Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 252: Zhuzi wants to change
At the end of January, when the Little New Year was approaching, Yan Jiekuang gave everyone a long holiday early, from the Little New Year to the 15th day of the first lunar month. It was not that he did not want to make money. It was just that the closer it got to the New Year, the harder it was for him to purchase ingredients. So Yan Jiekuang simply gave his employees a holiday so that he could relax as well.

Ji Lian started to get busy early in the morning. Since she had to go back to No. 95 Courtyard today, she prepared a lot of things. Yan Jiekuang packed up the TV he brought back from Hong Kong and prepared to send it to his parents. It was the Spring Festival and the family could watch TV as an entertainment activity.

Shi Lei and his three younger brothers and sisters were also packing their things, each with a small schoolbag. After Shi Lei finished packing, he walked to the front yard, squatted beside the big cat and asked the big cat if he wanted to go back with them. The big cat ignored him and turned back to the main hall.

Shi Lei saw Yan Jiekuang tying the TV box to his bicycle, so he walked over and asked, "Uncle San, where is Tiantian? He hasn't been home for several months."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and touched his head, saying, "Don't worry about it, it will come back when it's time."

Yan Jiekuang turned around and continued to load some dishes and wine that Ji Lian had prepared into the car. Shi Lei skipped to the backyard to look for his younger brothers and sisters.

After everything was packed up, the family went out. Yan Jiekuang pushed the cart and several people walked to Courtyard No. 95. This year was the year when Yan Jiekuang really made money. Although it only took two months, it brought Yan Jiekuang a profit of nearly 80,000 yuan, and this was the profit after Yan Jiekuang deliberately increased the salary and bonuses for his employees.

So Yan Jiekuang was not stingy and bought a lot of things, of course, all of which were purchased from the black market through Wang Qing. Now, except for the food and non-staple food tickets issued by the street, no one gave him anything else.

When the family arrived at Yard No. 95, they saw their father hanging two big lanterns at the door. Yan Jiekuang did not expect that his father could spend so much money to add big red lanterns to the yard. Yan Bugui also saw Yan Jiekuang pushing the cart and immediately came to greet him with a smile.

Yan Jiekuang asked, "Dad, why did you buy two big lanterns? Are you going to hang them at the door of our house?"

Yan Bugui was stunned and said, "I didn't buy it, it was Lin Song. The purchasing station has made good profits this year. So, in response to the call of the street office, red lanterns were hung in every courtyard to celebrate the occasion."

Yan Jiekuang suddenly realized it. Suddenly, Yan Bugui almost jumped up and rushed to the back of the car. He touched the TV box and asked, "Old Third, where did you get this? Is this for me?"

Yan Jiekuang chuckled and said, "It's just to honor you and my mother. Help me get the car in first."

Yan Bugui was very happy. He was standing behind the car, holding the TV box and lifting the back seat. The father and son entered the yard and went to the west wing. Yan Jiekuang saw his mother kissing his son. Yan Jiekuang parked the car and carried the box into the hall with Yan Bugui.

Yang Ruiping was very surprised and asked, "Why did you bring this here? Don't you want to see it at home?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "No, you can come here first, and I will buy another one later. TV sets are easy to buy now. You forgot that I have foreign currency."

Yang Ruiping was amused and said, "Why did you buy so many things? How much did it cost?"

Ji Lian said beside him: "It's not easy to celebrate the Spring Festival. This year is a new situation and a new atmosphere. It doesn't cost much. Let everyone have a happy time."

Yang Ruiping said jokingly: "My daughter-in-law is still good at talking."

Several people started to clean up. Yan Jiekuang and his father fixed the TV and went out to set up the antenna. They were very busy and had a lot of fun.

Yang Ruiping and Ji Lian were packing up cigarettes, alcohol and food ingredients. The children had already run out to find Yongchang and Yongxin. Today was Little New Year's Day, and Yan Jiekuang wanted to cook, but Yang Ruiping didn't let him, saying that it was their mother who had to cook today, and Yan Jiekuang could wait until New Year's Eve to show his skills. Yan Jiekuang didn't say anything either.

When there was movement on TV, Yan Bugui stopped moving with the teacup in his hand and sat in front of the TV. After a while, Yongchang and Shi Lei rushed into the hall with a few children. Even Yan Yongqing and Yan Yongfang came, each sitting in front of the TV on a small stool.

