Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

"By the way, I'm planning to invite Aunt Yi and her husband along for the New Year. Shall we ask the other two families as well?"

The health of the three brothers, Lao Yi, is getting worse and worse.

Last time, when my bangs were uncomfortable, it was Shazhu who called a car to take me to the hospital.

My son isn't here, and my daughter isn't here either.

However, it's actually less of a hassle if it's not there.

Old Yan, Yan Bugui.

Her family has both a son and a daughter, making things even more chaotic than Liu Haizhong's family.

Yan Jiedi got married without telling her parents.

In her own words, "My father taught us from a young age that people should live for themselves."

"Now that I'm older, I definitely need to take care of my own life."

"So if I don't get married, won't I be causing them both trouble?"

Whether it caused trouble or not is unknown, but Lao Yan was definitely quite angry.

But no matter how angry or regretful he was, the deed was already done.

"Okay, you can arrange it as you see fit, just make sure it doesn't upset everyone."

Yang Jianguo doesn't dislike anyone, but he's afraid that someone will try to act arrogantly and make a fuss.

I wanted to have a good New Year, but they had to ruin it for me.

Yingzi hesitated, thinking, 'Should we just give up?'

She was afraid of Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui's families. You could offer them a peaceful life, but they wouldn't take it and would only cause trouble.

If you get the chance, you have to make everyone unhappy.

Forget it, let's not call it.

Anyway, we haven't had much contact over the years.

Before they knew it, it was New Year's Eve. Yang Jianguo arrived home at midday with a box full of firecrackers in the back seat.

Two rolls of music, a thousand shots, and some fireworks.

"Yingzi, I've bought the cannons." Yang Jianguo carried the box back into the house and saw her sitting in front of the phone.

"Is it the child calling?" Yang Jianguo's expression lit up.

"Ah, your dad's back. Tell him, okay." Yingzi handed him the phone and said, "Your precious daughter."

"Hey, Zhiyi, Kuaile, Kuaile... are you doing well over there?"

"Oh, really? Chinatown has a great atmosphere. That's good. Remember to eat dumplings."

"I know your mom has already nagged me, but I haven't said anything yet!"

"Okay, your mother and I are both fine..."

After talking for a long time, when it was his son's turn, Yang Jianguo was speechless again: "Take good care of yourself and your sister, and come back to visit when you're not busy."

"I have to study and work at the same time, so I really can't find the time." Zhiyuan also wants to go home, but he can't find the time to go with both.

When they're busy, the two of them have to cut down their sleep to just four or five hours.

Not to mention the two months it would take to travel across the ocean to get home.

"Studying and working are more important. Let's talk about it after graduation!"

Yang Jianguo glanced at Yingzi, who was rolling her eyes to the side, and said with a forced smile, "Your mother is telling you."

"You just want me to say it. If you miss your son, just say so!" Once she took the phone, Yingzi started rambling on and on.

“Your dad and I are both fine. Mom just misses you... Your dad misses you too. That's just how men are.”

"Okay, once we graduate and come back, our whole family can sit together and celebrate the New Year."

After hanging up the phone, I saw my husband sitting in a chair, propping himself up on his knees and staring blankly at the door.

He exuded a sense of loneliness that touched one's heart.

Yingzi put her arm around his shoulder and whispered, "I'm still here. I'll stay with you no matter what, and I won't go anywhere else."

Yang Jianguo was touched, but stubbornly insisted, "I'm fine. Why are you being so dramatic, you grown man? Is the pig's head ready? I'll go check."

Seeing him hurrying out and heading straight into the house across the street, Yingzi shook her head with a wry smile and remained silent.

Men!

The father and son are exactly the same; they can't even speak a word.

"Qiuye, come help me mix the dumpling filling!" Yingzi said with a smile to the house across the street, "Don't stay with your man, take a day off during the New Year!"

Ran Qiuye came out of the door, and said with a playful smile, "I think you're just being yourself, aren't you?"

Ran Qiuye chuckled as she quickly approached, "You've been back for so many days now, and you're still causing trouble at night."

"Nonsense." Yingzi's face turned red, and she raised her hand to slap him.

Ran Qiuye dodged backward and ran away, saying, "See? I guessed right and you got angry."

Yingzi blushed again and immediately retorted, "And you're talking about me? What makes you any better? Who was it that messed up the bed back then, boohoo..."

Ran Qiuye blushed and covered her mouth, saying repeatedly, "I was wrong, I was wrong. Why do you keep bringing this up? You can't do this."

Even though so much time has passed since that incident, the child is old enough to get married.

But I still feel incredibly embarrassed when I bring it up again.

What a shame!

Seeing her surrender, Yingzi said smugly, "I'll remember this for the rest of my life, it's so rare."

"You, see if I don't scratch you."

"No, haha, you're almost an old woman, why are you still acting like a child?"

