Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 323: Post-New Year Arrangements
On the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Tian Guixiang was picked up early at Yuer Hutong because she knew that Kodak Group would have a meeting that day. The children had not yet started school, and Yan Jiekuang and his wife had to go to the meeting, so they had to pick up Tian Guixiang.

Yan Jiekuang and his wife had breakfast with their children and told them to be good at home. They would not be at home all day and would only be back in the evening. The children nodded and said they understood.

Ji Lian drove and took Yan Jiekuang straight to Chaofengzhai. Originally, Yan Jiekuang wanted to rent a conference room in the hotel, but Ji Lian said that the third floor of Chaofengzhai had been vacant and had a lot of space, suitable for a conference room. It just needed to be rearranged. It was convenient for them to have lunch there.

When the couple arrived at Chaofengzhai, there was a row of cars parked at the door. It seemed that everyone else had arrived first. Ji Lian parked the car, Yan Jiekuang got out, and Yin Liguo was waiting at the door.

Yan Jiekuang saw Yin Liguo and said, "Why are you still worried that I won't be able to find the place?"

"No, I just miss my master." Yin Liguo said with a smile.

At this time, Ji Lian also came over, and the three of them went upstairs. When they went upstairs, they saw that everyone was quite present. When they saw Yan Jiekuang coming, they all stood up. Yan Jiekuang waved his hand and said, "Don't be so polite. Sit down."

After everyone sat down, three people sat on the podium in the front: Yan Jiekuang, Ji Lian and Wang Qing.

Wang Qing first reported on the composition of the employees who came to Sijiu City, and then briefly talked about the relocation plan of the Tongzhou Winery and the situation of the Fangshan land.

Yan Jiekuang spoke, mainly to explain the tasks in the recent period. The first was the site selection for the office space, which was assigned to Jia Dang and Huaihua. The second was the negotiation with the Tongzhou Winery, which was assigned to Wang Qing and Wang Xuan. The third was the design-related progress, which mainly involved two projects, one was the Tongzhou land project after the relocation, and the other was the new winery project, which was assigned to Xiao Liutong, Lao Liu's son.

After finishing the task, Yan Jiekuang introduced Ji Lian to everyone and told everyone that Ji Lian would represent himself as the executive president and would start to be involved in this project in the early stages. He hoped that everyone would work hard to implement the project this year and start construction next year.

At the end of the meeting, Yan Jiekuang asked if anyone had any questions. Wang Xuan raised his hand and said, "Director Yan, all the construction workers in our Sijiu City have returned. If they are idle for a year, how should we arrange their work?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "You can find a few business managers to take over some of the work here. These construction talents are the company's reserve. No matter what, they can't be let go. Even if there is no work, I will support them."

Jia Dang also raised his hand and asked, "Which district should we choose for the office space?"

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "It's fine in the city. You have a car anyway."

No one else had any questions, so Yan Jiekuang said, "Huaihua, you have a heavy task this year. Our company needs to be formal, and the establishment of a management system is of utmost importance. There are also personnel systems, financial systems, and engineering management systems. These are all your jobs."

Huaihua said: "I will do it well, but I need to hire a few more professionals."

Yan Jiekuang nodded in agreement and said, "Okay, there's a start-of-work banquet at noon today, so let's eat here. Eat and drink. If you drink too much, just park the car here and come back tomorrow to pick it up."

Yan Jiekuang turned to look at Ji Lian and asked, "Serve the food. Today is the boss lady's treat."

Everybody laughed and went upstairs in groups of three or four.

Ji Lian set up two tables in the largest banquet hall. Yan Jiekuang sat at the main table, with Ji Lian and Wang Qing on either side. When the dishes were served, Wang Qing asked Yan Jiekuang, "Are you going to step down and let President Ji take the lead?"

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "You don't know, in our family, she is the head of the outside world, and I am the head of the inside world."

Ji Lian patted him and said, "What nonsense! If you are lazy, just say you are lazy. I will take care of the outside affairs."

Wang Qing laughed loudly. Yan Jiekuang asked Jia Dang, "I didn't have a chance to talk to you in the courtyard. How much money did your family pay that made your parents almost support you two?"

Jia Dang measured it and said, "Ten thousand yuan."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Ten thousand per person, no wonder."

Huaihua said, "It's ten thousand in total. I still have to save up for my dowry."

Yan Jiekuang said with disdain: "You two are so stingy. You two must have spent at least 100,000 yuan each last year. Look, your dad is still working, and he doesn't even have more than 10 yuan in his pocket."

Jia Dang said, "You don't know who my mother is. I gave her everything, and my father didn't have more than ten dollars in his pocket."

