Siheyuan, a comfortable life under Zhengyang Gate

"Brother Xiaowu, is there anyone else coming?"

“No one else.”

"Then let's eat."

Yang Yukun was the chef, with Han Chunming and Li Chengtao helping him. Three hours later, three tables of hot and delicious meals were freshly prepared.

"smell good."

"Thank you for your hard work, chefs."

"Old lady, Master Guan, Master Hou, Master Niu, please sit here."

"Chunming, where's the wine?"

"It's right there."

"Lao Yang, where are you sitting? Why are you sitting at the table with the kids? Come over here and have a drink."

"I've been drinking a lot these past two days, and my stomach is a little uncomfortable. I won't drink with you guys today."

"You can't sit there either. Come over here. We're not forcing you to drink. If you don't want to drink, just drink some beverages or tea."

"Let me make this clear first. I really can't drink today. I'll take care of myself for two days, and then I'll drink with you guys once my stomach has recovered."

"Boss Liu, come sit over here and have a drink. Why are you sitting at the table with the kids?"

"Uncle, this is not where you should sit. Your seat is here."

"Come on, buddy will fill your glasses. Come on, drink one first."

"Done."

"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I wish all the elders, brothers, sisters and children a happy New Year."

"Drink, drink."

After having a good meal and a few drinks, the group stayed at Han Chunming's house for a while and then left.

Yang Yukun first sent Xu Jingping, the children and Black Panther home, and then sent his master back to Yanzhi Hutong.

February 9, 1994, the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month of the Year of the Rooster, the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve.

After today, it will be the first day of the new year, the Spring Festival.

My father-in-law and mother-in-law stayed in Guangzhou to celebrate the New Year. This year, it was just their family of five and Black Panther.

"Dad, look at the dumplings I made. Are they pretty?"

"what is this?"

"The twelve zodiac signs."

“Yes, very abstract.”

"whee……."

The family of five worked together to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner. Xiao Zongzi, Pingping, Xiao Yumi and their mother made dumplings together.

“Ding ding ding ding….”

"Dad, it's your phone ringing."

"Please answer it. Dad is busy now."

Yang Yukun was preparing ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner, his hands were covered in oil and he had no time to answer the phone.

"Okay." Xiao Zongzi answered the phone: "Hello, hello, who are you looking for?"

"Little Zongzi, I'm your grandma."

"It's you, grandma. When will you and grandpa come back? I miss you."

Pingping said: "Grandma, I miss you too."

Little Corn said, "Grandma, I miss you and Grandpa too."

"Grandpa and grandma miss you too. We will be back after the Chinese New Year."

"Grandma, don't forget to bring me some delicious food."

"Pingping, you are just a little greedy cat."

"whee……."

"What are you doing?"

"We are helping mom make dumplings. The dumplings I made are really pretty. I made dumplings in the shape of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals."

"Awesome."

"Where are grandma, grandpa, fifth aunt, and fifth uncle?"

"Do you want to talk to grandpa? I'll give him the phone."

"Little rice dumplings, flat, little corn."

“Grandpa….”

My father-in-law and mother-in-law called to ask if the New Year’s Eve dinner was ready. The old couple chatted with Xiao Zongzi, Pingping and Xiao Yumi for more than an hour. Yang Yukun and Xu Jingping chatted with my father-in-law and mother-in-law again.

Before Xu Jingping finished talking to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, his phone and the landline at home rang again.

The phone at home has been ringing non-stop since this morning.

"Little Zongzi, Pingping, Little Yumi, Daddy will take you to paste Spring Festival couplets."

"Okay."

Yang Yukun wrote several pairs of Spring Festival couplets. In addition to pasting one pair at his own home, he also posted one pair at his father-in-law and mother-in-law's courtyard and at the doorsteps of Xu Jingtian, He Lixia, and He Xiaoxia's homes.

After pasting the Spring Festival couplets, Yang Yukun continued to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, and Xu Jingping also fried two simple dishes.

“New Year’s Eve dinner is ready!”

"Little Zongzi, Pingping, Little Corn, it's time to eat."

"coming."

"Hehe... I made this dumpling. It looks really good."

"Dad, Mom, sister, brother, happy new year." "Happy new year."

"I hope my wife will become more beautiful, and I hope you little ones will become smarter."

"I wish my beloved Comrade Yang Yukun good health and more and more handsome."

"I wish Mom and Dad good health."

"cheers!"

After eating the New Year’s Eve dinner, a large group of little kids from the alley came over to play with Xiao Zongzi, Pingping, Xiao Yumi and the others.

