Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 282 Two major events
Yan Jiekuang finally breathed a sigh of relief when he returned to Yuer Hutong. Shi Lei took his younger brother and sister back to the backyard. Ji Lian and Yan Jiekuang were chatting and preparing dinner in the front yard.

Ji Lian asked Yan Jiekuang, "Third brother, how is the second brother's injury? I have been holding back and not asking at the courtyard."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "It's fine now. The main injury was to the head, which looked quite scary. Later, the experts here came and saw that there was no major problem, so they performed surgery and he is recovering well."

"That's good. If you've recovered so well, why do you want to retire?" Ji Lian asked puzzled.

Yan Jiekuang chuckled and said, "Second brother has made a big splash. While completing the mission behind enemy lines, he also blew up a headquarters. The main thing is that there were Soviets who went to Vietnam to provide aid. Now the matter has become a big deal. Letting him retire is to protect him."

Ji Lian was very surprised and said, "Second brother seems to be very kind usually, is he so fierce?"

"It's good to be retired. You can serve the people wherever you are. Besides, my second brother and sister-in-law have been separated for many years, and now they are reunited." Yan Jiekuang said.

Ji Lian also sighed, saying that it was not easy for Shi Xiaoya. She had never complained for all these years and had taken such good care of the children.

In the evening, Yan Jiekuang cooked something simple. After all, it was just after the Chinese New Year, and he couldn't eat meat and fish every day. He just made a few home-cooked dishes. Ji Lian went to the back to call the children, and the family gathered together, eating with laughter.

In the days that followed, Yan Jiekuang and Ji Lian basically stayed at home, except for occasionally taking the children to the park. The two took turns teaching the children some lessons, and the children lived a fulfilling life every day.

Aunt Wang didn't come back until the end of March. Yan Jiekuang knew that Aunt Wang didn't spend the New Year in Sijiucheng at all. She went to spend the New Year with the second son. When she came back, she was full of energy. Yan Jiekuang asked Aunt Wang if there was any good news. Aunt Wang told Yan Jiekuang that her second son was married and his wife was pregnant. Yan Jiekuang and his wife quickly congratulated Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang said, "I came back for two main reasons this time. One is to say goodbye to you. I have to go to my second son's house. He needs me. The other is to take care of the house."

Yan Jiekuang quickly advised: "Auntie Wang, are you short of money? If you are not short of money, I think you should keep the house. If your eldest son comes back one day, he will have a place to live. Besides, houses are not valuable now, but in three to five years, it will be difficult for you to buy a house in the city."

When Aunt Wang heard this, she felt that what Yan Jiekuang said made sense, so she gave up the idea of ​​dealing with the house. Yan Jiekuang finally asked Ji Lian to take out one thousand yuan. Aunt Wang was shocked when she saw it and said that she had paid off all her money before the New Year.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Aunt Wang, the relationship between us is not measured by money. This money is my bonus for you and also my gift for our wedding. You must accept it. Also, if you want to come back someday, you are always welcome at my home. The children love to be with you."

Aunt Wang turned her head and looked at the four little kids who were staring at her blankly, and tears fell down. She couldn't bear to leave these four children. Logically, these four children were raised by her, but she had to go to her second son's side.

Aunt Wang packed up her things, and Yan Jiekuang and his family saw her off from the house and went all the way to her home. Only after Aunt Wang waved her hand did Yan Jiekuang and his family return to Yuer Hutong.

Aunt Wang is gone, but life has to go on. Ji Lian also went for an internship. She was assigned to the tax internship in Xicheng District. Yan Jiekuang began to take care of the children by himself. If he had something urgent, Yan Jiekuang would usually send the children to their grandmother's house.

In mid-April, two major events happened in Courtyard No. 95. One was that Tang Yanling gave birth to a healthy boy. But since the birth, Jia Geng and Tang Yanling have never come back. Now Jia Geng believes that the feng shui of his east wing is not good, and he is afraid that moving back there will affect the child's health.

Jia Dongxu and his wife were fine. They would go to Jia Geng to see their grandson whenever they had nothing to do. But Jia Zhang was not so good. After all, she was 66 years old and would be 67 in July. She was also sick all over. Unless Jia Dongxu accompanied her, it was very difficult for her to go to Jia Geng by herself. So she complained more and more about Jia Geng in the yard, and placed her new hope on Jia Xiaobao.

Jia Xiaobao failed to get into university and is now unemployed, but fortunately Jia Xiaobao has been honest and obedient since he was a child and never caused trouble. Every day, except going to the street to ask about work matters, he basically stayed at home reading. He didn't expect that one day his grandmother would turn her attention to him. Jia Zhang would ask Jia Xiaobao to take her out to visit neighbors when she had nothing to do, most of whom were neighbors who had daughters to be married. At first, he didn't think there was anything wrong, but when Jia Zhang asked him to go out every day, he was stunned. His grandmother wanted to find a girlfriend for him.

Jia Xiaobao really had no other choice, so he turned to his parents for help, full of complaints. Qin Huairu said, "Don't worry, hold on for another week. Your aunt Jingru and I will open a grocery store on Xiushui Street. You can go there to help when the time comes."

Jia Xiaobao was very happy. This was the best solution. Not only could he avoid his grandmother, but he could also find something to do.

