For ordinary people, peanuts and melon seeds are only available during the Spring Festival, and even then, there are purchase limits; a family can only buy half a jin (250 grams).
I bought them, and I'm eating them one piece at a time. How could I possibly give them away?
"Ahem, don't rush me, I haven't finished yet. The neighborhood committee came over this morning to inform us that the peanut and sunflower seed policy has changed today. The peanut allowance is now half a jin per household instead of the original half a jin."
It's changed to half a jin per person. For example, in my family, there are seven people, so we can buy three and a half jin of peanuts for the New Year.”
As soon as Yan Bugui finished speaking, everyone in the courtyard cheered. "That's great! This is really good news!"
I'll buy a lot this time and make up for all the peanuts and melon seeds I owed from the past few years. This is great news!
In the original story, Yan Bugui's family divided peanuts according to the number of people, which is not an exaggeration at all. A few years ago, each household would buy half a jin (250 grams), and with seven or eight people in the household, how could they possibly eat it all?
"Ahem, there's one more thing. Although our college is no longer considered advanced, our unity remains. I urge..."
"How about we organize a get-together in the courtyard before the Chinese New Year this year?" Yan Bugui said slowly after the cheers of the people in the courtyard.
The crowd, who had been cheering just moments before, fell silent immediately. A dinner party? What were the details of that dinner party?
Is it the same as before? If it is, that's fine too.
"I think what Lao Yan said is particularly good. Although our department didn't receive the advanced award this year,
But I believe that as long as we work hard, our college will definitely be recognized as an advanced unit next year.” Yi Zhonghai said with great confidence.
Unfortunately, the onlookers ignored him. With you few around, this courtyard house is a lifelong dream.
Don't even think about being advanced. Advanced, indeed! Aren't you afraid people will laugh their heads off if word gets out?
"Ma Hua, I heard you're a level six chef now."
"Then I think we should leave this dinner to you, so we can all try your cooking. What do you all think?" Yan Bugui turned to look at Ma Hua.
All eyes were on MCA.
The MCA, who was just watching the commotion, suddenly turned grim. Oh dear.
Old Yan, are you not planning to have a proper New Year? Your scheme is practically jumping out of my face.
“Not very good,” Ma Hua said coldly, enunciating each word clearly.
"What? Ma Hua, this is a family gathering at our courtyard house! Let me tell you, don't be so selfish."
"Otherwise, considering you're a level six chef, do you think we'd bother letting you take charge of the cooking?" Yan Bugui never expected that Ma Hua would embarrass him in public.
"Yes, Ma Hua, look at yourself, you've been living in our courtyard for so long now."
Look at you, always so unconventional. You can't be so unsociable. Actually, Old Yan wants you to be in charge of cooking...
"This is for your own good. We want you to integrate into our department as soon as possible," Yi Zhonghai earnestly advised from the side.
"Hmph, Uncle Yan, since Ma Hua doesn't want to do it, then I'll do it," Sha Zhu glanced at Ma Hua with some disdain. This show-off job, that idiot Ma Hua, actually wouldn't do it? If you won't do it, I will.
Upon hearing Sha Zhu's words, the deaf old woman immediately became anxious: "Zhu Zi, shut up."
"Yes, Zhu Zi, this was a decision made by Uncle Yan and Uncle Yi to help Ma Hua."
"You can't ruin the old men's good intentions," Qin Huairu tugged at Sha Zhu's sleeve, trying to dissuade him.
"Wow, tsk tsk, good heavens, if I don't do it, I'm considered unconventional and not good with the neighbors? What a huge accusation!"
"Who do you think you are? Have I, MCA, given you too much face lately? Do you think I, MCA, am easy to bully?!" MCA was so angry that he laughed.
What's wrong with you? Do you really think I, Ma Hua, am like Sha Zhu, easily fooled by your words and becoming a stupid donkey pulling the millstone in the courtyard?
When Ma Hua was Sha Zhu's apprentice, Sha Zhu mentioned having meals together in this courtyard house.
It was supposed to be a get-together, but it was all Sha Zhu's job. He did everything – buying groceries, cooking – and even buying the meat.
Making Sha Zhu buy it, without even giving him a hostage—who would do that if he wasn't a human? It's clearly a losing proposition.
But Sha Zhu was willing, and he was particularly happy doing it, feeling that he was very important in the courtyard and highly valued by others.
"Also, Yan Bugui, since you look down on me, why did you let me cook? What's wrong with you? Are you asking for a scolding?"
You're a respected elder in a courtyard house, with a high social standing, yet you spend your days guarding the courtyard gate.
Like a watchdog, it watches over anyone who comes.
How can you beg people for leftover bones like that? Aren't you ashamed?
Someone like you doesn't deserve to eat my cooking! Pah! If word gets out, will I ever be able to cook again?
"You have the nerve to call yourself a cultured person? Yan Bugui, you just wait here. I'll go buy you some oranges later."
"You, you, you," Yan Bugui trembled with anger.
Yi Zhonghai saw Yan Bugui get the short end of the stick, but he was secretly overjoyed. Actually, it was he who had brought up the matter with Old Yan.
Heh heh he didn't expect Yan Bugui to be so stupid, actually falling right into the trap.
It wasn't that Yan Bugui was stupid; he had his own calculations. Previously, Yan Bugui was the third uncle on the very edge of the courtyard house.
They used to be so subservient, but things are different now. Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong have stepped down, and Yan Bugui now holds absolute power.
Especially now that even the most difficult person like Sha Zhu is completely submissive to him, how could he not feel arrogant? However, there was one person in the courtyard who remained indifferent to him: Ma Hua.
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