Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 118 Special Mission
New Year's Day
Everyone wished each other a happy new year, and the Yan family was no exception. The old rules still had to be followed, starting with the deaf old lady in the backyard, and wishing each other a happy new year one by one.

In the afternoon, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong knew that the younger generation was going to have a gathering and they would attend no matter what. Everyone was free of the calculations of the past and was filled with singing and laughter.

Yan Jiekuang also took apart a string of firecrackers and distributed them to the children. When everyone had set their food and were about to start eating, several military vehicles appeared at the door, and several people jumped out and headed straight for Yan's house.

Yan Jiedi was at home alone, and was completely stunned. When she heard that someone was looking for her second brother, she was taken to the middle courtyard. Yan Jiefang saw it and came out. The soldier whispered a few words, and Yan Jiefang said he understood. Then he turned around and looked at everyone and said, "It is the duty of a soldier to obey orders. Dear neighbors, parents, I'm sorry, I have to return to the team for an emergency mission."

Yang Ruiping hurried home to pack up Yan Jiefang's things. With tears in his eyes, Yang Ruiping watched his son get into the car and drive away.

After Yan Jiefang left, Yan Bugui said solemnly: "Let's consider it a farewell to him. Let's all eat and drink." But no one was in the mood to drink anymore.

The meal was eaten very quickly, and the remaining dishes were shared with the neighbors. He Yuzhu took Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai to have a drink at Yi Zhonghai's house. At the end of the drink, He Yuzhu burst into tears.

Yi Zhonghai was moved, looking at this poor child, and kept comforting him.
Yang Ruiping was always in a bad mood, and Yan Jiedi never left her side. Yan Bugui was also in a very low mood, and Yan Jiekuang consoled her by saying, "Don't worry, victory belongs to us."

Yan Jiekuang reported for work as usual, and left in the afternoon. When he got home, he had to look after the five little ones. Yan Jiekuang enjoyed it. The five little ones were all very well behaved, except for the nunchaku who always wanted to escape from prison.

Yan Bugui is very dissatisfied with Yan Jiekuang's current life and thinks he is wasting his youth.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Go to work first and see if you can finish the class. If you can, then you can blame me."

Yan Bugui suddenly felt like a deflated ball. Students nowadays no longer listened to their teachers, so Yan Bugui stopped talking.

As time passed, after the National Day in 1969, the institute began to strictly investigate Yan Jiekuang's behavior of skipping classes, and for this, Yan Jiekuang was reprimanded.

Yan Jiekuang felt very wronged. Everyone was the same, so why were they investigating him specifically?

It didn't take long for him to get the answer. The organization talked to him and asked him to report to the Fifth Construction Engineering Team. He didn't even have time to react before he was dragged away for training under military management, which lasted for three months.

The family didn't react at first. When they hadn't seen Yan Jiekuang for half a month, Yan Bugui and his wife were a little confused. They first reported the case, but later they found Yan Jiekuang's unit and learned that Yan Jiekuang had a secret mission and could not come back in a short time.

Yan Bugui was a little confused. What mission did a research institute have? Why did this person suddenly disappear?
It was not until Yan Jiekuang returned home that his family knew that he had gone to repair Chengtian Gate. It was already the summer of 1970.

Yan Jiekuang never mentioned his experience, and Yan Bugui didn't tell anyone about it in front of his neighbors either, because Yan Jiekuang told him there was a confidentiality system.

He was responsible for the dismantling and numbering of the wooden components of the main building of Chengtian Gate. He followed all orders and numbered the sound, brackets, arches and columns during the dismantling process.

Yan Jiekuang marveled at the wisdom of the ancients. There was not a single nail in the entire roof. When they started to dismantle it, they only dismantled the southwest corner. But after the dismantling, they said that the assembly was not correct. After careful comparison, they found that it was indeed a bit wrong.

Yan Jiekuang checked it again, and fortunately he had a good memory and the numbers were all correct.

Later, when he received an order to renumber them and mark the top, bottom, left, right, front and back, Yan Jiekuang suddenly realized that this really required the guidance of an expert and was quite complicated.

For half a year, Yan Jiekuang lived in Chengtianmen. Every day he dismantled, numbered, and sorted the components, and then drew the drawings of the components that needed to be replaced and submitted them for confirmation.

