Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 340 Father's Day
In mid-June, the farm in Fangshan was completed and the seedlings were already on the way, most of which were from the south. For this purpose, the company specially recruited several students from the Agricultural College and set up a technical department on the farm to provide technical support to the farm.

As for livestock and poultry, they were also on the way. Breeding pigs were introduced from Shandong, cattle and sheep were introduced from Inner Mongolia, and poultry were introduced from the Northeast. After recruiting villagers from Fangshan as farm employees, the farm was officially started. The manager of the farm is a newly recruited graduate student named Li Dong, a native of Sijiucheng.

The winery's factory building has been completed, and the main focus is now on building supporting facilities, including family quarters, kindergartens, primary schools, canteens and health centers.

The factory area is planned very neatly. In the later period, Wang Xuan strengthened the greening construction of the factory area and added many green belts and small parks. This was decided by the company after research, and Yan Jiekuang did not participate.

As for the nearly ten-acre vacant land near the winery, it is reserved for the factory. After the winery has been away for a while, they will see if there is anything left behind and then use it.

After Children's Day, Yan Jiekuang stayed at home again. When he had nothing to do, he tutored the children in their work and taught the two younger ones. The school-age children were very nervous recently as the midterm exams were approaching and they had almost no time to play. The children were very self-conscious, especially Shi Lei, who would study until midnight. Yan Jiekuang advised him many times, but he would not listen.

Today is Sunday, and Yan Jiekuang got up a little late. He spent a long time reading Tongzhou's business plan yesterday, and kept revising it until midnight.

Ji Lian went out to buy breakfast in the morning. After the children finished eating, no one left. Yan Jiekuang was very puzzled. Shi Lei said, "Dad, you have worked hard. Today is Father's Day. We want to give you a gift."

Shi Li pulled Yan Jiekuang and went straight to the study room. Ji Lian covered her mouth and giggled, walking behind with the two little ones.

Yan Jiekuang walked to the big desk in the study where the children often sat. Shi Li and a few others took out a box from a cabinet and put it in front of Yan Jiekuang. The four of them said together, "Dad, happy Father's Day!"

Yan Jiekuang didn’t really care what the gift was. He was very happy now. This was a sign that the child loved him. Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, “Thank you!”

Ji Lian said beside him: "Open it and see the children's thoughts."

Yan Jiekuang opened the box. There was a painting on the top and an exquisite Hero brand fountain pen on the bottom.

The painting was obviously painted by Shi Li. It showed a family of eight playing in the yard. In the painting, she was holding a teacup and watching the children playing games. Ji Lian was sitting next to her. The painting was very lifelike. On the back of the painting were words written by several children to him.

Shi Lei wrote, "Dad, you gave me a new life. I love you and will love you forever. I am your eternal child, Shi Lei."

Da Pang wrote, "Dad, your delicious food has successfully captured my heart, love you Da Pang."

What Xiaopang wrote was, "Dad, although you always scold me, I know you are doing it for my own good, but it would be better if you said less. I love you, naughty Xiaopang."

Shi Li wrote, "Dad, I know you love me the most, and I will always be with you and love you for the rest of my life, lovely Lili."

After reading it, Yan Jiekuang was very moved and said, "Thank you, Dad will take care of you all your lives. You are all my most lovely babies."

As soon as he finished speaking, the two little ones rushed over and kissed Yan Jiekuang one by one. Xixi said, "We love Dad, too."

"Okay, Dad is very happy to have you and your mother." Yan Jiekuang said with deep emotion.

Ji Lian was so moved that she shed tears. She walked out of the house silently and went to the room where the tablet of Grandpa Ji was placed.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Okay, go play. Dad has to prepare a gift too. Let's go see your grandfather. But I'm curious, where did you get the money to buy the pen?"

Shi Lei said: "Most of it is pocket money saved by a few of us, and the rest is earned by Xiaopang."

Yan Jiekuang turned to look at Xiaopang, who quickly said, "I didn't do anything bad this time. I usually exchanged it for garbage."

Yan Jiekuang said: "No matter what, I thank you. Xiaopang, don't pick up trash in the future. It will delay your studies."

Xiaopang smiled and said, "I see, picking up trash is tiring."

Yan Jiekuang turned around and walked out, smiling with relief. He went to find Ji Lian, and his wife had to comfort herself.

After comforting Ji Lian, the two discussed what gift to give to their father. Yan Jiekuang said, "Why not buy my father a better camera? After all, he is an educated person and should be interested in photography."

Ji Lian nodded frequently and said, "Let's buy one for our family, otherwise when the child grows up, we won't have any record of what he looked like when he was little."

Yan Jiekuang said: "Okay, let's do it. I still have some foreign exchange coupons and US dollars. Let's go." Ji Lian nodded with a smile.

