Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 283: Liberation and Retirement

On May 1st, Labor Day, Ji Lian woke up the children early, helped them wash and dress, and told Shi Lei to take his other brothers and sisters to pack their things, as the family planned to return to Yard No. 95 today.

Yan Jiekuang drove his car to the entrance of the alley yesterday. As for why Master Tong wanted to drive back, it was because he had to pick up his second brother at the train station at noon today. A few days ago, Yan Jiefang called Shi Xiaoya's street office.

The family went out before seven o'clock, drove to the entrance of the alley in front of No. 95 courtyard and stopped the car. Yan Jiekuang asked Ji Lian to take the children back and went to buy breakfast. Yan Jiekuang went to Master Tong's bun shop. Master Tong was very happy to see Yan Jiekuang. He hadn't seen Yan Jiekuang for a long time. He took Yan Jiekuang to chat. Sometimes he said that his son did not take over his job, and sometimes he said that He Yuzhu at the intersection was not a good person. The restaurant was making so much money, but it was competing with him for breakfast business.

Yan Jiekuang listened patiently until Master Tong's son came over to complain to his father, saying that Yan Jiekuang came to buy breakfast and the children were waiting at home, but he kept pestering him. Only then did Master Tong let go and gave Yan Jiekuang twenty buns and a large bowl of fried liver.

Yan Jiekuang returned to his parents' home with a basin and buns in his hands. As soon as he entered the door, Dapang complained to his father and asked, "Dad, have you forgotten that we haven't eaten yet? We have been waiting for a long time and are starving."

Yan Jiekuang quickly said, "Master Tong is too talkative. Sorry, go and ask your grandparents to have dinner together."

Xiaopang ran to the inner room happily. After a while, Yan Bugui and his wife came out with Xiaopang. They had breakfast together. During this breakfast, Yang Ruiping reminded Yan Jiekuang three times to pick up Yan Jiefang.

Yan Jiekuang was also helpless. After a while, Shi Xiaoya came with Yongchang and Yongxin. Yang Ruiping specially reserved breakfast for them. After the meal, Shi Xiaoya told Yan Jiekuang that she and the children wanted to go too. Yan Jiekuang nodded.

After breakfast, Yan Jiekuang and Yan Bugui went to the yard to smoke. Sun Xiaolong had just got up and was squatting at the door brushing his teeth, with Sun Chengen squatting next to him. The father and son had the same movements, which made Yan Bugui and his son laugh.

Yan Jiekuang said jokingly: "Brother Sun, you and your son are really like father, like son."

Before Sun Xiaolong could say anything, Yan Bugui patted Yan Jiekuang and said, "How can you talk like that? A good father will have a good son."

Sun Xiaolong looked at the father and son who were teasing him and said, "Why are you two in such a good mood today? You even have time to tease me."

Yan Jiekuang said cheerfully: "Guess?"

Sun Xiaolong said: "Besides a holiday, what else can be good?"

Yan Bugui said: "Your best friend is coming back, aren't you happy?"

Sun Xiaolong said in confusion: "My best friend is back, why are you so happy? What else can you say about me?"

Sun Xiaolong paused, stared and said, "You mean Jiefang will be back today?"

Yan Bugui nodded, and Sun Xiaolong immediately became happy and said, "You should be happy, you should be happy, you are coming back now, right?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "Yes, I have officially retired. By the way, are you going out today?"

Sun Xiaolong said with great joy: "I was going to go out, but now I have changed my mind and will not go out."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Just do what you need to do. Remember to have a drink together in the evening. We have a few tables in the front yard. By the way, lend me both of your round tables. And by the way, tell your grandfather and your mother that they don't have to cook in the evening."

Before Sun Xiaolong could say anything, Sun Chengen jumped up and shouted, "Finally, I get to eat Uncle San's cooking again. I'll tell my great grandfather right away."

Yan Bugui and his son greeted Sun Xiaolong and went into the house. Yan Jiekuang went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients. He had previously asked Erxiao to build an earthen stove and an oven at the purchasing station. Erxiao had already prepared everything, but he didn't know what Yan Jiekuang was going to bake, as he wanted to build such a large oven with a pit of nearly one meter.

At around nine o'clock, Yan Jiekuang took Shi Xiaoya and Yongchang Yongxin out. Yang Ruiping specially sent them to the gate of the courtyard and kept giving Yan Jiekuang instructions. Yan Jiekuang was helpless, maybe in Yang Ruiping's eyes, his second brother had just recovered from a serious illness.

Arriving at the train station, Yan Jiekuang looked at the train schedule, then at his watch, and asked Shi Xiaoya, "Sister-in-law, there's still an hour left. Shall we go back to the car and rest for a while before coming back?"

Shi Xiaoya shook her head stubbornly and said, "No, I'll just wait for him here."

Yan Jiekuang looked at his second sister-in-law who was eagerly waiting for him. He had no choice but to go outside and buy a few bottles of soda and some snacks at a sales point. He returned to Shi Xiaoya and opened a bottle for each of the two children and Shi Xiaoya. There were no chairs at the exit. Yan Jiekuang thought for a long time and then went to buy some newspapers and spread them against the wall, letting his second sister-in-law and the children sit and wait. Shi Xiaoya still shook her head and said, "You take them to sit. I'll watch over you here."

Yan Jiekuang had no choice but to take the child to rest aside. For an hour, Shi Xiaoya stood there staring at the exit.

Fortunately, according to the radio, the train was not delayed. Yan Jiekuang threw the bottle aside and didn't want it anymore. He could get the money back for the bottle. Yan Jiekuang and the two children walked towards Shi Xiaoya. When they were almost there, Shi Xiaoya started running. Yan Jiekuang looked in the direction where Shi Xiaoya was running. His second brother was smiling at the running Shi Xiaoya. Shi Xiaoya didn't care about being in public anymore and threw herself into Yan Jiekuang's arms, crying bitterly.

