Siheyuan: Why does your brother beat you up every day, Shazhu?

"Did your fairness get to the dogs then?"

He Weiguo bought breakfast but not for Sha Zhu because he wanted to use this most direct little thing to teach Sha Zhu a lesson and make him understand the stupid things he had done!

Let him experience this feeling firsthand.

Sure enough, after He Weiguo said this, Sha Zhu lowered his head in shame.

Seeing his second brother's pitiful and dejected appearance, Yu Shui felt a pang of regret. He picked up a bun in front of him and was about to hand it to Sha Zhu:

"Second brother... don't be sad, I'll... I'll give you one of my buns! This is for you..."

"No!" He Weiguo's voice was not loud, but it was filled with unquestionable majesty: "Eat your own."

Chapter 23 Zhou Zhenbang Comes to See You

What He Weiguo and his sister were eating in the house...was so delicious!

Nowadays, people are almost instinctively sensitive to the smell of meat.

The tempting aroma of meat drifted into the Jia family next door without any hesitation.

On the Jia family's dining table, the cornmeal porridge, which was so thin that you could see a person's reflection in it, was emitting pitiful steam, and there was not even a sign of a steamed bun.

The family held the bowl and just took a sip out of habit when the overbearing and tempting aroma of meat entered their nostrils.

Jia Zhang held the bowl, but she couldn't swallow the thin porridge in her throat. She felt that the porridge in her mouth was bland and bitter.

She suddenly put down the bowl, stared at the He family with cloudy eyes, and cursed:

"God damn it, He Weiguo! You're eating alone behind closed doors so early in the morning! Meat buns! They're so delicious! And you didn't even bother to give the old man a couple to try!"

"What's the point of that little girl Yushui eating so well? She's nothing but a money-loser!"

Qin Huairu was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she quickly lowered her voice to dissuade him:

"Mom! Keep your voice down! Don't yell! It would be terrible if the He family boss heard you! Didn't you suffer enough yesterday?"

Jia Dongxu also shrank his neck and nodded repeatedly, his voice filled with fear:

"Mom! Please calm down! That He Weiguo... he's a living devil! Yesterday you were..."

He didn't finish his words, but his meaning was clear.

"Pooh!"

Jia Zhang turned her head sharply like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her saliva almost spraying onto Jia Dongxu's face:

"You're a coward! A weakling! Your mom got beaten up, and you're like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, too scared to even fart! I raised a son like you in vain! You spineless thing!"

Jia Dongxu's face turned pale and blue from being scolded. He stiffened his neck and whispered back:

"Mom! You were the one who cursed the rain first!"

"Besides...besides, his fists, his physique...how...how can I reason with him?"

After saying that, he immediately lowered his head, holding the bowl and wanting to bury his face in it.

……

The atmosphere at the He family was not entirely harmonious either.

Sha Zhu watched his elder brother He Weiguo and younger sister Yu Shui eating delicious meat buns, but there was nothing in front of him. He felt a surge of resentment in his heart.

Although he was a cook and had no shortage of food and his salary could afford it, he felt that his elder brother's differential treatment was unfair and he was embarrassed.

He stood up suddenly without even looking at anyone, angrily slammed the door curtain and rushed out of the house.

Just as Sha Zhu rushed out of the gate of the compound, he was stunned by a dark green military jeep parked at the gate.

The car door opened and a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a neat Zhongshan suit and with a calm demeanor, walked down.

The man saw Sha Zhu and took the initiative to step forward, his tone gentle but with unquestionable majesty:

"Hello, young comrade. Does He Weiguo live in this compound?"

The anger in Sha Zhu's heart was instantly dissipated by this scene and the opponent's momentum.

He nodded quickly, his tone unconsciously becoming respectful:

"Yes, He Weiguo is my elder brother."

The middle-aged man laughed out loud when he heard this and looked Sha Zhu up and down:

"Hey! You're just a fool, right? Your brother keeps talking about you to me!"

He patted Sha Zhu's shoulder in a very friendly manner.

When Sha Zhu heard this, the grievance in his heart suddenly deflated like a balloon that had been popped, and instead he felt a secret sense of pride.

Has Big Brother ever mentioned me in front of outsiders?

Or in front of such a big shot driving a military jeep?

