Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

After returning from the Mining Machinery Factory, Yu Haitang stayed there, Zhang Dabao left his tricycle at the factory and drove away the American-made pickup truck of the Mining Machinery Factory.

The car is very rugged, in line with the design concept of Da Piaoliang. It is used as an office car by the machinery factory and is well maintained.

Arriving at the gate of No. 95 Courtyard, Zhang Dabao checked the condition of the car and went back to the house to prepare things. He had to bring some gifts to his future father-in-law, such as two bottles of wine, some canned food, snacks, etc. He also prepared some food for the three of them on the road. It was convenient to drive by himself and he could bring more things. He took out a blank letter of introduction from the space, used one from the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, and wrote that the three of them were going to Baoding to buy donkey meat for food and accommodation. He also prepared one from the Public Security Bureau to use when he went to find He Daqing.

After lunch, just as I was about to take a rest, Jia Dongxu ran in and said, "Seventh Uncle, did you change your car? This car looks better than your tricycle."

"This is a car, of course it's better than a motorcycle. It's borrowed from another factory. Aren't we going to Baoding early tomorrow morning?" Zhang Dabao said.

"By the way, I haven't heard of anyone owning a car. Uncle Qi, is this car comfortable to sit in?" Jia Dongxu asked again.

"The keys are on the table. Open the door and sit on it for a while. Don't start the car randomly. If it breaks down, we can't afford the compensation. A car costs at least 10,000 or 20,000 yuan." Zhang Dabao didn't want to talk to Jia Dongxu anymore and pointed to the car keys on the table.

"I'll go and try it out." Jia Dongxu picked up the key and ran out happily.

You can't take a nap too long, the more you sleep, the more sleepy you will feel. It was rare that Jia Dongxu had some peace and quiet this afternoon. It was almost five o'clock when Zhang Dabao woke up. After washing his face, he was still a little sleepy, so he sat on the mat at the door and stared blankly.

It was past five in the afternoon and the sun had not set yet, but the temperature was no longer hot. The entrance of No. 95 Courtyard became busy as people came back from get off work and school.

"Grandma, the car," Bang Geng said, pointing at the car parked at the gate of the yard.

"It's really a car. I've never ridden in a car before. Dabiao said he wanted to borrow a car to go to Baoding tomorrow," said Zhang Cuihua.

"Is Dongxu in the car?" Zhang Lianhua saw someone in the car pretending to drive.

"It's my dad, I want to drive too." Bang Geng was very happy. He ran to the car and knocked on the door. Zhang Cuihua and others also walked over.

"Dongxu, come down quickly and let the stick open," said Zhang Cuihua.

"Mom, I haven't learned it yet?" Jia Dongxu didn't want to come down.

"How old are you? Let Dabiao teach you later. Now let Banggeng and Jingshu take the lead," Zhang Cuihua said to her son with a frown.

Jia Dongxu had no choice but to get down from the car. Bang Geng and Jia Jingshu also sat in the cab, and Zhang Cuihua also squeezed in. Then Yan Jiekuang, Yan Jiedi, Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, Guo Xiaobao, Niu Xiaozheng and others climbed into the truck bed. Jia Dongxu had the car keys in his hand, but there was no place for him in the car.

Both adults and children were very excited and played in the car for nearly an hour. After getting off the car, Bang Geng was still not satisfied and said to Zhang Cuihua, "Grandma, I want to drive a car when I grow up. I will take you wherever you go."

"Will you be able to drive a car when you grow up? Who will teach you?" Jia Dongxu made a sarcastic remark when he heard his son's words.

"Jia Dongxu, if you can't speak, just shut your mouth. Can't you let your grandson coax me? Didn't you tell me when I was a child that you would let me eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks every day? Have you done it?" Zhang Cuihua was very angry when she heard what Jia Dongxu said.

"You're eating well now, but you don't want to drink," Jia Dongxu muttered.

