Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 73: Falling out again
January 7, 1963

Today the courtyard is decorated with lights and red lanterns are hung from the front yard to the back yard.

Yan Bugui also set up a table in the front yard and placed it on one side of the gate. He sat inside. On the table were red paper, account books, and writing brushes. Today he was the accountant for the wedding. When He Yuzhu and Xu Damao came together to ask him to be the accountant, he was also very surprised, but he agreed.

There were many guests today. Holding two weddings at the same time was quite chaotic. The heads of the steel mill were all here, as well as people from the street office and the police station. This showed how many connections the two had in the steel mill.

The master of ceremonies today is Director Li Huaide. He Yuzhu originally disagreed, but was persuaded by Yi Zhonghai. It doesn't matter who officiates the wedding anyway since Director Yang is not coming, and Li Huaide is nice to He Yuzhu.

The scene was grand, with ten tables set up. The dishes were, of course, inferior to those of Liu Haizhong's, but there was still chicken, fish and meat. Every family was doing well now, but when gifts were given, everyone gave separately. Xu Damao's influence in the Siheyuan was still not as great as He Yuzhu's.

The Yan family each contributed five yuan, and Yan Bugui's account money was not asked. The couple came to the table to eat, and the Yan family had given them enough face. But someone still said something that shouldn't have been said. Liu Haizhong didn't know what was wrong and said, "Why didn't Yan Jiecheng and his wife come?"

Yan Bugui is not going to do this anymore. What does it mean? You want my family to give two gifts, but since your own eldest son doesn't come back, you think my eldest son won't come back either?
Yan Bugui replied, "I'm pregnant now, so it's not convenient. I'll be back in a few days."

"He's going to be a grandfather. Congratulations. It's been three generations of the Yan family without any fanfare." Du Pingyi said.

When Liu Haizhong thought about his own situation and looked at Yan Bugui, he said, "Who knows if he will come back."

Yan Bugui got angry and said, "What do you mean? Don't think that everyone is like your Liu Guangqi."

Liu Haizhong also got angry, and the two of them started arguing. The neighbors tried to persuade them, but the deaf old lady said, "My eldest grandson's wedding is going to be a mess, are you two deliberately trying to disrupt it?"

The two of them realized that this was someone else's wedding. Yan Bugui didn't say anything, but got up and went to another table.

When He Yuzhu toasted, he stared at Yan Bugui and said, "Teacher Yan, I didn't offend you, did I? Today is my wedding day. Did you go too far?"

Yan Bugui stood up and said, "I'm sorry. I want to apologize to you and the bride today. It must have been Liu Haizhong who started it. I just couldn't control my anger. I'm sorry."

When He Yuzhu saw Yan Bugui apologized, his anger subsided a lot and he said, "Today is my wedding day, I won't care. We'll talk about it after we get married."

When Yan Bugui heard that this was not going to end, he stopped talking. He had witnesses, so many people. He didn't believe that no one would speak up.

Yan Jiekuang was not at home and of course didn't know about this. He was thinking about growing plum blossoms and wanted to cultivate a plum blossom plant in the backyard of Yuer Hutong.

In the evening, when he returned to the courtyard, he heard Widow Wang tell him that your father had a fight with Liu Haizhong, and then she told Yan Jiekuang what had happened.

Yan Jiekuang became anxious when he heard this. He returned to the west wing and saw his father sitting there in a daze.

"Dad, are you okay?" Yan Jiekuang asked.

Yan Bugui came back to his senses and saw that it was Yan Jiekuang. He said, "It's nothing, I just feel uncomfortable. Let's call Yan Jiecheng over tomorrow."

"Okay, as long as you're okay, you have a son, so what are you afraid of?" Yan Jiekuang said.

Today was a wedding for two families, and after that no neighbors wanted to make trouble, so the night passed without any incident.

Early the next morning, Yi Zhonghai and Du Pingyi came and said that He Yuzhu and Xu Damao were still upset about what happened yesterday and wanted to hold a meeting to talk it out.

Yan Bugui did not hesitate and decided to open the meeting, but asked for Director Wang to come. Yi Zhonghai said that they were all trivial matters and there was no need to trouble Director Wang.

Yi Zhonghai just didn't want Director Wang to know, and Yan Bugui made it clear that if Director Wang didn't come, the meeting would not be held. Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to leave with Du Pingyi.

