But with Cao Yuan's top-tier cooking skills, none of these were issues.
Not long after, the porridge began to bubble and gurgle.
It wouldn't be long before it was cooked.
At the same time, as the porridge neared completion, a rich aroma wafted throughout the entire Siheyuan (Courtyard).
...
The people in the Siheyuan (Courtyard) looked at the scene, filled with envy.
Especially Third Master Yan Fugui's family; after smelling the aroma, Third Master Yan Fugui said to Yu Li at the table with a regretful look, “Cao Yuan's family is eating meat porridge this morning!”
“It’s such a pity. If you had gone to Cao Yuan's family to help earlier, we would be eating it now.”
Yan Jiefang was also intoxicated by the aroma and said to his wife, Yu Li, “Wife, let’s just forget about it this time. In the future, you need to visit Cao Yuan's family more often.”
“Have you forgotten what our dad told us?”
“Cao Yuan is a hot commodity now. The Jia family is eyeing him, and who knows how many other eyes in the Siheyuan (Courtyard) are watching him too!”
“We must hold onto him tightly!”
Hearing her husband and father-in-law’s words, Yu Li's eyes darted away, and she softly responded, “Understood.”
...
Meanwhile, not far from Cao Yuan's family, the Jia family was quite lively.
Smelling the aroma wafting from Cao Yuan's family, and then looking at the watery gruel in his own bowl, Bang梗 immediately felt extremely wronged.
“Grandma, Cao Yuan's family is cooking meat porridge!”
He knew Qin Huairu wouldn't agree, so he didn't argue with her, but instead shouted directly at Jia Zhangshi.
Bang梗’s outburst made Huaihua and Xiao Dang also feel that the porridge in their hands no longer smelled good.
“Grandma! I want to eat meat porridge too!”
“Our family’s porridge tastes awful and isn’t filling! I want to drink meat porridge too!”
With Bang梗 leading, all three children looked eagerly at Jia Zhangshi.
Jia Zhangshi’s face darkened.
She remembered the last time Bang梗 went to Cao Yuan's family for meat, and Cao Yuan only gave him a chicken butt.
Her face grew even uglier.
She knew that if she let Bang梗 go to Cao Yuan's family again, Cao Yuan definitely wouldn't give him anything!
She immediately began to curse loudly.
“That damned thing! Eating so well every day, and doesn't even think to send some over for our family to taste!”
“People like him should all die out, it serves him right to have no descendants!”
Jia Zhangshi cursed and stomped her feet in anger.
Although Jia Dongxu's face was also unpleasant, this time he surprisingly didn't join his mother in cursing.
He stared at Qin Huairu, his eyes dark, plotting some wicked scheme.
Qin Huairu shivered under Jia Dongxu's gaze.
She knew her husband was again plotting against Cao Yuan's family, and he definitely wanted to use her as a pawn.
She could only pretend not to see Jia Dongxu's gaze, lowering her head to drink her porridge, and feigning deafness to the children's crying.
Under her mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi's doting, she had lost even the right to discipline her children.
If she disciplined the children even slightly, especially Bang梗, Jia Zhangshi would mock her, saying she was incompetent for being harsh with the children.
So, Qin Huairu could only silently pray in her heart, hoping the three children would show some spirit and not be like their grandmother and father.
But as soon as this thought emerged, she was harshly slapped in the face.
“Grandma! Meat porridge! So fragrant! That scoundrel Cao Yuan! Why doesn’t he send some over for our family to eat!”
As soon as Bang梗 spoke, Jia Zhangshi was stunned for a moment, but then quickly smiled, looking at her grandson with a face full of relief.
“Yes! Good grandson! Cao Yuan is a scoundrel! You call him that from now on!”
“That scoundrel Cao Yuan won't give it to us, and we don't even care for it! It serves him right to be a Eunuch Cao!”
“Good boy, we don't eat things from the Eunuch Cao's family!”
After hearing his grandma's words, Bang梗, although still not quite understanding, stopped crying. He blinked his big eyes and curiously asked,
“Grandma, what exactly is a Eunuch Cao?”
