The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

When Qi Xiaoning returned home that evening, she saw Digua and happily called out "Brother Dalin" again.

In just a few days, the little girl was accepted by Yang Dalin.

The little girl will affectionately call him "brother" whenever there's something delicious to eat.

It wasn't just about having good food; she believed that as long as her brother could earn his own food, prevent her mother and sister from going hungry, and save some for herself, she would accept him.

Children from poor families mature early. Although her family wasn't very poor, they weren't wealthy either.

Xiaoning isn't shy at all; she has a very outgoing personality.

I've even started joking with myself these past few days.

Qi Yanhua, however, remained gentle and mild-mannered.

However, Yang Dalin discovered that once Qi Xiaoning stopped smiling, Qi Xiaoning also became very obedient.

When Aunt Yulan returned in the evening, Yang Dalin only handed over five yuan.

"Auntie, I didn't earn much today. I'll keep a little and plan to rest tomorrow."

Qi Yulan put away the money: "It's not a small amount. This is not a small amount at all. You can rest for a day if you want. You're such a sensible child. Even if you hadn't said anything, your aunt would have wanted you to rest for a couple of days."

"Auntie, is there anything I can do for you tomorrow? I'll go buy the coal for you tomorrow. Also, when are you going to buy the winter cabbages? I'll buy them for you too. Sister Yan and Xiaoning, do you want to go out for a walk tomorrow? Don't get bored staying at home all the time!"

Aunt Qi happily took out another five yuan, which, together with the five yuan Yang Dalin had given her, made ten yuan in total. She gave it to Yang Dalin to keep and spend tomorrow.

Yang Dalin declined, saying he had more and was keeping them for himself.

"Okay, you can sleep in a little longer tomorrow, then after breakfast go buy some honeycomb briquettes for me, and then take her and her sister out for a walk. I bet they've been wanting to go out and play for a while."

Chinese cabbage will be available a few days later; it will only be sold on the day of the Beginning of Winter, which is November 7th this year.

Back then, the vegetable company would deliver cabbages to the entrance of our alley, and we could just buy them on the day of the delivery.

I just don't know if the quota will be reduced this year. In previous years, I could buy 150 jin (75 catties), but last year I was only allowed 100 jin (50 catties).

In a normal year, a family of four can buy 200 jin of Chinese cabbage, averaging 50 jin per person. The price is about two cents per jin. There are also first-grade, second-grade, and third-grade cabbages, so the price varies.

The earlier you queue, the better, because the dishes at the front are better, and the cabbage hearts are firmer.

But the later it gets, the worse the food might be; you won't be able to choose, you'll have to buy it in bulk.

"Okay, Auntie, I'll rest a bit more tomorrow. Then I'll help buy honeycomb briquettes, and after that, I'll take Sister Yan and Xiaoning for a walk."

"Okay, I'll give you the tickets and food ration coupons."

"No need, Auntie. Give it to Sister Yan first, and she can take it with her tomorrow."

"That's fine too."

The next day, Yang Dalin wanted to sleep in, but he couldn't.

I go to bed early and get up early every day, and I don't have a phone to play with or novels to read.

Unable to fit in bed, Yang Dalin got up at the crack of dawn.

After he finished using the toilet and washing up, he wanted to go out to buy some breakfast, but when he got to the breakfast shop, he realized he didn't have any food coupons.

I can't buy it, and I won't sell it even if the price is increased.

Because people also need grain coupons to buy goods.

This is embarrassing.

I ate a lot for breakfast, but what am I going to do without food coupons?

Let's see if Grandpa Qi has gone out. If not, let's go with him to the train station to buy breakfast.

At worst, I can take the bus back myself in a little while.

Fortunately, Grandpa Qi is still here. He can't bear to rest, and as long as he can work, he goes out to work every day.

So Yang Dalin followed him to the vicinity of the train station. Yang Dalin bought twenty steamed buns and saw the fried pork cracklings that the restaurant had just fried that morning.

I spent one yuan to buy a pack.

He wanted to buy some fatty meat, but no one would sell it to him. He only got the pork cracklings because of Grandpa Qi.

Alright, as long as there's some benefit, that's fine.

