf old woman looked very upset. She looked at Yi Zhonghai and asked, "Zhonghai, you should know that Jia Zhangshi went out, right? What are you planning? Shazhu is still a young man. It's not good for him to be alone with a young widow like this."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes darted around at this moment. He knew very well what Jia Zhangshi had gone out to do with Banggeng. It was he who had persuaded Jia Zhangshi to do this, but he couldn't admit it now. So he said, "Grandma, I really didn't know. If Cuilan hadn't told me, I would have thought that Jia Zhangshi and Banggeng were at home. Let's not stay here. Let's go straight to the Jia family. That way, no one in the courtyard will see us and gossip."

Upon hearing this, the deaf old lady's expression softened, and she stood up to leave. Yi Zhonghai, unable to pick up his cigarette and matches, followed behind. Li Cuilan was at the very back, carrying a tray with the pot of tea on it.

Upon entering the Jia family home, the deaf old lady's expression changed. From the kitchen came the sounds of Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu chatting and laughing, seemingly enjoying themselves.

Yi Zhonghai had been observing the old lady, and he knew something was wrong just by looking at her expression. But before he could say anything, he heard the deaf old lady call out, "Huai Ru, my old lady is here! Aren't you going to greet me?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu, who was in the kitchen, frowned, but only for a moment before her face brightened with a smile. She replied, "Coming right away, Grandma. Let me wash my hands."

(End of this chapter)