Chapter 29: The Shameful Yi Zhonghai
"Huai Ru, we will go to grandpa's courtyard later and stay there until almost nine o'clock. Then we will go back to the courtyard when the auspicious time comes."

Li Zhiguo didn't have a watch, but he estimated that it was only seven o'clock.

"Okay, I'm just going to go over there and clean up."

Qin Huairu thought about her own yard and knew she would never feel tired no matter how hard she worked.

"No, today is our big day, you should take a rest too."

If he wasn't worried about missing the time, he would have wanted to take people to the department store.

……

In the courtyard, Yan Bugui found the Zhongshan suit he wore when he got married and put it on.

"Boss, you look great in this!"

There is light in the third aunt's eyes. The couple has always been in love with each other, otherwise they would have given birth to four children in a row.

"Of course not. I'm the accountant. My fellow factory workers will be here soon. I can't lose face."

Yan Bugui took two packed bags, one for pens and ink, the other for money.

In order to hold a banquet for Li Zhiguo today, he also brought in a brand new registration book.

"It's almost time to go to the backyard and set up the table."

Yan Bugui is not only the accountant, but also responsible for arranging the wedding process.

"Okay, I'll come over later to give the gift. I still have to watch over this front yard."

In fact, every household has given gifts, but today they have to go through the process and register it in public.

"I left. Li Zhiguo is a very respectful person. He gave me all the keys to his house. This shows that he trusts me.

Although his character is not very good, he still knows how to judge people. "

Yan Bugui was very happy about this. Look, even Li Zhiguo recognized his character.

The third aunt thought that this was mainly because Li Zhi's country was poor and he was not afraid of thieves.

Yan Bugui came to the central courtyard and saw that a table had been set up in the courtyard. Yi Zhonghai was tidying up the registration books and adding ink to his pen.

Jia Zhang came out of the house holding a teacup, and when she saw Yan Bugui, she started laughing.

"Old Yan, you are late. I have already asked Old Yi to be the accountant of my Jia family."

Yi Zhonghai was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hand, "Old Yan, you come and register, my handwriting is not good."

"Ms. Jia Zhang, Lao Yi, please don't misunderstand me, I am the accountant for Li Zhiguo.

Look, this guy respects me so much that he even gave me the key to his house.”

Yan Bugui raised the bunch of keys in his hand and said that this matter must be boasted about.

"Ah! Old Yan, why do you help that villain? Can he give you any benefit?"

Although Jia Zhang had Yi Zhonghai registered, she couldn't stand seeing others doing better than her.

"It's none of your business. Today, two couples in our courtyard are having a wedding banquet, so they are all busy with their own things."

Yan Bugui is also a bad person. He has not told the truth to Jia Zhangshi until now.

It's already this late and Jia Zhang is the only one at home. She hasn't even hired a kitchen helper. I'm afraid she is thinking too much if she wants to have a banquet at noon.

Seeing that people went to the backyard, Jia Zhang couldn't help but mutter, "This old Yan loves to take advantage of small gains. He must have been deceived by Li Zhiguo. He must have suffered a great loss."

Yi Zhonghai frowned, feeling that things were not that simple. Li Zhiguo was shameless, but he could get things done!

Forget it. Li Zhiguo invited his fellow workers from the factory, so it would not be impulsive to hold a banquet with the Jia family.

Besides, there is a middle courtyard and a back courtyard, and they don’t have much impact on each other.

"Sister-in-law, please stop talking. Old Yan will come to give gifts later."

"Yes, yes, he has to come. We have already been notified of this."

Thinking of receiving the gift, Jia Zhang stopped making a fuss. "Old He and Sha Zhu are really good at sleeping. They haven't gotten up yet at this hour. Old Yi, you keep an eye on them first. I'll go get them."

Jia Zhang wanted to invite the father and son to host a free banquet, so she went to He's house immediately. However, before she got close, she saw that the door was locked.

"Oh, why did Lao He and the others go out?"

Yi Zhonghai heard the noise and came over. "He went out? What else can you do on the weekend? Don't ask Lao He to look for a job. Ask Yu Shui instead."

Jia Zhang hurriedly knocked on the door of the next room.

Soon, the rain opened the door. She had already gotten up and was doing her homework in the room.

“Yushui, why did your brother and your father go out so early in the morning?”

"I don't know where he went. My dad told me to do my homework when I woke up last night and bring me breakfast."

He Yushui was just a little kid and couldn't understand what the adults were doing.

"That's good, it won't delay anything when I come back later."

Jia Zhang was relieved, and then she and Yi Zhonghai returned to the registration desk, but there were no residents in the courtyard coming to give gifts.

But it doesn’t matter. It’s still early now. I’ll have to wait until my son Dongxu comes back with the sewing machine before I can cause a sensation.

After a while, seeing that still no one came to give gifts, Jia Zhangshi could not help but go to each household to call people.

Just then, a group of people suddenly came back from outside.

