Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

In fact, Yan Jiefang had already made plans for work. He had been asking about this outside for the past two days. Nowadays, there is only one job for each person. Without connections and means, it is harder than climbing to the sky to find a job. Yan Jiefang returned to his room and lay on the bed in a daze. Suddenly, Yan Jiefang remembered the old man who was in the same cell with him. Yan Jiefang was quite caring towards the old man, so before the old man died, he told Yan Jiefang where he hid his things. The old man was also from the old city of Beijing, a remnant of the old people. He had a bad background to begin with, and after the storm, someone took a fancy to the things in his house, so he was framed and sent to the farm, and his family was broken up. The old man survived the criticism, but he could not survive the heavy work and climate on the farm.

Yan Jiefang quickly got up from the bed, said hello to his mother, and went out.

After walking for more than two hours, Yan Jiefang finally arrived at the place the old man told him. It was an abandoned courtyard with two entrances. The things were just below the original utility room.

Yan Jiefang stayed near the courtyard for a while and saw that there was no one around. Yan Jiefang climbed into the courtyard through the gap in the wall. Yan Jiefang soon found the utility room. The utility room was not big, but half of it had collapsed. Yan Jiefang simply cleaned it up, found the location, and reached out to knock on the ground. Yan Jiefang immediately showed a bright smile on his face, found something from the side, pried up the floor tiles, and a beautifully crafted box appeared in front of Yan Jiefang. Yan Jiefang took out the box, looked behind him, and after confirming that there was no one again, Yan Jiefang opened the box. In addition to the money, there were also ten small yellow croakers and a Tianhuang jade seal.

Yan Jiefang put all the things in the wooden box into his pocket, then put the wooden box back to its original place, covered the floor tiles, and restored all the things in the utility room. Then Yan Jiecheng walked out of the utility room. When he reached the wall, Yan Jiefang looked outside and saw that there was no one, so he immediately climbed over the wall.

After walking around outside twice and making sure that no one was following him, Yan Jiefang returned to the courtyard.

When the third aunt saw Yan Jiefang coming back, she asked, "Jiefang, you left in such a hurry just now, where were you going?!"

Yan Jiefang looked around, then pulled the third aunt into the house, closed the door, and quickly took out the things in her pocket. The third aunt was stunned when she saw the things piled on the table. The third aunt asked in a trembling voice: "Jiefang, where did these things come from?! You are not going to make a mistake again, are you?!"

Yan Jiefang smiled and replied, "Mom! What are you talking about? How could I do something bad?!" Then Yan Jiefang told Auntie about his experience with the old man. Auntie felt relieved after hearing what Yan Jiefang had said and asked, "Jiefang, how are you going to deal with these things?!"

"Of course I'll keep it." Yan Jiefang took the money and counted it. It was not a small amount, a total of 3,000 yuan. Yan Jiefang gave his mother 1,000 yuan and said, "Mom, use this to supplement the family expenses. Now that I'm back, you don't have to live like before. Eat better. Your health is my greatest blessing."

The third aunt smiled and said, "I have already told your father that among all the children, you are the most filial."

Yan Jiefang continued, "Mom, talk to Dad later and see who is willing to change houses. Let's get a bigger house."

The third aunt said, "We live in a good place now. Why spend this money?!"

Yan Jiefang said, "Mom, am I not going to get married in the future?! We can't just focus on the present, we have to think about the long term. Let's not talk about anything else, just talk about He Yuzhu in the Central Courtyard. Their original house was big. Later, Yi Zhonghai compensated He Yuzhu with their house. I heard that He Yuzhu gave the house to He Yushui as a dowry. Their house is big, and it won't feel crowded even if more people live in it. There are only three of us in our family now, you and I. If I get married one day, there will be one more person. And there will be children later. Do you think we can live in just two rooms?!"

The third aunt nodded thoughtfully and said, "What you said seems to make sense. I'll talk to your father later and see what he thinks."

Yan Jiefang said, "Mom! When you talk to my dad, tell him that I will pay for the difference."

The third aunt said, "Jiefang, you have money now, but you can't be so extravagant. I think you should let me keep these things for you!"

Yan Jiefang said, "Mom! Leave the things with me. It will save my brother from getting entangled in the future. I don't want him to take away some of my things in the future."

The third aunt said, "You rest in the house. I'll call you after I finish cooking."

In the evening, Yan Bugui came back, and the third aunt told him about Yan Jiefang. Yan Bugui learned from his wife that Yan Jiefang was now rich, and his eyes lit up. Yan Bugui suddenly felt that he could make a fortune from it. So Yan Bugui came to the door of Yan Jiefang's room and knocked on the door.

When Yan Jiefang heard the knock on the door, he quickly got up from the bed, opened the door, and saw Yan Bugui, who greeted him with a smile: "Dad! You're back?! Come in and sit down!"

Yan Bugui walked into Yan Jiefang's room, looked at the furnishings in the room, walked to a stool and sat down, and said, "Jiefang, I just heard from your mother that you want me to change our house?!"

Yan Jiefang nodded and said, "That's the thing. Dad, you see our house now, it's not too crowded for the three of us to live in. What if my brother wants to come back and stay for a few days, or if I get married? This house won't be enough. Now houses can't be bought or sold, but they can be exchanged. Dad, you know the people in this area well and you understand the situation. Can you see if there is a suitable one? I'll make up the difference in price then."

Yan Bugui asked: "How much are you going to pay?!"

Yan Jiefang asked back: "Dad, how much do you think is appropriate?!"

Yan Bugui was immediately stunned by the question. After hesitating for a while, Yan Bugui said, "The two rooms in our house are worth at most 700 now. The price of the east wing of the middle courtyard is about 600 now. If we want to change the two rooms, it will cost at least 400 yuan."

Yan Jiefang already knew the price of the house and had the money ready. Yan Jiefang took out five hundred yuan, slapped it in front of Yan Bugui, and said, "Dad! Here's five hundred yuan. You decide!"

Yan Bugui smiled and counted the money while saying, "You are such an open-minded guy! Don't worry! I won't let you suffer any loss. The house has been replaced, and one of the houses is in your name." After that, Yan Bugui put the money in his pocket and said, "Your mother has almost finished cooking, come over and eat!"

After dinner, Yan Jiefang returned to his room. The third aunt asked, "Old Yan, you look so happy to be back. Did you make the deal?!"

Yan Bugui said, "Yan Jiefang gave me 500 yuan to handle the house matters." Then Yan Bugui looked around the house and said, "To be honest, our family has lived here for 20 years. We still have some feelings for it. We really don't want to move out of here."

The third aunt pursed her lips, and finally couldn't hold it in anymore and said, "Old Yan, don't I know you?! This time the profit must be huge, right?!"

Yan Bugui grinned and held up two fingers. The third aunt asked, "Twenty?!"

Yan Bugui shook his head and said, "Keep guessing!"

The third aunt hesitated for a moment and asked, "Isn't it two hundred?!"