Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 195 Rumors spread
There were not many people taking the college entrance examination in the courtyard, but it was very rare in Nanluoguxiang that four college students emerged at once, and most of them were girls. Xiaodang and Huaihua both got admitted to college, and Jia Geng also took the exam, but did not pass.

Yan Jiekuang took his mother home, Ji Lian followed behind, pushing the baby carriage, and Yan Bugui was still showing off in the front yard. Yang Ruiping shouted, "Go home."

When Yan Bugui returned home, he saw the central hall was full of people. Yan Jiecheng's family had also come. Yan Yongqing pestered his aunt, asking her how she had passed the exam and if she had any tricks. Yan Yongqing's academic performance was average, while Yan Yongfang stayed obediently by her mother's side.

Yang Ruiping sat at the head of the Eight Immortals Table, talking to Yan Jiekuang, while Ji Lian coaxed the child. Yan Bugui came over and sat next to his wife, and heard Yang Ruiping say, "Should we celebrate today?"

Yan Jiekuang smiled slightly and said, "I came back this time not only to announce the good news, but also to bring back all the food from home. I will cook later and treat my two college students well."

Shi Xiaoya said from the side: "Old Third, I'll go and help you."

Yu Li also expressed her willingness to help, and the whole family started to move. Seeing that everyone was busy and no one was paying attention to him, Yan Bugui turned around and went out. Before leaving, he told Yan Yongqing to call him in the yard when it was time for dinner.

The whole family was busy and happy. Yan Jiekuang kept his word and started working in the kitchen. At this time, Yang Ruiping suddenly came over and said, "Do you think we should buy some candies for the neighbors? I don't know what your father is busy with. He doesn't even think about this."

Yan Jiekuang said, "That's right, Lian'er, go to the backyard to pick up grandpa first, then you and your little sister go buy some candy, and then come back and go to the neighbors' house with mom."

Ji Lian agreed and left. Yan Jiedi was with her. The two of them went to the backyard. After a while, Old Man Ji came, his face beaming. It seemed that he already knew that his granddaughter went to college. He knew that this was all thanks to Yan Jiekuang, so he felt even more proud of his original decision.

Yan Jiecheng walked into the kitchen, leaned against the door frame, and said to Yan Jiekuang, "What do you think about me taking the exam too?"

Yan Jiecheng went to a technical school, but Yan Jiekuang said, "You are not qualified. You have to be a fresh graduate. You have gone to a technical school, but you are not the type who went to the countryside to return to the city. If you have this idea, you might as well urge Yongqing more. He doesn't have many years left."

"Third brother, Yongqing is not a good student. You can give him some tutoring when you have time. I heard from my little sister that it is all your credit that he was able to pass the exam this time." Yan Jiecheng said.

"Okay, I'll take a look when I have time. You can also ask your younger sister to give him tutoring." Yan Jiekuang said. Yan Jiekuang knew that he would have no time after next year and would probably be busy.

Yan Jiekuang was working and chatting with his elder brother at the same time. Only then did he know that the Jia family in the Central Courtyard was in an uproar. Unexpectedly, both daughters were admitted to university.

When the first messengers arrived, Jia Zhang and Jia Dongxu from the Jia family were very excited, thinking that Jia Geng had passed the exam. But when they learned that it was their two maids who had passed, they were stunned, because they had no idea that they would also take the college entrance exam this year.

Only Xiaodang and Huaihua were extremely happy after receiving their admission letters. Jia Dongxu and his wife also became happy after they realized what was happening. Only Jia Zhang was muttering, "I'll have to get married sooner or later. What's the point of getting admitted? I might as well give it to Jia Geng."

Xiaodang was very surprised by what her grandmother said. Although she didn't take it to heart because she knew that what her grandmother said was impossible, she still felt very uncomfortable. She and Huaihua had never been valued at home.

Xiaodang and Huaihua wanted to inform Yan Jiekuang the first time, but they knew that two of Yan Jiekuang's family members had also passed the exam and they were busy at the time, so they did not disturb him and thought of going to Yuer Hutong together to celebrate tomorrow.

In the evening, the Yan family gathering began. Yan Jiekuang cooked a table full of dishes. The four traditional dishes with meaning were "Promotional Spare Ribs", "Top of the Imperial Examination", "Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" and "Top Scholar Congee". As the ingredients were limited, the others were braised pork, fried celery with Chinese sausage, stir-fried mixed vegetables, spicy chicken, "Top Scholar's First Bowl" and Yulin vegetable spinach and tofu soup.

