Chapter 90 Showing off
Jia Dongxu is very young, only a few months younger than him, and he has stopped working. Is he trying to preserve his health?
If Chen Bihua had to work alone to support several people in the family, she wouldn't be able to do so because Sha Zhu wouldn't help.

The second aunt came mainly to chat about gossip. When the head of the family comes back, the yard will be lively in the evening.

"By the way, Second Aunt, how old is Jia Zhang this year?"

Li Zhiguo grew up in the courtyard, but he never cared about age!

After a while, Second Aunt went home to cook.

Li Zhiguo lay back in the chair again, while Xiao Jingru continued to fan him. Every once in a while, she would take out a candied fruit and put it in her mouth, so he was not treated badly.

"Hey, brother Dongxu, you are really smart."

He was almost certain that Jia Dongxu was imitating him, but he was pretending to be poor. The Jia family had someone else taking over the job, so he guessed that they were really poor.

However, if Jia Dongxu really stopped going to work, maybe he could escape the disaster, change his fate, and increase his lifespan?
In the evening, Qin Huairu returned home from the factory and was busy cooking. Fortunately, Xiao Jingru was at home and had done a lot of things in advance, which reduced her burden.

Li Zhiguo just came out of the house holding a teacup, and saw Xu Damao putting down the vegetable basin and walking towards him.

"Li Zhiguo, you've heard that Jia Dongxu wants his wife to take over his post."

Xu Damao had a numb look on his face. What was going on? No one wanted to go to work, so he had to work hard to earn money to support his wife.

But he is going to be a section chief in the future, so I am not envious at all.

"I heard from Second Auntie this afternoon that she didn't go to the Intermediate Court. Who told you that?"

Li Zhiguo took a sip of tea. This was really no small matter.

"It's spread all over the courtyard. I heard it in the middle courtyard. Jia Zhang admitted it herself and said that her family is just like yours and will live a good life in the future.

Bah, well, I'm not talking about you, I'm saying Jia Dongxu is a big fool."

Xu Damao almost let the cat out of the bag, and he was going to get beaten for it.

"He is quite stupid, thinking himself clever. He has now completed two years of apprenticeship and is receiving a third-year salary of twenty-seven dollars and a half.

But if Chen Bihua takes over the job, she will have to be demoted at least one level, which is another twenty-two and a half dollars.

There are three adults in his family, and they are going to have one more child this year. With this little salary, it’s impossible to support a family.”

Li Zhiguo spoke frankly, he was not worried about the Jia family, but he thought people were stupid.

"is not that right."

Xu Damao couldn't help but talk about this gossip, he simply found it absurd, this was different from Li Zhiguo's situation at the time, others had no extra burden.

Li Zhiguo suddenly had an idea, "Da Mao, I'll give you a chance to practice. Do you want to learn from me?"

"What chance? You want to cheat me again. Last time on your birthday, I lost a lot of money."

Xu Damao wanted to hide, having a premonition that it was not a good thing.

"Forget it, you're still young and can't play well. Go wash the vegetables and finish cooking for your wife! I'll take a walk in front and we'll have food to eat soon."

Li Zhiguo changed his mind and decided not to teach this villain. There was only one villain like him in this courtyard. Bah, it was enough that he was a good person.

Li Zhiguo was just thinking about letting Jia Zhang take over the job. She is still young, in her forties.

But on second thought, if Jia Zhang went to the factory, she would have good food and drink every day, and she would also have a pension in the future, which would be too wonderful.

Well, I should ask Dongxu’s wife for her opinion on this matter. After all, she is half his apprentice.

"Li Zhiguo, you finally came out. You must have heard about what happened in the Jia family!"

"Jia Dongxu is learning from you. Oh no, his situation is the same as yours. He also lets his wife take over the job."

"What's wrong with our hospital? Jia Dongxu has also learned to be lazy. Well, I'm not talking about you. You are a good kid, but Jia Dongxu has learned bad things."

A few middle-aged women were just chatting about gossip, but when they saw someone coming, they immediately changed their tone and only criticized Jia Dongxu.

