Siheyuan: Breaking up with Shazhu at the beginning

I remember that each child received 30 yuan in New Year’s money before the New Year, and 10 yuan in pocket money a few days ago, which was only 40 yuan in total.

For ordinary people, this is a lot, almost enough for one person's living expenses for two months. Therefore, Yang Liu is sure that no additional funds are needed at the moment.

"Silly girl, your father passed away early, and I have been away for many years, so you have suffered a lot.

Now I just want to try to make it up to you a little and make up for the shortcomings I made in your growth.

If you don't accept it, it means I still owe you care.

'

"Brother, it's not that you haven't taken care of this family. Even though you haven't been home for many years, you still send money back every month.

I also understand that human discipline is not something that ordinary people can disobey at will. We can understand that you have no choice.

'

Yang Liu's words touched Yang Jun's heart, and he felt deeply sorry for not fulfilling his duties for many years.

After hearing his sister's words, he suddenly felt his family's understanding and felt comforted.

He patted her gently, silently but full of emotion.

"Take it, use it to buy some delicious food, and then find some time to get together with your classmates.

Before you join the military, relax.

'

"Brother, I really can't..."

Yang Liu wanted to refuse, but her uncle's voice interrupted her:

"Junzi, your aunt will be cremated soon, go and eat.

The time is set at 11 o'clock, and after the funeral at noon, preparations for burial will be made.

'

"Yes, Uncle, I'll be there right away.

'

Yang Jun glared at Yang Liu, motioned for her to take the money, and then returned to the hall with his second uncle.

Since Yi Zhonghai had no surviving children, his usual friends no longer came to pay their respects.

Everyone thought that he had no children and there was no need to continue contacting him.

Even his disciples did not show up. Ever since that incident, they chose to distance themselves from him for fear of being implicated.

Most of the people in the courtyard now are neighbors of this courtyard. Although they despise Yi Zhonghai's personality, they all treat Aunt Wang as a neighbor and it is not appropriate to stay out of it.

There were five simple banquet tables set up in the atrium, prepared for those who were busy helping out.

The dishes are extremely simple and bland.

A simple dish of three and a soup, with only a few slices of minced meat floating on top.

The third uncle seemed to see through Yang Jun's thoughts and handed over a list:

"Junzi, we raised a total of thirty-five dollars and sixty cents last night. The cost of the cemetery alone was sixty dollars, and hiring two buses was fifteen dollars. The remaining seven dollars and thirty cents can only be used to arrange a banquet like this.

'

The third uncle Yan Bugui sighed, seeming quite dissatisfied with the simple funeral.

Yang Jun waved his hand and asked the uncle not to mention the accounts again.

"Uncle, Yi Zhonghai is at least a senior fitter, so he should have a lot of savings. Why is this happening?"

The third uncle smiled bitterly: After Lao Yi got into trouble, your aunt spent all her money to find a solution, but she didn't expect those people to take the money but not to pay, and instead made things worse.

My sister-in-law also had mental problems, and all her savings were used for medical expenses.”

Hearing this, Yang Jun felt sad and lamented the trick of fate.

“It’s a good thing that you two uncles are here to take charge, otherwise this courtyard would have been in chaos a long time ago.

'

After hearing this, the second uncle showed a little pride. He was very happy to receive praise from Yang Jun.

"As the elders of our courtyard, if we don't step forward to take care of them, what else can others do? This is our responsibility.

'

The sound of weeping continued to be heard in the mourning hall, and the entire courtyard was immersed in a depressing atmosphere.

They didn't talk about what happened before anymore and everyone started to eat.

The food is simple but better than home-cooked, and just barely acceptable.

After drinking two bowls of porridge in the morning, Yang Jun felt a little hungry and thirsty.

He grabbed a steamed bun and gobbled it up.

While chewing, he noticed the situation in the mourning hall.

The three children of Qin Huairu's family were dressed in mourning clothes and lined up on the left, while Wang's niece Gu Dani led her three children to kneel on the right. The two families seemed to be competing quietly, with cries coming one after another.

Especially the kid Banggeng, who glared fiercely at the children opposite. If no one restrained him, he would have rushed forward and started tearing them apart.

Yang Jun couldn't help laughing in his heart as he watched this scene.

This situation is really uncharacteristic.

Qin Huairu actually brought her three children to see Yi Wangshi off as family members.

Qin Huairu herself was also wearing mourning clothes and crying, pretending to express her grief.

It can be said that "she is wearing white mourning clothes and looks graceful and elegant", and this statement is absolutely true.

Widow Qin is now exceptionally charming, especially when she cries, which makes her look even more pitiful.

