Siheyuan: I have a multi-dimensional chat group!

Zhang Chulan: "Isn't this normal? Your parents have doted on your sister for over twenty years! That kind of love can't be easily erased!"

Zhang Chulan: "This is just like Master Zhang's longing for Guo Xiang; it will not fade with the passage of time!"

Zhang Sanfeng: "Surprised! Chu Lan, if you're talking about Bingkun, just say Bingkun. Why are you dragging this old Taoist into this?"

Zhang Chulan: "I was just using an analogy to make things easier to understand!"

Zhang Sanfeng: "I think with Bingkun's intelligence, he can understand you just say it directly, without needing to explain it in a simple or easy-to-understand way!"

The world of courtyard houses, the old city of Beijing, the canteen of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill.

Xiao Shan, who was queuing for food, noticed that the topic of Zhou Bingkun in the chat group had recently risen slightly.

For Xiao Shan, watching people chat and bicker in the chat group is also a form of entertainment.

Just then, Xiao Shan caught a glimpse of Qin Huairu walking to the kitchen exit and approaching He Yuzhu, who was about to rest.

Out of curiosity, Xiao Shan concentrated his inner energy into his ears and quietly listened to the conversation between the two.

“Zhu Zi, I really can’t make ends meet this month! Bang Geng has to pay tuition fees, and he’s at the age where he can eat a lot. My salary is only a little over twenty yuan, and my mom’s painkillers cost several yuan a month. Plus, I have to give my mom money for her retirement. Bang Geng has cried from hunger several times this month.”

"Sister-in-law, you know we have two kids now, and all the money is with my wife. I really don't have any money in my pocket. How about I get you two steamed buns?"

"Thank you so much, Zhu Zi, I don't know how to thank you enough!"

He Yuzhu went to the kitchen and got Qin Huairu a few steamed buns and a teacup of vegetables.

Qin Huairu then left the kitchen with a distressed expression.

Xiao Shan never expected that He Yuzhu would be married now, and Qin Huairu would still be clinging to him. What a tragic fate!

After Xiao Shan got his food, he was about to find a place to sit down and eat when Qin Huairu walked towards him.

Arriving in front of Xiao Shan, Qin Huairu's previous worried expression vanished: "Xiao Shan, time to eat!"

"Okay!" Xiao Shan nodded, not intending to say anything more to Qin Huairu.

But Qin Huairu clearly wanted to talk to Xiao Shan a little longer.

Seeing Xiao Shan find a seat, Qin Huairu sat directly opposite him: "Xiao Shan, how have you considered Jingru's matter?"

"Sister-in-law, let's forget about this. I'm not planning on getting married yet!" Xiao Shan looked up at Qin Huairu and said, "Besides, Qin Jingru has someone in mind now! I saw her shopping with a man the other day, but I didn't get a good look at him!"

"Sister-in-law, you can ask her if you're interested. Let's just forget about this between me and her!"

It has been almost half a month since Qin Huairu introduced Qin Jingru to Xiaoshan.

During this period, Qin Jingru visited the courtyard several times.

However, when Qin Jingru came to the courtyard later, she wasn't looking for Xiao Shan, but for Xu Damao.

Xiao Shan happened to see Qin Jingru and Xu Damao shopping together.

However, considering his good relationship with Xu Damao, Xiao Shan did not directly tell Qin Huairu that the person with Qin Jingru was Xu Damao.

Hearing Xiao Shan say this, Qin Huairu was somewhat surprised: "Is that so? I'll ask Jingru about it later!"

Then Qin Huairu started playing the victim in front of Xiao Shan: "Hey, Xiao Shan, you have no idea, I'm barely surviving!"

"That's why I wanted to borrow some money from Zhu Zi, but unfortunately he doesn't have any!"

At this point, Qin Huairu looked at Xiao Shan with some anticipation.

Chapter 176, Giving Qin Huairu Advice, Xu Damao Loses the Chicken! (Please Subscribe!)

Xiao Shan remained completely unmoved by Qin Huairu's pitiful gaze.

Xiao Shan was well aware that the Jia family was indeed struggling financially with Qin Huairu's salary.

However, the Jia family must have savings; it's just unclear whether Qin Huairu was reluctant to spend them, or whether Jia Zhangshi was reluctant to spend them.

So Xiao Shan smiled and said to Qin Huairu, "Sister-in-law, borrowing money is not a long-term solution. I have two ideas. Think about them carefully, and they may solve your urgent problem."

Although Xiao Shan didn't agree to lend her money, he was willing to give her advice, which made Qin Huairu quite happy: "Xiao Shan, you're the smartest in our department. What ideas do you have? Tell me quickly."

