Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 317 Father Yan Receives the Goods
When Yan Jiekuang returned to No. 95 Courtyard, it was already past four o'clock in the afternoon. Yan Jiekuang moved things to the kitchen and started to get busy. Yang Ruiping took care of his grandchildren and pushed the stroller at the kitchen door to chat with Yan Jiekuang.

Yan Jiekuang asked, "Mom, has my little sister ever come back?"

Yang Ruiping sighed and said, "They say that a daughter who is married off is like spilled water. I never thought that Jie Di would be so cold-hearted. She has never come back and has never even looked at us. We have really raised her in vain and even sent her to college."

Yan Jiekuang didn't expect Yan Jiedi to become like this, and he had many complaints about Yan Jiedi in his heart, but in front of his mother, he didn't say much. He just said that she would come back if there was anything, and comforted his mother.

The mother and son were chatting when they heard the door open. Yang Ruiping leaned over to look at the door and saw that it was Yan Jiecheng. As soon as he came in, he put the things in his hands on the table and turned around and shouted, "Mom, I'm back."

Yang Ruiping replied: "Why are you shouting? I saw it. Why did you come back? Are you not afraid of your dad anymore?"

Yan Jiecheng smiled awkwardly and said, "Isn't it the third brother who is back? I'm back too. After closing the stall over there, Yu Li and Yong Qing are back too. Oh, and Yong Fang and Shi Lei are going to the west wing to play."

Yang Ruiping turned to look at Yan Jiekuang and said, "Your child is really like you. He always strolls to the west wing when he has nothing to do."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "The venue there is bigger and has many trees. It's a good place to play hide-and-seek, haha!"

Yan Jiecheng looked at Yan Jiekuang packing the ingredients and said, "I'm in for a treat today. It's been a long time since I've eaten Lao San's dishes."

Yan Jiekuang asked, "How is your store? Have you ever thought about opening a shoe factory?"

Yan Jiecheng shook his head and said, "No, I don't have the chance to learn. Running a shoe factory is not something that can be done in a day or two."

Yan Jiekuang shook his head and said, "Your profits from buying and selling goods will get lower and lower in the future. If you don't believe me, go to the backyard and ask Xu Damao. He is a trader in this field. It will be difficult for you to do business in the future."

Yan Jiecheng actually knew that profits were getting lower and lower, but he didn't know the reason. When he heard Yan Jiekuang's words, he asked half-believingly, "Really?"

When Yan Jiekuang heard this, he realized that this boss was really stupid, so he said, "Why don't you go ask him and have a chat and you'll know."

When Yan Jiecheng heard this, he agreed and turned around to go to the backyard to find Xu Damao.

Yang Ruiping looked at Yan Jiekuang suspiciously and said, "Is your elder brother's business going to be difficult in the future?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "That's not the case, but how much he earns is controlled by others, people like Xu Damao, so the profit is very low. When it drops to a certain level, it is estimated that he will not be able to continue."

Yang Ruiping asked: "What should we do then?"

"Be self-sufficient and set up your own factory. A shoe factory is not that difficult. You just have to put yourself aside and learn. Yongqing is still young and this is the time for training. I'm just giving him a reminder. Whether he listens or not depends on you, elder brother and his wife." Yan Jiekuang said.

Yang Ruiping nodded and said, "You did the right thing. It's up to the boss whether he listens or not. You don't have to worry too much."

Yan Jiekuang first boiled the soup and then prepared the other ingredients himself. When he was in the south, Yan Jiekuang studied Cantonese cuisine a lot, and this time he was also preparing to cook a few dishes.

In the evening, everyone came back one after another, but Yan Bugui was still not back. Yang Ruiping was a little impatient and said, "We can't let the children starve. The third child, hurry up and cook and serve the food."

Yan Jiekuang started cooking. Each person got a braised abalone, but Yan Jiekuang made a few more because he was afraid they wouldn't have enough. He also made barbecued pork with honey sauce, Cantonese roast goose, steamed spareribs with black bean sauce, sweet and sour pork with pineapple, and lamb belly stewed with bamboo shoots. The soup was Huangjing, wolfberry and oxtail soup. The rest were home-cooked dishes, such as Qianlong Chinese cabbage, braised chicken, braised pork elbow, and stir-fried rapeseed.

Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiecheng looked at the dishes and drooled. Yan Jiekuang shouted, "The wine is with my mom, go get it quickly."

Yan Jiefang went to the inner room, took out two bottles of Jiannanchun, and said, "Old Third, where did you get this good wine? I haven't tasted it for many years."

"I brought it back from Guangdong. No one drinks it there. Sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, you should also try it. This wine is good and won't make you drunk." Yan Jiekuang said while serving the dishes.

