Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

Zhang Dabao got up early in the morning. Today he would first go to Yan Jingkai's hometown in Tangshan, Hebei, to give New Year gifts, and then go to Datong, Shanxi.

In the winter mornings, the capital city is always foggy, and there is some indescribable smell in the air. Zhang Dabao drove all the way to Yan Jingkai's hometown. Since he left early in the morning and was familiar with the road, he arrived at Yanjia Village at five in the afternoon.

"Xiao Ming" happened to meet Yan Fangwen at the entrance of the village.

"Uncle, I'm passing by here on a business trip and wanted to go home to visit," Zhang Dabao walked up and greeted him.

"This time you can go back to your own home. Your house has been built for you," Yan Fangwen said happily.

"Really? That's great. If grandpa knew, he would be very happy. Uncle, please ask a few people to move some things back from the car. Is the New Year coming so soon? I brought some things over," said Zhang Dabao.

"Wait a minute, I'll go call someone." Yan Fangwen ran to the village. After seven or eight minutes, Yan Fangwu and a dozen other people came out. They greeted Zhang Dabao and got in the car to take the rice, flour and other things that Zhang Dabao had brought to the village.

"Xiao Ming, are you coming back for the New Year?" Yan Jingda asked Zhang Dabao.

"Second Grandpa, I'm passing by here on a business trip. I'll stay at home for one day and have to leave tomorrow," said Zhang Dabao.

"Just stay for one day," Yan Jingda said.

"When grandpa retires, he will live in the village every day." Zhang Dabao saw Yan Jingda's disappointment and hurried to comfort him.

"Brother, you're not old anymore, why are you still doing this?" Yan Jingda didn't quite understand.

"Second Grandpa, he's in a special department and will be here soon." Zhang Dabao likes these simple people very much. Their concern for you is pure and their longing for Yan Jingkai is real.

"I brought back some photos of my grandfather, you can take a look." Zhang Dabao thought of the photos he took of Yan Jing in Hong Kong.

"Brother, I'm still young when you look at me. It seems he is living a good life," Yan Jingda said while stroking the photo.

"Grandpa is living a good life, don't worry, this is his root, he will always come back," said Zhang Dabao.

I had dinner with Yan’s relatives in the evening.

In the morning, Zhang Dabao took photos of the courtyard of his hometown from various angles. Yan Jingkai would like it after seeing it. It is almost the New Year and there is a custom of worshipping ancestors before the New Year. Zhang Dabao burned paper and kowtowed at the grave of the Yan family, and waved goodbye to the Yan family. Driving to Datong, Shanxi.

I have never been to Datong, Shanxi in my two lifetimes. My impression of Datong is that this place produces coal, and the quality of Datong's coal is very good.

It's a bit late for me to set out today. According to the map, it's at least 500 kilometers from here to Datong Yanggao, which cannot be reached in one day. My goal today is to pass the capital and then run as far as I can, preferably to Zhangjiakou.

Today's time was tight and the task was heavy, so Zhang Dabao did not rest for the whole day. He finally arrived in Zhangjiakou City at around 11 o'clock in the evening. It was too late now, so Zhang Dabao did not go to the hotel to rest. Instead, he drove the car to a secluded place, took out a few quilts from the space, and spent the night in the car.

In fact, for a cultivator in the fifth stage of foundation building, not sleeping for one or two days really has no effect. Why do they still need to sleep? Zhang Dabia thinks it may be more of a habit.

The power of habit is too great.

After getting up in the morning, he took care of some personal problems, ate something, and set off again. Zhang Dabao's task today is to reach Yanggao County, rest in the county, and then visit his comrade Xin Zhongyuan's hometown tomorrow. If there is nothing else, he will return to Yanggao County, take out his letter of introduction from the supply and marketing cooperative, and purchase some local specialties. Zhang Dabao doesn't know what the local specialties are.

I looked at the map again in the car. There were still a hundred or so kilometers to go, so today's mission was a lot easier.

There is no scenery on the road. When there are cars, it is all dirt. When there are no cars, it is all yellow. When the wind blows, it is dusty. There are also many coal trucks on the road, so the speed cannot be increased.

At about 3:00 p.m., Zhang Dabiao arrived at the Yanggao County Guesthouse, took out his letter of introduction and checked in. He first went to the bathroom to take a shower, then went to the front desk to ask the waiter what the local specialties were and where he could buy them.

"Our local specialty, our apricots are the most delicious, but they are out of stock now; and the millet here is delicious, but the harvest is not good this year, and I don't know where to buy it. Why don't you go to the supply and marketing cooperative and ask." The waiter's attitude was still very good.

Zhang Dabao said thank you and left the guesthouse.

"Brother, I'm from the Red Star Supply and Marketing Cooperative in Beijing. Isn't it Chinese New Year? The leaders want to buy some local specialties. Is there anything you can recommend?" Zhang Dabao found the Yanggao Supply and Marketing Cooperative and, under the guidance of the salesperson, came to the manager's office. He came with gifts and walked directly to the front door.

"Brother from Beijing, please take a seat." The manager looked at Zhang Dabao's letter of introduction, returned the letter, and poured tea for Zhang Dabao.

"Brother Zhang, the harvest this year is not good. We used to be rich in millet here, but this year's output is less than half of that of previous years. The crops are not easy to get," said the manager nonsense.

"Brother Hu, it's okay if it's difficult to get. As long as I have it, it's fine. I can exchange it, for example, cigarettes and military coats," said Zhang Dabao.

"You're bringing these things with you on a business trip?" Hu Lai was a little surprised.

"I drove out and passed by here. There are military coats in the car, which I just exchanged from somewhere else. We will pay the market price. I don't ask for much. Two thousand kilograms of millet will be enough. If the deal is done, I will give Brother Hu a military coat." Zhang Dabao offered the conditions. Of course, he also heard the hidden meaning of Hu Lai's words. It is not easy to do. The reason why it is difficult to do is that your conditions are not good enough. If the conditions are in place, he will find it easy to do as long as he has them.

"Brother Zhang is so righteous. I can't say anything else now. I will contact him now. You just wait in my office for a while." Hu Lai went out happily.

Half an hour later, Hu Lai came back and told Zhang Dabao that the things were ready. Two thousand kilograms of millet were in the warehouse. He would exchange them for ten military coats, plus one for himself, a total of eleven. At nine o'clock in the evening, he would hand over the military coats in one hand and the millet in the other in the warehouse.

Zhang Dabao asked for the exchange location, then went out and returned to the guesthouse.

At 8:30 in the evening, Zhang Dabao told the waiter that he was going out to see a friend, drove out of the guesthouse and arrived at the place agreed by both parties.

"Brother Hu, where is Xiaomi?" Zhang Dabao asked when he saw Hu Lai at the door of the warehouse.

"It's in the warehouse. You can take a look first. If it's suitable, we will change it. If it's not suitable, we will talk about it later," Hu said.

Hearing him say this, Zhang Dabao got out of the car and followed Hu Lai into the warehouse.