Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

Seeing Jia Dongxu and Banggeng kneeling down and kowtow, Zhang Dabao smiled and said, "It seems that your mother has instructed you after she returned. I remember that when you were a child, you never kowtowed to your uncles when you returned to the village with Jia Youfu. You have made progress. If anyone says that Zhang Cuihua cannot teach children in the future, I will not agree."

"Get up quickly." Zhang Lianhua pulled Jia Dongxu and Banggeng up and asked them to sit down.

Zhang Dabao took out a handful of money from his pocket and gave two one-dollar bills to Banggeng and two one-dollar bills to Xiaodang. "This is New Year's money for the two children. Your aunt and I give it to the children. Is this your wife?" Zhang Dabao pointed at Qin Huairu and asked Jia Dongxu.

"Seventh Uncle" Qin Huairu quickly stood up and greeted him.

"This is the first time you bring your wife here, so this is a little gift from your aunt and I. There won't be any more if you come again." Zhang Dabao gave Qin Huairu two more one-yuan bills.

"Seventh Uncle, I want it," Qin Huairu quickly declined.

"This is the rule. It's the same when you go to my uncle's house in Zhangjia Village. The amount of money may be different, but you have to give something. Just accept it." Zhang Dabao pushed the money over again.

Qin Huairu glanced at Jia Dongxu, who nodded, indicating that she could accept it. Qin Huairu then put the money in her pocket.

"Dongxu, I heard that you are a fitter?" Zhang Dabao sat down and started chatting with his nephew.

"I'm a fitter. I'm taking over my father's job." Jia Dongxu was still a little restrained.

"Banggeng and aunt, have some snacks. Second sister, where is the egg cake I bought yesterday? Take it out and let the children have it." Zhang Dabao saw that Banggeng's eyes were fixed on the peach cake on the table.

"Uncle Seventh, what is egg cake?" Banggeng became interested.

"It's a pastry made of eggs, sugar and flour. Eat two and play with your aunt in the yard. Keep an eye on her. Although she is your aunt, she is only three years old." Zhang Dabao is very interested in the current Banggeng.

Now Banggeng speaks in an organized manner, his eyes look around, and he looks like a naughty child at first glance, but I don’t know if he has started stealing things.

"Huairu, Xiaodang can also eat a little," Zhang Lianhua said when she saw the child Qin Huairu was holding.

"Okay, auntie." Qin Huairu also reached out and took a piece.

Jia Jingshu and Banggeng ate a few pieces of egg cake and went out to play games at the door. Zhang Lianhua and Qin Huairu were also talking about something on the little birthday.

Zhang Dabiao continued to ask Jia Dongxu, "Dongxu, how do fitters get paid?"

"My seventh uncle is paid according to his work level. An eighth-level worker earns 99 yuan a month. My master is an eighth-level worker, and there are three of them in the factory," Jia Dongxu said proudly.

"Really? That's amazing. A good teacher produces good students. It seems that Dongxu, you are not bad either. You have been in the factory for more than six years, and now you are a fourth-level worker?" Zhang Dabao asked.

"It's not level 4. My level is not good enough." Jia Dongxu lowered his head.

"Level three is fine. People in their twenties and twenties are pretty much at this level," said Zhang Dabao.

"It's not even level three yet." Jia Dongxu's voice became even lower.

"Second-level worker?" Zhang Dabao's voice became louder. "You can't do that. There are no masters who are eighth-level workers. After working for five or six years, they can become third-level workers."

"Seventh Uncle, I didn't pass the second level exam, I'm still a first level worker." If Zhang Dabao didn't have good hearing, he would not have heard what Jia Dongxu said.

"You haven't even passed the second level. You've been a first level worker for more than six years. Dongxu, tell me if that bastard master didn't teach you well. Who is he? I can't kill him." Zhang Dabao was angry.

"Seventh uncle, it has nothing to do with my master. He taught me very hard, but I just couldn't learn it. I learned it today, but I will forget it tomorrow," Jia Dongxu said awkwardly.

"Company commander..." Huang Xinsheng arrived and changed the subject.

Zhang Dabao went out and saw his comrades and was very happy, "Xinsheng, I guessed you would come today, come in quickly."

"What's this, Company Commander?" Huang Xinsheng saw Jia Dongxu sitting in the room.

"This is my eldest sister's son. He lives in the Central Courtyard. He is a guest at our home today. Dongxu, this is my comrade-in-arms, my brother in life and death. You can call him uncle," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu.

"Uncle" Jia Dongxu stood up and recognized another uncle who was six or seven years younger than him.

"Hello Dongxu, I live here too. Company commander, which room is mine?" Huang Xinsheng asked.

"East wing, the second and third rooms from the north, put your things down. Use the firewood in the corridor to heat the kang first, otherwise it will be cold in the room at night." Zhang Dabao found the key to Huang Xinsheng's door.

Huang Xinsheng went to put things away and heat the kang, and Zhang Dabao returned to the room.

"Seventh Uncle, are you the company commander?" Jia Dongxu asked.

"I was a company commander in the army, and now I've transferred to the factory. We'll be co-workers in the future. I'm in the supply and marketing department, and Xinsheng is in the security department. Dongxu, call your mother to come for dinner later. Don't let her cook. Just ask your aunt to do more," said Zhang Dabao.

"Okay, Uncle Seventh," Jia Dongxu agreed.

Zhang Lianhua and Qin Huairu started cooking. They steamed buns made from two-grain flour. There was only one dish, which was stewed cabbage with meat and vermicelli.

Zhang Lianhua cut the meat, sautéed it with scallions and ginger, then put the meat in and stir-fried it. After the fat came out, she added the cabbage and stir-fried it slightly, then added water and vermicelli and covered the pot.

The fragrance rose from the courtyard. He Yuzhu from the central courtyard kept grumbling at home that such good meat was fried and not cooked well, and the seasoning was not right. It was such a waste.

"Are you sick? People can do whatever they want to do. What does it have to do with you?" He Yushui was a little angry when she saw her brother like this.

"What do you know? It's a pity that such good ingredients are not prepared well." He Yuzhu was a little crazy.

"Da Biao actually cooked meat to entertain Dongxu? But I haven't eaten meat for a long time," Zhang Cuihua thought at home when she smelled the fragrance.

At this time, the door opened and Jia Dongxu came in.

"Dongxu, isn't your seventh uncle cooking?" Zhang Cuihua didn't understand why her son came back.

"Didn't my seventh uncle ask me to invite you to have dinner together? Do you want to go?" Jia Dongxu asked his mother.

"Of course I'll go. Is the meat cooked by your seventh uncle?" Zhang Cuihua asked.

"Of course, Mom. My seventh uncle and my aunt gave Banggeng and Xiaodang one dollar each, and also gave Huairu one dollar each. Don't forget to give your cousin New Year's money when you go there," Jia Dongxu instructed his mother.

"What? One dollar per person? You're so generous. Look, I told you to go buy something, but you didn't go. Are you at a disadvantage?" Zhang Cuihua's mouth was crooked with smile.

"I was wrong, go quickly." Jia Dongxu immediately admitted his mistake and urged his mother.

"You go out first, I need to get the money." Zhang Cuihua pushed Jia Dongxu out of the door, took out two dollars from her own small treasury, then looked at the door and hid the money again.