Siheyuan: How the Little People Live

The front yard of the Red Star Courtyard, the east wing.

Ye Wenwu returned to his room and began writing furiously.

What happened just now really planted a seed of doubt in Sha Zhu's heart.

And what's more, it just so happens that tomorrow is the last day of this month. Tomorrow, Sha Zhu will definitely find out that Uncle Yi Zhonghai has embezzled the living expenses that his father sends to him every month. Then, these two people will start to fight.

However, Ye Wenwu waited until Sha Zhu left before quietly telling his third uncle Yan Bugui about several problems.

Because every time Daye and Yi Zhonghai went there, the people from the post office had just returned, and Yi Zhonghai would be there at the right time. If they wanted to get the saved letters, someone had to stop them like a Zhong Kui.

However, this matter did not stump the third uncle Yan Bugui, as his eldest son had not found a job yet by tomorrow, so he asked his eldest son Yan Jiecheng to stop Yi Zhonghai.

Then Ye Wenwu recognized another problem. If Yi Donghai said that he was keeping it for Sha Zhu and would give it to him when he got married, how would you refute it?

The third uncle Yan Bugui was stunned for a moment, as if this really made sense.

Then Ye Wenwu taught the third uncle Yan Bugui a method. First, let Sha Zhu pretend to be stupid and hide behind the door, and then lead Yi Zhonghai over to talk.

At that time, we will keep talking about why you don't lend 500 yuan to the fool when you obviously have so much money. Because I believe Yi Donghai will be speechless at that time. In order to shut Yan Bugui's mouth, he will definitely say this matter, that they split it - or something like that.

Sure enough, everything happened as Ye Wenwu expected. Uncle Yi Zhonghai did not go to work, but took a day off.

Now most of the people in the compound have gone to work, and only then was Yi Zhonghai able to come out.

"Uncle, this is going to the village to visit the ancestors."

The old man smiled and nodded.

"My ancestor is old and can't farm in the countryside. If I don't go to bring him food, he won't survive this month. I've talked to you guys, so I'll go first."

Afterwards, everyone talked about how filial Yi Zhonghai was. If anyone had a younger generation like Yi Zhonghai, they would be blessed for the rest of their life.

As the uncle Yi Zhonghai went out, the door of the west wing in the front yard opened, revealing a young man who followed quietly.

Sha Zhu from the Intermediate Courtyard also came out of his home. When everyone saw that Sha Zhu did not go to the factory to work, they asked in surprise.

Sha Zhu didn't have time to deal with these people. He just nodded and chased after them outside.

When he arrived at the front yard, he ran into the third uncle Yan Bugui, who grabbed the anxious Sha Zhu.

"Don't worry, Shazhu. I've asked Jie Cheng to follow the old man. When Jie Cheng pesters the old man, I'll go to the post office with you to see if there's any letter from Baocheng."

Hearing that Yan Jiecheng had followed the old man Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhu finally felt relieved.

Afterwards, the third uncle Yan Bugui told Sha Zhu his inner thoughts, which were the methods Ye Wenwu had told him yesterday. Sha Zhu hesitated for a moment before nodding and agreeing.

The two of them then rode the third uncle Yan Bugui's bicycle towards the post office.

An old man named Yi Zhonghai was walking on the street. He always felt that something was wrong today. He always felt as if something was going to happen, and his right eyelid kept twitching.

"Maybe yesterday's punishment made me a little irritable."

He could only attribute this incident to what happened yesterday. Seeing the post office already close at hand in the distance, his pace became noticeably faster.

"Uncle, why are you here?"

Seeing the post office, Yan Jiecheng knew it was time to call the old man, otherwise it would be difficult to find the place once he got inside.

Yi Zhonghai was startled. He didn't expect to meet Yan Jiecheng in this place. He patted his chest and kept calm. Then he asked:

"Hey, Jie Cheng, why are you here today? Didn't you find any work?"

