The strong fisherman in the courtyard

"So I just came to your place, and we can go home together when you get off work."

Li Ming poured himself a cup of hot water very familiarly, then found a stool and sat down, waiting for the bell to ring for the steel mill to get off work.

Li Rui was speechless when she saw that her brother had become so idle. She nodded and returned to her seat to read a book to pass the time.

. . . . . .

The courtyard of the steel rolling mill.

Front yard, Li's house.

"Dad, what were you talking to Yan Fugui about in the yard?"

After Li Ming and the other two returned to the courtyard, Comrade Li Weiguo was stopped by Yan Fugui to chat. After the brother and sister went home, they waited until dinner time before Comrade Li Weiguo walked in from outside.

"Oh, don't mention it, it's not unlucky enough!"

Comrade Lao Li sat down at the table, lit a cigarette for himself and then continued speaking.

"Yan Fugui said that his family didn't have enough food and wanted to borrow some from us. He also said that he could pay for it. Of course I didn't agree. This old man has been pestering me until now."

The smile on Li Ming's face disappeared immediately after hearing this. Before, when he was asked to buy grain, Yan Fugui refused to buy it. After being chased away once when he went to the black market to buy grain, he was afraid and didn't dare to go again. Could it be that Yan Fugui's old habit came back today?

"This calculating guy is really stingy. He said he would buy it with money but didn't tell me the price. Instead, he kept telling me that our families are on good terms. I'm not stupid, so I didn't agree. In the end, I was so annoyed that I ignored him and went back home."

Only then did Li's mother nod her head in satisfaction. If Comrade Li Weiguo dared to bring up this issue today, she would never be able to go to bed again.

Who doesn't lack food these days? If you make a breakthrough with Yan Fugui today, someone else will come after you tomorrow. It's going back and forth, and there's no end in sight!

Since Yan Fugui has been sensible this time, let it go. However, if there is a next time, Li Ming might have to have a heart-to-heart talk with Yan Fugui.

And to be honest, Li Ming had no intention of getting too close to the neighbors in this courtyard. None of them were good people. They would be loyal to whoever gave them milk. These beasts were exactly what I was talking about.

Fortunately, the Li family lives in the front yard. If they lived in the middle yard or the back yard, it would definitely be more lively!

Yan family.

"Old Yan, what's the situation? Did Old Li agree?"

When the second aunt saw Yan Fugui coming back, she hurried forward and asked.

Yan Fugui shook his head. "Old Li refused to sell it, saying that his family didn't have enough food and had to go to the black market occasionally."

"No, I'll go to the black market again. This time I won't go to the Chaoyangmen one. I'll go to some other place, even if it's farther away."

Yan Fugui now regrets that he did not agree to buy more food when Li Ming asked him to. If he had agreed at that time, the family would not be so anxious about food now, right?

"The Li family must have food, but they just won't sell it to us!"

Yan Jiecheng, the eldest son of the Yan family, said angrily, his eyes fixed on the direction of the Li family's old house. He had seen many times that members of the Li family went to the old house and brought out some food.

When Yan Fugui saw his son like this, he subconsciously felt a pang in his heart, "Don't even think about taking advantage of the Li family! We can't afford to mess with them!"

After saying that, he slapped his eldest son. Look at Li Ming and then look at Yan Jiecheng. The gap is too big. He is still doing odd jobs now. How will he get married in the future?

"Okay, Old Yan, will you go tonight?"

Yan Fugui nodded and said, "Let's go today, otherwise we may not know if the food will be enough for the next two days!"

Seeing that his eldest son had restrained himself a lot, Yan Fugui no longer took the matter to heart. He felt that although his son was not as good as Li Ming opposite him, he at least listened to what he, Yan Fugui, said.

Yan Fugui and Second Auntie briefly decided on the evening's plan, and then started to prepare dinner.

. . . . . .

Middle Court.

Yi Zhonghai's family.

"My dear, do you still have to go on patrol today?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded when he heard what Aunt Tan said. He had to go every day of the month. He had been gone for a whole year. Recently, he sometimes felt weak.

Thinking that this shitty thing will have to continue for another year, Yi Zhonghai no longer feels the food in his mouth. Although he didn't feel anything when he said it at the time, this thing is going to last a long time, and he may not be able to endure it!

