New Year's Joy, Two Worlds in the Courtyard

Lin Zhen explained his understanding of vinegar and lees fish in detail to Silly Zhu and Ma Hua.

One of them respectfully bowed to ask for guidance, while the other genuinely wanted to take him as a disciple in culinary arts.

Therefore, he taught them everything he knew about making the dish without holding back.

Lin Zhen's explanation was incisive and had the effect of adding the finishing touch.

Silly Zhu's mind was opened after listening, and he was filled with admiration.

Ma Hua, who was new to cooking, felt like he was listening to gibberish. Although he didn't understand some parts, he memorized them all to understand later.

At noon, Lin Zhen prepared to have Ma Hua stay for lunch. Ma Hua insisted on leaving because he had to rush back home due to family matters.

Lin Zhen had no choice but to give him some vinegar and lees fish and a red envelope.

Ma Hua was as happy as a child. After he left, Lou Xiao'e smiled and said, "Your disciple really respects us. He calls us Master and Mistress quite often."

Lin Zhen chuckled, "He's just a successor in culinary arts. I plan to take in more in the future."

In the evening, the three elders of the courtyard organized a New Year's gathering, and everyone in the courtyard happily celebrated the passing of the old year and the welcoming of the new.

The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year in 1962.

People all over the city were joyfully visiting each other to exchange New Year greetings.

In the Siheyuan, regardless of whether there were any conflicts in the past, doors were opened wide to welcome neighbors' visits.

Even those who were unwilling to visit had to go through the motions that morning.

Lin Zhen's family went to the backyard first to pay their respects to the Deaf Old Lady, presenting her with a box of pastries.

The Deaf Old Lady was so delighted that she couldn't stop smiling. "Lin Zhen, Lin Zhen, that's good. You still remember there's an old lady in the backyard."

Lin Zhen smiled and said, "When would I ever forget? I wouldn't forget on New Year's Day either."

"Good, good, good. Come, I'll give my four little grandsons their lucky money!"

Lin Guo, Lin Jia, Lin Dong, and Lin Liang quickly kowtowed. "Thank you, Grandma. We wish you a long life!"

The Deaf Old Lady laughed heartily, thinking to herself, how wonderful it would be if Lin Zhen treated her like his own grandmother like Silly Zhu did, or if Silly Zhu had four sons!

Afterward, Lin Zhen, along with Silly Zhu and Xu Damao, went to wish the three elders and Jia Zhangshi a Happy New Year one by one.

As soon as they returned home, Bang Geng and Xiao Dang came to kowtow and offer New Year greetings.

Lou Xiao'e exclaimed, "There are so many elders in the courtyard, how can it be their turn to kowtow to us? Hurry and get up. Husband, quickly get the lucky money!"

Lin Zhen laughed, "No need to ask, it must be Silly Zhu's idea. Give each of them two yuan. I guess it won't be less in the future!"

Lou Xiao'e was surprised, "Isn't that a bit too much? Won't Dongxu be upset if he finds out?"

"No, why would he be upset? Hahahaha..."

Bang Geng took the money and said happily, "Uncle Lin is right, it was Uncle Silly's arrangement. We have a few more houses to visit, goodbye!"

Saying that, he got up and ran towards the Yan family's house.

A moment later, Yan Bugui came out complaining, "This Silly Zhu is too unreasonable. In previous years, adults just came to say hello, but he insisted on bringing the children to kowtow!"

Yan Bugui hadn't expected children to come kowtow so early in the morning. After all, with the Deaf Old Lady presiding in the courtyard, kowtowing was done in the backyard. Visiting his house for New Year's greetings only required saying hello and bowing.

Therefore, he hadn't prepared any lucky money for the children and only had a few large bills in his pocket for his own use.

After Bang Geng and Xiao Dang kowtowed a few times, he felt his pocket and found only large bills of one yuan.

He had no choice but to give out two yuan as lucky money.

After Bang Geng and Xiao Dang left, Yan Bugui became more and more angry.

He had put a few large bills in his pocket on New Year's Eve for good luck, to avoid appearing poor for the year.

So, he hadn't put in any small bills, only a few one-yuan notes.

He didn't expect to have two yuan taken by Bang Geng and Xiao Dang after getting up that morning.

When he found out it was Silly Zhu's idea, Yan Bugui became even more furious. He came out and complained.

