Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 346 Return to the West Courtyard
In the backyard of the courtyard, the Xu family of three were eating. Xu Damao took out a bottle of Luzhou Laojiao, poured a glass for Xu's father, and poured another glass for himself. The three of them ate together.

Father Xu said to Xu Damao: "I have good news for you."

Xu Damao said nonchalantly: "What good news can you have? You don't even leave the door. You can go out for a walk."

Father Xu said, "What do you know? Where am I going? To the park? Do you want to hear the news I'm telling you?"

"Listen, listen, listen, what you say." After Xu Damao finished speaking, he took a sip of wine and ate some food.

Xu's father told Xu Damao what he had heard about Huang Weiren. Xu Damao was very surprised, but this was just hearsay. Xu Damao rolled his eyes and said, "I will find someone to meet the director of the textile factory tomorrow. This is really interesting."

When Xu's mother heard this, she asked, "Why, are you still obsessed with Qin Jingru?"

"No way, I just can't stand her arrogance. I have to make her feel disgusted, otherwise I can't swallow this." Xu Damao said hatefully.

Father Xu said, "If you want to disgust her, just make it real. Otherwise, she won't believe what you say and will accuse you of spreading rumors."

Xu Damao smiled strangely and said, "Of course, you don't know your son's ability yet. Come, Dad, let me toast you for helping me find out such good news."

The Xu family's father and son started drinking. Xu's mother looked at Xu Damao and shook her head, wondering if her son would ever be more careful.

On Qianmen Street, the Jia family was also discussing this matter, but there was a disagreement within the family. After listening to it, Jia Zhang pretended not to hear it, while Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu didn't know what to do, whether to tell Qin Jingru or pretend not to know.

Jia Geng thought for a long time and said, "She is our aunt after all, so we have to tell her. It's up to her to believe it or not. We can't just watch her get fooled. If she finds out later that we knew about it beforehand, she will hate us to death."

Jia Dang and Huaihua also agreed with Jia Geng's point of view. Jia Dongxu also agreed at this time and said, "Only your mother can talk about this matter. No one else is suitable."

Qin Huairu was worried and said, "If I tell her, she will say that I am jealous of her and spread rumors about her. What should I do? Wouldn't that make me a nobody?"

Jia Xiaobao frowned and said, "I don't think so. Didn't you see that the man gave her a gold necklace and a watch? My aunt wears them every day."

Jia Dang laughed and said, "Xiaobao, you are really a frog in the well. You have been hanging around in Xiushui Street for so long, but you don't know that there is a kind of goods in Hong Kong Island, called A goods, which are fake and gold-plated. There are a lot of these goods on the market in Guangdong now."

Jia Xiaobao widened his eyes. It was unbelievable that this was how they could play.

Jia Zhang suddenly asked, "Granddaughter, you're not giving me this kind of stuff, are you?"

As soon as Jia Zhang said this, Jia Dongxu and his wife looked at Jia Dang. Jia Dang rolled his eyes and said, "Do you think I'm the same as Huang Weiren? I bought it with real money."

The three of them were relieved. Jia Zhang said, "I think it's better to be a little confused. Our family has finally gotten over any major problems. Let's not make any more trouble."

Qin Huairu nodded and said, "Yes, just pretend you don't know. It's better to have less trouble than more. If Qin Jingru came to my house to make a scene, I wouldn't be able to stand it. Okay, let's stop discussing this. I'm going to go buy groceries."

Jia Zhang suddenly stood up and said, "I'll go with you."

Qin Huairu didn't think much about it and took Jia Zhang straight to the vegetable market.

The next day, Xu Damao started to take action. He first used his connections to make friends with the director of the textile factory. Unexpectedly, there was really someone who connected him with someone. Then Xu Damao started to carry out his plan step by step.

Since the children had their holidays, Yan Jiekuang stopped going out for a stroll. He asked Tian Guixiang to do the shopping for groceries. He stayed at home and started practicing calligraphy while the children were studying. During the children's activities, he sometimes went to talk about history with Shi Lei, and sometimes guided Dapang with his handicraft homework.

Xiaopang has now become a street urchin. In the morning, he hangs around the alleys of Nanluoguxiang, specifically going to second-hand goods vendors and recycling stations. The little money he saved is spent on buying comic books in a few days, and then he spends the afternoon sorting them out in his room.

In the afternoon, Yan Jiekuang was the regular person to pick up and drop off Shi Li, Yongfang and Yongxin.

Yan Jiekuang's days are repeating themselves day after day, and Ji Lian is also busy now, because the wine processing line purchased by Ruier has arrived, and French technicians have also come to prepare for installation and debugging. In addition, according to the French opinions, a cold storage needs to be built. Ji Lian is really too busy, so she let go of several restaurants and has completely handed over to Yang Lifen.