“The first solution is to send Aunt Jia to the countryside! Now that Brother Dongxu is gone, Aunt Jia is only fifty years old. She just eats all day without earning any money, and she spends the most. She should actively participate in labor.” Xiao Shan said to Qin Huairu with a smile, “Even if we don’t send her back to the countryside, we have to let her find some odd jobs! Sister-in-law, a difference between seven or eight yuan less and seven or eight yuan more a month is completely different.”

Upon hearing Xiao Shan's idea, Qin Huairu fell silent.

Seeing Qin Huairu's expression, Xiao Shan didn't rush to reveal his second method.

Instead, he quietly ate his meal, waiting for Qin Huairu's reaction.

After thinking for a long time, Qin Huairu forced a smile: "Xiaoshan, thank you for your kindness! You can just tell me this, but please don't tell any outsiders."

“Dongxu has been good to me all these years, and I can’t let him down! Even if things are tough at home, we’ll always manage to squeeze out a bite for my mother-in-law to eat.”

Xiao Shan nodded, put down his chopsticks, and began to explain his second method: "Sister-in-law, who earns the most money in our courtyard? Uncle Yi! Uncle Yi passed away, and everyone in the courtyard knows that he used to want Brother Dongxu to take care of him in his old age, treating Brother Dongxu almost like his own son."

Qin Huairu nodded; she had already figured this out.

However, Qin Huairu had no objection to Yi Zhonghai providing for their retirement, since his help to their family was a genuine contribution.

So Qin Huairu never said anything.

"Now that Dongxu is gone, the old man wants to groom Zhuzi as his caretaker! But he's treating Zhuzi like a fool, while Zhuzi's wife isn't stupid! The relationship between the two families is neither close nor distant now, and I reckon the old man is worried about his care! Sister-in-law, this is your chance."

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, then she sighed and said, "Xiaoshan, I'm a widow now. If I were to ask to take care of an old man in his old age, my mother-in-law wouldn't agree! And there would be no shortage of gossip outside."

Xiao Shan laughed and said, "Sister-in-law, you're overthinking it! You don't need to step in. Don't you have a powerful backer? Just have him acknowledge an old man as his godfather and promise to take care of him in his old age. That'll make things simple!"

"This old man earns a little over a hundred yuan a month, and his family has at least ten thousand yuan in savings! When Banggeng gets married, he'll have to rent a place even if he doesn't buy one. I'm afraid his wife's salary won't be enough to cover that."

"If Banggeng recognizes Uncle Yi as his godfather, wouldn't the two families become one family? Banggeng's tuition and living expenses can be saved! Uncle Yi can also contribute some food and a few dollars in subsidies, and life will be fine, right?"

"As for taking care of the old man in his old age, that will be several years from now. Taking care of the present is the most important thing! Sister-in-law, think about it, why not let the old man's savings of more than 10,000 yuan benefit yourself instead of letting others benefit?"

Xiao Shan gave Qin Huairu this idea because he knew what a "bang geng" would be in the future!

Rather than let the whole hospital suffer these past few years, it's better to let him harm Yi Zhonghai alone!

Since it's just petty theft anyway, maybe if Yi Zhonghai is generous, he can use his moral blackmail skills to get Bang Geng to reform!

By then, Bang Geng will have changed his petty thieving ways and will only retain his ingrate traits!

Being an ingrate is basically something you're born with; you can't change it later in life.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying "a leopard can't change its spots"!

Xiao Shan's words stirred up Qin Huairu's emotions.

More than ten thousand in savings!

She only has a little over twenty a month's salary. How many hours of work would she have to work to save up so much money?

Or perhaps she simply couldn't save that much money!

Things are different now than in the TV series. Without He Yuzhu sucking their blood, and relying entirely on Qin Huairu's meager salary, the Jia family's life is far from as carefree as it was in the TV series.

In the TV series, the Jia family's poverty was partly feigned, but now their situation is genuinely difficult.

Xiao Shan had finished eating and left, but Qin Huairu was still sitting at the table in a daze!

In the courtyard house, Banggeng was playing with his two younger sisters.

"Brother, I'm hungry!" Huaihua said to Banggeng while playing.

"Brother, I'm hungry too." Xiao Dang also clutched his stomach.

At this moment, Banggeng's stomach also rumbled: "These past two days I've been eating more watery food and less dry food, so I must be hungry soon. Do you want to eat some meat?"

"Brother, can you get some meat? But we don't have any money," Xiao Dang said, looking at Bang Geng.

“I know where to get meat! Xiao Dang, take Huaihua and wait for me outside.”

Xiao Dang nodded and led Huaihua out.

Banggeng took a bag from home, looked around, and made sure no one was in the yard.

Then Banggeng strolled over to Xu Damao's house, glanced at the chicken coop, grabbed a chicken, twisted its neck, and stuffed it into a bag.

When Xiao Shan got home from get off work in the afternoon, he saw Xu Damao wandering around the yard.

Xiao Shan asked curiously, "Brother Mao, what's going on?"