Yan Jiekuang stopped with his two children. He wanted to give his second brother and his wife some time. He saw Yan Jiekuang constantly comforting the crying Shi Xiaoya.

At this time, Yan Yongchang asked Yan Jiekuang, "Uncle San, is the man in the military uniform my father?"

Yan Jiekuang asked Yan Yongchang with a smile, "How come you don't have any impression of him at all? That's your heroic father, a great hero. Your family's first-class merit was won by your father."

At this time, Shi Xiaoya stopped crying. Yan Jiefang looked at Yan Jiekuang. Yan Jiekuang pushed Yongchang and Yongxin and said, "Go, go find your father." The two children ran towards Yan Jiefang, because they had already recalled their father in their memories. They threw themselves into Yan Jiefang's arms and cried aggrievedly.

The family of four was finally reunited. After a while, Yan Jiefang walked towards Yan Jiekuang with his wife and children. Yan Jiefang handed his bag to Shi Xiaoya, hugged Yan Jiekuang tightly, and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Yan Jiekuang also tried hard not to cry and said, "It's good that you're back. Let's go home and talk about it when we get home."

Several people went straight to the square outside. Yan Jiekuang's car was parked on the side of the road. When Yan Jiefang saw Yan Jiekuang's car, he asked, "Is it yours?"

"Of course, your brother doesn't stay in the city for nothing."

Yan Jiefang walked around the car and said, "Go to the passenger seat. I'll drive."

Yan Jiekuang happily handed the keys to his second brother. Shi Xiaoya looked at Yan Jiekuang with admiration on her face. She just knew that her second brother could drive.

The car started and drove towards Nanluoguxiang. While in the car, Yan Jiekuang asked, "Second brother, when did you learn to drive?"

Yan Jiefang said disdainfully: "I already knew how to do it. Not to mention this car, I've driven tanks and airplanes, too."

Yongchang and Yongxin looked at their father with shining eyes, and also looked at their father with admiration.

When Yan Jiekuang saw this, he found that Shi Xiaoya and the children immediately moved closer to him, with eyes full of admiration.

Yan Jiekuang asked, "I heard you were assigned a job. What unit?"

Yan Jiefang said nonchalantly, "When I was discharged from the army, I was promoted to deputy battalion commander. Because of my military merits, I was assigned to the Municipal Public Security Bureau. I think I was in the criminal investigation field."

Yan Jiekuang was a little unhappy when he heard this, and said, "Really? Now that you're back, I can't arrange an easy job for you. The city is not peaceful right now, and there are many cases."

Yan Jiefang didn't care at all and said, "You really don't understand your second brother. Why was your second brother assigned a special mission? At that time, your second brother was the best soldier in the entire regiment. Do you know what a best soldier is?"

Yan Jiekuang was very surprised. Of course he knew what a soldier king was, but Yan Jiefang was always smiling and amiable when he came home to visit his family. He didn't expect that his skills were so terrifying. If that was the case, it would not be surprising at all that he was assigned to criminal investigation.

A few people were chatting and soon they arrived home. The car stopped at the intersection and a few people walked towards No. 95 Courtyard.

Before reaching the door, they saw Yan Bugui and his wife standing at the door. Looking over here, Yang Ruiping cried out, "Old Second, you are finally back."

Yan Jiefang ran over quickly, hugged Yang Ruiping, and said, "Mom, Dad, I made you worried."

Yang Ruiping pulled Yan Jiefang and looked at his head. Yan Jiefang understood immediately, took off his hat and said, "Look, I'm fine now, nothing happened. Also, I won't leave. I'll stay at home to fulfill my filial duties."

The old couple finally became happy. At this time, Yan Jiekuang said, "Let's go home and talk. Why are you blocking the door?"

Yan Bugui rolled his eyes at him and said, "It's up to you to say that. Go and cook some food." Then he took Yan Jiefang home.

Yan Jiekuang said to himself: "Who did I offend? Well, I am destined to be a hard worker."

Yan Jiekuang strolled to the yard of the purchasing station and instructed Erxiao and Lin Song to get charcoal wood to lay on the oven. Erxiao kept asking Yan Jiekuang what he was going to do. Yan Jiekuang refused to say anything and just said that he would know when Wang Qing came.

After a while, a horn sounded at the door, and Yan Jiekuang said, "Let's go move the things. You're in for a treat today."

A few people walked to the gate of the yard. Wang Qing was opening the hood of the car. Erxiao was very curious and ran over. He took a look and shouted, "Third brother, aren't we going to roast a whole lamb?"

Yan Jiekuang said nonchalantly, "That's about it. Come on, move the things. I have to hurry."

Several people started to move things into the yard. Two large grills were placed on top of the oven. The three people didn't know how to handle the ingredients and could only do some washing and rinsing. The main work had to be done by Yan Jiekuang himself.

Several people started to get busy in the yard. Erxiao squatted aside curiously and watched Yan Jiekuang doing needlework. Yan Jiekuang introduced to Erxiao a dish called "Hun Yang Mo Hu". Goose was put in the goose's stomach, chicken was put in the goose's stomach, pigeon was put in the chicken's stomach, eggs were put in the pigeon's stomach, and then covered with necessary spices, and then sewn layer by layer with sheep intestines, and then brushed with oil.

When everything was ready, they put the lambs on the grill and started roasting. Roasting lamb is a patient and meticulous job. Yan Jiekuang stayed by the grill and did not leave for a moment because he was roasting two lambs at the same time.

When the sun was about to set, not to mention the west wing, the entire courtyard of No. 95 was filled with fragrance, a fragrance that could make one drool.

(End of this chapter)