Lin Zhen smiled and said, "Third Master, there will be more next year, do you believe me? I guarantee there will be one more than this year."

Yan Bugui thought, that's right. Next year, Jia's family's little Huai Hua will be one year old, and she might be able to walk or be carried by Bang Geng, so that would be another gift!

"This, this, this Silly Zhu is too much!"

Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li also came out of the house, complaining, "This Silly Zhu is really something. With elders in the courtyard, how can they kowtow to us?"

It was clear that they had also given out lucky money, but they didn't have children yet, so they wouldn't get the lucky money back.

Silly Zhu, eavesdropping in the middle courtyard, heard the Yan family's complaints and chuckled with delight.

Bang Geng and Xiao Dang had already left the First Elder Yi Zhonghai's house and went to the backyard to find Xu Damao and the Second Elder Liu Haizhong.

This way, all the married couples in the courtyard were swept clean by Bang Geng and Xiao Dang, and they received at least two yuan.

In the end, if Qin Huairu hadn't heard Third Master's complaint and come out to stop them in time, Silly Zhu would have continued to take Bang Geng and Xiao Dang around the alley to kowtow.

"Silly Zhu! What are you causing trouble for on New Year's Day?"

Silly Zhu laughed, "Just playing with the kids, it's fun!"

Bang Geng ran over, laughing, "Mom, look how much lucky money my sister and I got!"

Qin Huairu's face was grim. "Give it back! It's the New Year, don't make people complain."

Bang Geng and Xiao Dang lowered their heads and said nothing. Silly Zhu was unhappy. "Why should we? The kids got it by kowtowing. Sister Qin, don't be so serious. Whoever complains can come find me. Isn't it just Xu Damao and Yan Laoxi?"

Jia Zhangshi grumbled from inside the house, "Exactly! Whoever complains, tell the kids to kowtow to them too, then we'll give it back. Bang Geng, Xiao Dang, come back quickly."

Qin Huairu sighed and said no more, leading Bang Geng and Xiao Dang back inside.

Third Master Yan Bugui learned that everyone in the courtyard had been incited by Silly Zhu to give out lucky money.

He proposed calling a full courtyard meeting to criticize Silly Zhu for being disrespectful and ignorant of the rules.

However, Yi Zhonghai waved his hand. "There's no need. Isn't the New Year about joy and celebration? Bang Geng and Xiao Dang kowtowed and said auspicious words to you. Whether you give a lot or a little is your own generosity."

Liu Haizhong also shook his head. "Don't cause unpleasantness on New Year's Day. Let's have the meeting in a couple of days."

Silly Zhu laughed. "Third Master, are you regretting giving out too much? Heh heh, that'll drive you mad!"

"Hey, Silly Zhu, you!"

"What about me? You don't like it? Bite me!"

"I... I... I won't stoop to your level!"

"Hey! That's right. Look how generous Lin Zhen is, giving two yuan to each person directly. Even his own son wouldn't get that much!"

Lin Zhen laughed. "Shut up, Silly Zhu. Keep your voice down. If they hear you in the inner room, you'll get worked up and mad again."

Silly Zhu quickly covered his mouth and chuckled. "From now on, let's chat in the front or back courtyards, not the middle one. We have to be so careful about what we say, it's too stifling."

Yi Zhonghai shot him a glare. "Knowing that some people tend to overthink things, you should say less!"

The atmosphere in the Jia family's home was a world away from the festive New Year celebrations in the courtyard.

The laughter and chatter from the courtyard were clearly heard by Jia Dongxu in the west room.

He was filled with extreme anger, feeling that everyone in the courtyard was ganging up on him.

Especially his master, Yi Zhonghai, who had indirectly implied he was being too sensitive. And Silly Zhu deliberately mentioning how much Lin Zhen gave the children – wasn't that meant to drive him to his death?

Lin Zhen had always been indifferent to their family, never giving lucky money in previous years. This time, he gave the children four yuan? What a joke! It was definitely intentional!

He was stuck in a mental rut, but he no longer had the energy to curse.

For two days, since the morning of the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, he had only managed to drink two mouthfuls of clear soup. He had no appetite, his heart was filled with anger, and his body was weak.

Qin Huairu had also suddenly become numb. No matter how much Jia Dongxu cursed, she just lowered her head and cried, not offering a single word of rebuttal.

Jia Dongxu stared at the ceiling, suppressing his rage, and once again drifted off to sleep.