Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

After returning home.

"Brother, are we having meat today?"

Li Tian circled around the piece of pork belly, his mouth practically watering.

"Let's skip the meat today and have fish!"

Li Xuan carried the remaining large fish into the kitchen, saying, "We'll save the pork belly to render oil, and you can make dumplings with the rendered pork fat!"

"Yay!"

Xiaoyu was so happy she jumped up and down.

Li Xuan went into the kitchen and began to prepare the large carp that weighed three or four pounds.

Although the seasonings are just simple oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, and even ginger and scallions are scarce, the quality of the ingredients makes up for it!

This fish was caught in the sea in Shicha, and its flesh has undergone a complete transformation after eating Lingquan noodles.

Heat oil in a wok.

There wasn't much oil at home, but Li Xuan didn't skimp on it for this fish meal.

"Sizzle!"

Pan-fry the fish until golden brown on both sides.

Then add spring water, cover the pot and simmer.

Before long, an extremely strong and delicious aroma wafted out of the kitchen.

This flavor is ten times stronger than the sweet potato porridge I had this morning!

If sweet potato porridge is fragrant, then this braised fish is rich and flavorful, with a mouthwatering meaty aroma!

It's like a hook that goes into a person's nose.

It was mealtime, and everyone in the courtyard was cooking.

Just as Yan Bugui's family in the front yard put their watery cornmeal porridge on the table, the aroma of fish wafted in.

"Gulp."

Yan Jiecheng swallowed hard, looked at the thin porridge in the bowl, and suddenly it didn't taste good anymore.

"Dad, whose family is cooking meat here?"

"This smells amazing!"

Yan Bugui's face darkened, and he slammed his chopsticks on the table: "It's the Li family from the backyard!"

"That kid Li Xuan struck it rich today!"

"At such a young age, she doesn't know how to manage her life, she's completely incapable of saving money, she'll squander it all sooner or later!"

Although he was cursing, Yan Bugui felt a stronger sourness in his heart than the vinegar dish on the table.

……

The Intermediate People's Court, the Jia family.

The Jia family's dinner was still cornbread with pickled vegetables.

As the sole breadwinner of the family, Jia Dongxu found himself with a plate of scrambled eggs in front of him.

The moment the aroma of fish wafted in, Banggeng, who was about to nibble on a steamed bun, immediately bristled.

"Meat! I want to eat meat!"

Banggeng threw the cornbread in his hand to the ground, lay down on the ground and started to throw a tantrum, rolling around and kicking his legs wildly.

"Grandma! I want to eat fish too!"

"Li Xuan's family is eating fish! I can smell it!"

As Jia Zhangshi was picking up the cornbread from the ground with a heavy heart, she was so angry upon hearing this that her whole body trembled with rage.

"That damned little bastard!"

"They have money but don't know how to be filial to their elders; they just stay at home and eat alone!"

"Aren't you afraid your intestines will rot!"

She cursed as she soothed her eldest grandson with tenderness, "Don't cry, my dear grandson, Grandma will have your mother go and ask for it!"

"We're giving him face by eating just one of his fish!"

After saying that, Jia Zhangshi turned to look at Qin Huairu, who was feeding Xiaodang porridge, and her triangular eyes narrowed.

"Qin Huairu! Are you dead?"

"Can't you see my precious grandson wants to eat fish? Hurry up and take the bowl to the backyard!"

"Remember! Take the biggest bowl!"

"I told them the guy was really craving it and wanted to borrow a bowl of fish to try!"

"That Li Xuan is just a young boy, he's easily embarrassed. If you say a few nice words to him, he won't feel comfortable refusing!"

Qin Huairu was somewhat embarrassed: "Mom, we just had a falling out with them yesterday."

"They even went to ask for things today, this..."

"What the hell! Do you think shamelessness can feed you?"

Madam Jia slammed her hand on the table. "If you're not going, are you expecting this old man like me to go?"

"Do you want my precious grandson to starve to death?"

"Dongxu, aren't you going to do anything about your wife?!"

Jia Dongxu, his face grim, slammed his chopsticks down: "Just go when I tell you to!"

Qin Huairu's eyes welled up with tears of grievance.

But looking at the crying and fussing Bang Geng, and the fierce-looking mother-in-law and husband, all he could do was sigh.

She got up and took a large bowl from the cupboard that she usually used for kneading dough.

Then, Qin Huairu straightened her clothes.

She even deliberately unbuttoned one button on her collar and rubbed her eyes to make them look even more red and swollen and pitiful.

Then, carrying the large bowl, he swayed his hips as he walked towards the backyard.

……

The backyard, the Li family's house.

The braised fish is ready, a big bowl full, with a bright red color and a wonderful aroma.

Just as the family was about to start eating, there was a knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock".

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a sense of caution.

"Is Xiao Xuan home? It's your Sister Qin."

The voice was soft and weak, like it was filled with water, making one's bones melt.

