Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Yingzi's father came out wiping his hands on his apron, took off the apron and told his wife, "The fish is steaming, steam for 7 minutes."

"Okay, I've made your tea." Yingzi's mother put on her apron and was about to go into the kitchen.

Seeing her daughter chatting and laughing, she turned around and nudged her leg with her foot: "Come in and help. I want to hear what you're saying."

Yingzi smiled wryly and said, "Mom, why don't you ask your son-in-law for help? He's a great cook."

“My son-in-law is so busy with work every day, isn’t he tired? Hurry up.”

Yingzi's mother, with a self-righteous air, turned around and left with her daughter and daughter-in-law.

He followed listlessly. When they reached the door, Yingzi turned back and frowned mischievously, clearly saying, "Look, look, who is the real child?"

Yang Jianguo grinned broadly, looking like a complete idiot.

It is only here that we can see him behave this way.

In the past, people's impression of him was that he was reliable, calm, focused, strict and kind.

Director Yang was grinning like an idiot.

Do I look like an idiot? You think you can fool me like this?!

"Jianguo, how many days off will you get this Chinese New Year?"

Yingzi's father opened the small tea cabinet in the middle of the single sofa and took out an iron box from it.

A tin box of 50 cigarettes of Huazi cigarettes, wow!

My father-in-law is a different person now; he's started smoking cigarettes.

"Here, I got this from the leader's house by force, this is the only box."

Yingzi's father opened the box as if showing off and handed it to him.

Yang Jianguo took out a cigarette, sniffed it, and nodded affirmatively, "Good cigarette, I have to try it."

"What are you tasting? You've had plenty of these on the table during meetings in the capital, haven't you?"

Yingzi's dad wasn't buying it. He was just being modest with me, treating me like I was some kind of ignorant fool.

Yang Jianguo shook his head and laughed, "Dad, don't mention it. There are several heavy smokers in our area who light up when they see this."

"I was too embarrassed to compete with them, so I just took one of my own."

Pulling the box he had brought to his lap, Yang Jianguo took out two swimming pools from inside: "Dad, these are for you."

"Swimming, this cigarette is amazing, it's been selling like hotcakes lately."

Yang Jianguo was completely bewildered by Yingzi's father's explanation. He lit the firewood for him and then lit it for himself.

Then he asked, "No, what's so special about this cigarette?"

Yingzi's father placed the cigarettes on the small table beside him and said with a smile, "It wasn't anything special before, but suddenly someone spread the word that a leader likes to smoke them, and they sold out immediately."

Flicked his cigarette ash, Yingzi's father looked at his son-in-law's expression and was taken aback: "Um, Jianguo, the leader they're talking about isn't you, is it?"

Yang Jianguo was also stunned by what he said. This can't be true!

When the two of them compared the timelines, it turned out that these rumors only started not long after Yang Jianguo began swimming.

Then, the price of swimming kept rising.

However, there are now rumors that 'swimming' tobacco is hard to find and may have to be discontinued.

Many people in the market are trying to use their connections to buy cigarettes, hoping to stock up on them.

"A pack of these cigarettes only costs 2 yuan, but a ticket sells for 5 yuan on the market."

"So expensive?"

Yang Jianguo's hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly. Could it be that the cigarette he was smoking was the money Xiao Duan had added to the price?

Chapter 439 Red Envelopes, Everyday Life Between Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law

"Dad, brother-in-law, they're here."

Not long after, Li Aimin returned carrying a box.

Li Aiguo and Yu Haitang, a married couple, followed behind him, along with their child.

The couple had a big, healthy baby boy, whom they named Li Yaoguo, meaning "to glorify the motherland."

She's only three years old this year, a time when she's very active.

"Yaoguo, call for someone." Yu Haitang tugged at her son's hand.

Xiao Yaoguo said loudly, "Grandpa, Uncle, Happy New Year."

"Okay, okay." Yingzi's father took out a red envelope he had prepared in advance and said, "Here, this is a red envelope from Grandpa."

Yao Guo happily accepted the red envelope and looked at Yang Jianguo.

He both feared and liked his uncle.

My uncle knows a lot, and my parents and many others listen to him.

But sometimes he can be very strict, and his scolding can be quite frightening.

"Here, this is from your uncle."

Yang Jianguo stuffed the red envelope into Yaoguo's hand, and waited for Yaoguo to happily say, "Thank you, Uncle."

He then pointed to the kitchen and said, "Your aunt is in the kitchen. Don't run around, or you'll bump into something."

I saw the child lying at the kitchen door, calling out, "Grandma, Auntie, Happy New Year! Where's Yaoguo's red envelope?!"

