Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

When I went outside, everything was covered in white; the snow had stopped.

He went to the side room, got a shovel, and started shoveling snow in the yard.

Halfway through the excavation, Qin Huairu emerged.

"Master, I'll do it."

Qin Huairu thought he was clearing snow from the courtyard and chased him out as soon as he saw him.

As an apprentice, how can you expect to watch your master work?

Even if you're not at the factory, that won't do.

"No need, I'm just planning to build a snowman for the kids, I don't need you to."

Qin Huairu deftly piled the snow into a heap, but she felt a bit awkward.

She definitely can't leave while her master is working here.

But there's nothing I can do.

Thinking again about the snowman he mentioned, Qin Huai suddenly said, "I'll make the snowman's nose, eyes, and hands."

This time, Yang Jianguo didn't say anything more and just nodded in agreement.

They piled the snow in the yard, on their own vacant lot.

Yang Jianguo put down his shovel and started working.

First make the snowman, then make its head.

While curling up, he would occasionally put his hands to his mouth and breathe on them.

It's really not easy for dads to make their kids happy.

It's so cold!

After curling up, Yang Jianguo breathed on his hands to warm them up.

After that, I picked up a shovel and shoveled it around to make it firm.

After finishing that, we can make smaller orders; this time it will be much faster.

Once the small ball is placed on top of the large ball, the snowman is complete.

Holding the shovel, I patted it firmly, little by little, in circles, until it was round and solid.

Yang Jianguo then stopped and looked to the side.

Qin Huairu arrived with the split tree branches and transparent marbles specially made for the snowman's eyes.

Banggeng was standing at the doorway, huddled inside the curtain, peering at her mother.

His eyes were filled with grievance; those marbles were his precious possessions.

However, Banggeng was also excited when he saw the snowman in the yard.

This snowman is really...beautiful.

Yang Jianguo's skills are unparalleled. He managed to round out the snowballs that were originally not perfectly round by using his iron shovel.

Put on the eyes and nose.

After inserting two harpoon-like branches as arms and hands, the snowman was finished.

Step back a few paces and admire the snowman you've built.

Yang Jianguo nodded happily, "That's good."

"Eeya, yaya..." The two little ones woke up.

Not seeing her father, who always teases her, Zhiyi stretched out her arms on the kang (a heated brick bed) and complained.

"Everyone keep an eye on it, don't break it," Yang Jianguo said before going back inside to get the child.

Yingzi, who was cooking in front of the stove, saw him hurriedly dressing the two children and said with a smile, "Why are you acting like a child too?"

"That's great, my child makes things so much easier for you."

Yingzi urged, "I don't think it's any easier."

When they get rowdy, they're much harder to handle than the two younger ones.

Yang Jianguo grinned, making Yingzi blush, and she turned away, ignoring him.

After putting on the padded jacket, put on the little tiger-head hat.

Put it down and cover your ears.

Yang Jianguo hugged the two little ones and called out, "Let's go, let's go see the snowman."

When we got to the yard, we saw that all the children had come out.

They stood around the snowman, gazing at it with delight, and Banggeng brought his younger sister along too.

Seeing him come out, she quickly pulled Xiao Dang behind her.

The kid was afraid of him, and Yang Jianguo didn't say a word.

Let him be afraid, whether he's an adult or a child.

You have to have a few things to fear before you understand what reverence is.

"Uncle Yang," Xiao Dang called out happily.

She wanted to go up and see her younger brother and sister, but her brother held her back, so she could only stand there with a pout.

"Does it look good?"

"Yes, it's beautiful." Xiao Dang nodded and smiled.

Standing in front of the snowman, Yang Jianguo boasted to his son and daughter, "Dad built this this morning, isn't it impressive?"

From across the street, hearing the noise, Sha Zhu stuck his head out and shouted, "Jianguo, are you some kind of old hag?"

Yang Jianguo tilted his head back and said, "What, you're not even letting me speak for myself now?"

Sha Zhu laughed and nodded, saying, "You're really something."

"Where's your Dazhuang? Why didn't you bring him out?"

Dazhuang is the nickname of that kid, Shazhu, which he personally gave him.

