Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 411: Father Yan's Background
After the Spring Festival, Nanluoguxiang suddenly became quiet. The outsiders who went back to their hometowns had not returned yet, most of the shops were closed, and those who wanted to go shopping went to the temple fair, so there were fewer people here.

Everyone at Yan Jiekuang's home was discussing the allocation and use of computers. Yan Jiekuang told them to bring computers to school as little as possible unless they were needed for homework. Another hard rule was that if anyone was found playing games beyond the permitted time, the computer would be confiscated.

The children all agreed. They would wait until the Kodak Group went to work to buy the desktop computer. Ruier replied, saying, "Dear Ms. Ji, please ask Mr. Yan Jiekuang if he has forgotten that he is a shareholder of IBM? And the fourth shareholder? I will mail the computer to him as soon as possible."

When Ji Lian relayed the message to Yan Jiekuang, he looked at him with suspicion. He scratched his head and said, "I made some investments at that time, and I even forgot which companies' stocks I bought, really."

Ji Lian asked: "Then do you want to be honest, what assets or funds do you have outside?"

Yan Jiekuang rolled his eyes and said, "You know how much money I have in Swiss Bank, but I don't know how much I have invested in stocks. Please call me some other day and ask Ruier to send you the information."

Ji Lian nodded and returned to the backyard with satisfaction. Yan Jiekuang hated Ruier in his heart.

After a short while, lunch was ready. They were all home-cooked dishes, saving time and effort.

While eating, Shi Lei said, "Dad, can you lend me your car? I'm going out for a while. I've made an appointment with my classmates to go to the Great Wall this afternoon."

Yan Jiekuang was absent-minded to begin with, and blurted out, "Girlfriend? Go ahead."

As soon as the words fell, the whole room fell silent. Shi Lei's face flushed red as he said, "No, it's my roommate, a man, all men."

Yan Jiekuang looked up at him and said, "It's just a man, why are you in such a hurry?"

At this time, Da Pang, Xiao Pang and Shi Li could no longer hold back their laughter and burst into tears. Ji Lian hit Yan Jiekuang and said, "Did anyone say that about your son?"

Yan Jiekuang finally reacted and said awkwardly: "Well, you are old enough, it is normal to have a girlfriend, I just said it casually, don't mind it."

Shi Lei was so angry that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "Dad, if I had a girlfriend, I would tell you the first time. Don't worry, I'm really going to play with my roommate this afternoon."

Ji Lian tried to smooth things over, saying, "Okay, okay, I got it. Go ahead. The key is on the table in the study. The car is at the entrance of the alley."

Yan Jiekuang turned to look at the three people who were gloating over their misfortune and said, "It will be the same when you make friends."

The three of them quickly stopped laughing and lowered their heads to eat, but Yan Jiekuang noticed that Shi Li kept looking at Xiaopang intentionally or unintentionally. When Xiaopang saw his sister looking at him, he lowered his head even more and ate quickly, apparently wanting to leave the table early.

Xiao Hai and Xi Xi were looking around while eating. Ji Lian asked, "What are you two looking at?"

Xixi said, "Mom, let's look at our brothers and sisters and see which one is more abnormal. That means there must be something wrong."

Big Fatty said disdainfully: "I think you two have watched too many police and gangster movies and have nothing to do."

Xiaohai stuck out his tongue and concentrated on eating. Xixi smiled secretly and stopped talking.

After dinner, everyone went about their own business. In the afternoon, Yan Jiekuang didn't have to look after the children and Da Wang and Xiao Wang, so he strolled to the front door. He still had to pay attention to his father's affairs.

Arriving at Ertiao Hutong in Langfang, he went deeper into the alley before he found Uncle Niu's home. Although Uncle Niu had told him the address of his home before, this was his first time there. He knocked on the doorknob twice, but the main door didn't open. The side door opened, and Uncle Niu stuck his head out to see that it was Yan Jiekuang. He smiled and said, "What a rare guest! Why are you here?"

Yan Jiekuang clasped his hands together, bowed, and said, "I'm here to pay my respects to Master Niu and to ask you something."

Niu Ye quickly opened the door, let Yan Jiekuang into the yard and said, "Hurry up, please come in. Look at me, I'm too lazy to open the door. It's a waste of effort. I'm sorry."

Yan Jiekuang walked into the courtyard. This courtyard was different from all his other courtyards. It was obvious that this one had been well maintained since its construction. It showed the weight of history, simplicity and elegance everywhere.

Yan Jiekuang sighed, "Master Niu, your courtyard is unique in the city. Even the ones in the Forbidden City are not as good as yours. You can tell from the looks of it that this is your ancestral home."

Grandpa Niu smiled and said, "You're flattered, but this is truly my ancestral home. Come, sit in the main hall."

The two men entered the main room and chatted about their recent life. Not long after, an old woman came over with two bowls of covered tea. Uncle Niu introduced her as his wife, and Yan Jiekuang greeted her.

