Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 458 New Year's Greetings
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, after breakfast, the eldest and second brothers took their children out to pay New Year's greetings. Ji Lian also took her children out to pay New Year's greetings, but only took Xiao Hai and Xixi. Yan Jiekuang did not go with them because she basically did not remember the family she was going to visit.

Yan Jiekuang carried a lunch box with the four dishes he had cooked yesterday and went to Nanchizi Street. He knocked on the door and saw a young man opening the door. The young man smiled and said, "Uncle San, happy New Year. I am the son of Sister Lu Si. My name is Luo Ping. Please come in. Grandma is still talking about you and said you must come early in the morning."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Young man, you are very good. Happy New Year to you too. I have heard of you for a long time. Is your school on holiday? Isn't your sister here? Isn't she on holiday?"

Luo Ping took the food box from Yan Jiekuang and said, "Yes, Third Uncle, my sister went to my brother-in-law's house to celebrate the New Year. The two of them registered. Although they didn't have a wedding, they still had to go back to celebrate the New Year, so I have to accompany my mother here."

Yan Jiekuang walked to the Chuihua Gate and said, "I will go to pay New Year's greetings to the old lady first. I will come to you later to ask about your hometown."

"Okay, Third Uncle." Luo Ping went to the kitchen with the lunch box.

When Yan Jiekuang arrived at the backyard, he saw Madam Wanzhi sitting in the main hall. Yan Jiekuang walked in quickly, knelt down and said, "Grandma, I wish you a happy New Year." Then he kowtowed three times respectfully.

Mrs. Wanzhi smiled widely and said, "Hurry up and get up. The ground is cold. I want to wish my eldest grandson a happy New Year." Then she took out a red envelope and handed it to Yan Jiekuang.

Yan Jiekuang was delighted and took it without hesitation, saying, "Grandma, I didn't expect that I could still send you a red envelope at my age. It's really my blessing."

Yan Jiekuang and Mrs. Wanzhi were chatting about family matters. Fourth Sister Lu came in with a tea tray in a cheerful mood. Yan Jiekuang said, "Fourth Sister, I wish you a happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Happy New Year. The old lady said early in the morning that you would come early. I have never seen the dish you brought, and you don't know how to teach me." Sister Lu Si said with a smile.

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Fourth sister, before I leave, I will write the recipe for you and you can practice it yourself. I won't be able to cook a big banquet anymore. I'm a little annoyed."

Sister Lu Si said, "Oh, is that so? Okay, then thank you first." After that, she turned and left, leaving the space to Madam Wanzhi and Yan Jiekuang.

Mrs. Wanzhi asked, "Have you made all the preparations for your trip?"

Yan Jiekuang nodded and said, "Everything is almost ready. I will leave when the weather gets warmer. Don't worry, I will be back soon."

Mrs. Wanzhi nodded and said, "If I were younger, I would definitely go with you. You should also be careful. I heard that it is a plateau over there. Before you leave, go to Tong Ren Tang to get some Chinese medicine and drink it on the way."

Yan Jiekuang also knew about this, so he nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll start drinking it in a few days. It's already been opened."

Yan Jiekuang stayed with Mrs. Wanzhi for the whole morning, had lunch with the old lady at noon, and then said goodbye to his grandmother and went home.

When I got back to my parents' home, it was very lively. All the people who came to pay New Year's greetings had already returned. He Yuzhu and his wife and their children also came. He Yuzhu even shamelessly said that he would have fun with the Yan family tonight and go back after dinner.

The Yan family didn't really mind. Yang Ruiping took the daughters-in-law to the kitchen to get busy. He Yumei also rolled up her sleeves to help. He Yuzhu looked at Yan Jiekuang who had just returned with great curiosity and asked, "Third brother, aren't you going to show off your cooking skills today?"

Yan Jiekuang hung his coat on the hanger and said with a smile, "If you want to eat, I can still cook one or two dishes, but I don't cook banquets anymore."

Although He Yuzhu didn't know why Yan Jiekuang didn't prepare for the banquet, he didn't ask any further. The Yan brothers accompanied He Yuzhu in the main room, drinking tea, smoking, and chatting.

At about four o'clock, Xu Damao came with a bunch of things. Yan Bugui looked at him and realized that the sun was rising from the west. It had been a long time since Xu Damao came to the door. Xu Damao first wished a happy new year to Yan Bugui and his wife, then took out a cigarette and passed it around, smiling and saying, "Brothers, you are all here, how about having a drink together tonight?"

