I Have a Lake as I Walk Through the Courtyard

Qin Huairu finally managed to persuade Sha Zhu to go home after much persuasion. As soon as she arrived home with two lunchboxes, Jia Zhangshi and Bang Geng were already waiting for her at the table.

Qin Huairu sighed helplessly as she looked at the two of them. She went back to the kitchen and brought out a vegetarian dish and a meat dish to the table. As soon as the braised pork appeared on the table, Banggeng and Jia Zhangshi looked like they were starving ghosts reincarnated.

Qin Huairu swiftly brought the braised pork back to herself, gently tugging at her hand with her chopsticks. "Sorry, Grandma, this bowl of meat is mine today!"

Madam Jia seemed to have heard something unbelievable. "You're trying to rebel again! What kind of mother are you? You have meat but won't give it to your son. Do you deserve to eat meat? You're just our daughter-in-law!"

Qin Huai picked up the meat and held it in his arms, dodging Jia Zhangshi's outstretched hand. Under the incredulous gazes of the two, he quickly ate the half bowl of meat clean!

There wasn't much meat, only about 10 pieces in total. People in this era were quite generous. During the scramble, Qin Huairu choked and rolled his eyes. After swallowing all the meat, he ran to the kitchen and gulped down a mouthful of water! Only then did he feel much better.

"Even these vegetarian dishes have a lot of oil. You don't do heavy physical labor, so you don't need to eat meat!"

Banggeng pouted in grievance, while Jia Zhangshi flapped her hands like a mother hen and rushed into the yard.

"He's not going to make it... Everyone come and see! Dongxu..."

Upon hearing the noise, Yang Laowu's body reacted instinctively, and he sprang out of bed. "Can't this family just shut up? They're always making a scene, where do they get the energy? Looks like tomorrow..."

Yang Laowu regretted becoming the liaison officer. He hastily threw on a coat and shoes, then slowly walked out of the house.

Qin Huairu calmly took the bowl and divided the food in it among her two daughters, looking at her son crying and making a fuss at home and her mother-in-law arguing outside, as if nothing had happened.

"What is it now? Can't you just shut up for a second, you old woman?"

"Uncle, I'm innocent! My daughter-in-law won't support me anymore... She won't even give me the good food. I raised my eldest son and then my grandson from scratch, do you know how hard it was for me?..."

Qin Huairu watched her two daughters eat with great relish, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. She rolled her eyes at her son, who looked exactly like a young Jia Zhangshi, and calmly went out when she heard someone calling her from outside.

"What are you guys up to today?" Old Yang felt his patience had reached its limit! He had never seen such an absurd family!

Qin Huairu finally understood. After Yi Zhonghai left, the atmosphere in this courtyard completely changed. This Yang Laowu was not like Yi Zhonghai at all. He had no desires for anything in the courtyard, so he handled things extremely fairly. This is what is meant by being invincible when one is without desires!

After thinking it over for a moment, she recounted the whole story in detail, then looked helplessly at her son and mother-in-law who were still arguing.

"Everyone, please be the judge! Everyone saw what I was doing in the workshop today. Tell me, shouldn't the meat at home be given to those who do the heavy physical labor first?"

"So that's how it is! This old woman weighs 200 pounds and still eats so much... Qin Huairu has been carrying iron all day; she really can't keep up without some good food..."

After the matter was clarified, public opinion instantly turned against him. Yang Laowu stroked his beard. "Old woman! Although your daughter-in-law is a woman, she can't do the work without strength in her hands. The factory only recognizes the work position, regardless of gender. If your daughter-in-law wants to do this job, she has to develop strength in her hands. These days, when there is meat, you have to prioritize your daughter-in-law."

"Yeah, if those who earn money don't eat, are they expected to just sit at home all day eating? That doesn't make sense! I never touch my husband's scrambled eggs! Do you think I don't want to eat them?"

"That's right... that old woman is so inconsiderate. Once Qin Huairu's health collapses, the Jia family will be finished."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Madam Jia was no pushover. "My precious grandson is growing, and this mother of mine won't feed him, only taking care of herself. What kind of daughter-in-law is that?"

Jia Zhangshi had her own set of logic, and the two groups of people in the middle of the courtyard were arguing fiercely.

Yang Laowu frowned and pulled Lin Feng, who was still watching the show from the back of the crowd, to his side. "Quickly, give me some ideas on how to subdue this old woman!"

"What ideas do I have?" Lin Feng believed it was better to avoid trouble.

"I'll treat everyone tomorrow..." Yang Laowu's mouth watered at the mention of braised pork. He couldn't believe that they were sneaking a bite while he hadn't even had any. It was outrageous!

Lin Feng rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, "Do I need that little thing?"

Yang Laowu chuckled. "You're about the right age, aren't you? Tomorrow I'll talk to Director Wang about you starting to go on blind dates..."

Lin Feng looked at this man with thick eyebrows and big eyes as if he were a traitor! "This old woman is afraid her daughter-in-law will remarry and go back to the countryside!"

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Let's get up early tomorrow and have a couple of drinks, just the two of us..."

Yang Laowu glanced at Sha Zhu beside him and suddenly had an idea. "Qin Huairu! Where did you get this braised pork?"

Upon hearing this question, all the neighbors in the courtyard suppressed their laughter, looking at Sha Zhu as if he were a great victim.

"I gave her the money! I work at Fengzeyuan, and I saw that she was a widow and her child, so I helped her out!"

"Oh! I see!" Old Yang glanced at the cook, thinking that this courtyard was indeed a nice place. "Are you going to help her alone, or her whole family?"

With a chuckle, Xu Damao, hiding behind the crowd, couldn't hold back any longer upon hearing the question. "He'll definitely remember Sister Qin! Is there even a question? Why would he be interested in that old woman?"

"Hahahaha!" The courtyard instantly erupted in laughter, and even Yang Laowu couldn't help but suppress his laughter.

"Xu Damao! I think you're itching for a beating again, you son of a bitch!" After saying that, Sha Zhu rolled up his sleeves and rushed towards Xu Damao. Xu Damao reacted very quickly and immediately started running around the central courtyard.

The two chased and fled in perfect unison, leaving Yang Laowu stunned for a long time. "Enough! How could you hit someone in front of so many people? If there's a problem, you can raise it! Fighting among people from the same courtyard, is that even acceptable?"

"Master Yang, he's just so foul-mouthed... he deserves a beating!"

Yang Laowu had a headache. "Alright, alright, put your two issues aside for now. Jia Zhangshi, you two, fighting like this every day isn't a solution. How about you let your daughter-in-law remarry?"

"Bullshit!" Jia Zhangshi stood up instantly upon hearing this. "I think you're deliberately messing with my daughter-in-law! You old scoundrel, have you taken a fancy to her? Are you using underhanded tactics? Don't think I can't see through you; none of you men are any good!"

With a whoosh, the whole courtyard erupted in chaos. Even Sha Zhu stood frozen in disbelief, staring at Yang Laowu with a complex expression that defied description.