Sha Zhu was a straightforward person, and he said carelessly, "Did your family cook preserved egg and lean meat porridge? Give me a bowl, Deaf Old Lady wants to drink it."
Hearing Sha Zhu's tone, the fire in Cao Yuan's heart instantly flared up.
Last time, when Cao Yuan bought a chicken, he heard Sha Zhu muttering behind his back, saying that this Eunuch Cao only had a good life because of his inheritance, otherwise he wouldn't even be able to eat a hot meal!
At that time, Cao Yuan had just learned that Eunuch Cao could still recover, so he was in a good mood and didn't bother with Sha Zhu.
Now Sha Zhu came to his house to beg for food, and he acted as if it was his right?
Does he have no shame?
Cao Yuan sneered on the spot, "Begging for food with such an arrogant attitude? Do I owe you? Want to drink porridge? Fine, bring money!"
Hearing Cao Yuan's words, Sha Zhu also became anxious.
Sha Zhu shouted, "It's not me who wants to drink it! It's the Deaf Old Lady who wants to drink it! She's a Five-Guaranteed Household, what's wrong with her drinking a bowl of your porridge?"
As Sha Zhu mentioned the Deaf Old Lady, Cao Yuan's eyes grew colder.
"So what if the Deaf Old Lady is a Five-Guaranteed Household? What does that have to do with me? When the Jia family wanted to snatch my uncle's inheritance back then, why didn't she stand up and say a word for me?"
Cao Yuan remembered that incident clearly.
At that time, Yi Zhonghai also stood on Jia Zhangshi's side, agreeing with the Jia family taking his uncle Cao Min's house and compensation.
The Deaf Old Lady just watched from the side, even glaring at him with a cold stare!
It was understandable that she didn't help speak up.
But if she was gloating, that would be too out of line!
The Deaf Old Lady was a respected Five-Guaranteed Household at that time, how could she do such a thing?
Moreover, after reading the original novel, Cao Yuan knew that the Deaf Old Lady even set up Lou Xiao'e and Sha Zhu.
She locked her own door, letting Sha Zhu and Lou Xiao'e do shameless things inside!
Is this what an elder should do?
Cao Yuan had no respect for her at all!
Hearing Cao Yuan say that, Sha Zhu protested indignantly, "You're an outsider, why should the Deaf Old Lady help you? It's normal for her not to help you, what do you have to complain about!"
To Sha Zhu's words, Cao Yuan retorted impolitely:
"You also know you're an outsider! Then why do you come to my house to ask for this bowl of porridge? Do I not have to spend money on ingredients? Why should I give it to you just because you want it?"
As Cao Yuan said that, Sha Zhu was stunned, his face turning red, unable to utter a word for a long time.
The noisy voices of Cao Yuan and Sha Zhu were heard by their neighbor Xu Damao immediately.
However, he was busy at the time.
Now, seeing Sha Zhu speechless after being rebuked, Xu Damao immediately walked out of his house, stood by Cao Yuan's side, and began to mock Sha Zhu, "Exactly, don't ingredients cost money? Can't you have some self-respect? Sha Zhu, you're truly foolish!"
Xu Damao and Sha Zhu had always been sworn enemies, and Xu Damao had often schemed against him in private.
Of course, Sha Zhu had also beaten him up many times.
Now, already speechless from Cao Yuan's words, and hearing Xu Damao's inflammatory remarks, how could Sha Zhu tolerate it?
He immediately pointed at Xu Damao's nose and roared, "What business is it of yours? Besides, just try it!"
"Believe it or not, I'll hit you!"
With that, Sha Zhu was about to rush up and hit Xu Damao.
Seeing this, Xu Damao quickly hid behind Cao Yuan, only revealing half his face, while mocking Sha Zhu and saying to Cao Yuan, "Brother, look, he's getting anxious, isn't he!"
"You have to speak up for me!"
Although Sha Zhu's name was "Sha Zhu" (Foolish Pillar), his strength was considerable.