Yan Yongqing walked up, looked at his father, held the empty cup, and said, "Dad, give me some, let me try it too."

Yan Jiecheng poured him half a glass. Yan Yongqing kept saying that his father was stingy, but Yan Jiecheng didn't care and held the bottle tightly.

Yang Ruiping was very happy looking at the whole family, and said to Yan Jiecheng: "I am very happy today, Boss, pour me half a cup too."

The whole family sat down. At this time, Yan Jiekuang came in with a large tray and gave each person a small plate and an Australian abalone. Yan Jiekuang said, "This is something you can rarely find in Hong Kong Island. You are in for a treat."

Xiaopang said to Yongchang excitedly: "Brother, this is my favorite, braised abalone, super delicious."

Everyone laughed, and Yan Jiekuang said, "There is still one more soup, you guys eat it first, it won't taste good if it gets cold, I'll be back soon."

When Yan Jiekuang came back with the soup, everyone lowered their heads and ate the abalone with gusto.

After eating the abalone, everyone praised Yan Jiekuang and said that the abalone was very delicious.

Yan Jiecheng joked, "After today's meal, what are we going to do with the New Year's Eve dinner?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Also, Hong Kong Island will send a batch of seafood in a few days. You must come back for the New Year, otherwise you won't be able to enjoy it."

The brothers laughed and started drinking when they were almost done. Yang Ruiping looked up at the clock and said, "Why hasn't your father come back yet?"

Yan Jiefang stood up and said, "Why don't I go and take a look." Then he picked up the cotton jacket hanging on the chair and was about to put it on.

Just at this moment, the door was pushed open, and Yan Bugui came in happily, holding a canvas travel bag in his hand and singing a little tune.

The brothers greeted Yan Bugui, and Yan Bugui responded enthusiastically. After putting his bag in the study, he came out, washed his hands, and went to the table. He poured himself a glass of wine and started drinking with the three brothers.

Yan Jiekuang asked Yan Bugui, "Dad, what good thing happened to you that makes you so happy?"

Yan Bugui took a sip of wine and said, "It's really good news. I happened to receive some good things today."

Yan Jiecheng said: "That's really good news, Dad, how much did you spend to get it?"

Yan Bugui glanced at Yan Jiecheng and said, "I'm not borrowing money from you, so why do you care how much money it is?"

Yan Jiecheng said awkwardly: "I'm just curious, let us open our eyes too." Yan Bugui said proudly: "Okay, I'm in a good mood today, let you feast your eyes, this cost me five thousand yuan." After that, he got up and went to the study to get something.

The three brothers were full of curiosity about such objects, so they just waited there and didn't even drink.

After a while, Yan Bugui came out with a canvas bag. After sitting down, he opened the bag and carefully took out a box from it. After opening it, everyone saw a round jade bi inside. Yan Jiekuang took a look and knew that it was a jade bi from the Han Dynasty. Only the royal family could use a jade bi like this.

Then Yan Bugui took out a pair of bronze jars, which seemed to be unearthed from the same tomb as the jade bi. The last piece was a bronze figurine, dressed in Han Dynasty costume and looked lifelike.

Yan Bugui looked at Yan Jiekuang and said proudly, "How about these things? Are they treasures? Are they worth five thousand yuan?"

Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang didn't understand, and looked at Yan Jiekuang. Yan Jiekuang didn't even touch them, and said, "These things can't be measured by money. They are all priceless treasures. They were all unearthed from the same tomb. It's obvious that they belonged to the royal family of the Han Dynasty."

When Yan Jiefang heard this, he stood up and said, "Old Third, what did you say? Did this come out of the tomb?"

Yan Jiekuang nodded and said, "Judging from the oxidation of the green rust on this bronze jar, it will take less than three months."

Yan Jiefang stared at Yan Bugui, who was also confused. When he received it, he also guessed that it came out of the tomb, but when people said it was not a family heirloom, he dispelled his worries.

Yan Jiefang asked Yan Bugui, "Dad, where is the person who sold you the stuff?"

Yan Bugui no longer had the complacency he had just shown, and stammered, "I, I don't know. After selling the things, he left."

Yan Jiefang said, "Hurry up, grab your things and follow me to the office."

After hearing this, Yan Bugui became unhappy. If he went, he would get nothing and lose five thousand yuan.

Yan Bugui said, "You are my son, and you still want to arrest me? If I don't go, just pretend you don't know, isn't that enough?"

Yan Jiefang looked at his father in surprise and said, "Dad, you are actively cooperating now, which counts as your reporting. I am a policeman, and I pretend not to know. What are you thinking? Hurry up, or the person will run away and you won't be able to get your money back."

