Scholars in the courtyard

"Dad, I've been feeling weak in my legs for the past two days."

"The tomatoes smell delicious."

The third aunt was drinking porridge, her face was sallow.

Yan Fugui was holding a steamed bun on the side. The two sons next to him lowered their heads and said nothing. Xiao Yan Jiekuang on the other side was still lying on the bed. He had just eaten and was sleeping.

There was silence in the room.

"I'm going out."

Yan Fugui finally made up his mind, stood up, found half a bottle of wine, and then pushed the door open and walked out.

"Brother, that bottle of wine was not watered down. Didn't dad say to keep it until the Chinese New Year?"

Yan Jiefang asked puzzledly.

Yan Jiecheng shook his head, "Don't think blindly, dad is planning something for our family."

"Did you say that about your dad? Hurry up and go back after eating. You are an eyesore here."

At Yang Xiaotao's house, a plate of charred braised fish was served, along with a bowl of leek and egg soup, three boxes of steamed buns, and a plate of chopped tomatoes topped with brown sugar.

It's a pity that I didn't buy any sugar.

If anyone in the courtyard saw the food on this table, they would definitely go crazy with jealousy.

How can ordinary people spend so much money?

Little did he know that except for the two boxes of noodles and steamed buns on the table, which were bought with food stamps, the rest were either from fishing or redeemed for credits, without spending a penny at all.

bang bang bang

Just when Yang Xiaotao was halfway through eating, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"who?"

"Xiao Tao, I, Yan Fugui!"

The voice sounded, and Yang Xiaotao was a little stunned.

Usually Yan Fugui is very concerned about the title of the third uncle.

It's a bit surprising to say the name directly now.

No matter what, he came to the door and he couldn't help but see her.

Standing up and opening the door, Yan Fugui was carrying half a bottle of wine, but he was not as shrewd as before. His face was half-pleasant and half-smiling, "Xiao Tao! He's eating!"

Yan Fugui was a little uneasy. He had already lowered his dignity because he was afraid that Yang Xiaotao wouldn't even let him in. That would be really embarrassing.

Needless to say, many people in the middle courtyard and even the entire quadrangle were watching, or in other words, waiting for this one to stand out.

And he, Yan Fugui, is this bird.

If it weren't for his wife at home, he wouldn't want to do this, and he would also want to follow the others and make some calculations.

But now, facing Yang Xiaotao, he, a young bird, didn't even have the capital to make calculations, and all the initiative was in Yang Xiaotao's hands.

Yang Xiaotao suddenly understood Yan Fugui's plan. Thinking of what Uncle Chen and his aunt said, he also considered this. There are some people in this compound who can interact with each other, just like Uncle Chen's family and the Wang family. There is no benefit. Entanglement, the kind where they can move around each other.

Some of them can only be regarded as acquaintances. If such people get too close to them, they will be plotted. Just like the third uncle, you need to be careful.

It's better to live without contact, just like the Jia family, the first uncle's family, Xu Damao's family...

"It's not easy for Third Uncle to come and sit down when you have time."

Yang Xiaotao thought for a while, then stepped aside and invited Yan Fugui into the room.

At this moment, Yan Fugui breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the title of Third Master.

At least you don’t have to worry about being turned away.

Suddenly, I felt grateful to Yang Xiaotao for not letting him make a fool of himself in public.

The door closed again, blocking prying eyes.

But it made everyone's hearts arouse, and they all wanted to see what the final outcome would be.

Yan Fugui entered the room and looked at the table full of food, his eyes glowing green and he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

If it had been before, he would have sat down unceremoniously and picked up the chopsticks to taste it first.

But now, he knows that he cannot offend Yang Xiaotao, and he must abide by the rules when asking for help.

Yang Xiaotao looked at Yan Fugui from the side. Yan Fugui was not anxious today, or in other words, he was not calculating, but rather abiding by the rules.

But he could still see the greed in his eyes. Once such a person tastes the sweetness, he will keep causing trouble, which is no worse than Qin Huairu.

I smiled in my heart, did I really think I couldn't see anything?

His third uncle is here to test.

