Scholars in the courtyard

Chapter 29
Back home, the cold air speaks of the emptiness of the home.

Yang Xiaotao closed the door, lit the lamp and sat down, feeling melancholy.

When I came to this world, I became a loner, a little lonely.

"Since it is here, let it be safe!"

After sitting for a while, watching Xiaowei get into the table, Yang Xiaotao got up and started to light the stove.

The flames glowed faintly, and there was some warmth in the room.

However, compared with the snowflakes floating outside and the howling north wind, this temperature can't resist the cold at all, let alone sleep.

"Hey, I have to solve my next personal problem, and I hope I have a warm bed."

Yang Xiaotao laughed at himself, but then he thought again, if the girl came to the beast's den, wouldn't that be a disaster for others?
Shaking his head, he dispelled the messy thoughts and started cooking.

I took out the eggs I just bought from the space, cut half a cabbage, heated the pan, poured oil, fried the cabbage with the eggs, and heated up two steamed corn buns. This is a simple dinner.

Yang Xiaotao started to eat, and the uncle's house was also ready.

But Yi Zhonghai wasn't in the mood to eat, and he was still panicking, a typical example of making things difficult for himself.

The big mother didn't dare to speak on the sidelines, and he didn't have the status to speak in this family. In addition, a lot of money has been spent over the years, and there is no child.

She even wondered if it was her fault.

However, she dared not say it.

"Get your stuff, let's go to the backyard!"

The first mother naturally knew where she was going, so she cleaned up quickly.

The old couple walked into the backyard despite the wind and moon, and knocked on the door of the old lady's room.

Entering the house, the old lady also looked decadent, even a little terrified.

Especially the sentence Yang Xiaotao said, "It's not that old people have become bad, but that bad people have become old", which made her heart skip a beat.

When you are young, you have experienced a lot. Who has no secrets to survive?

As I get older, I believe in some things and don't, and think wildly.

These years have been quiet and lived a stable life.

But she is not indifferent, relying on her age and status, walking around the alleys in this alley, she has come into contact with many people, and she knows who they are and what their temperament is.

Especially for the people in the courtyard, they are basically clear.

However, this time she was mistaken. She thought that he was a man who could handle him, but after the death of his relatives, he actually "changed his temperament" and became so ruthless.

Just when the deaf old lady was thinking about how to deal with Yang Xiaotao.Yi Zhonghai and his wife walked in and interrupted the deaf old lady's thoughts.

The three of them sat together in relative silence.

Since the three of them discussed how to provide for the elderly, so many years have passed, and they have always been developing towards an ideal situation.

Today, some people are starting to waver, and this damn person is someone they have never paid attention to before.

"It's all the fault of that little wave hoof."

The deaf old lady slammed her cane on the ground and spoke viciously.

Yi Zhonghai and the two knew who they were talking about, and they both lowered their heads.

"At the beginning, I said not to let him marry into the Jia family, but you two didn't listen."

"If it didn't happen, we wouldn't have what happened today, and we wouldn't have to be pointed at and scolded like this, we'd almost be old and immortal."

The uncle continued to remain silent.

He also regretted in his heart, regretted not seeing Yang Xiaotao's face in advance, if he had known that he had such abilities, he would never have provoked this evil spirit.

In his eyes, the current Yang Xiaotao is an evil spirit.

"Old lady, now I'm trying to find a way to get Silly Zhu out."

The first mother said, she knew the role of Sha Zhu on the old couple. To put it bluntly, the deaf old lady still has their help. When they are old, they can only look at Jia Dongxu and Sha Zhu.

"Yes, old lady, it must be done as soon as possible."

"If you really keep the record, Shazhu will be ruined in the future."

Yi Zhonghai also spoke, and the deaf old lady lowered her head and sighed, she really liked Shazhu and wished him well from the bottom of her heart.

"I'll go tomorrow."

"However, they are all human beings. If you use one of these favors, you will lose one."