Seeing her grief-stricken appearance, others thought she was Yi Wangshi’s daughter rather than her daughter-in-law.

Both families were mourning in front of the coffin while secretly competing with each other.

Adults have their own ways of competing, and children have their own ways of fighting.

Qin Huairu and Gu Dani competed in crying and sadness, and each told the coffin how well Yi Wang treated them, which also showed how close they were to her.

The other six children also responded sharply. Although they looked at each other fiercely, they also spat at each other from time to time to provoke each other.

They all understood that today they could only argue verbally and would not resort to violence.

Yang Jun became increasingly dissatisfied as he watched from the side.

He whispered to his third uncle Yan Bugui, "Uncle, what's going on?"

Yang Jun gently patted his uncle's elbow, motioning him to move his gaze towards the mourning hall.

"Alas." The third uncle sighed, "What else can we do? Fight for the house."

"Fighting for a house?" Yang Jun didn't understand what he meant.

"Otherwise, do you think Qin Huairu would help bury her deceased sister-in-law for no reason?" the uncle asked.

Second uncle Liu Dahai was listening impatiently and slammed the table, saying, "No matter what her considerations are, it's good to have her three children attend the funeral.

If she hadn't made a fuss by demanding a paternity test, causing the matter to become a big deal, something like this wouldn't have happened to Brother Yi.

In the end, it is still Qin Huairu's fault. Now that she is here to help, she has confessed her mistake and repented."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun understood that the second uncle was planning to blame all the mistakes on Qin Huairu.

I'm afraid he is still in the dark and doesn't understand that it was he who instigated Qin Huairu to take action.

"Uncle, you are wrong to say that. This is not Sister Jia's fault.

If Yi Zhonghai behaved properly and had not done those things, why would Qin Huairu cause trouble for him?" Yang Jun argued.

"But...how can the relationship between neighbors living in the same yard be so aggressive?" The second uncle's face turned slightly red, looking a little unwilling.

"Uncle, you are the boss of the courtyard. How can you fail to distinguish between public and private and ignore right and wrong? Don't you think that what Brother Yi did deserves due punishment?" Yang Jun asked.

"I didn't say anything about Brother Yi, but I think..."

Seeing that he was about to get stuck in a rut again, Yang Jun decisively waved his hand to interrupt: "Second uncle, it's getting late, quickly organize the servants to leave."

Not wanting to dwell on this topic, Yang Jun dropped the half-steamed bread in his hand, stood up and left, walking towards the backyard.

He turned around and glanced at Qin Huairu in the mourning hall.

Alas, the woman had changed, but her calculating habits remained the same.

Fighting for real estate?

snort!

Even if she is not Yi Zhonghai's real widow, what does it matter if she is?

Those houses were originally welfare housing for the employees of the Steel Research Institute, but they had been fired because of Yi Zhonghai's problems.

Since Yi Zhonghai is no longer a factory worker, the property naturally needs to be reclaimed.

The previous tolerance was due to poor Yi Wangshi and her morbid psychology.

But now, with her death, the property will definitely be reclaimed. Not to mention Qin Huairu, even Gu Dani will not get a share of the property.

Even if Qin Huairu had planned everything, in the end it would only lead to regrets.

Do you think that by seeing her off to her final resting place, you will be recognized by the factory as Yi Zhonghai's wife?

Haha, I was overthinking it.

Even Yi Zhonghai doesn’t have this status, let alone his wife?

The scene in the play changes. After being trampled by Xu Damao and attacked at home, Lou Xiao'e and her family fled to Gangcheng, and there was also news about Sha Zhu's child.

Her life here was not going well. She worked during the day and was pregnant, while her father placed all his expectations on his brothers and showed little concern for her.

Although Yang Jun sympathized with her situation, he chose to stand by and not interfere in her affairs.

After experiencing many things, he realized that he could not stop the train of fate, and his power could only make small changes, nothing more.

Lou Xiao'e's predicament was too complicated and he didn't want to get involved for fear of implicating himself.

Thinking that her final outcome might be better, Yang Jun decided not to intervene and let things develop as they were meant to.

The crematorium is located in a remote area in the northern suburbs, far away from the city, about 80 kilometers away.

Even though the journey was a bit monotonous, the crosstalk dialogue between Sha Zhu and Xu Damao in the car somewhat livened up the atmosphere.

After driving for nearly an hour, the car finally arrived at the funeral site.

The bus stopped steadily in front of the funeral home.

The second uncle directed several young men to carry Aunt Yi out of the car and move her straight to the hall.

The place was spacious with a few clumps of plants placed there, and everyone easily placed her on the designated coffin.