As Yi Zhonghai's long-time companion, Aunt Tan could naturally sense that Yi Zhonghai had been in low spirits recently. "Can't you think of a way to get away with this?"

Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up. That's right! He had been thinking about how to get the street office to cancel the punishment, but he had no idea after thinking about it for a long time.

But if you change your thinking, there is still a way for him to avoid the punishment from the patrol!

Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai ate his food much faster. "Okay, I understand. I'll think about it. It would be best if I could hide for a while."

Aunt Tan felt relieved when she saw Yi Zhonghai getting excited. Yi Zhonghai had been stuck in a rut before, and she, an outsider, had a broader view of the matter. It was best that he could let go of it now.

"By the way, how is the food supply at home?"

"It's OK, as long as it's not borrowed. We two can't eat much, but this meat is really hard to buy right now."

Aunt Tan doesn't worry too much about food, but she still cares about the issue of oil and water. After all, Yi Zhonghai's job is also heavy physical labor, and now he has to patrol at night. If he can't get enough food, it will be really bad!

Yi Zhonghai pondered for a while, "The grain must not be lent out, no matter who comes to lend it, it will be useless!"

"As for meat, if that doesn't work, you can buy some offal and stew it. That will also work! But offal is hard to buy. You should probably go to the market early during this period."

"That's fine with me. I'll start shopping tomorrow. If I can find some, we can braise it. It will be convenient to eat later."

Aunt Tan smiled and nodded in response.

"Okay then, I'll eat first. I have to go on patrol soon."

The Jia family next door.

The atmosphere of the Jia family is not as good as that of Yi Zhonghai's family. At least Yi Zhonghai's family will not worry about food in the short term, while others will worry because of lack of oil and water.

The situation of the Jia family is different. They have many mouths to feed and earn very little. Now they don’t even have enough food to eat!

Jia Dongxu couldn't help but shook his head when looking at the table full of cabbage soup and coarse flour steamed buns. This meal was really the kind that even a dog would shake his head at!

Chapter 239 Aunt Liu comes to exchange eggs

Jia Zhang also had a droopy face and grumbled while eating.

"Is this all the food left at home?"

Qin Huairu hummed. The food she had just eaten was what she had picked out. Jia Dongxu's monthly salary was not enough to cover their family expenses.

"Then you can't buy some more?"

"Mom, where can I buy food now? I can't even buy food at the food store even if I have to queue up."

Qin Huairu said aggrievedly, if we want to eat food now, it’s easy, can’t we just buy it at a high price on the black market?

Jia Zhang naturally knew what the situation was. She was just complaining. You don't even have a reason to scold her.

"I'll go to the black market tonight. I won't go to the Chaoyangmen area this time. Let's go to another place."

Jia Dongxu sighed and said that the whole family was waiting for expenses, and he was also fined one month's salary by the steel mill. Although it was not paid by him, there was still a long time to wait for the steel mill's expenses for this month.

The only thing he could do was to take out some of the private money he had saved to deal with the emergency, although it wasn't much.

"Mom, you have to give some money, otherwise there won't be enough food at home."

Jia Zhang was like an old cat whose tail had been stepped on. She was full of resistance and said, "No, that's my retirement money!"

"Then let's all starve to death!"

Jia Dongxu knew that Jia Zhang had saved a lot of money, and it was normal for her to do so. What was going on now? She was still hiding it!

After swallowing the last bite and throwing away the chopsticks, Jia Dongxu went to the bed. Normally, Jia Dongxu would not dare to speak like this, but now no one in the Jia family has ever had a full meal, so he was very angry!

It was also the first time that Jia Zhang saw Jia Dongxu get angry. She sat in a daze for a while, then rummaged under her pillow for a long time and finally took out a big black ten and gave it to Jia Dongxu.

"That's all I have. Remember to buy more tonight."

Jia Dongxu did not respond. He took the money and put it in his arms, then continued to rest on the kang with his eyes closed.

I have to make another trip at night. It would be fine if I didn't eat enough, but if I didn't sleep well, I wouldn't have the energy to go to the black market at night.

He family.

He Yuzhu had just finished his meal. He Yushui went back to his room to rest, while he went to the kitchen to wash up.

The situation at their home is relatively good. The water tank has never been full, but it has never been empty either.

