Siheyuan: Sizhu starts blindly and takes a new path

On the morning of the first day of the New Year, as soon as the dumplings were out of the pot at Sha Zhu's house, he called Yu Li to hold Liu Yi and Yu Shui, and they went to the backyard with the dumplings to kowtow and wish a happy new year to the old lady who was too old to stay up late.

After Shazhu, Yuli and Yushui kowtowed, the old lady happily took out three yuan and handed them to Yushui and Yuli, saying, "One yuan for Yushui, so that you can study hard and build the country; one yuan for Lili, so that you can keep up the good work and have another fat boy; and one yuan for Liuyi, so that you can grow up quickly and healthily." After that, she looked at Shazhu and said, "You are married and have children, you are an adult now, so this is gone."

Sha Zhu curled his lips in mock dissatisfaction, "When I was not married, you didn't give it to me either."

The old lady smiled and patted him, "You are talking nonsense. Your father brought you here to kowtow, and I always gave you peach cakes to eat. At that time, my son gave you money, but it was worthless later. It was better to eat and drink. Later, you went to work, so you became an adult." Then she continued, "Speaking of your father, I don't know how he is doing now? Have you told him about Children's Day?"

"Why talk to him? They must be living well with their family now, there's no need for us to worry about them. Madam, we just need to live our own lives, you don't need to worry too much, just eat well, drink well, rest well, and stay healthy to see your great-grandchildren." As he said this, he set the table for the old lady and poured the vinegar.

The deaf old lady picked up the chopsticks and smiled, "Okay, I want to eat well and drink well to keep healthy so that I can see my great-grandson."

By chance, an old man lifted the door curtain and entered the room. He was also holding a bowl of dumplings and said, "Old lady, please give us some vegetarian dumplings. We will have peace and safety this year."

The old lady invited the old man to sit down, "Zhu Zi, this is vegetarian, with mushrooms, black fungus and cabbage. He is sensible, don't worry." The old lady didn't know whether it was a pun or a casual remark, but to the old man's ears, it sounded like a pun. It seemed that Zhu Zi was willing to accept her support in his old age.

In the morning, Sha Zhu went to his master's and several uncles' homes to pay New Year's greetings as per the rules, and also went to several senior brothers' homes. Unfortunately, there was no temple fair this year. However, the master's son, Senior Brother Sun, was quite interesting. After hearing about Grandpa Guan, he insisted that Sha Zhu take him to see this old senior, regardless of the fact that he had to stay at home on New Year's Day to accompany his parents whom he had not seen for many years. Master Sun was so angry that he kept scolding him for being heartless and that he missed him in vain. Sha Zhu persuaded him to stay by saying that he had to go to other families to pay New Year's greetings and could not take him with him, which was also a promise to take him to see Grandpa Guan on the fourth day of the New Year.

After a round, Sha Zhu returned home just before noon. Yu's mother had already prepared lunch. The good thing about Chinese New Year is that you don't have to work and just eat. Sha Zhu was just sighing when he saw Bang Geng jumping out of his house and shouting, "If you have any shame, send the food back. I won't eat the food of my enemies. If his son hadn't caused trouble for me again and again, would I have been sent to a work-study school for fighting with them?"

Qin Huairu stood at the door, holding onto the door frame with her hands, crying, "Banggeng, there's nothing I can do. I don't have any money. 300 yuan, I don't have much left even if I live frugally every day. If I can't pay it back in two years, we won't have a job anymore, and you won't be able to take over."

"You have no money, but your grandma has no money either? I saw my grandma had a box of money, and she counted the money at night."

Mrs. Jia pushed Qin Huairu, who was blocking the door, away and looked outside. Fortunately, the only people who showed up at the Jia family's door were the Yi, He and Ma families from the central courtyard. She couldn't afford to offend any of these three families. (The Yi family often helped out and she couldn't offend them; the He family had officials and people from the street and she couldn't offend them now; the Ma family had three bachelors and she didn't dare to offend them.) Since she couldn't vent her anger on outsiders, she could only go over and pull Banggeng and whispered, "My dear grandson, the money except for my coffin money is all I intend to leave for you. Don't dare to shout. If you shout again, thieves will steal our money, and then there will be nothing for you." Fortunately, when Banggeng heard that he had a share of the money, he stopped pestering her and shouting.

After the gangster was appeased, Mrs. Jia pointed at Qin Huairu's nose and cursed, "You cheap bastard, you flirt with others all day long and bring shame to my Jia family. Get out of here and take those two money-losing bastards back to the countryside."

Qin Huairu was still crying. Her only weapon now was tears. "Mom, I didn't. I really didn't. You can't chase me away."

Mother Jia pulled Qin Huairu closer and said, "Bang Geng is very angry right now. You should take Xiao Dang Huaihua out for a walk first and come back when he calms down. He is the only man in our family and we cannot let him laugh at us."

Banggeng is not only the favorite of Jia Pozi, but also the weak spot of Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu, who is not willing to disobey her mother-in-law and son, took Xiaodang and Huaihua out on New Year's Day before the commotion got out of hand. Huaihua thought that her mother was happy to take her shopping. Xiaodang, however, had a stern face. She was old and had heard what her brother and grandmother said just now. She remembered that her grandmother always snatched food from her and scolded her and her sister for losing money. She could not do things to retaliate, but she did not delay the accumulation of hatred.

Qin Huairu, who was not short of money recently, took her two daughters out and bought a candied haws for each of them. Huaihua became happier, but Xiaodang thought: My brother at home eats meat and fish, so we can just eat a candied haws, which is a snack that helps digestion. I'm not full yet.

After walking around outside, Qin Huairu returned to the door with her two daughters. She pushed the door, but it didn't move. She knocked, but no one answered. She opened the door, but it was locked from the inside. Qin Huairu gritted her teeth secretly: You won't let me into the house on New Year's Day. Are you really going to kick me out? I have a job and I'm afraid of you. Qin Huairu shook her head and led her two daughters away. Bang Geng in the room was laughing sinisterly on the bed, and Jia Pozi was worried about how she would coax Qin Huairu back later.

Qin Huairu brought Xiaodang and Huaihua to the house where she and Zhao Meng had a tryst. This house was separated by a courtyard. The original courtyard was a courtyard with two side rooms on the east and west sides and three main rooms. This courtyard belonged to an old man and an old woman. They had no income, so they built a wall to the west of the main room to connect to the wall, but separated the west side room and opened a door. Although the courtyard was flat and uncomfortable, it was secluded, with a single door and a single household, and was not disturbed. Zhao Meng liked it at first sight and rented the two rooms at a relatively low price of thirteen yuan. Qin Huairu was also very satisfied when she came, and now it is of great use again.

Because there were no permanent residents, there was no fire in the house. Fortunately, they rented a house in winter and had sex there several times. They prepared a stove and some coal briquettes, so Qin Huairu didn't have to rush around because of lack of things. After lighting the stove, the house became warm. Without ingredients, she couldn't cook, so Qin Huairu had to go to the street again to see if there were any shops open so that she could buy some things. But on the first day of the Chinese New Year, how many shops would be open?