Siheyuan: I just want to live

Just as Chen Feng was sitting leisurely at the door, listening with relish to the aunties gossiping, Director Wang from the Street Office led a group of people towards the entrance of the alley.

Director Wang came to the gate of the courtyard and saw Chen Feng sitting on the steps. He was puzzled and asked, "Hey! Chen Feng, why didn't you go to work today?"

Chen Feng was immersed in gossip at the moment, but Director Wang's question snapped him out of his trance. He raised his head and saw Director Wang approaching him, so he stood up quickly.

Chen Feng took a few steps closer to Director Wang and answered in a low voice, "I sold a big wild boar to the station today, and the stationmaster asked me to go home and rest, saying that I had worked too hard these past two days."

Director Wang nodded slightly, agreeing, "It's really hard work. You should take a good rest."

Chen Feng looked at Director Wang with so many people following him, and couldn't help but ask curiously: "Director Wang, where are you going with so many people now?"

Director Wang saw Chen Feng was curious, so he patiently explained, "Isn't it almost the New Year? I am here on behalf of the street office to express my condolences to the families of military martyrs. It just so happens that the wild boar you sent to the street office today has been killed, so I sent it here together. Now we are only here to express our condolences to the unemployed people. We will make another trip in the evening when everyone gets off work."

Director Wang took a bag of flour and a net bag from the tricycle that was following him. He handed them to Chen Feng and said, "This is for your family. I just happened to see you. I'm giving it to you now. I won't send it home for you."

Chen Feng looked at the bag that Director Wang handed over and waved his hands quickly. He was flattered and said, "There's still some for me! I don't want it. Give it to someone else who needs it! Our unit just distributed a lot of meat today, and now our family has no shortage of oil and water."

Director Wang saw that Chen Feng was unwilling to accept it, so he said, "The unit's distribution is for the unit, and this is the street office's concern for you. The nature is different! Just accept it! I still have to go to the Jiang family, so don't waste my time."

Seeing Director Wang's insistence, Chen Feng took the net bag and took out two paper bags from it. Then he handed it back and said, "I'll just take these, and leave the rest for other people in need!"

Director Wang looked at the only two paper bags in Chen Feng's hand and frowned slightly, but looking at Chen Feng who still handed them back firmly, Director Wang seemed to not understand why he did this.

Then, Director Wang just nodded slightly and showed a relieved smile: "Chen Feng, you are really a caring person. In this case, let's go in together!"

After saying that, she reached out to take the net bag full of gifts, handed it to a staff member beside her, and motioned Chen Feng to walk into the yard with her.

Hearing Director Wang's words that he was about to enter the yard, Chen Feng reacted immediately, stepped forward and said, "Come! Director Wang, please follow me, I will take you to the Jiang family." His tone was full of enthusiasm.

Then, Chen Feng led Director Wang in the direction of the Jiang family. The two walked side by side and gradually disappeared behind the gate. Along the way, Chen Feng seemed particularly excited and kept introducing the situation of the Jiang family to Director Wang. Director Wang listened quietly and occasionally said a few words. The atmosphere was very harmonious.

When they arrived at the door of Jiang's house, Chen Feng was the first to shout, "Aunt Jiang! Open the door quickly, Director Wang from the Street Office is here to see you."

Chen Feng's voice resounded throughout the front yard, and the other women at home in the front yard all came out to observe. Among them was the third aunt, but she just watched from a distance and did not come forward to ask anything.

When Chen Feng finished shouting, there was a sudden sound of chaotic and hurried footsteps in the room, as if someone was walking in a hurry. Then, with a "creak", Aunt Jiang suddenly pushed open the door, with a smile on her face, and welcomed Chen Feng, Director Wang and other staff into the room.

The moment Chen Feng stepped into the Jiang family's doorstep, he couldn't help but feel a strange feeling in his heart. After all, this was his first time here. He looked around curiously, his eyes quickly swept across the entire room, but he was surprised to find that this place was even more shabby than his own home.

The main room was empty, with only a worn-out table and two shaky benches. In the corner behind the door was a simple stove for cooking, and next to it was a chopping board made of bricks and wooden boards, on which some oil, salt and seasonings were randomly placed. This layout made it clear at a glance that this place was both a kitchen and a living room.

As for the inner room, it was blocked by a thin curtain, so Chen Feng couldn't see clearly what was going on inside. But from the outside, it must not be much better! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little pity in his heart.

Director Wang came into the room and was the first to speak, "We came here mainly because it's almost Chinese New Year. The subdistrict office has prepared some New Year goods, and we came to express our condolences to you."

"It's not much, just five kilograms of flour, two kilograms of meat, one kilogram of oil, and some melon seeds and peanuts. Although it's not much, it also represents the thoughts of the street office."