Everyone laughed. At this time, the dishes were served. Yan Jiekuang picked up his glass and stood up, saying, "I wish you all good work and all the best in the new year. Cheers."

Everyone picked up their cups and drank from it together. Those who could drink drank more, and those who couldn't drink just took a sip.

After the meal started, Yan Jiekuang asked the waiter to go downstairs, because they were all family members and could be self-sufficient.

They were eating when they heard a quarrel downstairs. Ji Lian stood up, turned around and went downstairs. Wang Qiang and Sun Daming also stood up and followed.

Yan Jiekuang called Yang Liwei and asked him to go downstairs to see what was going on and come back to tell him.

After a while, several people came back. Ji Lian sat down and said, "The one causing trouble is your old acquaintance. Guess who it is?"

Yan Jiekuang was confused and asked, "Who is it?"

"It was Xu Damao. He brought some people with him and insisted on the largest private room. Our waiter said that the second floor had been booked out, and he and those people were not giving in. When I went downstairs, he calmed down, said a few words to me, and took his people away." Ji Lian said.

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "It's true that enemies often meet. I guess he will go back to the south soon. He can't make any money here."

Although there were some minor incidents at the banquet, the people from Kodak still had a lively party. There were a few people who drank too much, so Ji Lian sent someone to send them back.

Yan Jiekuang went home alone in the afternoon, while Ji Lian was still busy in the hotel.

The children were surprised that Yan Jiekuang came back so early. Xiao Pang even asked, "Dad, didn't you say you would be back in the evening?"

"I'm just thinking about you, so I came back early." Yan Jiekuang replied.

After the Chinese New Year, everyone at Keda started to move. Since Ji Lian started to get involved in the company's management, Yan Jiekuang almost stopped supervising the company's operations. The main work was taken over by Wang Qing. Ji Lian was still in the learning stage and didn't interfere with the company's operations. Jia Dang acted quickly and found a factory building of a former street-level enterprise near Chongwenmen. The main reason for choosing this factory building was that the yard was large and the company's middle-level cadres basically drove to and from get off work. Another reason was that there were few houses in the yard, which was conducive to reconstruction.

Soon after, Wang Xuan's engineering team moved in and started to build the office building according to Yan Jiekuang's drawings. Huaihua also got started and began to travel around various universities looking for available talents.

In order to learn about shopping mall management and property management, Ji Lian went to Shenzhen and started a one-month study. There were two other people traveling with her, one was Yang Lifen and the other was Yin Liguo.

Yan Jiekuang's main job now is to take care of the children. He is busy with urban life every day. He occasionally calls Rui'er and Lou Xiao'e to confirm the time for the second negotiation with the winery and Fangshan Land Management Department.

Everything was going on effectively and orderly. Managers such as Wang Qing and Jia Dang had matured and each of them was able to stand on their own. Yan Jiekuang was also happy to let go.

As for Yan Jiekuang's ambitious goal, only Lou Xiao'e is relatively clear about it at the moment. Ji Lian only knows that all this is Yan Jiekuang's preparation, and she doesn't know exactly when the preparation will end.

Tian Guixiang's life at home is quite regular now. Apart from the big cat and daily food, she prepares breakfast and lunch, and takes care of the children when Yan Jiekuang has urgent matters.

Sun Daming was busy contacting his retired comrades, because he and Wang Qiang were the only ones who returned from the first batch of security guards. Once the project started, his department had to prepare the personnel.

The first batch of security guards recruited have settled down in Shenzhen, where the jobs are stable, the benefits are good, and there are dormitory buildings. According to the company's regulations, after working for ten years, the dormitory buildings become the property of the employees. Some people even brought their families there.

After Ji Lian left, the two younger ones became very attached to Yan Jiekuang. As soon as they woke up, they would cry if they didn't see Yan Jiekuang. The older ones could go to and from school independently. Except for Xiaopang who made trouble from time to time, the others were quite obedient, especially Shi Lei, who already looked like a big brother and took care of his younger brothers and sisters when he had nothing to do.

The big cat has developed a new habit. Now it rarely goes to the main hall to continue lying down. Instead, it just lies down next to the crib and sleeps when it has nothing to do, as if it is taking care of the two little ones.

At the end of March, the children all went to school and the two younger ones went to bed. Yan Jiekuang said hello to Tian Guixiang and went out for a walk. Now Yan Jiekuang likes to stroll around the alleys in the city, mainly to try his luck, and chat with the uncles and aunts at the entrance of the alley when he has nothing to do.

Today he planned to visit his parents first. He hadn't been there for a long time and was too busy with his children every day to have time. When Yan Jiekuang walked to the entrance of the alley, he saw the supply and marketing cooperative was buying mutton, as if they had just arrived. Yan Jiekuang lined up and bought three pounds of mutton and two bottles of Lianhua Bai, then he went to No. 95 courtyard.

