Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

The afternoon sun shines through the window into the living room of Liu Yi's house, adding a bit of warmth to this ancient room. The first uncle Yi Zhonghai, the second uncle Liu Haizhong and the third uncle Yan Bugui sit around the round table in the living room, their faces full of worry and anxiety.

"I say, these neighbors are really confused!" Second Uncle Liu Haizhong spoke first, his voice full of dissatisfaction and helplessness, "They have to run to that remote place when they can't live a good life. Do they know how hard it is over there?"

Uncle Yi Zhonghai frowned and said slowly: "You can't say that. Everyone has their own choices and pursuits. They may want to find a better way out for their children and grandchildren."

"A better way out? Humph, I think it's just jumping into a fire pit!" The second uncle snorted disdainfully, "I heard that there is a shortage of living supplies over there and the natural environment is harsh. If they just go there like this, can they bear it?"

Uncle Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses on his nose and seemed a little hesitant: "Actually, I think so too. But then again, they were also overwhelmed by the flood of immigrants. It's too late for us to talk about this now."

"It's too late to say it!" The second uncle slapped the table excitedly, "We can't just watch them jump into the pit! We have to find a way to stop them!"

"Stop it? How can we stop it?" Uncle Yi Zhonghai sighed, "They have made up their minds. They won't listen to us at all."

"So we're just going to let them go?" The second uncle stood up excitedly, "We are neighbors! We have to think about them!"

At this time, the third uncle Yan Bugui finally spoke up: "I think we can try to give them some practical advice. For example, tell them about the living conditions over there so that they can be mentally prepared. Or, we can help them contact some experienced people so that they can get some help."

"That's a good idea." Uncle Yi Zhonghai nodded, "At least, we can let them know that the world outside is not as beautiful as they imagined."

However, Second Uncle Liu Haizhong still insisted on his position: "I think we still have to tell them directly, don't go! Going there will only bring suffering! We can't just watch them jump into the pit!"

"Oh, why are you so stubborn?" Third uncle Yan Bugui looked at second uncle with some dissatisfaction, "We have said so much, but they still won't listen. What else can we do?"

"What should we do? We have to keep thinking of ways!" The second uncle waved his arms excitedly, "We can't just give up like this!"

Uncle Yi Zhonghai looked at the two people arguing and shook his head helplessly. He knew that this dispute was meaningless because no matter what they said, the neighbors had already made their own choices.

In the end, the dispute ended in frustration and disappointment. Uncle Yi Zhonghai, Uncle Liu Haizhong, Uncle Yan Bugui left Liu Yi's living room, their hearts filled with worry and uneasiness. They knew that starting tomorrow, the yard would become even more deserted, and they would lose the neighbors who had lived together. But they also knew that this was everyone's choice, and they could not change it...

As night fell, the courtyard of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang was shrouded in tranquility. However, in Liu Yi's living room, it was a lively scene. In order to relieve the three uncles' low mood caused by the relocation of their neighbors, Liu Yi suggested eating hot pot in the evening, and this suggestion was immediately responded to by everyone.

Liu Yi started to get busy, skillfully slicing meat, washing vegetables, and preparing various ingredients. The simmering hot pot on the stove was bubbling, emitting an enticing aroma. The three old men sitting nearby couldn't help but praise Liu Yi as they watched him busy.

"Liu Yi, your craftsmanship is getting better and better!" said the second uncle Liu Haizhong with a smile.

"Yes, this hotpot makes people drool just by looking at it." Uncle Yi Zhonghai also agreed.

The third uncle Yan Bugui nodded and smiled, his eyes full of admiration.

Finally, everything was ready. Everyone sat around the round table, the steaming hot pot exuded an enticing aroma. Everyone started eating, enjoying this rare time together.

However, at this moment, Xu Damao and He Yuzhu started arguing over some trivial matters again. Their voices echoed in the living room, making the whole atmosphere a little tense.

"Why are you so unreasonable?" Xu Damao said angrily.

"Reasonable? Humph, you are reasonable!" He Yuzhu fought back without giving in.

Their argument made others feel a little embarrassed, but Jia Dongxu continued to eat and drink as if nothing had happened. He seemed to be used to this kind of quarrel and was completely unmoved.

Seeing Jia Dongxu like this, He Yuzhu and Xu Damao suddenly came up with an idea. They decided to have a drink with Jia Dongxu and get him drunk so that he would calm down.

"Dongxu, come and have a drink!" He Yuzhu walked towards Jia Dongxu with a glass of wine.

"Yes, let's drink together!" Xu Damao also agreed.

Jia Dongxu looked at the wine in their hands, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. But soon, he was defeated by the temptation of alcohol and took the glass and drank it all.

In this way, He Yuzhu and Xu Damao took turns to toast Jia Dongxu. Jia Dongxu gradually lost consciousness and began to talk nonsense. His voice echoed in the living room, attracting the attention of others.

Looking at the drunk Jia Dongxu, He Yuzhu and Xu Damao smiled at each other. …

In the hot pot atmosphere, Jia Dongxu was gradually confused by alcohol. His eyes became blurry and his cheeks flushed. As he drank one glass after another, his speech became confused and his behavior became more and more out of control.

"Do you know?" Jia Dongxu suddenly stood up, waving his arms and said loudly, "I have always had a dream, which is to become a rich man! I want to buy a big house, drive a nice car, and make everyone envy me!"

His voice echoed in the living room, with a hint of drunkenness and arrogance. Others stopped eating with their chopsticks and looked at him in surprise.

"Dongxu, you've drunk too much." The third uncle Yan Bugui at the side couldn't help but remind him.

However, Jia Dongxu pretended not to hear and continued, "Don't underestimate me! I will definitely succeed! I will make those who once looked down on me look at me with new eyes!"

As he spoke, he suddenly grabbed the bottle of wine on the table, raised his head and took a big gulp. The wine flowed down the corners of his mouth and wet his clothes. His eyes became more blurred, as if he was completely immersed in his own world.

"Dongxu, calm down." Uncle Yi Zhonghai also spoke up to persuade him.

But Jia Dongxu seemed to have lost his mind and refused to listen to anyone. He began to pace around the living room, muttering, "I want to succeed! I want to get rich! I want everyone to know that I, Jia Dongxu, am not someone to be trifled with!"

His behavior became increasingly out of control, and he even began to knock over dishes on the table. The hot pot soup spilled all over the floor, bubbling with steam. Others dodged, fearing that they would be hit by him.

"Dongxu, stop making trouble!" The second uncle Liu Haizhong couldn't help but join in the persuasion.

However, Jia Dongxu was completely immersed in his drunkenness and could not extricate himself. He continued to wave his arms and shouted loudly: "I want to be the best! I want everyone to submit to me!"

His words became more and more arrogant, and his behavior became more and more out of control. Finally, he fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The atmosphere in the living room suddenly became awkward and tense. Others shook their heads and sighed, looking at the drunk Jia Dongxu, their hearts filled with helplessness and worry.

This hot pot night ended early because Jia Dongxu was drunk. Everyone left, leaving behind a mess and a drunk Jia Dongxu. In this ancient courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, the worry about the neighbors moving away and the unknown future still loomed in everyone's mind...