Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

"Comrade Dabiao, Comrade Xinsheng, please wait a moment." Director Wang Xiuqin and the staff took two quick steps and called out to Zhang Dabiao and Huang Xinsheng.

"Leader, is there something you can do for me?" Zhang Dabao and the other man stopped.

"I have something to tell you. I came to see you two combat heroes on behalf of the subdistrict office. This is a small gift." Director Wang took the two gifts from the staff and gave them to Zhang Dabao and Huang Xinsheng respectively.

"Thank you so much, leader. Please come home and have a drink of water," Zhang Dabao invited.

"Okay, I want to talk to you two too." Director Wang followed Zhang Dabao and Huang Xinsheng to Zhang Dabao's living room.

Little niece Jia Jingshu and Zhang Lianhua were waiting in the house for them to return from the meeting.

"Second sister, these are two leaders from the street office. Please make a pot of tea," Zhang Dabao made a brief introduction.

Zhang Lianhua put the child on the kang and went to the inner room to get some tea. When she poured tea for Director Wang and the staff, she looked at the two of them and wanted to say something, but she didn't say it. She also didn't go out, but sat aside.

"I heard from the comrades in the Armed Forces Department that Da Biao and Xinsheng were assigned to the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill?" Director Wang asked after taking a sip of tea.

"Yes, since I was still injured, the leader assigned me to the Supply and Marketing Department in order to take care of me, and the freshmen were assigned to the Security Department," said Zhang Dabao.

"Both are good. The tasks in the Supply and Marketing Department are a little heavier, but the working hours are flexible. The work in the Security Department is highly professional, and you retired soldiers will definitely be able to do it," Director Wang said to the two.

"Director Wang, are there any water pipe repairmen in our street? We just came here and are not very familiar with the place yet," asked Zhang Dabao.

"With such a master, you can go to work tomorrow. I will ask them to come to you in the evening," Director Wang agreed immediately.

"No need to do it at night, we can do it during the day. My second sister is at home, how can they ask for more money? Just come and fix it. Make it a most advanced one. The smell is too strong and I can't stand it," said Zhang Dabao with a smile.

"Are there two siblings in your family?" Director Wang asked with a smile.

"No, I am the only one in my family. This is my second uncle's elder sister. My mother passed away early, and my father also died when he was fifteen. I lived in my second uncle's house for a period of time, and it was my second sister who took care of me. She is closer to me than my own sister," said Zhang Dabao.

"Ah, you are also a miserable person," Director Wang said with a sigh.

"Director Wang, do you know someone named Wang Xiulan?" Zhang Lianhua spoke.

"Who are you talking about?" Director Wang stood up a little excitedly.

"Wang Xiulan? Her hometown is Wangjiazhuang, Luliang, Shanxi," said Zhang Lianhua.

"Good boy, where is she?" Director Wang grabbed Zhang Lianhua's hand and asked.

"She is dead. I feel that you look a lot like her. She is Da Biao's mother, my third aunt," said Zhang Lianhua.

"When did she die? My name is Wang Xiuqin, Xiulan is my sister, and she is five years younger than me." Wang Xiuqin's tears flowed down.

"I can't remember which year it was. My third aunt was a guerrilla. During a battle, she seemed to be injured by the Japanese explosion and died before she could be treated. Da Biao was only two years old at that time," said Zhang Lianhua.

"Dabia, Dabia..." Wang Xiuqin hugged Zhang Dabia and started crying.

It turned out that there was a disaster in their hometown in Shanxi at that time and people could not survive, so the two sisters went out to escape the famine. By chance, they joined the revolution. In Langfang, Hebei, Wang Xiu Lan fell ill and lived with the local villagers, while Wang Xiuqin followed the team. Since then, the two never met again.

After Wang Xiuqin and the others left, Wang Xiulan also left to find the team. She fainted at the entrance of Zhangjia Village and was rescued by Zhang Dabao's father. The two were of similar age, so they walked together and organized a guerrilla force in the mountains of Zhangjia Village until Wang Xiulan died.

"Xiu Lan...Da Biao" Wang Xiuqin was grief-stricken.

"Lotus, who is crying here? Didn't they say that the leader of the street office is here?" Zhang Cuihua pushed the door open and walked in with a stick.

"Sister, look who she is?" Zhang Lianhua pointed at Director Wang and asked Zhang Cuihua.

"Isn't this Director Wang from the Street Office? I know him. What's wrong with you, Director Wang?" Zhang Cuihua smiled awkwardly. She had been criticized by Director Wang many times, and she didn't even dare to look up at him when talking to him.

"Who do you think she looks like?" Zhang Lianhua continued to ask Zhang Cuihua.

"Who could she look like?" Zhang Cuihua raised her head and looked. "Hey, Lianhua, Director Wang and Third Aunt look a bit alike. Why didn't I notice it before?" Zhang Cuihua discovered the problem.

Director Wang wiped the tears from his eyes without saying anything and looked at Zhang Cuihua.

"My third aunt is Da Biao's mother, but she is an orphan," Zhang Cuihua quickly explained.

"She is not an orphan, she just hasn't found her family," Director Wang said in a hoarse voice.

"That's impossible. I've never seen Aunt San's family come to see her." Zhang Cuihua didn't quite believe what Director Wang said.

"Sister, this is Dabiao's aunt, her name is Wang Xiuqin." Zhang Lianhua pulled Zhang Cuihua.

"Really? My third aunt is Wang Xiulan, from Shanxi. I heard that there is no one left in her hometown, so my third uncle asked someone to go and see her," Zhang Lianhua continued.

"There is no one at home. I have never been back. I was the one who brought my younger sister out. When my mother left, she asked me to take good care of her. But who would have thought that the news I just got was that she was gone. If I go to the underworld in the future, how will I explain to the old people?" Wang Xiuqin's tears fell again.

"Aunt, my mother also sacrificed her life for the revolution. It was a glorious sacrifice. You don't have to be sad." Zhang Dabao did not expect this situation to happen. What was originally planned to be a visit of condolences turned out to be a scene of family reunion.

"By the way, Xiulan also left a big sign. I will definitely take good care of you," said Wang Xiuqin.

"Aunt, I don't need anyone to take care of me now. I'm already 21 years old. I'm very happy to hear the news about you. I'll go to see you on the weekend," said Zhang Dabao.

"Let's go tomorrow," said Wang Xiuqin.

"Tomorrow is my first day at work. It would not be good if I didn't go. I will live here from now on and we can meet often, don't you think?" Zhang Dabao said.

"Okay, I'll write down the address for you. Come over if you need anything. I'll ask the driver to pick you up on Sunday," said Wang Xiuqin.

"No need, I can go by myself," Zhang Dabao said with a smile.

They chatted for a while, and Zhang Dabao sent Wang Xiuqin out of the courtyard. He said, "Come early on Sunday," and got on his bicycle. Wang Xiuqin did not forget to remind him again.

"Okay, take care." Zhang Dabao didn't walk home until Wang Xiuqin and the other girl's bicycles were out of sight.

When I walked to the middle courtyard, I heard Jia Dongxu talking to Zhang Cuihua at his door in a quite loud voice.

"What are you arguing about?" Zhang Dabao walked over and asked.

"Da Biao, your aunt is gone?" Zhang Cuihua said.

"Mom, hurry up." It seemed that Jia Dongxu had drunk a little tonight. No wonder he was not seen during the meeting.

"What does he want?" Zhang Dabao asked again.

"You need money to play cards. Your family's financial situation is already poor, yet you go there every day to play cards." Zhang Cuihua also looked a little sad.