Then a funeral home staff member came into the room and verified the identity of the deceased before starting the farewell ceremony.

The host mechanically read out the elegy prepared by the third uncle, which was nothing but praise for the diligence, kindness and thriftiness of the deceased.

The farewell ceremony was simple and old-fashioned, and proceeded according to the procedure: family members stood by and bowed back to the worshippers.

In order to promote frugality, family members are asked to take the lead and lead everyone to circle the deceased three times as a farewell gesture.

However, when it came to appointing a leader, Qin Huairu and Gu Dani had a dispute again, as both believed that their family had a closer relationship with Aunt Yi.

In the end, the second uncle had to mediate and they walked forward side by side regardless of their differences.

The children of the two families each brought three followers and lined up in the team.

According to convention, the relatives of the deceased walk in order of closeness, but because Aunt Yi has no children or relatives, it seems a bit casual.

As the elder, the second uncle insisted on arranging them according to seniority, and believed that the eldest uncle in the yard, Yang Jun, should be ranked first.

Yang Jun had no choice but to take the first place, followed by Liu Haizhong, and then his third uncle Yan Bugui and others.

After the farewell ceremony, four staff members carried out the stretcher carrying Aunt Yi for cremation.

Next to the crematorium, everyone waited quietly.

About half an hour later, a staff member came out carrying an enamel can. As the donations were not much, most of them were used to buy a cemetery, and the remaining amount was not enough to purchase an urn, so the enamel can was used temporarily.

But at this time, Qin Huairu and Gu Dani started arguing about who should take the urn.

Qin Huairu said that as a grandson, she had the right to hold Banggeng, but Gu Dani insisted that her son Tiedan was more qualified as a nephew, and retorted that Aunt Yi had never recognized Qin Huairu's family during her lifetime.

Seeing the argument getting more intense, Second Uncle's fat face was filled with dissatisfaction and he left in anger.

"Okay, stop arguing." He interrupted the argument loudly.

With the mediation of the second uncle, the two families stopped their confrontation.

Watching Qin Huairu and Gu Dani arguing everywhere and refusing to give in, Yang Jun lamented the complexity of human nature.

It is worth pondering whether their seemingly loyal and filial behavior really comes from the heart.

Of course not exactly.

The reason why they refused to give up an inch of land was to make others recognize that they were Aunt Yi's real family and had the right to inherit the two rooms.

Yang Jun smiled bitterly and shook his head.

It all started with those few rooms.

What's the point of fighting over these houses? In the end, no one will own them.

But Yang Jun did not expose the truth. At least this matter should be brought up after Aunt Yi rests in peace.

Everyone got back in the car and drove to the cemetery.

Of Yang Jun's memories from his previous life, the one that left the deepest impression on him was undoubtedly the Babaoshan Cemetery. He once thought that all the people in Beijing would rest there.

However, as he grew older, he realized that this perception was wrong.

Only those who have made significant contributions to the country are fortunate enough to be buried here, while the final resting place of ordinary people is elsewhere.

Aunt Yi's tomb is located on a mountain in the southern suburbs of the city. The entire mountain has become a cemetery. The flat stone path is flanked by lush and tall pine forests, and the snow on the top of the mountain has not yet melted.

The burial process was simple and clear. After the staff assisted in placing the ashes in the urn, the relatives shed tears and said their final farewell.

Looking at Qin Huairu and Gu Dani throwing tantrums on the ground, Yang Jun really couldn't agree with their behavior in his heart. Their acting was too exaggerated.

He just watched from a distance and didn't want to look any further.

After the two families expressed their intention to keep the couple, the relationship was finally resolved.

The moment the coffin was closed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Huairu and Gu Dani's lips curled up slightly into a smile. The farce was finally over and the tears had all dried.

On the way back, Yang Jun noticed that Qin Huairu tried to get close to him several times, as if she had something private to say.

But of course he didn't give her the chance to blend into the crowd.

Qin Huairu was a smart person and understood that this alone was not enough to ensure she got the house.

To obtain it successfully, he had to get along with several elders, especially Yang Jun, an official at the steel mill, whose influence was crucial.

She felt that she had an advantage living in a slum, and believed that the old men would favor family ties over principles.

So when Yang Jun looked back, she tried to signal him with her eyes, but failed.

Yang Jun smiled faintly and continued walking down the mountain.

Once we reached the foot of the mountain, the ride lineup changed.

Colleagues at the factory all wanted to hitchhike back to the factory, causing Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangtian to be pushed to the back seat of the bus.

Seeing her second uncle Liu Haizhong coming in and there was an empty seat in the car, Qin Huairu immediately tried to squeeze forward.