Chapter 20: A blessing is not a disaster, and a disaster cannot be avoided; just go and listen!
He also mentioned he was about to start working at the Police Station. Yi Zhonghai was merely the First Uncle entrusted by the Subdistrict Office; in terms of status, how could he compare to a police officer?
Huang Liying breathed a sigh of relief, saying she had truly let worry cloud her judgment and forgotten about that. As long as Huang Weiguo knew what he was doing, she would listen to him regarding all future family matters.
The children nearby asked their brother what they were having for dinner.
Huang Weiguo told his mother to prepare some spicy rabbit meat and stir-fry a chicken for the evening.
Huang Liying asked in surprise what kind of household they were to eat like this; did he not want to live a stable life anymore?
Huang Weiguo mentioned that Xu Damao said he wanted to come over for a few drinks tonight.
Upon hearing this, Huang Liying immediately said she would go and start cooking.
Hua Hua and Qing Qing cheered happily, saying it was great that they would have meat to eat tonight, and each kissed Huang Weiguo on one cheek while hugging him.
In their hearts, days when their brother wasn't sick and there was meat to eat were the best times.
While Huang Liying's home was cooking, Yi Zhonghai arrived at the Jia Family home carrying ten pounds of cornmeal. He told Dongxu and his old sister-in-law that although Dongxu had received his salary this month, money must still be tight, so he brought them some cornmeal.
Jia Zhangshi thanked him repeatedly, calling First Uncle a truly good person, unlike those heartless people in the courtyard.
Yi Zhonghai knew Jia Zhangshi was referring to Huang Weiguo but didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Qin Huairu's belly and told Dongxu that it looked like Huairu was about to give birth. He told him to speak up if he needed any help from his master and took out fifty yuan, saying it was for the childbirth expenses.
Jia Dongxu was deeply moved and thanked his master, saying that if it weren't for him, he wouldn't know what to do.
He also mentioned that Huairu's due date was around the New Year, and the courtyard was far from the hospital. He asked if his master could help borrow a bicycle to transport Huairu when the time came.
Jia Zhangshi chimed in, telling First Uncle to look at how difficult life was for their Jia Family, a house of a widow and her son.
She added that some people in the courtyard ate fish and meat every day but didn't think to help them. She urged First Uncle to help Dongxu, as Dongxu was his only apprentice and the one who would care for him in his old age and handle his funeral.
Hearing the phrase "care for him in his old age," a moved expression appeared on Yi Zhonghai's face. He told his old sister-in-law that he also wanted to help Dongxu, but his individual capacity was limited.
Qin Huairu stroked her belly and lowered her head, saying she heard Huang Weiguo had made several hundred yuan from hunting and even bought two bicycles; only the Huang Family in the courtyard had bicycles, and they had two.
She knew that charging ahead and offending people wasn't her role. What she could do was use her looks and fragility to evoke a protective instinct in others.
Sure enough, seeing Qin Huairu's slightly lowered profile, her face radiating maternal light and her fair neck extending downward,
Yi Zhonghai was moved and couldn't help but want to give her the best. He told Dongxu not to worry and that he would convene a courtyard-wide meeting after dinner.
The neighbors in the courtyard were all fellow residents. Qin Huairu giving birth was a major event, and there was no reason for the Huang Family to remain indifferent.
Jia Dongxu quickly expressed his stance: "Thank you, Master. I will definitely show you great filial piety in the future. Why don't you stay and eat something?"
Yi Zhonghai waved his hand: "No, I need to find Lao Yan and Lao Liu first to discuss holding the meeting. You guys go ahead and eat."
As Yi Zhonghai walked toward the Rear Courtyard, he happened to run into Xu Damao, who was carrying several parcels and walking toward the Huang Family's direction.
Yi Zhonghai frowned. Previously, he hadn't cared about Huang Weiguo at all.
After all, Huang Weiguo had no skills, while Yi Zhonghai, with just a word, could turn the Huang Family's stable life into a difficult one.
Back then, when Jia Dongxu took a liking to Qin Huairu and insisted on marrying her, it was Yi Zhonghai's word that made it happen.
But Huang Weiguo's various actions over the past few days gave Yi Zhonghai a sense of crisis. He felt Huang Weiguo was about to slip out of his control.
This wouldn't do. For Yi Zhonghai's retirement plan to be implemented smoothly, he had to control the entire courtyard.
Therefore, at today's courtyard-wide meeting, he had to make Huang Weiguo obediently follow his lead as First Uncle.
Xu Damao entered Huang Weiguo's Home with his items. Thinking that Huang Weiguo had been sick for years and likely had no food reserves, he brought plenty of meat, vegetables, grain, and a bottle of high-quality liquor.
This liquor was something Xu Fugui had obtained while screening movies for leaders; he had been reluctant to drink it at home, but now Xu Damao had brought it over.
But as soon as he arrived at the Huang home, he saw a large plate of chicken, spicy rabbit, and a bowl of Braised Pork on the table. With this standard of living, even a Big Leader might not dare to be so extravagant during the New Year.
Xu Damao asked, "Huang Weiguo, do you not want to live a stable life anymore?"
Huang Weiguo replied, "Da Mao, isn't it because I had good luck hunting today and caught a lot of things? I sold them to the Subdistrict Office and made a few hundred yuan. This wild chicken and rabbit were caught by me."
Xu Damao asked again, "Good heavens, then what's the deal with the bicycles?"
Huang Liying had just bought the bicycle and, fearing it would be damaged outside, had pushed it directly into the house. In any case, the Huang home was large enough to fit them.
Huang Weiguo said, "One is mine, and the other I bought for my mom!"
Xu Damao stood up to look at the bicycles, only to glimpse the Sewing Machine and Radio nearby.
He exclaimed in amazement, "Not bad, buddy, you've gathered all the Four Big Items! Come on, we must have a few extra drinks today!"
Huang Weiguo agreed, "Alright!"
Xu Damao and Huang Weiguo chatted while eating, getting along quite well. During the meal, Huang Weiguo rolled up his sleeves to serve Xu Damao some food. When Xu Damao saw the semi-steel watch on his wrist, his eyes widened.
He said, "Buddy, I, Xu Damao, have never admired anyone, but in this Siheyuan, you're the one I admire most! That Sha Zhu, a cook who won't starve in a famine year, is nothing compared to you, Huang Weiguo! And the eight major positions—my dad is a projectionist? None of them are good enough, not even worth mentioning! As for the First Uncle and the rest, they're even more of a disaster..."
Seeing Xu Damao drinking more and more until he was completely dazed and drunk, Huang Weiguo looked helpless.
He hadn't even eaten much of the food before the man got drunk! However, Hua Hua and Qing Qing were eating heartily, listening to Xu Damao's bragging with great interest.
Just as they finished eating, a knock came from the door: "Weiguo, are you home? There's going to be a courtyard-wide meeting, and the whole family is required to attend!"
Huang Liying said, "Weiguo, I'll go. I'm afraid this meeting is targeted at you."
Huang Weiguo said, "Mom, a blessing is not a disaster, and a disaster cannot be avoided; just go and listen!"
Huang Liying replied, "Alright!"
Huang Weiguo picked up Hua Hua and Qing Qing and walked out of the Rear Courtyard. Xu Damao followed unsteadily behind him.
Soon, they reached the front courtyard where the meeting was held. The Three respected elders sat around a square table. Yi Zhonghai sat in the middle, with Second Uncle Liu Haizhong on his left and Third Uncle Yan Bugui on his right.
The neighbors of the Siheyuan sat in a circle. When Huang Weiguo arrived, only the two stools in the very center remained.