Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

"Li Xiangdong, you stop right there!"

Yi Zhonghai trembled with anger: "As a leading cadre..."

"Yi Zhonghai, you still know I'm your superior?" Li Xiangdong said calmly, "Is this how you talk to your superior?"

"Heh heh, when you need me to set an example, then I'm the leader. When you don't, then you expect me to be just an ordinary resident, listening to your whims, Yi Zhonghai?" Li Xiangdong said.

"You're ugly, but you have such beautiful dreams!"

“I’m just an ordinary resident, I don’t need to listen to you.”

Yi Zhonghai was completely shut down after being roasted.

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong didn't want Li Xiangdong to give them a piece of their minds. The three of them watched helplessly as Li Xiangdong left.

Jia Zhangshi was about to throw a tantrum, but Qin Huairu grabbed her arm. Jia Zhangshi glared at Qin Huairu, about to erupt in anger.

"With just one word from him, he can cancel my job placement," Qin Huairu said in a low, urgent voice.

That one sentence immediately shut Jia Zhangshi up.

Their Jia family's position is to be passed down from generation to generation. Qin Huairu is the first to take over, and when Banggeng grows up, it will be passed on to him!

"I have to go back too. I have to attend training tomorrow."

Xu Damao also stood up.

"What? Xu Damao, you're not participating either?" Yi Zhonghai said angrily to Xu Damao.

If Yi Zhonghai can't control Li Xiangdong, he can't control you, Xu Damao.

"Yes, there's training tomorrow. I have to go," Xu Damao said confidently.

Originally, this was something he could choose not to attend, but with Li Xiangdong's example as a precedent, Xu Damao certainly couldn't refuse to go.

"Then you can't take leave. Is going to training more important, or burying Dongxu?"

Yi Zhonghai slammed his fist on the table and shouted. He was going to kill Xu Damao, that chicken, today.

"Then let me ask you, old man, is the general public more important, or is the burial of Jia Dongxu more important?" Xu Damao mustered his courage and said, "His burial is just as important as my training as a projectionist. That was planned by the organization long ago."

“If you think Jia Dongxu is important, then I’ll go to the factory leaders right now and ask for leave. Tell them what your uncle said…”

Yi Zhonghai was so choked up he could barely catch his breath. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Fine, you go to training tomorrow. If those two are missing, Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiefang will fill in."

Before Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiefang could speak, Liu Guangqi objected.

"I'm also free tomorrow; I have to go see my girlfriend. We made plans a few days ago."

Liu Guangqi shook his big head and said.

“Yes, yes. Everyone has their own things to do. We’re just neighbors, not relatives. Our relationship has always been just so-so.” Liu Haizhong muttered, “Tomorrow we’ll have those laborers come and carry the coffin.”

"Old Yi, you're something else! This is a professional job. Either hire professional earthmovers to carry it, or have twenty people ready to take turns!"

"If you bring these people, it'll probably be afternoon by the time you get to the cemetery. Burials can't be done after noon!"

Upon seeing Liu Haizhong fire, Yan Bugui immediately thrust his bayonet forward, shouting, "Yes, yes! Old Yi, this isn't right. Are you saying other people's kids will die all the time?"

"If you keep using people like this, I still love my own son. This won't do!"

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath. He wanted his people in the compound to help take Jia Dongxu to the cemetery. If word got out, it would show the compound was united. That was thanks to his great-uncle, Yi Zhonghai, leading the way! He just hadn't expected so many unexpected problems to arise!

Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to back down: "That was my oversight. How about this tomorrow? Hire a porter to haul it over on a flatbed cart."

"But from the house to the gate, it takes everyone working together to carry it out."

"It won't take much time. Once it's carried out, everyone can go back to what they were doing!"

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, everyone thought it made sense. However, Jia Zhangshi objected, and she began to wail desperately.

"No, no! We must carry him to the cemetery. We can't use a car!" Jia Zhangshi cried out. "My son must live a long and blessed life in his next life."

It's a funeral custom to carry the body directly from the home to the cemetery. It's believed that the deceased will be blessed in their next life and live a long and healthy life.

It's really about showcasing the bereaved family's network of connections. Without such a vast network, how could they possibly carry the body directly to the cemetery? Of course, hiring people is also an option.

For those who didn't want to spend money and didn't have any connections, the only option was to use a flatbed cart to transport them.

"Sister-in-law, stop joking. We can't get enough people together. By the way, your brother's family is coming, and Huai Ru's family is coming too. How many people can we get?" Yi Zhonghai asked helplessly.

“My brother’s two sons are very weak and can’t do this,” Jia Zhangshi hurriedly shook her head and said, “Qin Huairu, your two brothers…”

"They're not coming; only my parents came," Qin Huairu said helplessly.

"What kind of brother are you!" Jia Zhangshi said, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Qin Huairu was burning with rage; she had offended all her brothers at the hands of the Jia family. In the difficult year of 1959-1960, the Jia family hadn't provided a single penny of assistance and instead told Qin Huairu to go back and procure grain.

This infuriated Qin Huairu's two brothers, who immediately severed all ties with her.

"Let's go back. They wouldn't even use it for their own relatives, yet they're making us use the best cut of meat!" Yan Jiecheng stood up, turned around, and left.