At the end of July, Yan Jiekuang took his children to the west wing of the courtyard to visit his parents on a day off. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw his mother and Jia Zhang picking vegetables and chatting under a tree. Yan Jiekuang quickly asked the children to call for help, and the children shouted "Hello, Grandma Jia!"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Aunt Jia is a rare guest. Why did she come to the courtyard today?"

Jia Zhang said cheerfully, "Jia Xiaobao has a girlfriend. Today, the two families are meeting. Not only am I here, but my son and grandson are also back."

"Oh, Aunt Jia, is there going to be a double happiness coming to your family?" Yan Jiekuang said.

Jia Zhang said cheerfully, "Then we have to finish Jia Dang's case before we can do Xiao Bao's."

Yan Jiekuang said, "You talk to my mom and let me know when the time comes. I'll have to give her a big red envelope anyway."

After that, Yan Jiekuang took the children to the backyard. Jia Zhang said, "They say that a large family is a good place to have children. I think your third child really did it. At that time, you only had four children, while others had six. Now you are not allowed to have more children even if you want to. Fortunately, you gave birth to Jia Xiaobao."

Yang Ruiping said: "Yes, family planning is very strict now. You have to be more careful about your sophora japonica, it's already big."

Jia Zhang sighed and said, "I am anxious too. Once Huaihua gets married, I really don't want to think about anything else. But Huaihua is too picky. She has looked at several college students but didn't like any of them. I can't do anything about it. The emperor can't be anxious but the eunuch is."

Yang Ruiping asked: "By the way, have you heard about Qin Jingru?"

Jia Zhang said, "When I came back to the courtyard, the daughter-in-law of the Liu family next door told me about it. I am worried about it. It is not right to say it, but it is not right not to say it."

Yang Ruiping said, "Okay, don't worry, just stay for two more days and the matter will have a result."

Jia Zhang looked at Yang Ruiping in confusion and asked, "What do you mean?"

Yang Ruiping said, "I heard Xu Damao is planning something big. He wants to invite the real Hong Kong manager to dinner. He will set up a table in the middle courtyard and let He Yuzhu's apprentice cook the food."

"Is he so cruel? Xu Damao has completely trampled on Qin Jingru's face." Jia Zhang exclaimed.

Then Jia Zhang cleaned up the dishes, stood up and said, "No, this is going to be a big problem. I have to discuss it with my daughter-in-law." Turning around, Jia Zhang left in a hurry.

Yang Ruiping muttered softly, "They are neighbors, and they are all women. I can only help you up to this point." It turned out that Yang Ruiping deliberately told Jia Zhang about this matter. After all, Qin Jingru was just a woman.

When Yan Jiekuang arrived at the backyard, Yan Bugui was sitting under the grapevines, drinking tea and smoking, holding a large palm-leaf fan. The children greeted him one after another. Xiaopang rolled his eyes, ran behind Yan Bugui and patted his shoulders, then said, "Grandpa, I heard that our family used to be a purchasing station?"

Yan Bugui knew that this little fat guy was trying to please him, so he said, "Yeah, what's the matter, little fat guy? Now that you are not messing with my fish, what are you messing with now?" The little fat guy said, "Grandpa, what are the books or something else that you didn't keep?"

Yan Bugui asked, "What book do you want?"

Xiaopang ran to the front and squatted next to Yan Bugui, saying, "Grandpa, do you have any comic books, the kind that children read?"

Yan Bugui sighed. Xiaopang thought there was none. Ma Shan showed a disappointed expression. Yan Bugui said, "There really is a box."

Xiaopang jumped up immediately, and pulled Yan Bugui's hand with great joy and said, "Good Grandpa, give it to me. I will listen to you from now on and never mess with fish again."

Yan Bugui smiled and said, "Okay, come on, I'll take you to find it. It's in the utility room."

Yan Bugui took Xiaopang to the front yard. Dapang was very curious and followed them. In the storage room of the back house, Yan Bugui found a wooden box and pulled it out. There was a thick layer of dust on it. Xiaopang couldn't wait to open the box in the front yard. It was full of picture books, both single books and complete sets. Xiaopang was smiling and kept hugging Yan Bugui and saying thank you.

Big Fat helped Little Fat and dragged the box into the yard with great effort. Yan Bugui also helped and carried it to the vicinity of the stone table. Big Fat and Little Fat began to sort it out.

Yan Bugui took a look and went back to the backyard. Yan Jiekuang smiled and said to Yan Bugui: "Dad, you still have some stock, do you have anything else?"

Yan Bugui rolled his eyes at him and said, "I'm in such a state now. I only have a few pieces left. Don't count on me for anything."

Yan Jiekuang said, "You can do whatever you want, but the jewelry my mother gave you is from the Ming Dynasty, so you can't just give it away easily."

