Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Outside the door, Qin Huairu, carrying a basket of dumplings, called out, "Master, mistress, it's me, Huairu, bringing you dumplings."

Yingzi shoveled the last few dumplings into the pot and opened the door with a smile: "Huai Ru, Happy New Year."

"Master's wife, Happy New Year! These are dumplings I made. Please have some with your master and the children. They're pork and scallion dumplings."

Seeing the white dumplings on the steamer, Yingzi exclaimed with delight, "Great! I was just saying we didn't have enough to eat!"

"Huai Ru, wait here." Holding the comb, Yingzi turned and went back into the house.

Yang Jianguo came out and, seeing him, Qin Huairu hurriedly greeted him, "Master, Happy New Year."

"Yes, Happy New Year! Is everything ready at home?"

Qin Huairu nodded in agreement, "Alright, I made dumplings and stewed meat."

With money in hand, people are standing taller than in previous years.

Our year has been just as good as anyone else's!

Yang Jianguo nodded in response.

Yingzi came out of the house again, holding an oil paper package in her hand, and said, "Here, take this back and let the children try it."

Peeling back the oil paper, Qin Huairu saw a fist-sized piece of braised beef inside.

Seeing her hesitant expression, Yang Jianguo said, "Go ahead, take it back for the child to try."

Qin Huai rewrapped the beef and said gratefully, "Thank you, Master and Mistress. I'll head back now."

"Go on, go on," Yingzi said with a smile and a wave. "Next year will be even better."

"Hey, next year will be even better." Yingzi closed the door after watching the person go up the steps.

He glanced at the dumplings on the stove and said, "You'd better eat more today, there are too many dumplings again."

Yang Jianguo smiled and said, "It's alright, if we can't finish it, we can just fry it in oil tomorrow and it'll be even more fragrant!"

"Okay, clear the table, dinner's ready." Yingzi quickly went to the stove to serve rice and dumplings.

The backyard, especially the deaf old lady's house, was the liveliest place in the whole neighborhood.

The Sha Zhu family, the Yi Zhonghai family, and a child—everyone's laughter never stopped once they arrived.

This large family is somewhat like four generations living under one roof.

Yi Zhonghai regrets it!

Seeing the old lady playing and frolicking with the children, enjoying family time, Aunt Yi was filled with remorse.

If he hadn't done those things before, Dazhuang would definitely be in his arms right now.

Sha Zhu greeted him with a smile and chatted with him.

His wife, Teacher Ran, must also call him "Grandpa" affectionately, just like she would her husband.

Now, the family is sitting at one end of the kang (a heated brick bed), filled with laughter and joy.

Yi Zhonghai sat alone across the table, feeling desolate, lonely, and miserable.

I regret what I did back then; this is karma!

Yi Zhonghai looked somber, head bowed as he wrapped dumplings.

No matter what, at least he's still sitting inside right now, and we take him with us everywhere we go.

They greeted him politely as "Grandpa," and in the end, they didn't leave him standing outside.

Yi Zhonghai felt that this was good enough.

Granny Jia's journey of learning and reform involved taking a winding, hairpin-like path.

Now they have become pioneers of the Revolutionary Committee, enthusiastic about all kinds of propaganda and education activities.

Although it's a bit old, old ginger is spicy.

Just like the last two times, when I encountered that shrewish old woman who would bang her head against the steps and die at the slightest provocation.

The neighborhood committee and the revolutionary committee were completely helpless against her.

They're not so arrogant as to try to force someone to their death with reason. They'll just label you and then try to destroy you.

When doing things, we must be mindful of boundaries, rely on evidence, and adhere to principles.

It was clear that the other party was about to get away with it by resorting to shamelessness.

Granny Jia stepped forward.

They'll come up here and kowtow to the ground in front of people's doors, saying she drove a public official to his death, and then they'll arrest her whole family.

Walk someone else's path, leaving her with nowhere to go.

Granny Jia subdued the man on the spot, which earned her high regard from the Revolutionary Committee and the Street Office for the first time.

Everyone has their own area of ​​expertise; when you encounter someone shameless, you have to send out someone even more shameless.

Now, the neighborhood committee has finally found her strengths.

Anyone who throws a tantrum, acts unreasonably, or tries to evade responsibility and punishment in this way...

Close the gate and release Jia Zhangshi...

Yi Zhonghai, on the other hand, took a different path, keeping a low profile.

Be low-key in your work and in your personal life; whatever you do, keep a low profile.

You must be clear about what you're doing and never have any ulterior motives.

Otherwise, retribution will come sooner or later.

With his head covered in bandages, Xu Damao returned to his rural commune.

As soon as he entered the village, he was spotted and people shouted, "Hey, Da Mao's back! What's going on?"

