Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

After finishing work, Yan Jiecheng ran home.

Before I even stepped inside the door, she was already calling out, "Mom, Mom, Mom..."

"What's wrong? Why are you calling for your soul?"

The older woman glared at Yan Jiecheng as he entered the room and said irritably, "Can't you speak more slowly?"

Yan Jiecheng, panting, waved his hand and said, "This matter can't be delayed..."

Seeing how anxious he was, Aunt Yi figured it must be something serious.

I poured him a glass of water, helped him sit down, and asked, "Tell me slowly, what happened?"

"The workshop is hiring."

"Which workshop is hiring? Please specify."

"Yang Jianguo, his workshop is hiring apprentices."

Arriving home on time, Aunt Liu washed up, changed into her work clothes, and began preparing dinner.

As I was carrying vegetables in a basin to wash them, I saw an older woman leading Yan Jiecheng out in a hurry.

"What's going on?" Aunt Liu looked around curiously, wondering what serious thing had happened.

Just then, Uncle Er, Liu Haizhong, returned.

"Uncle Er, you're done with work," Aunt Liu greeted him politely.

Liu Haizhong smiled and said, "Yeah, I'm off work."

After finishing, he slowly walked into the yard. Seeing his appearance, Aunt Liu shook her head.

This old man's health is completely failing.

Since he was so angry last time, Liu Haizhong hasn't recovered.

Now, even walking is difficult.

You have to take it slow at all times, for fear that if you rush, it will all be too late.

Seeing his trembling figure, Aunt Liu felt a pang of sadness.

Back then, I made one more friend.

It collapsed so suddenly, it's truly unexpected.

The main problem is that he has a mental illness.

Liu Guangrong, the eldest son, knew his father had fainted, but he didn't even mention bringing his wife back to see him.

I just called to ask a couple of questions, and once I found out the person was alright, that was it.

That's what turned Uncle Er into this.

All hope is gone, and my energy and spirit have been severely depleted.

It will take several years to recover.

"Sigh," Aunt Liu sighed, thinking to herself, "Every family has its own troubles!"

Yang Jianguo returned a little late; Yingzi came back right after he entered the door.

"Another mission today?" Yingzi glanced at the time, took off her watch, and put it on the table.

The watch that I refused to accept at the time.

In the end, Yang Jianguo acted first and asked for permission later, buying it for her as a birthday gift.

It cost 200 yuan, and Yingzi was heartbroken after listening to it.

They urged me to return it, but Yang Jianguo persuaded me to keep it.

I can leave it, but I don't plan to take it with me.

One common saying is, "Keep it for the child; it'll be a keepsake."

Yang Jianguo had to persuade her again with great earnestness before she finally put the watch on.

Now, after a few months, I've gotten used to it.

"There's no task involved; it's a matter for the workshop." After briefly explaining the recruitment situation to her, Yingzi nodded.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "So, do you think Yan Jiecheng will come to you for help with this?"

Yang Jianguo smiled and said, "Yes, definitely."

Yingzi scooped some flour into a bowl and asked curiously, "So what are you planning to say?"

“If it doesn’t meet the standards, it doesn’t meet the standards. There’s no room for leniency.”

"I let him go, but do you think it's fair that the hundreds of apprentices in the factory will just let it go?"

Yingzi nodded vigorously and said, "That's the right way to think. I was worried you'd be too embarrassed to say it."

Yang Jianguo smiled but didn't say anything.

Yingzi still doesn't understand his thoughts enough.

After leaving...the door, that really won't work with him.

As they were talking, an older woman called out from outside: "Jianguo, are you home?"

"Yes," Yingzi replied.

Aunt Yi, beaming, lifted the curtain and came in.

Yan Jiecheng followed behind, carrying some things in his hands. He piled the things on the table as soon as he entered the room.

"Jianguo, you haven't eaten yet?" Seeing Yingzi still kneading dough, Aunt Yi pulled up a small stool and sat down.

Yan Jiecheng stood to the side, his head bowed and eyes downcast.

"Hmm, you're back late. Is something wrong, Aunt Yi?" Yang Jianguo asked with a smile.

"What?"

Aunt Yi smiled sheepishly and said, "Jianguo, I heard from Jiecheng that your workshop is hiring?"

Yang Jianguo readily nodded, "Yes, we need to hire people."

The auntie smiled broadly and clapped her hands happily, saying, "Great news, great news!"

"Um, do you have any hiring standards?"

