Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 345 Beer Night Chat
In the evening, the family members came back one after another. The first to come back were Yan Jiecheng, who brought Yan Yongfang, Yan Yongchang and Yan Yongxin. As soon as the children came back, they went to find Shi Lei and the others.

Yan Jiecheng sat on a reclining chair in the yard and said, "I am so tired. I won't go to the park for a long time."

Yang Ruiping smiled and said, "You lack exercise. Look at those kids. Is there any one complaining of being tired?"

Yan Jiecheng stopped talking, lit a cigarette, stood up, walked to the freezer room, got himself a bottle of soda, opened it, and went back to the lounge chair in the yard, drinking soda and smoking.

Then Shi Xiaoya got off work, and Ji Lian came back not long after. The two of them went to the backyard to look after the children. Soon, Yu Li and Yan Yongqing also came back, but Yan Jiefang was nowhere to be seen. Yan Bugui walked into the kitchen and said, "We are all hungry. Let's eat. Just save some for your second brother."

Yan Jiekuang started cooking. The staple food was steamed buns and sesame cakes. The sesame cakes were brought back by Yan Jiecheng.

First, the soybean stewed pig's trotter that Xiaohai had been thinking about was served, and then Yan Jiekuang copied a few more dishes, including stir-fried beef tenderloin with green onions, chicken with oyster sauce, choy sum with fresh mushrooms, spicy tendon, egg and tomato, stir-fried cucumber with black fungus, stir-fried choy sum, and finally the yam and duck soup.

After the dishes were served, Yan Jiekuang simply cleaned up and walked towards the dining table. At this time, the children each had a pig's trotter and were eating with their mouths full of oil. Only Shi Li, Yongfang and Yongxin ate more elegantly, and even Xixi joined in.

Yan Jiecheng and Yan Bugui were drinking some wine. Yan Jiecheng said with admiration, "The third brother's cooking is so delicious. Really, I have to admire him."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and sat down. He first served Yang Ruiping a bowl of old duck soup and said, "Mom, drink the soup first. It's nourishing." He then motioned to the women to drink the soup. Shi Xiaoya stood up and took the initiative to serve soup to the women. Yang Ruiping took a sip and praised, "It's delicious. The duck meat is so soft and melts in your mouth."

Everyone started eating happily, and while eating, they talked about the children's summer vacation plans. Shi Xiaoya hadn't made up her mind yet, but when she heard about the plans of the third child's children, she decisively let Yongxin follow Shi Li to the Children's Palace, while Yongchang said he wanted to go with Brother Lei.

When Yu Li heard this, she asked Yan Yongfang how she planned to spend her summer vacation. Yan Yongfang thought for a moment and said, "I can go to the Children's Palace, but I want to learn painting."

Yu Li touched Yan Yongfang's head and said, "Okay, as long as you have an idea, I'll take you there tomorrow and let Yongqing look after the store."

After the meal, Yan Bugui went to fish out the watermelon, and Yang Ruiping cut it and brought it to the pavilion in the backyard. Everyone gathered there to enjoy the cool air and chat about family matters. The topic they talked about the most was Qin Jingru.

It was about eight o'clock when the second brother came back dragging his tired body. Shi Xiaoya knew that the kitchen had left some food for Yan Jiefang, so she hurried over to serve him. Yan Jiefang was wolfing down the food in the front yard, and Shi Xiaoya was accompanying him. She also warmly brought Yan Jiefang a glass of wine and placed it in front of him.

Yan Jiefang ate three pig's trotters in a row before he slowed down and asked Shi Xiaoya where everyone had gone. Shi Xiaoya told him that they were all enjoying the cool in the backyard and the children were there too.

The couple was chatting, Yan Jiefang was eating and drinking wine, when there was a knock on the door. Someone was coming at this late hour.

Shi Xiaoya went to open the door and saw Yi Zhonghai walking in with a large teacup in one hand and a large palm leaf fan in the other. Shi Xiaoya asked him how he was, and Yi Zhonghai said, "It's too hot, I can't sleep, so I came to chat with Old Yan."

Shi Xiaoya said: "They are all in the back garden. I will take you there."

At this time, Yan Jiefang poked his head out of the restaurant, and after seeing Yi Zhonghai, he said, "Uncle Yi is here, look for my dad, he's in the backyard?"

Yi Zhonghai said: "What are you doing?"

"I just came back and am having dinner. Do you want to prepare something?" Yan Jiefang asked.

Yi Zhonghai hurriedly said, "Forget it, I just want to chat with your dad, you can eat by yourself, I'm going to the backyard."

After that, Shi Xiaoya took Yi Zhonghai to the backyard. Yi Zhonghai walked to the backyard and saw that it was really lively. Yan Bugui specially set up a big lantern on the tree. The children were playing around the flower bed. Yan Bugui's family was fanning themselves and chatting in the pavilion. Yi Zhonghai shouted, "Old Yan, your family is really lively."

