Siheyuan: There are three little cats at home

Chapter 248
The courtyard is quiet at night, which is probably the case every winter.

People in the cold weather huddled in the house and did not want to come out, and when it was getting late, the sky began to snow again.

At this moment, the snow on the eaves has covered another layer, making the whole courtyard white.

The third uncle in the front yard was sitting alone in his own small study, drinking wine with a bored look on his face.

The eldest son's life event was resolved, but it cost him a lot of money.

Guang Lao Da Yan paid out 66 yuan as a betrothal gift.

When Yan Bugui thought about it, his flesh ached.

And then there are the second and third.

Yan Bugui was bitter in his heart, drank wine, borrowed wine to relieve his sorrow, and mourned alone.

In the past, he could not wait to break every penny in half and spend it, but now it is better. After more than ten years of saving, all the money he worked hard to save will be used by his three sons to find wives.

The more Yan Bugui thought about it, the more panicked he felt. He had planned for most of his life, but in the end he would fall into the hands of his three sons.

Yan Bugui, the third uncle, felt extremely uncomfortable.

When Xu Damao got married last year, he heard that Xu Damao only gave Lou Xiao'e's family 30 yuan as a gift. Although he didn't know the exact amount, it was definitely half less than his elder brother's.

Yan Bugui learned a lesson, grabbed the wine cup, took a sip, and secretly made up his mind that when the second and third children were to get married, they couldn't be allowed to find someone with a high betrothal gift.

If that doesn't work, go to the countryside and find two rural girls. The bride price can be about ten yuan.

It's enough to be wronged once, and Yan Bugui feels that he might as well die.

However, more than half a month later, when Yan Bugui, the third master, hadn't fully recovered, it was the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The eldest son of the second uncle's family suddenly came back to get married in the courtyard. In the end, he asked for more dowry gifts, and almost half of Liu Haizhong's family fortune was taken away.

But Liu Haizhong was willing this time.

There is no way, he and the second aunt have not seen their boss for many years, and they feel very sorry in their hearts.

Therefore, he almost tried every means to satisfy his eldest son's requirements.

It's just that Liu Haizhong didn't expect that when the eldest son got married and didn't stay at home for two days, he immediately patted his butt and took his wife away again, saying that he was busy with work and couldn't spend the New Year at home.

This time, Liu Haizhong was really angry.

However, the eldest son has been outside these years, and he has done well by himself. Not only did he find a job by himself, but he also got the title of cadre through hard work.

Although he is not as high-ranking as Xu Qing, he is the second person to be an official in the compound.

This made Liu Haizhong feel elated, and at the same time, the anger in his heart was instantly extinguished.

The second son Liu Guangtian and the third son Liu Guangfu were worthless, but the eldest son finally gave him face.

Especially compared to Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui who are also the stewards of the compound.

Liu Haizhong felt that he, the second uncle, was much better than the two of them.

Yi Zhonghai has no children, and it is impossible for his family to think of an official.

As for Yan Bugui who is the third master, although he also has three sons.

But the boss of Yan Bugui's family is just an ordinary worker in the factory now.

How can he be compared with his eldest son who is a cadre.

The bangs in the middle were indescribably proud, and there had been a smile on his face in the past few days.

It's just that whenever I see Xu Qing, the uncle in the backyard, whose parents are not there, I feel very uncomfortable.

After all, Xu Qing's third-level clerk is equivalent to level 21.

Much taller than his eldest son.

Liu Haizhong was wearing a thick padded jacket, standing in the courtyard in the cold winter, watching Xu Qing and his three younger siblings leaving the courtyard early in the morning, he pondered in his heart, and felt that he had to find a way to get a job in the factory. One official position is not allowed!
The eldest son left without anyone to support him, Xu Qing was the only cadre in the courtyard, his own prestige was not as high as the elder's, and his education level was not as good as that of the teacher, Lao Yan.

As a result, Liu Haizhong couldn't help worrying about himself, and the position of the second uncle who was in charge of the compound would not be guaranteed.

It's just that Xu Qing didn't have any idea about the title of Grand Master in charge of the compound at all.

But if Liu Haizhong insisted on thinking that way, there was nothing Xu Qing could do.

At this moment, Yan Pugui in the front yard finished his breakfast and had nothing to do, so he took chess and went to the back yard, ready to fight a few games with Liu Haizhong.

During the two years after the change of sky, Yan Bugui never set up a stall on the street to sell Spring Festival couplets or couplets during the Chinese New Year.

Those young people who walk on the street have never stopped for a day all year round.

In case he was not pleasing to the eye, he raised his hand and overturned his stall, not to mention that he didn't earn money, and it would be embarrassing when the time came, Yan Bugui didn't dare to do anything to those young people.

Who told him to be a teacher, the name of the stinky old nine is not popular in these years.

