stingy landlady

Chapter 68 Meeting Xu Hong

After dinner, Dazhu made an excuse to take the old man home. Once outside, the two talked in the yard, and Dazhu said to the old man:

"Dad! I have something to tell you!"

This afternoon, contractor Liu passed by our house and said he wanted to come in and familiarize himself with the place. So I brought my son in, and here he is, seeing that we have several children.

They also specially brought some food for the children and two bolts of fresh fabric that were just the right size for them to wear.

Unexpectedly, my second brother's wife saw this and started instigating my mother! She insisted that the woman was disrespectful to her elders and didn't visit my mother!

She came to my room again with her mother, insisting on opening the cabinet to see if there were any gifts for the elders!

I was inside the house at the time. If I hadn't been there, would Zhao have encouraged my mother to pick the lock?

"Dad! They're practically robbing us while I'm still home! How are we supposed to survive if I'm not home?!"

The old man was horrified:

"Is that so? Your mother's gone senile!"

That Zhao woman, she truly deserves to be called a troublemaker and a shrew by your mother!

There's never a moment of peace!

The old man comforted Dazhu again:

"Dazhu! Don't worry! Dad will give your mother a good scolding when we get back! She's probably stuck in a rut!"

The old man then turned towards the direction of Erzhu's house:

"If this happens again, you'd all be getting the hell out of Old Wang's house!"

The old man grew angrier and angrier as he spoke, and his voice grew louder and louder.

Upon hearing this, Zhao quickly and quietly closed the door, fearing that the old man's anger would extend to her.

The old man went back into the room and started yelling at the old woman!

"Are you stupid? You started jumping around as soon as the second brother's family egged you on!"

You do whatever people tell you to do! If they tell you to eat shit, would you eat it?

You know perfectly well that Zhao is not a good person, but you just love listening to her talk!

Don't Dazhu and his wife treat you well?

Then I'll buy you fabric to make clothes! I'll buy you meat, noodles, and all sorts of food! We're already eating people, why would we eat dogs?

I think you've lost your mind! You want to look at someone else's cabinet?! If you're so capable, open your cabinet and let everyone see it!

"If you're so capable, why don't you two go to Zhao's parents' house and have her open the cupboard so you can choose what you want? That would truly show your ability!"

The old lady listened silently, without saying a word!

After the old man vented his anger, he muttered:

"I was thinking that since we've split up the family, I might as well squeeze some money out of the eldest son! All those girls of his are incredibly shrewd!"

What if they rob Dazhu of all his money and possessions on the way? Then the two of them will be left alone; who will take care of them in their old age?

"So you know you've separated the family now! Now that you've separated, they can live however they want! Do they need your retirement money? You're just doing useless things!"

You wish! Trying to squeeze out every last penny! Tell me, did you even manage to squeeze anything out? You still have nothing, and you've only made a mess of things!

In the morning, Guizhi got up early and said to Dazhu:

"Dad! Let's go find Uncle Xu!"

Dazhu looked at Guizhi with a puzzled expression:

"Which Uncle Xu? Uncle Carpenter?"

Guizhi said anxiously:

"That's the eldest son of the Xu family who split up yesterday! Where did he stay last night?"

Dazhu asked:

"You don't even know him! Our family has no dealings with his family! Why would you want to see him?"

"Dad! Did Uncle Xu beat you up when you were a kid?"

"How do you know? Seeking revenge for Dad? That was so many years ago! Everyone in our family has been beaten by him!"

But that guy... he's pretty loyal!

"Dad! I knew it! Dad! Come on! Take me to him and ask him something!"

"What do you, a young girl, want to ask someone? And why are you being so secretive!"

Old Master Xu slept at Carpenter Xu's house last night.

I got up early this morning to help Xu the carpenter with his work! He held the hammer, clanging and banging without saying a word, just working hard and silently! It was as if he was venting his anger!

Dazhu and Guizhi saw this scene as soon as they entered the courtyard!

Carpenter Xu was preparing his plow; he wanted to finish planting as soon as possible so he could take on more work! He noticed that the main house at Dazhu's house had its roof beams installed and tiles laid. He heard they were building a kang (heated brick bed) now, which meant they could order doors, windows, and furniture!

If we take on more jobs, we can earn back the money for hiring oxen! How long will it take to keep digging, one pickaxe after another?

When Dazhu and Guizhi came in, Xu the carpenter's eyes lit up!

"Here comes the work!"

"Dazhu's here! Come in and sit down!"

Old Xu raised his eyelids but ignored them.

He's having doubts about himself!

"My so-called life is a complete failure! I've become infamous as soon as I got back! Before, I was known for fighting and brawling, and now I've added another one: disrespectful to my parents and unloving to my younger brother!"

Da Zhu greeted Boss Xu:

"Xu Da! You're back?"

Old Xu didn't lift his head, but kept talking with his hands in hand:

"I've changed my name to Xu Hong!"

Da Zhu was stunned for a moment, then chuckled:

"Xu Hong! That's a really nice voice!"

"It's the 'Hong' in 'good fortune'! Not the 'Hong' in 'red'!"

Xu Laoda's voice came through!

Dazhu unconsciously rubbed his buttocks with his hand and quickly said:

"Xu Hong! Good fortune is upon you! Things will only get better and better!"

"Humph!"

Xu Hong snorted coldly and remained silent, continuing with the clanging and banging!

Carpenter Xu quickly moved the large pillar towards the house.

"That's just his temper! Come on, Dazhu! Let's go inside and talk!"

"Guizhi! Come inside!"

At this moment, Guizhi, that little tail, started to chirp:

"Uncle Xu! Please come inside with my father! I'll just look around!"

Da Zhu's eyes flashed, and he said to Carpenter Xu:

"Kids are naturally curious! Let her play by herself! Don't worry about her!"

Gui Zhi circled around before slowly moving to Xu Hong's side. She squatted down and watched Xu Hong tap the wooden board.

"Uncle Xu! Do you know kung fu?"

A little girl's voice came through!

Xu Hong ignored him and continued hammering.

Guizhi, keep up the good work!

"Uncle Xu Hong! Do you know martial arts? People say that soldiers know martial arts!"

Xu Hong turned to look at the little girl who was squatting down!

She wore her hair in two buns, had bright eyes and white teeth, and was looking at me intently.

Xu Hong asked Guizhi:

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

Gui Zhi smiled at Xu Hong and said:

"Uncle Xu Hong! You don't eat people or hit people! Why should I be afraid of you?"

Xu Hong narrowed his eyes, glanced at Guizhi, and said:

Even your father is afraid of me!

"That's because you beat him up! My dad said it happened years ago! Haha!"

Guizhi laughed!

Xu Hong wasn't in the mood for jokes and picked up the hammer again. He said:

"Go play somewhere else! I have work to do!"

"Uncle Xu Hong! You still haven't answered me! Do you know martial arts?"

Guizhi reached out and grabbed Xu Hong's hand as he swung the hammer, stopping him from working.

Xu Hong was swinging the hammer down hard when he saw Gui Zhi's hand. He quickly stopped, forcefully using his foot to push the stool he was sitting on back several steps. With his other hand, he spun Gui Zhi around and pushed her away.

Xu Hong roared:

"What are you doing! If that hits, you'll lose your hand! How can you be so reckless?"

Guizhi chuckled foolishly.

"Uncle Xu Hong is amazing!"