"Fighting with someone? Don't even mention it. The other person was in a much worse situation than me," Xu Damao said, pulling his car to the side to listen.

He looked radiant, but inside he felt like he'd swallowed a fly.

This is incredibly frustrating.

He got his head cracked open by this kid, and it was right during the Lunar New Year.

Xu Damao was so resentful that he wished he could just burn down Lao Yan's house!

That damned Yan Jiecheng, he really went for the kill.

Just you wait. If I ever make things easy for you, I'll write my name, Xu Damao, backwards.

When Xu's mother saw her son's miserable state, her heart ached and her forehead twitched: "Who did this? How could they be so cruel?"

"Da Mao, did you call the police? Arrest him. This kind of person must be dealt with severely."

Hearing his mother's words, Xu Damao pouted and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this. That person is much worse off than me."

"I was just careless and got hit. That kid is still in the hospital!"

Hearing her son say that, Xu's mother immediately felt better.

We didn't lose out, okay!

But then I thought, if he beat someone into the hospital, wouldn't Da Mao have someone arrest him?

"No, don't worry about it. Your son is no pushover either."

He casually brushed it off, then suddenly brought up someone: "Mom, do you know Old Yu from the supply and marketing cooperative?"

As Xu's mother rolled out dumpling wrappers, she smiled and said, "How could I not know him? Your father and he were quite close years ago."

Mr. Xu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong? You've fallen out with the Yu family like this. Don't you only have two daughters?"

Xu's mother was taken aback, and seeing her son stumble, she said, "Da Mao, you couldn't have been beaten by a woman, could you?"

This grown man was about to have his head cracked open by a woman.

If word gets out, I'll lose all face.

They can't even straighten their backs, let alone listen to those rumors.

What else could it be but the petty, messy things between men and women that have led to this fight with a woman?

Has her son made a mistake with a woman?

"What are you thinking? I want you to help me find a match. I've taken a liking to Old Yu's daughter."

Xu Damao's return this time wasn't just for the New Year.

He's up to no good!

First, they'll steal Yan Jiecheng's girlfriend away. Then, once the factory starts operations, they'll give him a public reprimand and a major demerit.

You, Yan Jiecheng, think you can make a living in the steel rolling mill?

You should just take a break!

As long as I, Xu Damao, am around, you have no chance to stand out in this steel rolling mill.

Honey, I've ruined all your jobs.

You dare to crack my skull open? You've got a death wish!

At this moment, Yan Jiecheng was unaware of Xu Damao's schemes.

Right now, having received his salary, he's happily sitting in his room counting his money.

Fifty-three yuan and twenty cents, only fifty-three yuan in total.

Liangmao Yan Jiecheng didn't argue with his parents, and that was fine.

With that money, Yu Lina could fulfill all his requests.

What else is there to say this time?

After the New Year, he will go to Yu Li's house to propose marriage.

As long as Yu Li and her parents agree.

Let's wait for the Civil Affairs Bureau to open, get our marriage certificates immediately, and then hold the banquet and distribute the gifts as needed.

Yan Jiefang sat to one side and saw the stack of bills in his older brother's hand, feeling a pang of envy.

Thinking about the embarrassing situation his family had caused before, Yan Jiefang thought to himself, 'Should I ask for my money back too?'

Let's strike while the iron is hot; we just had a little commotion.

If he brings this up now, his parents will definitely be afraid that he will cause trouble again.

Whether it's one or two, it's still a gift.

Once the door is opened, it won't be too difficult to do this.

"Mom, do you think I should give you that money too? I should probably start looking for a boyfriend."

Yan Jiefang said something to the woman in the outer room, and the woman who was rolling out dumpling wrappers on the table slammed the rolling pin down on the table.

The atmosphere inside the room felt even more oppressive!

Yan Bugui, who was sitting at the table making dumplings, trembled as he exclaimed, "Give it to me, give it to me, take it all if you want."

"From now on, it'll be the same for you, five yuan a month. Once you get paid, you can hand it over to your mom yourself. Is that alright?"

Yan Jiefang readily agreed, saying, "No problem, five yuan a month, we won't ask for more."

After agreeing on the terms, Yan Jiefang received the money from Aunt Yi.

Holding four ten-yuan bills and seven yuan and fifty cents in change, he counted them over and over again.

Yan Jiekuang and Yan Jiedi, who were standing nearby, stared wide-eyed, unable to contain their envy.

If I could be like them, graduating and getting a job, earning my own money...

How comfortable would that be? You could eat whatever you want, buy whatever you want, and have it done for you just like that.

Just thinking about it makes me incredibly happy.

Unfortunately, all the two of them could do now was watch, hoping that the day would pass by sooner.

Grow up quickly, earn money and spend it on yourself.

Then move out of the house cleanly and live your own life.