I Have a Lake as I Walk Through the Courtyard

Qin Huairu had just left Sha Zhu's room carrying a large bowl when Yi Zhonghai quietly ran in. "Zhu Zi! Cooking?"

"Yes, an old man!"

"Your cooking skills are getting better and better! It smells delicious!"

Sha Zhu chuckled, the smile on his lips barely concealed. "Zhu Zi! This duck you stewed smells so good, it's making the old lady's mouth water. How about we send some to the backyard?"

Hearing this, Sha Zhu looked at the half-eaten duck left in the pot, a little troubled. After thinking for a moment, he took another quarter of the duck and managed to fill a bowl. "Okay, I'll go right away!"

Yu Li, who was washing clothes in the middle courtyard, watched as Sha Zhu carried the bowl towards the backyard, and curled her lip in disdain. "It's a good thing my sister went to Donglaishun, otherwise I would have been furious today!"

Seeing that Sha Zhu had left, Bang Geng sneaked into Sha Zhu's kitchen. Seeing the last half pot of soup, he didn't hesitate to take the pot away! He was drooling as he ran.

Madam Jia watched all this from her doorway, her face beaming with joy. "My grandson has been clever since he was little; he's sure to amount to something when he grows up!"

"Grandma, I brought all of that idiot's pots back." Banggeng looked at his grandmother like she was presenting a treasure.

Madam Jia grinned from ear to ear. As soon as the pot lid was lifted, a rich aroma filled the air, making everyone's mouths water. "My grandson is so clever! Let's eat quickly, or it'll be too late when that fool realizes what's happening!"

Upon seeing this, Qin Huai exclaimed, "Bang Geng, why did you bring back all that food? That was what your silly uncle treated his sister to!"

"Why are you insulting my grandson? You're incompetent, that's all you managed to produce. You're nowhere near as good as my grandson. Does that worthless piece of trash deserve to be eaten? Giving it to her would be a waste! Ignore your mother, hurry up and eat!"

Sha Zhu came out of the old lady's room with a cheerful smile, but when he returned to the kitchen, he was dumbfounded. "Where's my soup?" Just as he was about to get angry, he saw a row of small footprints on the floor and sighed in disbelief.

"Never mind, I'll just cook some vegetarian dishes for my sister, that'll have to do!"

Sha Zhu truly lives up to his reputation as a master chef. In no time, he had prepared a plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes and a plate of stir-fried cabbage with vinegar. Although they weren't as delicious as the duck, they were still incredibly fragrant!

Sha Zhu chuckled as he placed the dishes on the table, wiped his hands on his apron, and went out to his sister's side room. Seeing that his sister's door was closed, he was about to knock when...

"Your sister went out!"

Sha Zhu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yu Li. "Where did my sister go?"

Yu Li laboriously wrung out the last piece of clothing, then rolled her eyes at Sha Zhu. "Going anywhere is better than staying home!"

Watching Yu Li carry the clothes back to the front yard, Sha Zhu scratched his head. "Are you on fire? Why are you so angry?"

The three of them arrived at Donglaishun, chatting and laughing. Eating mutton in this weather is definitely a treat. As soon as they arrived at the door, the rich aroma and lively atmosphere immediately whetted everyone's appetite.

Lin Feng led the way through the door. This was her first time here since she transmigrated. As she was looking for a table, she discovered that Xu Damao was also there.

"What a coincidence, Brother Da Mao!"

Xu Damao turned his head and looked. "Oh, Lin Feng, you actually went and came here..."

Lin Feng rolled his eyes. "Well said. Don't say that again." "And who is this?"

"Ha, let me introduce you! This is my girlfriend, Lou Xiao'e, and this is our neighbor in the courtyard!"

"Wow, sister is so beautiful!" The two girls walked over to Lou Xiao'e as if they were old friends. Lou Xiao'e was dressed in luxurious clothes, and she looked like a world apart from the two girls.

"You must be Da Mao's friends, why don't you sit down and eat with us?"

Just as Yu Haitang was about to agree, Lin Feng grabbed her arm. "I won't bother you two any longer. If we have a chance to meet again, let's eat at the next table!"

"It's no trouble at all! It's fate that we met, don't be so polite with me! You guys sit here, I'll go get a few more dishes!"

Lin Feng was too embarrassed to sit down, so he followed Xu Damao to the front desk. "Brother Damao, can I order some more food?"

"Hey kid! Fine, I won't fight you for it!"

Lin Feng was surprised when he paid and got his tickets. The mutton here didn't require tickets, only the food required ration coupons. The price-performance ratio was really high! It seemed that spending 4 cents to buy a dining number was a great deal. So much food and meat for only a little over three yuan!

There were five people at the table. When all the dishes were served, everyone got excited. Lin Feng followed Xu Damao's example, picked up a piece of mutton, dipped it in the pot, and then dipped the cooked mutton in the sauce on his plate. He took a bite and found it tender and fresh!

"This place truly lives up to its reputation; the food is delicious!"

"Come back often if you like it! It's much cheaper than Quanjude!"

The three newcomers didn't have time to talk; after showing off for a while, they slowly stopped.

"Why did you decide to eat here today?"

"We invited them here because they were the only two here, and we didn't have any food prepared at home!"

"What a coincidence! By the way, how are your brother and Yi Zhonghai doing today?"

Hearing this, Lin Feng perked up his ears. Yu Shui and Yu Haitang, the two girls, were furious whenever they heard about it.

"My brother acts like nothing happened, all that effort we put in for him yesterday was for nothing! I never want to get involved in her messes again."

"What happened yesterday?" Lin Feng's gossip instincts were still strong.

Xu Damao recounted the events of yesterday in detail, leaving Lin Feng and Lou Xiao'e speechless with astonishment. "Your brother can act like nothing happened! Is he just too stupid, or is Yi Zhonghai just too amazing?"

Rain sighed. "I don't know either, I'm out of ideas! Let my brother do whatever he wants from now on!"

"How could Yi Zhonghai be so wicked?" As a woman of the new era, Lou Xiao'e simply couldn't stand this kind of behavior.

"This guy is not only bad, but also cunning! He can turn black into white, and the dead into the living. He has that idiot Zhu completely under his thumb!"

Lin Feng glanced at the listless Yu Shui beside him. "Don't worry about these things anymore. Your brother is an adult and has to be responsible for his own affairs. As his sister, you've done everything you could! After you graduate and get a job, leave the family!"

"This is the only way..." Rainwater held chopsticks in her right hand, her eyes fixed on the hot pot broth on the table, her gaze gradually becoming vacant. "One more year, it'll be soon!"

Lin Feng sat to the side listening to this, looking at the four people at the table. "Brother Da Mao, when are you getting married? Remember to invite me!" Seeing that the atmosphere wasn't too good, Lin Feng quickly changed the subject.

Lou Xiao'e blushed slightly. "It should be about time after the New Year! I'll definitely invite you then."

"That's great! Sister Lou, please remember to send us invitations! When you move into the courtyard house, you must stay far away from that old scoundrel Yi Zhonghai... He's so wicked!" Yu Haitang was extremely excited, feeling like she could have another meal.

Lou Xiao'e...

Lin Feng coughed twice to cover his embarrassment. Sure enough, this was very much like Yu Haitang! Too unconventional.