Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

Jia Dongxu knew that he had not performed well at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. When his mother said this, he instantly lost his temper and started putting firewood into the stove.

"Don't learn from your father," Zhang Cuihua said to her grandson.

"I don't want to learn from my father. I want to learn from my great-uncle and become a factory manager," said Banggeng.

"Banggeng, didn't you plan to be a third-level worker when you grew up? Why did you change your ambition?" He Yuzhu asked.

"There are many third-level workers in the factory, but not many factory directors. The factory directors are so powerful and have cars. When I had the car, I would take my grandma back and forth and never let her walk at all," said Bang Geng.

"You are really a good grandson of your grandma, but you have to let your grandma walk for a while, otherwise she won't be able to get into the car door," said Zhang Dabao.

"Why?" Bang Geng asked.

"She's so fat that she can't even get in. Banggeng, you're so stupid. Look how fat my aunt is now. If you don't let her walk, won't she get even fatter?" Jia Jingshu told Banggeng the answer.

There were quite a few people at the backyard door, and they laughed loudly.

"Mom, you are really a little fat. You should eat less in the future. It's good for your health," Jia Dongxu advised.

"Fuck it, did I eat your food? Do I need you to tell me?" Zhang Cuihua was already a little embarrassed and annoyed, and when she heard Jia Dongxu say that again, she had a place to vent her anger. She slapped Jia Dongxu and sent him to the central courtyard.

"Dongxu, did you make your mother angry again?" Yi Zhonghai was resting at the door after dinner. He had not been to work during this period because of a broken leg, and he had a rare few days of quiet time. Also, because Jia Dongxu promised to take care of him in his old age, he felt much better.

So I ate more and slept better. Yesterday, I looked at myself and found that I had a small belly. Maybe this is what it means to be fat and happy.

"How dare I mess with her? My mother has a very bad temper. She beats me if we disagree with each other. I'm over 20 years old, but she still treats me like a child," Jia Dongxu said to Yi Zhonghai aggrievedly.

"It must be you. You said something your mother didn't want to hear. She is old, so you have to be careful about the way you speak. Is Da Biao back?" Yi Zhonghai asked.

"Really? Uncle Seventh brought back horse meat, and Zhuzi is cooking it. I just want my mother to eat less. She is so fat now. Is it good for her health to be fat?" Jia Dongxu said.

"Dongxu, as the saying goes, being obedient is a sign of filial piety. You don't speak with much force in front of your mother, so just say less," Yi Zhonghai advised his apprentice.

"Okay, Master," Jia Dongxu agreed.

At this time, Qin Huairu and He Yushui came back from get off work, and Jia Dongxu returned to the backyard with them.

"Brother Dabiao" He Yushui was very happy to see Zhang Dabiao, but there were too many people here, so she could only call him.

Zhang Dabao smiled and nodded.

Huang Xinsheng came back after Dongxu returned. After coming back, he circled around Zhang Dabao twice. "Xinsheng, why are you like Dongxu, so nervous?" Zhang Dabao asked.

"Brother, are you okay?" Huang Xinsheng must have heard something.

"Of course it's okay, don't worry." Zhang Dabao stood up and patted his shoulder.

Huang Xinsheng was relieved when he saw that Zhang Dabao could walk and thought to himself that he was quite strong.

The meat was cooked. Zhang Dabao tasted it and found it tasted okay. It seems that having cooking skills is good. Zhang Dabao gave about one pound to the Xu family, one pound to Guo Xiaobao, one pound to the Liu Guangtian brothers in the front yard, and one pound to the Niu family. As for the Yan family, I'm sorry, they are not friends now.

After dinner, Zhang Dabao talked to He Yushui for a while and told her that he planned to take her to visit her aunt's house on Sunday, which made He Yushui happy and nervous.

The next morning, Zhang Dabao rode his motorcycle back to Zhangjia Village.

Now there is still no rain in the fields, and the land has been turned over, but crops cannot be planted. The village chief Zhang Zhiling is particularly anxious, and of course the villagers are even more anxious, because if they cannot plant crops, there will be no harvest, and if there is no harvest, there will be no food, and everyone will starve to death.

Zhang Dasen’s wife was very ill and had blisters on her mouth. Zhang Dasen was also anxious, but not as anxious as his wife.

"Dasen, Dabao is back and has something to talk to you about." At this time, the village accountant Zhang Dagon came to the field and called Zhang Dasen.

"Da Biao is back. Why did he come back at such a strange time of year?" Zhang Dasen asked.

"He didn't say anything. You can find out if you go back and ask him," said Zhang Dagon.

"Okay, Brother Gong." Zhang Dasen packed up his tools, called his wife, and returned home.

"Sixth Brother, Sixth Sister-in-law" Zhang Dabao was waiting at the door of Zhang Dasen's house.

"Let's go in. I don't know where Lan Fang took Shouyang." Zhang Dasen said to himself when he saw the locked door.

"Doesn't Lan Fang go to school?" Zhang Dabao asked.

"Yes, it's hard to describe what I learned. There are no teachers in the village. Only Brother Da Gong teaches me sometimes," said Zhang Dasen.

"Brother Da Gong, isn't he an accountant? Isn't he busy in the village?" Zhang Dabao asked.

“How can I not be busy? How can the child be so obedient if I let him study on his own every day?” said Zhang Dasen’s wife.

The three of them returned to the house and sat down. Zhang Dabao went straight to the point, "Sixth brother, I have something to say. The day before yesterday, I went on a business trip and bought two horses. I had been planning to release them to the village to pull some things." Before Zhang Dabao could finish his words, he was interrupted by Sixth Sister-in-law.

"Don't let it go back. The village hasn't even planted sweet potatoes yet, and there's nothing to transport. Don't let them eat your horse," said Sixth Sister-in-law.

"Not planted yet?" Zhang Dabao was a little confused when he heard it.

"How to plant? There has been no rain since the New Year, and the seeds won't sprout without water," said Zhang Dasen.

"It will be troublesome if we can't plant it. I will ask someone later to see if there is any other way. Sixth brother, my cousin suggested making two horse-drawn carriages and going to Beijing to deliver goods to the coal factory and some units on the street. A team of two can earn dozens of dollars a month, which is enough for the family's food and drink," said Zhang Dabao.

"Da Biao, do you want your sixth brother to go?" Sixth sister-in-law stood up excitedly.

"Yes, isn't that why I came back? Just make two carriages out of wood. Sixth brother, you know a little bit about it, so you do it. You can see about calling three more people from the other brothers' homes. You decide among yourselves who to call, and you can split the money equally," said Zhang Dabao.

"Da Biao, the horse is yours, and the job depends on your connections. We just need to go there to eat, no need to pay," said Zhang Dasen.

"That won't work. Brothers have to settle accounts clearly. I'll buy you a few more tires. Ma will take 20%, and you two will each take 40%," said Zhang Dabao.

"No, you take half and we share the other half." Zhang Dasen didn't want to take advantage of his brother.

"Okay, stop earning money. I'll split the profits with you guys in half and we'll calculate it together at the end of the year." Zhang Dabiao decided on the profit sharing.

"Where will we live when we get there?" Zhang Dasen asked his brother.

"There is accommodation in the coal yard. If there is no street, we can arrange it. My aunt is the director of the street office. You prepare the car first. I will come again on Monday and bring the tires. You choose the people and I will take you there." Zhang Dabao's words relieved Zhang Dasen's heart.

Zhang Dabao and Zhang Dasen left after they finished talking. He wanted to go to the fields to see what the situation was. If the crops really couldn't be planted, who knows how many people in the village would die.