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

"That damned man, he eats so well every day. How come he didn't choke to death!" Madam Jia cursed under her breath. "He doesn't even know how to help our family out."

Qin Huairu smiled bitterly and thought to herself, "You still want Li Xiangdong to help you out? You've offended everyone, and most of the good food you brought back ended up in your stinking mouth."

"How much do you eat, just a little bit of rice stems!"

The hamster rolled around even more vigorously at this moment, its expression saying that if it couldn't get a chicken dinner tonight, it wouldn't get up, and it wouldn't get up!

The Thief of the Holy Stick is a PUBG expert with a strong desire to win.

"Get up and get ready, Uncle Sha will be back soon. He might bring some chicken," Qin Huairu said. "He's entertaining guests tonight, so he'll definitely bring back something delicious."

"These damned parents, don't they know we're waiting to be fed?" Jia Zhangshi rolled her eyes and said, "Couldn't they at least bring the food back before going back to work?"

Qin Huairu, unlike Da Li Jia Zhang Shi, picked up the pole and went to the back to cook.

"Qin Huairu, you go outside and wait. Silly Zhu is back. That good-for-nothing might be able to take the lunchbox." Jia Zhangshi shouted, "Get out of here right now!"

Jia Zhangshi didn't care that the weather outside was so cold it could freeze a dog to death.

It was past six o'clock when Qin Huairu, shivering, arrived at the gatehouse. She peeked out to see if Sha Zhu had returned.

The aroma was even stronger here, making Qin Huairu's stomach rumble. She'd been busy with chores since getting home and hadn't had dinner yet.

"Sigh, she married into the city hoping for a better life. Who knew her life would be ruined like this?" Qin Huairu's heart was also filled with coldness.

She became a widow, and for the sake of her children, she couldn't remarry. Otherwise, her three children would suffer, and oh yes, there was another one in her belly.

Yan Bugui's family was also eating, having cornbread and corn porridge. There was also a dish of pickled vegetables. Everyone ate with their heads down. Smelling the aroma of chicken, no one was in the mood to talk.

Yan Bugui took deep breaths and said to his wife and children, "Close your eyes and breathe in, and imagine the cornbread and corn porridge as chicken and chicken soup. That will make you feel much better."

Yan Jiecheng and the others rolled their eyes together.

Yi Zhonghai's family was having dinner, eating steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and water. There was also a dish of braised tofu with pork cracklings and a dish of pickled vegetables.

The deaf old woman was also eating here. She struggled to eat her steamed bun made from two kinds of flour, muttering, "Unfilial son, this unfilial thing! He doesn't even bring some good food to his ancestor!"

A look of disgust flashed across Yi Zhonghai's eyes. He couldn't get rid of the deaf old woman now; otherwise, why would he still be feeding and caring for this old woman who pretended to be deaf and mute?

This old geezer still thinks he's the ancestor of the courtyard house. He's like a horse that doesn't know how long its face is.

From the backyard came the desperate cries of Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu. Needless to say, the education guru Liu Haizhong was disciplining his son again.

"Sigh, that Liu Haizhong. He beats his own son to death." Jin Yumei sighed. At the same time, she thought to herself, "If I had a son, I'd be happy even if he beat me every day! This Liu Haizhong doesn't know how to cherish what he has!"

"Unkind parents, unfilial children," the deaf old woman murmured. "Liu Haizhong is going to suffer later! He brought this on himself!"

Sha Zhu returned quickly, carrying three heavy lunchboxes. Qin Huairu's face lit up with a smile, and she immediately grabbed the nylon net bag.

"Zhu Zi, you're finally back! Let me see what delicious dishes you brought back today," Qin Huairu said cheerfully. "Is there any chicken? Bang Geng is so hungry he's rolling on the ground."

"Yes, my sister came back today. You took one box of chicken, and I'm taking the rest to my sister." Sha Zhu said awkwardly, "One box of mixed vegetables and one box of braised pork."