For a whole six months, of course he also saw from afar someone go to the glazed tile in the middle and take away a box. The management was extremely strict at that time, and he could not ask or say anything.

In fact, since the successful assembly of the southwest corner, the carpentry work of this hall has not been difficult. The structure of the hall is symmetrical. It took some effort to install the pillars later, but it went smoothly.

He was released half a year later. Yan Jiekuang did not go home directly, but went to Yuer Hutong first to wash up. When the big cat saw Yan Jiekuang, it surrounded him and called for a while. Yan Jiekuang also picked up the big cat and gave it a warm hug. The five little ones were not there, probably because Yan Jiedi took them away.

Yan Jiekuang made himself a cup of tea and recalled his experiences in the past six months, which were bitter and sweet, but very fulfilling. The company would report after May Day, so he could take a break. In the afternoon, Yan Jiekuang strolled back to the courtyard. As soon as he arrived at the door, he was greeted by the nunchakus that rushed over. The little guy was running around again, and the nunchakus kept licking Yan Jiekuang's face. Yan Jiekuang was helpless and walked into the courtyard holding it.

Tiantian rushed over, wagging its tail vigorously, and Yan Jiekuang hugged it.

Yan Jie Di shouted, "Brother, when did you come back?" Yan Jie Di was about to rush over, but Yan Jie Kuang quickly said, "Stop, do you think I can still catch you with my hands?"

After settling the group of kittens and Tiantian down, I chatted with Yan Jiedi about recent events.

Yan Jiedi said: "My parents are out. My dad was called to work, but he doesn't look very energetic. I guess he doesn't have many classes at school."

Yan Jiekuang knew that his father couldn't sit still, so he asked, "What do you want to eat tonight? Let's go buy some groceries and I'll cook for you."

"Then I want to eat braised pork. I haven't eaten it since my second brother left." Yan Jiedi said.

Yan Jiekuang put down the nunchaku, let it play by itself, and said, "Come on, let's go buy some groceries. I haven't used the tickets for half a year."

Yan Jiedi went back to pack up and went straight to Chaoyang Vegetable Market with her brother. There were not many pedestrians on the street and the city felt empty. After they got together, they went straight to the butcher shop.

There were not many people in the butcher's shop. Yan Jiedi picked out a piece of pork belly, while Yan Jiekuang went to buy sugar and seasonings.

Yan Jie Di suddenly met a few classmates who also came to buy candy. Yan Jie Kuang stood aside and watched the little girls chattering.

Bored Yan Jiekuang turned around and looked around. Suddenly, he was stunned. He saw Xu Damao and his wife also buying vegetables. At this time, Xu Damao should be in class.

Yan Jie Di walked over and said, "Brother, go home." Yan Jie Kuang said that he saw Xu Damao and his wife. Yan Jie Di was not surprised and said that it was not common to see them.

Yan Jiekuang expressed his doubts, and Yan Jiedi said, "Xu Damao's position as director has been replaced by someone else. He is nothing now and is waiting to be dealt with."

It seems that the struggle in the steel mill has changed. Yan Jiekuang went home with his sister without saying anything. Yang Ruiping stood at the door, hugged Yan Jiekuang and said, "I knew you were back. How are you? Is everything okay?"

"Don't worry, Mom, I'm just working, it's nothing." Yan Jiekuang handed the basket of vegetables to Yan Jiedi and helped his mother into the house.

Yan Jiekuang chatted with his mother, talking about their recent life and changes.

In the evening, Yan Bugui came back, looking exhausted. Yang Ruiping went to make a cup of tea, put it on the table and said, "School is in session, why are you so tired?"

Yan Jiekuang also looked at his father, and Yan Bugui said, "He went to clean the house and didn't go to class."

Yan Jiekuang understood that he was being demoted to sweep the playground, so he asked, "Can't I take a leave? How about sick leave?"

Yang Ruiping also said: "Yes, your health is not good to begin with. If you continue to do this, what will you do if you really get sick?"

Yan Bugui said helplessly: "The current leaders are difficult to talk to and very strict. Let's talk about it later."

Yan Jiedi also felt sorry for his father and said, "Can I sweep the floor for you?"

Yan Bugui touched Yan Jiedi's head and said, "Then I will really come down."

(End of this chapter)