"Old woman, old woman, who says old women can't be happy? Tomorrow I'll get another brightly colored cheongsam with big flowers made, and I'm going to wear it."

Ran Qiuye proudly raised her head, looking playful and defiant.

Even with wrinkles on her face, her childlike heart remains unchanged.

Who says that you have to live like an old person when you get old?

She wants to grow younger and more vibrant with each passing year.

"Aren't you afraid of what people will say?" Yingzi asked, amused, though she was also tempted.

Ran Qiuye said softly but firmly, "I'm going to show them what it means to be beautiful in old age."

Chapter 430 Separated by a Wall, Aunt Yan's Methods

Happy Chinese New Year!

"happy New Year."

"Uncle Yang, Auntie, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Uncle He."

"well."

Joyful sounds could be heard everywhere in the courtyard, while the old and young men kept their distance.

They clasp their hands in greeting and shout "Happy New Year!", creating a strong festive atmosphere.

The only problem is that it lacks a childlike atmosphere.

However, the situation changed again at noon.

Xiao Dang brought her son-in-law and child to her home to join in the festivities, saying they wouldn't be going home this year.

"Can't we just not go back?" Qin Huairu was naturally overjoyed to have her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson with her, but she was also worried about making things difficult for the children.

Xiao Dang glanced at the man and smiled, "Mom, don't worry, we've agreed. We'll go there early tomorrow morning and won't leave before the fifteenth."

"That's good, that's good." Qin Huairu was finally relieved.

I'm relieved for my child, but also a little sad for myself.

If you stay here for one day, you'll have to stay with someone else until the fifteenth of the month.

She had been worried that her in-laws wouldn't be satisfied, but now, she was the one who was dissatisfied.

People are complicated, but no matter how dissatisfied we are, we're still a daughter.

She's a married daughter, like water spilled from a cup.

A woman should spend the Lunar New Year at her husband's home, but on New Year's Eve she can bring her husband and children here.

It's fair to say that they were under a lot of pressure.

Someone would definitely say she was being nosy, so Qin Huairu comforted herself and resolved any other thoughts she might have.

"This year, our yard is unusually tidy." Yang Jianguo was carrying water in the yard when he heard this and was taken aback.

This, all neat and tidy, doesn't sound very auspicious.

But to others, these words couldn't be more auspicious: "Yes, Sister Qin, our courtyard hasn't been this lively in years."

"That's right, everyone's life is much better now. Look, there's braised pig's head, boiled offal, chicken, fish, and Chef Zhu is in charge of cooking."

"Aunt Liu, I love what you're saying, say a couple more lines!" Sha Zhu, who had been busy at the stove all morning with the door wide open, poked his head out and called out to the yard.

"Zhu Zi, your skin is much thicker than before."

The middle and back yards were bustling with activity, but the front yard was deserted.

Aunt Liu and her family all went to the back to help. Even Da Liu was sitting in a wheelchair in front of Yang Jianguo's door chatting with people and looking at the people in the yard.

But the old Yan family's house in the front yard was deserted, as if the family line had died out.

Inside the house, Old Man Yan and his wife sat upright on the kang (a heated brick bed) across the table, their elbows resting steadily on the table.

But neither of them felt at ease.

Look how lively it is outside, like a victory celebration.

Looking at my own family, I see an elderly person holding a funeral.

Yes, there are more than twenty households in the courtyard. Whoever wants to share a room with someone else can do so.

Nobody can say for sure.

But over the years, the Yan family has always been involved in all sorts of family squabbles. Old Yan even used to be the third uncle!

How did it come to this point that I'm no longer well-liked?

My own son and daughter, not one of them came to visit during the Chinese New Year.

Neighbors, neighbors, they didn't even utter a word about sharing meals.

Old Man Yan couldn't understand where he had gone wrong.

Seeing her husband sulking with his head down, head held high, Aunt Yan slammed her hand on the table in anger: "Say something! Are we just going to sit here like this?"

Old Man Yan was startled and angrily said, "Where did you get this anger from? Why are you taking it out on me?"

"If not you, then who? If you weren't so stingy, even calculating with the kids, would it have turned out like this?"

Upon hearing this, Old Man Yan became anxious, stood up and said, "Oh, so I'm the only one who's stingy, so I'm the only one who's calculating, but you didn't calculate anything?"

"Did you not spend the money from Jiecheng, or did you not take the money from Jiefang? I spent it all."

Old Man Yan excitedly swung his arms and shouted, "I'm still raising this family!"

Aunt Yan turned her head to scratch the paper, but when she saw how anxious he was, she softened.

The old man was right; this family wasn't raised by him.

Without his meticulous planning, this family would have been gone long ago.

Four children—let alone raising them all well, it's difficult for them to even survive.

"You heartless ingrate, you ingrate! I was so blind to have given birth to so many Dongqians!"