"It's raining so hard, and you're still fighting with a child for food? Banggeng Xiaodang calls her aunt." Qin Huairu practically snuggled into Shazhu's arms.

Sha Zhu's bones melted at the scent emanating from Qin Huairu. He completely forgot he had a younger sister. He was about to let go, saying, "That Banggeng kid is really something, he'd roll on the ground over a glutton's craving. He learned that from his grandma!"

Qin Huairu had her lunchbox in hand, and she no longer wanted to hang out with Sha Zhu. She didn't even dare look at Sha Zhu's old face, afraid she'd be too disgusted to eat dinner.

Just then, Li Xiangdong appeared, carrying a dustpan filled with trash. He was preparing to take it out to dispose of it.

Li Xiangdong had many garbage bags in his mysterious space, but he dared not take them out to use. Those things were out of step with this era.

Hearing the shameless conversation between the two, Li Xiangdong couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Sigh, this girl named He Yushui is really pitiful. She has such a worthless brother who doesn't support his own sister but instead tries to take advantage of someone else's child!"

Sha Zhu's face immediately turned red: "You...you're talking nonsense!"

"Shazhu, am I talking nonsense? Aren't I telling the truth?"

Li Xiangdong said coldly, "Which one is not true? Point it out, and I will apologize to you! I'll apologize at a big meeting, I'll even do that."

"Uh, this...this..." He Yuzhu couldn't speak.

Qin Huairu sensed something was wrong and hurriedly turned to leave. But she ran into a tall, slender girl.

The woman looked about fifteen or sixteen years old. She was pretty, but her face was pale and thin. She definitely looked malnourished.

"Qin Huairu, you've gone too far! You didn't even leave me a single thing to eat?"

He Yushui said angrily.

He Yushui's stomach was growling with hunger, so she went out to greet Sha Zhu. Unexpectedly, she was still late. The lunchbox in Sha Zhu's hand ended up in Qin Huairu's.

"Rain, what are you doing? Sister Qin's family is struggling financially," Sha Zhu hurriedly said. "What will happen if you skip a meal..."

"I haven't eaten a single meal? I didn't have any money for breakfast this morning, and I didn't eat lunch either. I was waiting for you to bring me food when I got back!" He Yushui burst into tears, "Are you trying to starve me to death?!"

“When I asked you for money, you said you needed to save up to get married. I only get five yuan a month, and I still need to buy books, and I need pocket money for food…”

At this moment, many people came out and gathered around. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui watched from the side, each remaining silent.

Chapter 49 Why the Rain Emerges (Seeking flowers, seeking votes! Seeking everything!!)

"You too, there's no food to eat when you come back. If you go to Uncle's house, you should at least find some cornbread to tide you over," Sha Zhu said irritably.

"Do you think I'm like you? That I can get food from an old man?" He Yushui said quietly, "The old man said that his family's food rations are just enough to eat!"

"I've been waiting for you since noon, and I'm so hungry I can only drink water! There's not a single grain of food in your house."

"Well, you two siblings should talk inside; it's cold outside." Qin Huairu said with a dry laugh, "I'm going back to check on the children..."

Yi Zhonghai blushed but said nothing. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Otherwise, the fact that He Yushui wasn't being fed wouldn't have come to light.

Li Xiangdong couldn't stand it any longer. "Tsk tsk, you silly Zhu, you just watch your sister go hungry. If she faints, I'll see who in the yard can escape Qingbai's clutches!"

"They all refuse to do anything else when something goes wrong!"

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yuan Yan, and Gui were taken aback. They were really going to starve He Yushui to death. They would definitely be questioned by the neighborhood committee.

"Qin Huairu, give Yushui a lunchbox! We've finished eating today. Otherwise..." Yi Zhonghai was still trying to save face.

It wasn't that Yi Zhonghai was stingy with the food; he just felt it was unnecessary to be nice to He Yushui.

