Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

After returning home, Yan Bugui felt more and more that something was wrong. He went to Yi Zhonghai to get things done, but was scared and sent back. If he told others about it, how would he face it?

Besides, Yan Jiecheng can only ask Yi Zhonghai for help regarding his matter. As long as Yi Zhonghai expresses his willingness to accept Yan Jiecheng as his apprentice, he can naturally be transferred back to the fitter workshop. What future is there in the scrap warehouse?

You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a kid!

I hardened my heart, took out the bottle of wine I bought during the Chinese New Year last year, filled it with water again, and shook it vigorously to allow the wine and water to better blend together.

We have the wine, now all we need is some snacks to go with it.

After thinking it over, I could only take out two dimes from the drawer, go to the office, buy a few starch sausages, cut two of them, and put them on a plate. This was a rare dish to go with wine.

"Boss, you're not going to celebrate. Why did you think of buying sausages today?"

When Yang Ruihua came back from work, he saw several sausages wrapped in paper on the table as soon as he entered the main room. The sausages were not expensive, and the office was flexible in selling them. You could buy them in packs or individually. Even so, the old Yan family would rather spend money on big bones than sausages every month. In Yan Bugui's words, those things looked cheap, but they were not economical to eat.

"It's all about finding a job. It's not a good idea to go to someone and ask for help with nothing."

"That's true. Even though there aren't many things, we can't just leave it alone."

"Don't worry about whether it's a job or not. I've done my best."

After saying this, Yan Bugui, holding the wine in one hand and the plate in the other, went to Yi Zhonghai's house in the central courtyard.

"Old Yi, Old Yi, open the door."

Both hands were busy, so he kicked the door. This was extremely impolite, so Yan Bugui could only shout.

Hearing that it was Yan Bugui's voice, Yi Zhonghai reluctantly asked Tan Guihua to open the door.

"Old Yan, is there any happy event today?"

As a long-time neighbor, Yan Bugui always went to other people's houses empty-handed, but today was indeed an exception. Seeing Yan Bugui offering wine and sausage, Tan Guihua felt a little uneasy. Judging from the situation, Yan Bugui was asking for a lot.

"Sister-in-law, have you eaten yet? I want to go get some drink from Lao Yi."

"Come in, I'm just about to start cooking."

"That's great, sister-in-law, cook two more dishes, and Lao Yi and I will have a good drink."

"Old Yi, Old Yan is here, come out quickly."

After Tan Guihua called out, Yi Zhonghai walked out in a pretentious manner.

"Old Yan, I really made you spend a lot of money today."

"We two brothers are drinking, so it doesn't matter whether it costs money or not."

It was good to see that the plate held by Yan Bugui actually contained ham sausage. In recent times, ham sausage has begun to appear on the dining tables of people around. Especially when there are guests at home, it is a good dish that is cheap, delicious and presentable.

"I'll add a dish for you."

Tan Guihua washed two wine glasses and brought over a plate of peanuts.

"Sister-in-law, how about having a bite too?"

"Just leave me alone, I'm busy cooking."

"Sister-in-law, don't cook so many dishes. Just cook two more."

After Yan Bugui said this, Tan Guihua didn't know how to respond. Do you think this dish should be fried or not?

Only after Yi Zhonghai nodded did Tan Guihua go to the cellar and get a cabbage and a red radish, which were the two dishes.

"Drink slowly."

Tan Guihua is very skillful in cooking. She made some spicy and sour cabbage and some radish vermicelli in no time.

Yan Bugui and Yi Zhonghai were drinking in the main room, while Tan Guihua was eating alone in the kitchen.

"puff.."

After taking a sip from the wine glass, Yi Zhonghai tilted his head and spit it out. This was not wine at all, it was just water that smelled a bit like alcohol. It was obvious that this bottle of wine had been diluted with water countless times.

"Old Yi, you can't drink this, but don't spit it out either. This is food essence. What a pity, what a pity."

Yan Bugui was so distressed by the glass of wine that when he took a sip, his body paused noticeably. He thought to himself that it was not good because it had been diluted with water too many times and there was no taste of alcohol anymore.

"Oh, this is what happened. I didn't expect that wine would expire. Old Yi, I'm sorry. I made you laugh."

"Okay, Old Yan, drink mine."

Since Yi Zhonghai had spoken, Yan Bugui put the lid back on his bottle of wine and took it with him when he returned home.

Yi Zhonghai’s wine is not a good one. It is just the kind of bulk wine sold in the supply and marketing cooperatives. It’s just okay to drink.

"Old Yan, we've already drunk the wine and eaten the food, now tell me, what's the matter?"

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Yi Zhonghai put down his chopsticks, looked at Yan Bugui and asked.

"Old Yi, I'm sure you've heard about Jie Cheng's incident. That good-for-nothing was transferred to the scrap warehouse. Tell me, what's the difference between my one thousand dollars and throwing it away?"

"Old Yan, what do you mean?"

"Old Yi, see if you can transfer Jie Cheng to work for you and make him your apprentice."

"Old Yan, is this what you meant, or what Jie Cheng meant?"

Yi Zhonghai poured himself a glass of water, held it in his hands, and took a sip from time to time.

"What difference does it make? Besides, the scrap warehouse sounds good, but it's still a laborer. There is no future in skilled jobs. Anyone would know how to choose, right?"

"Old Yan, the problem is not what you think is right. I heard from Old Zheng, yes, Old Zheng is Jie Cheng's fitter. Jie Cheng has no talent in this area and is not cut out for this job. Instead of wasting time in the fitter workshop, he might as well stay in the scrap warehouse."

Yan Bugui didn't know, but Yi Zhonghai knew. It was his idea to transfer Yan Jiecheng to the waste warehouse. Do you think inviting Zhengzhong to drink is in vain?

Yi Zhonghai just said it casually at the dinner table, and Zhengzhong naturally understood it. It happened that he also disliked Yan Jiecheng, so he took advantage of the fact that Yan Jiecheng had a broken leg, talked to the workshop director, and directly transferred Yan Jiecheng away.

"Old Yi, does Jie Cheng have to do manual labor for the rest of his life?"

Yan Bugui was unwilling to accept this. He only made about 20 yuan a month in the scrap warehouse, and that was after he was hired as a regular employee. Before that, he made less than 20 yuan. If he wanted to get his 1,000 yuan back, he would have to wait until the end of time!

"Not necessarily. As long as Jie Cheng works hard, he might be noticed by a grassroots leader one day, and then he will be able to rise to prominence."

"Really?"

"Hey, Old Yan, you also know that this matter depends on opportunity."

Yan Bugui realized at this point that Yi Zhonghai was comforting himself, telling him not to think too much and that he could only do this for now.

"Okay then. From now on it depends on Jie Cheng's luck."

Having said that, Yan Bugui was no longer in the mood to drink. He picked up his bottle of wine, carried his own plate, and went home.