Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

Yan Jiecheng echoed, and Yu Li felt a little wronged. She had been very diligent, wiping the windows several times, and was almost ready to wash Yang Wei's clothes.

"Okay, I'll be more serious in the future, and I'll stay longer." Yu Li could only nod.

"That's right, just like that!" Yan Bugui's eyes lit up. "Also, you absolutely must go tomorrow. Yang Wei definitely won't be able to finish it all, so I'll make sure you bring some back!"

If Yu Li hadn't already gone today, they would have called her over again right now.

When Yang Wei got home, he found the door closed, assuming Yu Li had finished cleaning and locked herself in. He opened the door and went inside, nodding in satisfaction. The house was spotless; Yu Li was indeed very diligent.

He put the food on the table, grabbed some, tasted it, and shook his head: "It tastes so-so."

At this moment, a system notification sound plays:

"Mission complete! Reward: One serving of stinky tofu ingredients and three pounds of candy!"

Yang Wei's eyes lit up. He had the ingredients and the recipe, and since he was free, he decided to make stinky tofu!

Just as I was about to take action, the system spoke again:

"New task: Life needs some seasoning, make a batch of stinky tofu. Reward: Slippery Foot Charm, some candy."

Yang Wei chuckled: Making stinky tofu comes with a reward? Is there anything better than this? He immediately started work.

With masterful culinary skills and a photographic memory, a steamer of stinky tofu was ready in no time. Its distinctive pungent aroma instantly filled the room and wafted out.

The Jia family lived nearby. Jia Zhangshi fanned her nose and frowned, "What's that stench? Is someone eating shit?"

Banggeng dashed out and quickly returned shouting, "Grandma, the smell is coming from Yang Wei's house!"

"Hahaha, Yang Wei is really eating shit!" Jia Zhangshi laughed heartily. "Looks like he's gotten tired of eating meat these past few days and wants to taste what shit tastes like!"

Jia Dongxu chuckled, "He used to hoard food for himself and wouldn't give it to us, and now he's eating shit. How can I not be happy?"

Qin Huairu laughed along, "Yang Wei really has some 'extraordinary skills,' he even eats shit."

They were convinced they were right; the smell was absolutely awful, what else could it be but poop?

"I'm going out to see how he eats shit!" The plump Jia Zhangshi excitedly ran out.

"Mom, watch carefully later, and spread the word about Yang Wei eating shit!" Jia Dongxu's voice came from inside the house.

"Of course!" Jia Zhangshi replied smugly, quickening her pace as she ran towards Yang Wei's house, afraid that if she arrived too late, Yang Wei would have already finished eating the "shit".

Inside the house, Yang Wei was intently making stinky tofu. Outside the window, Jia Zhangshi's eyes seemed glued to the glass, staring straight in his direction.

"Is Yang Wei frying tofu? Why does it smell so bad? He must have put shit in it!"

"That's right! He wanted to eat shit but was too embarrassed to eat it directly, so he stuffed it inside tofu!"

"This kid is truly a 'genius'!"

The more Jia Zhangshi thought about it, the more pleased she became, and the wrinkles on her face stretched into a smile. She felt that her guess was "close to the truth".

The second batch of stinky tofu came out of the pot. Yang Wei picked up a piece and tasted it. It smelled pungent, but tasted so delicious it made his eyes squint. He had eaten plenty of authentic stinky tofu in his previous life, but it was nowhere near as good as the one produced by this system!

"Ding! Mission complete. Rewards: one Slippery Foot Charm, one pack of White Rabbit Creamy Candy, three pounds of apples, and three pounds of pears!"

The system notification sounded, and Yang Wei's eyes lit up. He scanned the system inventory with his mind: sure enough, these things had appeared. He smiled and continued eating, completely unaware of the "surveillance" outside the window.

In Jia Zhangshi's eyes, Yang Wei's enjoyment of eating stinky tofu became irrefutable proof that "he can even eat shit and still find it delicious."

"This Yang Wei, he enjoys eating shit so much? He must be a freak!" She was both surprised and happy. Once the rumor that "Yang Wei eats shit" spreads, let's see how he will have any face left in the yard!

A crowd quickly gathered outside Yang Wei's house, drawn by the unique stench.

"What's that smell coming from Yang Wei's house!"

"What is he eating? It smells terrible!"

Jia Zhangshi leaned over and immediately "revealed the secret": "He added excrement to the tofu and is eating it with great relish!"

"What? Add shit?" Everyone stared in astonishment.

"Is what Jia Zhangshi said true?" someone questioned.

