Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 583: Peaceful New Year
It was already around eight or nine o'clock in the evening, and most of the residents in the courtyard were preparing to go to bed.

In the backyard of No. 95 Courtyard, at Xu Wude's home, three people sat opposite each other, still drinking wine. Xu Wude took the lead in opening the topic, looking at Yan Bugui and asked: "Third Uncle, why are you so interested in that family?"

Before Yan Bugui could say anything, Liu Haizhong said, "Why else? He saw that the family was relatively wealthy, so he wanted to get close to them and see if there was anything he could do to get some advantage."

Xu Wude burst into laughter when he heard this. Yan Bugui was unhappy and said, "What do you know? Didn't you see the sign? I'm just curious. You said there were only two women and a child in their yard, and no men. I guess they are relatives of martyrs, and all the men are..."

When Liu Haizhong heard this, he looked at Yan Bugui and said, "You know what, it's true. If that's the case, which orphan and widow lived in such a large courtyard? They must have some background."

Xu Wood held up the wine glass and said, "Come on, that's their business, drink, drink."

Xu Wude didn't think so. There was an 80-year-old woman who never left the house. Looking at the two women, he knew they were there to serve the old lady. This was a wealthy family. But he would never tell the two of them. What if the family had too strong a background? He would have to let his son visit them more often.

Liu Haizhong took a sip of wine, ate a bite of food and said, "No, Lao San, have you ever been in contact with this restaurant? Why are you so concerned about it?"

Yan Bugui put down his glass and said, "I'm just curious. Look, there are three women in his family with a child. You see, they never go out to work. Look at that Hua Jie, she's so fat. Look at Feng Jie, she's also a person who has no shortage of food and drink. Where do you think their food and income come from?"

Liu Haizhong thought about it, and then said as if he suddenly understood something: "Are you saying they are enemy spies?"

Xu Wude spit out a mouthful of wine on the ground. What kind of brain does this guy with bangs have? Yan Bugui also sneered and said, "I've already said that they have two honor signs on their door. You are just a useless person when you are the street office."

Liu Haizhong then remembered the sign on the door and asked, "Then why do you say that?"

"First, it shows that they are not short of money. Second, it shows that they have extensive connections and can get enough food and meat." Yan Bugui said, narrowing his eyes.

Liu Haizhong asked, "How do you know that her family eats a lot of meat?"

Yan Bugui rolled his eyes and said, "I can smell the smell of meat outside her house every now and then. Her kitchen is just around the corner. You know what, just by smelling it, you can tell her cooking skills are no worse than Chef He's."

Xu Wude was really worried about Liu Haizhong's IQ. He didn't want to get involved in their discussion, so he found an opportunity to change the subject and started drinking. After drinking for a while, the party ended.

After the drinking party was over, Xu Wude called Xu Damao over and told him not to mention the matter of that courtyard to anyone else, and also asked him to take the initiative to make friends with the people in that courtyard, and to bring his sister over to play if he had the chance.

Before the New Year, Wang Wenyuan rode his bike and took his two little girls to have fun all over the city. He bought a lot of New Year goods and small firecrackers, mainly for the two little girls, as well as various snacks, such as peanuts, melon seeds, dates and walnuts.

I also bought new clothes and shoes for several people, mainly to change the clothes of the two mothers. The bright red and green brocade cotton jackets were not suitable for the current situation.

On the 28th day of the lunar year, except for the old lady who insisted not to go out, the whole family went to the Guangfu Palace temple fair together, eating, shopping and playing along the way.

But after all this hardship, there were also sequelae. Every morning, the little girl would lie on him and the first thing she would ask was, "Brother, where are we going to play today?"

On the twenty-ninth day of the lunar year, Wang Wenyuan formally informed the little girl that it was time to focus on the New Year and not go anywhere for the time being, and to wait until after the second day of the New Year.

The family started to get busy, making dumplings and frying meatballs, and Jinhua Granny specifically asked to make a few pots of sticky bean curd. The materials were all there, so Feng's mother steamed a pot of three trays. The two little girls kept eating snacks and ran around in the yard, and their favorite place was Feng's mother's kitchen.

In the evening, Mother Feng cooked six dishes, especially a sweet and sour carp. The family did not go to the restaurant for dinner. Wang Wenyuan moved the large round table to the central hall, intending to eat here during the New Year. The eight-immortal table was moved to the restaurant.

While eating, Hua's mother suddenly asked, "Do you feel like something is missing these days?"

Granny Jinhua ate the braised pork in her small bowl, smiled, and said nothing.

Mother Feng frowned and thought for a while, then asked, "What is it?"

Wang Wenyuan was also confused. He didn't know what Hua Mama was referring to. He looked at Hua Mama, who chuckled and said, "It seems like the kid from the next door hasn't come for many days. That kid is Damao."

A few people thought about it and realized that it was indeed a fun thing. Mother Feng said, "Maybe they are out of town. It's normal to go back to their hometown during the New Year."

He Yushui was eating fish, looked up and said, "Brother Damao is in the yard, running around with Brother Guangqi and the others every day."

When Wang Wenyuan heard this, he said, "Then this kid is just having too much fun and doesn't want to come here anymore."

On New Year's Eve, Wang Wenyuan invited blind Grandpa Zhang to come over. It was planned that they would have dinner together. In the afternoon, Mother Feng started to wield the big spoon, and Mother Hua also rolled up her sleeves and helped beside her.

Wang Wenyuan brought two maids to paste window decorations and blessing characters everywhere and hung up lanterns. He Yushui was in for a treat tonight. He would have two meals, first here and then go back to their yard to eat with his father and brother, so the girl was very excited.

She also decorated her own room in a festive manner. Her room was right next to Feng Mama's and was decorated by Feng Mama herself. She moved all of He Yushui's belongings there and made a lady's room.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, the round table in the middle hall was filled with dishes. Everyone gathered together. Granny Jinhua sat in the middle, raised her wine glass, and said, "Today is New Year's Eve. We should celebrate the New Year happily. This is also Yuanzi's first Spring Festival since he came back. I believe our lives will get better and better. Cheers."

Everyone shouted cheers in unison and started this year's New Year's Eve dinner. Wang Wenyuan sat below Blind Zhang, chatting and eating. Everyone was happy. Halfway through, He Yushui was full. Mother Feng dressed him, took out a small backpack, filled it with a lot of candies and snacks, and then led her to the next yard.

Blind Zhang asked Wang Wenyuan, "Is there any news from over there? Why is there no news at all?"

Wang Wenyuan clinked his glasses with his and said, "Grandpa Zhang, please don't worry about it for now. No news is good news. I will go to the company after the New Year and ask around then."

Granny Jinhua said, "That's right. The children in our family are all blessed with great fortune. I will burn incense for a day on the second day of the Chinese New Year."

Mother Hua also nodded. Blind Zhang whispered, "Old lady, you have to keep it a secret. The crackdown on feudal superstition is very strict now. Don't let any rumors get out."

Granny Jinhua said, "You tell me when I have ever been in trouble. Now let's drink."

A few people stopped talking about it. The little girl lowered her head and ate voraciously. Wang Wenyuan felt that her appetite had increased.

(End of this chapter)