Chapter 56 Yi Zhonghai's Plan
"Dear neighbors, today is January 24, 1963. Tomorrow is the Spring Festival. We are becoming more and more hopeful about these days." Yi Zhonghai spoke while holding a teacup, looking like a leader.

"The subdistrict office didn't give any instructions, just emphasized the word 'safety'. First of all, we should pay attention to the stove at home. There are cases of gas poisoning every year. The subdistrict office means that we should be careful when burning coal at home."

After hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, there was some discussion among the audience, saying that someone near someone's house had been poisoned by gas and who had been rescued. This kind of news always spreads quickly.

"The second thing is to pay attention to strangers. The New Year is coming soon and the flow of people will increase. Everyone should be careful of strangers, especially children. I would like to especially remind families with children at home." Yi Zhonghai looked at several families with children.

Several families with children also nodded to indicate that they understood.

"Third, try not to cause trouble. Any conflicts that arise during the New Year should be resolved properly," Yi Zhonghai said meaningfully.

"Haha, you're right, right, Sha Zhu Xu Damao." Upon hearing this, someone in the yard couldn't help laughing. Usually, there was nothing going on in this yard. The most common thing was the conflict between Xu Damao and Sha Zhu. Xu Damao was always bullied by Sha Zhu, and every time he was bullied, he would use dirty tricks to retaliate against him.

"What are you talking about? Is there a conflict between Xu Damao and me?" Sha Zhu stood up and defended himself. Sha Zhu also did not admit that there was a conflict. Xu Damao could neither beat him nor win the argument with him.

"Hey, Shazhu, just wait. I'll give birth to a big fat boy next year and I'll envy you to death." Xu Damao was a little exasperated. He had suffered so much in the past.

"What are you talking about?" After hearing what Xu Damao said, Lou Xiao'e couldn't help but shyly twisted Xu Damao.

"Hahaha, Shazhu, when are you going to get married? Don't let Xu Damao outdo you then." Someone in the audience started to make a fuss.

"Hahaha." Li Shengli couldn't help laughing. Just wait, this idiot Zhu is not destined to get married.

"Hey, just wait and see, maybe I will have a child before Xu Damao." Sha Zhu didn't care. This was not a malicious ridicule, but just a subconscious joke in the yard.

Now both the three uncles and the people sitting in the meeting laughed. Xu Damao cursed angrily. Qin Huairu didn't laugh either. What would her family do if this silly Zhu got married?

"Okay, that's all for this meeting. Second Uncle and Third Uncle, do you have anything else to say?" After the people in the audience finished laughing, Yi Zhonghai was ready to adjourn the meeting.

The second uncle shook his head, saying that he had said all that needed to be said.

"Yes, wait a moment." The third uncle stood up. "This year is the same as usual. If you want to write couplets, you can come to me with paper. Just give me some money when the time comes."

The people below started laughing again, and Lee Seung-ri was also laughing happily beside him. This is truly a famous scene, and it is almost a regular feature of every year.

"Okay, let's adjourn the meeting." When Yi Zhonghai saw Yan Bugui finished speaking, he waved his hand, picked up his teacup and announced the end of the meeting.

Li Shengli returned home with a smile on his face. It was late that day, so he prepared to wash up and go to bed.

The next day, New Year's Eve, everyone took some melon seeds and peanuts to ask Uncle San to write a couplet for them. This was pretty good, as it would cost a lot of money to buy couplets outside.

Li Shengli did not go. He had to observe mourning for three years, and although it was not that strict, Li Shengli was too lazy to walk around in the yard.

After getting up in the morning, Lee Seung-ri habitually exercised early. After exercising, he went home to wash up and have breakfast. Today, Lee Seung-ri plans to go out to wish others a happy new year, including his master, the director of the cafeteria, and several of his friends.

After paying New Year's greetings by bike, Lee Seung-ri was going to have his lunch outside, but when he got to the restaurant, he found that there were no vacancies. Seeing this, Lee Seung-ri rode away decisively, thinking that it would be better to go home for dinner. When he got home, Lee Seung-ri put the rabbit meat and steamed buns left over from last night in the pot to heat them up. He would just eat something for lunch, and then go out to the temple fair after dinner, since he was alone at home anyway.

Zhongyuan, Yi Zhonghai's house.

"Old Yi, how are we going to celebrate the New Year this year?" An old lady asked Yi Zhonghai while cooking.

"Let's call the old lady over with Zhuzi, and have a good New Year's Eve dinner together as a family." Usually, Yi Zhonghai would invite the deaf old lady over, and then ask Sha Zhu to bring He Yushui and some dishes to cook a New Year's Eve dinner at Yi Zhonghai's house.

Yi Zhonghai thought about it and remembered that there were not many people in the Jia family now.

"Let's put it this way. Dongxu is gone, and it's not easy for them to be an orphan and a widow. If we can't make it, let's take some food to the Jia family and cook a meal. The leftovers can also help them have a good New Year." Yi Zhonghai turned around and told the aunt about his plan. If we talk about the servants in this courtyard, Qin Huairu has to be the one, just look at Jia Zhangshi.

The aunt thought about it and realized that she didn't have any children in her family, and the three children in the Jia family didn't have a husband either, so she nodded and agreed.

"Okay then. I'll go discuss it with Qin Huairu and Sha Zhu." As he said that, uncle Yi Zhonghai stood up.

"By the way, Li Shengli in the front yard is also alone. Should we ask him to come over as well?" The aunt suddenly remembered Li Shengli in the front yard. Li Shengli is also alone at home now. The aunt has not thought about asking Li Shengli to take care of her in her old age for the time being. She just feels a little sorry for him seeing Li Shengli being alone at home during the New Year.

"I'll go ask later." Yi Zhonghai paused, and many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Yi Zhonghai was the first to arrive at Sha Zhu's house, pushed the door open and told Sha Zhu about celebrating the New Year at the Jia family.

"Zhu Zi, Qin Huairu and her family are in a difficult situation this year, and I haven't seen them buy meat. I was thinking that we should have the New Year's Eve dinner at Jia's house, so that the children can have some meat."

"I have no problem. It doesn't matter where I do it." Sha Zhu nodded indifferently, but there was a gleam of light in his eyes that others could not notice.

Yi Zhonghai went to the old lady's house in the backyard again. The old lady had no objection. At her age, it didn't matter where she ate.

Finally, Yi Zhonghai came to the Jia family. Qin Huairu was very happy to hear that. She was worried because there was only so much meat and flour at home, and she couldn't even make dumplings for the children.

After Yi Zhonghai left, Jia Zhang thought clearly in her mind that she would have to rely on the old man in this courtyard.

"Mom, what does the uncle mean by this?" Qin Huairu asked Jia Zhang with a smile on her face, as if she had let go of a heavy burden.

"What else could it mean? He probably wants you to take care of him in his old age." Jia Zhang said in a calm voice.

There were some signs when Jia Dongxu was still there, but Jia Zhangshi didn't take it seriously at that time. After all, Jia Dongxu was Yi Zhonghai's apprentice.

Qin Huairu didn't say anything. Perhaps she guessed what Yi Zhonghai was thinking and pretended not to know. After all, Yi Zhonghai had indeed helped her a lot. There was already an old lady named Jia Zhang in the family, so it would be the same if there was one more. They would all do the same job anyway.

Yi Zhonghai left the Jia family and thought for a while before walking towards Li Shengli's house in the front yard. No matter what, he was the eldest master in this yard, and Li Shengli was alone at home without a family, so he had to call out to him.

(End of this chapter)