Pursued by the Heavenly Dao, first level up in the courtyard.

After the establishment of communes in the countryside, the Jia family's life took a sharp turn for the worse, and they could barely afford to eat on Jia Dongxu's salary alone.

Even with He Yuzhu's lunchbox and Yi Zhonghai's assistance, the Jia family's life was still difficult.

Jia Dongxu, a first-class fitter, earns a salary of thirty-one yuan, but with various subsidies, his monthly income is less than thirty-five yuan.

Although Jia Dongxu has an urban household registration, he still has to buy his food rations, although the prices are not high.

Although being a fitter is a physically demanding job, fitters in the northern part of the city receive a monthly grain ration of 38 jin (approximately 14 catties).

Nowadays, people are short of oil and fat, and their appetites are quite large. Adult men in the north with larger appetites can eat a pound of grain in one meal. If they eat their fill at every meal, they can easily eat three pounds of grain every day.

Jia Dongxu's grain ration was 38 jin, which meant he received 38 jin of grain coupons every month. When he used these coupons to buy grain, the price was relatively cheap. However, if he needed more than 38 jin, the price of grain would double.

From Monday to Saturday, Jia Dongxu eats lunch at the canteen of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. His monthly food ration is barely enough for one person.

Zhang Cuihua, Qin Huairu, Banggeng, and Xiaodang are all from rural areas, and the Jia family is still short of grain rations for four people.

With their food supplies running low, Jia Dongxu, as was his custom, went to find Yi Zhonghai.

Hearing the knock, Yi Zhonghai opened the door and said knowingly, "Dongxu, you're here? Sit down. Is there trouble at home again?"

Jia Dongxu nodded: "Master, my family is out of food again."

With mixed feelings, Yi Zhonghai sighed, "Dongxu, I still have some surplus food here. I can give you some for emergencies, but my strength is ultimately limited. It's just a temporary solution."

Jia Dongxu quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Master, for your trouble."

Yi Zhonghai said with deep emotion, "Dongxu, you are my apprentice. If I don't help you, who will? How about this, I'll call a meeting with all the neighbors in the courtyard, and we can all chip in to help your family get through this difficult time."

Jia Dongxu quickly said, "Master, thank you so much."

Yi Zhonghai wanted Jia Dongxu to take care of him in his old age and see him off in his final days, but he didn't want to invest too much in the Jia family.

If he could get all the neighbors in the courtyard to help the Jia family under the guise of solidarity and mutual assistance, he could save more money for his retirement.

The naturally suspicious Yi Zhonghai worried that Jia Dongxu wouldn't take care of him in his old age, so he wanted to save as much money as possible.

Half an hour later, Yi Zhonghai convened a meeting with all the neighbors in the courtyard.

Before long, representatives from each household in the courtyard gathered at the Central Court.

Yi Zhonghai looked at everyone and said in a heavy tone, "I've called this meeting today because there's something I want to discuss with you all. As you all know, only Dongxu in the Jia family has an urban household registration. Right now, food is scarce, and his family is almost starving."

Liu Haizhong remained silent, Yan Bugui took a sip of tea, and Jiang Fan smiled enigmatically.

He Yuzhu said righteously, "Brother Dongxu has it so hard. There are five people in his family, and he is the only one who has a food ration. If we help Brother Dongxu now, Brother Dongxu will help us in the future."

Yi Zhonghai then resorted to moral blackmail: "All of you neighbors are kind-hearted people, and we should unite and help each other. What I mean is, each family should contribute some of their surplus grain to help the Jia family get through this difficult time."

He Yuzhu, with his wealth and arrogance, said, "I'll give you twenty catties of cornmeal."

Seeing the others remain silent, Yi Zhonghai said, "I'll contribute twenty jin of cornmeal and five jin of wheat flour to help Dongxu's family in their time of need. Old Liu, Old Yan, how much are you prepared to contribute?"

"Old Yi, there are only two people in your family, but there are four in mine. I am an eighth-level forger in the factory. I expend too much physical strength every day, and my ration is not even enough for me to eat."

"You fat bastard, you'll eat your father out of house and home! Guangtian and Guangfu are growing, and children's food rations are small. Their food rations aren't even enough for both of them."

"The food rations for my family of four are always gone before the end of the month. We have to spend money to buy more food every month, so how can we possibly have any surplus?"

