Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 519 Revisiting the Old Courtyard
Yan Jiekuang finally understood what his father had been busy with recently. He was missing the days in the slum. Never mind, just let him do whatever he wanted. It was rare for the old man to be happy with money. Yan Jiekuang felt relieved all of a sudden and said with a smile, "Okay, Dad, when you're done, let's invite all the old neighbors back to live with us for a while, and we'll also hold a general meeting and let Brother Zhuzi stir up trouble."

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui both laughed out loud, while He Yuzhu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and said, "How could I? I am the embodiment of justice." When several people heard this, they laughed out loud again.

They spent the morning in the tavern. At noon, Yang Ruiping knew that the father and son had gone to the tavern, so he cooked millet porridge, made some steamed buns and two stir-fried dishes. After eating, the father and son went to take a nap.

In the afternoon, Shi Xiaoya came first and brought a lot of dishes and a box of white wine. Yang Ruiping kept complaining that she bought too much, but Shi Xiaoya just smiled and said nothing.

When Yan Jiekuang woke up, it was already past two in the afternoon. He washed his face and walked to the front yard. Shi Xiaoya and Yang Ruiping were preparing the vegetables. Yan Jiekuang rolled up his sleeves and started to work. Everyone knew that as long as Yan Jiekuang was there, he would not let others cook.

The most important dish is the cumin lamb kidney, which Yan Jiekuang stir-fried without any smell of mutton, and was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. There are also fried river shrimps, the heat of which is very important, as well as squirrel mandarin fish, pan-fried cod, Hangzhou pepper beef fillet, white-cut chicken, boiled pork slices, etc. Yan Jiekuang cooked 16 dishes in one go.

When the dishes were almost served, Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang also came. Yan Jiecheng was carrying two bottles of wine. Yan Bugui glanced at him, curled his lips, and said, "Not bad, you still remember to bring something."

Yan Jiefang looked at the busy third brother in the kitchen and said, "Oh, I'm in for a treat today. It's the third brother who cooked this again."

Yan Jiekuang rolled his eyes at him and said, "Whenever you eat with me, I didn't cook. Go set up the table."

Yan Bugui followed the two brothers to the main hall in the backyard. They were having dinner here today. Several families did not bring their wives and children. Only the Yan family members were there. However, Yan Jiedi was missing. Chen Liang and his sister were young and there was nothing they could do. There was also Shi Xiaoya, who came to help.

When all the dishes were served and everyone sat down, Yan Bugui hadn't said anything yet, so Yan Jiecheng said, "Are you still missing a little sister?"

Yan Jiefang said, "I called her. She is drinking red wine and eating steak with your brother and sister-in-law in Shanghai."

Yan Jiecheng was stunned. After a quick glance, he realized that this little girl was with Ji Lian. Yan Jiefang said, "Everyone is here. As usual, you speak first and we'll start."

Yan Bugui said, "Not yet. There's still..." Just as he said this, he heard He Yuzhu's voice, and he said as he walked, "You must be anxious. I'm hurrying, but I'm busy with my little grandson at home."

Yan Jiefang stared at He Yuzhu and asked, "Why do you always have to attend our family banquets? Are you relying on us?"

"Hahaha, it's more fun to drink with all of you as a family. Stop talking nonsense and pour the wine quickly." He Yuzhu sat directly next to Yan Jiecheng.

Yan Bugui said at this time: "Okay, now we are all here, let's drink, let's drink today, don't let the golden cup face the moon empty."

Everyone started drinking. After a while, Yan Jiefang said, "I just want to tell my family something. Since Brother Zhuzi is here, let him listen too."

Everyone present stopped and looked at Yan Jiefang.

Yan Jiefang lit a cigarette, took a puff, and then said, "The mastermind of the angel investment case has been caught. He wanted to go abroad through Yunnan, but was caught by the border guards and was sent back two days later. However, I know that only my eldest brother was involved in our family, and the loss was quite large. You have to be mentally prepared. Maybe not all the money can be recovered, because part of the money has been deposited into foreign accounts. The specific flow is still being investigated. Okay, that's it."

Only then did Yan Jiekuang realize his second brother's good intentions. He did not allow him to bring his wife and children with him because he was taking his eldest brother's actual situation into consideration.

Yan Bugui nodded. He didn't lose anything so he wasn't in a hurry. Yan Jiecheng was excited after hearing this and raised his glass to toast Yan Jiefang. Yan Jiefang said, "You are my elder brother. Besides, this is not just my effort. Okay, when the dust settles, you can just send a banner to the unit responsible for you."

