Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

Today, because of the bell, and the distribution of New Year's goods, the rolling mill closed half an hour earlier. Soon, a long and winding queue formed in front of the door of the finance office. He Yuzhu passed by the door of the office building where the finance department was located. Seeing the people queuing, He Yuzhu shuddered unconsciously and muttered, "Fortunately, I got it in advance. How long would it take to queue up in such a long queue?!" He Yuzhu smiled bitterly, shook his head, walked to the parking shed, pushed his bicycle out, put the New Year's goods distributed by the factory into the bicycle basket, and rode out of the factory.

"Oh?! Uncle, you came back a little late today?!" Xu Damao smiled and started chatting with Yan Bugui whom he met at the door.

Yan Bugui saw the things on Xu Damao's bicycle and said, "Damo, is this what your steel mill is distributing this year?!"

Xu Damao replied, "Uncle, it's good to have these things." Then he asked, "I remember your school also had a pay cut today, what kind of New Year's goods did your school distribute?!"

Yan Bugui said: "What kind of New Year's goods can we give out?!"

Xu Damao said, "Uncle San, your principal is wrong! You have worked so hard to teach these students for a whole year, how can you not give them some New Year's gifts as a reward?!"

Yan Bugui licked his face and said, "Da Mao, our school doesn't give out gifts, you can give some to Uncle San."

Xu Damao followed Yan Bugui's line of sight and looked at the things on his bicycle. He smiled and said, "Uncle San, I'm not your principal. If you want me to send you something, that's fine! I'll go to your school tomorrow and ask your principal for you."

Yan Bugui also came back to his senses at this time and said, "Da Mao, I was just joking with you."

Xu Damao replied, "I was just kidding you." After that, Xu Damao looked around and continued, "He Yuzhu will hold a wedding banquet in the factory cafeteria on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. I heard there will be five or six tables. You are the elder in our hospital, why didn't he invite you?!"

Yan Bugui replied: "What relationship do I have with him? We are just neighbors at best. What does his wedding have to do with me? How could he possibly invite me?!"

Xu Damao said, "He Yuzhu is too stingy. When I get married, I will definitely invite you!"

"Xu Damao, what are you talking about?!" At this moment, He Yuzhu's voice rang out from behind Xu Damao. Xu Damao was stunned, turned his head and looked at He Yuzhu, and said, "Did I say something wrong?! You don't even know how to treat your neighbors to a meal before your wedding?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "You said it too! Neighbor. It would be great if we could give out two candies, but you still want to have a feast?! Are you dreaming?! Food is so scarce now?! Otherwise, you, Xu Damao, can be generous and contribute your money and tickets. Let the third uncle go buy the food, and I will cook. Let's have a big feast in the courtyard?! Then everyone will remember you, Xu Damao, for your kindness."

Xu Damao was suddenly confused: "Why is he being blamed again?!" Xu Damao quickly came to his senses and shouted hysterically: "Why do you want me to take money and tickets? I'm not that stupid!" After that, Xu Damao pushed his bicycle and disappeared directly in front of Yan Bugui and He Yuzhu.

Yan Bugui looked at Xu Damao's back and muttered in his heart, "What a pity! A feast is gone!" Then he looked at He Yuzhu with a resentful look and thought to himself, "He Yuzhu is still too young. How can he be so straightforward when asking someone to treat him to a meal? Now, no one can eat."

He Yuzhu didn't care what Yan Bugui thought and pushed the cart directly towards the central courtyard.

Back in the backyard, Xu Damao was too lazy to move the things on the bike and pushed it directly into the house. After parking the bike, Xu Damao walked to the table and sat down. He poured a glass of water and took a sip. The more he thought about it, the angrier he felt. However, when he thought about the blind date tomorrow night, Xu Damao suddenly felt much better.

Xu Damao raised his wrist and looked at the time on his watch. Seeing that it was still early, Xu Damao found some clothes to change, took his toiletries and went out.

There is a kind of culture in the old city at this time, called bathhouse culture. Bathing, back scrubbing, haircut, pedicure, massage are all available.

After taking a shower, Xu Damao's mood suddenly improved a lot. He went back to the courtyard, hung up the washed clothes to dry, and then went out again.

There was no conversation that night. The next morning, Xu Damao put on his newly bought clothes and took out the pair of leather shoes that he only wore on important occasions. He polished the shoes until they were shiny, put them on his feet, stood in front of the mirror, looked at himself several times, and then took some stock from the cabinet with satisfaction, put it on his bicycle, and pushed the bicycle out. When passing by the middle courtyard, Xu Damao did not forget to take a look at He Yuzhu's house.

"Uncle Niu, have you eaten?!" Xu Damao pushed his bicycle out and greeted his neighbor with a smile.

"I ate it!" Uncle Niu replied, and asked, "Da Mao, where are you going dressed like this today?!"

Xu Damao replied: "My father asked someone to find a date for me. We have an appointment for a blind date today."

The third aunt came out of the house and asked, "Da Mao, who is the girl from?!"

Xu Damao replied, "I don't know about that. I'll know after we meet today." After that, Xu Damao pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard gate.

After Xu Damao left, the third aunt looked at Yan Bugui and said, "Old Yan, our Jie Cheng is only one year younger than Xu Damao. Xu Damao already has a partner, so shouldn't we also find someone for our Jie Cheng?!"

Yan Bugui said, "I want to do it too. But our Jia Jiecheng has no job?! With the little money he earns from odd jobs, he can't even afford to eat, let alone get married?! How can he support his wife and children?! Is he asking us to pay for it?! What about our three sons?! Can they afford it?!"

Yan Jiecheng came out of the house and said, "Dad! How about I become someone's son-in-law?"

"What?! Do you want to piss me off to death?!" Yan Bugui roared angrily and sneered, "Do you want to piss me off to death so you can inherit the family property? I tell you! No way!" After that, Yan Bugui angrily pushed away Yan Jiecheng who was blocking his way and went straight home.

Yan Jiecheng looked at Yan Bugui's back, then looked at his mother resentfully and said, "Mom?! What do you think my dad means by this?!"

"What do you mean? You deserve a beating!" After saying that, the third aunt pushed Yan Jiecheng and shouted with an unhappy look on her face: "Go away!"

"Who did I offend?!" Yan Jiecheng muttered as he looked at his mother's back. He tightened his clothes unconsciously, hesitated for a moment, and went out.

Xu Damao rode his bicycle to his father's house very quickly. As soon as Xu Damao parked his bicycle, his sister Xu Xiaoling appeared in front of him and called out with a smile: "Brother!"

"Hey!" Xu Damao took out a handful of candy from his pocket and stuffed it into Xu Xiaoling's hand. Xu Xiaoling looked around with the candy in her hand and said, "Brother, our mother has been busy since early morning. Today, our food is very strong! You should eat more. Eat a good diet."

Xu Damao said, "Not only do I want to eat, you have to eat too. Look how thin you are?!"

Xu Xiaoling said with a smile: "Brother, I'm not thin. Mom said that I look thin when I'm dressed, but I'm all flesh when I'm undressed."

Xu Damao smiled and said, "Go and have fun! Be safe and go home early."

"Got it!" Xu Xiaoling put the candy into her pocket, smiled and left.