"From now on, you have to keep an eye on Silly Zhu."

The old couple nodded.

The deaf old lady said again, "And that kid, don't mess with him."

"I know."

"Ok!"

The front yard, Yan Fugui's house.

"Father, why do I need money for running errands?"

Yan Jiefang looked troubled. He went to the police station today and called Director Zhang and the others. After finishing the incident, he found that no one paid him any attention, let alone paid him for running errands.

"You're stupid, and you ran out without asking for money, you're so stupid."

Yan Jiecheng, the boss at the side, sneered.

The third mother beside him led Yan Jiekuang, and said to the second child, "You, you have to see clearly before you run."

"The first uncle and the second uncle call people, and they won't give money, but it's hard for others."

"Especially Yang Xiaotao, he started this matter, maybe there will be more in the future."

"I know mother, I will listen to Yang Xiaotao from now on."

Yan Jiefang nodded, but Yan Fugui interrupted.

"If you earn money and hand it over, it will be your food expenses."

"Food expenses? Dad, I haven't made any money yet?"

Yan Jiefang immediately argued that the eldest in the family is now an adult and is looking for a job, and has started to pay subsidies to the family every month.

But he is still a primary school student, how can he make money?
"Underage? Then you have to hand over the money."

Yan Fugui's eyes flickered, and he looked determined.

"But, me, I'm paying for running errands!"

Yan Jiefang still wanted to struggle, but the third mother on the side snorted coldly.

"Running fee? A dime is enough."

"Listen to your father, you will never be poor in this life."

The two couples played mixed doubles, and Yan Jiefang was naturally unable to escape. After determining the distribution of benefits, he could only accept his fate.

Yan Xiecheng on the side curled his lips, "I knew that was the case."

Yan Fugui glanced at his son in the room. The youngest son is still young, so it's too early to calculate, but the road must be paved in advance, and when they grow up, they can just walk in the footsteps of the two brothers.

"Okay, let's have a meeting and talk about the Chinese New Year."

"This year, we want to be like this..."

In Liu Haizhong's house in the central courtyard, Liu Haizhong sat in the middle of the living room, with Liu Guangqi sitting on one side, and the second aunt standing on the other side.

Below, brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu are standing.

"Cough cough!"

Liu Haizhong coughed, and imitated the way the leaders in the factory spoke, "Today I called a meeting for everyone, there are two main aspects!"

"First, Chinese New Year is coming soon..."

In Jia's house, bursts of crying sounded from time to time, and Jia Zhang's cursing continued to penetrate the snowflakes, and occasionally a howling male voice echoed on the snow.

In the deserted night at Shazhu's house, He Yushui curled up under the blanket with his stomach in his arms, trying to sleep, but couldn't sleep anyway, and tears of grievance fell one by one.

In this cold world, no one cares about her or thinks about her.

The uncle, Jia's family, and the deaf old lady all look at Shazhu, and they are all people who are useful to them.

As for He Yushui, this poor girl is someone else's woman after all, and she didn't take this little girl seriously.

After Yang Xiaotao had dinner, he lay on the bed and chatted with Xiaowei for a while. Of course, most of the time it was Yang Xiaotao who was talking about the New Year, while Xiaowei was listening.

I don't know if I understand it, or what kind of mobile phone, online game, or computer I am listening to, and I don't know if I understand it.

In short, this night, listening to the sound of snow falling outside, talking nonsense, dreaming about things in another world.

It was dawn, and the sky and the earth were all white.

This year is a small year, and the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month is New Year's Eve.

When I woke up in the morning, the sky had cleared up. Last night, the snow was as heavy as goose feathers, and it reached my ankles when I went out.

Yang Xiaotao took a wooden board and piled the snow in the yard to the corner. If it was in the countryside before, the snow would be a natural refrigerator. Put the New Year's goods in it, and you can eat it until the next year.

It's just that in this age, there isn't much food to eat, not to mention that Yang Xiaotao still has a storage space, where time stands still and will not rot for years.

