Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

"Here you go!" Liu Shiya threw over a Russian book.

"Thank you, Liu Shiya." He Lai immediately picked it up and started reading.

“Why do you like Russian so much?”

"Russian is difficult, so I need to learn more."

Liu Shiya was confused. Is this how difficult it is for you?

……

"Keep writing. Two eggs were laid today. I'll make some steamed egg custard for you."

He Lai said that he still knows how to make egg custard, as he makes it often.

Crack the eggs into two bowls, add hot water, stir, and start steaming directly.

It was out of the pot in a short while. Just add two drops of sesame oil and it’s perfect.

Bring it outside and place it in front of the little ones.

"The first bite today goes to Chun'er. She cleaned the chicken coop. Chun'er, here's the spoon."

Chun'er happily took the spoon and scooped a spoonful.

"The second one was for Xiao Yushui. She fed her and changed the water." He Lai handed over a spoon.

The rain also came happily with a spoonful.

"The third bite went to Little Huzi of course. He caught a lot of bugs. The hen ate very happily." He Lai gave the spoon to Little Huzi as well.

"Bright day, you haven't done anything, just wait for them to finish eating. Any leftovers are yours."

"Come on, brother, don't you want to eat?"

"I don't like to eat."

"Why do I see this around your mouth?"

"No way, I wiped it clean."

……

"Broad day."

"What are you doing?" Liu Guangtian was still licking the bowl.

"Look at your achievements. Tomorrow, Saturday, I will take you to fish for eels."

"Really?" Liu Guangtian put down the bowl immediately.

“But only on weekends.”

"it is good."

"And the homework must be finished first."

"Row!"

"The hook is wrapped with thread for your mother so that no one can see what it is made of, you know? The same goes for Little Tiger."

"Okay, come on, brother."

……

Xu Damao, Liu Guangtian, Xiaohuzi and his sister, He Lai, and Yu Shui set out for the moat.

"Brother Damao, you take the little tiger brothers and sisters to the left, I will take Yu Shui and Liu Guangtian to the right."

"Row."

"Let's go."

He Lai and Liu Guangtian each held a hook and bait, and Xiao Yushui carried a bucket with a small lid.

Liu Guangtian found a hole, spread out the bait, put it on the hook, and loaded it up. It was so smooth.

Only then did He Lai realize that Liu Guangtian's technique in fishing for eels had reached perfection.

Yes, the desire for food of children of this generation exceeds their own cognition.

I also became serious and started looking for holes to catch eels.

Time passed quickly, and I couldn't even carry the rain bucket anymore. He Lai helped me carry it.

"Bright day, go, that's enough."

"Oh oh here it comes."

"Guangtian, today I will teach you a phrase called 'steadfast flow'. Do you know what it means?"

Liu Guangtian shook his head.

"It means don't catch all the eels at once, silly boy."

He Lai let Yu Shui lead the way in front, and he and Liu Guangtian carried the bucket together.

"Guangtian, are you happy?"

"I'm happy. Thank you, Brother Lai, for teaching me how to catch yellow eels."

"Actually, I just want you to grow up as soon as possible and stop thinking about playing all the time."

"Don't always go against your father. I know you are jealous of your eldest brother, but you have to rely on yourself for many things. Your father's things are your father's after all. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I…"

"Okay, let's go. With this yellow eel, bring your dad something delicious. He'll eventually realize it."

"Ah."

……

"Brother Damao, Xiaohuzi, you two are no match for us. You don't have as many as us." He Lai said sarcastically.

"Hey, we are just letting you go because we are afraid you will lose face. Why don't you try fishing for another hour?"

"Forget it, two hours a day is good enough. Our two buckets are almost 20 kilograms."

"Let's go to the market and exchange some vegetables."

"Let's go."

……

"He Lai! Why are you in the market? Selling eels?"

"We don't have money to buy meat at home. We are so poor. Would you like some?"

