The twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, sugar candy sticks. The atmosphere of Minor New Year finally brought a trace of festive warmth to the Siheyuan. With the factory on holiday, the courtyard was livelier than usual. The children's laughter as they chased each other, the busy figures of households preparing New Year goods, temporarily dispelled the usual calculations and gloom.
However, beneath this seemingly peaceful facade, the undercurrents surged more intensely.
He Yuzhu woke up early. He took a small bag of Fuqiang Flour from the System Space and a small strip of system-rewarded, well-marbled Pork Belly, intending to chop it up to make filling for dumplings. He deliberately chopped the meat filling with a loud thudding sound. The rich aroma of meat, mixed with the scent of scallions and ginger, unceremoniously wafted out, arrogantly proclaiming the "wealth" of the west unit in the central courtyard.
For the neighbors who rarely got to taste meat, this aroma was simply a fatal temptation.
Inside the Jia family's room, Bang Geng pressed his face against the door crack, sniffing with all his might. His saliva was about to drip onto the ground. He turned back and shouted at Qin Huairu, "Mom! Silly Pillar's family is eating meat again! I want meat filling dumplings!"
Jia Zhangshi's triangular eyes widened. She forcefully slapped the edge of the kang, cursing, "Eat, eat, eat! All you know is to eat! That damned orphan! Flaunting good things! Trying to make us jealous! May he die a horrible death!" After cursing, she fiercely glared at Qin Huairu, "Useless thing! You can't even get a bite of food back!"
Qin Huairu felt like her heart was being pricked by needles. She quietly kneaded the coarse corn flour in her hands and said in a low voice, "Mom, please keep your voice down... I... I'll try again."
She put down her work, tidied her clothes, forced a natural smile onto her face, and came out with an empty bowl. This time, she didn't go directly to knock on He Yuzhu's door. Instead, she walked to the public water tap, pretending to wash her hands, while her gaze frequently flickered towards He Yuzhu's house.
He Yuzhu heard everything clearly from inside, and his heart gave a cold laugh. He slowly wrapped dumplings, arranging the yuanbao-shaped dumplings neatly on the mat.
In the front courtyard, Third Uncle Yan Bugui also smelled the meat. He pushed up his glasses, and a shrewd glint flashed in his small eyes. Carrying an empty Soy Sauce Bottle, he strolled to the central courtyard. Seeing Qin Huairu by the water tap, he sidled over and lowered his voice:
"Huairu, you smell the aroma too?" He smacked his lips. "Zhuzi's life is getting more and more prosperous. This meat filling smells so good!"
Qin Huairu forced a smile, "Third Uncle, you jest."
Yan Bugui changed the subject, with his characteristic calculation, "You know, Zhuzi lives alone, he can't eat so many dumplings, right? We are old neighbors, and it's New Year's, so sharing is important... Later, shall we go together to pay him an early New Year's visit? By the way... hehe."
He had a clever plan: to drag Qin Huairu along to "beg for alms." With more people, there would be more influence, and Silly Pillar wouldn't be able to refuse in front of so many people.
Just then, the door of He Yuzhu's room creaked open. He came out carrying a mat of wrapped white flour dumplings, preparing to put them outside to freeze.
In an instant, several gazes in the courtyard focused on the plump white dumplings in his hands.
Yan Bugui immediately put on an enthusiastic smile, "Zhuzi! Making dumplings! Wow, these dumplings are so beautifully made! They look delicious at first glance!"
Qin Huairu also seized the opportunity to step forward, her voice soft, "Zhuzi, busy?"
He Yuzhu looked at the two of them, his mind clear. He placed the mat on the windowsill, patted the flour off his hands, and smiled, "Third Uncle, Sister Qin, it's Minor New Year, just getting into the festive spirit."
Yan Bugui rubbed his hands and chuckled, "That's right, that's right, getting into the spirit... Zhuzi, look how many dumplings you've made, you can't possibly eat them all yourself, and they won't be fresh if they sit for too long... How about..."
Before he could finish, He Yuzhu interrupted him.
"Third Uncle, you've reminded me!" He Yuzhu slapped his head, pretending to have a sudden realization. "These dumplings really can't be kept for long! I was just worrying about it!"
His tone shifted, and his gaze swept over Yan Bugui and Qin Huairu, with an expression of "it's exactly what I wanted." "I planned to take these dumplings to my sister, Yushui! She lives in the dormitory at school and only eats from the communal kitchen; she rarely gets any oily food. As her brother, I was foolish before and didn't take good care of her. Now I have to compensate! Let her have a decent Minor New Year!"
What he said was reasonable and natural, filled with brotherly affection, directly stifling Yan Bugui's intended words of "sharing."
Yan Bugui's smile froze instantly. It was as if he had swallowed a fly, choking so much he couldn't speak.
Qin Huairu's eyes also dimmed. The knuckles of the hand holding the empty bowl turned slightly white.
He Yuzhu was overjoyed inwardly, but his face remained solemn. "Third Uncle, Sister Qin, if you have nothing else, I'll go deliver the dumplings to Yushui first? It's cold, and the dumplings won't taste good once they're frozen hard."
