Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 450: Returning Home on Winter Solstice
When everyone in the family knew about Yan Jiekuang's plan, everyone was opposed to it. In Yan Jiekuang's words, they were all just bored.

Yan Jiekuang did not explain, but just kept making his preparations silently. When the heavy snow fell in winter, Yan Jiekuang's RV arrived. Yan Jiekuang did not let the freight company transport it to his home, but directly transported it to the farm in Fangshan. Now the territories of the big and small kings have become Yan Jiekuang's parking lot.

It was a customized RV, the American Mauck MSV1120S. According to Jon, it was originally customized by someone else, but had been parked at the manufacturer due to bankruptcy. Jon used the influence of UBS to buy it and shipped it to China. Yan Jiekuang looked at the car and liked it very much. People from the farm came to visit. They were just curious about the car, but they didn't know exactly what it was used for.

Li Dong drooled as he looked at the car. He knew Yan Jiekuang's plan, but he told Yan Jiekuang that when he came back, he must lend him the car no matter what, and he also wanted to take his family on a trip.

Yan Jiekuang was making preparations in an orderly manner, and he did not forget to prepare New Year's goods for his family in his free time. He has been living in Fangshan recently and would return to Sijiucheng only to purchase supplies. When Shi Lei and Dapang and other children heard that their father had bought a strange-looking car, they said they wanted to come and see it. Yan Jiekuang simply brought his whole family to Fangshan for a trip on a weekend.

When the children saw the car, they were ecstatic and asked Yan Jiekuang to take them for a ride. Yan Jiekuang took his family and drove to Xiayunling, where they camped, had a meal, and played for a whole day before returning to Fangshan in the evening.

Ji Lian also praised the car for not only its beautiful appearance and good performance, but also for being so convenient for travel. If traveling, no matter where you go, you don't have to worry about food, accommodation and transportation. It is really practical. When Ji Lian looked at Yan Jiekuang with expectant eyes, Yan Jiekuang said that the car had to be customized, and besides, having one at home would be enough. When he came back, the car would belong to Ji Lian. Ji Lian was satisfied and let him go.

Back at Yuer Hutong, Yan Jiekuang was packing up some tools. Da Pang was watching from the side. Sometimes he would use this, sometimes he would use that. He angrily said to Yan Jiekuang, "If you need something, go buy it yourself. I'm going to go out and use some tools. You stay here and watch. Go, go, do what you need to do. If you keep talking, I'll take the Swiss tool set and leave."

When Dapang heard this, he turned around and left the studio. That set of tools was now his treasure and he couldn't let his father think about it.

Little Fatty was lingering furtively at the door of the studio. Yan Jiekuang had seen him a long time ago, but ignored him. When Little Fatty saw that Big Fatty had left, he came in with a grin and said, "Dad, you are a big shot in Houhai now. They say you are the invisible big brother."

Yan Jiekuang gave a bitter smile, but was busy with his own things and didn't say anything. Xiaopang continued, "Dad, look, your Porsche is covered with dust in Fangshan. It makes me sad to see it. Dad, can we discuss something?"

Yan Jiekuang said without even raising his head, "You are just a college student, how can you want to drive around and show off? You are dreaming, before you graduate, don't even think about getting a car."

When Xiao Pang heard this, he was originally very excited, but suddenly he became discouraged and said, "Dad, then let me drive another car, so that I can save some time going back and forth between the store and school."

"Go ask your mother about this. I only have these two cars. Which one do you think I will give you?" Yan Jiekuang said.

When Xiaopang heard that his father had blocked the road completely, he turned around and left the house angrily.

Yan Jiekuang packed up the toolbox, carried it out of the studio, and put it and the things he had prepared previously in the warehouse.

On the day of the winter solstice, Yan Jiekuang brought Xixi and a leg of lamb back to the west wing. Yan Bugui was not at home, probably having gone to the teahouse next door. His mother was making dumplings. Yan Jiekuang took off his coat and gave it to Xixi, while washing his hands, preparing to make dumplings together. The mother and son were making dumplings while chatting. After a while, Xixi also washed her hands and came to make trouble.

Yang Ruiping suddenly asked: "San'er, tell me the truth, what are you thinking about going to XZ? You can't fool me this time."

Yan Jiekuang looked calm and said, "Mom, you know I have always been kind and harmonious, but the final results of many things have disappointed me. I don't seem to want to do anything and don't know what I should do. This trip to XZ, I want to see if I can find my original self again."

Yang Ruiping looked around and saw that Xixi was not there, so he asked, "Is it about Ji Lian as well?"

Yan Jiekuang didn't explain and remained silent. Yang Ruiping sighed and said, "Then go. I actually want to go with you, but unfortunately I can't. If I go, your father will definitely make arrangements for me to go, and that would be too much of a burden."

Yan Jiekuang looked at his mother with gratitude. Because he had flour in his hands, he hugged his mother with his arms. The only person in the world who cared about him was Yang Ruiping, from childhood to adulthood.

