Siheyuan: Yan Jiekuang's carefree life

"Third Auntie, you're really early! What did you buy?!" The next morning, when Third Auntie walked to the gate of the courtyard with a basket, the neighbors asked. Third Auntie replied: "What can be found in the market now? Cabbage, potatoes, or carrots. But I heard that the New Year's tickets will be issued in two days. This time, they will be divided into large and small households. Our family happens to be a large household. The details will be announced in two days from the street office."

"Old woman, where did you hear what you just said?!" Yan Bugui's voice rang out as the third aunt had just entered the gate of the courtyard.

The third aunt said, "I heard it from Xiao Li, the butcher at the market." Then the third aunt saw He Yuzhu and his family walking out with large and small bags of things, and asked, "Silly Zhu, where are you going with so many things?!"

Liu Lan added, "Third Auntie, this year the New Year holiday is early. Zhuzi and I bought some things and went to visit my mother's family. We also sent some things to them."

The third aunt said sourly: "You are still filial."

As the saying goes, a sedan chair is carried by people, He Yuzhu said hurriedly: "Third Aunt, your Jie Kuang is not bad! Look at our courtyard, is there anyone in your generation who wears a watch?!"

"That's true!" The third aunt echoed and warned: "The road outside is slippery, be careful!"

After He Yuzhu and his family left, Yan Bugui showed a strange smile on his face. The third aunt turned around and saw it. The third aunt asked, "What are you thinking about?!"

Yan Bugui quickly replied: "I didn't think about anything! I didn't think about anything!"

The third aunt didn't say much, and went into the kitchen with the basket of vegetables. Yan Jiekuang came out of the house at this time, walked to Yan Bugui's side, and asked in a low voice: "Dad, do you think Sha Zhu and his family will go to Baocheng to pick up He Daqing?!"

Yan Bugui replied: "It's unlikely that I can bring him back. I guess I'll just go and take a look."

Yan Jiekuang saw Yi Zhonghai coming out of the middle courtyard and knocked on Yan Bugui's door, reminding him, "Dad, stop talking! Yi Zhonghai is coming out!"

Yan Bugui turned his head and looked at Yi Zhonghai, smiling and greeting him: "Old Yi, where are you going so early in the morning?!"

Yi Zhonghai glared at Yan Bugui in anger and said, "Where else can he go?! The street office, of course!" After that, Yi Zhonghai glared at Yan Jiekuang fiercely and reminded him, "Old Yan, watch your son's mouth. Tell him not to talk nonsense. If he offends someone, getting hurt is a minor matter. But if he loses his life, that would be a big deal."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Yi Zhonghai, this is a new society. The old ways are outdated. You should take care of yourself! Don't let yourself get ruined by your own schemes."

"Hmph! You don't know how to appreciate a good person!" Yi Zhonghai said, and walked out of the courtyard. Looking at Yi Zhonghai's back, Yan Bugui said, "Jie Kuang, Yi Zhonghai is not a good person. You'd better be careful."

Yan Jiekuang comforted him, "Dad, don't worry! Yi Zhonghai is just trying to scare us. He wouldn't dare to do anything if he really wanted to do it!" Then Yan Jiekuang muttered in his heart, "Yi Zhonghai, you dare to threaten me. Let me see how I'm going to deal with you!"

After nearly five hours of travel, He Yuzhu and his family arrived in Baocheng by train at around two o'clock in the afternoon. After leaving the train station, He Yuzhu found a state-owned restaurant near the train station and had a meal with his family. After the meal and a short rest, He Yuzhu, his wife, children and sister set out to find He Daqing.

Baocheng is not very big, but He Yuzhu and his party are not very familiar with it. After walking for nearly an hour, He Yuzhu and his party finally arrived at the door of the state-owned restaurant near Bai Guafu's house.

It was probably because the New Year was approaching, and the state-owned restaurant had little business. The cashier was sitting behind the counter knitting. When the cashier saw He Yuzhu, he asked, "What do you want to eat?!"

He Yuzhu smiled and asked in a friendly voice, "Comrade, do you have a master named He Daqing here?!"

The cashier glanced at He Yuzhu and yelled inside: "Master He! Someone's looking for you!"

"Who's looking for me?!" He Daqing heard the call and walked out from the kitchen. When he saw He Yuzhu and He Yushui, He Daqing was stunned. He walked in front of He Yuzhu and He Yushui and asked, "Why are you here?!"

He Yuzhu said unhappily: "Come and see if you are dead!"

"Dad!" He Yushui couldn't help but throw herself into He Daqing's arms. He Daqing was a little overwhelmed, then he carefully reached out and patted He Yushui's back, saying, "Yushui, I haven't seen you for so many years, you've grown up."

He Yushui cried in He Daqing's arms for a while before she recovered. However, she held He Daqing's clothes tightly with both hands, fearing that He Daqing would run away again. He Daqing looked at Liu Lan and the child in Liu Lan's arms and asked, "Shazhu, what is this?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "My wife and son."

"I have a grandson?!" He Daqing widened his eyes and looked at He Yuzhu in disbelief. He wiped his hands on his body helplessly, took the child from Liu Lan's arms, and said excitedly: "Good! Good! This kid is really good-looking." Then He Daqing took He Yuzhu's family to a table near the corner and sat down, asking: "How did you find me here?!"

He Yuzhu and Liu Lan looked at each other, and told He Daqing what happened in the courtyard after He Daqing left. After listening to He Yuzhu's narration, He Daqing sighed and said, "That day, you and Yushui came to Baocheng, and I only found out about it afterwards. When I rushed to the train station, you had already gone back."

He Yuzhu asked: "Dad, how are you doing in Baocheng? If you are not happy, come back with us. It's over..."

He Daqing said, "Go back?! What can I do if I go back?! Although your Aunt Bai's two sons treat me badly, your Aunt Bai is pretty good to me. I'll work for a few more years now. When I can't work anymore, I'll come back to Sijiu City to find you. When that time comes, you can't kick me out!"

He Yuzhu said: "That's hard to guarantee."

"You bastard!" He Daqing pretended to hit He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu dodged and said, "Dad, we came here today not only to ask you how you are doing now, but also to let you see your grandson. The second reason is to ask about what happened in the past."

He Daqing smiled and joked, "The silly boy got married and now he has a different way of speaking! It seems like he has made great progress!" Then He Daqing returned the child to Liu Lan and said, "You guys wait here for a while, I'll be back soon." After that, He Daqing stood up, walked into the kitchen, said hello to his leader, and then left the state-owned restaurant.

About half an hour later, He Daqing came back with a wooden box. He Daqing walked to the table and sat down, put the wooden box on the table, opened it, took out a red cloth bag from it, handed it to Liu Lan, and said, "This is your welcome gift. Keep it first! If you want to see it, go back and see it."

Liu Lan looked at He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu said, "You should take what your father gave you!"

Liu Lan then took the red cloth bag and said, "Thank you, Dad!"