Yan Bugui understood when he heard this. He really had to go. He slowly put his things in his pocket and stood up. Ji Lian handed her car keys to Yan Jiefang and said, "The Mitsubishi car at the door is mine. You use it first. It's more important to catch up with the person."

Although Yan Jiefang was surprised that his brother and sister-in-law had gotten into the car, he really didn't have time to think about these things. He urged his father and said, "Dad, hurry up, otherwise if they run away from the city, you won't be able to get your money back."

Only then did Yan Bugui follow Yan Jiefang out of the house. The Yan family members in the house lost interest in drinking and left early.

Yan Jiekuang accompanied his mother, afraid that she would think too much. Yang Ruiping said, "Don't worry about me. I'm not surprised by what your unreliable father does. I'm just wondering where he got the money. He still owes me two thousand yuan."

Yan Jiekuang took Yang Ruiping to his home and said that he had something to give her. Yang Ruiping couldn't resist and followed Yan Jiekuang and his wife and their children to Yuer Hutong.

After Yang Ruiping sat down and chatted with Ji Lian about family matters and coaxed the child, Yan Jiekuang came out of the study and handed a passbook to Yang Ruiping. Yang Ruiping looked at Yan Jiekuang strangely, wondering why his son would give him a passbook.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Mom, you've worked hard for half your life and don't have much savings. The money your son gives you every month is not much, that's because of my dad. If I give you more, he will definitely miss it. This is what I earned in Shenzhen. I'm giving you this money, just keep it, buy anything you like, it's also a filial piety of a son."

Yang Ruiping took the passbook, opened it, and was shocked to see 50,000 yuan on it. He said quickly, "This is too much. I don't need the money anywhere. I don't want it. You can keep it."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Just take it. It's for emergency use. I know you care about your sons and grandsons. If they have any problems, it's not convenient for me to come here. You can take this."

Yang Ruiping wanted to refuse, but Ji Lian advised him, "Mom, just take it. Your San'er is a millionaire now, so he doesn't need this little bit. Now the first bird to stick its head out gets shot. There are some difficulties at home, and you have to step in. This is why we don't want others to know. Last time, someone was thinking about it, so San'er had to hide it from the world."

Yang Ruiping sighed and said, "Your dad is always busy, and sooner or later he will run out of money. Your second brother's family has children who are growing up, and the expenses are inevitable. Okay, I'll take it, and thank you, Third Son, for being the only one who still cares about the family."

Only then did the couple laugh happily. Yang Ruiping shook her head helplessly. She knew that she only had a smart man like San'er in her life, who always thought of her as a mother. This made her have fewer worries in life.

Yang Ruiping asked the third son again, "Third son, tell me the truth, is your father okay?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Didn't I hear from my second brother? It was my dad who reported the case. Not only will there be no problem, but if the case is solved, I think he will even get a reward. But it will be difficult for my dad to get the money back. It's also considered stolen money and needs to be confiscated."

Yang Ruiping was relieved and said, "You mean it was the second child who saved your father."

Yan Jiekuang nodded and said, "If other people find out, my dad will be in big trouble. He will be considered an accomplice and guilty of selling stolen goods."

Yang Ruiping stood up and said, "No, I'll go home and take a look. You said this old man, it's almost the New Year, and this happened."

Yan Jiekuang wanted to see Yang Ruiping off, but Yang Ruiping waved his hand and said, "It's only a few steps away, you can take a rest."

Yang Ruiping went home, Ji Lian was busy taking the children to take a bath, Yan Jiekuang heated up the small boiler, and the rooms in the yard were very warm. After taking a bath, the children did not go to sleep and ran to the study.

Dapang asked Yan Jiekuang: "Dad, when are we going to buy fireworks? We haven't bought any this year."

Yan Jiekuang said, "If it's not too cold tomorrow, I'll take you to the market, okay?"

The children happily agreed. Shi Li snuggled in Yan Jiekuang's arms and asked, "Then let's go tomorrow morning. I want to eat fish porridge."

Yan Jiekuang said, "I'll make it for you tomorrow. We'll set off after we finish eating."

Shi Li asked again: "Then will mom go?"

Yan Jiekuang replied: "Your mother can't go, your brothers and sisters are still young and need to stay at home."

The children were chatting with Yan Jiekuang in the study, and from time to time they asked where Shi Lei was going. Yan Jiekuang said it was in the south, and promised to take them there to play when they grew up.

After playing with the children until after nine o'clock, Yan Jiekuang asked the children to go back to bed. After checking the yard, he also went back to his room to sleep.

(End of this chapter)