Before Li Zhiguo could reply, Sha Zhu appeared out of nowhere and shouted, "Jia Dongxu is such a disrespectful person. He just wants to be lazy. How can you let a pregnant woman take over the job?

But Chen Bihua looks safe, is not afraid of trouble, and can work in the factory."

"Silly Zhu, why don't you go back and cook? What are you talking about?"

He Daqing followed and called his son back, but he stayed.

"Li Zhiguo, I think Jia Dongxu is wrong about this matter. A man should earn money to support his family. You are an exception. You are really sick."

He Daqing was quite resentful. A full man does not know the hunger of a hungry man, and neither of them knows how to love his wife.

"I'll go to the Jia family to ask about the situation. If Dongxu is really sick, we can't stop him."

Li Zhiguo didn't talk much and couldn't explain it clearly, so it was better to go to the source.

He was very familiar with the Jia family. They were still cooking at this time, so there was nothing shady to do. He lifted the door curtain and went in.

"Hey, cooking."

"Brother Li, you are here. Please come in and sit down for a while."

When Chen Bihua saw that it was Li Zhiguo who came, she couldn't help but smile.

Li Zhiguo took the opportunity to ask in a low voice, "Do you really want to go to work?"

"Yeah! Dongxu said giving birth doesn't cost money, and there's maternity leave."

Chen Bihua really wanted to go. She did housework at home and ate steamed bread for lunch, but she could eat white flour at the factory.

"Okay, I see."

Li Zhiguo responded, and then he saw Jia Dongxu looking over and yelling, "No, why are you coming to my house?"

When Jia Zhang saw the man, she hurriedly said, "Why are you talking to your brother? He must be here to see you. Li Zhiguo, come in quickly. He was just talking about you."

"Well, is my brother Dongxu feeling better?"

Li Zhiguo walked in and arrived in front of the shop. He saw Jia Dongxu lying there with a ruddy complexion, and he didn't look sick at all.

"Fortunately!"

Jia Dongxu did not dare to shout at close range, instead he felt a little guilty. He pretended to be faint today just to get the factory to agree to let him take over the job.

He had talked to them before, but they only said they were considering it and hadn't agreed yet. So now he should be able to avoid it.

"Dongxu, I think it's a good idea to let Bihua take over. Let's do it."

Li Zhiguo had no intention of causing trouble. Whether the Jia family lived a good life was their own choice.

"Hey, thank you."

Jia Dongxu was really afraid that Li Zhiguo would interfere, but now he felt relieved after hearing this.

"Okay, I won't disturb your rest. I have to go back now."

Li Zhiguo left decisively. If Jia Dongxu really stopped going to work, he would have to stay in the hospital every day.

As soon as he lifted the door curtain and went out, an old lady asked, "What's going on in there?"

"It's confirmed. Chen Bihua will take over the position. I'm not sure when she will start work. I'm going back to eat. I'll talk later."

He left after he finished speaking. This matter won’t be resolved so soon.

When he passed by Lao Xu's house, he heard someone shouting inside and subconsciously listened through the window.

"Da Mao, you won't get sick someday, so let me take your place."

Tang Chunyan stood by and watched Xu Damao kneading the dough. She had learned to cook at home several times before, but she stopped doing it when she didn't learn it well.

"Wife, I'm in good health, there's nothing wrong with me. Besides, there's no woman who works as a projectionist, so just stay home and enjoy your life.

As for Jia Dongxu, he is imitating Li Zhiguo, which is stupid.

Don’t you see how calculating Li Zhiguo is? If Jia Dongxu loses his job, he will have a hard time.”

This time, Xu Damao became sober again. He had been cheated many times, and his brain worked better.

Tang Chunyan nodded, "That's right, Li Ge'er still has his father-in-law to support him, and Jia Dongxu relies on his wife, so he can't live well."

"That's the truth! Just now Li Zhiguo seemed to want me to do something, but he didn't say it in the end. I'm a little confused."

Xu Damao felt like he would have to think about it all night. Wouldn't this harm him?

