Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 239 Family Gathering
When Yan Jiekuang returned to Yu'er Hutong, Ji Lian and Yan Jiedi were there. The two of them prepared a small schoolbag for each of the four children. Even Yan Jiekuang was curious about it. He asked, "Why are you back so early?"

Just as Ji Lian was about to speak, Yan Jie Di said, "Isn't this a family gathering? Or is my second brother going back to the team? We all know that he is going to the south again, so he has to come back early to accompany us."

Yan Jiekuang glared at Yan Jiedi and said, "You are already in college, you should think before you speak. You still have your second sister-in-law and children at home, as well as your parents. Watch your mouth."

Yan Jie Di stuck out her tongue, and Ji Lian said, "This is a gift from your little sister to these four little guys. It's okay to put handkerchiefs and snacks in it. I think it's great. Let's bring more snacks back today."

Big Fatty came running over and said, "Dad, my little bag isn't full yet, you have to fill it up for me." Little Fatty also came running over and shouted, "There's still some for me."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Okay, okay, let's go to the grocery store later and buy some more to eat with my brothers and sisters."

Yan Jiekuang turned around and said to Ji Lian, "You guys clean up first. I have a few bottles of good wine in my study. I have to take them."

Yan Jiekuang went to the backyard, and Wei Xiaobao ran over and asked, "Uncle San, do you need my help?"

Yan Jiekuang turned around and saw that it was Xiaobao, so he said, "There's a family gathering today, and I'm very busy. You three can stay at home and look after the house. If it's too late, we won't be back. There's food in the kitchen, so you guys can cook it."

Wei Xiaobao nodded and went back to the front yard. After a while, Yan Jiekuang came out carrying a bag, and Yan Jiedi brought four children chattering. Yan Jiekuang waved his hand, and the three of them and the children ran towards the courtyard.

When they arrived at the courtyard, several people started to get busy, each doing their own job. Yang Ruiping pushed Shi Xiaoya, Ji Lian and Yan Jiedi out of the kitchen, saying that he and San'er would have to cook today's meal and no one else would be needed. Several women in the front yard were with their children, Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng were smoking and drinking tea nearby. Yan Jiefang had not come back yet. When Yang Ruiping asked Shi Xiaoya, Shi Xiaoya hesitated and didn't say where she had been.

In the evening, when the sun was about to set, Yan Jiefang came back with a few bottles of wine in his hands. Yan Bugui saw them and went up to hug them, refusing to let go no matter what. Yan Jiekuang was also curious, so he stuck his head out of the kitchen and took a look. Wow, it was special Moutai.

Yan Jiekuang moved quickly. When several old men set up the big round table, Yan Jiekuang's first dish was out. Yan Bugui asked everyone to sit down. Several daughters-in-law took care of their children. The whole family sat down, except Yang Ruiping and her son who were busy in the kitchen, and Yu Li and Ji Lian who were responsible for serving the dishes. Shi Xiaoya wanted to help, but was sent back to the table by Yang Ruiping.

Not long after, when Yan Jiekuang came in with a large casserole, he said, "The last dish, fish head and tofu in casserole, ready."

Yan Bugui asked, "Where's your mother? Why is she still in the kitchen?"

Yan Jiekuang looked at his second brother and said, "Isn't it that my second brother is going back to the team? Mom said that she wanted to make dumplings for him herself and said that she would go out and make dumplings for him. I asked for help, but she got angry with me."

When Yan Jiefang heard this, he turned his head to the back. Everyone fell silent. Yan Jiekuang knew that his second brother was crying, so he quickly said, "It'll be right there. It's already in the pot."

In order to ease everyone's awkward situation, Yan Bugui quickly said, "Come and pour the wine first. After we pour the wine, your mother will come out."

After Yan Bugui finished speaking, he looked at Yan Jiecheng and his son, who were still stunned, and shouted, "Jiecheng, act like a big brother and pour the wine quickly."

Yan Jiecheng and his son realized then that everyone had poured wine today. As soon as the wine was poured, Yang Ruiping came out with a plate of dumplings. As he walked, he said, "Come on, second brother, eat these dumplings first. They have pork and green onions. Eat them first, then drink." Then he brought them to Yan Jiefang. Yan Jiefang took the dumplings without saying a word and ate them in big mouthfuls.

Everyone watched quietly. Yan Jiefang ate while crying. Shi Xiaoya couldn't stand it anymore and ran to the kitchen. The children were all dumbfounded. Except for Yongqing and Yongfang, none of them understood what was going on. Why did their second uncle (father) cry while eating dumplings?
After Yan Jiefang finished eating all the dumplings, Yan Bugui said, "Today is a family dinner. It's rare for everyone to be together. Let's have some fun. The second brother just returned to the team. Come on, cheers."