Once you open your mouth, you don't have to think about how long it will take before the old woman and daughter-in-law in the yard and the neighbors will come to your door.

It's hard to say that when I'm not at home, the things in the yard will be patronized.

"Third uncle, is there something wrong?"

Yan Fugui resisted his inner desire and did not sit down, but looked elsewhere.

He had been to Yang Xiaotao's house before, but since Lao Yang's accident, he rarely moved around.

Just by looking at it, he found that the room was neat and clean, especially the books arranged on the side, which made him, a self-proclaimed scholar, feel close to him.

"There are so many books. Xiaotao is really eager to learn."

Yan Fugui changed the subject and wanted to get closer.

He also has a lot of books at home, but they are all school textbooks and miscellaneous books that he bought himself.

"I have nothing to do on weekdays, so I just do some reading if I like it."

"That's not easy. There are so many people in our courtyard, and we are the only ones reading!"

Yang Xiaotao didn't care after hearing it, and his voice remained calm.

"Studying is good. It opens your horizons, makes you understand things, and makes you literate. It will lead to a brighter future."

"The younger ones in my family are not good enough. They all just want to make money. Making them study is like being punished. They are scared to death."

Yan Fugui said mockingly, and Yang Xiaotao sneered in his heart, "Brother Yan Jiecheng wants to make money, aren't you plotting it?"

But this was a family matter, so he couldn't say more.

Yan Fugui talked for a while. Seeing that Yang Xiaotao didn't want to say more, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind to put the wine on the table.

"Xiao Tao, this time the third uncle will go to the Three Treasures Hall for no reason."

Thinking that he had a relationship as a scholar, Yan Fugui stopped being polite and directly stated his purpose.

"Third uncle, if you have anything to say, please tell me directly. I am only a second-level fitter, and there is not much I can do."

Yan Fugui smiled and said, "It's not difficult. It has nothing to do with work."

"Well, you also know that your third aunt is getting heavier and heavier, and her nutrition can't keep up."

"The third uncle and his family are in a bit of a difficult situation."

"I came here this time just to get you some fish, meat, vegetables and so on. See if you can help the third uncle."

After saying that, Yan Fugui looked at Yang Xiaotao longingly.

Yang Xiaotao picked up the wine bottle and looked at it, but it looked like a good wine. It should be home-brewed, or it might be a masterpiece mixed with water.

But being able to get benefits from Yan Fugui is a rare thing in itself.

Yang Xiaotao remained calm and had already made a calculation in his heart.

"Third uncle, you have been in this courtyard for so many years, and you understand things in the courtyard more clearly than I do."

"Today, when you come to my place, you can tell how many eyes are watching outside without looking."

"If I give this to you, what do you think will happen next?"

Yang Xiaotao said softly, and Yan Fugui lowered his head. Of course he knew that he had gained benefits here, and there would definitely be people coming later. He knew best the virtues of this group of people.

Sighing deeply, Yan Fugui knew what Yang Xiaotao's temper was, and he also understood that he did not have the capital to order Yang Xiaotao.

All he could do was hope that Yang Xiaotao would give him face.

"Xiao Tao. Again, there is nothing we can do about it. I have been fishing these past few days and haven't caught anything as big as a palm. There are so many mouths at home, and your third aunt wants to eat fish again. I..."

Yan Fugui opened his mouth and wanted to say something to request, but he couldn't keep his face down.

Literary backbone, it comes out again.

"Third uncle, if you say that, then there's really nothing I can do about it."

"In our compound, each family takes care of their own, and they all rely on their ability to make a living. No one has to help anyone."

"Even if there is, it won't be me. I'm not so kind as to help someone who plots against me, right?"

"Besides, there aren't many things in my yard."

Yan Fugui was blushing. He had often plotted against the Yang family in the past. Even after the Yang family's incident, in order to cater to the people in the courtyard, he followed Yi Zhonghai and the others and stood against Yang Xiaotao many times.

Under such circumstances, if you still think that others can repay evil with kindness, you are really a fool.

If you think about it, he wouldn't have such good intentions.

"Xiao Tao!"

Even so, he still didn't give up.

If the soft one doesn't work, try something hard.

