Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

"I brought all of this back for you. These are things that Zhiyi and I brought for you and my mom."

Yingzi smiled so much her eyes narrowed when she saw the gift her son-in-law brought.

"You're here, why did you bring anything!"

These words sounded strangely familiar; I'd heard them since my own wedding, and they'd been repeated since my daughter got married.

I'm afraid we'll have to listen to this for decades to come.

Time truly is a great cycle.

"Come on, lend a hand and set up the table."

After setting up the round table with Tongwei, Yang Jianguo clapped his hands and asked, "Is Zhiyuan coming back this year?"

Yingzi, who was making dumplings at the stove, looked up with an undiminished smile and said, "Come back, this year our family can finally have a big reunion."

“That’s great! I’ve been hearing Zhiyi mention my brother-in-law for a long time, and I’ve been looking forward to meeting him. I finally have the chance.”

"He's stubborn, inflexible, like a mule that won't change his mind."

When her older brother was mentioned, Zhiyi still felt a little resentful.

He couldn't even attend his own wedding because of work; what kind of older brother is that?

"Your brother already apologized to you. When it comes to the most important work, he's the deputy commander and can't leave at all."

Zhiyi muttered a few words to himself, knowing in his heart that he had no other choice.

Even though they understood, they still harbored resentment.

It's always a regret that my only brother, who I only get married once in my life, couldn't be there for me.

"When he gets back, you'll give him a good talking to."

Yang Jianguo stood with his hands behind his back, acting all old-fashioned as he supported his daughter.

Zhiyi gave him a look that was both funny and exasperating, "Come on, you're probably secretly quite pleased with yourself!"

Hearing his daughter's mockery, Yang Jianguo burst into laughter. He was proud of both of his children.

"Dad, Mom, Zhiyi... I'm back."

Speak of the devil, and he appears! Yang Zhiyuan’s excited shouts echoed from the courtyard.

Zhiyi, who had been complaining and grumbling endlessly, rushed out of the house like a startled deer.

"Brother, sister-in-law... Little Tangyuan, oh my, you're so cute, so incredibly cute..."

Zhiyi rushed to her sister-in-law's side and cupped her little niece's chubby cheeks in her hands, rubbing them endlessly.

Zhiyuan ignored her and went inside with his things.

Yang Zhiyuan, who had been extremely excited, became dull and serious as soon as he entered the house. He called out "Mom and Dad" and then stood there dumbfounded.

Yang Jianguo, too, clearly had a lot to say to him.

Talk to him about work and praise him for doing a good job.

But when they actually met, all he said was a lukewarm "hmm," and that was it.

“You two, father and son…” Yingzi shook her head, both amused and exasperated, and stepped forward to take the things from her son’s hands.

"Put it down and rest. You must be exhausted from the journey!"

"I'm not tired. Runye takes care of the children along the way, so she has a harder time."

“Yes, right.” Yingzi let go of the item halfway through its journey and let him carry it.

She turned and rushed outside, saying as she went, "Zhiyi, quickly let your sister-in-law and nephew in. My dear grandson, let Grandma see him."

My dear grandson? Grandson!

Yang Jianguo's feet moved outwards uncontrollably.

As I passed by Tongwei, I saw him standing there somewhat reservedly.

“Zhiyuan, this is your sister’s man, Tongwei. You two chat amongst yourselves. I’m going to check on Sun… and your mother.”

Yang Jianguo left as he spoke, leaving the two grown men staring at each other in the room.

Finally, it was Tongwei, who was more outgoing, who took the initiative to speak and break the awkward silence between the two.

"This little guy looks just like Zhiyuan when he was a child."

“His mouth looks like my sister-in-law’s, and his nose…my brother’s nose isn’t good-looking.”

"Yes, he looks just like your sister-in-law. He'll definitely grow up to be a handsome young man."

Seeing her mother-in-law holding the child with such love and undisguised joy in her eyes, Runye's heart also felt happy.

"Alright, don't stand in the yard in the cold wind. Runye has been traveling all day and must be exhausted. Go inside and rest."

Yang Jianguo remained serious, but his eyes never left his grandson ever since he saw him.

"Yes, come inside, come inside. Zhiyi, help your sister-in-law."

Yingzi carried the child and went back into the house with a smile on her face.

I'm so happy, so incredibly happy.

I finally got to see my grandson, and I feel as happy as if I've eaten honey.

No, it was pickled in honey.

It's sweet from the bottom of my heart to the very tip of my heart; it's just pure sweetness.

"Jianguo." Yang Jianguo, who was following behind, was stopped by Shazhu from across the street.

"Zhu Zi, Happy New Year."

"Good fortune, may you also have good fortune."

Sha Zhu clasped his hands in a fist salute, then came over and peeked into the house. "It's Zhiyuan who's back with the child."

"Yes, I just arrived." Yang Jianguo nodded.