"Hey, Uncle Yi, come here quickly and have a piece of chilled watermelon." Yan Bugui stood up and waved to Yi Zhonghai.

When Yang Ruiping saw that it was Yi Zhonghai who came, he exchanged glances with his daughter-in-law, and the women stood up and prepared to go to the grape trellis in the backyard to enjoy the cool air, leaving the gazebo to the men.

Shi Xiaoya turned around and walked back. Yan Jiekuang asked, "Is my second brother back?"

"Yes, I'm drinking in the front yard to relieve my fatigue." Shi Xiaoya turned her head and said.

Yan Jiekuang stood up, greeted Yi Zhonghai, and said, "Uncle Yi, you chat with my dad, I'm going to go see my second brother."

"Go, go, he is drinking." Yi Zhonghai said with a smile.

Yan Jiecheng saw this and stood up as well, saying, "I'll go have a drink with you too. Please sit down, Uncle Yi."

Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui were the only ones left in the pavilion in the back garden. Yan Bugui said, "How about we play a game?"

Yi Zhonghai smiled and said, "That's exactly what I meant."

"I'll go get the chess set. You eat the watermelon first." Yan Bugui said and went to get the chess set. The children were also driven to the backyard by Yang Ruiping. All of a sudden, the back garden became quiet.

The three brothers of the Yan family moved the table to the yard and started drinking. Yan Jiekuang went to the freezer to get beer, and the three brothers stopped drinking white wine.

The three of them were drinking when there was a knock on the door. Yan Jiekuang went to open the door and saw He Yuzhu coming in with a palm-leaf fan, smiling. He said, "I guessed that you three brothers were drinking. Why didn't you call me?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Hurry up, we still have a lot of iced beer at home. Just drink it and you will feel refreshed."

He Yuzhu laughed, walked to the table, found a stool and sat down, saying, "It's really hot today, Lao Er, how much have you drunk?"

Yan Jiefang said, "I just had a glass of white wine and I'm just starting to drink this beer. Come on, let's have one."

Yan Jiecheng gave He Yuzhu a cup, poured a glass, and several people drank it in one gulp.

A few people were drinking beer and laughing. After a while, Shi Xiaoya brought a plate of watermelon and put it on the table.

Only then did He Yuzhu realize that Yi Zhonghai was chatting with Yan Bugui in the back garden.

He Yuzhu sighed and said, "It feels like the Siheyuan is becoming less and less popular. There aren't many people here." The brothers thought about it and realized it was true. The Xu family likes to be alone and rarely hangs out with people in the Siheyuan. As for the Liu family, ever since Liu Guangqi came back, the old couple have had endless work to do.

Only the Yi family and the He family were still in the Central Courtyard. None of the Jia family members came back, and Qin Jingru and the other two would not come back until midnight.

The front yard, the Yan family moved here, the Sun family and the widow Wang's family never go to the middle and back yards, so this yard has become deserted.

After a while, the two old men in the back garden stopped playing chess and ran to the front yard to drink beer with a few people.

The person that the few people talked about the most was Xu Damao. Xu Damao had turned around and became a celebrity again, but Yan Jiekuang really didn't know what he had been doing recently. When he heard what He Yuzhu said, he understood. Xu Damao was playing the short selling game again, and he made matches everywhere. Unexpectedly, he actually made a few deals and turned around in an instant.

Qin Jingru saw that Xu Damao had turned the tables again, but she already had Huang Weiren, so she didn't take Xu Damao seriously for the time being and didn't even look at him. This made Xu Damao so angry that every time he saw those two people, he turned around and walked away.

Yan Bugui said: "Haha, now there is another good show to watch."

Yi Zhonghai asked curiously: "What's going on? Is there anything else?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Uncle Yi, what a coincidence, when I was in Shenzhen, I met a manager of a concrete company named Huang Gongwang, who happened to be Huang Weiren's brother. What do you think Huang Weiren does?"

Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu looked at Yan Jiekuang curiously. Yan Jiekuang did not keep them in suspense and said, "He was driving for the Hong Kong representative, but the Hong Kong representative was very stingy. He was only paid 1,000 yuan a month, and food and accommodation were not provided. He could come or not if he wanted. Huang Weiren had nothing to do in Shenzhen, so he had no choice but to agree to come. That's why he was in a hurry to find Qin Jingru."

Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment and said, "It's free to live here, and someone will cook for me. How great is that."

He Yuzhu spat out a mouthful of wine and said, "Is Huang Weiren so shameless? He even pretends to be a wealthy man. If Xu Damao finds out, it will be a big deal."