After speaking, he ignored their displeased expressions, picked up the mat, hummed a song, and walked straight out of the courtyard. He didn't care whether He Yushui would actually receive them at school; she would be the perfect shield for now.
[Ding! Host skillfully used "brotherly affection" to resolve moral coercion and verbally attack without a trace. Evaluation: Grade A. Reward: Cash 5 yuan, Fuqiang Flour 2 jin, Skill points x1.]
Listening to the system rewards, He Yuzhu's steps became lighter.
After he left, Yan Bugui and Qin Huairu were left in the courtyard, looking at each other awkwardly.
"Hmph! Ungrateful!" Yan Bugui spat indignantly, picked up his empty Soy Sauce Bottle, and slunk back to the front courtyard.
Qin Huairu watched in the direction He Yuzhu had disappeared, feeling empty inside. Even Yushui was so cared for by him... In his heart, her three children probably held no place at all. A deep sense of despair almost drowned her.
However, the "trials" of the New Year period were not over.
In the afternoon, He Yuzhu returned from "delivering dumplings." As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was blocked by Second Uncle Liu Haizhong.
Liu Haizhong, with his belly sticking out and hands behind his back, spoke in a full official tone, "Comrade He Yuzhu, you're back just in time. New Year is approaching, and our courtyard, as an advanced model courtyard for the neighborhood committee, should embody the spirit of unity and friendship. After discussions among the three masters, we plan to organize an event: 'Neighborly Mutual Aid, Celebrate Festival Together'!"
He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm, "Second Uncle, please tell me, how will this mutual aid work?"
"It's very simple!" Liu Haizhong cleared his throat. "Each household, according to their own circumstances, will contribute some surplus New Year goods or help neighbors in need with some chores. For example, it's just you alone in your household, and your salary is high, so you must have prepared plenty of New Year goods. Shouldn't you... carry forward the style and help neighbors like the Jia family who are genuinely in difficulty?"
It was coming! The three masters had ganged up to use "collective" and "style" to pressure him into compliance!
If it were the original host, being branded with "carrying forward the style" and coupled with the "collective decision" of the three masters, he would have most likely agreed in a daze.
But He Yuzhu just smiled and asked back, "Second Uncle, your proposal is excellent! It reflects the leadership's level and awareness! However, I have a question I'd like to ask."
"Go ahead," Liu Haizhong put on airs.
"This 'mutual aid,' is it voluntary? It can't be forced, right?" He Yuzhu asked.
"Of course! We are advocating for it, advocating!" Liu Haizhong emphasized.
"That's good then." He Yuzhu nodded, and his tone suddenly sharpened. "Then may I ask Second Uncle, what will your family contribute to this 'mutual aid'? Will it be half a jin of meat coupons, or will you help the Jia family clean for a day? And what about First Master and Third Uncle's families? How do they plan to 'carry forward the style'? As leaders of the courtyard, you should take the lead, right? You set an example first, and we, the masses, will follow!"
His series of rhetorical questions, like a barrage of firecrackers, completely stunned Liu Haizhong.
Liu Haizhong's face turned red. He had intended to morally coerce He Yuzhu, but unexpectedly, He Yuzhu turned the tables and pointed the spearhead at the three masters! The New Year goods in his own home were purchased with careful planning; how could he easily give them up for "mutual aid"?
"I... we... we will naturally also according to the situation..." Liu Haizhong stammered, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time.
"Oh—" He Yuzhu drew out his tone, and his face showed an expression of "I understand." "So, Second Uncle, you mean the masses should 'help each other,' and the leaders should 'research'? This might not quite align with the spirit of 'cadres taking the lead' that the higher-ups advocate, right?"
This statement was quite heavy, directly questioning Liu Haizhong's leadership style.
Liu Haizhong trembled with anger, his fat shaking. He pointed at He Yuzhu, "You... you're talking nonsense! I... I didn't mean that!"
"Then what did you mean?" He Yuzhu pressed, his eyes sharp.
Liu Haizhong felt unnerved by his gaze, afraid that he would say something even more astonishing and damage his image as a "leader." He could only wave his hand in embarrassment, "Forget it, forget it! This matter... this matter is to be discussed further! Discussed further!" After speaking, he no longer cared about his official demeanor and fled back to the back courtyard as if escaping.
[Ding! Host successfully counterattacked moral coercion, exposed its hypocritical nature, and made them lose face completely. Evaluation: Grade S! Reward: Cash 15 yuan, Canned Pork x2, Unlucky Sticker (Mild) x1.]
He Yuzhu looked at Liu Haizhong's hurried retreating back and sneered. Trying to play these games with me? You're still too green!
Having repelled two waves of "attacks" consecutively, He Yuzhu was in high spirits. He knew this was just the beginning; there would be many more similar scenarios in the days leading up to New Year. But he was fearless and even a little expectant.
Nowadays, with nothing else to do, teasing these Beasts could exercise his mind and earn him system rewards. Why not?
He patted the dust off his clothes, which wasn't there, and walked back to his room with his head held high. Next, he should ponder how to "discreetly" enjoy the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner in the System Space.
(End of Chapter Sixteen)