Knowing that today was a courtyard meeting and that it was related to my family, the three brothers were all at home, and Yan Jiedi was also there. In her words, "All reactionaries are paper tigers!"

After dinner, the central courtyard was brightly lit, and the wedding lanterns were not removed, so they were put to use.

Except for the younger children, everyone was present. Sitting on both sides of the square table in front were Yi Zhonghai and Du Pingyi.

Director Wang didn't come, so it must be that I didn't tell Director Wang at all.

The Yan family had all arrived, including Yu Li. Yan Jiekuang squatted on the corridor next to the hanging flower gate in the middle courtyard, and his younger sister followed his example.

Seeing that everyone was present, Yi Zhonghai announced the start of the meeting and talked about what happened yesterday. When it came to the cause of the conflict, he just brushed it off as a quarrel between the two parties. Then, He Yuzhu said, "Yesterday was a big day for Xu Damao and me. Two elders quarreling in front of outsiders and leaders is obviously disruptive. I demand severe punishment."

Xu Damao said: "Uncle Liu was so shocked that he was a little dazed. Aunt Zhao Yue'e was in tears. Yan Bugui even ridiculed Liu Haizhong's family for his son. Is he morally corrupt and has a problem with his character?"

Yan Bugui stood up immediately and asked Xu Damao, "Do you know the cause? Do you know who said what at that time?"

Xu Damao said disdainfully: "You don't need to ask to know that if you didn't laugh at Liu Haizhong's son, would there be a quarrel?"

Yi Zhonghai interjected, "This matter really shouldn't be brought up."

Yan Bugui said: "Ask Liu Haizhong who was the first to talk about his son."

"Oh, so you mean, Uncle Liu laughed at his own son and started arguing with you again?" Xu Damao said.

Everyone in the yard burst into laughter.

Yan Bugui was a little anxious and said, "Stationmaster Du, you are right next to us, who said it first?"

Du Ping avoided his gaze and said, "I didn't hear it clearly either."

Yan Bugui suddenly felt dizzy and staggered, and Yan Jiecheng hurried to help him up.

Yan Jiecheng said: "No matter what, it is wrong for my father to quarrel at the wedding banquet. On behalf of the Yan family, I apologize to you two. I'm sorry."

As he spoke, Yan Jiecheng bowed to Xu Damao and He Yuzhu respectively.

Yan Jiecheng expressed the Yan family's attitude, and Xu Damao said, "Is this something that can be solved by bowing?"

Suddenly a figure flashed and Yan Jiekuang stood in front.

"Dad, come on, tell me who is at the table?" Yan Jiekuang said.

Yi Zhonghai was a little surprised. He recalled the scene many years ago and his heart was moved.

But Xu Damao didn't know, and still thought that Yan Jiekuang was just a little brat, and said: "You little brat, you can represent the Yan family."

"I can. No matter what the final result is, I will continue." Yan Jiekuang said firmly.

Xu Damao was a little stunned and didn't respond.

"Dad, just tell me who they are."

"There are Stationmaster Du, the deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai, Zhang Erzhu, Xu Delin, Wuhan Iron and Steel, and people from the steel mill."

"Dad, take a break. Let me tell you first. I've heard what my dad said. Liu Haizhong first asked me if my eldest brother had come back. My dad said, no, my daughter-in-law is pregnant. Stationmaster Du congratulated him. Then Uncle Liu said, who knows if he will come back. Then my dad said, don't think everyone is like your Liu Guangqi."

"Is this the cause of the incident? First of all, I have to ask Station Master Du. You are a person of status. If you are telling a lie, your problem may be a problem of your position. Whether you say it or not, you have eaten my sweet potatoes, right? You also brought them to the station, which improved your prestige, right?"

"Stationmaster Du, is my statement right or wrong?"

Du Pingyi's whole body was shaking. He didn't dare to gamble his career with this trivial matter.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Yes, you are right. What Yan Bugui said is true. I will not get involved in this matter." Then he turned and left.

"Old lady, you are a person of high moral character and respect. What you said must be true. Did you hear me, Sakai?" Yan Jiekuang stared at the deaf old lady.

The deaf old lady almost fainted. No one had mentioned the name Sakai for many years. How could he know? What else did he know? The deaf old lady didn't dare to speak. Finally, she said, "It's Liu Haizhong's fault." Then she turned and left.

Yi Zhonghai was stunned and Xu Damao was confused.

(End of this chapter)