The people inside burst into laughter, and Li Aiguo shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

This child~

"Where's your son?" Yang Jianguo asked casually when he didn't see Aimin's Yaohui.

"He went to play at the neighbor's house. Never mind him, he'll come back when he's hungry."

Li Aimin waved his hand casually; that's just his personality—he'd let them roam free.

Just then, Li Lan, who was delivering tea, saw his expression and slapped him on the back in an annoyed manner.

"He, as a father, doesn't care about his child at all."

Li Lan was both annoyed and amused, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

The man is busy and dizzy outside, but when he gets home, he snores loudly as soon as his head hits the pillow.

Sometimes I can only get 4 hours of sleep before I have to leave again; I really can't get any rest.

If he were really put in charge, Li Lan would feel sorry for him not getting enough rest.

But if you say you don't have any resentment in your heart, then you're definitely lying through your teeth.

Life has improved, and material conditions are more abundant.

But the person is gone.

Sometimes I'm too busy, or I've been wronged, or I've gotten angry with my son.

Li Lan really wanted a man by her side, someone to talk to and offer a few words of comfort.

But after she got over it, she came to terms with it.

man!

They should be busy outside, not just loitering around at home and on the streets like street urchins.

Being able to keep busy is a skill; look at those who aren't busy.

Those who can afford to live their own lives have bought two cars.

Aimin even hired a driver for her to pick her up and drop her off. That's how wealthy women in the past lived.

"I was busy making money!" Aimin laughed, looking up, showing that the two had a good relationship.

Yu Haitang, on the other hand, looked sullen as soon as she entered the room, as if she had something on her mind.

Yang Jianguo noticed it, but didn't ask.

He'd better stay out of women's business.

"Haitang, come and give me a hand." Yingzi came out to let Dongqian go and casually called her into the kitchen.

"I'll go help too. You guys talk, the kettle's over here." Li Lan followed.

She couldn't get a word in edgewise; men's matters should be left to the men to discuss.

The kitchen, however, has become the women's little world.

"Haitang, it's been a while since I've seen you. You look worse than before."

Yingzi noticed the annoyance on her face and asked her about it casually.

Yu Haitang glanced at Yingzi's mother and whispered, "It's nothing, I'm just tired."

With the child and her own job, her husband was not around.

Yu Haitang's days were indeed more difficult than before.

But to say that it's too difficult to get through is not entirely true.

She was used to being pampered, but suddenly having all the household chores left to her was a shock.

It's inevitable to feel a bit out of place, mainly because of a sense of imbalance.

The two older sisters' children are studying abroad, so they don't have to worry about them.

After work, I would spend my days in the bookstore, drinking tea and reading books. Life couldn't be better.

Li Lan has a driver when she goes out.

The family bought a large house of over 100 square meters and hired a housekeeper to cook and clean.

She has a car to go around in and out of the house, and she has people to wait on her at home.

They were living better than the eldest sister; they even went to Jiangdao Island recently.

When I got back, I was so proud of myself. I brought back bags and bags full of designer brands with English names.

That was such a joy.

He himself was busy running around, having to curry favor with this person and put on a smiling face for that person.

Not only do they have to worry about the children at home, but they also have to visit their parents and older sister from time to time to say a few words.

tired!

Yu Haitang felt truly exhausted; this was so far from the life she had envisioned.

If only she hadn't married Aiguo back then.

If someone else had been chosen, without Yang Jianguo and Li Aimin to compare them to, would life have been easier?

Yu Haitang had no answer in her heart, and dared not mention these thoughts to anyone.

But in her heart, the tiny seed kept growing and expanding, influencing every aspect of her life.

"Haitang, is Aiguo's work particularly busy these days?"

Li Lan, who was helping to make pancakes, was radiant and beaming with joy.

Whether life is easy or difficult for a person, especially a woman.

You can really tell from her face that Li Lan is a typical example of someone who has been living a life of luxury.

Although the time the man spends with her is getting shorter and shorter, apart from that, she is impeccable in every other aspect.

"Yes, I can only come back twice a year. I practically live at the factory now."

The complaining tone made the mother and daughter exchange a glance.

Li Lan was also taken aback for a moment, then quickly changed the subject, saying, "Well, my husband is the same way. He treats home like a hotel, coming and going as soon as he arrives."

"It's the same even during the Lunar New Year. Today is the only day I'm here with my parents, so I can stay here and talk to them for a few minutes."

Yingzi's mother smiled and said, "A man should work hard outside, earn money for the family, and provide shelter from the wind and rain. That's good enough."

"However, we still need to make time to talk. If we don't even communicate anymore, problems will arise sooner or later."