Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 76 Everyone has a choice
Mid-1962

Yan Jiekuang was so busy that his feet hit his head. There were too many activities in school. He regretted showing off and had no time for himself.

If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have joined so many extracurricular groups, and now there’s an additional track and field team.

Principal Chen kept asking for articles, asking for reflections and speeches, which Yan Jiekuang found a bit overwhelmed.

The flowers in the yard haven't been watered for two months, and I haven't seen Yan Jiedi for a long time.

Today, the archaeological team wanted to go out for homework and study, but Yan Jiekuang refused, saying he didn't have that much time. Professor Wen, an old professor, pointed at his nose and taught him, "Just exercise moderately. Do you really think that's your main job? You don't know the difference between the main and the secondary."

Yan Jiekuang is not satisfied with his study life now and feels it is a bit chaotic, so he told Principal Chen that he plans to go back to the countryside to visit his grandmother after the exams, so he will not participate in any activities during the summer vacation.

If his studies were not satisfactory, he planned to stay in school for another year, and Principal Chen agreed.

Siheyuan Yan Family

Yan Bugui was very restless today. There were also Widow Wang and Grandpa Sun in the front yard.

In the afternoon, people came back from school one after another. Yan Jiefang also came back and told his father directly that he had been admitted to the No. 10 high school, which was a bit far away and he needed to live on campus.

Yan Bugui felt relieved.

Yan Jiekuang also came back and saw Widow Wang and Grandpa Sun standing in the yard. Zhou Zhiping did not go to work and was also waiting in the front yard.

After a while, Sun Xiaolong, Zhou Nianping and Liu Guangfu walked in together.

Sun Xiaolong was afraid that his grandfather would be anxious, so he just said that all three of them had passed the exam.

Sun Xiaolong went to a mechanical technical secondary school, Zhou Nianping went to a textile technical secondary school, and Liu Guangfu went to Tianjin Shipbuilding Vocational and Technical School.

Yan Jiekuang was very surprised and asked him why he chose that. Liu Guangfu smiled and said, "I want to go to the sea to have a look."

Yan Jiekuang and Liu Guangfu met after the whole-school meeting. Liu Guangfu took the initiative to find Yan Jiekuang and said that his father no longer cared about them and asked him what to do.
Yan Jiekuang was also very surprised. You can't find me, no matter who you look for. So he asked him: "We are not very familiar with each other, and there are still conflicts between our two families. You are asking me for advice, which is just to cause trouble for me."

Liu Guangfu said: "I have asked Sun Xiaolong, it is all your credit that they have the life they have today. Your second brother is just a beneficiary. You know my situation, I can't leave, I have no money and no ticket, I will starve to death if I go out, and I can't leave because my household registration is still there. I just want to change so that I don't get beaten all the time."

Ever since his second brother went in again, Liu Haizhong vented all his anger on Liu Guangfu, beating him up for no reason.

Yan Jiekuang thought for a moment and said, "Actually, you are all wrong. Your own path is your own. You are the only one who can change. But if you want to change, you have to pay. Technical secondary school is a good choice. You will receive subsidies during your studies, so you should not have to worry about food and drink. After graduation, you will be assigned a job and have your own job and the right to independence. What do you think?"

Liu Guangfu listened very carefully, then nodded heavily, turned and left.

The younger generation of Siheyuan residents is growing up, and the idea that change requires sacrifice has been deeply rooted in Yan Jiefang and his colleagues’ minds.

Yan Jiefang had a goal, and his only goal was to join the army, which was also understood by Yan Bugui and Yan's family.

Sun Xiaolong's goal is to graduate early, then get a job, and then fulfill his grandfather's expectations and get married and have children.

Zhou Nianping's goal is to start working early and be filial to his mother.

Today, everyone knows that Liu Guangfu’s goal has never been work, his goal is the sea, because it is farther away from the Siheyuan.

Several people were feeling a little depressed, but Liu Guangfu said, "I just want to go out more while I'm still young, because I'll have to come back in the future."

In the evening, people came back from work one after another. Everyone knew about the affairs of several young people in the hospital and talked about it. The person who talked the most was Liu Guangfu.

When Liu Haizhong returned home, Zhao Yue'e reported what happened to her son.