"I'm eating well now, is it because of you? How capable are you? Don't you know your own limits? If I rely on you, I can't even get sweet potatoes. I've been working for so many years, but I haven't made any progress. In the factory, I don't even dare to say that I'm Jia Dongxu's mother, people just laugh at me." Zhang Cuihua became more and more angry as she spoke, and she slapped Jia Dongxu on the back again, causing him to quickly run to the backyard.

"Dongxu, what's going on? Why is it so busy at the gate of the courtyard?" Jia Dongxu put the car keys on the table, and Zhang Dabao asked Jia Dongxu.

"Everyone saw me in the car and sat down to try it out. Uncle Qi, please teach me how to drive. It will be more impressive if I deliver the mail by car," Jia Dongxu said with a look of longing.

"Dongxu, I can teach you how to drive, but it seems that it is not easy for you to drive to deliver a letter. Does your unit have a car? Director Shi rides a bicycle every day. Will he let you drive even if he has a car?" Zhang Dabao looked at his naive nephew and pulled him back from his fantasy.

"Yes, we don't have a car in our office. There are only two small cars in the bureau, and they are only used by the directors when they have something to do." Jia Dongxu returned to reality.

"Dongxu, have you discovered that you have some talent in cooking? Why don't you take Brother Zhuzi as your master and learn some skills from him after get off work?" Zhang Dabao thought that Jia Dongxu was a foodie, so he made some suggestions.

"I want Sha Zhu to be my master? How is that possible?" Jia Dongxu looked reluctant.

"What's the big deal? He will be your uncle and teacher in the future, so what? Think about it carefully. This time I plan to bring back some donkey meat from Baoding. The donkey meat hotpot there is delicious, even better than roujiamo," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu.

"Really? It's better than roujiamo? It must be so delicious!" Jia Dongxu's face was full of longing.

"We will cook the meat and make steamed buns ourselves then. Let Zhuzi teach you the skill of making steamed buns. You can make it whenever you want to eat it." Zhang Dabao had to use his secret weapon to tempt Jia Dongxu with delicious food.

"Good idea, let's do it." Jia Dongxu became happy again.

While eating, Jia Dongxu said to Zhang Cuihua, "Mom, you said I have nothing to do this afternoon, how about..."

"No, do you want to go fishing with Old Yan again? Dongxu, please spare me. I am old and can't stand the hard work. Whenever you go fishing, you either fall into the water or catch a cold and are hospitalized. There is not a single fish, and it is not even enough to treat your shock." Zhang Cuihua flatly rejected Jia Dongxu's request.

"I'm not going fishing, Mom. Please listen to me. How about I learn some skills from Zhuzi? My seventh uncle said that they are going to Baoding tomorrow and will bring back donkey meat. Donkey meat hot pot is even more delicious than roujiamo. Let Zhuzi teach me the skill of making steamed buns. I can make them whenever I want to eat them," said Jia Dongxu.

"Is there any huoshao that tastes better than roujiamo?" Banggeng was tempted and drooled subconsciously.

"There are so many good things. When I was in the hospital, my seventh uncle brought me some steamed dumplings filled with meat. They were all stuffed. One bite at a time, and the oil was flowing out of your mouth. You can't imagine how delicious they are." Jia Dongxu I told my son the details of eating steamed dumplings. Who told him to tell me to eat this and that every day, and not to leave any for me, but only to make his father greedy.

"Dad, where can I buy this soup dumplings?" Banggeng asked Jia Dongxu.

"How should I know? I didn't buy it. Zhuzi should also be able to make Xiaolongbao. I feel my seventh uncle can make it too," Jia Dongxu said in a low voice.

"Learning a skill is a good thing. Zhuzi is going to marry your aunt in the fall, and he will be your uncle in the future. It's not shameful to take your uncle as your teacher. You won't study for seven or eight years and still not be able to pass the tenth-level chef certificate, right?" Zhang Cuihua mocked her son again.

"Mom, what are you talking about? My seventh uncle said that I have some talent in cooking," Jia Dongxu said dissatisfiedly.

"Old Yi said the same thing when you entered the factory. What about now?" Zhang Cuihua said this and continued eating, leaving Jia Dongxu speechless.