Yan Jiecheng said: "Of course, of course, Lao Er, you, you are the Bodhisattvas who save our lives."

"Brother, don't talk nonsense. We serve the people and this is what we should do." Yan Jiefang hurriedly stopped Yan Jiecheng from speaking. Yan Jiecheng also knew that he had said something wrong, so he said, "Yes, yes, thank you, public security comrades." Then he drank a glass.

Yan Jiefang looked at He Yuzhu and asked, "Brother Zhuzi, why aren't you in a hurry at all?"

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "I was just playing around. If I had known they were up to something, I would have learned the lesson I deserved. By the way, Xu Damao, what do you think?"

Yan Jiefang sighed and said, "In fact, Xu Damao is also a victim in principle, but he also became an accomplice of these people in the process. It depends on his attitude of admitting guilt. If he pays back the money he owes and admits his mistakes with a correct attitude, I guess he will just be criticized and educated. There are many people like this, and there is nothing we can do."

He Yuzhu was a little unhappy and said, "In my opinion, he should be sentenced to a few years to educate him so that he won't be framed by others for no reason."

Yan Jiefang was amused and said, "That's enough. All his honors have been taken back. All his efforts over the past few years have gone to waste. He still hasn't received enough education."

He Yuzhu perked up when he heard this and said, "Really? Then the Good Citizen of the Year award has also been taken back?"

Yan Jiefang nodded, and He Yuzhu picked up the wine glass and said, "Come on, let's have a drink. There is retribution in the world, and no one can escape it. Hahaha, cheers!"

Everyone laughed, raised their glasses and took a sip, then continued chatting. Yan Bugui said, "Wait a minute, let's drink later. Come on, sons, I'll take you to the No. 95 courtyard. We just finished today."

No one had ever been to that yard, and their memories of it were a bit vague, but everyone was full of curiosity and didn't know what Yan Bugui was up to.

But everyone followed Yan Bugui out of the west wing and walked to the door next door. The door was still the same as before. Yan Jiekuang had repainted it before, so it had not been moved. Yan Bugui was a little excited and said, "Wait outside first. I'll let you in first."

Yan Bugui opened the door and went in. Everyone was waiting at the door. At this time, Zhou Nianping and Sun Xiaolong passed by the door and asked them what they were doing and why they were standing here. He Yuzhu said, "Uncle Yan said he wanted to give us all a surprise and asked us to wait. Aren't we all waiting here?"

Sun Xiaolong and his wife also became curious and wanted to see what the surprise was, so they did not leave and stood at the door with everyone.

After a long while, Yan Bugui opened the door and said with a smile, "Welcome home, everyone."

Everyone walked in curiously, and as soon as they entered, they saw the broken door that Yi Jun had made standing at the entrance of the small courtyard where Yi Jun once lived. Everyone was suddenly immersed in memories, and when they looked up, Yan Jiekuang's eyes became a little moist. The bicycle that his father rode when he was young was parked on the screen wall just like when he was a child. Everything was the same as it was when he was a child, even his father's flower stands, flower pots, and flowers were exactly the same.

Many people were very excited and expectant, and a group of people walked inside. Sun Xiaolong habitually looked towards the small courtyard of the back house where he and his grandfather lived. Tears instantly streamed down his face. Every blade of grass, every table and chair, even the doors and windows and the rags on the windows, were the same as they were when he and his grandfather still lived here. Sun Xiaolong could no longer control himself and burst into tears.

After seeing this, He Yuzhu ran towards his home and opened the door. He Yuzhu stood there with tears streaming down his face. The furnishings inside were exactly the same as when he lived here.

Yan Jiefang pointed to the bed in the hut and said, "This is the bed I used to sleep on. I remember it very clearly. I even carved three words on it."

Yan Jiefang walked over and looked carefully, and he really found it. Yan Jiekuang walked over at this time and saw the three words "Yan Laokou" engraved on it. Yan Jiekuang laughed and Yan Jiefang cried. He didn't expect that his father had preserved all the things in the old courtyard. His father was so warm-hearted.

Everyone was looking for their own memories in the yard. Yan Jiekuang took Liangzi and the others to the swing in the northwest corner and said to them, "This is the swing that your father built by himself. Your father used to sit here and watch operas when he had nothing to do." Liangzi and Fangfang both rushed to sit on it.

Yan Bugui went to the central courtyard to see He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu hugged Yan Bugui and cried. There were too many memories of He Yuzhu here, no matter they were sad or happy, they were all his childhood and youth.

(End of this chapter)