“What’s going on? You’re such a grown man, yet you still can’t be more careful!” Yang Da Cheng returned home to hear that his son had fallen into the water. He was obviously quite unhappy.
“Say less. He didn’t mean to. Didn’t his hat get blown into the water? I wonder if he was scared. Should we find someone to perform a ritual to ward off bad luck?” Zeng Wen Fang asked.
Yang Da Cheng waved his hands repeatedly: “What era is this, still believing in superstition?!”
In this day and age, anyone could see the wind was changing direction. If the Yang family called someone to perform a ritual, and were reported, even his job as a clerk would be at risk.
This small courtyard was complicated. It was full of intrigue.
Yang Da Cheng was a sensible man. Even though everyone in this courtyard seemed to get along, they could be ruthless when they wanted to.
Zeng Wen Fang walked into Yang Xuan's room and called him up.
“Your dad’s back. Get up and eat something.”
Yang Xuan rolled over and sat up on the bed, rubbing his eyes.
“Come on, what are you waiting for? Aren't you hungry?” Zeng Wen Fang urged.
Yang Xuan smiled: “I drank too much water, I'm not really hungry.”
Seeing that her son was alright, Zeng Wen Fang finally felt relieved: “Be more careful in the future. Safety first!”
The Yang family’s dining table was an eight-legged table, made of old elm wood, sturdy and solid. Yang Da Cheng was already sitting at the table, drinking by himself.
It was loose liquor, but it was still very fragrant.
“You almost lost your life over a hat. Be more careful in the future,” Yang Da Cheng put down his glass, looking at Yang Xuan.
Yang Xuan sat down.
“Want some?” Yang Da Cheng asked.
Yang Xuan nodded.
Yang Da Cheng laughed: “That’s right. What kind of man doesn’t drink some wine?”
“Take it easy. Drink some to ward off the cold. Don’t be like your dad and turn into a drunkard!” Zeng Wen Fang didn’t oppose her son drinking. How could a man not drink any alcohol?
The first sip of alcohol made Yang Xuan choke. He couldn’t help it. Although Yang Xuan’s alcohol tolerance was not bad in his previous life, this body was not used to alcohol yet. After all, this was just a sixteen-year-old body.
“Slow down. Eat some food to soak it up,” Zeng Wen Fang said with concern.
Yang Da Cheng was delighted. This was a process every man had to go through.
He was happy to see his son grow up.
“Tomorrow, let's get some dishes and invite Sha Zhu over to our house for drinks. He saved our son’s life, we need to show our gratitude. Even though Sha Zhu is a bit unreliable sometimes, he is a good person,” Yang Da Cheng said.
“It’s a pity, he’s almost thirty and still hasn’t found a girlfriend,” Zeng Wen Fang said.
“I used to think that he was so close to Yi Zhong Hai and his wife, as well as the deaf old lady, that they would help him find a girlfriend. But who would have thought that he’s still single to this day,” Yang Da Cheng said.
Yang Xuan couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Don’t gloat. He’s your savior,” Yang Da Cheng said.
Yang Xuan said: “Sha Zhu is so close to Qin the Widow, every day it’s ‘Sister Qin’ this and ‘Sister Qin’ that. Who would dare to date him? Besides, Yi Zhong Hai and the deaf old lady would rather Sha Zhu remain a bachelor. Otherwise, if Sha Zhu gets married, who would take care of them in their old age?”
Zeng Wen Fang was stunned, then she exclaimed: “I was wondering! Why did every time Sha Zhu tried to get a girlfriend, it failed. So that’s how it is!”
Yang Da Cheng was a sensible man: “Don’t go around spreading this. This kind of thing is not something to be joked about.”
Yang Xuan nodded: “I’m not stupid. I’m just talking at home. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother with this.”
Zeng Wen Fang sighed: “He saved our son’s life, we shouldn’t just ignore it. But you know the relationship between Sha Zhu, Yi Zhong Hai, and the deaf old lady, they’re basically a family. It’s not easy for outsiders like us to intervene.”
Yang Xuan said disdainfully: “What family? They’re just using Sha Zhu. And Qin the Widow, there’s no good person in that family. This courtyard, hehe, there are really not many good people. But even if we want to help, Sha Zhu might not appreciate it. They’re all so smitten with Qin the Widow, after all.”
Zeng Wen Fang patted Yang Xuan’s shoulder hard: “You little rascal, why do you talk so rudely? I actually think Sha Zhu doesn’t have any feelings for Qin the Widow, he’s just kind-hearted, he sees that the Qin family is in a difficult situation. Who would have thought that the whole Qin family would take advantage of his kindness?”
After dinner, Yang Xuan got up and walked out: “Mom and Dad, I’ll go tell Sha Zhu to come to our house for dinner tomorrow night.”
As he walked out, he bumped into Xu Da Mao carrying a heavy bicycle. There was a nylon bag hanging behind the bike, with two holes cut out of it. Two hen heads stuck out from the holes, looking around the courtyard with dazed expressions.
“Xu Da Mao, are you bringing home more country hens?” Yang Xuan glanced at the bike.
Xu Da Mao said smugly: “Yang Xuan, don’t talk nonsense. I didn’t steal them. The country folks willingly gave them to me.”
“You’re fooling no one. These days, people can’t even afford food, and they’re giving you hens for free? And two at a time? You must have bribed them with something.” Yang Xuan said disdainfully.
Xu Da Mao was surprised. Yang Xuan usually kept to himself, why was he suddenly so eloquent?
“None of your business! I can bribe people, that’s my skill!” Xu Da Mao didn’t take Yang Xuan seriously. Yang Xuan’s father, Yang Da Cheng, was just a regular clerk at the factory. He didn’t even show up as often as Xu Da Mao in front of the factory leaders.
Yang Xuan didn’t get angry and said casually: “Are you going to butcher these chickens and eat them, or raise them?”
“I’m going to raise them and let them lay eggs. When my wife gets pregnant, we’ll eat eggs laid by our own hens.” Xu Da Mao said.
“You should be thinking about laying eggs,” Yang Xuan casually blurted out what Sha Zhu said in the TV show.
“What?” Xu Da Mao immediately flared up.
“Uh, I meant you and your wife should be thinking about having kids. Xu Da Mao, you wouldn’t be…unable, would you?” Yang Xuan said.
“Bullshit! How could I be unable?” Xu Da Mao was furious.
“Xu Da Mao, don’t shy away from medical issues. If you’re sick, you need to see a doctor. Maybe there’s still hope.” Yang Xuan said in a sincere tone.
Xu Da Mao slammed the bike to the ground, the two hens squawked in fright. He said angrily: “Yang Xuan, if you keep talking nonsense, I swear I’ll beat you up today!”
“What’s all this yelling about? I was right here listening. Yang Xuan is just concerned about you. Don’t be a dog biting Lu Dongbin. Yang Xuan, this guy deserves to have no children, don’t pay any attention to him.” He Yu Zhu had been listening to the fun and now he was grinning.
Xu Da Mao’s fist was not as big as He Yu Zhu’s, he never clashed with He Yu Zhu head-on. As soon as he saw He Yu Zhu, he immediately cowered: “I’m a forgiving person, I won’t bother with you guys!”