"Hey, this kid looks sturdy, just like his dad."

"What about you? Have the kids come back yet?" Seeing the longing look in his eyes, Yang Jianguo knew he missed his children.

Dazhuang and Xiaozhuang, those two lads are a real handful.

He still hasn't brought home a wife, which is making his father so worried he's practically staring blankly.

People his age in the factory already have two grandchildren.

When will he be able to hold his own precious grandson like other people?

"I'll go back next year." When his son was mentioned, Sha Zhu's forehead wrinkled up.

“I gave them an ultimatum: if they don’t bring me a wife this year, they shouldn’t come back.”

"Damn it, I'm totally mesmerized. Look... how wonderful this child is."

Sha Zhu muttered to himself, staring intently into the room as if he were having a fit of hysteria.

Yang Jianguo found it amusing and said, "Why don't we come inside and sit for a while? There's no rush."

"No, no, no."

Sha Zhu waved his hands repeatedly, saying awkwardly, "I still have to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner. Old Yi and his wife... this year has been tough, so I have to prepare more in advance."

Hearing him mention this, Yang Jianguo's enthusiasm cooled down a bit.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death, though part of the natural order, are always accompanied by sadness.

Judging from his appearance, Aunt Yi is afraid she really won't make it through.

Chapter 617 Harmony in the Family Brings Prosperity to All Things; Passing Down the Family Tradition Through Writing

We set off fireworks and made dumplings.

Their family is reunited to celebrate the Lunar New Year!

Without Old Man Yan, the third uncle, everyone has to arrange the couplets in the courtyard themselves.

Fortunately, Yang Jianguo has a son and a son-in-law.

The couple bought the couplets on the 29th of the year, but early on the 30th, the children started teasing him, asking him to write a few couplets to hang on the door.

"Dad, your handwriting is so beautiful. It's the New Year, let's all benefit from your good fortune!"

Yang Jianguo laughed and said, "I've never touched a calligraphy brush since I was young, so I don't even know if it's good or bad. Do you know?"

"Aren't fountain pens and calligraphy brushes the same thing?"

Surrounded by a group of children, Yang Jianguo wasn't the type to be pretentious or affected.

It's just writing a couple of calligraphy pieces, no big deal.

"Okay, then I'll write two."

"I'll get the paper," Zhiyuan said.

"I'm grinding the ink, Mom, where's our precious calligraphy?" Zhiyi asked.

"I've tidied up the table," said Tong Wei.

Runye, holding the child, wanted to help, but Yingzi pulled her back, saying, "You stay here and watch the children, let them do what they want."

Standing to the side with my mother-in-law, watching the whole family bustling about, chatting and laughing.

"It's here, it's here." Mo Bao put the food on the table, and Zhi Yi frantically fiddled with it.

Yang Jianguo was both amused and exasperated, and finally snatched it away.

"Grinding ink requires patience, especially at the beginning. You have to slowly turn it in one direction, like this..."

Watching the ink stick in his hand slowly turn the water in the inkstone black.

As the speed of wrist rotation gradually increased, Zhiyi nodded and exclaimed, "Dad, I got it! I'll do it!"

Sizzle, sizzle~

Watch as she went from clumsy to skilled, turning the inkstone black.

Yang Jianguo also picked up the calligraphy brush on the table and focused his mind.

The pen in his hand was a gift from a high-ranking leader many years ago, and he hadn't touched it all these years.

He said it was a purple-haired brush, with the tip made of rabbit hair, which is more elastic than wolf hair.

Although she hasn't used it much, Yingzi has kept it in very good condition over the years.

At this moment, with the wrist pointing upwards, the brush tip lightly dips into the inkstone a few times.

He picked up the brush and wrote the entire piece in one go, his hand moving with fluid, elegant strokes.

Yang Jianguo wrote, and Zhiyi read it aloud softly beside him:

"A kind father, a filial son, a virtuous wife, and harmonious brothers,"

Zhiyuan continued, "A broad mind, a healthy body, a clear heart, and white hands."

Not to be outdone, Tongwei stepped forward to join in the fun.

"Horizontal scroll: Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things."

"it is good."

Everyone applauded in unison, and Zhiyi was as excited as a child, jumping up and down and shouting, "Dad, you wrote so well!"

This really embarrassed Yang Jianguo. If it weren't for his cheat code, he would have lost face today.

Everyone was praising how well Yang Jianguo wrote his characters.

The curtain was lifted, and Sha Zhu came in carrying two bottles of wine. "What are you all so happy about?"

"Uncle Zhu, come and see my dad's handwriting, it's so good."

Seeing Zhiyi pulling Shazhu over, Yang Jianguo laughed and scolded, "You've become like a matchmaker, praising your own wares!"

“It’s fine as it is, why can’t I say it?” Zhiyi said proudly, her neck stiff.

Despite being a wife, her child's personality hasn't changed at all.