Yang Yukun and Xu Jingping gave fruit candies to the little ones and stuffed their clothing pockets and trouser pockets full of them.

After the little ones left, Yang Yukun carried the firecrackers and fireworks bought by Xiao Zongzi, Pingping and Xiao Yumi into the car.

It is prohibited to set off fireworks in urban areas. Even if you buy them, you cannot keep them at home. You can only take them to the countryside far away from the city to set them off.

Because of the ban, even the sound of firecrackers could not be heard in the city this year, making it much quieter than previous years.

You can hear the sound of firecrackers coming from the suburbs from time to time, because rural areas far away from the city can still set off firecrackers for the time being.

The family of five and Black Panther left the city and set out fireworks and lit them in the fields in the countryside.

Yang Yukun picked up the camera and recorded the scene of Xiao Zongzi, Pingping and Xiao Yumi setting off fireworks.

Looking at the scene of Xiao Zongzi, Pingping and Xiao Yumi jumping and dancing happily, Yang Yukun and Xu Jingping smiled at each other.

"Dad, Mom, come and set off the fireworks too."

"it is good."

"Woof woof woof..."

"Black Panther, you can't put this in your mouth, or it will explode."

“Chirp, chirp… bang, bang, bang…”

…………

"Happy New Year, Mom and Dad."

"Happy New Year! Pingping and Xiaoyumi also got up so early."

"On the first day of the new year, you can't sleep in. Happy New Year, Black Panther."

"Woof woof woof..."

"Go brush your teeth, wash your face and have breakfast. We will go visit our grandparents and wish them a happy new year."

"okay."

Last night, when I returned home from setting off fireworks outside the city, it was already past one in the morning.

As usual, the girl Xiao Zongzi got up early in the morning to practice martial arts. Pingping and Xiao Yumi did not sleep in today and got up early.

After breakfast, Yang Yukun packed incense, candles, offerings and other things, and the family of five went to the Heishan People’s Cemetery.

Early in the morning on the second day of the Chinese New Year, Yang Yukun was preparing breakfast in the kitchen when his disciple Liu Yuehua came.

"Master, Master's Wife, I am here to wish you a happy new year. I wish you a happy new year, good health, and all the best."

"Red envelope."

"Master, please don't take the red envelope. I'm not a child anymore."

"Even if you are a hundred years old, you are still a child in front of me. Take it."

"Thank you, Master, for all these, Master's wife." Liu Yuehua happily put away the red envelopes.

"Happy New Year, Brother Xiaohua."

"Little Zongzi, Pingping, Little Corn, Happy New Year."

"Woof woof woof..."

"Happy New Year, Black Panther."

Yang Yukun said with a smile: "Aren't you going to Xiao Gao's house to pay New Year's greetings this year?"

"Go ahead, we'll go in two days, and Sister Gao and I will be back together then."

"Tell me when you're going, so the crew can apply for the route in advance."

"Don't bother me, Master. I can just fly there myself."

"Are you sure you don't want me to arrange a private jet to take you there?"

"Master, it's really not necessary."

"Okay then, you can take a plane over there by yourself. Are you two sure you want to get married this year?"

"Knot."

"Has the time been decided?"

"I discussed it with Miss Gao and decided to hold the wedding during the summer vacation. At that time, her school will be on summer vacation and she will have time, and I will also have time."

Liu Yuehua is about to turn 22, reaching the legal age for marriage. He and Gao Min plan to hold their wedding this year.

The two had discussed it before and decided to hold the wedding during the summer vacation.

The specific time has not been decided yet and needs to be arranged by the parents of both sides.

"Let's eat. We'll go to your grandpa's house later."

"it is good."

After breakfast, Yang Yukun and Xu Jingping took Xiao Zongzi, Pingping and Xiao Yumi to Yanzhi Hutong to wish their master a happy new year.

On the morning of the third day of junior high school, Yang Yukun and Xu Jingping went to see Teacher Yi, and in the afternoon they went to see teachers such as Peng Changhai.

Two days later, on the afternoon of the fifth day of the New Year, my father-in-law, mother-in-law and Xu Jingtianming and Jirui returned from Guangzhou.

After only two days at home, my father-in-law and mother-in-law drove out of the house early on the eighth day of the New Year to continue their self-driving tour.

After the Lantern Festival, Chen Qingming, He Lixia and their family of three, and He Xiaoxia also returned from their second sister's home in Shanghai. Xiao Zongzi, Pingping and Xiao Yumi also returned to school. (End of this chapter)