Siheyuan: Traveling through three years to gain the power of a palm

After returning home, Shen Yue collected the bills, sorted them into categories, and then began to assign tasks.

The Jiang family didn't need to buy much, but isn't the New Year all about the atmosphere? If they just gathered together for a meal, the Jiang family could eat every day. It's like going back to your hometown for the New Year. Even if it's a ruin, you still have to go back and take a look, right?

The whole family dressed neatly and set out from the courtyard in a mighty procession, heading towards the supply and marketing cooperative and the shopping mall.

Although the situation is not good this year, this is Beijing after all. As the saying goes, gold will always shine, and Beijing is magnificent.

So there are still quite a few people in the mall.

"Big Boss, you two go buy two fish, then tie them up using the bowfishing technique that the second oldest taught you. Take them home and keep them there first, then kill them tomorrow."

"Daniu, you and Erniu go see if there's anyone selling chickens. They want old hens to make soup."

"Second brother, go see if there are any portraits. If there are, ask for one. If not, just look around and buy whatever you want. Be smart."

"Xiaohua, you and a few other kids come with me to buy candy, melon seeds, cigarettes, and alcohol. Don't fall behind. And be careful not to run into thieves. Losing something is not a big deal, as long as no one is hurt."

After giving the order, everyone took action immediately.

In front of the shop, Jiang Fan, relying on his strong physical fitness and quick reaction ability, quickly squeezed to the front and asked for two portraits.

mission completed.

The Jiang family was busily shopping for New Year's goods. The other families in the courtyard were doing the same thing, or rather, almost every family was doing the same thing. However, none of them bought as much as the Jiangs; most of them bought meat for dumplings and a couple of other non-vegetarian dishes for the New Year.

In the courtyard, besides the Jiang family, Xu Damao's family was the only one living a good life. After all, he had married the eldest daughter of the Lou family. And because of Jiang Fan, Lou Zhenhua had also taken a different view of Xu Damao. Two days ago, Xu Damao took Lou Xiao'e back to her parents' home and got some money from his father-in-law.

The projectionist's job is incredibly busy, but also incredibly leisurely. After completing their projection duties, they're basically done. Of course, if you have a good relationship with the villagers, you can apply to show movies.

Xu Damao had been going to the countryside to show films frequently over the past two weeks, and his mission had long been completed. Today, after receiving his salary, he went to Xiongfengtang to pick up his second course of medicine.

"Xu... He Yuzhu, right?"

"Yes, I'm He Yuzhu, and I'm here to get the second course of medicine." As soon as Xu Damao entered the door, he took off his headscarf and revealed his true face.

The guy from Xiongfengtang almost revealed Xu Damao's real name when he saw him. After Xu Damao left last time, he went to various factories to ask. Finally, he found out at the steel mill that there was indeed a chef named He Yuzhu in the factory cafeteria, but he didn't look like the one he said. Instead, he looked like the "Xu Damao" who had treated him before.

He then asked what Xu Damao looked like, and the answer he got was also a bit amusing. He had been with Dr. Song Jie for several years, and it was not uncommon for him to see patients using false names, but it was rare for them to use each other's names, especially since the two of them came to see the doctor one after the other.

"Take this and go upstairs." The waiter found a piece of paper which recorded Xu Damao's last visit to the doctor.

"Okay, thank you."

Xu Damao packed up his things and went upstairs.

"Doctor Song, I'm He Yuzhu, and this is my first time seeing a doctor."

Song Jie glanced at Xu Damao. He already knew Xu Damao's true identity. However, he would not expose it, as it would not benefit him.

After Xu Damao left last time, he went to see his mentor, Doctor Lu. According to Doctor Lu, this kind of medicinal wine does exist, but it's an ancient recipe. Even if it's not lost, there's definitely no complete one that's been passed down. Even if there was a complete one, it would be almost impossible to make.

Song Jie didn't believe him, so Doctor Lu had to tell him that the main ingredient he knew was a tiger in its prime, and it had to be alive. This put Song Jie in a difficult position. If it were some tiger medicinal herbs, he could probably use his connections to get them. But this one, alive, was really difficult to come by.