"Of course it's true! Otherwise, how could it smell so bad?" Jia Zhangshi patted her chest. Many people believed her and nodded in agreement.

"You're wrong, this isn't adding shit, it's stinky tofu."

Lou Xiao'e's voice came from behind the crowd. Everyone turned around, saw it was her, and quieted down. Lou Xiao'e was a wealthy woman with broad experience, and what she said was reliable.

"What stinky tofu? It's just stinky tofu with shit on it. Only Yang Wei would eat that!" Jia Zhangshi sneered, refusing to back down.

"Stinky tofu is made from soybeans. People all over Xiangcheng eat it; it's a local specialty!" Lou Xiao'e explained with a smile.

"So that's how it is!" Everyone suddenly understood and believed it to be about 80%. Madam Jia was unwilling to give up and still muttered, "It's clearly shit," but no one agreed with her anymore.

Lou Xiao'e had long wanted to try the stinky tofu, a rare treat in Beijing. It smelled awful, but it must smell delicious! She walked towards Yang Wei's house and, seeing him eating with his eyes half-closed, couldn't help but ask, "Yang Wei, are you making stinky tofu?"

"Sister Xiao'e! It tastes good, want to try some?" Yang Wei said with a smile, handing over a piece.

Lou Xiao'e sat down and took a bite. Her eyes lit up instantly: "Delicious! So delicious!" She praised it highly. Yang Wei then picked out a bowl for her to take away, as it was inappropriate for a man and a woman to eat alone in public.

Lou Xiao'e carried the bowl out, and everyone immediately gathered around. She took out a few pieces for everyone to try, but looking at the dark, stinky tofu, no one dared to reach for it.

After a while, one of the bolder ones took a piece, put it in his mouth, and his eyes instantly lit up: "Delicious!"

That sound intrigued the others, who all took a bite and praised it. Lou Xiao'e smiled and pulled the bowl behind her, saying, "There are only a few pieces left, I can't bear to give them to you!"

Someone's eyes lit up, and they called out to the kids who often got things from Yang Wei: "Go ask Yang Wei for some stinky tofu!" The kids ran over, and Yang Wei readily gave them some. After eating it, they exclaimed "Delicious!" and ran back to the group of adults. The adults snatched some to eat and also praised it as "So fragrant!"

Some people were sucking their fingers, their faces full of regret, saying it was too little, not enough to eat!

Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, Jia Zhangshi's mouth watered, but she still stubbornly insisted, "That's just bragging, how could it possibly taste good..." But her throat moved, revealing her true thoughts.

Uncle Yan Bugui squatted by the coal stove, his throat itching and swallowing hard as he smelled the "stink" wafting from Yang Wei's house.

"Yu Li!" he shouted into the house, "Go to Yang Wei and ask him for some stinky tofu! Just say you do a good job with the housework, he'll definitely give you some!"

Yu Li was wiping the table when she heard this, her hand trembled, and the rag fell to the ground. She had just finished cleaning at Yang Wei's house and was now coming to ask for food; her skin was burning with embarrassment. "Third Uncle, this... isn't this inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with that!" Second Brother Yan Jiecheng chimed in. "Lou Xiao'e went to ask for it, and Yang Wei gave her most of a bowl! If you go, he'll definitely give her some too!"

Third Sister Yan Jiedi came out carrying a bowl, adding fuel to the fire: "I just heard that Yang Wei praised Sister Xiao'e for being capable and even gave her two extra yuan!"

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up: "Did you hear that? Hurry up! Don't let that kid give all the tofu to Sha Zhu!"

Yu Li steeled herself and walked towards Yang Wei's house, her heart pounding: Yang Wei seemed generous, but asking for something would still be embarrassing. When she arrived at the door, she bumped into Yang Wei peeking out.

"Yu Li, the cleaning is excellent." Yang Wei smiled and ushered her in. "Sit down."

Yu Li clutched the hem of her clothes and whispered, "I heard your stinky tofu is delicious...can I try some?" Her cheeks were as red as ripe apples.

"Of course!" Yang Wei picked up a piece of golden-fried tofu and handed it over. "It smells awful, but tastes delicious. Be careful not to burn yourself."

Yu Li pinched her nose and took a bite. Her eyes lit up instantly. The outside was crispy and the inside was tender. The sauce was salty and fragrant. That "stinky smell" had actually become an enticing aroma!

"Delicious! So delicious!" She nodded repeatedly, unable to hide the smile on her face.

"Take one if you like it." Yang Wei filled her bowl to the brim. "Come help me clean up often, and come anytime you want to eat."