At Bang梗’s question, Xiao Dang and Huaihua also stopped crying, their eyes wide and full of curiosity.
They often heard their grandma and dad mention that Cao Yuan was a Eunuch Cao, but they had no idea what a Eunuch Cao was.
Seeing Bang梗 ask, Jia Zhangshi smiled so much her eyes almost narrowed into slits.
“A Eunuch Cao, well, it’s a Eunuch Cao! It’s a useless person, you’ll know when you grow up.”
Qin Huairu watched the three children being indoctrinated with such ideas by Jia Zhangshi, and her heart was filled with anger.
But she didn't dare to speak up.
She could only bite the bullet, pretend nothing was wrong, and loudly tell the children, “Alright! The porridge is getting cold, eat quickly!”
But Bang梗 still didn't seem to understand his grandma's meaning.
He looked at his father, Jia Dongxu, and innocently said, “Oh, oh, Grandma, I understand! A Eunuch Cao is a useless person! So, is my dad also a Eunuch Cao?”
At these words, Jia Zhangshi’s smiling face immediately froze.
Jia Dongxu was even more furious, jumping up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on:
“What nonsense are you spouting! You little brat! Are you looking for a beating!”
Everyone had never seen Jia Dongxu get so angry, and Bang梗 also shivered in fright, quickly hiding behind Jia Zhangshi.
He whispered, “Old hag, I’m scared!”
“What did you say?”
This time, Jia Zhangshi’s face also lengthened.
She slapped the table hard and yelled impatiently, “Can you all just say less, alright!”
With her slap on the table, no one else dared to make a sound.
The children also stopped clamoring for meat porridge.
The commotion finally died down.
At the same time, in the back Siheyuan (Courtyard), at First Master Yi Zhonghai’s home.
Yi Zhonghai was an Eighth-Grade Fitter, earning over ninety yuan a month, making him the highest-paid person in the entire Siheyuan (Courtyard).
Therefore, his family’s dinner table was much better than the Jia family’s.
Not only was their porridge thicker than the Jia family’s, but they also had steamed corn bread and pickles.
At this moment, Deaf Old Lady was also having breakfast at Yi Zhonghai's family.
Her presence here was at Yi Zhonghai’s invitation.
The reason was quite simple.
Seeing that Deaf Old Lady didn't have many days left to live, the shrewd Yi Zhonghai had long set his sights on her house.
Several years ago, he began to curry favor with Deaf Old Lady, occasionally sending over his family's food, or directly inviting her to eat at his home.
Now that Yi Zhonghai was also old, he started subtly asking Deaf Old Lady what she planned to do with her house after she died.
But even though Deaf Old Lady was old, her mind was as clear as a mirror.
For years, she had been vague, either feigning deafness or simply not answering.
She understood in her heart that she couldn't take her house with her after she passed away.
But even if she had to give it up, it wouldn't be until her last breath.
Having lived so long, she had a clear grasp of everything.
She knew that as long as the house remained in her possession, people like Yi Zhonghai would continue to flatter her.
But if the house were handed over, they would immediately cast her aside.
Although Deaf Old Lady was old, her sense of smell was still quite keen.
At this moment, Yi Zhonghai was drinking his porridge.
Suddenly, he smelled a rich aroma.
“This… isn’t this preserved egg and lean meat porridge!”
Deaf Old Lady’s eyes instantly lit up, and she blurted it out involuntarily.
She had eaten it a few times when she was young, and the taste had always stayed with her.
Later, times became difficult, and now that her old bones were almost in the grave, she hadn't had the chance to taste it again.
This familiar aroma instantly pulled her thoughts back to the past, and her mouth watered with craving.
Yi Zhonghai immediately understood upon seeing Deaf Old Lady’s reaction.
Deaf Old Lady wanted to eat this!
Deaf Old Lady was usually indifferent to everything, so for her to react like this, she must truly be tempted.
This was a good opportunity to curry favor with her!
If he could get her a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat porridge now, his chances of getting the house would greatly increase.
But as soon as the thought flashed through his mind, Yi Zhonghai became troubled again.