The family took the money and went straight to the Friendship Store. When they arrived at the Friendship Store, the clerk at the door let Yan Jiekuang in when he saw that he had a Hong Kong passport, foreign exchange coupons and US dollars. The control here was not so strict now.

As soon as the children entered, they were attracted by the items on the counter. Most of the items on the first floor were antiques, as well as some domestic watches.

Yan Jiekuang and his family started shopping. There were many fine items in the counter, many of which were porcelain and jade artifacts from the palace collection, as well as some calligraphy and paintings. Shi Lei was interested in these so he walked very slowly. Yan Jiekuang signaled Ji Lian to take the other children upstairs to shop, and he stayed here with Shi Lei to look around slowly.

Shi Lei was very interested in a lacquer box. Yan Jiekuang only took a glance and knew that it was a collection of the palace of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, which contained the four treasures of the study, but it was empty now. There was a picture of orchids on the back of the lid, and below it was a poem, "In the end, I embraced the famous mountains, and the evening scenery was already vast and gloomy. I returned to the ancient school to enjoy the quiet entertainment of books and history. The pine wind was cold outside, and the orchid candles were bright between the seats. Why should I recall my travels, to clear my mind and reach the state of nothingness. The ancients left me famous sayings, and the moment of existence is nourishing." Below was Qianlong's seal.

Yan Jiekuang said, "If you can tell me when Emperor Qianlong wrote this poem, I will buy it for you."

Shi Lei was immediately surprised and said, "In the 27th year of Qianlong's reign, the poem was titled "Late Sitting in Xuegutang". Is that right, Dad?"

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Then what do you think this box is used for?"

Shi Lei said: "It should be for the four treasures of the study, but I see there seems to be an extra grid."

Yan Jiekuang nodded and said, "That's for seals. This is two layers, and there's another layer underneath for letters."

Shi Lei turned his head and looked at it carefully, but he really didn't notice it. Not only did he not notice it, even the salesperson didn't know that it was double-layered.

Yan Jiekuang smiled and asked, "Comrade, how much is this?"

The salesperson said, "If you use foreign exchange coupons, it's 500 yuan plus the foreign exchange coupon. If you use US dollars, it's 200 US dollars."

Yan Jiekuang didn't hesitate and directly took out two hundred dollars and bought the item. The salesperson knew that this was a connoisseur of valuables and was very enthusiastic. He even invited Yan Jiekuang to look at other things. Yan Jiekuang said a few simple words and took the things and took Shi Lei to the second floor.

When they reached the second floor, Ji Lian was already carrying a bunch of things and heading to the third floor with her child. Yan Jiekuang hurried over because the third floor was where cameras were sold.

The two of them walked around the third floor, discussed something, and bought a Polaroid camera and a Nikon camera, and of course, a lot of photo paper and film.

After walking around, the two of them were carrying a lot of things, even Fatty Shi Lei was carrying a lot of things, so the group headed back home.

After returning home to tidy up, Yan Jiekuang brought his family back to the courtyard. As soon as he entered the west wing, he saw his mother cleaning the water tank in the front yard. Yan Jiekuang asked, "Where is my father?"

Yang Ruiping said, "I'm arranging flowers in the backyard. What's going on?" Yan Jiekuang said, "Today is Father's Day in the West. Didn't you bring a gift for my dad?"

Yang Ruiping said dissatisfiedly: "Why is there Father's Day but not Mother's Day?"

Yan Jiekuang went up to his mother, took her hand, and said, "There is Mother's Day, but it has passed. If my child hadn't given me a gift today, I wouldn't even remember Father's Day. As long as you wish, every day is Mother's Day."

Yang Ruiping chuckled and said, "I know you are filial. Go ahead. I was just joking."

At this time, Ji Lian said, "Next year I will definitely give Mom a grand Mother's Day."

Yang Ruiping smiled and said, "Okay, I'll wait."

Yan Jiekuang took the children to the backyard. Ji Lian took Yang Ruiping's hand and told him what happened in the morning. Only then did Yang Ruiping know the whole story and said that they were all good children.

When they arrived at the backyard, Yan Bugui was bending over to water the flowers. Yan Jiekuang called out "Dad" and the children all shouted "Grandpa".

Yan Bugui stood up, looked at Yan Jiekuang strangely, and said, "What's the matter?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Today is Father's Day in the West. I wish you a happy Father's Day. I have selected two cameras. Come and have a look. Pick one and I'll give it to you."

Yan Bugui was instantly delighted and said, "There is such a good thing, haha, thank you, third brother."

Yan Bugui and Yan Jiekuang took the children to the pavilion. Yan Jiekuang first tried out the Inspur camera and took a group photo of Yan Bugui and the children.

