Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 72 Lou Family Banquet
Front yard of the Siheyuan

When Yan Jiekuang entered the room, he saw the women comrades in the front yard gathered around Li Juan and talked about something.

When Yang Ruiping saw his eldest son coming back, he left the group behind and came over.

"I'll stay at home today, and I'll go to the Lou family tomorrow for something." Yan Jiekuang took the initiative to explain the reason for coming back.

Yang Ruiping happily took the bag from his son, patted his eldest son's head, and said, "Let's go home and let mom make you something delicious. Your second brother will get you some cicadas. I have some lard, I'll fry some for you."

Yan Jiekuang and his mother walked home, and as they walked, they asked, "What happened to Wen Jun's family?"

"They have double happiness. Wen Jun was promoted to engineer and was allocated an apartment, and Li Juan is pregnant again." Yang Ruiping said enviously.

Yan Jiekuang really admires Wen Jun, who is a model of balancing study and life.

"When are we moving? Do you need help?" Yan Jiekuang said.

Yang Ruiping said, "I don't know. Before the New Year, I heard that the Peng family also got a house and is moving."

Yan Jiekuang looked back at Wen Jun's family, his eyes lit up, and he decided to discuss it with Yan Bugui later.

After dinner, Yan Jiekuang found Yan Bugui and talked about Wen Jun's family affairs. Yan Bugui knew everything about it.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Do you want to let big brother move back?"

Yan Bugui took a sip of tea, looked at Yan Jiekuang in surprise and said, "You mean to buy Wen Jun's house?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "I want to buy both Dr. An and Wen Jun's houses."

Yan Bugui was even more surprised, "Why did you buy so many houses? You can't live in so many of them."

"It doesn't matter who lives there, I just want the house," said Yan Jiekuang.

Yan Bugui took a sip of tea and said slowly, "You have big ambitions, but it's not appropriate now. Haven't you thought about the people next door who may not have enough room? They are not short of money either."

When Yan Jiekuang heard this, it was true. The rich families he created were all in the front yard.

Yan Bugui said, "Mr. Sun has been eyeing Dr. An's house for a long time, and Sun Xiaolong is about to get a job. I think Wu Gang and Widow Wang also have their eyes on Wen Jun's house, so you should give up this idea."

Yan Jiekuang thought about it carefully and gave up the idea. He said, "I brought the tea back for you. It's with my mother." Yan Bugui said he understood.

In the courtyard, Yan Jiekuang built a flower garden where he planted flowers, including roses, wild roses, a few roses, and some Clivia. Each flower has its own blooming period, which is what Yan Jiekuang wanted, to be able to smell the fragrance of flowers at any time.

The plastic film was mailed by Liu Xiangyang from Shanghai. Since Liu Xiangyang's family moved to Shanghai, the two have been in correspondence. Yan Jiekuang remembered that Shanghai seemed to have this thing, so he wrote to Liu Xiangyang and asked him. Liu Xiangyang actually found it and mailed it to him.

Yan Bugui is very envious of this flower garden. He thinks his flowers should also be planted here. Yan Jiekuang refused. After planting, the flower garden will belong to you. Who would do such a stupid thing?

Yan Jiekuang said, "The land in front of your house is still empty. I'll give it to you. You can do it yourself."

Anyway, up to now, the two plots of land in front have nothing but green onions and leeks.

Second day

The Lou family invited the leaders of the steel rolling mill to dinner today.

Yan Jiekuang arrived at 8 o'clock. He was afraid that Aunt Lou would be tired. When Aunt Lou saw Yan Jiekuang coming, she said, "He is a caring person."

The kitchen already had the second broth ready. Yan Jiekuang took the first broth and began to prepare the ingredients. The Lou family had agreed to cook Tan's cuisine today, so there was no need to be afraid of being extravagant.

As it was almost noon, Yan Jiekuang made fish maw soup, Kung Pao chicken, and Yangzhou fried rice.

Lou Xiao'e came back from school on time and was very happy to see Yan Jiekuang because there was delicious food again.

As the three of them were having their meal, Lou's mother explained the reason for the meal. She said that there was pressure on Lou's father from above, asking him to give up his shares. Lou's father had already donated all his shares, except for the steel mill, but he still wanted to fight for it and test the waters to see who was the one causing the trouble.

Yan Jiekuang did not comment on whether this matter was right or wrong, but said to Lou's mother, "Don't worry, it's no big deal. No matter what your background is, the word 'red' comes first."