The thick snow was pushed aside, and then the yard was swept clean with a bald sweeping pole.

Uncle Chen next door also got up to sweep the snow. Yesterday he and his wife went to a friend's house as guests, and only heard the news from the neighbors' gossip when they came back at night.

"Boy, I heard what happened yesterday."

"That bad guy Lao Yi vomited blood from anger?"

Uncle Chen stretched out his thumb as he spoke, with a very proud face on his face.

Yang Xiaotao also showed interest, obviously the older generation knew a lot about Yi Zhonghai.

It's a pity that Uncle Chen didn't want to say more, after the two cleaned up the yard, Uncle Chen asked him to go to the house to celebrate the New Year today, but Yang Xiaotao refused.

After all, this is his first year in this world.

Uncle Chen didn't say much, anyway, it's not far away, so he just sent a bowl of dumplings the next day.

After the yard was cleaned up, Yang Xiaotao went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some coal. It's too cold this winter, so it's okay to prepare more.

Then I read a book at home to pass the time.

In the front yard, the third master swept the front of the door clean, set up a square table with red paper on it, and an old inkstone next to it, holding a brush in his hand, standing in front of the table to brew feelings.

Many people stayed at the table, waiting for the completion of the work, and then left a handful of peanuts or a handful of melon seeds, put them in a porcelain basin aside, took home the couplets representing the festival, and pasted them on the mottled wooden door.

To celebrate the new year, couplets will be pasted on the door to pray for a prosperous life in the coming year.

As for Yang Xiaotao, there is no need. The father in the family passed away, and according to the custom, he will not be popular this year.

After working for a long time, the color of the whole courtyard changed.

The couplets were posted, and the children bought small firecrackers with the money they begged from their parents. In the yard and alleys, there were noises everywhere, the sounds of joy.

Yang Xiaotao stood in the yard for a while, feeling the disappearing flavor of the previous life, wanting to blend into it and be happy, but a fear rose in his heart.

"Perhaps, it's because I'm really afraid of blending in."

Yang Xiaotao laughed at himself, "A ridiculous traveler."

In the afternoon, the flavor of the new year was stronger, and people always smiled when they met. Even the mean Jia Zhang was talking and laughing with everyone in the yard.

Of course, she can't change her narrow mind of taking advantage of small things. She can't say a word in three sentences, she just talks baldly, and she often swears.

Yang Xiaotao also saw Silly Zhu. Although his nose was bruised and his face was swollen, he picked it up at home and prepared to celebrate the New Year.

After Yang Xiaotao thought for a while, he thought of the deaf old lady.

This old guy has some favors in this forty-nine city, so she should be the one who made the move.

When Sha Zhu saw Yang Xiaotao, he couldn't hide the disgust and hatred in his eyes, but he held back.

I don't know if it's the Chinese New Year or someone warned him, in short, if Sha Zhu doesn't come to make trouble, Yang Xiaotao won't make trouble by himself.

In the evening, Uncle Chen came to invite again, but Yang Xiaotao still refused.

In the courtyard, the cheerful atmosphere began to diffuse, and soon brought out the taste of the new year.

Silly Zhu led He Yushui to the uncle's house, prepared a table of big dishes, and even brought Jia's family over, plus the deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai's house was considered the most lively place.

Of course, the same is true in other people's homes. Only in the corner of the ear room, the cold candlelight illuminates the empty room, and one person quietly appreciates the New Year's Eve that has disappeared from memory.

Yang Xiaotao kept watch until twelve o'clock, and then stewed all the meat he bought, and asked him to make dumplings, probably not even the noodles.

Although the craftsmanship is not good, it is always right to remember to 'add more salt', so this year, I quietly spent the year in the salty pork stewed cabbage.

Of course, it cannot be said to be alone, because there is another Xiaowei on Yang Xiaotao's chest.

The current Xiaowei is Yang Xiaotao's relative.

(End of this chapter)