Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

"Big brother, second brother, you're finally back..." Yan Jiekuang knew that today was the day Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang were released from prison, so he made a special effort not to work overtime. As soon as he got off work, he rushed home and greeted the two of them with great enthusiasm.

Seeing that Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang were completely ignoring him, Yan Jiekuang quickly guessed the reason behind it.

He immediately explained, "Big brother, second brother..."

“I know you’re still angry about the fact that Dad paid my fines back then, but didn’t pay them.”

"But so much time has passed, the anger should have subsided by now."

"And although I didn't go to jail, life outside wasn't easy either."

"I was burdened with nearly two thousand yuan in debt right after I got out of prison. I had no choice but to work hard every day and didn't even have time to find a wife."

"I only had some free time this year after paying off all my debts, and I finally found a girlfriend."

"However, our family is currently penniless, and I estimate it will take me several more years to save enough money for my wedding."

When Yan Jiekuang began to complain as soon as they met, hoping to alleviate the frustration and anger in his elder and second elder brothers' hearts, the eldest brother Yan Jiecheng immediately showed a mocking expression.

He snorted coldly and retorted, "Third brother..."

"I've already found out what's going on with you, so don't complain here... it's embarrassing to hear."

“In the first two years after you were released, you did incur a huge debt, but that money was used to pay your fines. It is only right and proper that you should repay it, no matter how much suffering you endure.”

"To make up for what we had lost, my father gave us four hundred yuan as soon as my second brother and I walked in. He gave each of us two hundred yuan so we could use it when we were looking for jobs."

"He also said that the old house would eventually belong to the three of us brothers. As long as we take good care of him in the future, he would stop charging us rent and let us live in the house for free until we no longer want to live there."

"Dad was able to scrape together three thousand yuan for your fine because he mortgaged the house and borrowed more than a thousand yuan, and he also used all the money that should have belonged to us to pay your fine."

"You're having a good time, getting out of prison and living and working freely..."

"My second brother and I had to stay in prison for three years."

"So your ability to leave prison so early and work and live outside is also thanks to me and the second brother."

"My second brother and I just got out of prison and we don't have a penny on us."

“We need money to find a job and eat. We don’t expect you to do anything earth-shattering to repay our kindness. We just want you to give us a few hundred dollars so that my second brother and I won’t be penniless and unable to afford a meal outside.”

Yan Jiekuang understood; the eldest and second eldest brothers were eyeing his secret stash of money.

One of the main reasons why Yan Jiekuang secretly saved money behind Yan Fugui's back then was to leave himself a way out. In case he and his father parted ways one day and he worked outside for two or three years without even a penny of savings.

Moreover, he will get married and have children in the future, and who knows, he might need to buy a house someday... all of these will cost money.

Based on his understanding of his father, Yan Fugui, once money was in his pocket, getting it out would be harder than climbing to heaven.

To ensure that he wouldn't fall into financial difficulties in the future, he came up with the idea of ​​saving money on his own.

Now that I have a partner, I might propose to their family at any time, and then get married... so money becomes even more essential.

Under these circumstances, Yan Jiekuang would certainly not easily give away the private savings he had secretly accumulated behind Yan Fugui's back to his eldest and second eldest brothers, even if his second eldest brothers did play a part in preventing him from going to jail.

He immediately feigned ignorance and asked Yan Jiecheng, "Brother... what secret stash of money..."

"You must have made a mistake..." "I've been out of prison for three years, and I've given my entire monthly salary to my dad. Where would I get any secret savings..."

“I know you’re having a tough time right after being released from prison, and I know you were instrumental in my acquittal back then, but I really don’t have any money.”

"If I had any, I would give you the money even if I had to sell everything I own."

"But I really don't have that right now."

Seeing that Yan Jiekuang absolutely refused to admit that he had any secret savings, he almost believed him if it weren't for the fact that the Yan brothers, Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang, had already investigated the matter beforehand.

Immediately, with a look of disbelief, he looked at Yan Jiekuang and replied, "Third brother..."

“My second brother and I just got home... We’ve found out everything we need to know... including exactly how much salary you receive each month.”

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have targeted you."

"We don't need much... just like Dad, give each of us two hundred yuan..."

"Impossible..." Yan Jiekuang shook his head like a rattle-drum, refuting without hesitation.

"Brother... even if I really did save up some money on the side, I couldn't possibly give each of you two hundred yuan... at most fifty yuan, not a penny more, don't force me..."

Yan Jiecheng's patience was also running out.

I had originally planned to discuss this matter with the third brother in a gentle and considerate manner, but who knew that Yan Jiekuang would be so ungrateful.

He frowned and replied, "Third brother, don't push your luck."

"We only asked you for two hundred yuan because you already have a boyfriend. We thought you'd need money to find a partner and get married in the future, so we couldn't ask for too much."

"I believe you wouldn't want your partner to know that you're an ungrateful, faithless, and selfish person, would you..."

“Give us two hundred yuan, and the three of us will still be good brothers, sticking together through thick and thin and helping each other when things happen.”

"If you don't give it to me..."

"Then don't blame me for exposing all the stupid things you've done. You'll lose your wife in the end, and that will be a real loss."

"In addition, since you've given us the money, you won't have to give fifty yuan home every month like before."

"After all, we also need to take care of our parents in their old age."

“I calculated my parents’ current income. Even if my father doesn’t go out to collect scraps now, the pension he receives each month plus ten or so yuan is enough for the two of them to live a good life in the courtyard.”

“We have three brothers. From now on, we will give 15 yuan home every month, which will be enough for our parents to support themselves in their old age.”

"That's only five yuan per person on average."

"But you know that my second brother and I just got out of prison, we don't have jobs or income, let alone five dollars, we can't even come up with two dollars."

"And we'll need to find partners and get married in the future, so we'll need to save money..."

"So until our monthly income reaches fifty yuan, you, the third brother, will have to pay all the retirement money that my second brother and I owe our father... Consider it repayment for the three years we spent in jail." (End of Chapter)