Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

Chen Shuxiang was completely unaware of these details beforehand.

Hearing the old lady say that, my curiosity was piqued, and I quickly pressed her for more information:

"Grandma, please tell me in detail what exactly happened?"

The deaf old lady got more and more excited as she talked, recounting the whole farce that had happened in the backyard from beginning to end.

When he got to the exciting parts, he would occasionally glance at He Yuzhu, with a hint of teasing.

Chen Shuxiang naturally followed her gaze and looked at He Yuzhu as well.

With two women staring at him from the left and right, He Yuzhu felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being pricked by needles, and he felt extremely uncomfortable.

He quickly made an excuse: "You two can continue your conversation. I'll go to the kitchen to prepare lunch."

After saying that, he slipped out of the inner room as if fleeing.

As soon as he stepped out of the house, he breathed a long sigh of relief, secretly rejoicing that he had finally escaped those two probing gazes.

The old woman's eyes gleamed with an all-knowing shrewdness.

His mother's gaze, however, was full of understanding and mockery.

It was as if she had seen through his little tricks all along, but just deliberately didn't expose them.

He went into the kitchen and saw the soaked soybeans in the basin, and the potatoes and cabbage piled up next to them.

I took a deep breath, calmed myself down, and then started preparing lunch.

While chopping scallions, ginger, and garlic, he pondered how to "clean up" the contents of his spatial dimension and take them out openly and legitimately.

The key issue is that I can't leave the hospital; sneaking out is just too risky.

Going out empty-handed and then returning with a bunch of stuff, wouldn't that obviously arouse suspicion?

As he was deep in thought, he heard the laughter and chatter of the deaf old lady and Chen Shuxiang coming from the inner room.

I wonder what happy things they talked about, it's probably related to him again.

He shook his head helplessly, but his hands never stopped working.

Place the casserole containing the pig's trotter soup on the stove to heat it.

Once the soup has boiled thoroughly, pour in all the soaked soybeans at once.

Soon, a rich aroma wafted from the kitchen, making people's mouths water.

"Brother Zhu, what are you making for lunch? It smells so good!"

Xu Damao's voice suddenly drifted in from outside the kitchen window.

He Yuzhu looked up and saw Xu Damao peeking in with half his head, a fawning smile plastered on his face.

"Hey, Da Mao, your nose is even more sensitive than a dog's. You came over just by smelling the aroma?"

"Did your mother finish beating you?"

He Yuzhu joked with a smile.

"Don't even mention it, my mother is really ruthless. So, she got tired of beating me and took a break, and I quickly slipped away."

I really owe it to Brother Zhu just now; I finally got my revenge, haha!

Hearing Jia Dongxu's screams was so satisfying!

What did you make? It smells amazing! Is there any for me for lunch? Can I have a bite?

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Damao's head popped back out the window.

Then the He family's front door creaked open a crack, and he tiptoed in.

She quietly closed the door and slipped into the kitchen, staring longingly at the pot, swallowing hard.

"Go away, go away. If you want to eat, ask your mother to make it for you. We don't even have enough for our own family."

He Yuzhu verbally told people to leave, but his hands didn't stop.

I added water to the big pot, placed a steamer basket on it, and put six steamed buns on it. After thinking for a moment, I added two more.

"Just let me eat here! Brother Zhu is the best!"

Xu Damao was so hungry he kept swallowing, his little head constantly getting closer to the casserole, his nose twitching as he inhaled deeply.

"This kid really doesn't learn his lesson. How come he can't forget when I beat him up?"

"Have you forgotten about the pain so quickly?"

He Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh when he saw how greedy he looked.

"Brother Zhu, don't chase me away. You know I'm the easiest to talk to."

Look, I even brought some nice things with me.

As Xu Damao spoke, he pulled a slingshot from his pocket, waved it in front of He Yuzhu, and his eyes sparkled with pride.

"My dad specially made this for me from the steel mill. It's so much fun and incredibly powerful!"

"Brother Zhu, if you'd let me have lunch at your place, I'll lend you this slingshot to play with all day long, no questions asked!"

He Yuzhu stared at the slingshot, examining it carefully for a long time.

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flickered deep in his eyes.

The frame of this slingshot was actually welded together from solid steel bars.

Even the rubber bands tied to it were cut-off bicycle inner tubes.

These materials are considered rare items these days.

Xu Damao's father really went to great lengths for this son.

This also shows how much he loves his only son.

This thing could be used for a sneak attack.

That's really handy, and its power is definitely not small.

But He Yuzhu knew in his heart that he would never easily agree.

Xu Damao's visit today was clearly not just for a free meal.

That kid's clever and cunning.

She was clearly trying to use this opportunity to curry favor with him.

That way, I can take him out to play more often in the future.

Besides, these days, who has extra food to entertain outsiders?

Eating at someone else's home is never a trivial matter.

He shook his head slightly, his tone exceptionally resolute.

No, you can't eat at my house.

You need to go back and ask your mother first, and I also need to discuss it with my mother.

This cannot be decided by the two of us on our own.

Brother Zhu, you absolutely have to wait for me!

I'll go home and ask my mother right now!

Xu Damao was afraid that He Yuzhu would change his mind at any moment.

He shoved the slingshot into He Yuzhu's shirt pocket.

He turned around and ran out like a gust of wind.

He Yuzhu shook his head helplessly.

This kid is indeed impatient; he can't wait even a moment longer.

The food on the stove was still being stir-fried, so I couldn't free my hands for a moment.

He simply pulled up a stool by the stove and sat down.

He took out the slingshot and bent down to examine it closely.

Gently pinch the leather pouch of the slingshot with your fingers and pull it slightly.

He Yuzhu couldn't help but let out a soft "Eh."

This rubber band is way too elastic!

He couldn't help but start to have doubts.

Is it because Xu Damao is too weak to pull the slingshot?

Only then did they reluctantly part with what they loved, using it to curry favor with themselves.

Xu Damao ran all the way back to his own yard.

He plunged headfirst into the house.

At this moment, Zhao Cuifeng was combing her hair in front of the dressing table.

Looking at my fingernails in the mirror, blackened by coal ash.

A feeling of unease and discomfort washed over me.

They were terrified that this would disfigure them and damage their appearance.

From then on, I couldn't hold my head up when I went out to meet people.

She saw her son burst through the door in a flurry.

She immediately raised her eyebrows, glared at him, and scolded him.

You little rascal, where did you run off to?

There hasn't been a soul in ages!

Xu Damao approached with a grin.

She grabbed Zhao Cuifeng's arm and started to act coquettishly.

Mom, I was wrong, please don't be angry.

Didn't I just stand up for you?

It was so satisfying to see Jia Dongxu fall and get all bruised and battered!