"Um... alright then." Qin Huairu was reluctant. But under these circumstances, she couldn't refuse. Qin Huairu was in a dilemma; she didn't know if the lunchbox contained braised chicken. She couldn't give the chicken to He Yushui. It would be best to give her a box of mixed vegetables!

Qin Huairu knew that the mixed dishes were just leftovers from the banquet combined together. As for the chicken and braised pork, they were definitely taken away by Sha Zhu as soon as they were cooked!

Just as Qin Huairu was hesitant to open the lunchbox, she saw Jia Zhangshi rush towards her like a wild boar. She snatched the lunchbox from Qin Huairu's hand and said fiercely:

"Why should we give away our own stuff? The corn is still waiting at home to eat!"

Jia Zhangshi, carrying a nylon net bag, ran back like a big rat.

"Well... about Rainwater, I'll go out and buy you breakfast tomorrow morning. You won't be hungry if you go to sleep early," Sha Zhu said, scratching the back of his head.

Qin Huairu was about to leave when she was stopped by something Li Xiangdong said.

"Silly Zhu, is this how you raise your sister?" Li Xiangdong said sullenly. He Yushui was already sobbing uncontrollably. Everyone looked at Silly Zhu with disdain; this guy was still smug.

He probably thought he was really great, doing this to help Sister Qin, even though it meant his own sister was going hungry.

"Uh, this is a matter for the He family, Section Chief Li, it's none of your business," He Yuzhu said fiercely after a moment of hesitation.

"Yes, yes. Yushui, you go back first, I'll have an older woman bring you some food."

Yi Zhonghai said with a righteous expression. "That's true, but we'll send over two steamed buns later. Nobody will starve to death for one night."

"Wait a minute, Sha Zhu, I'm actually going to get involved in your business!" Li Xiangdong sneered.

"Section Chief Li, this is a matter within the compound, not in the factory. It's none of your business, is it?" Yi Zhonghai said, suppressing his anger.

Li Xiangdong wants to extend his influence into the compound? That won't do. And dealing with Sha Zhu is even more impossible.

"Yi Zhonghai, do you think this compound is yours? Are you some kind of local tyrant?" Li Xiangdong sneered, "You're nothing, just a worker. Get out of my way."

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ashen, but he dared not utter another word in rebuttal. He knew in his heart that if he dared to utter another word, he would be severely beaten!

"Hehe, I'd like to hear how you're going to manage this."

Sha Zhu had a nonchalant expression. Yi Zhonghai sensed that things might be going wrong.

“It’s simple, there’s a precedent for this in the factory,” Li Xiangdong said. “Shazhu, your workstation is next to He Daqing’s, right?”

Sha Zhu paused for a moment, then said, "Yeah, what's wrong?"

“No problem. But since you’ve taken He Daqing’s job, you have a responsibility to raise He Yushui to adulthood. This isn’t about sibling affection; it’s an obligation you must fulfill. Because He Daqing’s job has been given to you,” Li Xiangdong said.

"You have to compensate He Yushui. There are several similar cases in the factory. As veteran workers of the steel rolling mill, I think you all know about them, right?"

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong exchanged a glance; they were well aware of these matters. Sha Zhu knew as well.

He Yushui stopped crying and looked at Li Xiangdong with hope in her eyes.

“So you have to give He Yushui ten yuan every month!” Li Xiangdong said. “He Yushui can choose to go directly to the factory to collect the ten yuan.”

“You have a food ration book, so five yuan is enough for your food and drink for a month. It's also enough for your books and tuition.”

"I'll go to the steel mill to get it, I'll go to the steel mill to get it!" He Yushui wiped away her tears and said, "Thank you, Section Chief Li!"

He Yushui had just heard Yi Zhonghai say that the handsome older brother in front of her was Section Chief Li.

"Okay, if you don't have any money, I'll lend you five yuan first," Li Xiangdong said. "Pay me back when you get your salary."

"Thank you, Section Chief Li, thank you!" He Yushui said excitedly.

He Yushui had always been afraid that she would starve to death by Sha Zhu, but now she finally had a guarantee.