“Chen Jianye, you just wait for me.”
Jia Zhangshi left a harsh warning and ran home.
Chen Jianye didn't respond, heading straight into the Chen Family home.
The sweet potatoes were almost steamed; he needed to pack them to take to the Library for reading.
Thinking about seeing Qiuye Comrade soon, Chen Jianye felt a little happy.
Having a beautiful woman accompany him while reading was indeed a pleasant experience.
“This beast!”
Jia Zhangshi saw Chen Jianye return home through a crack in the window and stomped her foot in anger.
She knew she had been used by Chen Jianye.
Chen Jianye had no intention of helping with the Deaf Old Lady's funeral arrangements, which was why he walked back and didn't stay in the Deaf Old Lady's room.
Jia Zhangshi, however, mistakenly thought Chen Jianye was about to attack her, so she panicked and ran home.
To everyone else, it looked as if Chen Jianye was driving Jia Zhangshi away.
This way, Chen Jianye avoided a lot of moral condemnation.
At the Deaf Old Lady's house.
“Jianye is still reasonable; he drove Jia Zhangshi away.”
Old Bai said.
“I think Jianye was right about one thing: Jia Zhangshi is the rotten apple of our Courtyard.”
“How did I provoke her? Her mouth is always aimed at me.”
Old Ding grumbled indignantly.
“Alright, now let's discuss the arrangements for the Old Lady's funeral.”
Yi Zhonghai said.
Arranging the Old Lady's funeral was the most important matter, so everyone immediately stopped criticizing Jia Zhangshi and began discussing seriously.
The Deaf Old Lady had no children, so naturally, no one would hold a grand funeral for her.
Finally, the few of them decided to handle it in the simplest way.
Yi Zhonghai would front the money, and all the money found in the Deaf Old Lady's house would be given to Yi Zhonghai.
If it wasn't enough, they would sell the Deaf Old Lady's belongings to repay the money.
If the money left by the Deaf Old Lady exceeded the burial expenses, the remaining money would be split among those who helped.
None of them objected to this suggestion.
The other residents of the Courtyard also agreed.
Only those who helped would get money.
Moreover, whether they would get money was still up in the air.
The Deaf Old Lady was a five-guarantee household; how much money could she have saved?
Perhaps after the funeral, Yi Zhonghai would even lose money.
After the discussion, everyone started to act.
Yi Zhonghai directed from the center.
The Yan Family and the Liu Family each sent one adult man, along with enthusiastic residents from the Courtyard, to help.
Chen Jianye paid no attention to the matters in the Backyard.
He packed the steamed sweet potatoes into a cloth bag, pushed his bicycle, and headed out.
“Grandma, Chen Shu has gone out.”
Bang梗 was loitering at the door and, seeing Chen Jianye leave, quickly reported to Jia Zhangshi.
“Don't call him Chen Shu; from now on, call him a dog.”
Jia Zhangshi stood up from her chair, fuming.
Her chance had come.
Without Chen Jianye, the other people in the Courtyard generally wouldn't lay a hand on her.
And most importantly, everyone would have to escort the Old Lady out for the funeral later.
Whether she could pull off a scheme depended on whether she could seize this time gap.
“Oh, I know.”
Bang梗 replied softly, not entirely happy.
Calling Chen Jianye a dog; if Chen Jianye slapped him twice, who would stand up for him?
Most importantly, if Chen Jianye made delicious food in the future, he wouldn't get any of it.
“Go to the Backyard and see; if you have any news, come back and tell me quickly.”
Jia Zhangshi instructed again.
Bang梗 ran off to the Backyard.
On the other side.
Chen Jianye walked out of the Siheyuan (Courtyard) and got on his bicycle.
He rode towards the Library.
He had nothing to do on the way.
Chen Jianye pulled out his panel.
Name: Chen Jianye
Skills: Yang Style Tai Chi (Mastered)
Cooking LV2 Experience 401/500
Carpentry LV3 Experience 905/2000
The Cooking experience was close to leveling up, only one hundred points short.