The crowd immediately dispersed. Only the Jia family, three old men, and Sha Zhu remained.

Both Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu were dumbfounded. Qin Huairu hated Jia Zhangshi to death. She had managed to ruin everything.

"It's all Li Xiangdong's fault," Sha Zhu said angrily. "And Xu Damao was also egging him on. Otherwise, how could things have turned out like this?"

"Fine, we'll use the flatbed cart tomorrow morning," Yi Zhonghai said helplessly. "Sister-in-law, please stop making a fuss. Otherwise, I won't care anymore!"

"How can you ignore this? You're Dongxu's master!" Jia Zhangshi glared at Yi Zhonghai with dog-like eyes: "If you don't get this sorted out..."

"Mom, don't say anymore. Uncle is already in a difficult position." Qin Huairu hurriedly said, "Let Uncle make the decision."

Madam Jia rolled her eyes and remained silent, huffing and puffing.

"Zhu Zi, go find a handcart puller. He needs to be at the compound gate at five o'clock tomorrow morning," Yi Zhonghai said. "Old Guan at the end of the alley is good. Go and find him."

Just as Sha Zhu was about to leave, Jia Zhangshi remembered something.

"Wait, my brother's family will definitely be here tonight. They should be here soon, Sha Zhu, hurry back and prepare some food!"

"It has to be meat dishes. And white flour steamed buns, or rice is fine too."

Sha Zhu wished he could go over and give Jia Zhangshi two large sums of money.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Three Beasts Hold a Meeting (Please give me some flowers and votes, my friends!)

He, Sha Zhu, was licking Qin Huairu's boots, not that old hag Jia Zhangshi.

"Alright, bring the meat, vegetables, and flour, okay? I'll make it for you in a bit." Sha Zhu said with a gloomy face, "Otherwise, what am I supposed to make for you?"

"You... Dongxu, Lao Jia, come up and take a look..."

Jia Zhangshi screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

Sha Zhu turned and left, his face ashen, as if it were about to rain.

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong left quietly. Yi Zhonghai turned to leave, but was stopped by Jia Zhangshi.

“Uncle, you must have meat, rice, and flour at home. Why don’t you give me some…” said Jia Zhangshi.

Yi Zhonghai doesn't have fresh pork, but they have plenty of cured pork and sausages. Rice and flour are also plentiful. This is all for the Chinese New Year. Buying early avoids the crowds!

“No, where would we get those things?” Yi Zhonghai shook his head and said, “It’s not a holiday. What family would have those things prepared?”

"The factory gave us ten catties of meat coupons today, we'll buy them tomorrow morning. We're having a feast at noon, so Sha Zhu will stay home and cook."

Jia Zhangshi glared angrily at Yi Zhonghai before saying, "Alright then, I'll go buy groceries at home tomorrow morning. I just don't have any money..."

Yi Zhonghai felt a mouthful of blood rise to his throat, took a deep breath and swallowed it down, saying, "I still have twenty yuan here, consider it a donation to your family. I won't give it to you tomorrow night."

“Sure, sure,” Jia Zhangshi readily agreed.

They agreed to hold a donation ceremony for the Jia family after the funeral.

When Li Xiangdong returned home, he carried the coal stove to the kitchen. He didn't want to risk carbon monoxide poisoning, but he also wanted a heating stove, the kind with a vent pipe to expel the exhaust fumes.

Li Xiangdong measured the required length of the air pump and mentally decided how many air pumps he would need. It has to be said that having multiple skills is always beneficial; Li Xiangdong was also skilled in black and white metalworking.

The next morning, Li Xiangdong ate instant noodles with pickled cabbage, with two spiced braised eggs added. After slurping it down, he pushed his cart, locked the door, and left.

As I came out, I saw Yan Bugui sniffing at his doorstep, as if he were smelling a delicious aroma. In his hand was a cornbread bun.

It looks like they're eating it with cornbread and enjoying the aroma.

Seeing Li Xiangdong come out, Yan Bugui slowly turned around and went back.

At that moment, Li Xiangdong heard cries and shouts from the Intermediate People's Court; it sounded like someone was shouting. He vaguely heard something about wanting to eat something.

Li Xiangdong spent the morning drawing blueprints, and around 2 PM, he went to Li Huaide's office. He mentioned that he wanted to buy some scrap metal.

“Sure, I’ll take you there,” Li Huaide said with a smile.

Li Huaide was now certain that although Li Xiangdong had not explicitly stated that he was siding with him, it was absolutely impossible for him to side with Factory Director Yang.

Li Huaide led Li Xiangdong to the preparation workshop. The preparation workshop, though called a preparation workshop, was actually a workshop mostly filled with miscellaneous items and odds and ends.

Here they found some sheet metal, mostly scraps and leftovers. There was also an old gas cylinder, which delighted Li Xiangdong.

"That's all? It won't cost much," Li Huaide said with a reserved smile. "It's all scrap, so just give me two yuan."

“Then I’ll make a stove and a gas vent, I’ll do it myself.” Li Xiangdong said with a smile, “I’d like to invite you, Director Yang, and Secretary Zhang over for a couple of drinks tomorrow night.”

"Not today, good heavens, there's a funeral in the yard."