Leading the group were He Daqing and Sha Zhu, followed by a group of middle-aged women from the compound, each of them carrying large and small bags, either on their backs or on shoulders.

"Oh, I was wondering why you were nowhere to be seen so early in the morning. It turns out you guys are planning to give my Jia family a surprise.

You came so suddenly and brought so many things. "

Jia Zhang was so happy that she almost jumped up. She originally thought that she could only earn money for gifts, but she didn't expect to get an unexpected gain.

Yi Zhonghai stood up suddenly. He was not as stupid as Jia Zhangshi. Who would bring meat and vegetables as gifts?

"I'm telling you, Jia Zhang, that's really unacceptable."

Sha Zhu laughed. Last time, Jia Zhangshi tried to extort money from him and even spread the rumor that she was having an affair with his father, and even made an appointment to go to the cinema on a rainy day. This time, he was in trouble.

"Silly Zhu, today is Dongxu's big day, I don't blame you for joking around."

Jia Zhang greeted everyone with a smile and accepted money and gifts, as it was considered unlucky to curse people.

"Who is kidding you? You said it was useless. We are going to my sister Qin's house in the backyard to hold the banquet."

Sha Zhu revealed the truth in just one sentence. If it were someone else, it would be difficult to say it, so whether it was He Daqing or the aunties in the team, they all let Sha Zhu do whatever he wanted.

"What do you say?"

Jia Zhang was stunned for a moment, and Yi Zhonghai who was standing next to her suddenly realized that Li Zhiguo was holding back and had invited everyone in the courtyard to the banquet.

"You are hard of hearing. I told you to go to the backyard. Sister Qin, I won't say more. I have to be busy. There are more than a dozen tables for lunch."

Sha Zhu started to show off. Although he was not hosting the wedding, he was preparing the feast for Sister Qin.

The aunties felt that this was not a glorious thing, so they each took their things and headed for the backyard, disappearing in a flash.

"Hey, come back and explain yourself clearly."

Jia Zhang hurriedly followed.

Yi Zhonghai did not move, but his face was dejected, muttering: "It's over, the Jia family has been tricked by that bad boy. This is not right, why would the people in the courtyard help Li Zhiguo."

"Oh my! What are you doing? Li Zhiguo is a big liar. He is trying to cheat you out of your gifts..." Jia Zhang chased him to the backyard.

"Ms. Jia Zhang, please stop making trouble. Today is a big day in our courtyard. We are having a banquet in the backyard."

One auntie couldn't help but retort that although what they did was not honorable, it was the Jia family who were immoral first.

"Mrs. Chen, you are from the middle courtyard, why are you here in the back courtyard? Li Zhi's family is poor, don't be fooled."

Jia Zhangshi didn't care about so many things and would try to bring back as many people as possible.

"Why can't I come? Can I go to your house to give gifts and still have no food to eat?"

"Ms. Jia Zhang, please leave quickly and don't delay our banquet."

"We are leaving the Li family today to give gifts, so we won't go to your Jia family."

The aunties all started talking about it. Who would be afraid of Jia Zhang? It’s not just one family that has defaulted on its payment.

At this time, Yan Bugui stepped forward and said, "Ms. Jia Zhang, today is Li Zhiguo and Qin Huairu's wedding day. If you dare to make trouble, I will call the people from the street and the police station.

Lao Liu, you are the boss of the backyard, come quickly!"

"I'm coming."

Liu Haizhongxiao ran over. Although he looked down on Li Zhiguo, it was certainly good to have a chance to indirectly attack Yi Zhonghai.

"Ms. Jia Zhang, I am the second uncle, the backyard is under my jurisdiction, go back to your middle yard.

Jia Dongxu and Li Zhiguo are both hosting banquets today, and they are busy with their own things and don’t interfere with each other.”

Jia Zhang was confused. "This can't be done. I was the one who invited the guests first. You can't be fooled by Li Zhiguo. He really doesn't have the money to host a banquet."

"Mrs. Jia Zhang, open your eyes and take a good look. We have bought so much meat and vegetables. How can Li Zhiguo take them away? Hurry up and leave. We are going to prepare a banquet."

Yan Bugui ignored this man and started shouting, "Everyone in the backyard, bring your stoves over here. We need to light several stoves at once to catch up.

The door panels in Lao Xu's house are relatively new and have not been painted. They are taken down and used as cutting boards.

Tell the masters of each household to bring the tables over and remember to remember the bowls and chopsticks. We will set up 15 tables for lunch. This is a big occasion, and all of them will be delicious dishes...

Hurry up, the auspicious time will come soon. Follow my instructions and those of Second Uncle to go to the front gate to welcome the newlyweds. Peanuts, melon seeds and candies will be served at that time."

"Everyone, follow my instructions. The workers from the steel mill will be here soon. We can't lose face for our hospital."

Liu Haizhong was thinking about this matter. If he could show his face in front of dozens of workers, wouldn't he gain a good reputation in the factory?