Liu Haizhong said a few words in a serious tone, then looked at Yan Bugui.

"Old Yi, Old Liu, everyone knows my family situation. There are six people in my family, but only two of them work. The food ration at home is also very low. Every month, my family replaces refined grains with coarse grains."

"If we don't switch from refined grains to whole grains, with my and Jiecheng's meager salaries, we'll have trouble even eating. We don't even have enough whole grains for our family, and our monthly salaries aren't enough to make ends meet, let alone any surplus grains."

After pretending to be poor for a while, Yan Bugui then praised Sha Zhu for his selfless help to the Jia family.

He Yuzhu said, "Sha Mao, if you're a man, do something about it."

Xu Damao feigned helplessness: "Shazhu, my family doesn't have enough food either. Every time we go to the countryside to show movies, I have to bring my own food."

Yi Zhonghai looked at everyone and then said, "Jiang Fan, you are a level nine engineer in the factory. You have a high salary and good benefits. Now you help the Jia family, and the Jia family will help you in the future."

Jiang Fan said matter-of-factly, "Uncle, Xiao'e and I just got married. We don't have any money. When we have a child, we'll have to save money to raise the child. Where would we get extra money?"

Qi Bing and Liu Xiaoqian, who lived in the east wing next door, listened to the conversation in the main courtyard and discussed it quietly.

"Brother Soldier, I never thought Yi Zhonghai was really this bad."

"Yi Zhonghai is a level seven fitter in the factory. He earns about eighty yuan a month. He can easily support the Jia family by taking out thirty yuan. He wants Jia Dongxu to take care of him in his old age and see him off in his final days, but he doesn't want to give too much in return."

"It's a good thing we didn't attend the hospital-wide meeting, otherwise we would definitely have been morally blackmailed by Yi Zhonghai."

"Xiaoqian, even if we attend the entire hospital meeting, if Yi Zhonghai dares to cause trouble, I'll slap him a few times."

The three old men in the courtyard dared not offend Qi Bing.

Yan Bugui was a teacher at Hongxing Primary School, which was a school for the children of employees of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai both worked at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

One of Qi Bing's official jobs is as a level nine engineer at Beicheng Steel Group.

Beicheng Steel Group is the superior of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Yi Zhonghai is worried that if he offends Qi Bing, he will be punished by Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

A single notice from Beicheng Steel Group left the Party Secretary and Factory Director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill with no choice but to obey.

Qi Bing is a level nine engineer at Beicheng Steel Group. Does anyone know what his relationship is with the senior management of Beicheng Steel Group?

"Jiang Fan, one shouldn't be too selfish."

"Grandpa, how am I selfish? You're a level seven fitter, earning over eighty yuan a month. You could easily give the Jia family a few dozen yuan and they'd be set for life."

Just then, Zhang Cuihua sat on the ground and patted the ground with her hands: "Old Jia, come up here quickly! Take all these selfish bastards away..."

"Jiang Fan, look what you've done to your wife! Where is your conscience?"

"Uncle, Jia Zhangshi is practicing feudal superstition in the courtyard, and you're just going to do nothing about it?"

"Jiang Fan, how dare you insult my mother?"

Jia Dongxu launched an attack, and Jiang Fan stood up and slapped him.

Unable to dodge in time, Jia Dongxu vomited blood and collapsed on the spot.

Seeing the look Yi Zhonghai gave him, He Yuzhu began to charge.

Instead of retreating, Jiang Fan advanced and delivered a powerful elbow strike to He Yuzhu's heart, sending him flying backward and spitting blood.

Jiang Fan shouted, "Wife, go notify the police station."

"Mm," Lou Xiao'e replied.

Yi Zhonghai immediately shouted, "You're not allowed to go. Matters within the courtyard should be handled within the courtyard."

Jiang Fan said coldly, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Jia Zhangshi is practicing feudal superstition in the courtyard. If you don't notify the street office, you're protecting her and will have to bear the responsibility."

Xu Damao whispered a few words to Yan Jiefang and handed him fifty cents.

Several neighbors stopped Lou Xiao'e, unaware that Yan Jiefang had run away.

A dozen minutes later, people from the neighborhood committee and the police station arrived at the courtyard.

Zhang Cuihua had engaged in feudal superstition in Tianjin, and now, being a repeat offender, she has been arrested by the police.