Ever since he packed the rice and flour from the canteen into his lunch box and started taking them home a few days ago, he has been bringing them home every day.

Nowadays, the food in the steel mill is not good. The security department is slacking off all day long, and no one cares! Moreover, He Yuzhu is a cook, so no one cares about him.

He couldn't afford to eat big fish and meat, but he definitely couldn't let go of simple meals.

Liu family’s backyard.

"Lao Liu, we don't have many eggs at home. Do you want to go buy some?"

The aunt checks the eggs at home every night. As the breadwinner of the family, they are her favorite, so she pays attention to this matter almost every day.

After Liu Haizhong was promoted to the head of the courtyard, his mood became better and better. When he had nothing to do, he would beat the children to cheer himself up. When he was in a good mood, he naturally ate more eggs.

However, when he heard Aunt Liu say that there were not many eggs left, Old Liu subconsciously walked to the kitchen to take a look.

"Hiss, I can't buy this on the black market now. I've only been a boss for a few days, and nothing can go wrong!"

He muttered while puffing on a cigarette.

If he were still a second uncle, he would definitely dare to go to the black market, but now he has just become a first uncle. If he is caught for buying eggs in the black market, he will be in big trouble.

"How about going to find someone to exchange some?"

Aunt Liu gave advice from the side.

"Who are you looking for? Who in our courtyard doesn't need eggs?"

Liu Haizhong subconsciously retorted that in fact, the Xu family in their backyard had no shortage of eggs. The Li family had two old hens, and the Xu family also had some. The Xu family was also not short of food and drink.

But Liu Haizhong had no intention of humble himself and going to Xu Fugui to exchange eggs!

"Don't the old Li family in the front yard have two hens? How about I go and trade with them?"

The aunt made a suggestion. She naturally would not mention the Xu family, but there was more than one family in the courtyard that had old hens. The Li family in the front yard also had some.

If it weren't for the current food shortage, the Liu family would have planned to raise two hens. But it's too late now. They can't go to the black market, so they can only find someone to exchange eggs for them.

"Okay, then take two dollars and go to the Li family to exchange for 10 eggs. I'll eat less."

Now, if everyone wants to exchange something, they basically subconsciously exchange it according to the black market price. As for Yan Fugui? That's purely shameless, so let's not talk about it!

The old lady nodded, took out two one-dollar bills and walked towards the front yard.

. . . . . .

Front yard, Li's house.

"Dong dong."

"Is Director Wu at home?" Along with the knock on the door, Aunt Liu's voice also rang out in the front yard.

At this moment, a family of four is chatting in the small living room.

Wu Fang was confused, not knowing why someone in the courtyard was looking for her. But she still signaled Li Rui to open the door, and when the lady came in, Wu Fang stood up to greet her.

Seeing that the person who came had nothing to do with Old Li, Little Li, and Little Li, the three of them consciously made way for the two people who were busy, and walked towards the small bedroom where Li Rui lived tacitly.

I don't mean any other purpose, it's just because it's close to the small living room and convenient, I don't intend to eavesdrop!

"Auntie, how come you have time to come here today?"

There was no unpleasantness between the Li family and the Liu Haizhong family, so Wu Fang was naturally very warm when she saw Aunt Liu.

Aunt Liu also enjoys this feeling. She is used to being called Second Aunt, so this Aunt sounds nice.

"Well, it's nothing. My husband likes to eat eggs, and we are out of eggs at home. I was thinking of coming to your house to take a look. If you have eggs or something, I would like to exchange some with you for money."

After hearing this, Li's mother did not refuse. Normal neighbors could exchange food and daily necessities. This was normal at this time. However, the Yan family, their neighbor in the front yard, was really an exception.

Although he is not easy to cause trouble for, when it comes to small amounts of money, Yan Fugui, who is very calculating, is actually more difficult to deal with than He Yuzhu.

Not to mention that there was nothing wrong with the Li family following the Liu family, so Li's mother agreed immediately.

"Okay, Auntie, please sit down first. I'll check how many eggs we have at home."

Chapter 240 Yan Jiecheng's Little Thoughts

Comrade Wu Fang did not agree directly. Although the Li family had quite a few, they could not say too many. So they came back and reported about 20, which was probably enough.