He Yuzhu looked at him and asked curiously, "Xu Damao, how can a bad guy like you have the nerve to enter the Yan family? You have cheated the Yan family a lot."

Xu Damao said, "Don't throw dirty water on me, you idiot. I have changed my ways. I have a good relationship with the Yan family. I was ignorant before, but now I just want to live my life well."

He Yuzhu curled his lips in disdain and said, "What's your relationship with the Yan family? Ha, who would believe that?" "I don't believe it, I don't believe it. Ask Uncle Yan. We have been cooperating for more than half a year." Xu Damao said with his neck stiff.

He Yuzhu looked at Yan Bugui who was sitting there drinking tea in confusion. Yan Bugui coughed twice and explained, "This is true. Didn't Damao open a real estate agency? My house is listed with him. He helps take care of it, and we don't have to worry about it."

Xu Damao said proudly: "Did you hear that? Uncle Yan and I are partners. I am here to see my partner."

He Yuzhu said to Yan Bugui: "Uncle Yan, you have to keep your eyes open. You have to be more careful about this kind of swindler."

Xu Damao was unhappy when he heard this and said, "How can you talk like that? Are you feeling uncomfortable during the New Year?"

He Yuzhu suddenly laughed, stood up and said, "Oh, I haven't practiced for several years, so I have a bad temper."

Xu Damao immediately hid aside and said, "A gentleman should use words instead of fists. I am here to wish Uncle Yan and his family a happy new year. I won't argue with you."

Yan Jiefang said, "Well, it's New Year's Day, why don't we have a good drink? We'll fight as soon as we meet."

Yan Jiekuang stood up and said, "I'll go to the kitchen. The food is ready. Let's start drinking first. He Xiao and Yongqing will join us." After that, he turned and went to the kitchen.

Yan Jiecheng also stood up, said hello to Yan Bugui and went to get the wine, and also brought Yan Yongqing along.

Yang Ruiping and the women started serving the dishes, and Yan Jiekuang also started to get busy. After a while, two large tables of dishes were filled in the main room in the backyard, and Yan Bugui started to prepare drinks.

Xu Damao started toasting Yan Bugui, and when he toasted Yan Jiekuang, he hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Old Third, a while ago, your old classmate Jin Jing found me again and said that he still wants to go to Shanghai to do engineering work. I can see from his words that he is still thinking about your company. You have to be careful. I didn't agree to him. That person is too sinister. You must be careful."

Yan Jiekuang was stunned for a moment, then he immediately clinked his cup with Xu Damao and said, "Brother Damao, I understand. Thank you for what happened today."

At another table, He Yumei, Ji Lian and Yu Li were chatting enthusiastically about opening a restaurant. I don’t know what consensus they reached, but they even clinked glasses together.

He Yuzhu and Yan Jiefang were drinking very boldly. When Xu Damao saw how they were drinking, he didn't go near them but sat next to Yan Bugui, drinking and chatting.

After that, the dinner became chaotic. Yan Yongqing and He Xiao started to toast. He Yuzhu saw that this was not okay. The father was busy drinking with Yan Laoer and hadn't toasted yet. So he also picked up his glass and started to toast. When he toasted Xu Damao, he was stunned for a moment and said, "Xu Damao, Xu Damao, you are really not kind. You toasted everyone, but why didn't you toast me?"

Xu Damao said, "You and Lao Er are having a great time drinking, how can I bother you? Here's a glass of wine as a toast to you."

He Yuzhu refused to drink and said, "I came to you to toast you, how come it became a toast to me? Are you afraid to drink? Let's each have a glass, whoever refuses to drink will be a grandson."

Xu Damao was a man who would rather lose than lose the battle, so he immediately said, "Who's afraid of who? Whoever gets drunk first will win."

At this point, the two of them started drinking together, and later Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang also joined in, and they got drunk right away.

Around eight o'clock in the evening, the woman's table had been cleared and the children had gone about their business. Only the Yan brothers, He Yuzhu and Xu Damao were drinking happily. They switched from white wine to beer and continued drinking until almost eleven o'clock. The performance ended with Xu Damao passing out and He Yuzhu singing military songs.

There was no other choice, so Yan Jiekuang took the children and sent them home one by one. His eldest brother and second brother had already gone back to their room to sleep. They all had a great time drinking that night.

(End of this chapter)