Chapter 158 Years ago

After treating Xu Damao, Song Jie asked, unwilling to give up: "Comrade He, don't you have any medicinal wine left? I can buy it at a high price."

He still wanted to try some. As a urologist, he knew too well how attractive this thing was to men, especially middle-aged men.

"It's true that it's gone. I met an old hunter in the mountains two years ago and begged him for some."

As someone who had personally experienced the effects of this wine, Xu Damao naturally knew the effects. If this had happened in the past, if the news had leaked out, someone would have definitely run to his house in the middle of the night and kidnapped him.

Doctor Song's face was filled with disappointment. Without samples, he couldn't analyze the raw materials and make targeted changes to improve them. He couldn't create a health-promoting wine that could be popularized by the public, earn high profits, or leave a name in history.

"Take the prescription and go to the first floor to get the medicine."

Xu Damao noticed that he was not in good spirits and was afraid that it was related to the alcohol he drank, so he took the prescription and went downstairs without saying a word.

After getting the medicine, Xu Damao rode his bicycle back to the courtyard as fast as he could. He wanted to talk to Jiang Fan about this.

……

When Jiang Fan returned home, Xu Damao came to find him.

"Let me tell you something. I've been taking medicine all this time."

"By the way, if you hadn't told me, I would have forgotten to ask. What's wrong with your body?" Jiang Fan raised his eyebrows and looked at Xu Damao with squinted eyes, with a smile on the corner of his mouth that was difficult to suppress.

"I just caught a cold."

"Wind chill?"

"My stomach hurts a little."

"Stomach hurt?"

"Kidney deficiency, kidney deficiency, are you satisfied?" Xu Damao had a droopy face. If he could beat Jiang Fan, he would definitely let him know what a fist as big as a sandbag was.

"Hey, that's right. Why are you pretending in front of me?" Jiang Fan felt much more relieved after hearing Xu Damao say this. Then he asked, "Hasn't your body been in good shape for a long time? Why are you suddenly weak again?"

"You're not married, you don't understand."

"Oh, right, right. I don't understand. Tell me, what's going on?"

Then Xu Damao told his story of going to the doctor. He had nothing to worry about. Since Xu had already admitted it, there was nothing else he could not say.

"You mean to say that Doctor Song is very interested in the medicinal wine I gave you."

"It's not just him, even Director Li comes to me every few days to ask about it."

Xu Damao put the cigarette butt under his feet and extinguished it. He listened to Jiang Fan and now followed Li Huaide's footsteps closely.

Jiang Fan remained silent, pondering. He had drunk that stuff before, but his physique was far superior to others, so he had no problem drinking it. Therefore, he hadn't experienced the same effects as Xu Damao and the others. Now, it seemed that the effects of this stuff far exceeded his imagination. When the system gave it to him, it said it was an ancient recipe. It seemed that this stuff really existed.

As a time traveler, he knew that in a dozen years or so, there would be earth-shaking changes, and he had been waiting for that day. He had already thought of a development plan: open a factory to accumulate capital, and then invest.

It is not a problem for him to live to be a hundred years old. He will definitely be able to meet those people and join them early, and then just wait to share the money.

Now it seems that this medicinal wine is also a way. He knows that in a few decades, there will be a kind of wine on supermarket shelves.

"Alright, don't worry about it. If anyone asks you about it, just give the same excuse as before. If it's gone, it's gone. How can you make it appear out of thin air? Pay attention next time and keep your story to yourself. Try not to tell anyone about this."

After hearing what Jiang Fan said, Xu Damao felt relieved. "Okay, I get it. I'm just afraid of getting into trouble."

……

The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The crackling sound of artillery fire rose and fell in the old city, one place was followed by another, and the whole city was filled with the smell of gunpowder.

The streets were full of children, holding a stick of incense in their hands, looking for unlit firecrackers from the pile of used firecrackers. When they found one, they would show off to their friends, and then, surrounded by the crowd, they would light the firecrackers, turn around and run. Often, they would hear a bang before they had taken two steps.

When the firecrackers sounded, everyone smiled with their mouths open and continued to look for the next firecracker.