The oil residue weighed about half a pound, wrapped in grease, and thoughtfully tied with hemp rope so it could be carried around.

As a result, while waiting for the bus, Yang Dalin noticed that many people were looking at him like hungry wolves.

Alright, we're all starving, let's not take the bus. Yang Dalin ran to the newsstand, bought a few pages of yesterday's newspaper, and wrapped up the oil residue.

Put it in your bag, lest someone snatch it while you're carrying it. Walk back instead.

If you take a car, you might attract even more hatred.

Taking a walk is a form of exercise.

However, it took a long time to walk, and Yang Dalin even jogged for a while.

It took more than forty minutes to get home.

The distance to buy this breakfast was a bit far; it's more than five kilometers from Nanluoguxiang to the Beijing Railway Station.

It would be best to earn enough to buy a bicycle; it's a real waste of time not having one.

As soon as Yang Dalin entered the hanging flower gate, he saw Yan Bu, who was about to leave. Yang Dalin turned around and went out, hiding in a dark place. Only after Yan Bu had gone far away did Yang Dalin go home.

Mainly because he has a dog's nose, and I'm too lazy to explain it to him.

I feel like I'm doing something illicit every day, trying to get some good food.

It's really scary.

I ran into a few other people going to work at the entrance of the compound.

Yang Dalin greeted the person politely.

"Didn't Dalin go out to earn money today?"

"Yes, there's no work today. I'll take a day off and go buy coal for Aunt Yulan."

"You're such a sensible child."

Aunt Yulan hadn't gone to work yet, so we could finally eat the steamed buns that Yang Dalin had bought.

They were actually preparing to make breakfast, thinking that the three of them should eat less today so that they could make more for Yang Dalin.

She didn't know how much he could eat in one meal, and Qi Xiaoning was the one cooking today, so she was a little conflicted.

"Alright, Xiaoning, you don't need to do that anymore. Let's see what I bought."

Yang Dalin quickly locked the door, just in case someone came in.

When Yang Dalin took out the steamed buns, there was also a piece of fried pork residue wrapped in newspaper and oil paper.

Qi Xiaoning almost jumped for joy.

"You silly child, didn't I tell you to sleep a little longer? Where did you buy this? You don't have any food coupons on you. I'll get you some later."

"No need for Auntie, I bought it this morning by taking Uncle Qi's car to the train station. You can't buy it here."

It's good for me to exercise in the morning. I can't sleep in, I don't have the habit of sleeping in. Looks like I'm destined to be a worker.

Yang Dalin wasn't unable to lie down; he couldn't lie down because he didn't have a cell phone.

Or give him a physical novel, that would be fine too. Without a phone or a novel, he can't sleep for more than nine hours straight; he really can't stay in bed any longer.

"Nonsense, you're destined to enjoy a life of luxury from now on."

"Okay, then I'll borrow your auntie so we can enjoy a life of luxury together in the future."

Yang Dalin washed his hands again and gave each of the three of them, including Qi Xiaoning, a piece of fried dough.

The two sisters looked completely absorbed in the moment. Aunt Yulan even tried to hand the fried pork cracklings to Yang Dalin, but Yang Dalin said he had already tasted them and forced himself to say something against his will, suppressing his craving.

"Auntie, how about we make dumplings tonight with cabbage and pork cracklings?"

Seeing the pleading looks on Qi Xiaoning's and her eldest daughter's faces, Qi Yulan readily agreed: "Okay, we'll make it tonight. Then put these oil residues in a jar, hide it well, and don't let anyone smell it."

"Okay." Qi Xiaoning went to hide the oil residue.

Yang Dalin ate eight steamed buns in one go this morning.

He had only managed to control his appetite somewhat. In fact, his appetite had decreased a little since the second day after taking the stimulant, but after walking for forty minutes today, he was really hungry.

He could eat a dozen or so, but he still restrained himself, afraid of scaring Aunt Yulan and the others.

Aunt Yulan and the others each ate two.

They wanted to give the other four to Yang Dalin, but Yang Dalin insisted that he had already eaten his fill and that's why he left them.

What a glutton! It's a good thing Yang Dalin isn't at the Qi family's house; how else would he eat?

Otherwise, relying on that meager ration, Yang Dalin would go hungry for nine meals in three days.