Outside the window, Li Zhiguo left quickly in order not to be caught eavesdropping, which would have a bad impact if it got out.

Not long after we got home, the food was served.

Qin Huairu subconsciously handed a bowl of white flour to the man first, then took another bowl, broke it in half and gave half to her sister each.

Then he said: "Brother, Jia Dongxu really let Chen Bihua take over the job!"

Even though she was in the kitchen, she could hear the discussions outside. Second Aunt had a very loud voice.

"Well, I just asked, Chen Bihua is willing to take over the job and be your colleague in the workshop."

Li Zhiguo smiled and said, what the hell is going on? The atmosphere in the hospital has been corrupted by Jia Dongxu, seriously affecting the values ​​of the older and younger generations.

It will make people mistakenly believe that they can live a good life by relying on women to support them, which is not conducive to future development.

"That's good too."

Qin Huairu didn't think it was a big deal. It was an honor to be a worker.

"Ok!"

Li Zhiguo nodded and picked up some cabbage for Xiao Jingru, telling her that eating more vegetables would help her grow taller.

"Brother-in-law, when I grow up, I will also be a worker."

Li Zhiguo picked up a piece of sausage, which smelled delicious. The weather was getting hot, so he had to finish the bacon and sausage quickly to avoid them going bad and being wasted.

I haven't eaten stewed chicken for some time. How about asking Uncle San to come home to visit his relatives someday, or go back to the village to help with the farming?

……

The next day, people in the hospital were still talking about it. No one expected that Jia Dongxu would miraculously get up from the fields and go to work in the factory early.

"Oh my god, Workshop 2 has become famous again."

"Where's Sister Hua? Hurry up, this kind of person must be caught and punished."

The workers at the steel mill were talking about it. This had a very bad impact. Everyone had recognized Li Zhiguo in front of them and they couldn't afford to offend him.

But what right do you, Jia Dongxu, have to let your pregnant wife take over your job? Are you still a man?

Jia Dongxu didn't care about this at all. If he wanted to learn, he had to learn it to the end. If Li Zhiguo was not afraid, then what was he afraid of?

"Wife, just go to work and ask the master if you don't understand something. I'm going to go back to recuperate first."

Jia Dongxu deliberately spoke very loudly, and when he left, he glanced at Qin Huairu, thinking, I am no worse than Li Zhiguo, I am also sick.

The workers in the workshop were speechless, looking at Chen Bihua standing there in a daze, not knowing what to do. This was completely different from Qin Huairu at the beginning.

When others arrived at the workshop, they recognized Chen Yun as their master, and since Li Zhiguo was so powerful, no one dared to offend him.

But Jia Dongxu is nothing, no one cares about him.

Chen Yun and her small group did not even say hello to Chen Bihua, thinking that this woman was cheap. Even though Qin Huairu was in front of her, she was still willing to be ordered around by a man.

"Uncle, what should I do?"

Chen Bihua had never worked before, so she didn't know the situation. She had been to the workshop before, but she didn't understand it.

Yi Zhonghai was also having a headache. How could he arrange work for the pregnant woman?

And as far as he knew, Dongxu's wife was not very smart and still didn't know how to use a sewing machine.

……

Jia Dongxu trotted back to the yard happily. Aren’t good days coming now?

He only got four dollars a month when he was working, but now that he doesn't work, he gets more money every month. However, his wife's salary has only been negotiated down to twenty-two and a half dollars.

Five dollars less than expected is nothing. The two months of maternity leave alone cost dozens of dollars, not to mention the other half of the cost of giving birth.

Besides, my salary will increase in the future, which will make my life easier and happier.

He also experienced Li Zhiguo's life, which was really beautiful.

The aunties in the yard couldn't bear to watch Jia Dongxu running into the yard anymore.

"Hey! Does Jia Dongxu look sick? He fainted two days ago, went to work yesterday, and ran away today after taking his wife to cover for him. He didn't even pretend for a while longer."

"But in the final analysis, it was Li Zhiguo who corrupted the atmosphere in the hospital, and Jia Dongxu just followed his example."

