The courtyard: the atmosphere of human life

"Time flies by so fast. Another year has gone by quietly." Darong's mother made a big bowl of dough at home and prepared to make some more buns and put them in the jar.

"Mom, let me do it."

As soon as Darong came in, she quickly changed her clothes and prepared to work.

"Sister, this is for you." Xiaoying mysteriously stuffed the thing in her hand into Darong's mouth.

Darong opened her mouth to take it, and after tasting it she realized it was fruit leather.

"Hmm, it's delicious." Darong said to Xiaoying happily.

"It has to be the two sisters. She almost got anxious when Huazi took one more bite just now." Darong's mother said lovingly to her little daughter.

Xiaoying is indeed closer to her sister. When she was a child, Darong's parents were busy at work and could not send Xiaoying to her grandmother's house, so Darong took Xiaoying to school together.

At that time, because there were many children and the parents were all busy, it was common to see older children taking their younger siblings who were not old enough to go to school together.

Xiaoying put a small stool in the aisle next to her sister and listened to the lectures with her sister. When the teacher asked a question, she raised her hand when she saw others raise their hands.

Once, the teacher thought she was cute and asked her to stand up and answer a question, but she confidently told the teacher "I don't know", which made all the teachers and students in the classroom burst into laughter.

Maybe because she has spent a lot of time with her elder sister since she was a child, Xiaoying loves her elder sister the most and usually listens to her the most.

"Mom, we're back." The fourth brother and the third brother walked in carrying a few cannons.

This year, the money for buying firecrackers was saved by half for the family of Darong. The fourth child is older now and no longer likes to set off firecrackers as much as when he was little. Xiaoying is a girl and she is not keen on it either. The third child sets off firecrackers much less often because she is the only one setting off firecrackers.

"Sibei, come out and help." As Sibei and Lao San just entered the house, they heard Darong's father calling them outside the yard.

"Dad, what is this?" Sibei asked excitedly when he saw the big box tied to the car.

"Hold on tight and don't fall. It's the TV." The same excitement was revealed in Darong's father's tone.

"Ah? Really? That's great, that's great." Xiaoying, who was leaning on the side and looking eagerly, jumped for excitement.

"Where did you get the money to buy a TV?" Upon hearing this, Darong's mother hurried to the door.

The family hurriedly moved the black and white TV into the house.

"People in the team drew lots for a while, and I drew number 1. You've always wanted to save money to buy a TV, so I just went ahead and bought it."

People at that time were very reserved in expressing themselves. In order to give this surprise to his wife and children, Darong's father had been secretly planning for more than half a year.

The so-called "drawing lots for a while" is actually similar to the current installment payment form. The number of people participating is the same as the number of people drawing lots. For example, if there are 10 people participating, 10 people will draw lots. Before the drawing, it is agreed how much each person will pay.

The person who draws number 1 doesn't pay in the first month, so other people's money is given to him. In the second month, if number 2 doesn't pay, other people's money is given to him first. In this way, things that cannot be purchased in one go become another form of installment payment.

People at that time were generally simple and honest. There were no conditions for participating in the lottery, just trust.

"That's great. Our family can watch the Spring Festival Gala this year." After the fourth brother and the third brother took out the TV, they happily studied how to adjust and change channels.

"DaRong's mother, heat up some food for me. I have to go back to work in the team this afternoon."

Darong's father felt happy and comfortable when he saw the happy faces of the children.

"Rong, Uncle Liu said yesterday that the breakfast department might not be around for long after the New Year. A state-owned textile factory is going to be built on Fourth Street. I'll sign you up first. You can go to the night college for two days in the spring. You'll have many conditions when the textile factory recruits at the end of next year."

While eating, Darong's father told Darong that he had actually heard a little about Darong and Pei Bin from the breakfast department, but Darong didn't say anything and he didn't ask.

After all, children have their own ideas when they grow up. Darong's mother has a bad temper, and he can't say whether the mother and daughter can reach an agreement. So he just waits for Darong to talk herself.

Darong's father works at Nanjian, and he is always the first to know where a factory is to be built. Just as the state-owned textile factory had just decided on a site, Darong's father found the way and signed Darong up.

"Okay, but I don't know if it's easy to get into night school. I'll go ask later. I have a classmate who studied there."

Darong was very happy to hear that she could get a job in a state-owned factory. After graduating from school, she had been doing odd jobs outside and had never caught up with a formal factory recruitment. Now she finally had the chance. If she could get a job in a state-owned factory as a formal worker, her family would live a better life in the future.

Darong is just that kind of person. She always thinks about her home and her family. The selfless education engraved in her bones by that generation has permeated her entire youth.

On the 30th of that year, the children whose families had not yet bought televisions all gathered around Darong's black and white TV, happily watching the Spring Festival Gala. The classic line from the skit "Is it spicy? How spicy is it?" became the innocent laughter of the children on the streets.

"Mom, I'm going out to pay New Year's greetings." Early in the morning on the first day of the New Year, Sibei stuffed two dumplings and quickly got dressed and went out.

Although the fourth brother was not good at studying, he had very good relationships with people. During the Chinese New Year, more than a dozen of his brothers would visit each household to wish each other a happy new year, making the place very lively.

Darong's father also got up early in the morning and packed up to go out for New Year's greetings.

There is a New Year's rule in the southern suburbs that married women cannot visit homes of people with different surnames to pay New Year's greetings on the first day of the New Year. Sisters-in-law in large families will also go together to pay New Year's greetings, but they will all be to the elders of their own family. Although the specific reason is not known, it has been passed down like this.

After Darong and her mother cleaned the house, they put out candies and dried goods and waited for the fourth generation and the third generation's little brothers to come over and pay New Year's greetings.

Darong's father had just left the house when Xiao Ling's voice was heard outside the door.

"Happy New Year, uncle!"

"Hey, good, your parents are both very nice!"

When Darong's father saw Xiao Ling, he responded happily. He thought to himself that Xiao Ling was most likely not a suitable daughter-in-law. His greedy son did not like beautiful women but loved delicious food. He ate and drank other people's food every day. Sooner or later, he would bring Xiao Ling home.

Thinking of this, Darong's father couldn't help but chuckle a few times.

"Happy New Year, Auntie!"

As soon as Xiao Ling entered the yard, she shouted at the top of her voice to wish Darong's mother a happy New Year.

Darong's mother also happily welcomed Xiao Ling in.

"Okay, okay, everything is fine at home, too."

This is an official return gift. When meeting children who come to wish them a happy new year, Darong's mother always says hello to their family, wishing good luck and success to everyone.

"Everything is fine, aunt." Xiao Ling didn't hesitate to walk in and sat down.

Xiao Ling does this every year. On the first day of the New Year, she does not stay at home, but runs to Darong's house early in the morning, under the pretext of talking to Darong. In fact, everyone knows her little intention, which is to come and occupy Darong's home. Anyone who comes to pay New Year's greetings has to treat her as a fourth-generation relative.

Although married women cannot visit other people's homes on the first day of the New Year, it is completely different for unmarried girls. People in the southern suburbs say that girls are noble people and no family will reject them.