Gradually, the atmosphere at the banquet eased, but everyone had a tacit understanding and did not talk about the second child. Most of them talked about the children, Shi Lei and Shi Li, and finally talked about Yan Jie Di's lifelong event. The family had a happy meal, which lasted from six o'clock to ten o'clock, and then they reluctantly dispersed one by one. In the end, Yang Ruiping took Ji Lian and Yan Jie Di to clean up. Yan Jie Kuang took the children to the north room. His room had been empty all the time. When he had nothing to do, Yang Ruiping came to clean it up. The four children were sleepy, and Yan Jie Kuang coaxed the children to go to bed.

After the children fell asleep, Yan Jiekuang was still restless and wanted to go out for a cigarette. As soon as he went out, he saw his second brother. Yan Jiefang was not drunk at all. He was holding two bottles of wine in his hands. He asked Yan Jiekuang with a smile, "How about it? Drink some more?"

Yan Jiekuang didn't object. Just as he was about to turn around and go back into the house, Yan Jiefang stopped him and whispered, "Don't stay in this yard. Go to your house, to Yu'er Hutong. Isn't there no one there tonight?"

Yan Jiekuang nodded, but he was a little confused. Why did he feel that his second brother was mysterious? But he still did not refuse. The two of them secretly left the No. 95 courtyard and ran to Yuer Hutong.

Arriving at Yuer Hutong, Wei Xiaobao knocked on the door for a long time before he opened it with sleepy eyes. Seeing that it was Yan Jiekuang, he suddenly woke up from all sleepiness. Yan Jiekuang and Yan Jiefang entered the hall. Yan Jiefang looked at Wei Xiaobao and said, "You are a good young man, very energetic. Learn cooking skills well and make some snacks for us two brothers first."

Wei Xiaobao smiled innocently and ran to the kitchen. Yan Jiekuang said, "I was thinking of cooking a few dishes for you myself."

Yan Jiefang said: "The food is not important, the main thing is to drink and have a word with you, the smart old man."

Yan Jiekuang's heart skipped a beat and he was a little at a loss. He stood up and went to the backyard to find his purple clay teapot, which he almost only used to make tea and maintain, and had never used before. This time he took it out and also took out his treasured Dahongpao tea, brewed a pot, picked up the tray, and walked to the central hall.

Yan Jiefang was also stunned. He had been in the army for a long time, and he knew something about what the third brother and his father were dealing with. Yan Jiekuang poured a cup of tea, and Yan Jiefang was not polite. He took a sip, looked up at Yan Jiekuang, and said, "Third brother, you didn't let me drink such good tea. You have been hiding it from me since I was a child. Are you worthy of me?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "This is my first time brewing this. If you like it, I'll give it to you when you come back."

The two of them drank tea while waiting for Wei Xiaobao's side dishes. Leaving this place aside, there was chaos in Yan Bugui's house in Yard 95.

After Shi Xiaoya took care of the children and put them to sleep, she waited for Yan Jiefang, but he didn't come back no matter how long she waited. So she got dressed and went to her father-in-law's place. He thought that the men were still chatting, but as soon as he reached the door, he saw Ji Lian who came to look for Yan Jiekuang. When the two met, he realized that the two brothers had not returned to the house.

When Yang Ruiping heard someone knocking on the door, he got up and opened it. It was his two daughters-in-law. After hearing what they said, he realized that the second and third daughters were missing. Yan Bugui also came out at this time, and he started to wonder if they were chatting in the corner of the yard. Everyone looked around.

Several people searched from the front yard to the back yard, but couldn't find the two brothers. Yan Bugui got a little angry. These two unreliable brothers disappeared in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye.

Yan Bugui went to knock on Yan Jiecheng's door. He planned to ask Yan Jiecheng to go to Yuer Hutong and he would go to the west wing. Just when the father and son were arguing about leaving, Yang Ruiping seemed to suddenly think of something and shouted, "Alright, stop looking. Go back to sleep. What can happen to two living people? Go back."

Yan Bugui was stunned at first, then suddenly his face showed a little sadness, and he shouted, "Okay, go back, we will be back tomorrow."

When everyone saw that the old couple was angry, they stopped talking and went back to their homes. But Shi Xiaoya seemed to understand something. She lowered her head and went back to the house with tears in her eyes.

That night, everyone in the Yan family couldn't sleep.

(End of this chapter)