In the evening, Ji Lian did not come back, but she called to say that she had an event today. The children came back one after another. Yang Ruiping did not know whether the eldest and second sons would come back, so he and Yan Jiekuang made a lot of dumplings. Unfortunately, the eldest and second sons called to say that they would not come back. Yan Jiekuang and the children spent the winter solstice of 1996 with Yan Bugui and his wife.

The next afternoon, Yan Jiekuang brought some food and fruits and went to Nancizi Street to visit Mrs. Wanzhi. Since the beginning of winter this year, the old lady's health has been poor. It was after she caught a cold. Wanzhi always felt weak in her limbs and seldom went out. At most, she would go to the door of the house to bask in the sun.

Seeing the old lady's appearance, Sister Lu was very anxious, but she had already consulted the best Chinese medicine doctor, who said that it was because of her old age, not a special disease, and prescribed Chinese medicine for skin conditioning. For the old lady, Sister Lu decided not to go back to her hometown for the New Year this year, and stay here with her. This was another reason why Yan Jiekuang made up his mind to go to XZ. Not only for Mrs. Wanzhi, but also for his own parents, he wanted to pray with a few elderly people.

Yan Jiekuang entered the yard. Sister Lu wanted to take the things from Yan Jiekuang's hand, but Yan Jiekuang said, "No need, Sister Si. I'm here to cook for the old lady. I'll go straight to the kitchen." Sister Lu didn't insist anymore. She knew that Yan Jiekuang's cooking skills were amazing.

Yan Jiekuang prepared some medicinal food to nourish the old lady. One was Eight Treasures Cake, which he wanted to make more of so that she could eat it hot later. Another was chicken stewed with ginkgo nuts, which was for the old lady to nourish her body. He also made a Wenlou egg and a pot of lotus seed porridge.

When Yan Jiekuang finished cooking, it was already evening. Yan Jiekuang brought the dishes to the old lady's room in the backyard. When Mrs. Wanzhi heard the noise, she sat up and asked, "When did you come?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "I came here in the afternoon. I was busy making you some food, so I didn't come to the backyard."

"Oh, Fourth Sister made dumplings at noon. I ate a lot and felt much better. Okay, let's eat together." Mrs. Wanzhi said.

Yan Jiekuang helped her sit at the square table, then served her porridge and a bowl of chicken soup, and said to her, "Drink a bowl of soup first to warm your stomach."

"That's good. You are thoughtful. I have actually eaten these when I was a child." Mrs. Wanzhi said with a smile.

Yan Jiekuang accompanied her to eat. Mrs. Wanzhi had a big appetite today and ate a lot. When she was almost done, she asked, "Has Fourth Sister eaten yet?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "After we finished eating, we asked her to come over and eat with us, but she refused to come and said she wanted to study these dishes."

Mrs. Wanzhi smiled and said, "Yes, she is very envious of your cooking skills."

Yan Jiekuang chatted with his wife and told her that he was going to Tibet. Mrs. Wanzhi didn't say anything, but just asked him to be careful. Seeing that Mrs. Wanzhi was a little tired, Yan Jiekuang helped her to the bed and told her that he would go back first. Then he cleaned up the dishes and returned to the front yard. Sister Lu Si took the dishes and Yan Jiekuang said goodbye and went home.

Just as he left the yard, it started snowing lightly. Yan Jiekuang looked up at the sky. In the dark sky, snowflakes were slowly falling. Yan Jiekuang wrapped his coat around him, turned up his collar, and then walked towards Nanluoguxiang. From time to time, he could hear the laughter of children. The coming of the snow brought them a lot of joy.

When Yan Jiekuang returned home, he shook off the snow on his coat and knocked on the door. A voice came from inside the door asking, "Who is it?"

"I, your father." Yan Jiekuang replied.

The door opened, Xixi pouted and looked angrily at Yan Jiekuang who was standing at the door. Yan Jiekuang looked at Xixi in confusion and asked, "What's wrong, my little princess?"

"You haven't come back, Mom hasn't come back either, and Xiaohai and I haven't eaten yet." Xixi said angrily.

"Ah, then why didn't you call me?" Yan Jiekuang said.

Xixi became even angrier and shouted, "Did you bring your phone?"

Yan Jiekuang felt his pocket and thought, oh no, he forgot to bring his phone. He quickly said, "Dad was wrong. I'll make you two something delicious right away. Don't worry, it will be quick." After saying that, he took off his coat and went to the kitchen.

He went to the kitchen, hung his coat on the door, and started cooking. He made some simple plain noodles and two dishes, one was twice-cooked pork, and the other was homemade tofu. Not long after, Yan Jiekuang brought two bowls of noodles and two plates of dishes to the study. The two children brought them to the table themselves, picked up their chopsticks and began to eat with big mouthfuls.

Yan Jiekuang looked at the two children who were eating voraciously, feeling full of guilt.

(End of this chapter)