Another big event was Yan Jiefang's home. Comrades from the military region's logistics department and the street level staff came together to present a plaque to Yan Jiefang's home. On it was a line of golden characters that read "Home of a First-Class Hero". Not only the courtyard, but the entire Nanluoguxiang was in an uproar.

Second-class merits are common, but who has ever seen this first-class merit? What a great merit this must be. When Shi Xiaoya saw the comrades from the street office hang the sign at the door of her house, she cried. She knew very well that something must have happened to Yan Jiefang.

Yu Li was comforting them on the side. Except for Yan Bugui who was smilingly receiving the comrades who presented the plaques, everyone in the family had a gloomy face. However, the neighbors kept congratulating them. Yang Ruiping waved his hand and went back to his room. Only then did Yan Bugui realize where the problem lay. But after all, he had been a manager, so he still warmly received the visiting leaders.

An officer from the logistics department walked up to Shi Xiaoya and said, "Sister-in-law, don't let your imagination run wild. Comrade Yan Jiefang's transfer procedures have been completed. He will be back after May Day, and the work here has been arranged. Don't worry."

Shi Xiaoya forced a smile and said, "I won't let my imagination run wild. I know he's coming back, and I'm happy."

After they left, Yan Bugui returned home with his hands behind his back. Yang Ruiping had a gloomy face and never smiled. He said to Yan Bugui, "The third brother must know what happened. I always suspected that he went out during the New Year for his second brother." Yan Bugui said suspiciously, "No way, the third brother is tight-lipped, but if there is something serious, he can't hide it from us."

Yang Ruiping said: "He usually doesn't hide important things from us, but if something serious happened to his second brother, he would definitely hide it from us. I think he didn't even tell his second sister-in-law."

Yan Bugui suddenly became serious, thinking back to the events leading up to Yan Jiekuang's disappearance during the Chinese New Year. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that there was something wrong with Yan Jiekuang. He said, "No, I have to go find him. If I don't explain everything clearly, I won't let him go."

Yang Ruiping sat up from the bed and said, "I'll go with you."

The old couple hurried out of the door and headed straight for Yuer Hutong. Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong were playing chess under a big tree at the gate. While playing, they were wondering what kind of contribution Yan Jiefang had made to be awarded a first-class merit. This was too abnormal.

After a while, they saw Yan Bugui and his wife hurrying out. The two looked at each other, and Yi Zhonghai whispered, "Look at Mr. Yan's face, which is as black as the bottom of a pot. Something must have happened to Yan Jiefang."

Yan Jiekuang was telling the story of the Three Little Pigs to the three little ones at this time. The five dogs had grown up a little and were lying beside him, as if they could understand what he was telling. When he was telling the crucial moment, there was a knock on the door. As soon as they heard the sound, they could tell that the person knocking on the door was not here with good intentions.

Yan Jiekuang let the three kids play in the back and went to the front yard, shouting, "I'm here, stop knocking."

As soon as Yan Jiekuang opened the door, he saw his parents with dark faces. His heart skipped a beat, but he still said with a smile: "Mom and Dad, you two came together. This is rare. Come, I'll make tea for you."

Yan Bugui and his wife didn't say anything. They followed Yan Jiekuang angrily to the central hall. Yang Ruiping asked, "Where are the children?"

"They are playing in the backyard. I'll go call them." Yan Jiekuang said while pouring water.

Yan Bugui said: "No, we are here to look for you. Tell me where you went during the New Year."

Yang Ruiping also asked with a dark face: "Don't waste your words on him, Third Brother, what happened to your second brother? Tell the truth, or I will never forgive you."

Yan Jiekuang stood there in a daze and asked, "How did you know?"

Yan Bugui looked at Yan Jiekuang with disdain and shouted, "The sign of the home of a first-class meritorious official is hung on the door. How do you think I know? Don't fool me. I know the importance of this first-class merit. Tell me, what happened to your second brother?"

Yan Jiekuang saw that he could no longer hide the truth, so he sighed and said, "I did go to take care of my second brother. He was injured, and it was quite serious. But he is fine now and is recovering well."

After listening to this, Yang Ruiping felt relieved and said, "Tell me the whole story, don't leave out any details."

Yan Jiekuang asked his parents to sit down and start from the time he received the letter, telling them everything that had happened during that period.

When Yan Bugui and his wife heard that their second son had undergone a craniotomy, they burst into tears. Yan Jiekuang kept saying that the operation was a success and that the son was recovering well, but the old couple simply couldn't listen.

After Yan Jiekuang finished speaking, he told them that his second brother would be back soon and explained the reason to the old couple. Only then did Yan Bugui and his wife calm down.

Yan Bugui sighed and said, "I knew it wasn't that simple. Have you told your second sister-in-law?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "My second brother didn't allow me to tell her, so he asked me to tell her that he was going to retire."

Yang Ruiping said: "You did the right thing, but you can't hide such a big thing from us in the future."

Yan Jiekuang said helplessly: "If I tell you, you will have to go to Guangzhou. My second brother is afraid that you will worry, and even more afraid that you will make trouble."

Yan Bugui and his wife were silent, and finally Yang Ruiping said, "I'll go see the children."

The old couple went to the backyard. Yan Jiekuang sat down on a chair, let out a long breath, then lit a cigarette and started smoking.

(End of this chapter)