As soon as I arrived at the door, I saw Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong playing chess at the bottom of the steps. Old Master Ji was sitting in a wheelchair covered with a blanket, watching them nearby.

Yan Jiekuang stepped forward and greeted them, "Hello Uncle Yi, Hello Uncle Liu, why did you come out, old man? Who pushed you out? It's still cold."

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong raised their heads and nodded to Yan Jiekuang, then continued playing chess. Grandpa Ji said, "I asked your mother to push me out. I felt a bit bored at home, so I came out to get some fresh air. Don't worry about me, come in."

"Okay, let's have mutton hotpot at home later, and I'll pick you up." Yan Jiekuang didn't say anything after hearing this, and just went in with his things.

When he got home, he saw Yang Ruiping, Li Cuilan, and Widow Wang chatting at the door. Yan Jiekuang hurriedly greeted them, "Hello, Aunt Yi, Aunt Wang, Mom, I'll put the things in the house first. How about mutton hotpot for lunch?"

"Okay, you go in. By the way, your father is looking for you. He is in the west wing. Put your things down and go over first." Yang Ruiping said.

Yan Jiekuang agreed and went into the house to put his things. After coming out, he went directly to the west courtyard. The main buildings of the west courtyard had been built. It was a standard two-courtyard building with a screen wall. For some reason, Yan Bugui chose a dragon and phoenix as the auspicious pattern. Yan Jiekuang felt it was very strange. A normal family would either have good fortune, wealth, longevity, happiness or the five blessings. This dragon and phoenix should be for the royal family.

When they walked into the courtyard, they saw Yan Bugui standing at the lotus gate in the middle courtyard. Yan Jiekuang went up to him and said, "Dad, what are you doing? Are you looking for me?"

Yan Bugui saw Yan Jiekuang coming and said, "Old Third, please help me move those things. I plan to build a warehouse downstairs to store some commonly used vegetables, sundries, etc. The price is negotiable."

Yan Jiekuang asked in confusion: "Why don't you want it when everything is fine? What happened?"

Yan Bugui sighed and said, "It's all because of Yan Yongqing's big mouth. Now everyone in the yard knows that I have a basement. Everyone who comes wants to go down and take a look. Their eyes light up when they see my things. Although there are not many things, I collected them one by one. I'm not afraid of thieves stealing, but I'm afraid of thieves thinking about it. I always feel that someone has been eyeing me recently."

When Yan Jiekuang heard this, he finally understood what was going on and said, "Okay, just tell me how much it costs, and I'll give you the money tomorrow and take it away."

Yan Bugui asked tentatively, "How about five thousand? I know you know how much you charge, but it's an object after all."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Okay, since you are my father, I will treat it as a show of filial piety."

Yan Bugui was relieved. Yan Jiekuang asked, "Dad, why is there a dragon and phoenix pattern on the screen wall at the door?"

Yan Bugui was stunned, thought for a moment and said, "It was Old Liu who introduced me that said if we want to repair it, we should restore it to its original state, saying that the original screen wall was auspicious with dragon and phoenix."

Yan Jiekuang said angrily: "This old stubborn man only knows how to cause trouble. Why not make something auspicious? This is so conspicuous."

Yan Bugui said nonchalantly: "It's okay, no one noticed. Oh, come on, let's go to the back garden and take a look. I'll help you with some ideas."

Yan Bugui took Yan Jiekuang to the back garden. The pool in the back garden had been repaired, and a river channel was specially built and a circulation equipment was installed, so that the water could circulate and not become stagnant water.

There is a small bridge over the river, and shrubs are planted on both sides of the river. In addition to these, there are two trees planted in four directions, two pomegranate trees and two osmanthus trees. The rest of the place is empty.

Yan Bugui pointed to the empty land and said, "I'm a little undecided. Do you think it's better to plant flowers or vegetables?"

Yan Jiekuang looked at his father in confusion and said, "Don't you like growing flowers? Why not just grow flowers?"

Yan Bugui said, "If I were to grow flowers in such a large area, I would be exhausted. You can think of a way to plan it. Anyway, your mother said she wanted to grow some vegetables in the backyard."

Yan Jiekuang took a look and said, "Well, you can grow flowers in the front part, and build a glass house in the back part, similar to a greenhouse, so that you can eat vegetables and fruits in winter."

Yan Bugui nodded and said, "Good idea, let's do it. Let's go back to eat. I'll go find Lao Liu in the afternoon."

Yan Jiekuang said, "I brought three pounds of mutton. Let's have mutton hotpot for lunch."

The father and son walked towards the next yard together.

(End of this chapter)