Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 84 Something is fishy
As winter approaches, the weather drops sharply.

The big cat from Yuer Hutong refused to leave Yan Jiekuang's house and built a nest for itself next to the kitchen in the west wing of the front yard.

Yan Jiekuang really couldn't do anything about the big cat, and he couldn't bear to see the nest it had made, so he designed a cat house himself.

Anyway, there are plenty of chicken and pork offal in the space, and the big cat can eat it, so just adopt it.

The big cat liked the cat house very much and moved in as soon as possible. The cat house was placed next to the fire wall of the stove. Yan Jiekuang had fully considered its heating problem.

Yan Jiekuang squatted at the door of the cat house, preparing a food bowl for the big cat, which contained both meat and some grains.

Yan Jiekuang said to the big cat: "Does this count as adoption? From now on I will call you Big Cat, since everyone calls you that anyway."

The big cat meowed, apparently agreeing.

After Yan Jiekuang finished taking care of the big cat, he got up and packed his things. Today was Saturday and he had to go back to the courtyard, otherwise his mother would nag him again.

He took some tea leaves and about a pound of pork belly, put them in a bag, locked the door, and walked towards Yard No. 95 with the bag.

In the front yard of the quadrangle, Yan Jiekuang ran into Stationmaster Du as soon as he entered the door. He greeted him, "Hello, Uncle Du!"

Du Ping looked up one by one, "Hey, Jie Kuang, you're back?"

"Well, Uncle Du, if I don't come back this weekend, my mother will beat me." Yan Jiekuang replied.

Du Pingyi said: "It's too cold, let's go in quickly."

Yan Jiekuang walked towards the west wing. As soon as he reached the door of the west wing, he felt someone looking at him from inside the hanging flower gate in the central courtyard. Yan Jiekuang turned his head and saw Xu Damao's back.

Yan Jiekuang thought to himself, "You just won't give up." Yan Jiekuang walked into the west wing, and Yan Jiedi ran over to him immediately, "Brother, what good things did you bring?"

He took the bag from Yan Jiekuang, opened it and looked inside, then exclaimed.

Yan Jiekuang patted her head and said, "Go, give it to mom and let her do it for us."

After a while, Yan Jiekuang felt that his mother looked at him with resentment. Yan Jiekuang was puzzled and hurried over to ask: "Mom, what's wrong with you? Did your son offend you?"

Yang Ruiping said sadly: "I have never had my son's noodles with soybean paste."

Yan Jiekuang thought that he was betrayed by Comrade Yan Bugui, but it was true. He had never made noodles with soybean sauce for his mother, but he had made other big meals many times.

"If you want to eat, I'll make it for you anytime. Don't worry, Mom. Comrade Yan snatched it away from you, but yours must have been made by his son willingly." Yan Jiekuang said quickly.

Yang Ruiping was happy. Yan Jiekuang really underestimated the status of noodles with soybean paste in the hearts of the people in the city. Yang Ruiping wanted dinner.

Yan Jiekuang did not hesitate and started cooking directly in the kitchen. He also went back to the flower bed in the courtyard to pick the unripe cucumbers, carrots, coriander, and green onions.

The noodles cooked in the evening were white flour that Yan Jiekuang used, pure white flour. At that time, Yan Bugui said that he had not eaten white flour for several years, so Yan Jiekuang planned to make a meal of white flour for his family, and it happened to be today.

There was only one sound at the dinner table that night, that of eating noodles. The meal, including noodles, sauce and side dishes, was clean and tidy.

The full Yan family members sat around the eight-immortal table, drinking tea and chatting.

Yan Jiefang said ramblingly that their school was very strange. Normally, after graduation, they would be assigned to the street office, but this year for some reason, the steel rolling mill was recruiting, and they recruited quite a few people.

When Yan Jiekuang heard this, his heart skipped a beat. Yan Bugui asked, "You are going to join the army, why do you care so much?"

Yan Jiefang said, "Of the eight people in our dormitory, the remaining seven have signed up. They also tried to persuade me, but I refused."

Yan Jiekuang said: "There is something strange about this matter. Whenever something is abnormal, there must be someone behind it."

