Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

Tonight's dinner was definitely the most relaxing meal Yan Jiecheng had eaten at home in decades. Although everyone had their own thoughts, at least there wasn't so much calculation at the dinner table. He didn't have to worry about how many pieces of meat he ate versus how many others ate, or whether he was losing out...

After a satisfying meal, the family of five gathered around the table that had been cleared away.

Everyone realized that the real business was about to begin tonight...

"Father...we've already discussed it with Third Brother..."

"Given the current prices in Beijing, twenty yuan a month is enough for a person to live a very good life in a courtyard house."

“You can receive more than 20 yuan in pension every month now. As long as the three of us brothers contribute an additional 10 yuan or so each month, it will be enough for you two to live a very good life.”

"That way, you won't have to go out and collect scraps anymore."

"Your pension, plus the subsidies from the three of us brothers, is enough for you to live on."

"If I get sick or something unexpected happens and I need money, no matter how much, the three of us brothers will split it all equally."

"So we've decided that each of the three brothers will give you a five-yuan pension subsidy every month."

"As for the house at home, the three of us brothers can live there if we want, or we can rent a place or even buy a house if we don't want to. But no matter whether we live at home or not, you can't ask us for rent."

"The problem of food will be much easier to solve then..."

“We pay for each meal we eat at home. With our family’s food standards, a meal costs more than three cents.”

"But the two elders are our own father and mother, so we can't be too picky with you. We'll just pay you three cents a meal."

"If you eat at home, you pay for one meal; if you don't eat, you don't pay. Nobody loses out."

Now it was Yan Fugui's turn to be dumbfounded.

He had been looking forward to the retirement money that the three brothers were about to hand over to him, but after hearing the eldest brother Yan Jiecheng's explanation, his previously enthusiastic heart instantly turned cold.

If he hadn't heard Yan Jiecheng's explanation with his own ears, he would have found it hard to believe his ears.

Is it considered giving five yuan a month to a beggar for living expenses?
My immediate thought was to retort, "No..."

"Five yuan is too little..."

“Each of you must give at least twenty yuan to your family, otherwise you three brothers are unfilial.”

The two brothers, Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang, had just been released from prison and were already furious with Yan Fugui. When they heard that Yan Fugui disagreed with the result that the three brothers had discussed together, they became even more displeased.

He frowned and asked, "What do you need so much money for?"

“If someone pays you 20 yuan, plus your own retirement money, that's more than 80 yuan a month, which is more than my and my second son's salaries when we start working.”

"If you can't finish the food and drink... isn't that a waste?"

“I can save it…” Yan Fugui insisted on his request and did not compromise because his boss was angry.

After all, just a few years ago he was the undisputed head of the Yan family. Even though he can't go out to earn money now, he can't easily bow down to his son.

Yan Jiecheng replied irritably, "After you all pass away, won't those savings be divided among the three of us brothers?"

"Is it necessary to go through so much trouble?"

"Moreover……"

“The three of us brothers are still young, and we need money for everything we do.”

"Instead of letting your money sit idle in the bank, it's better for us to keep it and use it." "Anyway, forty yuan a month is enough for you to live a good life in the courtyard house."

"Based on your usual food standards, let alone forty yuan, thirty yuan a month would be enough for you."

“Even if you don’t go out to collect scraps, you can save ten yuan a month, which is one hundred and twenty yuan a year, enough for your expenses.”

"We can reimburse you for medical expenses and unexpected costs, so what do you have to worry about?"

"That's settled then..."

"As for you going outside and saying we are unfilial, you are the one who should be ashamed."

"We've been to jail and broken the law, so we don't care about these empty titles."

“But once the news gets out, the neighbors will definitely talk about you: a teacher who has raised three unfilial sons. Let’s see who will be more shameful, you or us three brothers.”

Yan Fugui has always been concerned about his reputation, and he certainly wouldn't let his neighbors gossip about him after he retires.

Faced with the boss's threats, Yan Fugui had no choice but to compromise.

Then he turned his attention to the third brother, Yan Jiekuang.

Thinking that as long as Yan Jiekuang agreed to give fifty yuan to the family every month, even if the eldest and second eldest sons only gave five yuan to the family each month, he would still be making a profit.

He immediately said, "Jie Kuang, the five yuan subsidy we get each month only applies to the eldest and second eldest sons. The fifty yuan you give to the family each month can't be changed..."

"This is what you owe us because you didn't pay the fines for the eldest and second eldest sons back then."

Yan Jiekuang would certainly not agree. He had already paid his family three years' worth of money, and even if he owed Yan Fugui, he should have paid it back by now. Why should he have to pay money again?

Before he could refuse, Yan Jiecheng, who was standing to the side, spoke up first: "No..."

“If we three brothers have to pay the same amount, then people will say that we three brothers have a conflict. Only the youngest brother is filial to you two, while the second brother and I are not. Otherwise, why would the youngest brother pay fifty yuan to the family every month, while we only pay five yuan?”

"As for what the third brother owes you two elders..."

"She has been paying her salary to her family for three consecutive years and has already paid it all off."

"Besides, most of the fines paid for the third son back then were borrowed by mortgaging the house, and the debts were basically paid off by the third son through his earnings outside."

"To be honest, the third brother doesn't owe the family anything..."

"Starting next month, like us, you will pay five yuan to your family every month."

After saying that, he didn't give Yan Fugui a chance to speak and replied in a tone that left no room for negotiation: "This matter is settled."

"My second brother and I are going out to look for jobs tomorrow, so we have to go to bed early tonight."

After saying that, he walked towards his room.

The second and third brothers, fearing they would be left behind by Yan Fugui, followed closely behind, each running faster than the other.

Watching his three sons disappear rapidly before his eyes, Yan Fugui was furious.

I never expected that after my eldest and second eldest sons got out of prison, my wife and I would have two more people to take care of us in our old age, and our retirement life would get better and better.

I never expected that choosing this person as my caregiver would be the right decision, but their monthly income has decreased by almost half. If I had known it would turn out this way, I wouldn't have cooked braised pork and old hen for them tonight. (End of Chapter)