Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

"Grandma, Second Uncle, come in quickly," Zhao Shanhe called out.

Today is the 29th day of the lunar year, and tomorrow is the 1st day of the new year. According to the plan, the whole family will have a New Year's Eve dinner today.

Zhao Shanhe visited all the leaders in advance yesterday and went to Uncle Cheng's house this morning. When he came back, he happened to meet his grandmother and second uncle.

"Grandma, Second Uncle, you guys drink tea first. I'll go ask Third Uncle for a pair of couplets to put up." Actually, Zhao Shanhe can write, and his handwriting is pretty nice, but it's troublesome to write couplets for the whole family, so it's more convenient to ask Third Uncle. Just tell him and he will put them up for you directly.

Arriving at the Third Uncle's house, Zhao Shanhe gave him fifty cents and said, "Third Uncle, please put up the couplets in the front and back yards for me. This is my writing fee."

"Shanhe, just give me some peanuts and sunflower seeds to wish for good luck in the New Year. Why are you giving me money? Don't worry, I will think of a good couplet for you." Although the third uncle said that he didn't want money, his hands were honest. He took the money and put it in his pocket.

The wind is blowing this year, and the couplets cannot be written carelessly. If someone brings this up, it will be a big trouble. "Uncle, you can write the couplet again: Never forget xxx after turning over a new leaf, thank the Communist Party for your happiness. Although our lives are getting better and better, we must not forget our roots, because these are all brought to us by xxx and the Communist Party."

"Shanhe, no wonder you can be a leader, you have a high level of awareness. I'll post the couplet for you after I finish writing it. Don't forget the whole hospital meeting later," said the third uncle.

As soon as I came out of the third uncle's house, I met a man with a bald forehead, big bags under his eyes, and a paralyzed face, who was rushing into the yard.

"Uncle, who are you and why are you running into the yard?" Zhao Shanhai spoke, right at the door. Zhao Shanhe's house was closest to the gate.

Zhao Shanhe came over and said, "Are you Mr. He? You're back. You've been away for many years."

He Daqing had a paralyzed face and said with an unchanged expression, "Whose boy are you? Are you the eldest son of Zhao Jin's family? Apart from Zhao Jin, there is no one in our compound who is this tall."

Zhao Shanhe said, "Uncle He, I am Zhao Shanhe, the eldest son of Zhao Jin. When I was a child, I often went to your house to play with Sister Yushui. This is my younger brother Zhao Shanhai. He was still a baby when you left. Please don't be surprised if I don't recognize you."

"Hello, Mr. He," Zhao Shanhai asked.

"In the blink of an eye, you have grown so big. If you were not so tall, I would not have recognized you. I will go to your house first. Tell your father that I will treat him to a drink later," said He Daqing

"Okay, Uncle He, let's talk later. You should go home quickly. My father can't be with you anymore. He died in 58." Zhao Shanhe said

"Lao He, you are Lao He, right? Yes, you must be Lao He. Look at the big bags under your eyes. No one else but you has them. You're back." Yan Bugui came out just after writing the couplet and recognized He Daqing at a glance.

"It's Old Yan. My daughter wrote to me and told me that Sha Zhu has a son and asked me to come back to see him. So I came back to see my grandson," said He Daqing.

"Okay, then you go quickly." Yan Bugui saw that He Daqing came back empty-handed, and Sha Zhu was a reckless person, so it was not easy to take advantage of these two men.

There was a reason why He Daqing came with empty hands. After receiving the telegram, he did not even go back home because he was afraid that the White Widow would not want him to return to Beijing. Recently, the White Widow had been pestering He Daqing to find a job for her son.

He Daqing's passbook was with him all the time, and he didn't tell Widow Bai. It was the New Year holiday, so he ran back directly.

"Okay, Old Yan, Zhao family kid, I'll go back first," He Daqing said

"Shazhu, open the door. Your father is back," He Daqing shouted at the door. His daughter-in-law was at home, so he couldn't just push the door open, so he had to knock on the door.

"The door is not locked, come in by yourself," said Sha Zhu from inside

As soon as He Daqing entered, Sha Zhu asked, "Why did you come back? Are you here to take a look or are you not leaving?"

"This is my home, why can't I go back? I was the one who bought the house. Why, now that you've grown powerful, you won't let me go home?" He Daqing said

"Zhu Zi, what nonsense are you talking about on New Year's Day?"

Turning to He Daqing, he said, "You are my father-in-law, right? Hello, Dad. I am Zhuzi's wife, Ma Dongmei, your daughter-in-law." Ma Dongmei took the initiative to greet him.

"Come on, come on. This is the first time we meet. Dad didn't bring anything with him. Take this money and save it for later use." He Daqing took out fifty yuan and handed it to Ma Dongmei.

"Dad, what are you going to bring back home? Also, you are our elder, we have to be filial to you, how can we ask you for money?" Ma Dongmei said politely

"Just take it if it's given to you. He has to give a red envelope when he meets his daughter-in-law for the first time."

Sha Zhu turned around and said to He Daqing, "Don't forget your eldest grandson's share."

Ma Dongmei took the money and saw that it was a full fifty yuan.

He Daqing saw his eldest grandson in bed, and walked over to take a look. The child was not even a month old and was still sleeping. He Daqing was just happy to see him, "Grandpa's eldest grandson, I love him so much. He is much prettier than Shazhu when he was a child, and looks like Dongmei."

"Shazhu, Yushui, are you married?" He Daqing asked

"You are still thinking about your old girl. Why were you so straightforward when you left? Yu Shui was so young and you didn't feel sorry for her at all. Now that Yu Shui is married, you come back," Sha Zhu said dissatisfiedly.

"Dad, I had my reasons. I made arrangements for you when I left. I told the canteen director to let you take over my shift. I also send money for rain every month. Let Lao Yi pick it up."

"Where were you when my sister and I were picking up trash? You arranged the job, didn't Yi Zhonghai arrange it for me? And he gave me the money some time ago."

"What do you mean he arranged it? He's just a fitter, how can he arrange a job as a cook? Is that what Lao Yi told you?

There is also money, which I gave you a while ago. How did he do that when it rained so little? I misjudged him. I will go and settle the score with him now." He Daqing said as he prepared to go out to find Lao Yi.

"Forget it, forget it. The money has been given, and now our family has no more association with him. Let's just leave it at that," said Sha Zhu. He had developed feelings for Yi Zhonghai after so many years of getting along with him.

"You said you had your own difficulties. What were your difficulties? Didn't you just help raise the son of the White Widow because she was pretty?" Sha Zhu asked

"Zhuzi, stop talking. It's New Year's Day. Dad, have you eaten? If not, let Zhuzi make something for you." Seeing that the father and son were about to quarrel, Ma Dongmei hurriedly tried to persuade them.

"I haven't eaten yet. I just got off the train and came here directly," said He Daqing