"Okay, I'll ask Lao Chen to carry the table over."

"Sister Sun, bring a kitchen knife with you when you go back. Have more people chop the vegetables so they can be put into the pot earlier."

"Second Aunt, tell your family's Guangqi to wait in the front yard so that we can be notified when the new couple arrives."

"Hey, Xu Damao, why are you hiding? Come on, take down your door panel. I'm waiting to use the chopping board."

The aunties showed their fighting spirit, mainly because it didn't feel like they were hosting a banquet for Li Zhiguo, but rather that they were pooling money together to have a good meal.

The Siheyuan has never been as united as it is now. The aunts no longer engage in intrigue, and children from different families can play together.

Jia Zhang stood at the entrance to the backyard, watching the masters of each family happily carry the tables to the backyard, and the children of each family holding bowls and chopsticks in their hands.

Almost in the blink of an eye, dozens of people gathered in the backyard and more than a dozen tables were set up.

"Oh, we can't do this. You all have come to the backyard. How can my Dongxu hold the banquet today? My family has bought meat and vegetables in advance. We spent a lot of money, wuwu..."

Jia Zhang was so upset that she couldn't help crying out loud, but she didn't dare to go into the backyard.

"Is this the place? Qin Huairu lives in this compound?"

"That should be it. This is the gateway to the largest courtyard here."

A group of female workers gathered outside the gate of the courtyard, led by Aunt Chen and Sister Hua, both of whom had received invitations from Qin Huairu.

"Go in and ask. Let's go to Qin Huairu's house early to see what's going on. Don't wait for the workshop workers to come and give gifts. If they find out that there's no food to eat, it would be a joke."

"That's right. Li Zhiguo is not a good person. Qin Huairu is still very good. We can't watch Aunt Chen's apprentice being bullied."

"If Li Zhiguo really wants to cheat people out of money, we'll show him the melon."

The female workers entered the courtyard gate noisily.

"Hey, where are you from?"

The three aunts were waiting at the door, along with a worker from the yard who also worked in the steel mill, because they were worried that some of their co-workers had arrived early.

"Third Auntie, this is Sister Hua from the factory."

The worker shouted hurriedly, thinking that Li Zhiguo was really resourceful as he even invited these people.

Sister Hua said, "Qin Huairu lives here, right?"

"Yes, I am the third aunt in this courtyard. I help her family receive guests. She lives in the backyard. I will take you in now.

Li Zhiguo went to pick up Qin Huairu, but she hasn't arrived yet. The meeting time is scheduled for nine o'clock, so it should be almost here."

The third auntie said this and happily led the people to the central courtyard, saying that everything would be fine once the workers arrived.

Once the accompanying gifts are received, the banquet can go ahead.

The round-faced Hua Jie couldn't help but ask, "Is Li Zhiguo really hosting a banquet today? Is there food to eat?"

"Of course I don't have any. I bought the vegetables early in the morning and I'm busy in the backyard."

The third aunt greeted them with a smile and just in time saw the eldest son of the Liu family running to the backyard. She thought he was going to act as a spy to notify them.

When the female workers heard this, they couldn't help but murmur, thinking it was too unexpected.

"Aunt Chen, I really can't believe that Li Zhiguo is so popular in the courtyard."

"Can a good person snatch Jia Dongxu's girlfriend and randomly send out invitations for us to give gifts?"

"Let's take a look at the situation first. Maybe this was all arranged deliberately by Li Zhiguo."

Aunt Chen was relatively steady and didn't jump to conclusions. Many of the female workers were already married, but she didn't bring her husband with her today because she was worried that Li Zhiguo might be cheating.

When they arrived at the middle courtyard, a female worker called out, "Master Yi, are you helping Li Zhiguo register today? What about Jia Dongxu? Does he also live in the backyard?"

The female worker misunderstood and thought that this was a two-entry courtyard, not knowing that there was a middle courtyard between the front yard and the back yard.

Yi Zhonghai's old face suddenly became extremely embarrassed. Jia Zhang was not around, so he sat at the table thinking about where the problem lay.

Why was Li Zhiguo able to invite everyone in the hospital and still have money to buy meat and vegetables for a banquet?

I didn't expect the female workers in the factory to come so early and cause misunderstanding.

Fortunately, the third aunt hurriedly said, "You misunderstood. This is the middle court. Jia Dongxu lives in the house over there. The first uncle, your Master Yi, helped Jia Dongxu register."

"Oh, I see. Your yard is really big. That's great."

The female worker lived in a small bungalow in a tenement yard. She had never been to such a nice big yard before.

"That's right. It seems that our yard used to be part of the royal palace. It is different from ordinary courtyards. It is very spacious."

The third aunt boasted about it and felt proud.

"Master Yi, you go ahead and take care of yourself. We're going to the backyard of Li Zhiguo."

"Goodbye, Master Yi!"

A female worker greeted Yi Zhonghai. As a senior fitter in the factory, many people knew Yi Zhonghai.

(End of this chapter)