In his heart, Cao Yuan was now rich and a Eunuch Cao, even more suitable than Sha Zhu to take care of him in his old age.
He regretted helping Jia Zhangshi seize Cao Yuan's uncle Cao Min's inheritance earlier and had been thinking about how to get close to Cao Yuan.
Now, if he were to ask for porridge for Deaf Old Lady, Cao Yuan would surely be even more annoyed with him.
On one hand, he coveted Deaf Old Lady's house, and on the other, he wanted to win over Cao Yuan for his old age. Yi Zhonghai was at a loss for what to do.
Just then, he saw Sha Zhu's door open.
The sun was already high, and Sha Zhu slowly got up to go out for some exercise.
Seeing Sha Zhu, Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up. He quickly forced a smile and called out loudly, “Sha Zhu! Come here!”
Sha Zhu heard the call and walked over, puzzled.
“What’s wrong, First Master Yi, anything happening so early in the morning?”
Seeing Sha Zhu arrive, Yi Zhonghai finally stated his intention:
“Deaf Old Lady wants to drink preserved egg and lean meat porridge.”
Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment, then immediately replied:
“Oh, that’s easy! Tomorrow I’ll buy some preserved eggs and make a pot for Deaf Old Lady, that’s no problem at all!”
He had always respected Deaf Old Lady, who was a “Five Guarantees” household.
Deaf Old Lady also intended to rely on Sha Zhu for her final days, so she was usually quite good to him.
Although preserved eggs and pork were not cheap, how many meals could an old lady who was almost gone eat?
So, Sha Zhu would certainly not refuse this small request from her.
But after hearing Sha Zhu's words, Yi Zhonghai was a little displeased.
Deaf Old Lady was clearly craving it now.
Giving her a bowl of porridge to drink at this moment would surely make her happy.
Making it for her tomorrow?
The taste wouldn’t be the same!
However, Yi Zhonghai wouldn't bother with so much chatter with Sha Zhu.
He directly said to Sha Zhu:
“Don’t go to all that trouble. Smell it, Cao Yuan's family has that porridge right now! Just go ask him for it. It’s just a bowl of porridge, as neighbors, would Cao Yuan really not give it to you?”
At Yi Zhonghai’s suggestion, Sha Zhu didn't think too deeply.
Although he inwardly looked down on Cao Yuan, thinking he was just a Eunuch Cao who relied on his uncle Cao Min's inheritance and job to live, it was just a bowl of porridge. Sha Zhu felt Cao Yuan wouldn't be stingy to that extent.
He readily agreed:
“What’s so hard about that! If Deaf Old Lady wants to drink it, I’ll go get a bowl! Just wait and see!”
Before he finished speaking, Sha Zhu casually grabbed an empty bowl from Yi Zhonghai's family's dinner table and walked towards Cao Yuan's family.
Upon reaching Cao Yuan's doorstep, he knocked, and when he saw it was Sha Zhu, Cao Yuan's face immediately fell.
He knew how much Sha Zhu usually looked down on him.
Who told him he was a Eunuch Cao.
But Cao Yuan also understood in his heart that Sha Zhu was quite pitiful.
In the story, Sha Zhu was Qin Huairu’s die-hard fan!
What was the result?
He was bled dry by Qin Huairu his entire life.
Fearing that Sha Zhu wasn't truly devoted to her three children, Qin Huairu even got an IUD!
If it weren't for Deaf Old Lady playing matchmaker and having Lou Xiao'e bear Sha Zhu a child, my goodness!
Qin Huairu almost left Sha Zhu without an heir!
But none of this managed to wake Sha Zhu up!
Even after Lou Xiao'e returned with their son, Sha Zhu still only had Qin Huairu in his heart!
He wouldn't raise his own son, but instead raised other people's children! He also took care of a bunch of old men and women who were completely unrelated to him, but refused to acknowledge his own biological father, He Daqing!
A simp to the end, left with nothing!
Just a fool!
Serves him right!
Upon seeing Sha Zhu, Cao Yuan immediately asked coldly, “What is it?”