When they sat down again, Niu Ye asked, "My dear, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "To be honest with you, Master Niu, I came here to ask you about someone, the Pian'er who used to drink tea with you in the tavern. How is he now and where is he?"

Niu Ye said, "He sold the house to Xu Huizhen, and then went into the grain planting business. After returning to Sijiu City, he started the grain sales business again and made some money. Later, his business failed, and he went to the Northeast to rent land. We have no news about him."

Yan Jiekuang thought there was no hope, so he thought for a moment and asked, "Uncle Niu, do you know anything about Pian'er's past?" Uncle Niu was startled and asked, "How long ago?"

"It's about Pian'erye's previous generation. How much do you know about it? Does he have any brothers or sisters?" Yan Jiekuang asked.

Uncle Niu smiled and said, "I actually know. His yard is also his ancestral home. It's only two alleys away from where I am. Do you think I know it?"

Yan Jiekuang was delighted and said, "Please tell me about it."

Niu Ye said, "Okay, let me tell you. My alley is called Langfang Ertiao, and the street outside was originally called Jewelry Street. You should know what my ancestors did. And the street outside Wangpi Alley where Pian Ye's house is located is called Grain Store. You should know what Pian Ye's ancestors did."

Yan Jiekuang really didn't know the history of this area, so he just continued listening.

Uncle Niu took a sip of tea and said, "That was when Yuan Shikai had just arrived in Peking. I heard it from my father. At that time, people were in a panic and their livelihood was in dire straits. Jewelers closed their shops one after another and refused to see customers. Grain merchants were in danger at that time. There were so many refugees that there was no one selling grain on the market. Of course, it was also related to grain merchants hoarding goods and not selling them. Grain merchants were robbed from time to time. It was the same with Pian'erye's family at that time. He had just given birth to a pair of twins and was targeted by refugees. There is no need to say more about what happened that night. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but all the food was robbed."

Yan Jiekuang took a sip of tea, and Niu Ye also took a sip. Yan Jiekuang said, "Go on."

Niu Ye said, "That's the weird thing. Later, his family found out that a child was missing. It was so chaotic at the time that no one noticed. Then his family knocked on every household nearby. Everyone in the area knew about it. Then only Pian Ye was left. With only one child left, Pian Ye became a treasure, but in the end he became a prodigal. That's how it happened."

Yan Jiekuang understood that his father should be a twin of Pian'erye, and was stolen by refugees. Later, when they found they could not afford to raise him, they abandoned him and were picked up by Yan Bugui's adoptive father. This was roughly the situation.

Yan Jiekuang said: "I was wondering why Pian'erye had a special liking for the grain business. It turns out there is such a reason."

Niu Ye said: "Yes, he never forgets his father's generation and always wants to recreate the glory of the past."

Yan Jiekuang chatted with Master Niu for a few more words, then said goodbye. He said many words of thanks before leaving. Master Niu waved his hand proudly and said, "It's just a small matter. Don't be so distant."

Yan Jiekuang strolled towards Nanluoguxiang. He did not go home, but went directly to the teahouse to find his parents.

Yan Bugui and his wife were still wondering, didn’t the child just come home? How come he came back again the next day?

Yan Jiekuang took his parents back to their home in the west wing. After Yan Jiekuang made tea and asked his parents to sit down, he told them everything he had learned from Master Niu.

Yan Bugui had a blank expression on his face and was not surprised. He asked, "Where is that guy? Where did he go? What's his name?"

Yan Jiekuang was stunned and said, "I didn't ask his name. He went to the Northeast and no one can find him now."

"No need to look for him, I know where he is. Dad, do you think there is a more coincidence? Mr. Pian Erye also has the surname Yan." Yan Jiefang's voice came from the door.

"Why are you still eavesdropping?" Yan Jiekuang said.

Yan Jiefang said, "What do you mean by eavesdropping? I was afraid to interrupt your story. Fortunately, it is pretty much the same. I found out the same thing. His name is Yan Wenyu, and his nickname is Pian'er, so the people in Old Sijiu City call him Pian'er Ye."

Yan Bugui asked: "Can we find him? Can I meet him?"

Yan Jiefang said: "It's terrible. He has leased 20,000 acres of land in the Northeast and said he won't come back. No one knows his exact address unless he comes back on his own."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui sighed and said, "That's enough. I am satisfied as long as I know my life experience. If I can't see him, then I won't see him. It's all fate."

After saying that, he turned around and walked out. Yang Ruiping saw him and hurriedly followed him.

"Did you get off work early? Or did you come back specially?" Yan Jiekuang asked.

"I'm leaving get off work early. I'll take over the Dongcheng District Branch tomorrow." Yan Jiefang said.

Yan Jiekuang was stunned at first, then he reacted and said, "Good news, you and your sister-in-law will see each other every day."

Yan Jiefang asked, "Could you please prepare two side dishes and drink something?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Okay, let's celebrate. I'll go to the kitchen and you go find some wine."

(End of this chapter)