Chapter 115

"It's not even the third day yet. He's really capable of buying food, but buying so much, there must be something wrong."

"Li Zhiguo never does anything wrong. Why don't we buy more food this month?"

"I think it's okay. He hasn't come back yet, but I'll ask."

As he was speaking, he saw the bad boy pushing a bicycle into the yard.

"Yo, they're all chatting."

Li Zhiguo had just greeted her when he saw a little girl running over from the corridor. Who else could it be but Xiao Jingru.

"Brother-in-law!"

Little Jingru ran over and threw herself into his arms.

"Oh, you're really strong. Jingru, go back and tell your sister that I've finished my meal and will be back after chatting in the middle courtyard for a while."

Li Zhiguo pinched Xiao Jingru's face, telling her to control her diet. If she gained weight, she would really become an adult girl.

"Uh-huh!"

Xiao Jingru nodded, turned around and ran again.

Jia Zhang said hurriedly: "Li Zhiguo, why did you buy so much food? It's either flour or rice. Can we eat it all?"

Li Zhiguo thought, it's still you, you haven't changed at all, but it's a pity that you, Jia Zhang, can't get the advantage.

"Stock up. This is this year's new flour and rice. They won't go bad if they're kept for a while."

He bought fresh goods. Zengji Grain Store over there was already undergoing a public-private partnership transformation. He stepped forward to negotiate and buying grain became easy.

Those who can be part of a public-private partnership should be secretly happy, because there are also direct contributions.

The private stores that had been aggressive in purchasing grain in the past have been punished, and the serious ones have suffered the most. Those who followed the trend were not so lucky, as after their stores and houses were confiscated, they were given some resettlement allowance and then rushed to the countryside.

If you want to eat food in the future, just plant crops. There is everything in the land.

For example, if Zengji Grain Store had committed a crime before, they could get about 500 yuan in compensation, and then the grain store and the yard behind it would be gone.

"Li Zhiguo, should we also stockpile food?"

Mrs. Chen wanted to ask for clarification because she had to buy food on the 3rd.

"Trust me, then you can buy as much as you want."

He had just mentioned this to Yan Bugui in the front yard. The part-time scalper issue was about to come to an end.

As for whether these people believe it or not, it is none of his business.

"Well, I'm going to go back and rest first. I've been hanging out outside all day and I'm tired."

Li Zhiguo was about to leave, but He Daqing suddenly came to him, so he had to follow him to He's house.

"Lao He, what do you want from me? Are you interested in some widow again?"

"No, it was Jia Zhang who approached me and asked Jia Dongxu to become my apprentice and learn cooking from me. What do you think about this?"

As soon as He Daqing said this, before Li Zhiguo could reply, Sha Zhu became anxious first.

"No, why would Jia Dongxu, a fitter who retired due to illness, learn to be a chef?"

Sha Zhu doesn't want such a junior brother. His father has been so good to Li Zhiguo. If there is another Jia Dongxu, he will not be able to be a son.

"Silly Zhu, this has nothing to do with you, just stay away."

He Daqing told his son to shut up and told him not to give advice if he didn't have Li Zhiguo's brains.

Li Zhiguo thought about it for a while before saying, "Even if you want to teach me, you don't have the time or the venue. Who will provide the ingredients?"

He had thought about letting the Dongxu brothers learn cooking before, but it was simply unrealistic. Even He Daqing himself learned his skills at Fengze Garden and had family heirloom dishes to rely on.

And Sha Zhu has been learning to cook since he was young. He is now working as an apprentice in the canteen's kitchen, but he has never cooked.

"Isn't it? Then I will just refuse?"

He Daqing asked tentatively.

"I say, Lao He, from the sound of your voice, you want to teach Jia Dongxu, why?"

Li Zhiguo realized that if he didn't want to, he should just refuse directly. He Daqing was not someone who was easy to talk to.

"Well," He Daqing said hesitantly, "Jia Zhang said she has a relative and will bring him to the city to introduce him to me later."

Li Zhiguo was confused. Isn't this the usual trick used by the Jia family, to trick the He family by introducing a daughter-in-law to them?

"No, Dad, you're going to find me a stepmother, and one with the same last name as Jia Zhang?"

Shazhu became anxious again. Dad, don’t just look for it yourself, there is still him.

"Silly Zhu, either you listen and don't talk, or get out."

He Daqing scolded his son, asking him to be more attentive. He was looking for a wife for the sake of the family. Yu Shui was still young and could not be without his mother’s care.