Yan Jiecheng rubbed his head shyly.

"I didn't find any work today, so I was just wandering around. I didn't expect to run into you, an old man. Aren't you at work today? Why are you here?"

Yi Zhonghai also reacted and thought that maybe Yan Jiecheng just happened to meet him.

"You know your uncle has to take a leave at the end of every month. Your uncle's elder in the village asks me to deliver some food to him at this time every month."

"Oh! Sorry, uncle, I forgot about this. I have nothing to do today, so I'll follow you and help you."

Yi Zhonghai looked embarrassed. Fortunately, the supply and marketing cooperative was not far away. He didn't want Yan Bugui to follow him into the post office. Wouldn't that be like inviting a wolf into the house? It would be even better if he could get rid of him.

"It's useless. Your uncle is used to it every year. Find a job for yourself. Who will your father scold you at night?"

Yan Jiecheng's expression changed, but he remained firm in his thinking.

"Uncle, it's okay. I'll help you anyway since I have nothing else to do. I'll come back to find a job after I help you."

After Yan Jiecheng said this, what else could Yi Zhonghai do? He could only lead Yan Jiecheng to the supply and marketing cooperative nearby.

Yan Bugui and Sha Zhu, who were watching the two from afar, saw the old man and his companions walking towards the supply and marketing cooperative, and hurriedly rode their bicycles to the door of the post office.

"Master, is there an envelope from Bao Cheng?"

Sha Zhu grabbed a postman and said excitedly.

The postman was startled and said with a dark face:

"Comrade, please let go. If you don't I will call the police."

"Silly Zhu, don't get excited."

The third uncle Yan Bugui quickly grabbed Sha Zhu from behind and apologized.

"Comrade, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just miss my father a little bit. Let's see if there is any news from nearby."

The postman snorted and patted his wrinkled clothes.

"Don't grab people like this in the future, no matter how excited you are. You're so strong that you almost ripped my clothes."

"Excuse me, comrade. Is there any letter from Baocheng?"

Seeing the attitude of the third uncle Yan Bugui, the postman calmed down.

"Wait a minute, let me look for it. I think there is a letter from the insurance company every month, but I don't think it's from you guys every time!"

Faced with the postman's questioning, the third uncle Yan Bugui hurriedly explained.

"Comrade, the one you mentioned before is the uncle who manages our compound. He took it for the child next to me. His father left him 16 years ago and went to live in Baocheng. Our entire compound knows about it."

After hearing the explanation from the third uncle Yan Bugui, the postman handed over the letter he had just found with some doubt.

There were three big characters written on the envelope: Yi Zhonghai.

The third uncle Yan Bugui quickly put the envelope into his arms, then pulled the postman to the corner, took out 10 yuan from his pocket and stuffed it into the postman's hand.

"Comrade, consider this money as hush money, and just treat this letter as if it had never come."

The postman was also tempted when he saw the 10 yuan in his hand. After all, it was just a letter and he made 10 yuan easily. Besides, they just said that they were from the same courtyard as the previous person, so it didn't matter who he gave the money to.

Seeing the postman nod, Uncle Yan Bugui took Sha Zhu and rode away quickly on his bicycle.

Yi Zhonghai brought Yan Jiecheng to the supply and marketing cooperative, and he secretly ran over to pee. When he saw the bicycle that had just left in a hurry, he felt inexplicably familiar with it. If time waits for no one, he would not have time to think.

He hurried in and asked the postman if there was any letter from Baocheng.

"Comrade, is there any letter from Baocheng?"

The postman, who had just received 10 yuan, shook his head.

"Comrade, there is no letter from Baocheng today."

Yi Zhonghai was a little confused, but since the postman said no, then there was definitely no.

But the letters from Baocheng have been coming for more than ten years without interruption. Could it be that he felt that his children had grown up and stopped writing to him? But why didn't he write to him for the last time when he was familiar with him?

I could only rush to the supply and marketing cooperative in confusion.