Silly Zhu's Moving: The Old Neighbor's Nightmare

Chapter 207 The Miserable Old Man Yan

After waiting only a few minutes at the school gate, before school had even let out, Teacher Yan was the first to leave the school and head towards Sha Zhu.

"Zhu Zi, there's an unexpected meeting after school today, so I can't go fishing with you. You and Yu Shui go ahead!" Yan Lao Kou said to Sha Zhu with a hint of reluctance.

Sha Zhu nodded, took out a cigarette and handed it to Yan Bugui, "Teacher Yan, is it about the donation, or..."

Old Yan took the cigarette from Sha Zhu and was instantly a little happy.

He wouldn't buy good cigarettes for himself; a little tobacco was good enough, he could just roll one and smoke it.

It's fine not to smoke, but it would be even better if I could get a good cigarette from someone else.

Yan Lao Kou put the cigarettes directly into his pocket, gave Sha Zhu a strange look, and

"How did you know it was about donations? Our neighborhood office hasn't even started publicizing it yet."

Oh, by the way, some officials from the neighborhood committee are going to hold a meeting in each of the courtyards tonight. Did you get wind of that beforehand?

"No!" Sha Zhu thought to himself, what information have I gotten? It's just wild guessing.

"That's because your steel mill had a donation drive!"

Sha Zhu shook his head again. He had left work as soon as he got off, and hadn't even waited for Director Zhang to come over. The workshop workers were still working!

"Alright, I heard it from the factory's logistics staff. You should go back now; they might just be asking your teachers to cooperate with the publicity campaign."

Yan Bugui gave Sha Zhu a thumbs up, then turned around and saw that the school gate was open and students were already rushing out.

He didn't say anything more, and walked towards the school with a long face. He had just received news from the dean of students about organizing a fundraising campaign.

After the Chinese New Year, primary school teachers organized a donation drive for students, guiding them to donate their New Year's money and other savings to support the frontline volunteers.

Students were also encouraged to express their respect and blessings to the Chinese People's Volunteers through writing letters, drawing pictures, and other means.

Now we have to encourage elementary school students to donate their pocket money.

These days, how much money do kids have? They probably have to notify their parents, hold class meetings, and school assemblies.

Promote the significance of the donation campaign for the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea to students and their parents, and encourage everyone to actively participate in the donation.

The most heartbreaking thing is that many primary school teachers took the lead in donating money, setting an example for their students with their own actions.

Their actions not only inspired the students, but also motivated residents in the surrounding neighborhoods to actively participate in the donation drive.

As a teacher at the school, the caretaker of the courtyard house, and an active member of the neighborhood, I cannot hold back when it comes to matters of principle.

If we can't set a good example, at least we shouldn't fall behind.

Everyone knows that I, Yan Laokou, am a miser; I've always been stingy.

In matters like this, you absolutely cannot allow anyone to look down on you.

But the thought of having to hand over my money made me feel like I'd lost my parents, my heart was breaking. Yet I still had no choice but to hand it over.

Yan Bugui is outwardly smiling, but inwardly he's in agony.

Sha Zhu picked up some rainwater at the school gate, rode his bicycle away from the vicinity of the school, and headed directly towards the Di'anmen vegetable market.

"Brother, aren't we going fishing today?" Yu Shui asked, sitting on the front bar of the bicycle.

"Hmm, I won't go today. I'll just go to the Di'anmen Market and see what I want to eat tonight!"

Little Rainy thought quickly. Her brother hadn't asked for her opinion in a long time. He just ate whatever he cooked, and if it didn't suit her taste, she would go to a small restaurant.

After finally getting my opinion on what to eat, I suggested, "Brother, how about we buy a watermelon!"

I asked you what you wanted for dinner. Watermelon won't fill you up, and besides, you need to practice martial arts. You can't do without some staple food.

Sha Zhu no longer sought the opinion of the rain.

Di'anmen Market is the closest large-scale market to Nanluoguxiang. Besides the vendors, grocery stores, and small markets near Nanluoguxiang, it is an important place for the surrounding residents to buy daily necessities.

Fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meat—they have it all. Luckily, it's just close to the time when most workers are getting off work, so the market isn't too crowded.

Only a few middle-aged women came by with vegetable baskets, picking and choosing, and haggling over prices.

Rainwater spotted watermelons for sale and pestered Shazhu to buy some.

I bought two big watermelons; I put one in the front basket of my bicycle and carried the other in my arms.

I bought a token amount of vegetables, then left the market and went home, my hands still wet from the rain.

Bringing some vegetables back was also to show the neighbors in the alley. If I hadn't left with the rainwater on my hands, I would have taken some out of my spatial storage on my way home.

"Brother, after school, our teacher asked us to donate our pocket money to the volunteer soldiers!" Yu Shui said, sitting on the back of his bicycle while holding a big watermelon.

"Sure, don't you save your own allowance?"

"Brother, could you give me another two cents?" Yu Shui asked her brother, conflicted.

Two cents, not much! Sha Zhu didn't take it seriously!

"Okay, I'll give it to you when I get back."

Soon, the brother and sister arrived at the alleyway leading to their home. Nearby, several middle-aged women were sitting and chatting.

Seeing Sha Zhu with his younger sister, carrying big watermelons and vegetables, you could tell that Sha Zhu had come back from the market again.

The middle-aged women in the neighborhood looked on with envy and jealousy. Who would be willing to buy watermelons to eat, let alone buy two at once!

Isn't this just trying to annoy us?

Unfortunately, the brother and sister had no parents to discipline them, and even though they finally found a second uncle, he basically didn't take care of them much.

Moreover, he often paid out of his own pocket to buy food for Yushui, spoiling the little Yushui rotten.

Sha Zhu had no idea what these women were thinking, and even if he did, it wouldn't matter.

Anyway, even if you see it, you won't get any. Of course, their children play well with the rain, and Sha Zhu is never stingy with any good food for these children.

Sure enough, I had just pushed my bicycle home when a whole bunch of rainy days arrived.

Usually, only two or three children come to play at my house, but today all the children who play near the alley entrance ran over, and suddenly more than a dozen children came to the yard. This is the first time I've seen this.

Seeing the children's expectant eyes, Sha Zhu immediately cut open a watermelon and ate it with them.

With so many children, one watermelon wasn't enough. Wiping his mouth, he continued to look at Sha Zhu with lingering satisfaction.

"Get out of here!"

Hearing Sha Zhu's cursing, the children didn't take it seriously. They turned around and ran out of the yard in a group, as if they were already used to it.

Only two or three children stayed behind and continued playing with the rain.

After a quick dinner around 5 or 6 pm, I went to the meeting at courtyard number 136, despite the rain.

A group of people had already gathered in the yard, and Yu Shui ran off to play with his friends.

Uncle Ge wasn't busy at his small restaurant today; he came back to attend the courtyard meeting and also took the opportunity to visit his mother.