"Humph, liar. Let's go, mother."

"Buy some for your classmate. Two kilograms for your classmate."

"Good kind."

"Auntie, please help me weigh two kilograms for my classmate's mother, and I will give you an eel later."

"no problem."

"6000 in total."

"Here you go. Thank you, classmate Liu Shiya."

"He's your deskmate. Isn't he very polite?"

"He's a liar. Let's go, mom."

"It's a bit slow to sell like this. How did you do it before in broad daylight?"

"There's a fish seller there. He'll take them, but they're 2500 per pound. I'll sell them for 3500."

"Uh, isn't this speculation?"

"Forget it, just give it to him. Ask Brother Zhuzi and his canteen tonight if they will accept it."

He Lai took one and gave it to the old lady, and gave the bucket to Liu Guangtian.

Liu Guangtian immediately ran over and exchanged the money.

50,000 yuan. 10,000 yuan for each man, 8,000 yuan for girls.

Everyone had no opinion.

I started buying things. Now the price of meat has risen to 5500.

Guangtian and Xiaohu spent half of the money on eggs and kept the other half. Xu Damao bought 2 kilograms of meat, after all he had money.

He Lai bought two pounds of shrimps, and the shrimp shells were just enough for the hen to eat.

After buying, go home.

"Guangtian, Xiaohuzi, how much did you two fish last time?"

"More than 800,000."

"Where's the money?"

"I gave my money to grandma."

"I gave half of my money and kept half for myself."

"It's fine in broad daylight. You know how to hide your secret money. Haha. But don't spend it recklessly. Don't be like Damao. He can spend all the money!"

"Hey, you little brat. I'm going to beat you up."

"Everyone remember, the same old saying, don't catch too many fish, and don't let anyone know. We should take it slow and steady! Everyone must remember this."

"remember!"

……

Little Tiger's Home

"Grandma, buy me some eggs and give me some money." Little Huzi handed over the money and eggs as soon as he got home.

"Grandma, there's mine." Chun'er said the same.

Auntie Sun stroked the children's heads and wiped away the tears from her eyes. She was filled with joy and pride. She knew that although the two children were young, they were sensible and heartbreaking. They learned to take on responsibilities and share housework early on, and also learned to be considerate and caring to their elders.

Auntie Sun felt warm at heart when she looked at the two lively and lovely children. She knew that although these eggs were not worth much, they were earned by the children with their own hands, which was their contribution to the family and their filial piety to her.

"Good, good children. You are all grandma's good grandsons and granddaughters." Aunt Sun hugged the children tightly again, and tears blurred her eyes again. She knew that although life was hard, as long as the family members were together, supporting and caring for each other, everything was worth it.

At this moment, Auntie Sun's heart is full of hope for the future and expectations for her children. She believes that these two sensible children will become responsible people in the future.

Liu Family

"Mom, these are the eggs I bought."

"Are you tired after just one day? Sit down and have a rest. I'll go boil eggs for you." Aunt Liu took the eggs and looked at her son.

"Mom, cook a few more and let me and my brother eat them." Liu Guangtian took his brother to play again.

"Okay, okay, Mom will cook a few more." Aunt Liu watched her son getting better little by little with He Lai, and she also started to pay attention to the unpopular second son.

My husband favors the eldest child, and I have also become partial to him. This preference seems to have become a habit. But Aunt Liu has been comparing the eldest child with the second child recently.

The eldest brother's only job is to study, and then he wants to eat well and dress well. Everything else seems to have nothing to do with him.

The second child, however, lived a life of beatings and scolding, and all his things were left by the eldest child, but now he uses them to supplement the family income.

Ever since He Lai taught him how to fish for eels, he would bring back some every day, and in the end he even gave him 30 yuan.

My son is a little playful, but he has been well educated by He Lai. Alas, I owe this second son after all. I will talk to my wife later and see if I can be nicer to Guangtian.