"Old Liu, what are you doing? Come on, let's play some games."

Yan Bugui was in a good mood, and the previous dullness was gone.

With Liu Haizhong in the compound, who was even more taken advantage of than him, he naturally felt balanced.

Seeing the chess in Yan Bugui's hand, Liu Haizhong frowned slightly and said, "Then come into my house."

Yan Bugui nodded, stretched out his hand to support the glasses on the bridge of his nose, and followed Liu Haizhong into the room.

On a cold day, Yan Bugui never thought of playing chess in the courtyard.

At the same time, after Xu Qing pushed his bicycle out of the compound, he asked his second and third brothers to ride the bicycles and go to the state-owned store to buy meat and New Year's goods.

It's only a few days before the Chinese New Year, and Xu Qing has been busy with his engagement with Jinghong for the past few days.

We agreed to get married in July next year.

Xu Qing naturally wanted to book the marriage in advance.

Originally, on the day of the engagement, Xu Qing wanted his grandfather and grandma from the countryside to go to Ma Jinghong's house together.

However, grandpa was in poor health and couldn't make it to the city, and grandma had to take care of him by his side.

As a result, Xu Qing only brought his second father, Xu Guangjin, and the two went to Ma Jinghong's house.

Parents were away, and grandparents couldn't come to the city in time. The second dad was considered the oldest elder in the family, so he helped Xu Qing to make things right.

Ma Jinghong's parents have no opinion on this, because they are aware of the situation in Xu Qing's family.

It's just that Xu Guangjin didn't talk much, and he didn't say much when he arranged the engagement for his nephew.

Apart from drinking with Ma Guohua, the only thing left is to smoke.

An honest farmer, in fact, has a lot of words in his heart, but he is not well-educated and illiterate, so he can't speak out.

You can only put those words into the wine and smoke.

As a result, Ma Jinghong's house was filled with smoke and alcohol.

Ma Jinghong's mother couldn't laugh or cry, but she didn't complain about anything.

Ma Jiefang sat next to Xu Qing, watching his father and Xu Qing's second father, drinking one glass of wine after another, smacking their tongues in their hearts.

As the head of the security department of the Red Star Rolling Mill, Ma Guohua socializes a lot on weekdays.

The average person's drinking capacity is simply incomparable.

But today, when I saw Xu Guangjin who was silent, he actually drank more than him.

Ma Guohua was full of doubts. Could it be that this farmer who works in the fields all day long is a huge amount of people who can't drink for a thousand cups?
Seeing this, Xu Qing had no choice but to smile and let his second father drink slowly.

Ma Jinghong hurriedly ran into the kitchen and made some tea in the enamel tea jar, letting the two of them drink some tea to sober up.

But yesterday, Xu Guangjin took advantage of the fact that someone from the countryside came to the city and went back in the afternoon.

Although it’s winter right now, there’s not much to do in the fields.

The problem is, the Chinese New Year is approaching, and there are a lot of things going on in the village, and the old man is not feeling well, so he, the son, has to go back and help take care of him.

Seeing that he couldn't keep his second father, Xu Qing had no choice but to ride his bicycle to the street in a hurry, bought some things quickly, and went to the hospital to buy some medicine for his grandfather, and gave them to his second father to take back.

After finally finishing the things at hand, Xu Qing took advantage of the nice weather today and took his younger brothers and sisters to the streets to buy new year's goods.

As soon as Xu Fengming received the order, he raised his legs and crossed the crossbar. He led his second brother Aiguo out of the alley immediately and rode towards the state-owned store.

Xu Qingze and the little girl walked slowly behind.

The streets are bustling with people, full of the flavor of the new year. Of course, those young students with red hoops are still doing their own way and posting big-character posters all over the street.

Xu Qing took the little girl along the street towards the state-owned store, glanced sideways, and then ignored it.

After walking to the state-run store and meeting with the second and third brothers, Xu Qing saw that the two brothers had already bought pork and white noodles, so Xu Qing took them to buy other things.

After shopping all morning, Xu Qing, brother and sister came out of the state-owned store.

In addition to new year's goods, Xu Qing also bought new clothes for him and his younger siblings.

For Chinese New Year, it is natural to eat well and dress well.

Although supplies are still scarce these days, no matter what you buy, in addition to money, you also need tickets.

Others didn't have many votes, but Xu Qing did.

Now he has accumulated a lot of various tickets on his body, and has the ability to divide into two, how could Xu Qing lack it.

Among other things, just the pork, the three brothers Xu Qing bought it once in turn.

I bought nearly fifteen pounds directly.

When Xu Qing went out, he took a noodle bag and put all fifteen catties of meat in it.

There is no way, if this is seen by others, especially those with red eyes, they may cause some trouble.

As for the people in the courtyard, let alone them.

If Jia Zhang sees it, he will rush to the door to borrow meat.