He immediately straightened his back and put on a smile:

"Ah? Really? Um...uncle...uh, are you looking for my brother? I'll take you in?"

The middle-aged man waved his hand cheerfully:

"Why call me uncle? Your brother calls me Big Brother, so you can just follow suit! My last name is Zhou, so call me Big Brother Zhou!"

"Hey! Brother Zhou! Come with me!"

There was a hint of attentiveness in Sha Zhu's voice.

He caught a glimpse of Yan Bugui peeking from the corner, but was intimidated by Zhou Zhenbang's aura and didn't dare to come up and talk to him.

Zhou Zhenbang turned around and took out a bulging canvas bag from the back seat of the jeep, then followed Sha Zhu into the yard.

"Brother! Brother! Brother Zhou is here to see you!"

Before Shazhu even reached the central courtyard, the loud voice started shouting, with a hint of showing off.

He Weiguo, who was in the room, immediately came out upon hearing the noise. Seeing Zhou Zhenbang, his face showed genuine surprise and enthusiasm:

"Commander! Why did you come here in person?"

Zhou Zhenbang punched him on the shoulder in feigned anger:

"Why call me Battalion Commander? I've already taken off my uniform! Call me Big Brother! If you keep on talking nonsense like that, I'll be mad!"

His tone was intimate, with the familiarity of an old comrade.

"Alright! Brother Zhou! Please come in!"

He Weiguo smiled and let Zhou Zhenbang into the house, then turned to Yu Shui and said,

"Yushui, quickly pour Brother Zhou a glass of water!"

"Hey!" The rain responded crisply and trotted to get the thermos and cup.

Zhou Zhenbang sat down in the room, his eyes swept across the rain, his brows slightly furrowed, and he turned to He Weiguo, his tone full of elderly concern:

"Weiguo, this is Yushui, right? This child... is too thin, a little unrecognizable. It's obvious that she's in poor health. As the eldest brother, you have to find a way to nourish her!"

He Weiguo nodded in agreement:

"You are right, Brother Zhou."

After saying that, he habitually glared at Sha Zhu who was shrinking his neck beside him.

When Sha Zhu was glared at by his elder brother, he subconsciously shrank back and dared not say a word.

Zhou Zhenbang saw this scene and understood it, but as an outsider, he didn't want to say much.

He picked up the canvas bag he brought and pushed it directly in front of He Weiguo:

"Here, Weiguo! Open it and take a look."

"Cloth coupons, cotton coupons... I got them all for you. Oh, I knew you were going to buy some household items, so I got two extra bicycle coupons!"

He Weiguo's eyes lit up. This was exactly what he needed!

As he opened the bag, he expressed his sincere gratitude:

"Thank you so much, Brother Zhou! I was thinking of asking you for some tickets these past couple of days. You're really a timely help!"

Zhou Zhenbang laughed and scolded:

"Hey! You're really not polite to me! Okay, I'll give you your honesty! But I didn't get you a watch ticket."

He winked mischievously.

"Don't think I don't know, kid! I've got a big American anchor hidden in my luggage! Don't act poor!"

He Weiguo was caught in the act, chuckled and scratched his head - those were spoils of war captured on the Korean battlefield.

At this time, Yu Shui carefully handed over the cup of water: "Brother Zhou, have some water."

"Hey, good boy, thank you for the rain!"

Zhou Zhenbang took the water cup and took a sip, then put it down and stood up.

"Okay, the tickets are here, and I should be leaving now. I made this trip just for you today. I have so much to do!"

He walked to the door, then thought of something and turned back.

"Oh, Ming'er! I'm free tomorrow, so I'll come find you! We still have two days to spare before we report in, so come with me to the ditch outside the city to play some fishing! It's too boring to go alone!"

He Weiguo readily agreed:

"Okay! Brother Zhou, since you've given the order, I won't be going anywhere tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you at home!"

Chapter 24 Buying a Bicycle for Yushui

"Brother! I'll take you there!"

Seeing that Zhou Zhenbang was about to leave, He Weiguo planned to send Zhou Zhenbang out. After all, the old squad leader made a special trip today to take care of him!

Zhou Zhenbang quickly raised his hand:

"Alright, alright! Don't send me off! I can walk on my own!"

Then, he turned his gaze to Sha Zhu: "Hey, Zhu Zi, do you work in a steel mill?"