It turned out that when the group entered Old Yan's house, Yan Bugui went inside and instructed Yan Jiekuang to go to the backyard to find Wang Dabao.
Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao were not surprised by Wang Dabao's arrival.
Yan Jiefang hurriedly brought out a stool from the house.
Everyone was taken aback when they saw that Wang Dabao was carrying a large tea mug. Wang Dabao smiled and explained, "When Jie Kuang went to call me, he was making tea and just brought it over. This tea won't taste good if it gets cold."
Actually, it wasn't like that at all. It was Yan Jiekuang who said how stingy his father was, serving everyone hot water and telling his Uncle Dabao that if he wanted tea, he had to bring his own!
After boiling water and making tea, Wang Dabao finally brought Yan Jiekuang over, dawdling along.
"Da Bao is right."
Xu Damao chuckled and gulped down the hot water in his cup, then leaned over and said, "Everyone knows that Da Bao's tea is the best in this courtyard. Can I have some?"
Wang Dabao chuckled: "I drank from this, you don't mind?"
"Hey, come on, there's no need for so many formalities."
Wang Dabao poured Xu Damao a small half cup; there was still quite a bit left in the large tea mug.
Yan Bugui and Sha Zhu were also somewhat tempted, but before they could make a move, they saw Wang Dabao pick up his teacup and slurp down two large mouthfuls.
Then, Wang Dabao looked at Xu Damao and said, "I was just teasing you. I hadn't even tasted the tea when I poured it for you. Drink it now, the temperature is just right."
Yan Bugui licked his lips and walked over carrying a large bowl.
"Da Bao, pour some for your older brother to try too."
"Oh, Lao Yan, that won't do. This time I'm really going to put my saliva in my mouth, I can't let you drink my saliva."
Wang Dabao chuckled, moved the large tea mug closer to his chest, and casually said, "Drinking plain water is just fine."
Yan Bugui chuckled to cover his embarrassment and walked back to his seat. As soon as he sat down, a cigarette was flicked at him. Wang Dabao said, "Old Yan, I can't give you tea, but have a cigarette."
"Oh my, Da Bao is so straightforward in handling things."
The awkwardness from before vanished, and Yan Bugui smiled.
In the end, I still got the better deal!
Little did he know that if he had used the three hundred yuan he was fined to buy cigarettes, he would have never been able to finish them before he died.
Afterwards, Wang Dabao was generous and gave one to everyone present.
Yi Zhonghai and Wang Dabao are currently in their "honeymoon period." Just two days ago, Sha Zhu and the other two were drinking together, and now he's showering Wang Dabao with compliments like they're free.
"To be honest, I've lived for almost fifty years and this is the first time I've met someone like Da Bao. Whether he speaks or acts, he's always so generous and dignified, making people feel comfortable all over. To have such a friend is a blessing!!"
"Hey, Lao Yi, that's enough. You can't praise people like that. Don't say that again." Wang Dabao quickly waved his hand. "Let's get down to business."
Goodness, Yi Zhonghai's two sentences gave Wang Dabao goosebumps.
Despite his small stature, Yan Jiekuang could sense the tense atmosphere when he entered the room. He looked at Yan Jiefang with a puzzled expression and asked, "Second Brother, what were you talking about just now?"
Yan Jiefang briefly recounted the events.
Yan Jiekuang scratched his head: "Second brother, what you said just now was a bit inappropriate. We've been in the same compound for so long, and I don't think Banggeng's mother is the kind of person who would forget kindness."
“Look, everyone, look. Although Jie Kuang is young, what he said makes sense.”
Upon hearing Yan Jiekuang speak up for Qin Huairu, Sha Zhu was the first to jump out in support. Although this kid had almost killed him last time, the two had spoken again afterward, and Sha Zhu thought that the kid was just a bit simple-minded, but also easy to fool.
Yan Jiefang pursed his lips but didn't say anything more.
Wang Dabao slurped down two more sips of tea: "I think that giving the Jia family money and grain can only solve their immediate problem. Besides, as I just said, it's almost the end of the year, and no one can afford much. Even if each family contributes a few cents, it won't amount to much. The most urgent thing is to have Lao Yi contact the workshop and factory to discuss the compensation for Jia Dongxu's work-related injury."
"What we need to do right now is to help the Jia family get through this difficult time before the workers' compensation comes through."
“This is what I was thinking. I heard there are handicraft jobs available in the neighborhood that you can take home and do. Qin Huairu can use her spare time to do these to earn some extra money to supplement the family income.”
Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard this, thinking that Wang Dabao's idea was good; the first step was to try to get workers' compensation.
Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Da Bao is right to think things through, but if we don't donate some money and grain, it won't be enough for Qin Huairu to do all the handicrafts."
"Old Yi, I haven't finished speaking yet."
Wang Dabao chuckled and gulped down two large mouthfuls of tea, making Yan Bugui, Shazhu, and the others beside him swallow hard.
"We were planning a second movie screening a couple of days ago, so how about this: let Qin Huairu sell hot tea next to the melon seed and peanut stall?"
“Last time, some people did bring hot water to the movie, but it got cold after a couple of sips, and I didn’t see any of them drink it afterwards. They all brought it here and took it back in the same way. In this freezing weather, who wouldn’t want something hot to drink? Just have Qin Huairu boil a pot of tea and set out a few big bowls. As long as the price is reasonable, I don’t believe no one will pay!”
"Oh my, Da Bao, how did you get such a bright idea? How come I didn't think of that? And why didn't you say so sooner...?"
Yan Bugui slapped his thigh hard, looking regretful. Then, as if realizing he had said the wrong thing, he quickly tried to make amends, "It's not that I didn't want Qin Huairu to sell tea, I was just too excited, too excited, haha."
"Da Bao's idea is brilliant! This way, everyone doesn't need to donate money, and Qin Huairu can earn money through her own labor to supplement the family income," Xu Damao chimed in.
Sha Zhu was equally excited: "Da Bao is so clever! This way, Qin Huairu can take care of her family at home and earn money at the same time, killing two birds with one stone."
"Brother Da Bao, you're quick-witted! I, Liu Haizhong, can't keep up with you." Liu Haizhong chuckled and handed Wang Da Bao a cigarette. "Then let's follow Brother Da Bao's plan and get the screening schedule on the agenda as soon as possible."
So everyone started discussing the details of the plan, such as the date of the movie screening and the channels through which Qin Huairu would get her tea.
Finally, they unanimously decided to start making arrangements for this the very next day.
The Jia family of the Intermediate People's Court.
Jia Zhangshi sat cross-legged on the kang, wiping away tears, holding the hand of Yi Zhonghai's wife.
"My master's wife, how am I supposed to live like this? We're living in this courtyard house, and everyone can't just stand by and watch the Jia family fall apart!"
"Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Everyone will definitely do their part."
Yi Zhonghai's wife understood Jia Zhangshi's meaning perfectly well. "But as you know, Zhonghai isn't the one in charge anymore. You'll have to ask Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, and Xu Damao for help with this."
Hearing that she should go find these people herself, Jia Zhangshi started crying again.
Yi Zhonghai's wife sighed.
"Alright, sister-in-law, don't cry yet. I'll talk to Zhonghai about this when I get home."
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