With such a fragrant smell and such a loud noise, how could the Jia and Yi families, who live so close to each other, not know?
The Jia family is alright. Jia Dongxu has now become a replica of Sha Zhu, a new invisible person in the courtyard, so naturally he won't have any thoughts about it.
Since the two families don't get along, no one would invite him to dinner anyway, so I might as well close the door and let them make a scene!
The Yi family is different. Yi Zhonghai is the eldest uncle in the courtyard. Now that someone is inviting people to dinner, they have invited the second eldest uncle, the third eldest uncle, and even Sun Dajiang, but not him. Where does that leave Yi Zhonghai's face?
At this moment, Yi Zhonghai was sitting at home drinking. Hearing the noise from next door, his already bad expression became even worse.
An older woman standing nearby didn't even try to persuade him. She knew her husband well; he was a strong-willed man who valued his reputation above all else. If she tried to persuade him now, it would only make things worse.
"Zhonghai and Xiulian are both home! I'm coming in!"
Yi Zhonghai, who was drinking, heard that the deaf old lady had arrived. He knew without a second thought that the old woman was craving meat again and had come to him to find a way to get her some.
"Oh! It's the old lady. Come in and have a seat."
An older woman welcomed the old lady inside.
"Grandma, have you eaten? Why don't you eat something at my house?"
Although the older woman didn't particularly like the deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai repeatedly told her to be polite to her, but she didn't know what she wanted from her.
"What are you going to eat! How can anyone eat after smelling this? I wonder what kind of dishes they made?"
The older woman smiled awkwardly. She had invited the old lady to dinner out of kindness, but she hadn't expected that the old lady had ulterior motives and wanted to attend a banquet at the He family's house.
Yi Zhonghai, who was standing to the side, had already guessed what the deaf old lady was thinking. He sat there drinking without any expression, as if he hadn't heard anything.
"No, Zhonghai, the He family is hosting a dinner, but they didn't even invite you, an old man like yourself?"
The deaf old woman's words touched a nerve with Yi Zhonghai, causing the glass in his hand to tremble slightly, spilling a little of the wine inside.
In a flash, Yi Zhonghai realized that the old deaf man had no good intentions and was using reverse psychology to get him to stand out. If he got a seat at the table, would she be left out?
However, this old deaf woman overestimated Yi Zhonghai!
At the steel rolling mill, Yi Zhonghai's status was lower than that of Sun Dajiang and his wife, and his salary was even lower than that of Liu Haizhong.
Inside the compound, the prominent figures all had large families, while Yi Zhonghai was childless and insignificant compared to the others.
Now they've broken ties with the Jia family, their obedient henchmen are gone, and they can't count on the highly respected "ancestor" anymore. He's just a figurehead with the title of "Grandpa," but he can't do anything.
Thinking of this, a sense of dejection arose spontaneously. Yi Zhonghai put down his wine glass and said indifferently.
"Go back, old lady, I can't help you."
“Zhonghai, I feel so sorry for you, how could you still…”
The deaf old lady wanted to hold on a little longer, because the aroma was just too wonderful.
"Grandma, let me put it this way! If you want to eat steamed buns, I'll give you plenty. If you want to eat meat, that's not impossible either, but..."
The deaf old lady immediately understood Yi Zhonghai's words: he wanted her to spend real money, but was she willing to do so?
This was her last resort! She hadn't lived enough yet!
"Then forget it! You've had it tough too. I still have a few cornbreads at home, I'll go back and have some myself!"
After seeing the deaf old lady leave, Yi Zhonghai seemed to be deep in thought, pondering to himself.
"That old codger, he runs away as soon as money is mentioned. So many years have passed, I wonder if he has spent all his savings."
In the backyard, the deaf old lady returns home.
He closed the door, laboriously moved the flour vat, and then used a kitchen knife to pry open the two blue bricks on top. Only when he saw what was underneath did he feel relieved.
What's hidden inside is her livelihood. Why is Yi Zhonghai taking care of her? Isn't it all for his own gain?
The deaf old lady picked up the package, sat down at the table, and slowly untied it. Inside was a small wooden box. Inside the box was the item that Yi Zhonghai had been longing for.
Inside the box were several small gold ingots, some gold and silver jewelry, loose silver coins, mutton fat jade, and a pair of jadeite bracelets, all of which were bright green and clearly of high quality.
Seeing these objects reminded the deaf old lady of her happy past.
The deaf old lady didn't even know her real name. She only knew that her maiden name was Zhou, and everyone called her Zhou Yatou.
In 1900, when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, Zhou Yatou, who was only 10 years old, fled to Baoding with her parents.
After arriving in Baoding, the family was destitute and had no means of livelihood, so they sold her to a wealthy family as a maid.
When she was 15, her beautiful appearance caught the eye of her husband. On a stormy night, the 43-year-old man forcibly took her, resulting in her becoming pregnant.
From then on, her fate changed. After her husband learned that she was pregnant, he took her into his household, and from then on, she had no worries about food or clothing.
However, her good days didn't last long. The first wife, jealous of her, gave her an abortion pill, causing her to miscarry and leaving her with lifelong infertility.
Fortunately, her husband did not blame her and still doted on her. To appease her, he showered her with fine silks, satins, and delicacies.
Later, the Qing government established the New Army, and her husband transformed into a battalion commander of the Fourth Division of the New Army. The whole family moved to Machang in Tianjin.
During the Xinhai Revolution, her husband did not escape death; he was shot dead by a hidden revolutionary.
After her master died, her patron fell. To prevent persecution from the first wife, she quickly packed her valuables and, with a servant, fled to Beijing overnight.
This servant was none other than Yi Buqun, Yi Zhonghai's father. To express her gratitude to Yi Buqun, Zhou Yatou even sacrificed herself.
Unfortunately, she had lost her fertility and could only watch helplessly as Yi Buqun married and had children.
The two families supported each other and eventually settled in this courtyard house. After Yi Buqun and his wife both passed away, no one in the courtyard except Yi Zhonghai knew about her past.
Seeing these treasures again now, the deaf old lady couldn't help but recall these old memories, and her heart was filled with emotion!
"If only that child had been born back then!"
Thinking of her child, the deaf old woman's eyes were filled with resentment and malice.
But what's the use?
I can't even find someone to take revenge on.
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