At the Jiang family's quadrangle courtyard, Jiang Fan, brush in hand, wrote across the red paper with the grace of a master. With the final stroke, a freshly-written couplet emerged. "Alright, your couplet is finished too. Take it back and post it."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. It's you, my brother, who's the one who's the most famous. Ezi, look at how well you write. Diligence and thrift are virtues, and labor is the most glorious. It's hundreds of times better than what Yan Laoxi writes."

Xu Damao held a couplet, nodding his head as he admired it. Lou Xiao'e nodded beside him. Although she didn't know much about calligraphy, her father did and practiced calligraphy every day. But Jiang Fan's calligraphy was indeed better than Lou Zhenhua's.

"If Yan Laoxi hears what you said, be careful that he won't open the door for you in the future." Jiang Fan said jokingly.

"If you don't want to open it, then don't open it. Don't you still have you? Why should I worry about Yan Laoxi? Humph, our two families didn't ask him to write. Who knows how distressed he will be now."

Xu Damao said disdainfully, saying he had no good feelings towards Yan Bugui, or rather, towards the three former stewards of the courtyard. What kind of a thing? Could they possibly be stewards? Even his father hadn't gotten one yet.

"I'm not going to chat with you any more. I have to hurry back to put up the couplets. If I'm any later, my dad will get angry with me."

Xu Damao put away the couplet, Lou Xiaoe took the word "Fu" and happily went home to post the couplets.

In the middle courtyard, Sha Zhu, Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu and Yang Ergou posted couplets in each house, and it looked like a happy scene.

Yi Zhonghai had difficulty with his arms, so he just stood there directing the work while Yang Ergou applied the paste and Sha Zhu and Jia Dongxu pasted the couplets.

After putting up the couplets, Yi Zhonghai sent Yang Ergou away, turned to look at Sha Zhu, and said, "Zhu Zi, are you really not going to celebrate the New Year with us this year?"

Yesterday, Yi Zhonghai approached Sha Zhu to discuss spending the New Year together. Sha Zhu wanted to agree, but Yang Shufen had already learned about the past years' situations from He Yushui, so she spoke first, "Uncle Yi, we won't be together this year. We just got married, so it's really..."

Yang Shufen didn't finish her words, but her refusal was obvious. Yi Zhonghai glanced at her, his eyes still fixed on Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu was still the one who made the decision in the He family. As long as Sha Zhu agreed, no matter how much Yang Shufen said, it would be useless.

However, to Yi Zhonghai's disappointment, Sha Zhu did not stand on his side in the end.

"Uncle, forget it this year. I can help you cook, but during the New Year... hehe."

Feeling the pain in his waist, Sha Zhu still chose his wife. He Yushui also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking: This year I can have a good New Year, this sister-in-law is not bad.

Yi Zhonghai did not force it and went home after hearing Sha Zhu's refusal.

Chapter 159: Each Family Celebrates the New Year

Today, Yi Zhonghai asked Sha Zhu again if he wanted to celebrate the New Year with them. He also wanted to see whether this was Sha Zhu's own idea or he was influenced by his partner.

"Uncle, this year really can't be right. I'm newly married and have a family, so I have to spend the New Year at home. I'll spend it with you guys next year."

Sha Zhu's words made Yi Zhonghai's heart tremble. He felt as if he was about to lose Sha Zhu, his backup for retirement.

"Master, what Sha Zhu said is right. He just got married and the couple is in a good relationship. Wouldn't it be nice for our two families to celebrate the New Year together?" Jia Dongxu clapped his hands and supported Yi Zhonghai.

He also knew Yi Zhonghai's thoughts clearly, making preparations for both scenarios just in case. However, he did not blame Yi Zhonghai, because he did not suffer any loss, but instead gained a lot of benefits.

"But Silly Zhu, you have to come and cook for us. Otherwise, we can't stand the smell of your house."

"Of course, Brother Dongxu, don't worry, leave the cooking to me." Sha Zhu patted his chest and promised. Although he couldn't say anything else, he was good at cooking.

"Okay, then it depends on your performance at noon."

"Don't worry, leave it to me."