Xu Damao usually spoke very assertively, but over the years of dealing with Sha Zhu, he had been beaten badly and was long afraid of him.
"So what if I'm anxious! I'm telling you, Xu Damao! You have to take this beating today! No one can stop me!"
Hearing Xu Damao say he was anxious, Sha Zhu became even more furious.
It was one thing to lose an argument with Cao Yuan, but Xu Damao dared to make fun of him?
Could he tolerate this?
If he didn't teach Xu Damao a good lesson today, he wouldn't feel satisfied.
He simply ignored Cao Yuan, rolled up his sleeves, and tried to push Cao Yuan aside to pull Xu Damao out and beat him.
Cao Yuan originally didn't want to interfere in the quarrel between Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, but seeing Sha Zhu reach out to push him, Cao Yuan's eyes instantly darkened. He stared coldly at Sha Zhu, and the Tianlong True Energy in his body circulated rapidly with his emotional fluctuations, emanating a powerful aura from him.
Sha Zhu felt Cao Yuan's gaze and the oppressive aura, and suddenly felt an inexplicable panic, like a frog stared at by a snake, his whole body stiff.
He didn't know why, but seeing Cao Yuan like this, a trace of fear inexplicably rose in Sha Zhu's heart, his heart rate quickened, and his legs began to go soft.
"If you want to fight, don't do it here!"
Seeing Sha Zhu stop, Cao Yuan coldly uttered a sentence.
Hearing Cao Yuan speak, Sha Zhu seemed to be relieved, no longer daring to stay, and even forgot to take the bowl he had brought to beg for food.
He only had one thought in his mind: get away from Cao Yuan quickly!
After saying that, he dragged his weak legs and stumbled towards his own courtyard, without looking back.
"This Sha Zhu, it was one thing when he was foolish before, but now he's simply crazy, I don't know what's going on!"
Watching Sha Zhu suddenly stop and act so abnormally, Xu Damao was a little puzzled, but as long as he saw Sha Zhu suffer, he was especially happy.
He didn't dwell on it, cursed a few words at Sha Zhu's retreating back, then turned around and showed Cao Yuan a fawning smile, "Thank you, brother! You're still amazing, you've got Sha Zhu completely subdued, you're truly incredible!"
Cao Yuan just smiled, picked up the bowl Sha Zhu had left at his house, and casually tossed it, and the bowl instantly shattered.
"How unlucky!"
Cao Yuan cursed inwardly, coming to his house to beg for food so early in the morning, he didn't know if he looked down on him, or if he really had no brains.
Sha Zhu finally ran to the backyard, his legs gave out, and he sat directly in front of the table at Yi Zhonghai's.
After a while, his legs slowly stopped trembling.
A cold wind blew, and Sha Zhu couldn't help but shiver.
He touched his back and realized his back was already soaked.
Seeing that Sha Zhu not only didn't bring back the preserved egg and lean meat porridge but also looked distraught, Yi Zhonghai frowned and asked, "Zhuzi, what's wrong? Did you see a ghost in broad daylight? Also, where's my bowl?"
Hearing this, Sha Zhu remembered that he had run too fast just now and hadn't thought about the bowl at all.
It must have been left at Cao Yuan's!
Sha Zhu was also stunned and began to wonder.
Cao Yuan just glared at him, how could he be so scared?
Although he was puzzled, facing Yi Zhonghai's inquiry, Sha Zhu still honestly recounted the story of going to Cao Yuan's house for porridge.
However, he concealed the fact that he was scared out of his wits by Cao Yuan's single gaze.
After all, a grown man, being scared like that by a single look, alas, if this were to be told, let alone whether Yi Zhonghai would believe it, even he himself would feel ashamed!
As Sha Zhu recounted, Yi Zhonghai's annoyance with Cao Yuan increased.
This Cao Yuan, he actually still remembered that the Deaf Old Lady didn't speak up for him when the Jia family took Cao Min's inheritance, and he held a grudge until now.
And Yi Zhonghai was clearly on the Jia family's side, so how could Cao Yuan not hate him even more?