Mother Lou thought about it and laughed.

In the afternoon, Lou Xiao'e accompanied Yan Jiekuang and was busy in the kitchen. Yan Jiekuang asked Lou Xiao'e about her current academic situation, and Lou Xiao'e said, "I will graduate from the girls' school soon. You know my family, so I can't go to college."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Who said you can't go to college?"

Lou Xiao'e asked in confusion: "How do we get on?"

"Let's go out. The south or the east is fine." Yan Jiekuang said as he packed his things.

Lou Xiao'e stopped what she was doing and asked seriously, "Are you talking about Hong Kong Island?"

"Well, given your family's current situation, it is still possible for Father Lou to make some arrangements. Besides, your family doesn't fit in here now, don't you think so?" Yan Jiekuang said.

"I feel the same way. I also want to fit in, but it's very difficult." Lou Xiao'e was a little frustrated.

Yan Jiekuang stopped what he was doing and said to Lou Xiaoe, "Why do you want to change yourself and make yourself different from yourself? Why don't you change your environment and let yourself live out your true self?"

"Besides." Yan Jiekuang stopped talking.

Lou Xiao'e asked hurriedly, "What can't be said?"

"After a great disaster comes a great change. This is the law of history," said Yan Jiekuang.

Lou's mother came in, looked at Yan Jiekuang deeply and said, "Son, you really hit the nail on the head."

This was the first time that Lou's mother called Yan Jiekuang her son, although she usually treated him like her son.

Yan Jiekuang said emotionally: "Mom, if you call me, I will advise you to leave. This is a pit, and this pit will get bigger and bigger. Many people will fall into it. I don't want you to fall into it one day. When you can't see clearly, you have to stand outside and watch. Only when you see clearly can you make a choice."

Lou's mother hugged Yan Jiekuang, and she really understood.

In the evening, several cars arrived at the gate. In the front were Lao Pu and Lou's father, and behind them were cars from the steel rolling mill. Five people came from the steel rolling mill, including the factory director Yang, the factory committee secretary Xu, the logistics director Li, the propaganda section chief Xu Damao, and the security section chief Wang.

Yan Jiekuang really didn't expect Xu Damao to be so successful.

After chatting for a while, the few of them entered the restaurant. Yan Jiekuang first served a six-course plate based on Tan's cuisine.

Then came the Tan family's main dishes, braised bear paw, braised sea cucumber, braised golden shark's fin, double mushroom in abalone sauce, bird's nest in clear soup, steamed chicken with straw mushrooms, vegetarian stew with white fungus, shrimp roe and pork belly, three-fresh monkey head, steamed mandarin fish, and the last soup, white fungus soup.

Although the few of them were well-informed, today was the first time they had seen the Tan family’s private dishes.

Father Lou said a few simple words, poured the wine, and started the banquet.

During the meal, very little wine was drunk and the only sound was the eating of food. When Lou's mother saw this, she thought that this way of eating might not be enough and turned back to the kitchen.

After hearing what Lou's mother said that it might not be enough, Yan Jiekuang said, "We haven't talked about things yet, I'll make six more side dishes." As he spoke, he started to eat. When Lou's mother heard this, she was happy.

When braised duck liver, soft fried chicken, barbecued pork, spiced fish, grilled sausages, and celery cashews were laid out, Lou's mother nodded and said, "This dish will be served first from now on."

After Yan Jiekuang finished cleaning the kitchen, he put the dishes he had picked out earlier on plates and brought them to the small living room on the second floor, where Lou's mother and Lou Xiao'e were waiting.

Lou Xiao'e complained, "I got hungry as soon as the first dish smelled delicious. Why did you take so long to deliver it?"

Lou's mother and Yan Jiekuang both laughed, and the three of them stopped talking and started eating.

After eating, Lou's mother discussed it with Yan Jiekuang for a long time, but her final comment was, "It's close to the most authentic, but it's still a little short of the mark."

As night fell, I heard the sound of cars outside. When the banquet was over, Yan Jiekuang also said goodbye.

Father Lou was a little drunk, but he told Yan Jiekuang that these people had been asking who the chef was. Thanks to you going upstairs, Xu Damao and Director Li had both been to the kitchen. Finally, he said, "I know you are still young, don't worry, no one will know it was you."

Yan Jiekuang refused to let him be seen off, saying that he wanted to enjoy the moonlight and digest his food. The night was very dark, but light would eventually come.

　Sorry, I missed a chapter, let me make up for it for you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)