Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 451: Snow Sweeping in Two Houses
In order to prevent the children from going hungry again, Yan Jiekuang wrote a phone list and posted it in the study. On it were not only his and Ji Lian’s phone numbers, but also the phone numbers of Wei Xiaobao, Zhang Honggang and Zhang Hongjun.

Xiao Hai and Xi Xi finished their meal and leaned back in their chairs. Xiao Hai said, "Finally I'm alive again."

Yan Jiekuang asked Xiao Hai curiously, "I know Xixi has nowhere to go. You haven't been home all day, so why didn't you go out? If you're hungry, can you find a classmate?"

Xiao Hai said, "Dad, how can I go to their house for dinner? What's more, if I leave, what will happen to Xixi? I ​​might as well stay at home with Xixi."

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiekuang nodded and said, "Not bad, you act like a brother. You two can play, and I'll clean up."

Yan Jiekuang carried the dishes and chopsticks out of the study. The snow outside was getting heavier. Yan Jiekuang felt a little resentful towards Ji Lian. She couldn't be away from home every day. It was so late and she still hadn't come back.

After Yan Jiekuang finished washing the dishes, he returned to his study and called Ji Lian. After Ji Lian answered the phone, she said, "I'll be back soon. I'm busy here. If you have anything, talk to me when I get back." Then she hung up the phone.

Yan Jiekuang was stunned for a moment, then he sighed, put the phone on the table, lit a cigarette, and while smoking, he recalled every detail of his relationship with Ji Lian from the beginning to the present.

Yan Jiekuang understands Ji Lian much better. She has put a lot of effort into building such a big company. Sometimes life is just like this. You can't have everything. If you gain something, you will lose something. Yan Jiekuang hopes that he can understand and tolerate his wife more.

It was almost midnight when Ji Lian came back. She was brought back by the company's car. Seeing Ji Lian, who was exhausted, Yan Jiekuang asked hurriedly, "Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten. I'm a little tired. I'll go take a shower and go to bed first." After saying that, Ji Lian ran to the backyard.

Yan Jiekuang closed the door helplessly, checked the water and electricity, and when he walked to the backyard, he found that the lights in the bedroom had been turned off. Yan Jiekuang thought about it and went to the guest room in the east wing to sleep. He didn't want to disturb Ji Lian's rest.

The next morning, Yan Jiekuang got up early and made breakfast. When the meal was ready, Ji Lian and the two children woke up and were washing up. Yan Jiekuang put porridge, buns and eggs in the dining room, and added a few side dishes and fermented bean curd.

Ji Lian ate very quickly, and Yan Jiekuang kept persuading her, "Slow down, slow down, what time is it?"

Ji Lian ate a bun and said vaguely: "No, there is another on-site meeting today, and I still have to look at the information."

Ji Lian finished eating in a short while, took her bag and went out. Yan Jiekuang looked at Ji Lian's back, feeling distressed.

The two children noticed that their father was worried about their mother being busy, so they didn't say anything and just lowered their heads to eat. Only then did Yan Jiekuang sit down to eat, looking a little lonely.

Xixi looked at her father and said, "Dad, are you worried about my mom?"

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "No way, let's eat quickly, the food is getting cold."

Xiao Hai said to Xi Xi nearby: "Children should stop butting in on adult matters."

Yan Jiekuang looked at the two children and shook his head helplessly. He knew that they were concerned about their parents, but they didn't know what Yan Jiekuang was worried about. He didn't want the children to worry about him, so he adjusted himself and said, "What are you two doing today? Do you want to help your dad shovel snow?"

Xixi said: "Okay, I'll help you sweep the snow."

"And me, and me." Xiao Hai said.

After dinner, the three of them started cleaning the yard. Xiao Hai even made a snowman in the backyard with great interest. The three of them worked for two hours. After cleaning the yard, Yan Jiekuang took them to his parents' house to continue sweeping the snow.

When they reached the west wing, the old couple were already sweeping the front yard. Yan Jiekuang quickly stopped them and said, "Okay, you two can go and take a rest. Leave the work to the three of us."

Yang Ruiping did not insist and went back to the house to pour them some water. Yan Bugui said, "Okay, I'll leave this to you. I'll go to the back to check out the flowers in the glass house."

Yan Bugui walked to the backyard, and Yan Jiekuang took his two children and started sweeping from the front yard.

It was almost noon when they finally finished cleaning up their parents' yard. Yang Ruiping had already gone to the kitchen to cook and didn't let Yan Jiekuang cook.