Liu Haizhong didn’t have any ideas, but he felt a little strange. The eldest brother went to Tianjin, and the youngest brother was going to Tianjin to study too. Was there something going on here?

The more he thought about it, the more it resembled the real thing, so Liu Haizhong went to find Yi Zhonghai to ask for his opinion.

Yi Zhonghai said, "Your eldest son is selfish and ran away with his father-in-law. Your third son is taking the college entrance examination. No matter if he has problems or not, he passed the examination based on his own ability." Yi Zhonghai looked at Liu Haizhong and couldn't bear it. He advised him earnestly, "Your eldest son can't be relied on now. Your second son has been abandoned. Now only the third son is left. If this one runs away again, what will you do in the future?"

Liu Haizhong suddenly woke up and he didn't know what to do.

Yi Zhonghai said: "While the child is still here, try to win him over and talk to him about their feelings. Maybe it's not too late."

Liu Haizhong also agreed with this in his heart, and hurried home to discuss with Zhao Yue'e how to be nicer to Liu Guangfu and make him feel the love of family.

After Liu Haizhong left, Li Cuilan said, "It's too late now."

Yi Zhonghai sighed. He also knew that Liu Haizhong had played a good hand badly.

As for Jia Dongxu, his relationship as master and apprentice still exists, and there is nothing wrong with it. During the New Year and other festivals, the apprentice visits the master and brings gifts. He is also respectful to his master and his wife and asks about their well-being. Li Cuilan is quite satisfied with this, but Yi Zhonghai is not. Yi Zhonghai is anxious for a promise, but this is difficult because of Grandmother Jia.

Front yard of the Siheyuan

Yan Jiekuang sat in the courtyard, thinking about his own things. He thought that he had to be clear about his direction. He had to go to college. He didn't need to participate in so many activities. Being an athlete was impossible, so why bother to show off. Archaeology, ancient poetry, etc., since I didn't plan to make them my main profession, I would not participate in them in the future.

Yan Jiekuang suddenly felt that he had been led astray by his obsession with going to school. He eventually took the next step through learning instead of being obsessed with school life.

Yan Jiedi came over, jumping and skipping, and said, "Third brother, you haven't been here for a long time, don't you want me as your sister?"

Yan Jiekuang said quickly, "I was busy at school recently and neglected my most lovely sister. I apologize. Let's go to Yu'er Hutong tonight and I'll cook you a big meal."

Yan Jiedi was very satisfied with her brother's answer and said that she wanted to eat a lot of delicious food as she hadn't seen meat for a long time.

The brother and sister talked for a while, and then went to the west wing.

Yang Ruiping doesn't live here now. He went to the old house. There are only father and daughter left at home. Yan Jiefang never stays at home at all.

When Yan Jiekuang saw this, he said to Yan Bugui, "Let's go to Yu'er Hutong. I'll cook."

Yan Bugui said, "You finally remembered this home."

Before leaving, Yan Bugui asked Yan Jiekuang: "Do you have any meat coupons left? If you didn't take the ones from home, there are still four taels of meat coupons left at home."

"You haven't used the two taels you got before the New Year?" Yan Jiekuang asked. "Forget it, I still have meat coupons, and I didn't use the previous ones."

Yan Jiekuang is also in financial difficulty now. He still has a lot of money in his hands, but except for a few large tickets, he has nothing left, not even food coupons.

As soon as the three of them came out of the west wing, they ran into Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu, who were also going out.

"It's the weekend today, what are these two doing outside?" Yan Bugui said after he went out.

Yan Jiekuang said: "Why do you care so much? They can't go to the restaurant."

Yan Jiedi interjected, "Really rich."

Yan Jiekuang thought to himself, "The one who is really rich is your dad."

The three of them arrived at Yuer Hutong in no time. Yan Jiekuang went straight to the kitchen because his sister was short of meat. That wouldn't do.

Stew a big pork elbow, then have some Dongpo pork elbow, then have some braised chicken, and steam a tray of steamed buns.

When I was free while cooking, I saw this father and daughter reading books. There wasn't much else in Yan Jiekuang's house except a lot of books. However, Yan Jiekuang had a problem: he wouldn't lend out books.

Not long after, the meal was ready. As soon as it was served, Yan Jiedi exclaimed, "I finally saw the big pork elbow I had always dreamed of."

The three of them started eating without any further ado.

(End of this chapter)