r18novel Chapter 35: The First General Assembly
Chapter 35: The First General Assembly
Zhang Lei and his three companions emerged from the neighborhood office, all looking very happy. Ye Shuqin, however, was thinking about her family's livelihood and asked, "Honey, once our household registration is transferred here in a week, will our ration quotas be issued at the same time?"
Zhang Lei nodded and replied, "That's for sure. After all, without a quota, we can't buy supplies."
He thought for a moment and then added, "We're also in luck. In another week, it will be next month, so the three of you can start receiving your rations from next month."
Upon hearing this, the smiles on the three people's faces deepened. After all, if Zhang Lei was the only one receiving a ration, it would be quite difficult for the four of them to live on. Otherwise, they would have to buy expensive grain.
The four walked and talked, and as soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard people whispering inside.
"Sigh, I wonder what they're going to be doing at the big meeting tonight."
"Who knows? Who can stand having meetings every day? We'd be better off thinking about how to get some food."
Another person quickly advised, "Alright, say less. If those three stewards in the courtyard hear you, they'll definitely make things difficult for you."
Although Zhang Lei didn't hear the whole thing clearly, he caught the phrase "a hospital-wide meeting tonight," and his heart began to fill with anticipation.
This was the first time he had encountered a full-house meeting in a courtyard house since he transmigrated, and he had long wanted to witness this famous scene filled with warmth and affection in the courtyard house.
Zhang Lei was pondering the details of the meeting when he ran into Yi Zhonghai. Upon seeing Zhang Lei and his group of four, Yi Zhonghai quickly approached and said, "Zhang Lei, it's good you're back. I'm just letting you know that there's an all-staff meeting tonight at 6 PM. Remember to come early."
Zhang Lei nodded in response to Yi Zhonghai's words, saying, "Okay, I understand."
Yi Zhonghai wanted to say something more, but seeing Zhang Lei lead the three women away, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Meanwhile, at the Jia family residence, Madam Jia Zhang was pulling Qin Huairu along, glancing at Bang Geng beside her, and said in a low, menacing voice, "Qin Huairu, tonight you better put on a convincing act, bring out your usual whiny, seductive charm!"
Qin Huairu glared at Jia Zhangshi with displeasure, frowning as she said, "Mom, how can you say that about me?"
Madam Jia rolled her eyes and pouted irritably, "Alright, who are you putting on this show for? Remember this, don't miss the opportunity to donate money to our family tonight."
Qin Huairu lowered her head and replied softly, "Mom, I understand."
Madam Jia then turned to Banggeng, her face stern, and instructed, "Banggeng, tonight you must say what Grandma taught you, understand?"
Banggeng nodded and replied crisply, "I understand."
A smile appeared on Jia Zhangshi's face as she patted his head: "Great job! Show Grandma how to do it."
Banggeng raised his little face and shouted at the top of his lungs, "You damned bastards, hurry up and donate money to me!"
Madam Jia quickly covered his mouth with her hand, stamping her feet in distress: "Bang Geng, no, that's not it! It's 'Thank you everyone for donating to our family, with money I won't be hungry anymore!'"
Hearing what Jia Zhangshi said, Banggeng nodded and said, "Okay, Grandma, I understand."
Before they knew it, it was 6 p.m., and the courtyard of the siheyuan was already full of people. The three stewards, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui, sat at the table at the front.
Seeing some people standing and others sitting in the courtyard, Zhang Lei couldn't help but regret forgetting to bring stools. At this moment, Liu Haizhong stood up, clapped his hands, and said, "Alright, alright, everyone, quiet down!"
Sha Zhu shouted from the crowd, "Hey Second Uncle, what's going on today? Why is there another big meeting?"
Liu Haizhong glanced at Sha Zhu, that troublemaker, and said irritably, "Sha Zhu, shut your mouth for now, you'll be talking soon!"
Sha Zhu curled his lip dismissively: "Then you'd better hurry up, I'm waiting to go back and cook, I'll starve to death if I'm late."
Hearing He Yuzhu's words, Yi Zhonghai raised his hand and tapped the table, saying in a deep voice, "Zhuzi, sit back down and listen to what your second uncle has to say."
After hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, Sha Zhu reluctantly sat back down on his stool.
Zhang Lei stood aside, watching the scene unfold with great interest.
At this moment, Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and began to speak fluently in official jargon.
Listening to Liu Haizhong's speech, Zhang Lei got goosebumps. This Liu Haizhong only had an elementary school education; he didn't understand the meaning of many idioms and just used them haphazardly. What he said sounded impressive, but upon closer inspection, it was all utter nonsense.
Even Yi Zhonghai, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it and couldn't help but cough heavily twice.
Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's cough, Liu Haizhong stopped talking and addressed the crowd, saying, "Now, let's invite an old man from our compound to tell us about the contents of this meeting."
Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's words, Yi Zhonghai took a step forward, cleared his throat, and said directly, "The first thing to do today is..."
As Yi Zhonghai spoke, he looked at Zhang Lei in the distance and said loudly, "The first thing is to get to know our new neighbor in the courtyard. Zhang Lei, please come over here with your family and introduce yourselves."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lei responded and led the three Ye sisters forward.
He stood in the middle of the crowd, glanced at the old and young men in the courtyard, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I don't need to introduce myself. The three behind me are my wife, Ye Shuqin; my wife's second sister, Ye Shuqi; and my wife's youngest sister, Ye Shuhua."
As everyone listened to Zhang Lei's introduction, their eyes all fell on the three sisters who looked almost identical, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity, and a low murmur immediately rose in the courtyard.
At this moment, Yan Jiecheng, who was standing to the side leaning against the corridor pillar, spoke up and said in a loud voice, "Zhang Lei, introduce them again. I can't even tell which one is which."
Hearing Yan Jiecheng say this, some people chimed in, "That's right, Zhang Lei, say it again, those three look so alike!"
Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Zhang Lei looked at Yan Jiecheng, who was leading the argument, and immediately felt uneasy. He felt that Yan Jiecheng was looking at the three sisters with a lecherous gaze, which made him uncomfortable.
Just as Zhang Lei's gaze darkened as he looked at Yan Jiecheng, Yi Zhonghai spoke up to quell the tension: "Alright, those who want to get to know each other can do so privately after the meeting."
Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, Zhang Lei led the three sisters back to their original spot. But as soon as they stopped, he noticed that Yan Jiecheng's gaze was still fixed on the three sisters, his eyes lingering on them, which made Zhang Lei feel uncomfortable again.
Zhang Lei gritted his teeth secretly, thinking to himself that if Yan Jiecheng dared to look at people with such indecent eyes again, he would definitely give him a kick that would cut off his offspring one day. After all, Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, Jia Dongxu and He Yuzhu in the courtyard had all experienced this trick before, and Zhang Lei felt that the four of them were now much less interested in matters of men and women.