Upgrading Cooking to LV3 would grant a chance to draw a prize.
It was something to look forward to.
Carpentry experience had also reached nearly halfway.
After about ten more days of work, Carpentry would smoothly reach LV4.
Chen Jianye silently calculated the time in his mind.
With Carpentry work and studying at night, he could probably max out a level of experience in about twenty days.
Next are LV5, LV6, LV7, LV8, four more levels.
If all went well, he could reach LV8 in about three months.
As long as the experience needed for the subsequent levels wasn't too outrageous.
It wasn't a big problem.
Reaching LV6 would also grant another draw.
Chen Jianye was very confident that he would achieve the Eighth-Grade Fitter certification in the Carpentry assessment in November of the second half of the year.
An Eighth-Grade Fitter at twenty-one years old would absolutely shock the entire Rolling Mill.
The news might even reach the Industrial Ministry.
Even if Jia Zhangshi had eight mouths to slander him, it wouldn't stop him from choosing a suitable partner.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared at the corner of Chen Jianye's mouth.
He believed that once he was promoted to Eighth-Grade Fitter, all the doubts and backhanded slanders in the Courtyard would disappear.
Because Chen Jianye had already proven himself once in the Pliers worker team.
At his level three Carpentry skill, he was very popular in the Pliers worker team; no one cared about Jia Zhangshi's big mouth or Yi Zhonghai's attitude.
It's important to know that when Chen Jianye first joined the Pliers worker team, no one even greeted him.
Now, the people in the Pliers worker team would smile at Chen Jianye.
Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't target a genius who was bound to reach the top.
About twenty minutes later, Chen Jianye arrived at the entrance of the Library.
Along the way, the bicycle between his legs earned Chen Jianye many exclamations and envious glances.
He had already become accustomed to it.
Taking the bus would actually be slower than riding a bicycle.
Because the bus stops frequently, and the bus doesn't travel in a straight line to the Library.
To cover its route, the bus makes multiple detours to pick up passengers.
‘Buying a car was truly a wise choice.’
Chen Jianye patted the seat and thought to himself.
After locking his bicycle, Chen Jianye entered the Library.
Following the procedure, he returned a book, then went to the display cabinet for Carpentry Skill books, and pulled out some books on Carpentry knowledge.
Then, holding the books, he chose a spot and sat down to read.
“Comrade Chen Jianye.”
After a while, Qiuye Comrade came over with a book, her voice like a clear spring, mixed with a hint of surprise.
“Comrade Ran Qiuye.”
Chen Jianye looked up, a smile on his face.
Today, Qiuye Comrade was wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, different from the ordinary work-style blue short-sleeved shirts.
At the cuffs of her short-sleeved shirt, there was a circle of white lace.
She wore a green skirt, and her hair was draped over her shoulders, falling naturally.
It was a feast for the eyes.
Chen Jianye felt that Qiuye Comrade might not be the most beautiful female character in the Siheyuan (Courtyard).
But in terms of fashion sense, Qiuye Comrade truly had no rivals.
Compared to Qiuye Comrade, the clothing of others looked very unfashionable.
Of course, they couldn't be blamed for that.
For example, Qin Huairu, Qin Jingru, Yu Li, and Yu Haitang didn't have as good upbringing conditions as Qiuye Comrade.
Lou Xiao'e did have a good upbringing, but she married early, and as the daughter of a big capitalist, dressing too well was also a sin.
So it wasn't until later, when Lou Xiao'e returned from Hong Kong, that she dressed very fashionably, completely overshadowing the older woman Qin Huairu in terms of temperament.
“What are you looking at?”
Qiuye Comrade said somewhat shyly.
“You are too beautiful; I was momentarily entranced.”
Chen Jianye smiled.
“You look honest, but you're quite glib with your words.”
“Honestly tell me, do you often say this to other girls?”
Qiuye Comrade asked, pressing her lips together.
“No, I've only said it to you. I am indeed honest; I don't lie.”
Chen Jianye said earnestly.
Sincerity is always the ultimate killer move.