"Even if Chen Bihua is not at home, who in the Jia family buys groceries and cooks now?"

"Who's going to check on Li Zhiguo? It's already mid-morning and he hasn't even come out to chat."

The aunties are all waiting to see the Jia family make a fool of themselves. How could they spend money to marry a wife and then send her to the factory when she gets pregnant?

So you are the ones who are enjoying the good life at home. Do you really think you are Li Zhiguo? Who in the courtyard is willing to be spoiled?

"Brother-in-law, the sun is shining into the house." When Xiao Jingru saw the sunlight shining in through the threshold, she hurried to call her brother-in-law to get up.

"Uh, okay, I'll get up right away!"

Li Zhiguo woke up feeling full of energy. After having breakfast at home, he prepared to go to the vegetable market. It was Saturday again. Time passed so quickly. Tomorrow his wife could have another day off.

He was pushing a bicycle in front, and little Jingru was following behind with a basket of vegetables. It was a perfect New Year picture scene, so harmonious.

"Li Zhiguo, are you going to buy groceries?"

Sun Erniang was washing clothes in the middle courtyard. She was a hardworking person and had bought vegetables and kneaded the dough long ago.

"Well, it's the weekend, so let's have a good meal."

Li Zhiguo said something confusing, saying that every day is a good day, this is a new society.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a noise coming from the Jia family's room.

Sun Erniang said hurriedly, "Jia Dongxu came back from the factory and asked her mother to wash clothes. Jia Zhang was not happy about it and they quarreled several times."

"Let them quarrel. We have to eat lunch anyway."

Li Zhiguo smiled and left the yard, thinking, Jia Zhangshi has only been enjoying a few days of good life and now she can't go back?
Jia Dongxu is an apprentice who retired due to work-related illness and wanted to be a boss, but he only earns a few bucks!
Afterwards, he drove Xiao Jingru to the vegetable market. It was not too late because expensive things were not easy to sell.

Which household doesn't spend money carefully when buying vegetables and try to get a bargain? This has nothing to do with morality and is related to the level of quality.

"Jingru, tell your brother-in-law what you want to eat."

"Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Xiao Jingru was dazzled by the sight of so much meat in the market. The city is still the best place. She plans to stay in the city in the future.

Li Zhiguo looked at it for a while and decided to make dumplings and eat them, thinking that good food is never too late.

I happened to see some leeks, and the filling is also delicious.

"Brother-in-law, I want to eat that."

Xiao Jingru pointed to a stall selling rice cakes in front.

"Okay, buy it now."

Li Zhiguo pushed the cart over and saw that they were making rice cakes in iron boxes. That is, they added prepared rice paste into an iron box, covered it and put it on the stove to bake. It cost six cents each because the inside was brushed with oil.

"Get four, give one to her, and pack the other three."

"Okay, big brother!"

The middle-aged woman was packing rice cakes skillfully and met a big customer.

Li Zhiguo gave Xiao Jingru some money and let her eat while he went to buy ingredients for making dumplings. He wanted to buy some other things, but he didn't know how to cook.

It was already quite late when my wife got home from get off work, so I gave up and decided to go to a restaurant when I wanted to eat.

After leaving the market, he was just about to carry little Jingru onto his bicycle when he suddenly saw someone who looked like the Yu sisters at the door.

Just before the New Year, he also went to this market to buy vegetables and met the two girls.

When Xiao Jingru saw the two girls staring at the rice cake in her hand, she couldn't help but take a bite to show off. It was delicious.

Li Zhiguo was quite speechless and asked, "Girls, do you still remember your uncle?"

"Uncle? Ah, I remember now. It's the uncle who gave the preserved fruits."

The little girl Yu Haitang immediately remembered that the preserved fruit was called Haitang.

The eldest girl Yu Li also thought of it, "Uncle, we wronged you that time."

"Okay, now you know that uncle is a good person.

There are some rice cakes here, still warm, one for each of you."

Li Zhiguo took out two paper-wrapped rice cakes from the cloth bag. Although it is inconvenient without plastic bags these days, it is environmentally friendly!