Xu Qing didn't want to tell her.

In addition, he also bought a lot of melon seeds, peanuts, fruit candies, etc. At the same time, Xu Qing asked his second brother Xu Aiguo to buy another old rooster and prepare to kill it and eat it on New Year's Eve.

Now the situation in the house is better, and Xu Qing spent a lot of his money because he bought a big bicycle this year.

But the second brother joined the factory half a year after becoming patriotic and started working, earning a monthly salary of 27 yuan.

Therefore, there is no need to save too much during the Chinese New Year.

What's more, throughout the year, it's just such a lavish one time, and it's unreasonable to care about every detail.

The bicycle pushed by Xu Fengming had net bags filled with various things hanging on the handlebars, as well as the big rooster; a bag of white noodles and a bag of stick noodles were hung on the crossbar; there were a lot of things on the back seat.

Xu Aiguo walked behind the bicycle and supported it with his hands, for fear of falling.

The little girl walked beside her eldest brother Xu Qing, carrying some vegetables and firecrackers she had bought in her left hand.

Xu Qing's hands were also full of things in large and small bags.

When the four brothers and sisters returned to the compound, the young couple Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li in the front yard were stunned when they saw them.

Yu Li looked at Xu Qing and the others buying a lot of goods, secretly stretched out her hand and pulled Yan to untie the corner of his clothes, turned her back and whispered:
"Xie Cheng, look at Xu Qing's house, they bought so many new year's goods, let's go out to the streets in the afternoon and buy some more."

Yan Jiecheng raised his eyebrows, thought about it, shook his head and said, "What we bought the day before yesterday is enough. If it's not enough, we will go to my parents' house then."

When Yu Li heard this, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

In this regard, Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li can be said to be very much in harmony as husband and wife.

Yan Jiecheng watched his father, Yan Pugui, make all kinds of calculations since he was a child, so he learned it subtly.

As for Yu Li, she is not a fuel-efficient lamp by nature, as long as she can take advantage of it, she will never suffer.

Yan Bugui failed to educate his eldest son well, and now he has a daughter-in-law, Yu Li. He suffered in the past.

It's just that at this moment, Yan Bugui, the third master, is still in Liu Haizhong's room in the backyard, fighting with Liu Haizhong on the chessboard.

Liu Guangtian stood aside, holding a cigarette, took a look, felt bored, turned around and walked out of the room.

At this moment, Xu Qing, his second brother, third brother, and the little girl walked through the middle courtyard and just returned to the backyard.

Liu Guangtian stared at the bicycle pushed by Xu Xufengming with his eyes wide open, with a trace of jealousy in his eyes.

At this time, Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong had finished their game, and seeing that it was getting late, they walked out of Liu Haizhong's room with chess pieces in their arms.

When he looked up, he saw that Xu Qing had bought a lot of new products today, and his eyes immediately widened behind his lenses.

Liu Haizhong, who had sent Yan Bugui out, stood at the door of the house with an equally shocked look on his face.

Until the four Xu Qing brothers and sisters took the things on the bicycles into the house one after another.

Yan Bugui turned his head and whispered to Liu Haizhong:

"Old Liu, look at Xu Qing, his family's life is getting better and better now."

Liu Haizhong hummed, looked back at Xu Qing's family and said, "Xu Qing is a cadre in our factory, and his second brother is also working this year. The two of them in the family are earning money, isn't it?"

Yan Bugui nodded, exchanged a few words with Liu Haizhong, shrank his body, turned around and hurried back to his house in the front yard.

Early in the morning, it began to snow again in the compound, and the closer the Chinese New Year was, the more frequent the snow fell.

Xu Qing stood outside the house early in the morning, wiped off the snowflakes that had drifted onto the bicycle with a rag, and then took out the poncho worn by his third brother Feng Ming when he was in junior high school, and covered it.

Xu Qing did not treat the bicycle as a treasure like the third uncle Yan Bugui, nor did he leave it at the door of the house and ignore it like Xu Damao.

After all, I spent more than 100 yuan to buy it, so I still need to pay attention to it.

As for the bicycle in front of Xu Damao's house, it was miserable, it was still covered with thick snow.

Xu Damao went to the public toilet, and when he returned, he stood at the door of the house and chatted with Xu Qing, but he didn't reach out to clean the snow on his bicycle.

Xu Qing wanted to remind him, but after thinking about it, forget it, now Xu Damao and Lou Xiaoe are married, Xu Damao is lazy, but Lou Xiaoe is more diligent.

Sure enough, when Lou Xiaoe walked out of the house with a dustpan in her hands and was about to take a few briquettes back, she turned her head and saw the snow on the bicycle at the door of her house, and within a minute of returning to the house with the briquettes, she came out of the house again with a broom in her hand. Gently sweep the snow off the bicycle.

(End of this chapter)