Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

Spring is the most comfortable time to sleep. Zhang Dabao was a little tired and in a warm and comfortable environment. People are lazy and don't want to get up, but he has no choice but to get up. The Liang family has several children. Liang Jiahua came to this room last night and Liang Ladi also brought her daughter here, fearing that the child would cry when she woke up and couldn't see the adults.

She also has three sons who go to school, so she has to get up early in the morning to cook for the children, while Zhang Dabao and Liang Aihua took a nap.

Damao and the others had left, and Liang Ladi didn't go to work either. She woke up Zhang Dabao and Liang Aihua, one to have breakfast, and the other to discuss how to get there.

"Don't you have much stuff to pack? We're leaving tomorrow. I'll make arrangements for you. When you get off the train in Yangcheng, someone will look for you with a sign, and then take you there and settle you down. I'll definitely be there in early May, and I'll bring you some money from there and two gold bars," said Zhang Dabao.

"You put such a valuable thing in the car outside?" Liang Ladi was confused by Zhang Dabao's behavior.

"It's hidden very secretly and can't be lost. I'll talk to you about the factory matters, and I'll just go and say hello to the teacher about the school matters. I'll give you the letter of introduction when I come in the evening. Come to Yangcheng in the name of visiting relatives," Zhang Dabao said to the two.

"We'll listen to you," Liang Ladi said.

After breakfast, Zhang Dabao went outside and said he was taking some from the car, but in fact he took it out from his own space. There were two gold bars, worth two thousand Hong Kong dollars and one thousand RMB respectively.

The two began to pack their things. Actually, there wasn't much they could bring on a long journey, so Zhang Dabao asked them to just buy two pieces of clothing at the department store and take food and drinks for the journey. He prepared everything else himself when he arrived in Hong Kong.

The Liang sisters started thinking about preparing this and that, and then they got busy. Zhang Dabao pulled two whole sheep back to Yard 95. One of his important tasks now was to prepare food for his wedding day, and he would just have to hand it over to He Daqing when he got home.

"Dabao, are we going to focus on mutton that day?" He Daqing asked Zhang Dabao when he saw two whole sheep.

"Dad, of course not. We still need to get pork. I've ordered it, and they've also started preparing. The black market has been hit too hard right now, and it's a bit difficult to purchase goods from outside," Zhang Dabao said to He Daqing.

"Yes, I also heard from Old Yan in the front yard. He went to the black market twice and wanted to buy some sweet potatoes or something, but the black market was closed. When he asked people he was familiar with, he found out that the crackdown from above was too severe. I heard that the organizers were shot if they were caught," He Daqing said mysteriously.

"Is it so serious? Then who would dare to organize it?" He Yushui asked.

"So the crackdown has become more severe and no one dares to come out. Things that could be bought in one go can now not be found in three places. And people dare not ride motorcycles at night because they are too obvious a target," said Zhang Dabao.

"Do you know how many guests there are now?" He Daqing asked again.

"I just don't know, that's why I'm anxious. My cousin hasn't told me who he contacted yet. I guess someone from the factory might come tomorrow," said Zhang Dabao.

"A large group of people came today and made the yard and outside the courtyard very clean. They also asked the residents to move their belongings back home, saying that there were too many tables and they might have to move them in the yard," said He Yushui.

"What does my cousin want to do? I said I didn't want a big thing, but he disagreed and said that a big leader from above would come. I'm a deputy of the trade union in the factory, so what does it matter whether the leader from above comes or not? It's better for our family to have a meal together." Zhang Dabao now doesn't understand how Li Huaide arranged it, so he can only prepare as many ingredients as possible.

"It doesn't matter if there are a lot of people, Da Biao. On that day we will cook the mutton in a big pot. If there are too many people and not enough food, it won't be shameful to invite them to have mutton soup," said He Daqing.

"This is a good idea. I will go get some more noodles tomorrow and ask them to help make some steamed buns. It doesn't matter if they can't finish them. There are so many relatives at home, and if each of them gets a few, there won't be any left," said Zhang Dabao.

He Daqing and He Yushui nodded in agreement.

He couldn't stay at home, so in the afternoon Zhang Dabao went out again and went to the factory to ask Li Huaide. He wanted to see if arrangements had been made for the chef and so on.

"Everything has been arranged. Zhuzi and the others will go to your yard tomorrow afternoon to build the stove. Si Nian and the others will go to your yard the day after tomorrow. You should not go anywhere from the day after tomorrow onwards. Many people are coming for you, and it would not be appropriate for you not to be at home," said Li Huaide.

"Uncle, who did you invite? I have to prepare the meat and other things," said Zhang Zaibiao.

"About thirty tables, prepare more food and arrange a few more chefs to help on your wedding day. Don't worry about not having enough seats, we have plenty of people in our factory," said Li Huaide.

"Okay, I'll get some more pork." After Zhang Dabao and Li Huaide said this, they felt more confident. They first took out melon seeds, peanuts and other things from the space and put them in the car. Then they went to the supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores and bought more than ten kilograms of sugar with sugar coupons, and brought all of it back to the yard, along with twenty packs of Sanwu cigarettes.

"Da Biao, aren't you spending too much money?" He Daqing felt a little distressed. The wedding was too extravagant and cost too much. It was so difficult to get supplies nowadays.

"Dad, how can we suffer a loss by doing this? No one who comes to the banquet can give a gift." Zhang Dabao comforted He Daqing.

"Old Yan in the front yard often adds a dime to the banquet, and then several people from his family come to eat, and they eat quite a lot," He Daqing cited a negative example.

"There are not many people like Teacher Yan, so we don't have to worry about them eating them," Zhang Dabao said to He Daqing, and asked He Yushui to collect these things and take them out for everyone to eat when guests come.

"Brother Zhuzi and the others are going to build a stove in the yard tomorrow. You can decide on the place. If it doesn't work, we can go to the front door of old Yi's house in the middle yard. It won't be a problem there," Zhang Dabao said to He Daqing.

"It's right there. The things can be kept at home or at the Jia family." He Daqing also liked this place.

The three of them discussed a few more details. It was getting dark, and Zhang Dabao said he had to go out to eat. As for finalizing the pork issue, he asked He Daqing and He Yuzhu to talk about it. It would need to be dealt with tomorrow morning as the weather was a bit hot.

Zhang Dabao went out, put away his motorcycle, and came to Liang's house.

This time he brought three military canteens and some sugar for them to eat on the road.

"Da Mao, we can't play together on Sunday. Mom will take you to visit relatives in the south tomorrow. I will also go to the south in a few days, and we will play there then," Zhang Dabao said to the children.