Sha Zhu sat beside him with an unhappy look on his face, not daring to say a word.

"Li Zhiguo, do you think this is reliable?"

He Daqing just wanted to get some recognition from the bad boy, so he wouldn't pay a penny this time.

"It's hard to say. Jia Zhang's relative is a widow, right?"

Li Zhiguo can't attack anyone, and Lao He can't stay single, he has to find a wife no matter what.

"She is a widow, still young, in her early thirties."

He Daqing cracked his lips and said, "This time the name won't have a flower in it."

Li Zhiguo thought for a while and said, "I think we can give it a try. Whether it succeeds or not, you won't suffer any loss."

This kind of thing cannot be stopped. He Daqing doesn't care about food or meat, and he is obsessed with finding widows all his life.

"Hey, I feel much more relieved after hearing your words.

Then I will take Jia Dongxu as my apprentice and teach him how to cook?"

He Daqing was very excited. It was already September and the weather was getting cooler. Who wouldn't want to stay warm in bed?

"No, you should do it together.

You set up a table and say it is Dongxu's apprenticeship banquet, and ask Jia Zhang to bring her relatives. I will also come to help you with the screening.

If you like it, I will make a plan for you, maybe you can have a big fat boy next year."

Li Zhiguo thought about how he might as well have a good meal for free and take a look at what Sha Zhu's stepmother looked like.

"This is a good relationship. I feel relieved that you are in charge."

He Daqing believed in the bad boy's vision and brains, and had agreed in advance to help him host the banquet.

"No, why should my family set up a table for this? The Jia family should host it."

Shazhu was unhappy. This was something he had to do. Last time he hosted a birthday party for Li Zhiguo, and this time it was Jia Dongxu's apprenticeship party. He was Jia Dongxu's biological son.

He Daqing quickly scolded, "Silly Zhu, why don't you wake up? Last time, your father almost became a stingy old man. If I don't set up a table this time, how can another young widow be interested?"

Sha Zhu was still upset, "You can't let Jia Dongxu become my disciple. You can still eat at my house. This is different from you finding a wife."

Li Zhiguo continued, "What Shazhu said also makes sense. So, let's hold it at your house and let Jia Dongxu prepare a gift for his apprenticeship. It will look good.

At the banquet that day, let Jia Dongxu help out, and you, Shazhu, supervise from the side. Maybe Dongxu is your junior fellow apprentice, so you have to be strict with him."

"That's fine, I agree."

Sha Zhu was happy, but when his father was looking for a stepmother, he also had to screen her carefully. She couldn't be of the same level as Jia Zhang.

He Daqing was also happy, "Li Zhiguo, you are the best. It's settled. I will go to report to Jia Zhang right away."

"Go ahead, I'll talk to Sha Zhu for a while."

Li Zhiguo was not in a hurry to leave, he took out a cigarette box.

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up and he hurried over, took out a match and helped light the cigarette. He also lit a cigarette using the match.

"Silly Zhu, your father is in a good mood just now, so I can't say some things directly."

Li Zhiguo exhaled a puff of smoke. With his pregnant wife and little girl at home, he couldn't smoke and could only occasionally smoke outside to satisfy his craving.

"Li Zhiguo, are you against this? Let me tell you, there are no good people in the Jia family, and I don't want the Jia family to be my stepmother."

Shazhu found a sense of identity, we are still brothers.

"You're right. Look at Jia Zhang, she's lazy and doesn't know how to teach her children. What has she done to Jia Dongxu?

When her relatives come someday, you must also keep a close eye on them and don’t let your father fall into the fire pit.”

Li Zhiguo is the eldest brother and he cannot let his brothers down.

"You're right, I'll be watching."

Sha Zhu nodded. If he thought the person was a bad person, he would make trouble and disrupt the marriage.

"Okay, don't let anything slip about this. I'm going to go back and rest."

He left in the time it took to smoke a cigarette.

When he reached the corridor, he looked back and saw He Daqing coming out of Jia's house happily.

Following behind was Jia Zhang, who had a smile on her face. Maybe there really was some happy event in the courtyard recently.

……

Time flies, and the National Day is approaching. It is very lively everywhere, people are in high spirits, and they are really living a peaceful life.

There shouldn't be too many children named Jianguo who are four years old this year. You can't just give him a random name. It has to be suitable for that year. If it's too early, the child won't survive, and if it's too late, the child will be sick.

Li Zhiguo went shopping again recently. His wife was about to give birth and he couldn't just sit there and do nothing.

We have contacted three cart drivers alone, and the hospital has also been arranged, so we can move in at any time.