Of course, he wouldn't know how to do it, but with the help of the "moral high ground", he was no stranger to Yi Zhonghai.

The voice suddenly became louder, and Yang Xiaotao no longer dodge when he looked at him.

Yang Xiaotao heard the coldness in the words, but still sat there and didn't take it to heart.

What does he have to fear from these people?

"Xiao Tao, you are planting vegetables in the yard, and the neighbors around you are gossiping a lot."

"Third uncle, I don't have any other abilities, but I can still say something for you."

Yan Fugui said confidently, what he meant was that I can speak for you and also cause you trouble.

Yang Xiaotao remained motionless, as if he hadn't heard anything.

When Yan Fugui saw this, his heart skipped a beat, this Yang Xiaotao was too tough to take.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and said.

"In this way, Xiaotao, the third uncle doesn't want your things in vain."

Yan Fugui thought about it in his mind and quickly made a decision.

"Third uncle, I think you are a person who likes to read. I have some books left at home from my early years. If you like them, how about I trade them with you?"

Yang Xiaotao then raised his head with a smile, "Wouldn't it be over if you had said this earlier?"

"What are you doing, whether you're being soft or hard, or threatening people with misfortune? We, plain people, don't tell secret stories."

"These things of mine didn't come from the strong wind. The seed money, care fees, and countless efforts were spent."

"You've been talking so much that you want to have sex for nothing? Do you think it's appropriate?"

Yan Fugui was a bit embarrassed, but since Yang Xiaotao relented, it meant that the deal could be done.

"Okay, you wait here, I'll go back and look for you!"

After getting Yang Xiaotao's consent, Yan Fugui didn't want to stay any longer, so he walked out carrying the beer bottle.

Looking at Yan Fugui who didn't forget to bring a bottle of wine when he went out, Yang Xiaotao felt a little regretful whether he should make a deal with Yan Laoxi.

However, this kind of exchange can also make the people in the compound understand that if they want something, they can exchange it for that thing. He does not accept free prostitution here.

On the other side, Yan Fugui came out of Yang Xiaotao's house and was immediately seen by interested people, who all wanted to find out something from Yan Fugui.

But Yan Fugui, as an old man, kept everything in mind, kept his face calm, and walked home as soon as he left the house.

Silly Zhu turned around from the crack in the door, saw He Yuyu also climbing through the window, and said angrily.

"stop looking!"

He Yuyu returned to the side, "Brother, the third uncle didn't get it."

Silly Zhu chuckled, "It goes without saying that I didn't even see the wine left. When have you ever seen the third uncle suffer a loss?"

"This Yang Xiaotao belongs to Pixiu and doesn't spit anything out."

"snort."

"No conscience, no man."

Silly Zhu said, and was about to go out. He promised his sister to eat fish tonight.

The first man's house saw the third man leaving empty-handed, his face sinking.

The eldest mother and Mrs. Jia Zhang in the room both had gloomy faces.

"This little beast is so useless. Lao Yan even came to the door in person without giving him any face. He is trying to make things difficult for us in the compound."

Jia Zhang pointed at Yang Xiaotao's house, her triangular eyes flashing.

The aunt didn't understand what Yang Xiaotao was doing. Shouldn't neighbors help each other?

If you grow old and old, and you don’t even have anyone to help you in the future, what’s the point of life?

Yi Zhonghai understood Yang Xiaotao's plan, but he couldn't tell it. Otherwise, everyone in the compound would follow the same example and sweep away the snow in front of their door. How could he realize his long-proclaimed goal of helping neighbors, respecting the elderly and caring for the young?

Who will provide for him when he gets old in the future?

At this time, Yi Zhonghai only hoped that Yang Xiaotao would go a little further and be stingier, preferably by offending everyone in the compound.

In this way, he could expel the unstable 'factor' from this compound.

However, he still needs to wait and watch how Yang Xiaotao commits suicide.

It has been a month since I published the book, and I have published 200,000 words.

I asked the editor. It was originally supposed to be on the shelves on the 1st, but he said that this book was almost ready to be read. Atao also blushed a little when he looked at the data.

So just keep making love.

I hope the big guys can support me a lot, thank you A Tao.