Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

What he carried in his arms was a precious treasure that every household had emptied their savings for.

Boiled eggs, flatbread, pickled vegetables, dried meat that had turned black and could be used as a club, and thirty-seven yuan and fifty-two cents that I had saved up for who knows how long, in cents and dimes.

At that time, in the eyes of his fellow villagers, he was probably just as radiant as his father-in-law.

"Brother-in-law, sister, where is she?"

On the third day after Yang Jianguo returned, Li Aimin brought his whole family to visit.

He was carrying large and small bags, all filled with various expensive tonics.

Inside a few unassuming oil paper packets lay genuine treasures.

"In the backyard!"

Yingzi called out, put down her small hoe, and went outside to greet them, thinking to herself, 'How old is she? Why is she still acting like a little monkey?'

"Sis, are you messing with the vegetables in the garden again?"

Seeing that she was wearing a simple thin shirt and a straw hat, and that her hands were still covered in dirt, Li Aimin knew that she had gone to the fields again.

My brother-in-law turned the empty space in the backyard into a vegetable garden.

They grow all kinds of vegetables inside; if you want to eat some, just come over and pick a handful and you have a vegetable.

Ever since he got this land, his sister has had a new source of fun.

I have to go down to the fields every day to check on things, turn the soil, weed, and cultivate seedlings. Seeing that the vegetables in the field are growing well makes me happy all day.

If it doesn't grow well, it'll wither!

His brother-in-law suffered terribly.

"Yes, the newly planted eggplants are almost ripe, I need to keep an eye on them." Leading the group into the main house, Li Lan put down what she was carrying and said with a smile, "I have to say, my eldest sister lives a very comfortable life, I'm really envious!"

Yingzi glanced at the "little light bulbs" on her body; she had all kinds of gold, silver and jade jewelry, and the diamond ring on her finger was a bit dazzling.

It looks about the size of a pigeon egg, quite ostentatious.

Years ago, Li Aimin and his family lived on Hainan Island, where they said they built a villa and bought several houses to rent out.

Li Lan also lived a stable and wealthy life, no longer running around with Aimin.

Every day, I enjoy the sea breeze, drink tea, and play mahjong with friends.

They're living a very comfortable life!

"What do I have to envy? It's you who are truly enviable."

An awkward smile flashed across Li Lan's face. Li Aimin turned around and glared at her fiercely, only to be pinched on the waist by her.

It's one thing for my older sister to glare at me, but you dare to glare at me too.

If you can't afford to mess with her, then you can at least mess with me.

"Sigh~"

He grimaced and twisted his waist to shake her hand away. Yingzi chuckled at the sight but didn't say anything more.

The little romantic gestures between husband and wife are none of anyone's business to gossip about.

As for Li Lan's flamboyant attire...

A few years ago, I might have had to say something.

But now, there are many people outside who are more flamboyant than her, so let her be!

Besides, she only dresses up like a peacock when she comes to my place.

Wearing this at home on a normal day would be exhausting.

Yingzi could roughly guess what Li Lan was thinking.

It's simply that they don't want to lose face in front of themselves and want to use these gold, silver, jade, diamonds and jewelry to fill the emptiness inside.

Thinking about it carefully, Yingzi actually felt a little sorry for her.

Feeling empty inside and lacking ability, they can only rely on these external things to put on airs and make themselves seem no worse than others.

Why bother!

"What are you looking at? Sit down, everyone. You have to be served here."

Yingzi boiled water, made tea, and turned around to see the two of them still standing there. She couldn't help but chuckle and patted Aimin on the shoulder: "What's wrong? Are you being too formal with your sister?"

Li Aimin was both amused and exasperated. Why did everyone love to cater to him? Was he the only one in the family who got bullied?

After sitting down next to each other and taking a sip of tea, Li Aimin asked about his brother-in-law's situation.

"I heard this caused quite a stir. I hope my brother-in-law wasn't affected!"

“I didn’t ask for more details, but he seems to be doing the same thing every day, and he hasn’t changed jobs, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Upon hearing this, Li Aimin finally felt relieved.

With hands clasped together, he murmured, "That's good, it's alright, thank God, may Buddha protect us."

Yingzi frowned: "Since when have you become a believer in Buddha?"

Chapter 847 The Method of Self-Conquest, Liquid Gold

I came to believe in Bodhisattva after arriving in Hainan Island.

There are many people there who worship Guanyin of the South China Sea. At first, Li Aimin scoffed at it, but after hearing about it more often, his attitude gradually changed.

The influence of the environment on people is truly powerful.

