Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

"Hey." A man with an upright face walked in, carrying two kinds of pastries, a cigarette and a bottle of alcohol.

Upon seeing Yang Jianguo, his legs involuntarily straightened and pressed tightly together, and his expression became more serious: "Minister Yang, hiss~"

Hou Yuliang gasped as Xiao Dang stomped hard on his foot, forcing out an ugly, forced laugh: "Uncle Yang, Auntie, hello."

"This is Hou Yuliang, my boyfriend. He works at the court." Xiao Dang introduced him to the family of three in a very generous manner.

"Come in and sit down," Yingzi said politely. "Jianguo, don't stand here with that long face. Let him sit down and talk."

"Yes, come in and sit down!" Yang Jianguo turned around and led the way into the house.

Everyone took their seats. Yang Jianguo took out a cigarette, but before he could light it, Hou Yuliang took out a match.

Oh!

He lit a match and brought it to his lips: "Uncle, let me light it for you."

Yang Jianguo glanced at him and lit a cigarette over the firewood.

The three women in the room exchanged glances, but none of them uttered a sound.

This kind of thing definitely has to be decided by the man. When Xiao Dang was a little older, it was practically like she was being raised in the Yang family.

When you're hungry or craving something delicious, you can always find something tasty when you meet Uncle Yang.

I wouldn't say I provided her with lavish meals, but she certainly ate her fill and never went hungry.

Those in these courtyards understood this in their hearts; Jia Jia and Qin Huairu understood it, and Xiao Dang understood it even better.

To her, Uncle Yang was like a second father.

Why bring her home? She barely spoke a few words to her mother before bringing her over.

That means waiting for him to nod and for him to agree!

Jia Dongxu has been dead for so many years that Xiao Dang has forgotten what he looks like.

In her heart, Uncle Yang was not her father, but he was more than a father to her.

The marriage can only proceed if he has seen it and given his approval.

Otherwise, Qin Huairu's nod would be useless.

"Hou Yuliang?" Yang Jianguo murmured his name.

"Hey, it's me, Hou Yuliang." Hou Yuliang extinguished the match, not daring to light one for himself.

Before he came, he had heard from Xiao Dang that they weren't afraid of each other even if her mother didn't agree.

She decided to marry him, so he's the one.

But there's someone in this courtyard, and we need his permission.

This is Minister Yang, who oversees the nation's industrial development and participates in formulating the country's economic direction.

Without his consent, no amount of persuasion from anyone else will make this marriage possible.

"Where do you work?" Yang Jianguo asked.

Hou Yuliang knew that this wasn't asking which system he belonged to, but rather his specific work unit and position.

"Temporarily serving as the presiding judge of the First Civil Division of the Sino-French Intermediate People's Court in Beijing."

"Your Intermediate People's Court has a civil court, a criminal court, an administrative court, an enforcement court, and a case filing court, which is quite large."

"Yes, it's really just a minor official position."

“Hey!” Yang Jianguo raised his hand and said, “Officials are not distinguished by rank, but by good or bad.”

“A good official is one who stands up for the people. A bad official is one who stands up for himself and not for the people… Not only are the officials bad, but the people are bad too.”

Hou Yuliang broke out in a cold sweat, not because his thoughts had been exposed.

The main problem is that Yang Jianguo has accumulated too much authority, and when he lectures in a rigid and authoritative manner, it can be quite intimidating.

Outsiders might feel scared, but Hou Yuliang is someone within the system.

I understand what it means to "chew words three times"—the things leaders say are always profound!

He felt that the senior leader was giving him a warning.

"You're right, you're right," Hou Yuliang said, wiping his sweat and cautiously agreeing.

"Jianguo, stop acting like a leader at home!" Yingzi smoothed things over, afraid of frightening the child.

Sure enough, sweat was pouring down his forehead, and his body was trembling.

Yang Jianguo was taken aback. Seeing that he was indeed frightened, the tension on his face eased a bit.

"Don't be nervous. I'm not lecturing you. I'm just getting old and have some experience. I'm willing to chat with strangers."

Upon hearing this, Hou Yuliang became even more nervous.

If your boss talks to you like this, there are two possibilities: either he doesn't consider you one of his own, or he doesn't consider you one of his own.

The other one is even more serious...

Seeing that he was about to lose his composure, Xiao Dang quietly kicked him and glanced at the ground.

Regardless, this man is the most pleasing to the eye.

Finally, it was passable. Xiao Dang didn't want him to pass easily, but he also didn't want him to be eliminated directly.

That's why I reminded him to quickly bring up the topic of gifts to change the subject and stop talking about these things.

"Look, I almost forgot. This is some wine and cigarettes for you, Uncle."

Yang Jianguo doesn't know who bought the Zhonghua cigarettes and the Moutai.

But regardless of which one of them is buying it, this standard is affordable, and it doesn't exceed the limit.