"Okay!" Yu Li hugged the bowl, her face turning even redder. She caught a glimpse of Yang Wei staring at her impressive figure and laughing, so she quickly lowered her head and slipped away, but a strange sweetness welled up inside her.

Meanwhile, the aroma of food wafted from the deaf old lady's house.

Yi Zhonghai came in carrying a lunchbox, while Sha Zhu was massaging the old lady's legs: "This smell... why does it smell just like it's coming from Yang Wei's house?"

"It's stinky tofu," Sha Zhu said, scoffing. "That kid just makes a mess of things. It stinks, nothing like braised pork!"

The old lady had sharp ears, and when she heard the words "stinky tofu," her cloudy eyes lit up: "Stinky tofu... I ate it in Suzhou when I was in my twenties. It was so smelly it made my nose tingle, but it tasted so delicious that I almost swallowed my tongue! I ate two big bowls of it that time, burp," she patted her stomach, her face full of longing.

Sha Zhu rolled his eyes: "Don't even think about it, old man. I get dizzy just smelling that stuff."

"You don't know anything!" Yi Zhonghai glared at him. "The stinkier the stinky tofu, the more fragrant it is! The old lady wants some, Sha Zhu, go get her some!"

Sha Zhu scratched his head: "I don't get along with Yang Wei, why should he give it to me?"

"The old lady is a recipient of the 'Five Guarantees' (a government-provided social welfare program for the elderly, disabled, and orphans)!" Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice. "If you're asking for it on behalf of the 'Five Guarantees,' would he dare refuse? This is a political task!"

Sha Zhu's eyes darted around. Was Yi Zhonghai trying to use the old lady's "status" to pressure Yang Wei? He rubbed his nose: "Fine, I'll go! But make it clear, the tofu goes to the old lady; I don't want that stench!"

In Yang Wei's kitchen, the oil pan on the coal stove sizzled, and two trays of stinky tofu were fried until golden brown.

The brothers Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangwei clung to the door frame, staring at the tofu and swallowing hard. They were sent by Liu Haizhong to "beg for money," but as soon as they smelled it, they couldn't move their feet.

"Brother Yang Wei!" Liu Guangfu shouted, forcing a smile, "My dad sent us here... to ask for money!"

Yang Wei raised an eyebrow: "I don't have money, but I have stinky tofu."

"We're not here for money!" Liu Guangwei quickly waved his hand. "We just want to try some stinky tofu!"

"Honest." Yang Wei smiled and filled two bowls for each of them. "I fried two baskets, enough for everyone."

The two brothers pinched their noses and took their first bite, their eyes wide with delight: "Delicious! It's stinky enough!" They ate three pieces in a row, exclaiming, "Another bowl, please!" They happily carried their bowls away, not forgetting to say "Thank you, Brother Yang Wei" before leaving.

As soon as He Yuzhu arrived at Yang Wei's door, he heard the Liu brothers praising him from inside the house.

He wondered to himself: What are these two kids doing here? Are they here to beg for tofu too? Just then, Yang Wei opened the door: "Shazhu, are you here for the old lady?"

"Yi Zhonghai sent me!" Sha Zhu said matter-of-factly. "The old lady wants to eat stinky tofu, are you going to give it to her or not?"

Yang Wei suppressed a laugh: "Here you go! The old lady is a recipient of the Five Guarantees, how could I not give her some?" As he spoke, he filled a bowl with hot food, "Eat it while it's hot, it won't taste the same when it's cold."

Sha Zhu, holding his bowl, caught a glimpse of the mischievous look in Yang Wei's eyes and suddenly realized that Yi Zhonghai was using the old lady to "pressure" him. He snorted, "Thanks!" and turned to leave, but in his heart he thought: This Yang Wei looks honest, but I didn't expect him to be so good at manipulating people.

Yang Wei leaned against the door frame, looking at the empty bowl in his hand, and his smile deepened.

Yu Li's "sorry," Sha Zhu's "reluctance," the Liu brothers' "gratitude," and Yan Bugui's little "scheming"... the people in the courtyard finally "smelled the scent" and came.

"Yang Wei, the deaf old lady wants to eat stinky tofu, get her two portions!"

Upon seeing Yang Wei, He Yuzhu immediately made an exorbitant demand. One serving was originally enough, but he wasn't just thinking about the deaf old lady, but also Qin Huairu, so he decided to ask for more.

"Silly Zhu, did you make stinky tofu?" Yang Wei sneered.

"Of course I didn't do it... What do you mean?" He Yuzhu frowned.

"If you didn't make it, it's not yours. Why do you demand two copies?" Yang Wei retorted.

