"Uncle, Uncle Bao, you're here! Try these roasted sweet potatoes and see if they've improved since this morning!"
As Yu Li spoke, she picked up a sweet potato, broke it open, and handed it to Liu Haizhong and Wang Dabao.
Liu Haizhong, putting on airs, took both pieces of sweet potato and handed half to Wang Dabao, saying, "Here, Dabao, let's have a taste."
After taking a bite, Liu Haizhong smiled and said, "Well, this sweet potato is really sweet. I must say, Yu Li, you're much more capable than your father-in-law. I think you're cut out to be a businessman."
Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng, a married couple, smiled ingratiatingly.
The couple really felt bad about giving away a sweet potato, but they really couldn't set up the sweet potato stall if Liu Haizhong didn't agree.
"But I'm not going to eat your sweet potatoes for free. Since you've set up a stall, this is a business transaction. You can keep these two cents."
Liu Haizhong was quite particular; he ate the sweet potato in a few bites and even took out two cents from his pocket.
Yu Li panicked when she saw this and quickly pushed it back: "Uncle, what are you doing? It's just a sweet potato, why are you making such a fuss? If there's any left, I'll have to bring you another one."
"Okay, I like to hear that, but don't send the sweet potatoes, or I'll have to pay for them."
Without saying a word, Liu Haizhong threw the money into the money basket.
Yu Li was a little confused when she arrived at the door. She thought Liu Haizhong was just going through the motions, but it turned out he was really giving her money!
"Since Old Liu has given it, Yu Li, you should accept it. As one of the older men in the compound, Old Liu is quite particular about how he handles things."
Wang Dabao knew that Liu Haizhong was doing this for his benefit, so he praised him, saying, "Old Liu handled this matter properly. Although he is the head of the compound, he would never take advantage of his position to take a single needle or thread from his neighbors. He has set a good example for the dozens of other officials in our neighborhood."
Liu Haizhong insisted on apologizing to Wang Dabao.
The anger she felt towards Xu Damao earlier had vanished, and her face was beaming with a smile that made her eyes almost invisible.
"Uncle Da Bao is right."
Yu Li seized the opportunity to praise, "I always thought my Uncle Liu was capable and reliable, but he was always suppressed by Uncle Yi. Now look how well he's done! True gold fears no fire, and gold will always shine. Look how prosperous our compound has become under your leadership. Now everyone in the neighborhood gives a thumbs up when they mention Hongxing Courtyard."
Yan Jiecheng wasn't stupid either. Seeing his wife praising him, he joined in: "Wow, ever since our compound started holding screenings under the leadership of Uncle Yi, I feel so much more confident when I go out and meet people from the neighboring compounds. They're so envious!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Dabao thought that a few words of praise would suffice; he shouldn't keep praising Old Liu so much that he'd make him look too good.
"You two are enough, you're going to praise this old man to the heavens in a bit."
Liu Haizhong was truly delighted. Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li were not only residents of the compound, but also Yan Bugui's son and daughter-in-law. It was really not easy for them to flatter him.
Then Liu Jiazhong changed the subject and looked at Yu Haitang next to Yu Li across from him: "Yu Li, is this your sister? She's got all the head she needs. Is she in school or working now?"
Yu Li quickly nudged Yu Haitang next to her.
"Haitang, quickly call him Grandpa."
"Uncle, my name is Yu Haitang, and I'm about to graduate and start working."
"Okay, okay, oh right, why didn't I see Guangtian come to help? Yu Li, you can introduce them to each other later." Liu Haizhong was even happier.
Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng almost turned pale when they heard this. They had been praising you for so long, and now you're up to this?!
"Guangtian, he's probably busy with other things, we haven't seen him come over yet. But don't worry about him, Uncle, with Jiecheng and my sister here, they can manage. Let Guangtian rest for a while."
Yu Li was no pushover either, and immediately retorted to Liu Haizhong.
Liu Haizhong wasn't incapable of discerning good from bad, and immediately understood the meaning behind Yu Li's words.
"Alright, you guys go ahead and get busy. Da Bao and I will go check on your dad in the front yard. The teachers from school should be arriving soon."
After saying that, Liu Haizhong beckoned Wang Dabao to walk towards the front yard.
As soon as the two walked out, Yan Jiecheng spat.
"What the hell? Doesn't he know how stupid Liu Guangtian is? He's like a toad trying to eat swan meat. He's not even as good as Xu Damao."
Yu Li was also quite unhappy. How could her younger sister, such a beautiful young woman, possibly be interested in that good-for-nothing Liu Guangtian?
Before Wang Dabao and Liu Haizhong had even crossed the passageway, they heard a clear bicycle bell ringing from the courtyard gate.
Then Yan Bugui led several young female teachers in, pushing bicycles.
Liu Haizhong quickly strode forward to greet him, his face beaming as he introduced himself.
"Welcome, welcome, teachers. I'm Liu Haizhong, an old man from this courtyard."
Wang Dabao politely nodded to the female teachers.
The teachers greeted Liu Haizhong one after another. One of the female teachers said, "Master Liu, your compound is different from other compounds. It's full of life and very lively."
"It's all thanks to everyone's support."
Liu Haizhong smiled with a hint of smugness.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the four female teachers parked their bicycles in front of Yan Bugui's house, then took small stools from Yan Bugui's house, and headed towards the Intermediate People's Court under the guidance of Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui.
Two of the female teachers kept turning around to look at Wang Dabao behind them, and then asked Yan Bugui, who was standing next to them.
Upon arriving at the Intermediate People's Court, Yan Bugui led the group to a sweet potato stall and introduced them to the oven and sweet potatoes.
When the young female teachers heard that the stall was run by Yan Bugui's son and daughter-in-law, they immediately started to buy sweet potatoes. Yan Bugui pretended to stop Yu Li from taking the money, but the female teachers insisted on paying.
Xu Damao's eyes were darting around, his gaze constantly shifting between the four female teachers, and he was incredibly energetic.
While the group was talking in front of the sweet potato stall, Xu Damao quickly stood up, straightened his clothes, and smoothed his hair.
That energy was like a grasshopper hopping around incessantly under the sun.
Wang Dabao glanced at Xu Damao and found it quite amusing. He strolled a few steps and sat down on the large wooden box next to Xu Damao, taking out a cigarette and offering it to him.
"What's up, Da Mao? If you see someone you like, just tell Lao Yan."
"It's too dark, I can't see anything." Xu Damao became a little anxious after Wang Dabao asked him this question.
Hearing the cheerful laughter coming from the sweet potato stall, Xu Damao chuckled along, "You know what, these female teachers are definitely more charming than a young girl like Yu Haitang."
"Well done, Da Mao. I didn't realize you liked mature women, did you?"
Wang Dabao, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, joked from the side, "Looks like you two have pretty much the same taste, Zhu Zi."
Xu Damao glanced at Qin Huairu's tea stall next door and whispered, "Dabao, tell me the truth, you never had any other thoughts?!"
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