There was one rice cake left, so I had to leave it for my wife to try, as it would be like giving away the two I had eaten.

"Thank you uncle!"

Yu Haitang took it immediately and she felt greedy.

Yu Li hesitated for a moment and said, "Thank you, uncle."

"Eat quickly! Where's your mother? Did she leave you here again?"

Li Zhiguo thought that Yu's mother was very kind-hearted. She would leave her daughter at the door every time she went to buy groceries, and she was not afraid of encountering a kidnapper.

In fact, there is nothing to be afraid of. Kidnappers basically only target boys. Girls are just money-losing goods. If they are too many, many will be given away. This phenomenon occurs in both urban and rural areas.

Nowadays, unless there is only one daughter in the family or the family conditions are very good, no one will treat their daughter as a treasure.

"Mom went to the alley over there to buy vegetables and asked us to wait here. Uncle, the rice cakes you gave me are really delicious."

Yu Haitang is quite eloquent.

"Well, little girl, what's your name? Tell me your name. Next time I see you, uncle will treat you to something delicious."

He has never been able to confirm whether they are the Yu sisters, but now he must have an answer.

"Uncle, my name is Yu Haitang, and this is my sister Yu Li."

"Okay, I've got that. Uncle is leaving first. See you later."

Li Zhiguo's curiosity was satisfied. They were indeed the Yu sisters. So, let's go.

"Goodbye uncle!"

Yu Haitang waved her hands, got the rice cake for free, and ate it happily.

……

After a while, Xiao Jingru asked, "Brother-in-law, why are you giving rice cakes to others?"

"That's someone your brother-in-law knows. You're still protecting him for just two rice cakes? Go back and put the meat and vegetables away. I'll take you to eat pork noodles at noon.

This afternoon, go fishing with your brother-in-law. In the evening, pick up your sister from get off work and make dumplings and fish soup. Sooner or later, you will become a little fat boy."

Li Zhiguo was really worried about this happening, so he paid attention to the combination of meat and vegetables for people.

"Brother-in-law, you are so good to me. I have lived with you all my life."

Little Jingru is a child who speaks without restraint. How could she understand how long a lifetime is? It’s a long time.

"You think it's too beautiful!"

Li Zhiguo doesn't keep idle people here. Jingru is still young. When she grows up and can't do more work, he will send her away.

Xiao Jingru pouted, she was just wishful thinking.

Soon, back at the courtyard, he put the purchased ingredients in the kitchen to dry in a cool place so that the fresh meat of the day would not go bad.

But if you want to keep it overnight, you have to cook it or chill it in cold water. You can always find a way.

When I came out again, Xiao Jingru had already helped take out two fishing rods, stools and other things.

I also didn't forget to bring his book "My Life".

This book was written by Lao She. It may seem fine now, but there will be problems in the future.

He likes Lao She's "Tea House" and "Camel Xiangzi" very much.

We are both in the capital, and if there is a chance, maybe I can help others, and let Lao She also say, "The water of Shichahai is a thousand feet deep, but it is not as deep as the love of running the country to save me?"

When I came to my senses, I had already arrived at the central courtyard, and saw Jia Zhang-shi lifting the door curtain and rushing out.

"Li Zhiguo, since you are here, please help me talk about Dongxu.

He doesn't do any work at home, he just lies down and sleeps, and he still eats white flour for lunch. I don't even have any money, so where can I get white flour for him?"

Jia Zhang was almost crying. She thought that with her daughter-in-law taking over the job, they could live a good life. But she found something was wrong. Her son had changed.

"Mrs. Jia Zhang, I can't explain this. Dongxu is sick. How can he let people work?

Well, I have something else to do, let's talk when I come back later."

After Li Zhiguo withdrew, the Jia family did not make any trouble. Before Jia Dongxu got married, the mother and daughter continued to live as usual. They were not hungry, but they did not eat well either.

"Brother-in-law, how come you know people everywhere?"

Xiao Jingru is now eating the noodles in a small bowl. They are so delicious.

"That's the charm of me, your brother-in-law."