"You brat, the deaf old lady is highly respected, a recipient of the Five Guarantees, and all alone! You made her something delicious, don't you feel sorry for her? Are you even human?" He Yuzhu glared, raising his voice.

He didn't expect Yang Wei to dare to refuse so directly.

"I don't care who she is. If she wants to eat, she can pay for it. Five yuan a serving!" Yang Wei's tone left no room for negotiation.

Back when his uncle's family fortune was coveted by the Jia family, and he, a country bumpkin, was driven out of the courtyard house, where was this "highly respected" deaf old lady? She never helped this vulnerable group. Why should he be pitied now? Just because she's old? Just because she's "highly respected"? Yang Wei sneered inwardly.

"Yang Wei, you're inhuman! You won't even pity a deaf old lady?" He Yuzhu's voice was even louder, and the people in the courtyard heard the commotion and gathered around to watch the excitement.

"If someone treats me with respect, I'll treat them with even greater respect. When I first arrived, she didn't pity me at all, so why should I pity her?" Yang Wei calmly retorted.

"You little brat, I'll beat you to death!" He Yuzhu was furious. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush in when he saw that Yang Wei's kitchen knife was far away. He thought he was fast enough that Yang Wei wouldn't have time to grab it.

"Want to make a move? Here, I'll give you a Slippery Foot Talisman." Yang Wei smiled and silently chanted, "Slippery Foot Talisman, swiftly!"

A beam of talismanic light shot out and instantly attached itself to He Yuzhu. Just as he took a step forward with his right foot, his foot slipped, and he fell forward.

"Thump!"

He crashed heavily onto Yang Wei's threshold, his chest aching from the impact, and his arm, which had been braced against the ground, was cut in two places, causing him to wince in pain.

"Hahaha! Silly Zhu's move was really cool!"

"Just say you want stinky tofu, why all this fuss!"

The people in the courtyard burst into laughter. Who had ever seen the God of War of the courtyard house so disheveled?

He Yuzhu got up, his face swollen, clutching his bleeding arm, and gritted his teeth as he threatened, "Yang Wei, you'll never have a good life if you eat alone! I'll teach you a lesson sooner or later!" After saying that, he slunk away, not daring to provoke him again. Yang Wei was no weak scholar; he knew that the other party could crush stones.

Lou Xiao'e watched from the sidelines, secretly admiring He Yuzhu: When had the "Courtyard War God" ever been so miserable? Her husband, Xu Damao, was often chased around by He Yuzhu, but now Yang Wei had managed to make He Yuzhu suffer such a huge setback. For some reason, a thought flashed through her mind: "If only Yang Wei were my husband..." She sighed, feeling that she didn't feel very safe with Xu Damao.

He Yuzhu fell so badly that he didn't go straight to the deaf old lady's place; he went home to clean up first. When he went back, Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old lady were stunned to see his swollen face, injured hands, and empty hands. He Yuzhu was never empty-handed before.

"Silly Zhu, why didn't you get the stinky tofu?" Yi Zhonghai asked.

"That Yang Wei is incredibly stingy. He has two steamers of stinky tofu at home, and he said he wanted money to buy it, five yuan a serving! It's obvious he doesn't respect the deaf old lady!" He Yuzhu complained with a dark face.

"This is outrageous! They don't even respect the elderly living alone!" Yi Zhonghai frowned, and the deaf old lady also looked displeased. Who in the courtyard didn't respect her? Yang Wei, on the other hand, wouldn't even give her a serving of stinky tofu.

"Grandma, don't mind him, let's eat first. Sha Zhu and I will teach him a lesson when we have the chance," Yi Zhonghai said with a smile, trying to smooth things over.

The deaf old lady nodded, but she found the meal tasteless.

The third uncle's family was eating the stinky tofu that Yu Li had brought back.

"Delicious! It smells so good!"

"It smells authentically bad! Yang Wei's cooking is really good!"

Yan Jiekuang came in from outside, beaming: "Shazhu just went to ask for stinky tofu, but he didn't get any and even tripped and fell, his hand is bleeding!"

Yan Jieti looked relieved: "Luckily, Dad, you had my sister-in-law go to Yang Wei's house to do chores beforehand, otherwise we wouldn't even have been turned away!"

"Dad was right!"

"We've got Yang Wei figured out!"

The whole family showered Yan Bugui with compliments.

"Of course, I'm an abacus user, how could I not be good at calculations?" Yan Bugui said smugly, then turned to Yu Li and instructed, "You still have to go to Yang Wei's house to work tomorrow, don't slack off!"