“No need for an agreement, Third Master, I trust your character.”
Chen Jianye took five yuan from his pocket and placed it on the table: “It’s payday today, so we’ll start from today. Every time the Rolling Mill issues salaries, I’ll pay the Yan Family.”
He wasn’t foolish; signing an agreement meant black and white terms.
If things changed later, it might be used by someone with ulterior motives as evidence to suppress him.
Moreover, Chen Jianye believed that with his reputation, there was no one in the Courtyard who was so blind as to dare to covet his money.
The last person who wanted to covet the Chen Family’s money was Yi Zhonghai.
He was chased around the Courtyard with a knife by him and took a stab.
With such a clear example, anyone with a normal mind would have to think twice before entertaining the thought of coveting his money.
“Jianye, you’re a man of your word!”
When Yan Fugui saw the five yuan, his eyes lit up. He quickly took it and put it in his pocket.
Then he gave Chen Jianye a thumbs up.
“It’s also because your family has strict rules and you are an upright person, Third Master, that I trust you.”
“If it were the Jia, hmph.”
Chen Jianye snorted twice.
Expressing his disdain for the Jia.
“Jianye, from now on, your clothes, and the pots and pans at home, just put them in the front Courtyard.”
“Yu Li will wash them and bring them back to you.”
Yan Fugui said happily.
He not only secured this business but also gained immense psychological satisfaction from this trip.
“No problem, Third Master, I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
Chen Jianye stood up.
“No, no, the matter is settled, I won’t disturb your studies anymore.”
“I’ll go back and tell Yu Li.”
Yan Fugui quickly stood up.
“Alright then, I won’t see you out.”
“Third Master, take care.”
Chen Jianye waved his hand.
He didn’t intend to keep Yan Fugui at home for tea and conversation.
Offering Yan Fugui tea was his way of telling Yan Fugui to leave quickly.
Yan Fugui was a smart person.
Dealing with smart people was that simple.
Meanwhile, Yan Fugui returned home.
Inside the Yan Family’s house, Third Aunt, Yan Jiecheng, Yu Li, and the other three children were all waiting.
Seeing Yan Fugui return, they all stared intently at him.
Yan Fugui didn’t hesitate at all; he pulled out five yuan from his pocket and slapped it on the table with a thud.
“Oh my goodness, you got the wages directly?”
Third Aunt’s eyes crinkled with two more layers of wrinkles from joy.
“Well, you see, I went there myself, wouldn’t Chen Jianye give me face?”
“I’ve settled it with him. Starting today, one person from our family will go and do his housework.”
“.......”
Yan Fugui briefly explained what he had discussed with Chen Jianye at the Chen Family’s house.
“Mom, the dishwashing and laundry are all done by my wife, so she should get most of this money.”
Yan Jiecheng was displeased.
All five yuan went to his parents, and in the end, his wife had to do the work.
There was no such logic.
If it wasn’t made clear now, once this matter was settled, Yan Fugui would go to the Chen Family to collect the money every time.
Wouldn’t that be working for nothing?
“Hey, you brat, you’re even settling accounts with me now.”
Yan Fugui was very unhappy.
“It should indeed be split in half with Yu Li; she’s the one doing the work.”
Third Aunt quickly said.
“Mom, I’m fine with anything. Jiecheng just has that kind of personality, don’t take him seriously.”
Yu Li said, trying to smooth things over.
“Then how do you think it should be split?”
Considering family unity, Yan Fugui decided to give in a bit and asked Yan Jiecheng irritably.
Mainly, Yu Li was going to do the work, so if she wasn’t given a share of the money, what if she messed up the job?
There were at least five, if not eight, people in the Courtyard who could do housework.
This was a good job, and since Yan Fugui had taken it on, he had to secure it.
“Yu Li should get at least three yuan, and two yuan can be used for household expenses, which would make the family more comfortable.”
Yan Jiecheng thought for a moment and said.
He wanted to say give it all to Yu Li, but he knew it was impossible.
Yan Fugui was about to say something, but Third Aunt interjected: “Three yuan it is. Yu Li, you are the eldest daughter-in-law, and you’ve contributed a lot to the family. Mom remembers that.”
“Mom.”
Yu Li looked touched.
Yan Fugui pursed his lips and said nothing.
Third Aunt turned and went back into the house, and soon came out with three yuan, which she handed to Yu Li.