Zhonghua and Moutai are considered top-tier gifts when openly displayed.

In reality, compared to the gifts given by those who actually engage in crooked and dishonest means, they are simply not presentable.

Cases of Moutai are just for extras.

Small seafood, including small yellow croakers.

Or it might be antiques, calligraphy and paintings, porcelain vases, or the Four Treasures of the Study.

These are truly high-class gifts, their value immeasurable.

I'm giving this to the boss to play with for a few days. When I take it back in a few days, whatever price the boss asks for is what I'll pay.

This is what gift-giving should be like!

"I've accepted the gift. As for your relationship, what did your mother say?"

Yang Jianguo looked at Xiao Dang, wanting to hear the opinion of his apprentice Qin Huairu.

“My mom said it’s good,” Xiao Dang replied.

"Since your mother has said so, let's set a date!"

Yang Jianguo looked at Hou Yuliang and said, "Xiao Dang has been raised by our family since she was little. In the eyes of me and her aunt, she is like a daughter."

Her mother is my apprentice, and she is my grand-apprentice... I don't have much else to say. Just get married and live a good life.

A couple living together, sharing their hearts, that's what it means to make a living.

"You scheme against her, and she schemes against you; that won't do... Do you understand?"

Chapter 695 The Witness, Awakening the World

"So...does this mean I have permission?"

As Hou Yuliang stepped out of his house, an expression of disbelief still lingered on his face.

He passed the test so easily! It was way too easy!

"What, the test was too easy? I need to give you a little challenge? Or should I go back and talk to Uncle Yang? I'd like to think about it some more..."

"No, no, no, Xiao Dang, don't scare me." Hou Yuliang's face turned green.

Those two blows just now had terrified him.

Hou Yuliang worried that if it happened again, he wouldn't even have the courage to face it.

"Hmph, you're smart to know what's good for you." Xiao Dang gave him a coquettish glare.

"Shall we go find your aunt now and set a date?"

"No need, just do as I say."

Her mother couldn't wait for her to get things done and give birth to a big, healthy boy so she could take care of him.

Sometimes Xiao Dang really doesn't understand. You say she's worked hard for this family her whole life.

She raised three children all by herself, and finally she can enjoy a peaceful retirement.

Why are you still so eager for your grandson? All you do all day is say, "I'll take care of him for you, Mom will take care of him for you. What are you afraid of with Mom here?"

Doesn't she feel tired?

"That's how the older generation is, they're used to being busy... If you let them have some free time, they don't know what to do, it's like they've suddenly lost all hope for the future."

"Alright!" Xiao Dang agreed with his suggestion.

The older generation has forgotten what enjoyment is; it's not that they don't understand it, but that they simply don't know how.

Labor is the only thing that can truly reflect value and life.

If they are deprived of even the ability to work, they don't know what else they can do.

They might even wonder, "What's the point of me being alive?!"

……

"Uncle Yang, we've set a date."

When Xiao Dang came to visit again, she came alone. She wanted to invite Yang Jianguo to be her witness at her wedding.

Yang Jianguo would certainly not refuse such a request.

"Okay, set a date, I'll definitely be there early."

Few people in the public security, procuratorate, and judicial departments would recognize him, let alone those in the catering industry.

He works in industry and doesn't have much interaction with these people.

So, being a witness at a wedding isn't a big deal.

The host, Xiao Dang, invited the pillars of the Imperial Television Station. The moment the old man and the young man stood on the stage of Tianxia Manor, everyone knew that today's wedding was no ordinary event.

Friends from all over the country, business partners, everyone who enters the door is a guest.

If someone comes to freeload, as long as you say a few nice words, you'll consider them an acquaintance.

This is the rule for running a restaurant: keep the doors wide open and welcome guests from all directions.

Once you're inside, there's no reason to turn you away.

Besides Qin Huairu, Sha Zhu's family were also there to greet guests at the door, while Yingzi was in charge of keeping accounts and collecting gifts.

Zhiyi also joined in the celebration, and after three months, she wasn't afraid of letting anyone know.

The happiest person was Qi Tongwei, who would boast to everyone he met: "My wife is pregnant, and she'll give birth to a baby boy for me tomorrow."

At first, he always called her "my precious son," but when Zhiyi asked, "What if it's a girl?" he changed it to "my darling" the next day.

Men and women, it's all the same.

Besides, it's not like we can't have a second child; we can just have a few more.

Although family planning is strictly enforced, as long as you don't go around making a fuss about it, no one will hold a grudge.

The wedding lasted a full day, and when Yang Jianguo got home, he was almost paralyzed, sitting on the sofa.

"I'm never being a wedding officiant again. It's more tiring than attending meetings all day at work."

Yingzi rubbed her leg and laughed, "Little one, if you go, do you think you can escape the locust blossoms?"

"Sigh." Yang Jianguo sighed helplessly.

Just as she said, if one goes, how can the other not go?