After a while, the photo came out. It was very clear. Yan Bugui was surprised and said, "The photo came out right away? It's a bit unbelievable."

Yan Jiekuang explained that the advantage of this camera is that it can take pictures and record them instantly, but the disadvantage is that it can only take one photo.

Yan Bugui didn't listen to anything else and immediately chose the instant camera, not the Nikon. Shi Lei took the photos and ran to the front yard to show his grandmother. Yang Ruiping took one look and said, "No, I want to take a photo too." After that, he took Ji Lian and Shi Lei to the backyard.

Afterwards, the old couple had a lot of fun playing in the back garden.

Yan Bugui was happy to take the photos, Yang Ruiping was happy to be photographed, and the children were also very excited. Yan Jiekuang took a look and thought, "Okay, go to the kitchen to cook, as the family members have no time to cook."

Yan Jiekuang went to the kitchen. After a while, Shi Xiaoya came to the kitchen and said, "Third brother, why are you cooking today? Where are your parents?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "They are all taking pictures in the backyard. They are having a great time."

When Shi Xiaoya heard this, she said, "You keep busy first. I'll go to the backyard to take a look. Yongchang, Yongxin, let's go to the backyard."

Yan Jiekuang looked helplessly at the backs of his second sister-in-law and the others. He really didn't expect that photography could have such a strong appeal to people.

Yan Jiekuang cooked a few home-cooked dishes, mainly fried noodles with soybean paste. He looked at the vegetables and took a bamboo basket to pick vegetables in the backyard.

When passing by the back garden, they saw Ji Lian and Shi Xiaoya arranging a photo of the old couple Yan Bugui and the children. Yan Jiekuang smiled knowingly and went into the glass house.

At noon, Yan Jiekuang went to the backyard to call his family to eat, and everyone reluctantly left the back garden. Ji Lian told Yan Jiekuang that the old couple took more than 50 photos in one breath.

Yan Bugui was eating and talking at the same time. In the evening, every family would take a family photo, and finally someone would take a family photo for the whole family.

Yan Jiekuang said jokingly: "Dad, why don't you go to the next door to take a picture of Mr. Zhang."

Yang Ruiping asked: "What are the three elders?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and my father have been friends for many years."

When Yan Bugui heard this, he ate faster. Everyone saw that the old man was interested and they had to take the photo.

Shi Li said at this time: "Brother Yongqing and Sister Yongfang haven't come yet."

Yang Ruiping thought, yes, there are still two children missing, and said, "Call Jie Cheng after dinner and ask him to bring the children over."

Yan Bugui was the first one to finish his meal. This was his first time. After dinner, he took his Polaroid camera and left. The children went to the backyard after dinner and said they wanted to watch Ninja Turtles. Yan Jiekuang was puzzled, thinking that a turtle is just a turtle, how can it become a magical turtle? So he followed them with his teacup.

Yang Ruiping took his two daughters-in-law to clean up the dishes and the kitchen.

Yan Jiekuang, who was in the backyard, heard exclamations from the neighboring yard from time to time. This should be the surprise brought to them by Lipai. But now Yan Jiekuang had no time to look at the neighbors, as he was also attracted by the divine turtle.

In the afternoon, Yan Bugui came back with his camera, still unsatisfied. Yan Jiekuang saw that his father had had enough fun, so Yan Bugui asked, "If I go to the Summer Palace, do you think anyone would take photos for five yuan a photo?"

Yan Jiekuang gave his father a thumbs up and said, "Comrade Yan, you are a good businessman. There must be someone who wants to take advantage of you. Why don't you try it when you have nothing to do?"

Yan Bugui thought for a moment and said, "Let's give it a try. It's just for fun. It won't be tiring."

Yang Ruiping said: "You bastard, you have always been looking for work for your dad since you were little."

At this time, Yan Bugui thought about it carefully and said, "That's true. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have thought about it. My job was always found by the third brother."

Ji Lian burst out laughing, and Shi Xiaoya was also very happy. They had known for a long time that Yan Jiekuang was afraid that Yan Bugui would be idle and cause trouble, so he tempted Yan Bugui to do this and that from time to time.

Yan Jiekuang touched his nose embarrassedly and changed the subject, saying, "Mom, you have to take Dad to visit grandma's house. You haven't been there since they built a small Western-style building."

Ji Lian said: "Yes, that big yard and small western-style building are really magnificent."

Yan Bugui was moved again. Yang Ruiping said, "I heard that the village is developing well. I will go back next week. It's time to visit my parents."

Yan Bugui echoed, "I'll prepare the gifts, don't worry about it, we'll all go, and the third brother will take care of the car."

Yan Jiekuang said: "No problem, I'll take care of it."

(End of this chapter)