While Director Wang was speaking, the staff beside him moved in unison, quickly and efficiently, and gently placed the gifts they had brought on the table.

Aunt Jiang's eyes were attracted by the things on the table. Her eyes were full of emotion and surprise. Her lips trembled slightly, and she said sincerely:

"Our family has already caused a lot of trouble for the neighborhood office. How can we accept gifts from you guys during the holidays?"

There is a simplicity and sincerity in her words that makes people admire her.

Director Wang held Aunt Jiang, who was a little excited, tightly and comforted her gently: "This is not a trouble, Aunt Jiang, these are what your family deserves. Just accept them with peace of mind and don't think too much!" His tone was firm and kind, giving people a sense of trustworthiness.

Then, Director Wang explained to Aunt Jiang that they still had to visit other families to offer condolences and time was limited, so they could not chat with her more today. But he reminded Aunt Jiang that if she encountered any difficulties or problems in the future, she must remember to go to the street office to find her at any time, and she would do her best to help.

After that, Director Wang said goodbye to Aunt Jiang with a smile, and then turned and left with the staff. Aunt Jiang was left standing there, watching their backs gradually going away, with a warm power surging in her heart.

Chen Feng was watching the whole process. Director Wang and his friends didn't even come to Aunt Jiang's house to drink a sip of water before immediately going to the next house.

After Director Wang left, Chen Feng also said goodbye to Aunt Jiang's house and returned to his own home in the backyard. Chen Feng returned to the house and sat at the table. He opened the two paper packages he had just taken out of the condolence gifts and found that they were a bag of melon seeds and a bag of peanuts, both of which were in shells.

Chen Feng peeled a peanut, put it in his mouth and chewed it, and suddenly his eyes lit up - it turned out that this peanut was raw! Not only that, it was not fried yet!

Then, Chen Feng picked up a melon seed and put it into his mouth to crack it, but the result was equally surprising - this melon seed was obviously not roasted either.

Faced with this situation, Chen Feng decided not to try to eat them, and quickly peeled the remaining peanuts. Then, he took these peanuts and melon seeds into his own space.

After entering the space, Chen Feng carefully cleared a small piece of fertile farmland and carefully sowed the peanut seeds; then, he planted the melon seeds in the same way. Looking at the small piece of farmland in front of him, Chen Feng thought to himself: "When these seeds sprout, grow and bear abundant fruits, I will have endless peanuts and melon seeds to eat!"

After completing the planting task, Chen Feng stepped out of the space and began to prepare dinner. He skillfully fried a pheasant and steamed some steaming buns. Although for Chen Feng, this was just an ordinary dinner, at this moment, Banggeng, who lived in the middle courtyard, was once again moved to tears by the tempting aroma of the chicken made by Chen Feng...

Although Chen Feng also heard Zhongyuan Banggeng crying, he ignored it. After eating quickly, Chen Feng put the remaining chicken and steamed buns into a lunch box and put it in the space to keep warm.

When Qin Huairu came to Chen Feng's door with the bowl, Chen Feng was humming a little tune in the kitchen while washing the dishes and pots. Chen Feng heard the noise and turned to look at Qin Huairu who was holding the newly bought bowl. Qin Huairu also looked at Chen Feng. The atmosphere froze and both of them felt a little awkward.

Qin Huairu showed a stiff fake smile and asked tentatively, "Chen Feng, did your family just fry chicken?"

Chen Feng casually glanced at the large bowl in Qin Huairu's hand, and his mind became clear as a mirror - she came to the backyard this time, and she knew exactly why.

Isn't this just another time to borrow some meat? It hasn't been long since I made him cry and run away because of this matter. How dare he come to visit me again? Aren't you afraid of being made to cry by me again?

Chen Feng looked coldly at the woman in front of him who was trembling with fear and treading on thin ice, without any sympathy. His face was still as calm as water, and he said expressionlessly: "Oh, I just made a fried pheasant, what's the matter?" There was a hint of indifference and disdain in his words.

Seeing this, the fake smile on Qin Huairu's face froze instantly, but she still forced a smile and continued to ask: "Then... is there any chicken left?" It seemed that she had no intention of giving up.

However, facing Qin Huairu's inquiry, Chen Feng had no intention of responding directly. Instead, he asked in a teasing tone: "What do you think?" After saying that, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing an imperceptible cunning smile.

Hearing this, the smile on Qin Huairu's face became more and more awkward and unnatural, as if her secrets had been exposed on the spot, and she didn't know how to respond for a moment.

After hesitating for a moment, Qin Huairu fled again, but this time she didn't run back crying.

Chen Feng shrugged indifferently, then continued to hum the lascivious music that was not available in this era, and happily washed the pot.