It seemed that to mend his relationship with Cao Yuan, Yi Zhonghai would have to work harder and take it slowly.
Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai quickly said to Sha Zhu, "Zhuzi, don't bother Cao Yuan for no reason from now on."
The Deaf Old Lady sighed inwardly upon hearing this.
She was not sighing because Cao Yuan held a grudge against her, nor because Cao Yuan talked back to Sha Zhu.
She knew her days were numbered and had no mind to care about these things anymore.
She just felt it was a pity that she was dying and couldn't even have a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat porridge.
After thinking about these things, the Deaf Old Lady ate breakfast at Yi Zhonghai's and went home shortly after.
As for Sha Zhu, he didn't take Yi Zhonghai's words seriously at all.
Waking up early in the morning, just to get porridge for the Deaf Old Lady, he was scolded by Cao Yuan; how could his mood be good? He secretly calculated: Cao Yuan has to go to work, right? He has to eat at the factory during work, right? He is the head chef in the cafeteria, in charge of the back kitchen. When it's time to serve him food, he'll just shake his hand, and see how he gets enough to eat! What can Cao Yuan do to him then? Won't he have to beg him? Thinking of this, Sha Zhu couldn't help but chuckle.
Yi Zhonghai saw Sha Zhu's behavior and knew exactly what he was planning.
He shook his head helplessly and simply ignored Sha Zhu.
Xu Damao had originally come to find Cao Yuan.
Seeing Sha Zhu hit a wall, he couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks.
Xu Damao was going to the countryside to show movies tomorrow and would be gone for several days.
To be honest, leaving Lou Xiao'e alone at home, he was a little worried.
It wasn't that he was afraid she wouldn't cook and starve, but rather that if he left, Lou Xiao'e might be taken advantage of by others.
His idea was very simple: Cao Yuan was an Eunuch Cao, with him at home looking after Lou Xiao'e, he wouldn't have to worry, and it would also prevent others from having the opportunity to approach Lou Xiao'e.
Most importantly, if Lou Xiao'e ate at Cao Yuan's, he could also save a few days' worth of food expenses.
Although Xu Damao had a good income, when it came to spending money, he was famously stingy! As for what he had promised Cao Yuan in the outhouse before—asking him to help look after Lou Xiao'e for a few days, he would treat Cao Yuan to drinks and bring some local specialties—those were all for later.
So now, facing Cao Yuan, Xu Damao immediately put on a flattering smile and said, "Brother, what a coincidence, I'm going to the countryside to show movies tomorrow, so I'll entrust your sister-in-law, Lou Xiao'e, to your care for a few days!"
After saying that, Xu Damao showed that uncomfortable smile again, staring intently at Cao Yuan for several moments, then patted Cao Yuan's shoulder.
"I don't trust others much, but I'm very confident in your handling of things!"
Cao Yuan agreed to Xu Damao's request with little hesitation.
"Alright, Da Mao, you can rest assured!"
"We're brothers, why distinguish between yours and mine?"
Cao Yuan responded with a smile.
He had a good impression of Lou Xiao'e, with no negative feelings.
Besides, he was Xu Damao's brother, and with his brother away, it was only right to help look after his sister-in-law.
Hearing Cao Yuan say this, Xu Damao felt a little strange, but he was still quite happy, "Good brother, it's settled then!"
With that, he turned and walked out of the courtyard with ease.
He was going to the propaganda department of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Plant to prepare the equipment needed for showing movies in the countryside.
Showing movies back then was a technical job.
The projector was big and heavy and had to be transported by car.
Because there were few people who could show movies, Xu Damao became very popular.
He was often invited to show movies in the countryside, earning extra money that was even more than his salary at the factory!
After Xu Damao left, Cao Yuan smiled and knocked on Xu Damao's door.
"Xiao'e Jie, have you eaten yet? Da Mao told you, right?"
"I cooked some preserved egg and lean meat porridge today, if you haven't eaten yet, come to my place and eat with me!"
It was Cao Yuan who opened the door, inviting her in a very gentle tone.