Li Zhiguo said as he took some noodles from the big bowl and handed it to him. He ordered one bowl of noodles so that there would be no waste for the two of them. They were not very hungry.

If he hadn't been carrying a burden with him, he would have gone fishing and ordered takeout.

Half of the big bowl of noodles went into Xiao Jingru's stomach, and she also drank most of the soup. She was quite a eater.

Then, after going out of Dongzhimen, he chose a good location and set up his fishing rod by the river. This place was not exposed to the sun and was quiet.

"Jingru, I'll lie down here for a while. If you see the float move, wake me up. Don't shout, or you'll scare the fish away."

There is no way to fake it today. Whether we can drink fish soup tonight depends on Xiao Jingru's eyesight.

"Okay brother-in-law, I'll speak softly."

Xiao Jingru whispered in her brother-in-law's ear.

This made Li Zhiguo very upset, but fortunately he still had his composure.

He brought a roll of straw mat, spread it on the grass, and then lay down on it to take a nap. This is called returning to nature.

Two fishing rods are placed next to the straw mat, within easy reach, so there is no need to panic even if there are fish.

Little Jingru sat on a rock, staring at the float on the river with her eyes wide open. She had seen other people fishing in the village and knew what was going on.

I don't know how long it took, but an old man passing by had already come. When he saw this scene, he shook his head. Who would go fishing with a little girl to watch the fishing rod?
"Brother-in-law, it's working. The float is moving."

Li Zhiguo felt his ears itchy and half of his face was numb. He turned over immediately and grabbed the wrong fishing rod almost the moment he opened his eyes.

Fortunately, he had two hands, and he grabbed the other fishing rod with his left hand.

My luck exploded as the float suddenly sank and was dragged underwater. There was no time to get up if not now.

"Look at me, I will open the gate of heaven with one pole... rise, rise again, rise three times!"

"Oh, brother-in-law, it's a big fish."

Little Jingru clapped her hands by the river. She was born in the village and had walked along the ridges of the fields many times, so she was not afraid of the riverside road.

“It’s a big fish indeed!”

The fishing rod in Li Zhiguo's hand is made of bamboo, and the fishing line is only slightly longer than the bamboo rod. He hooked a big fish, and he tried three times to pull it up, but failed. He was afraid that the fishing rod would break, which would be a tragedy.

I could only use the old method to drag the fish. I walked along the river for a while and took the fish for a walk until the fish was exhausted. Then I pulled it to the shore and lifted it up with my hands.

"It's great! This fish must weigh 6 or 7 kilograms!"

Li Zhiguo immediately put on the gills of the fish and held the fish in his hand. He wanted to walk to Wangfujing Street, then to Dazhalan, and finally stand at the entrance of Qianmen Railway Station to let people have a look at it.

"Brother-in-law, you're going the wrong way. We're going that way when we go back."

Xiao Jingru has a very strong sense of direction. She even recognized the way home on her first fishing trip.

"Brother-in-law knows, isn't this just a walk?"

Li Zhiguo didn't expect to catch such a big fish in the moat. His fishing rod was made of bamboo cut in the suburbs.

The fishing line and the hook cost three cents, the lead weight was made of toothpaste tube, the float was made of foam, the bait was earthworms, and there was not even a scoop net.

He managed to catch a seven-pound fish with only three cents of money, and was so excited that he wanted to spend money to advertise it in the newspaper.

It was on the front page of People's Daily: If you want to get rich, start fishing!

Okay, calm down for a moment, this won’t be reported.

"Brother, you actually caught such a big fish."

The braised pork noodle waiter rushed out of the shop, dazzled.

"This is a basic exercise. Uh, it's just too normal. My fishing skills are excellent..."

Li Zhiguo boasted for a while and then went to the next house. Except for those he knew, he would go where there were more people.

After more than an hour, I finally found the right route and returned to the yard. It was on time, so Yan Bugui should have returned.

"Hey, Li Zhiguo, where did you catch such a big fish?"

Yan Bugui's eyes turned red. What a bargain this was. He could make a big pot of it, which was full of nutrition.

(End of this chapter)