Hearing her beat around the bush, Yang Jianguo smiled and said, "Auntie Yi, let's just be direct. You want Jie Cheng to work in the workshop."

Seeing that he had made it so clear, Auntie Yi chuckled and said, "Jianguo, that's what I meant."

"Please don't take offense, Jiecheng is a good child."

"He's a good person, hardworking, and a very skilled worker. Although he's only been in the factory for three months, he's no worse than the others."

Hearing her say that, Yang Jianguo looked up at Yan Jiecheng and asked, "Jiecheng, do you think so too?"

Yan Jie stood ramrod straight with his hands behind his back.

When Yan Jiecheng noticed Yang Jianguo looking at him, he was extremely nervous.

"Well, cough cough..." Yan Jiecheng couldn't get the words out.

Let alone those who have been in the factory for three months, there are several people in the same batch who are more outstanding than him.

This is only because I have a mentor who takes care of me; I receive only ordinary treatment.

With such a significant gap, Yan Jiecheng truly cannot say, "I am better than everyone else."

Seeing his spineless appearance, the old lady tugged at his trouser leg and urged, "Kid, say something!"

Yan Jiecheng muttered to himself, and finally said, "Brother Jianguo, I want an opportunity."

Yang Jianguo nodded and replied, "Opportunities are earned, not given away or waited for."

“I introduced you to the factory, and I know all about it once I ask around.”

"So, the masters will definitely give you some extra care, am I right?"

Yan Jiecheng nodded, which was fairly honest.

He has no choice but to behave himself, he's scared!

Although Yang Jianguo is not old, and they are said to be of the same generation, who can treat him as an equal?

Yan Jiecheng couldn't do it; he felt that facing Yang Jianguo was more stressful than admitting his mistakes to his own father.

"Then you should know that compared to others, your starting point is already high enough."

"What will the other people think if I put you in the workshop?"

Yang Jianguo bluntly stated, "First of all, you'll be ostracized by the other apprentices, and the masters will also have opinions about you."

"The usual practice in the special workshop is that the capable rise and the incapable fall. You know in your heart whether you are capable or not."

Aunt Yi understood; he disagreed.

"Then Widow Qin went in, didn't she?" an older woman muttered.

She was speaking softly, but she was actually saying it to him.

"When Qin Huairu was transferred to the workshop, it was because I wanted to take on apprentices. Who I chose was my business, and no one could find fault with it."

"This time, we're recruiting for the workshop and setting standardized procedures. Do you think I can make an exception for this?"

After hearing what Yang Jianguo said, Aunt Yi knew that it was hopeless.

He was feeling very uncomfortable; he couldn't sit still, and he couldn't walk away.

Yang Jianguo took the initiative to speak, saying, "Jiecheng, take the things and go back with your mother!"

Yan Jiecheng was at a loss, not knowing what to do.

The old lady glared at him with exasperation, then stood up and said, "Alright, then we'll head back now."

"Jiecheng, why aren't you listening to your brother Jianguo? Stop bringing things up!"

Urged on by his mother, Yan Jiecheng awkwardly picked up his things and said, "I'm leaving now, Brother Jianguo, Sister Yingzi."

"Hey, slow down," Yingzi said, then watched the mother and son leave from the doorway.

Previously, he remained completely invisible, pretending that he didn't exist.

After the two people left, I closed the door.

Then he smiled at Yang Jianguo, as if to say, "Well done."

As for the things they brought, they were allowed to take them away.

Neither Yang Jianguo nor Yingzi cared; they thought it was quite normal.

If you can't get things done for people, what's the point of taking things from them?

Besides, do we really need this?

After dinner, Yang Jianguo went to the cellar and retrieved two oranges.

So fresh...tender...tender, I brought it back, cut it in half, and made juice for my wife.

The steel manual juicer has a groove with raised sections that fit perfectly on top.

Place the cut orange inside, press it down on top, and squeeze inwards with both hands.

The orange pulp was crushed into pulp, and the orange juice flowed down the front of the winnowing basket... into the cup.

Two oranges, filled more than half a cup with orange juice.

Yingzi saw this and wanted to say something but held back. She had said this several times already, that there was no need to waste food like this, and that eating it every few days would be enough.

But he didn't listen to himself at all.

However, to be honest...

Drinking pure orange juice is more comfortable than eating oranges.

After drinking a glass of slightly chilled orange juice, I felt completely refreshed, inside and out.

This was also the only slightly cool thing that Yingzi could touch during her pregnancy.

Apart from the orange juice, she had forgotten what it felt like to be cold.