Li Xuan frowned and put down his chopsticks.

"Mom, you guys eat first, I'll go check on things."

He walked to the door and pulled it open.

Qin Huairu stood at the door, holding a large bowl in her hand.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked like a wronged wife.

Upon seeing Li Xuan, tears streamed down her face before she could speak, her voice choked with emotion:

"Xiao Xuan, I have no other choice."

"That kid Banggeng smelled the aroma of your fish and cried so hard at home that he almost passed out. He's been begging to eat fish."

"I know your family isn't having an easy time either, but please consider that Dongxu is your dad's good brother."

"Could you lend me some fish?"

As she spoke, she thrust the large bowl forward, almost shoving it into Li Xuan's face.

Her eyes, her figure—she was the epitome of a beautiful, pure white lotus flower.

Li Xuan looked at the bowl, which was bigger than a basin, and almost laughed out of anger.

"Borrow? Qin Huairu, how can you even bring yourself to say that?"

Li Xuan crossed his arms and looked at her coldly.

"Did your Jia family ever repay even a single needle and thread for the flour, eggs, and money you borrowed from my family before?"

"How dare you bring such a big bowl to borrow meat now?"

"Is your skin made of a city wall?"

Qin Huairu's face stiffened. She hadn't expected Li Xuan to say such harsh words, and her tears fell even more fiercely.

"Xiao Xuan, how can you talk like that?"

"Isn't it because I can't make ends meet?"

"We're all neighbors, what's wrong with helping each other out?"

"I'll definitely pay you back in the future..."

"Later? Maybe in the next life!"

Li Xuan interrupted her mercilessly, "Qin Huairu, stop with your fake tears!"

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to."

"If you take this bowl away, I might as well not eat anymore and just become your family's long-term laborer!"

"And don't pretend to be some innocent saint in front of me!"

"This trick works on others, but for me? Sorry, I'm a germaphobe!"

After saying that, Li Xuan didn't give Qin Huairu a chance to react and suddenly flung his hand away.

"Bang!"

The heavy wooden door slammed shut!

Qin Huairu was clinging to the door frame, trying to squeeze in and play the victim, but Li Xuan closed the door so decisively.

"what!"

A piercing scream echoed through the backyard.

Although Li Xuan controlled his strength and didn't break her fingers.

But since the ten fingers are connected to the heart, being pinched hard by the wooden door caused Qin Huairu to turn pale with excruciating pain.

The large bowl in his hand fell to the ground with a "crash" and shattered into pieces.

"Li Xuan! You...you bastard!"

Qin Huairu covered her swollen, red finger, tears and snot streaming down her face from the pain.

She glared at the closed door, knowing she wouldn't get the meat today, and could only turn around and run back crying.

……

Intermediate People's Court.

Sha Zhu, who had just gotten off work, was carrying two heavy mesh lunchboxes as he walked into the yard, humming a little tune.

These two boxes were the good dishes he managed to get from the factory leaders' table.

It was originally intended to be kept for myself and to improve my meals with the rainwater.

As soon as they entered the Intermediate People's Court, they saw Qin Huairu covering her hands, crying her eyes out as she ran back from the backyard.

"Oh dear! Sister Qin! What happened?"

Sha Zhu was instantly heartbroken. He threw the lunchbox on the ground and rushed over, demanding, "Who bullied you?"

"Tell Pillar, and Pillar will get revenge for you!"

When Qin Huairu saw Sha Zhu, her pent-up grievances completely erupted.

She held out her swollen, red fingers to Sha Zhu and said, sobbing:

"Pillar... Waaah... Bang Geng wants to eat fish."

"I went to the Li family's house in the backyard to borrow some fish soup to mix with rice for the kids."

"As a result, that kid Li Xuan not only refused, but also called me a hypocrite!"

"He even deliberately slammed the door shut and trapped my hand, waaaaah, it feels like my hand is broken..."

Looking at Qin Huairu's fingers, which were swollen and red like carrots, Sha Zhu felt an inexplicable anger rising to his head.

"He's gone too far!"

Sha Zhu's eyes widened, and his insolent, roguish aura erupted instantly. "That little brat!"

"It's one thing to eat alone, but to hit a woman like that?"

"Sister Qin, don't cry! This isn't over! I'll go and get justice for you!"

Sha Zhu rolled up his sleeves, picked up the lunchbox from the ground, and looked like an enraged bull.

"Li Xuan! You little brat! Get out here right now!"

"If Grandpa doesn't teach you a lesson today, I'm not He Yuzhu!"

Sha Zhu roared and strode off toward the backyard, exuding a murderous aura.

Qin Huairu watched Sha Zhu's retreating figure, a hint of triumphant satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

Even the pain in my hand seemed to lessen a bit.

"Hmph, Li Xuan, let's see how arrogant you become! Just wait and see how Sha Zhu deals with you!"

......