Yan Bugui said, "I guess he knows it now. By the way, Lao Yi, my daughter-in-law told me that Jia Dang and Huaihua from the Jia family know about it. These two children can definitely tell Qin Huairu. You said Qin Huairu has been pretending not to know. What's going on?"

Yi Zhonghai said: "What else can we do? Less trouble is worse than more. The only one who can break the window paper is Xu Damao. If others tell others, they will be hated."

Several people nodded, agreeing with Yi Zhonghai's words. At this time, Ji Lian came over with the children. The children greeted Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu. Ji Lian asked Yan Jiekuang whether he wanted to go with her or wait a little longer.

Yan Jiekuang said, "It's already this late, I'm worried about you taking care of the children. Excuse me, brothers. Uncle Yi, I'm sorry, I have to go first." He turned around and said to the few people.

Yi Zhonghai and his companions didn't care at all and waved to him. Then Yan Jiekuang and Ji Lian took the children home.

It was almost ten o'clock when they got home, and Xixi was already dozing off. Ji Lian hurried to wash up and go to bed. After the children were in bed, Yan Jiekuang checked the screens and mosquito nets before going downstairs. Ji Lian had already coaxed Xiaohai and Xixi to sleep. Yan Jiekuang walked out of the house and sat under the grape vines in the yard, smoking and looking at the moonlight.

Ji Lian was also very tired today. She went to work early in the morning and was busy again when she came back in the evening. So she said hello to Yan Jiekuang and went to sleep.

Yan Jiekuang took the roof tiles to the basement, put them away, and then found a set of four treasures of the study. These were items from the late Qing Dynasty and were well preserved, especially the set of wolf-hair brushes, which were very beautiful. After taking them to the study and admiring them for a while, he placed them on the antique shelf against the wall.

After checking the gate in the front yard, Yan Jiekuang went back to his room to sleep.

Starting from the next day, Yan Jiekuang began a new career of taking care of the children. The morning was the scheduled study time, but because Shi Lei had to practice martial arts, he was not on the same channel as the others. He finished his meal early and went to the study to study.

Others get up at 7:30, wash, eat, and go into the study at 8:00. Since Shi Lei gets up earlier than others, he has more time to learn history.

After lunch, Yan Jiekuang drove Shi Li and Xixi to pick up Yongxin and Yongfang. This was their first time to the Children's Palace, so sister-in-law Yu Li also went with them. When they arrived at the Children's Palace and registered, the teacher there politely rejected Xixi because she was too young and not suitable.

On the way back, Xixi pouted the whole time, showing that she was very unhappy. Yan Jiekuang said, "I'll make you osmanthus cake when I get home, okay?"

Xixi said, "Okay, Dad, I have to grow up quickly, or I won't be able to learn to dance."

Yan Jiekuang explained: "You can learn something else, or learn calligraphy from Dad?"

Xixi widened her eyes and said, "Is it okay? What is calligraphy then?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "Calligraphy is a traditional art and an artistic expression of the beauty of words. Dad will show it to you when we get home."

Yan Jiekuang returned to Yuer Hutong, parked the car, and took Xixi home. Tian Guixiang opened the door and asked, "Why is Xixi back?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "The teacher there said that the child is too young and not suitable yet."

Tian Guixiang smiled and said, "If you don't want to go, then don't go. Stay at home with Aunt Tian, ​​otherwise Aunt Tian will miss Xixi a lot."

When Xixi heard this, she was happy. Now she could eat osmanthus cake again and be with her father and Aunt Tian. She thought it was a good idea and immediately forgot about the dance.

When I got home, I saw Shi Lei reading in the study, Da Pang and Xiao Pang were in the studio, and Xiao Hai was also reading, but he was reading a picture book.

When Xiao Hai heard that his father was back, he quickly put down the comic book and ran out. Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Take your sister out to play first. Dad promised Xixi that he would make sweet-scented osmanthus cake. Wait for her to eat it later."

Xiaohai nodded heavily and said, "Dad, go and get busy. Don't forget to do more." Xiaohai took Xixi to the study.

Yan Jiekuang went into the kitchen and started to get busy. An hour later, the osmanthus cake was out of the pot, but it was a little hot, so Yan Jiekuang opened the lid of the steamer and left it there to dry.

After a while, Yan Jiekuang first sent a plate to the study, and then sent another plate to Dapang and Xiaopang. When they arrived at the studio, they saw Dapang busy with sweat on his forehead, and Xiaopang helping him. It's amazing that Dapang actually made the bookshelf, but the surface was a little rough.

Yan Jiekuang gave Da Pang a thumbs up, and then handed Da Pang a stack of fine sandpaper, telling him that he didn't need to do the repairs manually, but could just use the sandpaper to polish it. He also demonstrated it to Da Pang, and Da Pang understood it at a glance and said, "Thank you, Dad, I understand."

Only then did Yan Jiekuang turn around and leave the studio and return to his study.

(End of this chapter)