Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 272 Car Selection and Arrival
The winter of 1982 came a little early, and a sudden heavy snow covered the entire city. Since the restaurant incident, Yan Jiekuang seldom went to manage the restaurant. Yang Lifen and Wang Qing were both able to handle things on their own. As the head chef of the restaurant, his three apprentices were already able to take control of the kitchen.

Every time Ji Lian came back, she was responsible for reviewing the accounts. All the employees knew that she was the boss's wife, so they listened to her. Ji Lian sometimes complained about Yan Jiekuang, saying that he was a hands-off boss. Yan Jiekuang smiled and told her that his only job was to train his wife to be a strong woman.

Yan Jiekuang's daily job is to take care of these six children. In the afternoon, he will teach the three younger ones cultural knowledge. Yan Jiekuang does not have to worry about the studies of these children at all. With the older ones taking the lead, the younger ones have never lost their enthusiasm for learning. Usually, Yan Jiekuang also goes to buy vegetables and cook. Usually, Yan Jiekuang cooks dinner in the evening, and Aunt Wang cooks in the morning and at noon.

Yan Jiekuang seldom went back to Courtyard No. 95, especially after he came back from Hong Kong Island. Yang Ruiping would come here to stay for two days when he had nothing to do. If he stayed for a long time, Yan Bugui would come over because there was really no one to cook for the employees of his store. Yan Jiekuang originally suggested that he join the canteen of the purchasing station, which would only pay for the food expenses, but Yan Bugui shook his head like a rattle and said, "My store has vegetables and meat, but I just need someone to cook and spend the big bucks."

Yan Jiekuang gained a lot from the trip to Hong Kong Island. Not only did he facilitate a dialogue between the Lou Group and the business delegation, he also went to his own company with Lou Xiaoe for a day to inspect it. The company was managed in an orderly manner by Lou Xiaoe. When the employees called out "Director Yan", Yan Jiekuang was very surprised. Lou Xiaoe took him to the office specially reserved for him. Only then did Yan Jiekuang realize that there was a huge photo hanging opposite the huge desk. It was a photo of him and the three members of the Lou family.

The company was renamed Guangda Investment Co., Ltd. This was Lou Xiao'e's idea. Now it mainly provides real estate acquisition and leasing services. Its current assets have reached nearly 50 million Hong Kong dollars. Yan Jiekuang believes that he is just an investor, and the president of this company, Lou Xiao'e, is the owner of this company. Lou Xiao'e disdains Yan Jiekuang's idea and says, "As an executive director of a billion-dollar group, I will care about your small company. I am here to protect your wealth."

Yan Jiekuang customized a Toyota Crown sedan and a Toyota van, and directly requested to go through Tianjin Port. Both cars were registered under the name of Yan's Restaurant. After that, Yan Jiekuang stopped hanging around, and fulfilled his responsibilities as a godson in the Lou family. He prepared delicious food for his godmother and sister Lou every day, using abalone, sea cucumber, shark's fin, bird's nest and bird's nest as his turns. Not only did the mother and daughter have delicious meals, but even Uncle Lou stopped socializing outside and came home for meals every day.

When Yan Jiekuang was about to come back, the Lou family's mother and daughter were reluctant to let him go, but Lou's father's words made the sad parting disappear. Lou's father said impatiently: "Next year our whole family will move back, why be sad."

It snowed heavily last night, but the temperature was not particularly low. Yan Jiekuang got up early, washed up simply, and went to sweep the snow in the yard. The wintersweet flowers on the north wall of the backyard gave him a surprise. He hadn't seen wintersweets blooming for many years, but this year they had many buds.

Yan Jiekuang heard some noise in the front yard and guessed that Aunt Wang had gotten up and was cleaning up the front yard. Soon, Shi Lei, Yongchang and Yongxin also got up. After getting up and putting on their clothes, they took their small shovels and followed Yan Jiekuang to sweep the snow. Yongchang suggested, "Uncle San, let's build a snowman for our brothers and sisters?"

Yan Jiekuang thought for a moment and said, "It won't last for a few days. The snow will melt once the weather warms up."

Yongchang said: "It's okay, as long as we can play, we can make our brothers and sisters happy."

Yan Jiekuang nodded, and several people started to build a snowman under the grape trellis. When they were halfway through, they heard movement in the main house. Probably the three children had gotten up. Yan Jiekuang put down the work in his hands, went into the house, and turned to the west room. He saw that the three children had woken up and were struggling to put on their cotton jackets and trousers. Yan Jiekuang hurried over to help them put on their clothes.

Da Pang asked, "What are the brothers and sisters doing in the yard?"

Yan Jiekuang was helping Shi Li put on clothes while saying, "I'm making a snowman for you." When Da Pang and Xiao Pang, who were dressed, heard this, they turned around and wanted to run out. Yan Jiekuang immediately shouted, "Come back. It's cold outside. Put on your hat, gloves and scarf before you go out."

The two little ones ran over and hurriedly asked Yan Jiekuang to put them on. Yan Jiekuang had to put Shi Li on the bed first and fully armed his two sons. Shi Li was waiting on the bed, neither crying nor making a fuss, just quietly watching Yan Jiekuang busy himself.

After the two little ones ran out, he turned around and put the clothes on Shi Li, saying, "And our Li Li, she is the best behaved and looks like a lady."

