Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

After finishing his lunch at the company, Jia Dongxu pedaled his bike hard all the way back to Yard 95. Zhang Dabao was making ice and had not yet taken a lunch break, so Jia Dongxu stopped his bike and came over.

"Seventh Uncle, I got a regular job," Jia Dongxu said excitedly.

"Didn't I tell you yesterday? What's there to be excited about? Hurry up and collect the saltpeter. Aren't you going to buy a basin? Have you bought it?" Zhang Dabao didn't care whether Jia Dongxu was excited or not and ordered him to work.

"Seventh uncle, it's basically decided that I will be the team leader, in charge of three people. Director Shi told me so," Jia Dongxu said in a low voice.

"Really? Congratulations. Your mother said that people in your Jia family are not destined to be cadres because there is no smoke coming out of your ancestral grave. It seems that there is smoke coming out of your father's grave, so you were directly made the team leader." Doesn't Zhang Dabao understand why he is so excited as a team leader in charge of three people?

"Seventh uncle, Section Chief Lin told me that it has nothing to do with my father. It was you who found the senior leader and asked for this position for me. Don't worry, I will do my best and will never embarrass you," Jia Dongxu said solemnly.

"Did you know? The official we found this time is of very high rank, higher than your cousin's. It's not easy for you to be a leader. You should perform well and strive to become the team leader, deputy director, and director in one or two years." Zhang Dabao encouraged Jia Dongxu.

"I will definitely work hard. I want those who look down on me to look at me with new eyes," Jia Dongxu said as he stood up and waved his hands vigorously.

"You didn't sleep well last night. Hurry up and make two pots of ice first. You can take a nap and go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy two pots. Otherwise, you will still have no ice in your room at night," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu.

"Okay." Jia Dongxu was very obedient now. He collected the saltpeter used yesterday, made ice with Zhang Dabao, and then went to catch up on his sleep.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, Jia Dongxu got up and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a pot and some vegetables.

"Seventh Uncle, let's have dinner together tonight. There are a lot of vegetables in the market now, but there is no meat at all. Let's stir-fry some bacon and have dinner together tonight," said Jia Dongxu.

"You bought a lot. Do you have any pocket money left?" Zhang Dabao said to him after seeing the vegetables Jia Dongxu bought.

"My mother gave me a lot this month. The factory rewarded her three times this month. She gave me five yuan in total, and Huairu also gave me two yuan. Now I basically don't smoke anymore. I spend thirty or twenty cents to buy two boxes of cigarettes and put them in my pocket. Sometimes I use them to offer cigarettes or ask for directions. I can't spend it all, I just can't spend it all," said Jia Dongxu.

"I didn't expect that you learned how to live after going to the post office. That's great. I'll use the vegetables you bought. I have bacon and salted fish here. When Zhuzi comes back, I'll ask him to cook. You have been converted to a regular employee, and Yushui should also be converted. Let's celebrate together," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu.

"I'll go wash the vegetables." Jia Dongxu went to the kitchen and started busying himself.

Zhang Dabao continued to make ice. A lot of ice was needed every day. Huang Xinsheng, Zhang Lianhua, Lou Xiao'e, He Yushui, Jia Jia, He Yuzhu and Jia Dongxu had to work for a long time.

"Sister-in-law, come and have dinner with Brother Damao later. Dongxu and Yushui have become regular employees today." When Lou Xiaoe came to get ice, Zhang Dabao invited them to join him.

"Become a regular employee? That's great. Damao and I will come over later," Lou Xiao'e agreed.

In the evening, there were two tables in the backyard to celebrate Jia Dongxu and He Yushui's promotion to regular employees. While they were eating, Liu Guangqi, who had not been seen for a long time, came over.

"Are you all eating?" Liu Guangqi came over and greeted them.

"Guangqi, have a drink and sit down." He Yuzhu gave up a seat.

"I've eaten, you guys eat. I'm getting married on Sunday, and I'd like to ask Brother Zhuzi to help cook for me. My father is too embarrassed to come and ask you, so I came here to ask if you have time?" Liu Guangqi said.

"I have time. How can I not have time for your marriage? We are brothers who grew up together." He Yuzhu agreed without hesitation.

"Everyone, come over for a drink then," Liu Guangqi invited everyone who was having dinner, and everyone said they would definitely attend his wedding then.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, who were having dinner with Zhang Dabao, were also confused by the news of their eldest brother's marriage because they had not received any information either.

After dinner, Liu Guangtian called Liu Guangqi to the front yard and stuffed fifteen yuan into Liu Guangqi's hand, "Brother, this is fifteen yuan for the third brother and I. Take it. Marriage is a big deal, and you can't do without money."

"Second brother, I have money." Liu Guangqi wanted to cry at this moment. He knew that his two younger brothers were not living well. With a monthly income of 16.5, they had to support two people, and Guangfu still had to go to school. He didn't expect that he could still give him money. This should be all their savings.

Liu Guangqi pushed the money back, hugged Liu Guangtian tightly, and patted his brother's shoulder. "Second brother, you and Guangfu must be fine. No matter what, you must take care of your health. If you encounter problems, ask Zhang Dabiao for help. If he is not at home, ask He Yuzhu. No one else can be trusted..."

Liu Guangtian didn't understand why his elder brother said these words to him and his younger brother, and he said them with tears in his eyes, and even burst into tears at the end.

Liu Guangqi did not accept the money from the two brothers. He hugged his two younger brothers tightly and went out to the backyard.

"Second brother, eldest brother is a little strange," said Liu Guangfu.

"I feel the same. Brother Da Biao gave me some ice today. The room is cooler now. Let's go to bed early." Liu Guangtian couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

Originally, He Yuzhu planned to hire someone to clean up the house on Sunday and go buy four major items with Zhang Lianhua. However, Liu Guangqi's wedding disrupted his plan, so he hired a master to clean up the house on Saturday morning, and he and He Yushui moved to the backyard and lived in Zhang Dabao's east wing.

In the afternoon, He Yuzhu, Zhang Lianhua, and Zhang Dabao went to the department store to buy watches, radios, bicycles, and sewing machines. Zhang Dabao pulled them back to the yard on a motorcycle tricycle.

"Dabia, you bought a sewing machine? Are you planning to get married?" Aunt Yang Ruihua asked when she saw the sewing machine in Zhang Dabia's car.

"It was bought by Brother Zhuzi. I won't buy it now," Zhang Dabao replied, and he and Jia Dongxu unloaded the car.

"Zhu Zi is getting married?" Yang Ruihua asked again.

"We've already obtained the marriage certificate, but the specific date for the wedding hasn't been set yet. I'll just tidy up the house and wait for his father to come back to set a date," Zhang Dabao replied.

At this time, He Yuzhu and Zhang Lianhua also came back, riding a brand new 28-inch bicycle.

"Zhu Zi, you're really generous. You bought all four major items?" Yang Ruihua came over again.

"I bought them all. Da Biao made a contribution during his business trip, so the factory rewarded him with tickets. I used them first. I happened to have tickets for the four major items. My father gave some money to sponsor me. Getting married is a big event, so I bought them," said He Yuzhu.

"Congratulations..." Yang Ruihua felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

The other young women in Yard 95 also came to watch the fun and helped carry the sewing machine to the backyard. Because He Yuzhu's house was going to be repainted, all the things in the house were moved to the backyard.