Yan Bugui asked doubtfully, "Is it really from the Ming Dynasty?"

"Really? It's probably from the palace. You didn't look closely. The patterns are so exquisite. I guess they can't be made now." Yan Jiekuang replied.

When Yan Bugui heard this, he took the teacup and went back to his study.

Yan Jiekuang strolled to the front yard. Xiaohai and Xixi were surrounding grandma, helping her pick vegetables. Yan Jiekuang asked, "What are we having for lunch? Pork ribs stewed with beans?"

Yang Ruiping smiled and said, "Originally, if you guys hadn't come, I would have stewed potatoes with beans. Okay, I'll listen to you. There are spare ribs in the freezer. Go take them out and thaw them."

"Yes, mother." After saying that, he ran to the west wing. At this time, Xiao Hai shouted, "Yes, grandma." Yang Ruiping laughed out loud, and Xixi also laughed.

Shi Lei was reading a book with Shi Li in the back garden. After a while, he didn't see anyone coming, so he took Shi Li to the front yard.

When they walked to the front yard, they saw Da Pang and Xiao Pang tinkering with a box of comic books. They were both shocked and ran over. Shi Lei asked, "Where did you get them? How many books do you have?"

Xiaopang said proudly: "Grandpa's collection of books now belongs to me."

Shi Li clicked her tongue twice and said, "Your comic book assets will increase several times in an instant."

Xiao Pang laughed and said, "I plan to set up a small comic book stand at the entrance of Yu'er Hutong. What do you think? I'll buy you gifts when I make some money."

Shi Lei said, "I think it's okay. We will help you." The four of them high-fived each other and reached an agreement.

Yan Jiekuang asked Yang Ruiping, "Is there anyone coming back at noon?"

Yang Ruiping said: "Xiao Ya took the children to buy things, she should be back, but the old lady will not come back."

"Then let's cook less. I'll make some home-cooked meals, some snacks, and have a drink with my dad." Yan Jiekuang said.

Yang Ruiping said, "Okay, but the braised pig's trotters with soybeans you cooked last time were pretty good. We still have a few pig's trotters left at home. You can cook them for us."

Yan Jiekuang asked, "That's great. I was thinking about what kind of soup to make. Let's make peanut pork knuckle soup."

Yang Ruiping smiled and nodded. Yan Jiekuang turned and went into the kitchen to start preparing lunch.

At noon, Yan Bugui was full of praise for the peanut pork knuckle soup made by Yan Jiekuang and drank several bowls of it. Xiaohai was busy scooping out the pork knuckles. Yan Jiekuang saw it and said, "Xiaohai, you have a special liking for pork knuckles, so you must leave a few pieces for grandpa."

Yan Bugui waved his hand and said, "No, I think peanuts are more flavorful and better than pig's knuckles. This bite of soup and peanuts is a perfect match."

Yan Jiekuang poured himself a glass of wine, clinked glasses with his father, took a sip, and ate a few pieces of ribs. It tasted pretty good.

Xixi didn't even look up and just kept gnawing on the pork ribs. Yan Jiekuang stood up, went to the freezer, took out a few bottles of soda, opened them, and distributed them to the children.

After a while, Shi Xiaoya came back with the children. Yongchang and Yongxin ran to Shi Lei happily and talked about the stationery and books they bought. Shi Lei said, "You must be hungry. Hurry up, wash your hands and eat. We'll talk after you finish eating."

Shi Xiaoya took the children to wash their hands, and Yang Ruiping took out all the food that he had left for them. Shi Xiaoya said, "We were hungry and thirsty on the way."

Yan Bugui said, "Why don't you eat outside?"

Shi Xiaoya said: "These two kids know that their uncle is back, and they want to go home for dinner no matter what."

Yang Ruiping said: "Old Three, you have spoiled the children at home."

Yan Jiekuang didn't care at all and said, "This proves that I still have some skills. I'll do it for you when Third Uncle comes back."

At this time, Shi Lei went to get a few bottles of soda, opened the bottle caps, and placed them in front of Shi Xiaoya, Yongchang, and Yongxin.

A few people said thank you and started eating. At this time, Xiao Hai pulled Yang Ruiping's arm and asked, "Grandma, did you hide the pig's trotters?"

When Yang Ruiping heard this, he laughed and said, "Little greedy cat, you are not satisfied with eating pig's trotters. How much have you eaten? That is left for your brothers and sisters."

Xiao Hai insisted: "Just one, just one is enough, I'm full."

Yan Bugui was so happy that he put his pig's trotter into Xiaohai's bowl and said, "Eat it. You want to eat pig's trotters whether you are dreaming or awake."

Everyone burst into laughter when they heard this. Xiao Hai acted as if nothing had happened and bit the pig's trotter.

(End of this chapter)