The courtyard: the atmosphere of human life

Darong worked with Zhong's mother for the whole afternoon, and it was not until Zhong Yunxing got home from get off work that the last pot of buns was put into the steamer.

There was no 1989th day of the Spring Festival in . The th day was New Year's Eve. Workers in the factory all went home early. It was just past four o'clock when Zhong Yunxing got home.

As soon as she entered the room, she saw Da Rong, who looked tired, cleaning the flour on the chopping board.

When she saw Zhong Yunxing coming in, she forced a smile but did not put down the work in her hands.

"Wow, so many steamed buns? What time do you start working?"

Zhong Yunxing said happily, walked to Darong and took the bowl of noodles from her hand.

"Look at how dirty you are. You're still not being honest even with a big belly. There are so many people at home. Go wash your hands and take a rest."

Every time Zhong Yunxing showed his strength, he was able to protect Darong just right. After he reached out and helped Darong up, he took her to wash her hands.

Darong didn't fall asleep after her night shift and had been working for the whole afternoon. She was so sleepy that she could hardly open her eyes.

After Zhong Yunxing saw Darong wash her hands, he pushed her directly into the west room.

Mother Zhong continued to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner without saying a word. Zhong Yunsheng, who was squatting at the stove and making a fire, curled his lips and snorted.

Darong didn't eat much of the New Year's Eve dinner that night. When the family was sitting in front of the TV watching the Spring Festival Gala, Zhong Yunxing sent Darong to sleep in the small west room.

I don’t know if it was because she was too tired or because Darong felt at ease after Zhong Yunxing came back, but she fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay down.

It was not until midnight when the dumplings were put into the pot that Darong was awakened by the sound of firecrackers in the yard.

"Da Rong, get up and eat dumplings."

Zhong Yunxing carried a small plate of dumplings and went into the west room. He didn't even let Darong get out of bed.

"I'd better go out to eat. This isn't a good idea." Darong sat on the bed hesitantly.

"It's okay, eat your food and then go back to sleep."

Zhong Yunxing just watched Darong finish the dumplings on the plate and let her lie back down.

At that moment, Darong really felt happy.

Early in the morning on the first day of the New Year, Darong heard some noise in the outer room. She looked at her watch and saw that it was just past five o'clock. Thinking it was still early, Darong lay in bed for a while.

Darong stayed in bed until 6: before she got up from the warm bed, put on her clothes and prepared to come out to help Mother Zhong prepare breakfast.

Darong opened the door of the small west room and came out, she saw Zhong Yunsheng sitting at the stove and had already lit a fire, while Zhong's mother began to put the grate in the pot, preparing to heat up buns for breakfast.

"mom……"

Darong had just called out "Mom" when she was interrupted by Zhong Yunsheng who was making a fire.

"Don't compare yourself with Xiao Ping. Xiao Ping is a daughter, and you are a wife!"

Zhong Yunsheng said this in a cold voice, which was quite irrelevant.

Darong glanced at Mother Zhong, and when she saw that she didn't react at all, a feeling of grievance suddenly filled her whole body.

Darong didn't say anything. After controlling the tears in her eyes, she turned around and started packing up the things on the cabinet.

That day, Darong's mood hit rock bottom, but she had to put on a smile and face the endless stream of people paying New Year's greetings.

Because Zhong Yunxing got up late in the morning, he didn't know about Darong's grievances in the morning. Although he saw that Darong was in a bad mood, he just thought it was because she was too tired.

Early in the morning on the second day of the Chinese New Year, Darong got up early. At that time, she didn't want to stay in the Zhong family any longer.

Zhong Yunxing knew that she was eager to return home, so he got up early and packed his things for his mother-in-law's house. Without even having breakfast, he took Darong out.

"Brother, aren't you having breakfast?" Xiaoping asked loudly while looking at Zhong Yunxing in the yard.

"No, no, I'm anxious to drink my father-in-law's wine."

Zhong Yunxing happily took away his anxious mood.

"Da Rong, why are you still so depressed when you return home today?"

Zhong Yunxing pedaled the bike and asked Da Rong in the back seat.

Darong sat in the back and refused to say a word. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth she would burst into tears, and she wanted to avoid being laughed at during the New Year.

Seeing that Darong didn't say anything, Zhong Yunxing had no choice but to pedal hard.

"Happy New Year, Dad and Mom!"

As soon as Darong and Zhong Yunxing entered the door, they hurried to wish Darong's parents a happy new year.

Although Darong came in with a smile, she was her own daughter after all, and Darong's mother could tell at a glance that she was in a bad mood.

At lunch time, Darong's mother prepared a large table of delicious food. As Zhong Yunxing was the new son-in-law who came to the family for the first year, Darong's mother also gave him a large red envelope.

When Darong saw how her parents treated Zhong Yunxing, the gap in her heart reached its limit. Finally, she could no longer hold back the grievance in her heart and secretly wiped away a few tears.

Darong's parents actually saw it, but no one asked about it at the dinner table. The family members ate lunch with their own thoughts.

After lunch, Zhong Yunxing sat on the sofa awkwardly. His heart and eyes were full of Darong, so how could he not see her crying secretly?

"Rong, when a woman is pregnant, her emotions are unstable. You have to learn to adjust yourself."

Darong's mother felt really sorry for Darong, so she started talking to her first.

After hearing what her mother said, Darong burst into tears instantly and started complaining to her mother about what happened in her husband's family.

After hearing this, Zhong Yunxing just kept lowering his head and rubbing his hands. At this moment, he was really feeling very uncomfortable.

"When Yunsheng said this, what did your mother-in-law say?" Darong's mother asked after listening to Darong's narration.

"Nothing." Darong sobbed softly.

"Yunsheng is right, you are a daughter-in-law after all, you can't compare yourself to when you were at home."

When Darong's mother said this, her heart was bleeding. Darong is her own daughter, how could she not feel sorry for her grievances?

But the conflict has already arisen. If the mother continues to make trouble, how will the two children live?

The only thing she could do now was to help Darong deal with her emotions quickly and prevent her from having a quarrel with her mother-in-law.

At that time, Darong actually couldn't understand it, but Zhong Yunxing immediately understood his mother-in-law's good intentions.

Zhong Yunxing looked at Darong's mother with gratitude. Darong's mother just sighed softly and didn't say anything else.

After Zhong Yunxing and Darong went home that night, Darong's mother tossed and turned in bed, her tears soaking the pillow several times. She even began to regret agreeing to this marriage.

"The old Meng family in the front yard has moved out, leaving a dormitory vacant. Let them move in."

Darong's father was not sleepy at all. He had been listening to Darong's mother's sobbing. After thinking for a long time, he spoke to Darong's mother.

"Is it possible? We can occupy two dormitories exclusively. Will the team agree?"

"I'll think of a way, but I don't know if Xiao Zhong can agree to it."

What Darong's father was more worried about at this moment was that Zhong Yunxing was unwilling to move in. For rural people at that time, living in the father-in-law's house was quite a cause for gossip.