Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

"Ding ding ding," the knock on the door woke up Liu Yi from his deep sleep. He got up with sleepy eyes, put on a piece of clothes at random and went to open the door. He kept muttering in his mouth, "Who is so boring that he can't let me sleep well so early in the morning?"

When Liu Yi opened the gate of the courtyard, several aunts said in unison: "Xiao Yi, what time is it now? Are you still sleeping?" Liu Yi welcomed everyone with a smile on his face. ...

On the morning of New Year's Eve, the laughter of children and the sound of firecrackers filled the ears, and the atmosphere of the New Year was full. Deep in the alley, in the courtyard of Liu Yi's house, the first aunt, the second aunt, and the third aunt started working early. When Jia Zhang arrived, everyone started to prepare dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner. They were skilled in cutting vegetables while chatting. At this time, the chef He Yuzhu began to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, and the kitchen was filled with tempting aromas.

After the braised and stewed dishes were ready, Liu Guangqi, Xu Damao, Yan Jiekuang and Jia Dongxu were called over to bring the 300-pound fat pig over. …

He Yuzhu was busy butchering a pig in the yard. He was skilled in butchering, and with one cut, the fat pig was neatly cut into pieces. The three uncles, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, were sitting leisurely in the flower pavilion, crossing their legs, sipping tea, chatting, and enjoying this rare leisure time.

"Xiao Yi, there is no more boiled water. Come quickly and refill the tea for the old men." The deaf old lady's shout made Liu Yi come back to his senses. He brought a kettle of boiled water and put a pack of cigarettes on the table.

Outside the kitchen, cured fish, bacon, sausages and other New Year goods are piled up, waiting to be cleaned up. These ingredients are carefully prepared for the New Year, and they exude an enticing aroma that makes people salivate.

The deaf old lady staggered to the cured meat, ready to help take care of it. "Hey, old lady, you rest inside, we will do it. It's not a big deal if you get bumped into or bruised!" Xu Damao's hoarse voice rang out at this time.

When everyone saw the deaf old lady busying herself, they hurried forward to help her into the fireplace inside the house so that she could warm herself by the fire and rest.

At noon, everyone had a simple meal and rested for half an hour. In the afternoon, they started to get busy again, preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. Time passed by minute by minute, and in the blink of an eye it was night.

He Yuzhu was busy in the kitchen, while Xu Damao and Jia Dongxu were helping out with chores. They chatted and laughed while they quickly prepared the dinner.

At the dinner, the table was full of dishes, which were delicious and breathtaking. There were braised fish, roast duck, stewed meat, stir-fried vegetables and other delicacies, and every dish was mouth-watering. Everyone sat together, toasted and drank, and laughed and talked. The younger generation shuttled between the tables, toasting and laughing, while the older people chatted, reminiscing about the past year and looking forward to the new year.

Liu Yi stood quietly, tears in his eyes, watching everything happening in front of him. He was deeply moved, and his heart was filled with satisfaction and happiness. At this moment, he finally realized that the New Year atmosphere he had always longed for was this warm, lively and homely scene. He looked at the aunts and uncles around him affectionately, full of gratitude for them. He knew that without these elders, this home would lose its due warmth and charm. Therefore, he sincerely thanked them, because their existence made this New Year more meaningful and unforgettable.

After the dinner, everyone did not leave, but chose to continue waiting for the arrival of the new year. It was not until after midnight that everyone left and returned home to rest. Liu Yi lay on the soft bed, his thoughts flooding like a tide, recalling every bit of his experience that day. He was filled with emotion, and his heart was filled with endless warmth and gratitude. He understood that this special year would become an important milestone in his life and would be forever engraved in his heart.

Liu Yi lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. The images of his wife and children in Hong Kong kept appearing in his mind, and their smiles and voices seemed to echo in his ears. He remembered every detail of his acquaintance with his wife, the joy of his child's birth, and the happy times the family had spent together. However, now he was alone in this city without relatives, busy running around for a living, unable to be with them.

He looked into the distance, his eyes filled with endless sorrow and sadness. He couldn't help but look up and sighed to the sky. That sigh seemed to carry all the helplessness and longing in his heart. Tears flowed down his cheeks like a flood, and his heart felt as painful as being pierced by thousands of needles.

He didn't know how long this would last, nor when he would be reunited with his wife and children. At this moment, he was like a lonely boat lost in the vast ocean, unable to find the way home. All he could do was pray silently, praying that God would bless his wife and children with safety and health, and at the same time hoping that he could return to them as soon as possible.

In this silent night, Liu Yi's heart was filled with deep longing for his wife and children and confusion about the future. He began to question whether his original choice was correct, and whether all his efforts could be exchanged for a happy and fulfilling life. However, despite this, he knew that he must not give up easily. Because he knew that only by persevering in struggle could he achieve his goals and let his family live a better life. Therefore, no matter how rugged and difficult the road ahead is, he will remain firm in his beliefs and move forward courageously.