When the family sat together, everyone was very happy, except Yan Yongqing, because he found that his parents looked at him differently. Yan Yongqing was just in the second grade of junior high school, and he would take the college entrance examination in a few years. Yan Yongqing felt that he was in a very bad mood.

Yang Ruiping looked at the family, only Yan Bugui was missing, so he asked, "Your father hasn't come back yet?" Old Master Ji said, "When I came here, I saw Old Yan went to Yi Zhonghai's house."

Yan Jiecheng took the initiative to stand up and said, "I'll go and call them." After a while, Yan Bugui followed Yan Jiecheng back. Yang Ruiping asked unhappily, "Didn't you know your family is celebrating? Why are you so far away from home?"

Yan Jiecheng said, "My dad and Uncle Yi were drinking, and they were congratulating my dad for having three college students in his family."

Yan Jiekuang was delighted when he heard this. His father's personality was really like that. Once he was praised, he would lose his mind. Yan Bugui awkwardly walked to the main seat and sat down. He quickly changed the subject and said, "Today is the wedding day of Ji Lian and Jie Di. I congratulate them first. They are the pride of our family. Okay, let's raise our glasses to toast the two top scholars."

Everyone raised their glasses together and drank a glass of wine while congratulating each other. There were only four people drinking, Grandpa Ji, the two brothers and Yan Bugui. The others drank soda, which was specially bought by Yan Jiecheng. At the critical moment, Yan Jiecheng still acted like a big brother. Since the last time the Yan family had a frank talk, Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li have changed, but they still love money, which is really what Yan Bugui did.

Everyone was eating and drinking and chatting. Yan Jiekuang approached his mother and told her about his visit to Director Wang's house, asking her not to worry.

Yan Jiekuang’s dishes were as popular as ever. Even Yan Bugui rarely picked up his wine glass. When the food was cleared, the family dinner was over.

Yan Jiekuang and Ji Lian helped Grandpa Ji back to the backyard. Grandpa Ji was really happy for his granddaughter and drank a little too much. Ji Lian and Yan Jiekuang helped him to the bed. Just when Yan Jiekuang wanted to turn around and leave, Grandpa Ji grabbed his sleeve and said, "Grandson-in-law, the wisest decision I have ever made in my life is to marry my granddaughter to you."

After saying that, he closed his eyes and began to snore. The couple looked at each other and laughed together.

The sensation caused by the incident in Courtyard No. 95 was far from over. The next day, Director Yan came with several staff members, smiling all the time. When they arrived at the courtyard, they organized a meeting. He specially called the four female college students to the middle and praised them endlessly. After a burst of praise, he said, "In order to commend the learning spirit of Courtyard No. 95, last year's excellent courtyard belongs to your Courtyard No. 95." As he spoke, several staff members took out the sign of excellent courtyard and prepared to nail it on the door.

Courtyard No. 95 is well-known in Nanluoguxiang, and some strange rumors have been spread. Some say that Courtyard No. 95 is a Feng Shui treasure land, and some say that the reason why there is a female college student in Courtyard No. 95 is because the queen once lived there and it is the land of the phoenix. The most bizarre thing is that some people actually asked whether the Jia and Yan families’ houses were for sale.

Yan Jiekuang heard the discussion about No. 95 Courtyard near Yuer Hutong, but he didn't take it seriously. Suddenly one day, Yan Bugui came to his house, took Yan Jiekuang to the study room as soon as he entered the house, and said anxiously: "San'er, you don't know, now several families want to exchange houses with our family, and some have given subsidies of 5,000 yuan. Do you want to exchange?"

Yan Jiekuang looked at his father strangely. His greedy nature came back and he said, "Have you asked my mother?"

Yan Bugui said: "Yes, your mother asked me to ask you, saying that you have a definite idea."

Yan Jiekuang looked at his father and asked, "If it's Yan Jiecheng's house, we can exchange it."

Yan Bugui shook his head like a rattle and said, "I asked, and Yan Jiecheng said he would never change it even if he was beaten to death."

"Do you know why?" Yan Jiekuang asked Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui was completely confused and looked at the third child in confusion. Yan Jiekuang said, "He has two other children who will also study and go to college in the future."

Yan Bugui suddenly realized, slapped himself on the face and said, "I am so short-sighted. If I don't change it, there is still a third generation in our family."

After saying that, he turned around and left in a hurry. Yan Jiekuang looked at Yan Bugui's back and shook his head.

(End of this chapter)