After the agreement, Jia Dongxu went back with Yi Zhonghai. He didn't feel much about not being able to celebrate the New Year with Sha Zhu. As long as Sha Zhu agreed to cook, it was fine. This was also the only advantage of Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu looked at the couplet posted on the door and was filled with joy. "This year, our home finally feels like a home. It would be even better if we had a son next year."

clang clang clang!

The sound of kitchen knives hitting the chopping board continued to be heard, and every household began the essential program for the Chinese New Year - making dumplings!

"Xiaoyu, wash your hands and start making dumplings. Lao Er, go check if Pengpeng has diarrhea again and give him a new dough."

Jiang Fan stood up helplessly, walked to Pengpeng, and skillfully fiddled with and cleaned him.

"Little thing, let me tell you, if you don't get close to your uncle like me in the future, you'll be in big trouble, okay?"

Jiang Fan flicked his fingers, and Peng Peng cried out, "Ah, it feels so good."

This is how Jiang Fan entertains children. If he is happy, the children are happy. If he is unhappy, the children have no chance of smiling.

The sun sets, and the last day of 59 years comes to an end.

Each family in the courtyard was eating at home, and even Liu Guangqi, who had been away from home for a long time, returned home.

"Boss, you're finally back. You work away from home and don't come back many times a year. It's not like you're far away, so come home more often."

Aunt Meng brought Liu Guangqi a cup of hot tea with some resentment.

"Mom, it's not that I don't want to come back. Our leader values ​​me and I have a lot of things to do. I'm very busy." Liu Guangqi knew his father's character very well. He must be resentful of him for not going home for a long time, but as long as he said this, he would definitely be happy.

As expected, after hearing this, Liu Haizhong's distressed face immediately brightened up, and he looked at his eldest son with admiration in his eyes, "Be busy, big brother. Your leader thinks so highly of you, are you going to be promoted to a leader?"

"It's possible. Although they didn't say it explicitly, I can sense that the leader has this intention."

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu hid aside and looked at each other. They both read the same meaning in each other's eyes - go to hell!

"Great! Our Liu family is finally going to have a second leader," Liu Haizhong said happily, as if he had already imagined the scene where Liu Guangqi became the leader and he would be restored to his position as the eldest uncle and be given important positions in the factory. So he told his wife and son to quickly serve the dishes to the table. He wanted to have a good drink with his eldest son to celebrate.

Liu Guangqi said nothing, enjoying it all with a clear conscience. He had long seen through this family. There was no father-son relationship. Whoever had money and power could be the boss, and it was a boss without any reason.

……

At the He family, He Yushui looked at the food and dumplings on the table, and there were no disgusting people around her, and her eyes suddenly turned red.

This was the first time she had such a good New Year since He Daqing left. In the past few years, the family had little savings, and they couldn't afford to eat anything good during the New Year. In the past two years, things had gotten better, and Yi Zhonghai had come out again, asking her to celebrate the New Year with them. At the New Year's Eve dinner, she couldn't compete with that shameless Jia Zhangshi. They hadn't even eaten much of anything their family had prepared, and their family didn't even get to enjoy the leftovers.

Only with the new sister-in-law coming into the family this year can it be considered a good year. "Brother, sister-in-law, will we be like this in the future?" He Yushui said vaguely with a meatball in his mouth.

"Yes, Yushui, let's celebrate the New Year like this from now on." Yang Shufen understood Yushui's meaning and felt quite sympathetic towards her sister-in-law. In the past month since she got married, she had basically understood the situation of this courtyard.

Sha Zhu's relationship with the Xu family in the backyard is at odds, and her marriage into the family has also offended Liu Haizhong's family. Yi Zhonghai, from the middle courtyard, appears kind and treats Sha Zhu well, but he harbors his own agenda. Within this small courtyard lies a hidden dragon and crouching tiger.

"Yes, we'll all do this from now on." Sha Zhu acted as if he hadn't noticed anything unusual and echoed Yang Shufen's words, "Er Gou, next year I'll try to find a way to get you a job at the steel mill cafeteria. The most important thing in learning cooking is the basics. You can't be a chef if you can't use a knife."