At noon, the family was eating in the restaurant. Yang Ruiping specially made braised pork, cabbage stewed with tofu, and a few stir-fried dishes. The staple food was steamed buns.

Several people ate voraciously and enjoyed the food very much. Yan Bugui poured a glass of wine for himself and Yan Jiekuang respectively, and the two of them started drinking.

Yan Bugui said, "Third brother, you may not know that Liu Guangfu has returned with his wife and children, and refused to leave the second brother's house. He even had a quarrel with Liu Haizhong."

Yan Jiekuang clinked glasses with his father, took a sip, and said, "Why, didn't Liu Guangfu refuse to come back even if he was beaten to death?"

Yan Bugui curled his lips and said, "He and his wife were both laid off. One of their two sons is married and the other is in school. They have emptied the family's finances. If they don't come back, they will starve to death." Yan Jiekuang was very surprised and said, "Really? This wave of layoffs involves a lot of people."

Yang Ruiping said, "That's right. Many people working in the steel mills have been laid off here. When you came here, didn't you see people selling vegetables and fruits everywhere?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "That's not a solution. If everyone rushes in, no one will make any money in the end."

Yan Bugui said, "That's right. Three small shops opened up overnight in Lao Liu's alley. There are quarrels and fights every day. I guess no one can make any money."

"How is Aunt Wang's place?" Yan Jiekuang suddenly thought of Widow Wang who lived in the shop and asked.

Yang Ruiping said: "This mother and daughter are quite good at running the business. There are a lot of people here every day, most of whom come to listen to storytelling."

Yan Bugui nodded and said, "Most of her customers are returning customers now. The mother and daughter are also very kind, so the business is pretty good."

Yan Jiekuang and Yan Bugui took a sip and said, "Let's spend the New Year here this year. I have almost everything ready. I'll bring it over tomorrow. See if you need anything."

Yang Ruiping sighed and complained, "You prepare it every year, and those two families feel that this is their due."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Mom, don't say that. I have a farm here, so it's more convenient. It doesn't matter who takes it. After all, your son is very capable."

Yan Bugui smiled and nodded, then asked, "How are the things you prepared for XZ going?"

"It's almost done. We'll prepare the rest when we leave." Yan Jiekuang said while eating.

Yang Ruiping said: "Don't prepare the medicines or anything like that. I have almost prepared them for you."

Yan Jiekuang was stunned. He had really forgotten about this matter. He smiled and said to Yang Ruiping: "My mother still loves me."

Xixi pouted and said, "You don't love me at all. You forgot about Xiaohai and me yesterday."

Yan Jiekuang quickly said, "It was an accident. It won't happen again. But if you are hungry again, you can come to grandpa and grandma."

Xiao Hai said, "We are so old now, can we trouble grandpa and grandma?"

Yang Ruiping asked: "What's going on? Why are my grandchildren starving?"

Yan Jiekuang said embarrassedly: "Mom, what a surprise, this is what happened." Yan Jiekuang told his parents what happened yesterday.

Yan Bugui thought for a moment and said, "Otherwise, before you leave, let Xiaohai and Xixi move in. We old couple can take care of them. Your wife is also very busy every day. Besides, Xiaobao is next to us, so it's very convenient."

When Yan Jiekuang heard this, he thought it was a good idea and looked at Xiaohai and Xixi. Xiaohai said, "I have no objection. It's about the same distance from the school anyway. I can help you take care of your grandparents if you stay with your grandfather."

Xixi nodded and said, "Over there, once Xiaohai left, I was the only one left in the yard. I was scared too, so I came here to accompany grandpa and grandma."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Okay, it's settled. I'm leaving in March, so there's no rush."

Yan Bugui asked, "Old Third, tell me the truth, how long does this trip take?"

Yang Ruiping said to Yan Bugui, "Why are you asking so many questions? Let the third brother go out for a walk and relax."

When Yan Bugui heard this, he had no idea what was going on and would ask his wife later, but he didn't ask anymore at this time.

Yan Jiekuang said: "This trip will take longer, probably two or three months, mainly because the distance is too far."

Yan Bugui asked, "Okay, when you go out, be careful and be patient. After all, you are going alone."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Don't worry, I have prepared everything I should have. Your son's fighting ability is something that not everyone can handle."

The family chatted and ate until after two o'clock, when Yan Jiekuang took his son and daughter home. He bought them rice cakes and candied haws on the way. Xixi and Xiaohai ate as they walked, and Yan Jiekuang followed behind with his hands behind his back. Three long sets of footprints, one large and two small, appeared on the snow on the ground in the alley.

(End of this chapter)