If someone claims a child is their own, they're sure the child will grow tall and strong, as sturdy as a calf.

We haven't chosen a formal name yet; we'll decide after he turns 100.

In those days, there are some folk customs that suggest that newborn children should not be given formal names.

One explanation is that they are nameless, born and raised naturally, and live a good life.

Secondly, the probability of it dying prematurely is too high, so it's better to wait.

As for nicknames, they should either have a good meaning or be a humble name.

They lined up in turn: Dog Egg, Black Egg, Big Dog, Second Dog, Donkey Egg, Big Baby, Second Baby.

However, this is usually a common practice in rural areas, as it's considered auspicious.

A humble name, but a good life.

There are plenty of stray dogs in the village. They can survive even without anyone taking care of them, and they all live quite well.

Therefore, naming a child after a dog is really popular.

It's not uncommon for a village to have several "dog eggs" (a type of dog in Chinese folklore).

That's how it is at Qinhuai Rujia – the common ingredients, like stalks of grass, small pots, and locust flowers, are all everyday fare – easy to find.

Only city dwellers are particular and care about appearances.

The medical and living conditions are alright, otherwise I would have followed suit.

What could be more important than living?

Just then, Ran Qiuye came out carrying a child with chubby cheeks, like a little pumpkin.

The hat she was wearing looked a size bigger than Zhiyuan's and Zhiyi's.

"Zhuangzhuang, wave goodbye to your Uncle Jianguo." Ran Qiuye held up her son's arm and shook it.

Those little arms, even wrapped in a padded jacket, you could tell they were quite strong.

"Qiuye, you didn't choose the wrong name for your son, Zhuzi," Yang Jianguo said with a smile.

Ran Qiuye was also happy; it was a good thing that her child was strong and healthy.

How could anyone not be happy?

"Jianguo, I haven't thanked you for your work yet. When can we have Zhuzi cook a meal and we can get together at home?"

Ran Qiuye walked up to her and started talking about the job transfer.

A little over a month after the start of the school year, the school approved her transfer application and sent her to Hongxing No. 2 Primary School.

Now, Ran Qiuye not only earns a higher salary, but her commute to work is also shorter.

It only takes about ten minutes by bike to get there.

To be honest, Sha Zhu really loves his wife. He'd rather work harder himself than not buy Ran Qiuye a bicycle.

Nowadays, they say they have two bicycles at home.

But none of them belonged to him, so he had to walk.

"It's only the beginning of winter, everyone's busy. I'll talk to Zhuzi when things calm down."

"Alright, you men...they can discuss it themselves."

After exchanging a few words, they went back to their rooms to eat, as they all had to go to work!

While they were eating at the table, Yingzi suddenly asked, "I heard that the directors of your factory want you to take on another apprentice?"

Yang Jianguo was taken aback, thinking to himself, 'This silly Zhu really talks fast.'

It goes without saying that it was Sha Zhu who told his wife.

When Ran Qiuye was with Yingzi, the news reached her ears again.

"Yes, I returned it," Yang Jianguo readily admitted.

It's strange, but Director Lou came directly to the workshop and specifically asked to see him by name.

After asking, he was told to take Lou Xiao'e as his apprentice.

...Isn't this ridiculous?

Yang Jianguo refused immediately after hearing the answer.

You gave up being a perfectly good rich girl and came here to suffer.

Can you endure this suffering?

Let alone being my apprentice, she's so spoiled.

Even if you stay in the factory as an apprentice, you might not be able to stay.

Don't underestimate Qin Huairu; she wouldn't be able to make a living unless she was forced into it.

She didn't have to grit her teeth and force herself to persevere.

They were forced into it by life; there was no other way.

You only see the glamour of people, but you don't even glance at the hardships they endure behind the scenes.

You, Lou Xiao'e, are not suffering now.

She was still a pampered young lady, never lifting a finger to do housework.

Come to the steel rolling mill to swing a sledgehammer, carry iron, and load materials?

Are you really kidding me?!

Chapter 212 Fish and Bear's Paw, Old Man Yan's Stingy Abacus (Full Subscription)

Although it was Director Lou who came to find us personally.