Xu Damao said angrily, "One of the two chickens I brought back from the countryside a couple of days ago has been stolen! Don't let me catch this thief, or I'll be sent to the police station!"

Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, and considering that it was 1965, Xiao Shan knew that the storyline of his world had begun!

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Shan said to Xu Damao, "Brother Mao, the theft in our compound is no small matter. We usually hold a meeting about it when there's nothing wrong! But today we really have something to do, so we can't encourage this bad habit of theft."

Xu Damao nodded: "Xiaoshan, you're right, I'll go find Second Uncle right now!"

Watching Xu Damao go to find Liu Haizhong, Xiao Shan also returned to his home.

Just as Xiao Shan started cooking, Liu Guangtian knocked on the door and came in.

Looking at Xiao Shan who was cooking, Liu Guangtian said, "Xiao Shan, my dad said there's a meeting at seven after dinner!"

"Got it!" Xiao Shan nodded. "Guangtian, how are things going with your dad these days?"

Liu Guangtian said gloatingly, "My dad hasn't hit me lately, but Guangfu has gotten two beatings. Now that Guangfu's grown up, it's time for him to experience his father's love!"

Chapter 177, Putting Yi Zhonghai on the Hot Plate! (Please Subscribe!)

Seeing Liu Guangtian's expression, Xiao Shan said speechlessly, "You're just gloating! Why don't you eat something here?"

"I'm not eating anymore, I still have to inform others!" Liu Guangtian shook his head. "Xu Damao's family lost a chicken, our yard has been burgled! Xiaoshan, you'd better keep a close eye on the things at home."

"Well, don't worry!"

As for Xiao Shan, since he kept all his valuables in the chat group's backpack, he wasn't afraid of them being stolen.

After Liu Guangtian left, Xiao Shan continued preparing dinner.

At seven o'clock, Xiao Shan carried a stool and arrived at the Central Courtyard on time.

By this time, almost everyone in the courtyard had arrived.

Liu Haizhong stood up, glanced around, and said, "Many of you have probably heard about the purpose of this meeting today: our compound has been robbed! For so many years, not a single needle or thread has ever been stolen from our compound, but today, Xu Damao's family has lost a chicken!"

Yi Zhonghai had a dark expression on his face and kept glancing at Liu Haizhong.

You little brat, you stole my lines!

At this moment, Xu Damao stood up and said, "I was planning to kill this chicken and eat it when my wife is in postpartum confinement!"

Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, He Yuzhu instinctively chimed in, "Xu Damao, can your wife lay eggs? She's already in confinement!"

Li Caijuan immediately pulled He Yuzhu aside.

Although the two families did not get along well, Li Caijuan and Lou Xiao'e got along quite well.

At least Li Caijuan thought Lou Xiao'e was a good person.

"He Yuzhu, you bastard!" Lou Xiao'e glared angrily at He Yuzhu.

At this moment, Xu Damao looked at Yi Zhonghai and the other two and said, "Gentlemen, you saw it, right? He Yuzhu made a personal attack on my wife. My wife didn't provoke him at all. Now I suspect that he stole our chickens! He's been making trouble for me, and everyone in our compound knows about it."

Hearing Xu Damao accuse him, He Yuzhu was displeased: "Grandma, I'm a level six chef now, earning over fifty a month. Do I need to steal a chicken?"

Because Li Caijuan got along well with everyone in the courtyard, many neighbors also spoke up for He Yuzhu.

"He Yuzhu is right, our Yuzhuzi has no shortage of food and drink! He even has a chef from Liuquanju as his master!"

"Da Mao, you can't just label people like that!"

"That's right, Da Mao, although you two have a conflict, we don't really believe that Zhu Zi stole chickens!"

……

Seeing everyone speaking up for He Yuzhu, Xu Damao said unhappily, "Who told him to talk nonsense? He's allowed to talk nonsense, but I'm not allowed to question it!"

Yi Zhonghai picked up his teacup and slammed it on the table a few times: "This is no small matter! If someone steps forward and admits it immediately, we can give them a lighter punishment; if they stubbornly deny it, don't blame us for dealing with it seriously once it's found out."

Xiao Shan glanced at everyone in the courtyard.

Madam Jia and Qin Huairu were sitting together watching the commotion, completely unconcerned about how things were going.

It's estimated that the two of them are still in the dark, unaware that Banggeng is the chicken thief.

Xiao Shan crept over quietly: "Sister Qin, Aunt Jia, don't be too happy yet! When I got off work today, I saw Bang Geng and his two younger sisters making a fire in the cement pipes behind the steel mill, and there was a faint smell of roasted chicken. I think Bang Geng might be the one who did this!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia became furious and shouted, "Xiao Shan, you heartless bastard! I knew you had ulterior motives and wanted to frame my precious grandson!"