The nutritious meals needed for confinement have been prepared. I’m going to be a father soon, and I have mixed feelings.

It was just Wednesday, and Jia Zhang, who had been back in the countryside for two days, brought her relatives.

Because He Daqing rides a tricycle and has free time, Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu don't work either, so they can get together at any time.

Well, if you think about it this way, there are so many people without jobs in the courtyard houses. How can they contribute to the construction?

"Brother Li, hurry up, Jia Zhang has brought the widow to the house."

Old Cai also stayed in the courtyard today. He wanted to help his elder brother with his blind date and take a day off. "Okay, I'll go right away."

Li Zhiguo put down his teacup. He was just listening to the radio. He knew he had something to do today so he didn't go out.

"It's Lao He's blind date, right? We have to watch the fun."

Second Aunt rushed out of the house, also thinking about this matter. Not only her, the news had spread a long time ago. Early this morning, He Daqing took Jia Dongxu to prepare delicious food.

When Li Zhiguo arrived at the Central Court, he didn't see anyone. What was he looking for?

"Brother Li, the person is in Jia's house."

Cai Quanwu hurriedly explained that he did not lie.

"What does he look like? Where's your brother?"

Li Zhiguo rubbed his hands. Why did he seem quite excited?

"I didn't see it clearly. I didn't dare to look at it for too long. My brother was still at home cooking. I came to inform you first."

Cai Quanwu remembered Li Ge'er's instructions and informed him immediately when someone arrived.

"Well, you did the right thing. Well, let your brother take care of it. I'll go check it out first."

As Li Zhiguo spoke, he walked towards the Jia family. He was a frequent visitor and could come and go as he pleased, and no one in the courtyard gossiped about him.

He wanted to see if Jia Zhang really had a pretty widow as a relative.

"Ms. Jia Zhang is at home."

Li Zhiguo lifted the door curtain and walked into the Jia family, and saw a strange woman at first sight.

How can I describe this first impression? He definitely looked down on her. She was far inferior to Bai Hehua, but much better than Jia Zhang.

He thought that He Daqing might not despise this widow.

If the Jia family and the He family were to marry, the old Jia family would be able to benefit from it and live a good life.

No, we have to ask Brother Shazhu to come back quickly.

"Li Zhiguo, this is my eldest brother's daughter, Zhang Xiantao."

There are many brothers and sisters in Jia Zhang's family, and the eldest brother is already in his early sixties.

Li Zhiguo was stunned for a moment. He was used to calling Jia Zhang, and sometimes it was easy to forget that someone's surname was Zhang.

"Xiantao, this is Li Zhiguo, from our courtyard. He and Dongxu are brothers and grew up together."

It's really hard to introduce Jia Zhangshi. She has no status at all. She doesn't go to work every day. She would be considered a second-rate person in the village.

"Hello."

Zhang Xiantao is not very pretty, but she is young, appearing to be in her early thirties, which is a great advantage.

"Hello, I'll go check on Lao He."

Li Zhiguo stood there for a while and then left. This wasn't a blind date for him, he was just checking things out.

We can’t tell what kind of person Zhang Xiantao is for now, but he is definitely not a good match for Lao He, so we have to let Sha Zhu come back.

"Hey, Li Zhiguo, why are you here today?"

The security guard found it strange, thinking that since it wasn't a festival, there wouldn't be any benefit to be gained.

"I have something to say. Let's talk later."

He didn't delay and went all the way to the cafeteria.

"Stupid column!"

Li Zhiguo shouted at the cafeteria window. Although he was a worker, he could not enter the kitchen at will.

"coming!"

Sha Zhu was startled, no one in the kitchen called him like that, and besides, that voice was Li Zhiguo's, so familiar.

As soon as the others came out, Li Zhiguo said, "Silly Zhu, Jia Zhang really brought a widow to our house, her name is Zhang Xiantao, can you still sit still?"

"You really came! I was just about to ask for leave, but it was difficult to tell the monitor."

Shazhu's hands were still covered in flour as he was kneading dough.

"Just tell him I have something to talk to you about, but he won't give me face. Find a squad leader who can give me face next time."

Li Zhiguo said nonsense, the canteen monitor is really nothing, it's just an extra two yuan subsidy every month, it's a position to fool people.

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

Sha Zhu went back to the kitchen in a blink of an eye and came out after a while.

"Li Zhiguo, our squad leader said thank you, he wants to work for a few more years and doesn't want to be replaced."

"Go to hell, you have the guts to say that, come on, take me back on your bike."