"Actually, there's nothing wrong with believing. Just consider it as finding something to rely on for your soul. As people say, if your heart has nothing to rely on, it's like a dandelion floating in the sky, empty and desolate."

"I think you're coming up with more and more fallacies."

The two siblings chatted, and Li Lan listened from the side, occasionally chiming in.

She hadn't forgotten her older sister's reprimand.

After so many years as sisters-in-law, all they want is a few words of criticism.

The older sister was definitely jealous, but she just couldn't say it outright.

Who doesn't love wearing gold and silver? Besides, there are also big pearls and big diamonds!

Li Lan easily comforted herself using the method of "self-psychological victory".

At the same time, the lack of self-confidence within them was greatly satisfied.

Being envied by my older sister makes me feel better than receiving a piece of gold.

"Yingzi, someone has come to visit."

Yang Jianguo returned from outside. Hearing the sound, the group stood up one after another. "Brother-in-law, it's me. I came with Li Lan to see you and my sister."

As they were talking, Yang Jianguo entered the room. He smiled at the increasingly composed Li Aimin, then glanced at Li Lan beside him.

His brow furrowed involuntarily, then instantly smoothed out.

But Li Lan's heart was in her throat.

In this family, the person she feared most was her brother-in-law.

For no other reason than that her family's wealth and status depended on the other party, she should be afraid.

"Brother-in-law."

"Ah."

With a calm expression, Yang Jianguo nodded as a greeting and handed the two fish he was carrying to Yingzi.

"Pack up, Aimin and I will have a drink later."

"Where did this fish come from? It looks really good." Yingzi took the rope, lifted it up to her eyes, and touched the plump belly of the fish. "There must be a lot of fish roe in it."

“That’s perfect, my brother-in-law likes this.”

The women went to the kitchen to prepare the fish and cook, while Yang Jianguo and Li Aimin sat inside drinking tea.

"Try this authentic Wuyi Rock Da Hong Pao."

Yang Jianguo picked up the teacup, smelled it first, then sipped it and took a sip, the tea leaves swirling between his teeth.

Allow the aroma to fully develop before swallowing.

"generally."

Yang Jianguo did not deliberately pursue these external pleasures, but he couldn't resist the allure of his rank and treatment.

The house is properly maintained; there are still two sealed jars of Da Hong Pao tea from the mother tree.

If Yang Jianguo doesn't move, then no one else will either.

Yingzi used to drink a glass occasionally, but she hasn't drunk any since she started sleeping less.

I already need little sleep, and after a cup of tea, I'm completely unable to sleep at night.

"Hehe, you've had too much good stuff. This is really something special outside."

"Ok?"

Li Aimin smiled mysteriously and pointed to the small box stacked next to him, saying, "Do you know how much this brew sells for outside?"

"How many."

"7000."

"Seize the young master?"

Yang Jianguo was genuinely shocked. 7000 yuan for just one pot of tea?

This isn't tea; it's liquid gold!

“Brother-in-law, you’re absolutely right. There are people who specialize in recycling this stuff. A gives tea to B as a gift, and then B takes the tea to C to recycle it. C then sells the tea back to A.”

"Transfer of benefits".

"Yes, that's what everyone does now, and you can't find any problems on the surface."

What's wrong with visiting someone and mentioning tea?

Normal social interactions are nothing to be ashamed of.

Yang Jianguo calmly raised his eyelids, neither expressing his opinion nor flying into a rage to demand a thorough investigation.

He appears more mature than he used to be.

Why should something that has been impossible to eradicate for thousands of years be changed so easily by him?

In the past, he always wanted to do more.

But now, Yang Jianguo knows that even he has his limits.

Managing his own little plot of land is the limit of what he can do.

Let others handle all the chaos and noise outside!

He believes he is not the only one working hard.

Countless comrades with ideals are still scattered across the country, shining silently in their respective posts.

After drinking the tea and cleaning the teaware, Yang Jianguo casually mentioned, "When you leave later, I'll give you a good one."

"Oh my, I'm in for a treat!"

Li Aimin beamed with joy, looking as happy as could be.

Yang Jianguo chuckled. After all that fuss, he was only after his own meager possessions.

He's the only one with grandchildren who acts like a child.

He can be completely uninhibited and shameless in front of himself; he's capable of throwing tantrums and acting out.

But Yang Jianguo just happened to like him that way—

It's lonely at the top!

Nowadays, fewer and fewer people can be themselves without restraint in front of him.

Upon closer inspection, Yang Jianguo discovered that there were fewer than a handful.