The matter ended satisfactorily.
Time flew by, and it was seven o’clock in the evening.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, with a gentle breeze blowing.
Jia Zhangshi was sighing in the room.
“Mom, go to bed early.”
Qin Huairu washed the children’s feet and advised.
“I can’t sleep.”
Jia Zhangshi sighed, feeling more and more upset the more she thought about it.
Over nine hundred yuan.
She usually couldn’t bear to eat a single bite of meat.
If she used it to buy meat, she could eat meat every day for several years.
When her clothes were torn, she couldn’t bear to buy new ones.
When her shoes were broken, she mended them herself.
What a sin.
More than nine hundred yuan saved, and it was all stolen in one go.
Qin Huairu didn’t try to persuade her anymore and went back to the small room to sleep with the children.
The more Jia Zhangshi thought about it, the more something felt wrong. She took a chopping board and a cleaver and ran to the doorway to wail.
“That beast who stole my money, may you die a terrible death!”
Dong!
“May you be struck by lightning when you go out, and hit by a big truck when you walk!”
Dong!
“Pity this Old Woman Jia, so lonely and helpless!”
Dong!
Her voice was full of inflections, and with every line she sang, Jia Zhangshi heavily slammed the cleaver onto the chopping board.
It actually had a unique flavor.
In the countryside, when an elder passed away, the aunts would perform this ritual during the funeral.
Jia Zhangshi was a master of it.
As for slamming the cleaver on the chopping board, it was a prop used by rural women when arguing.
Jia Zhangshi combined the best of both, creatively integrating them to provide an auditory feast for everyone in the Courtyard.
Chen Jianye was so disturbed by Jia Zhangshi’s noise that he directly entered his portable space to tend to his crops.
Other residents of the Courtyard didn’t have Chen Jianye’s luxury.
They could only patiently endure Jia Zhangshi’s wailing.
To their surprise, Jia Zhangshi had an incredibly long battery life, wailing for nearly an hour, barely stopping except for sips of water.
Several households simply couldn’t take it anymore and ran to the Yi Family to complain to Yi Zhonghai.
“It’s late at night, Granny Jia isn’t sleeping, but my whole family needs to sleep.”
“I was going to make babies with my wife, but with Granny Jia singing like this, I can’t even get it up.”
“My child shivers when he hears Granny Jia’s voice, saying he feels like someone is coming to snatch his soul.”
The reasons for the Courtyard residents’ complaints were varied and strange.
Yi Zhonghai comforted them one by one, but eventually he got tired himself.
He opened his door and went to the Jia’s doorway.
Jia Zhangshi glanced at Yi Zhonghai and continued her wailing.
“Old Woman Jia, please take a break.”
Yi Zhonghai interrupted her.
“I can’t rest. Whoever stole my money, I must curse them to death today.”
Jia Zhangshi gnashed her teeth.
“Everyone is being kept awake by your noise. If someone stole your money, go find them, don’t drag everyone else into your suffering.”
Yi Zhonghai persuaded her.
“If I could find the person, I would have already had the police arrest him.”
“But I can’t find anyone.”
“What’s wrong with me yelling a few words? Yi Zhonghai, if you lost money, you’d be even more agitated than me.”
“It’s easy for you to talk when you’re not in my shoes, hmph!”
Jia Zhangshi retorted sharply, her voice booming.
She said these words not only to Yi Zhonghai but also to everyone else in the Courtyard.
All her savings were gone, so what was wrong with her yelling a few words?
Was she not even allowed to yell?
Yi Zhonghai pursed his lips and turned to go back inside.
Jia Zhangshi continued her wailing with various variations.
After another half an hour, she finally got tired.
She put away the chopping board and cleaver and turned to go back inside.
Everyone in the Courtyard finally breathed a sigh of relief; the old hag was finally tired of singing.
The next day.
After Chen Jianye finished breakfast, he carried his bowls and chopsticks to the front Courtyard, placed them by the well, and then turned to go back inside.
According to his agreement with the Yan Family, the Yan Family should be working now.
He had to admit, not having to wash dishes himself was truly comfortable.
Chen Jianye returned home, tidied up, slung his cloth bag over his shoulder, and left for work.
When he returned at noon, Third Aunt called out to Chen Jianye and handed him an enamel basin.
Inside the basin were the freshly washed bowls and chopsticks.