Yan Bugui was smiling while watching TV. Yan Jiekuang knew that he was enjoying the current atmosphere with his grandchildren surrounding him. Yang Ruiping was quite envious of Yan Bugui. She also wanted to come out, but it was already noon and there was still a lot of work to do in the kitchen.

After a while, Shi Xiaoya brought out two large plates from the kitchen, one containing melon seeds and peanuts, and the other containing apples and oranges. The children rushed over. Yan Bugui wanted to stop them, but after thinking about it, he didn't say anything. Shi Li walked up to Yan Bugui with two oranges in her hand and said, "Grandpa, eat oranges."

Yan Bugui's face was full of joy. He took the orange and started peeling it. Shi Li immediately turned around and went back to her seat, watching TV attentively.

Yan Jiekuang leaned against the kitchen door and asked Shi Xiaoya, "Second sister-in-law, has my second brother sent a letter?"

Shi Xiaoya said without looking up: "She called me and said she couldn't come back this year, so she asked me to bring you good news." Yang Ruiping looked at Yan Jiekuang and said impatiently: "Don't bring up that topic, go away and have fun."

Yan Jiekuang took a look, turned around and walked out. Thinking about where to go, he squatted on the corridor and lit a cigarette.

Yan Jiekuang was smoking when he saw He Yuzhu holding He Rui at the gate, followed by He Yumei and He Xiao, who came in with bags. Yan Jiekuang stood up and greeted He Yuzhu and his wife, then snatched He Rui from He Yuzhu's arms and asked, "This little girl takes after her sister-in-law. She's really pretty. Do you know me?"

He Rui was not shy at all, and had a bit of He Yuzhu's carefree personality. She said in a baby voice, "I know you, you're Yan Lao San."

Yan Jiekuang was stunned, He Yumei and He Xiao laughed, Yan Jiekuang turned to look at He Yuzhu and said, "It must be your father who taught you."

He Yuzhu was a little embarrassed. He took He Rui and said, "You have to call me Third Uncle, understand?"

He Rui said, "I see. Hello, Third Uncle." Yan Jiekuang said, "Hello too. When you have time, come and visit my friends."

He Yuzhu put He Rui down, turned to He Yumei and said, "You go in first, I have something to say to the third brother."

He Yumei took the two children to the middle courtyard. He Yuzhu and Yan Jiekuang sat together on the corridor smoking. He Yuzhu asked, "Is your second brother coming back?"

Yan Jiekuang shook his head and said, "I got a letter saying he can't come back. By the way, are you still going to your father-in-law's house to celebrate the New Year this year?"

He Yuzhu said cheerfully, "I won't go. Yushui and the kids will come this year, and we'll celebrate the New Year together."

Yan Jiekuang nodded and said, "That's great. The family is reunited and it's lively."

He Yuzhu looked around and saw that there was no one around. He whispered, "According to my apprentice, a Yan's Restaurant opened in Qianmen. It's packed every day. Does it have anything to do with you?"

Yan Jiekuang was stunned. He didn't expect that his restaurant was now famous. He said, "I opened it with three apprentices. It's not bad. It makes a lot of money."

He Yuzhu curled his lips and said, "You're hiding it from me. Your waiter is paid nearly 200 a month. You think everyone doesn't know."

Yan Jiekuang was very confused. He had repeatedly warned his employees not to publicize the salary, for fear that it would attract attention. How did He Yuzhu know this? So he asked He Yuzhu how he knew this.

He Yuzhu said, "What a coincidence. You have a pair of waitress sisters who live next door to Ma Hua and grew up together. How do you think I know this?"

Yan Jiekuang suddenly realized and said, "It's not bad. They work hard, from morning till night, and they bow their heads. Giving more can keep them."

He Yuzhu sighed and said, "Old Third, to be honest, our factory is already 80% operational, and I heard that we're going to cut production this year. What do you think I should do? Do you think I should open a restaurant?"

Yan Jiekuang didn't expect He Yuzhu to be so smart. Since he and his second brother were good friends, he advised him, "Even if your factory doesn't reduce production, it's just that much money. In fact, it's a good way to go out. Besides, you still have the skills, so it won't be bad."

After listening to this, He Yuzhu took a few puffs of his cigarette and asked, "So do you think this policy can be changed?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "You can't go back to being an individual business owner. If you want to open a restaurant, you have to burn your boats and discuss it with your family."

He Yuzhu nodded, as if he had made up his mind, but also seemed a little hesitant. After that, the two chatted for a few words and then parted.

(End of this chapter)