After listening to Yan Jiekuang's words, Yan Bugui pondered for a while, and Yan Jiefang was also thinking. "It is impossible that seven people from your dormitory signed up without someone to persuade them. The requirements are so high, and seven people can pass at the same time. This is abnormal in itself. I think the second brother should be careful. Find your best friend to bring him home, and we can get to know each other better. I feel that this matter is aimed at the second brother." Yan Jiekuang said.

Yan Jiefang also came to his senses. Yes, he was almost tempted by those people. If it weren’t for Yang Donghu in front of him, he would have wavered.

Yan Jiefang nodded heavily.

Yan Bugui was still somewhat puzzled and looked at his eldest son.

Yan Jiekuang gave his younger sister a look, and his younger sister ran to the door, locked it, and sat down at the door.

Yan Jiekuang took a sip of tea and said, "Do you still remember the choice made by my elder brother?"

Yan Bugui recalled and said, "I remember that you were assigned to a textile factory, not a steel rolling mill."

Yan Jiekuang continued, "It's true that the steel mill is a big factory, but it's so big that there are all kinds of people. It's normal for a few high-level people to fight among themselves. You can hear it when the neighbors are chatting. In fact, I don't want our family to have anything to do with the steel mill. Look at this yard. There are so many middle-level managers and senior workers in the steel mill. Once our family members go in, they will be controlled."

When Yan Bugui heard this, he thought about it carefully and felt that it was indeed possible.

"Because of the Lou family's affairs, some people at the steel mill have also been eyeing our family. I know that Xu Damao is one of them." Yan Jiekuang continued.

"You mean, this time they have set their sights on the second brother, and want him to work in the steel mill, and then come to control our family?" Yan Bugui said.

Yan Jiekuang said: "It is very likely. If it is true, we can ask someone and find out."

Yan Jiefang said, "I actually have a classmate who is very close to me. I was wondering why he was avoiding me these past few days. It turns out he had something to do."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Second brother, don't ask at school, make an appointment somewhere else, or make an appointment at eldest brother's house, which is close to your school."

"It's settled. We can't be careless about the second brother's future." Yang Ruiping made the final decision.

Ganjing Hutong
The next day, Yan Bugui and Yan Jiekuang both went to Ganjing Hutong.

As soon as he entered the door, Yan Jiekuang went to find Qingqing. Yan Jiekuang picked her up and kissed her. The two of them chatted with each other. Finally, Yan Bugui got jealous and said, "I, as a grandfather, haven't even held her since I entered the room." Yan Jiekuang quickly put Qingqing down.

Qingqing stuck out her tongue and smiled at her grandfather, and Yan Bugui's face was full of joy.

Yan Jiekuang brought Qingqing a new rattle. Every time he came to visit Qingqing, Yan Jiekuang would bring him toys.

Yan Jiekuang put the rattle in Qingqing's hand and shook it twice. The sound of the rattle attracted the little guy's attention and he started shaking it too!

Yu Li made tea for the father and son, as Yan Jiecheng had not yet finished get off work.

As evening approached, Yan Jiekuang began to pack up the dishes he had brought, taking this opportunity to improve the living conditions of his eldest brother's family.

Yan Jiekuang prepared boiled pork slices, twice-cooked pork, potatoes stewed with eggplant, Chinese cabbage, cabbage stewed with tofu, fennel beans, and egg soup for the soup.

The materials were ready and the door rang. Yan Jiefang came with a classmate, who was tall and handsome, named Min Jun.

When Min Jun came in, he looked a little reserved. Yan Jiefang introduced his family to him and told everyone that Min Jun was his best friend in high school. Yan Jiefang shook hands with Min Jun enthusiastically and said, "It's not easy for my second brother to have a friend with his flamboyant personality."

Min Jun said: "Your second brother always praises you, saying that you are the top student in the city. We should have a good chat later."

All of a sudden, the distance between the two sides was shortened, and Yan Bugui no longer had the expression of a teacher. Instead, the image of a smiling old naughty father was born.

While Yan Jiekuang was cooking, several people started chatting. Afterwards, everyone sat down together. Yan Jiefang said, "It's really not easy to let my third brother cook. Come on, Min Jun, or you won't be able to eat in a while."

As soon as the food was served, Min Jun took a few bites, his eyes lit up, and several people started to eat.

(End of this chapter)