Shi Li smiled broadly at Yan Jiekuang and said, "Uncle San, I'm the best."

After Shi Li was fully armed, they took him out. As soon as they went out, they saw three big ones and two small ones busying themselves. Yan Jiekuang and little Shi Li also joined in. Yan Jiekuang also specially found a straw hat and carrots, as well as a few black stones. After a while, a snowman was built. The fat man and the little fat man who were making trouble took Shi Li around in circles around the snowman.

Yan Jiekuang asked the three to go back to their rooms quickly and pack up, as they had to go to school today. The three of them happily went back to their rooms. After a while, the family sat in the middle hall of the front yard and ate breakfast. Aunt Wang deliberately turned up the heat on the stove, for fear that the children would be cold.

After breakfast, the three students who were supposed to go to school picked up their schoolbags and were about to go out. Yan Jiekuang reminded them to bring shovels with them as they still had to sweep the snow when they got to school. The three of them picked up the shovels and carried their lunch boxes and left.

Aunt Wang sent them to the door. Now these three refused to be sent to school no matter what, saying that they were old enough to find the way home. In fact, they were students in the second grade and above in the school, and there were no adults to pick them up, and they didn’t want to be treated specially.

When Aunt Wang came back, Yan Jiekuang had finished the last mouthful of porridge, and the three children were still eating. Aunt Wang asked, "Are you going out today?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "I have something important to do today. The car I ordered from Hong Kong Island has arrived in Taipei. I have to go get the car inspected and register the license plate at the transportation department. I'm worried about it."

Aunt Wang said, "That's a good thing. Why are you worried?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "I have two cars and I have to handle them one by one." Aunt Wang laughed and said, "You are stupid. Isn't Yin Liguo's brother the driver? Why don't you ask him to help today?"

Yan Jiekuang slapped his forehead and said, "How could I forget about this? Thank you Aunt Wang for reminding me. Then I have to go to establish the country first. I have to leave early, otherwise people will go to work."

Yan Jiekuang told the three little ones to listen to Grandma Wang, then he put on his coat, hat and gloves, walked out of the yard, and headed straight for Yin Liguo's home.

Yin Liguo's mother and grandmother were at home. Yin Liguo's brother Yin Limin was getting dressed for work. When the Yin family saw that it was their second son's master, they were busy welcoming the guest and offering tea and cigarettes. Yan Jiekuang quickly stopped them and said, "Aunt Wu, please stop. I'm here to see Limin today and I have to leave right away."

Yin Limin said, "Third brother, tell me what's going on."

Yan Jiekuang said, "I bought two cars. I happened to be in the store today. I need to go through the paperwork. I can drive one, but I don't want you to help drive the other. But you have to take a day off."

Yin Limin said without hesitation: "Okay, I'll take a day off today. I'll go to my master to say hello first. Which store should I go to then?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Thank you. You can go directly to Yan's Restaurant. I'll wait for you there."

After the two men had discussed it, they went out separately. Yan Jiekuang went straight to Yan's Restaurant. Before he reached the door of the restaurant, he saw two cars parked in front of the restaurant. There was a circle of people surrounding them. Yang Liwei and Qi Li were watching there, afraid that the onlookers would damage the cars. In fact, everyone was just looking at them and didn't dare to touch them. These were new cars, especially the Crown car, which was rare in Beijing.

Yan Jiekuang walked to the car. Most of the people who were watching were from the surrounding shops. They all knew Yan Jiekuang. Some of them asked him, "Boss Yan, where did you buy this car? It's really beautiful."

Yan Jiekuang said hurriedly: "I didn't buy this. I don't have that much money. It belongs to the Hong Kong Island Lou Group. They want it back, so they deposited the car with me first."

Everyone suddenly realized what was going on. Yan Jiekuang said, "Everyone, it's snowing heavily, so let's not gather around. It's very cold. Let's just leave the car here and take a look at it when we have time."

The group gradually dispersed, and Yan Jiekuang said, "You two don't have to watch over it anymore. It's okay. It's just a car. I'll drive away in a moment."

The two of them and Yan Jiekuang entered the store. The store was still warm. Yang Liwei asked, "Master, how do you open the store alone?"

"Liguo's brother will be here soon. I have to complete the formalities today, otherwise I won't be able to travel." Yan Jiekuang said.

At this time, Yang Lifen brought a pot of tea to Yan Jiekuang. Just as she was about to go back to the counter, Yan Jiekuang stopped her and said, "Manager Yang, can you see if there is anyone around who can drive and is honest and reliable? Hire one. I plan to purchase that van for the two stores."

Yang Lifen was overjoyed when she heard this and said, "That's great. Just wait and see. I'll go look for it in the next few days."

Yan Jiekuang was drinking tea in the front hall. The store had not opened yet, so the waiters and the people in the kitchen were busy preparing things.

After a while, Yin Limin came and said as soon as he entered the door: "Third brother, it's a new car. It looks so beautiful."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Sit down for a while, drink some tea, and warm yourself up. I guess the people in the company are not at work yet. We'll leave later."

Yang Liwei sat opposite Yan Jiekuang, and the two of them drank tea and chatted while they drank.

When it was eight o'clock, the two men stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Yan Jiekuang drove the Crown and Yin Liming drove the van, and the two cars went straight to the traffic management office.

(End of this chapter)