Li Zhiguo put his arm around Sha Zhu's shoulders, walked out of the cafeteria, and quickly asked Sha Zhu to ride his bicycle and set off.

When he returned to the courtyard, he parked his bicycle at Yan Bugui's house, allowing Sha Zhu to go ahead.

"Li Zhiguo, do you think Lao He would be interested in that fairy peach?"

The third aunt just came back from watching the excitement, and she is also a calculating person.

"I can't say for sure."

Li Zhiguo gave a smile and left. It was for Yan Jiedi.

When I arrived outside Lao He's house, I heard a loud shout.

"You are my stepmother!"

Sha Zhu broke the deadlock in the room with just one sentence, which was awkward.

"That's not certain yet, you bastard."

He Daqing scolded and introduced, "Xiantao, this is my son He Yuzhu, nicknamed Shazhu."

"Hello."

Zhang Xiantao thought to herself, why is it that this son looks almost the same age as her, yet still a little silly.

"Li Zhiguo, you are here too. Have some tea first. Dinner will be served in a while."

He Daqing was in a good mood, and it was obvious that he was moved.

"Not urgent."

Li Zhiguo entered the house and saw Jia Dongxu wearing an apron and standing in front of the stove in an orderly manner, looking like a chef.

At this time, Zhang Xiantao gave her aunt Jia Zhang a look, indicating that she had already seen the person and wanted to chat in private.

"Lao He, I'm going to take Xiantao out for a while."

Although it was Jia Zhang's first time to be a matchmaker, she had seen it many times and could understand it.

After the two returned to the Jia family's house, Zhang Xiantao said, "Aunt, didn't you say that Lao He's son was only in his teens? How come he looks thirty? Is Lao He really in his early forties?"

"Oh, Xiantao, you've made a mistake. That Shazhu has looked mature since he was young.

All the men in Lao He's family are like this. Lao He looks like he is in his fifties, but he is actually in his early forties.

My aunt has been in this courtyard for more than 20 years, so she won’t make a mistake.”

Because Jia Zhang was the youngest child, after she married into the city, she never let her natal family take advantage of her and never brought any relatives over.

I had no choice this time because I wanted to make life better at home.

Since Lao He is unwilling to live with her, she can call her niece over. If she can trap Lao He, won't she be able to live a good life too?

Zhang Xiantao was a little hesitant, "Aunt, if I bring Old He back to the village with this appearance, people will say I found a father."

"Xian Tao, what are you complaining about? Lao He's family earns more than a hundred yuan a month.

You don’t want to raise children anymore, you also have a son and a daughter.”

Jia Zhang was very disappointed with her niece. If Old He liked her, there would be no point in having her.

"Then I'll take my children with me. Will Lao He agree?"

Zhang Xiantao hesitated again. She still wanted to find a man in his early thirties, with good conditions and who had never been married.

“Didn’t you see how happy he looked? You must agree.

Xiantao, don't think about it anymore. Listen to your aunt. After dinner, you and Lao He will decide on this matter."

As a matchmaker, Jia Zhang also benefits from this matter today. Her son will learn cooking from Lao He and will be able to earn money in the future.

When my niece gets married, I can take over Lao He’s family fortune and keep it with her. That would be great.

"Aunt, I think Lao He's younger brother is pretty good. He also makes money by riding a tricycle and he's not married yet."

Zhang Xiantao is attracted to Cai Quanwu. Who doesn't want to find a virgin boy?

"Xian Tao, are you interested in Lao Cai?
This won’t work. Old Cai looks a bit old, but he is only 23, one year younger than Li Zhiguo.”

Jia Zhang was annoyed, but then she thought, maybe that silly old Cai would be happy about it?

Otherwise, I will try and let my niece take Mr. Cai and leave Mr. He to her, then they will become sisters-in-law.

……

He family, Li Zhiguo has not left since he arrived. He is going to have a drink here at noon.

He Daqing had experienced two failed attempts at becoming a widow, so he was not sure about this one.

"Li Zhiguo, let's go to the rainwater house next door and chat for a while. You can help me with some advice."

"Okay!"

Li Zhiguo gave Sha Zhu a look and went next door.

This was his first time entering a house with rainwater. It was an ear room. The depth was acceptable, but the horizontal width was not good enough.

There was a single bed, an old table, an old wardrobe, and a stool, and no other furniture.

"You sit on a bed of rainwater."

After He Daqing invited the bad boy to take a seat, he asked, "What do you think of the fairy peach?"

(End of this chapter)