Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

After having dinner at Zhang Daliu's house and resting for a while, Zhang Dabao came to the road leading to Qinjiagou. At around two o'clock, the Qin sisters came down and got into the car under the escort of Qin Minghui and his brother.

"Minghui, you guys go back." Zhang Dabao got out of the car and greeted the two of them. He put the local specialties they brought from their mother's home into the car, and went to the village to pick up Zhang Lianhua, He Yuzhu and Xiaodang. He returned to Compound No. 95 at around four o'clock in the afternoon.

"Seventh Uncle, how much did Zhuzi drink?" Jia Dongxu went home early. When he got home, only his son was at home. His wife and two daughters were not there. He felt a little uncomfortable, so he waited at the gate of the courtyard. As soon as he opened the car door, He Yuzhu came out staggeringly.

"Your uncle-in-law is an honored guest, you know that? Your uncles and three grandfathers should have a good drink with him, right?" Zhang Dabao said.

"I'm visiting my uncle's house, why is there no one to have a drink with me?" Jia Dongxu said dissatisfiedly.

"You are the nephew, is the nephew a distinguished guest? The nephew is a dog, he just eats and leaves, don't you know this? Whoever drinks with you, it's good enough if they provide meals," said Zhang Dabao.

Zhang Lianhua and Qin Huairu laughed when they heard Zhang Dabao's words.

"Next time I go to my uncle's house, I'll ask Zhuzi to come along." Jia Dongxu immediately thought of a good idea.

"Dongxu is smart. But doesn't your mother forbid you to drink?" Zhang Dabao also laughed and asked Jia Dongxu by the way.

"My mother doesn't allow me to drink too much, but it's okay to have one or two cups," Jia Dongxu smiled awkwardly.

"Dongxu, I have a business trip tomorrow. I have a lot of meat in my kitchen. I should have brought it back to my hometown today, but I forgot about it when I went to borrow a car early in the morning. Take it to your sixth uncle and his family. Your eldest aunt has also arrived in the city. Call your mother and your aunt, and go have dinner with them," Zhang Dabao instructed Jia Dongxu.

"Seventh Uncle, there is a lot of meat in your kitchen, but you may not be able to use it all," said Jia Dongxu.

"Just divide it up if you don't need to write anything. Share it equally among the families. I'm coming back from a business trip and should be able to bring back some local specialties or something. You don't have to leave any for me," said Zhang Dabao.

"Seventh Uncle, did you drink tomato soup yesterday?" Jia Dongxu followed Zhang Dabao to his home.

"Look at how ugly you look. What's so good about tomato soup? Let's make hot and sour soup tonight. It's sour and spicy, appetizing, nutritious, and can warm the stomach and drive away the cold. For people like you and Zhuzi who love to drink, it's great. A bowl of soup after a few drinks will make your stomach feel good," said Zhang Dabao.

"I don't know how to do it," Jia Dongxu said anxiously.

"Telling you this dish means I know how to make it. Cut some meat into shreds. There's a piece of tofu inside, I'll take it out and shred it as well. There's no ham, forget it, I won't use it. Cut two carrots into shreds and soak some black fungus and cut them into shreds. I'll tell you how to make it later. Make more and give each person two bowls," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu.

After receiving the order, Jia Dongxu took the tofu to Zhang Dabao's kitchen and started to get busy.

Qin Jingru steamed some buns made of two tbsp flour, and under the guidance of Zhang Dabao, Jia Dongxu made a big pot of hot and sour soup. He Yuzhu, who had drunk too much, drank two bowls of it directly and kept praising it for being delicious.

"I couldn't even imagine the life I have now in the past. Let alone eating well, I couldn't even think about having enough," said Zhang Cuihua after she had her fill.

"Sister, this shows that you have finally gotten what you deserved after all the hard work. I have told my uncle and my grandparents about what happened to you today. They will definitely be proud of you," said Zhang Dabao.

"Da Biao, you said that life is getting better and better. These days, I think of Youfulai every day. What do you think is going on?" Zhang Cuihua asked.

"Why do you miss him? Isn't the New Year almost here? Let Dongxu and you go back to take another look before the New Year. You should have a good talk with Jia Youfu. He is still lucky. I have never seen such an unlucky person," said Zhang Dabao.

"Seventh uncle, I always feel that there is something wrong with the names my great-grandfather gave to people like my father," said Jia Dongxu.

"Didn't your mother tell you? If you find a problem, you must correct it. Go back and tell Brother Youcai to change his name to Wucai. How about that? Look at his family. They still have the nerve to call themselves Youcai, but they are so poor. It doesn't matter whether your father and Brother Youwang change their names or not," said Zhang Dabia with a smile.

"Is it inappropriate for me to ask my third uncle to change his name?" Jia Dongxu said after thinking for a while.

"If you know it's not good, just shut your stinky mouth. Dongxu, are you free? Or are you itching to do this again? You keep doing this kind of nonsense every day." Zhang Cuihua became angry again.

"Mom, I'm just talking, that's all," Jia Dongxu quickly explained.

"Do you have the right to say the names of your father, your second uncle and your third uncle? Who do you think you are? When you are really successful, see that your younger brothers are not doing well at home, and give them a hand. This is a serious matter. You don't want to work hard, and you want to change your father's name every day. You are really a good son." Zhang Cuihua scolded Jia Dongxu.

"If you change my grandfather's name, I will change your name too when you die." Banggeng immediately stood up to support his grandmother.

Zhang Dabao and He Yuzhu couldn't help laughing, "Can't we be quiet when having a meal with you guys? Each generation is more filial than the last," Zhang Dabao said with a smile.

"Bang Geng, don't you get a certificate? Go get your results tomorrow and the teacher will give out certificates. If you can't get the certificate, I'll show you how I'm going to deal with you," Jia Dongxu said angrily.

"What if I can get a certificate?" Banggeng asked Jia Dongxu.

"Then I'll give you two cents," Jia Dongxu offered.

"Dad, I'm raising geese with my seventh uncle. We earned more than ten yuan in the past few months. I don't care about three or two cents. You got the certificate, so you can save money to buy a bicycle for grandma. I will also take out all my money," said Bang Geng.

"Give the bicycle to your grandma? She doesn't know how to ride it, and we don't have a ticket," said Jia Dongxu.

"I sponsored the tickets," said Zhang Dabao.

"No, my mother is so fat. If she falls off her bicycle, it will be very serious and she will have to see a doctor. No, it is absolutely not possible," Jia Dongxu shook his head repeatedly.

"Jia Dongxu, you bastard, you are worse than a child. If I had known you were this kind of person, I should have thrown you into the toilet and drowned you when you were born." Zhang Cuihua was almost angry to death when she heard what her son said.

"Mom, I don't have the money to pay back. It's only two dollars a month. I'm not as rich as Banggeng," Jia Dongxu said aggrievedly.

"Who told you to spend money recklessly? You deserve it," Zhang Cuihua said angrily.

"Okay, I also don't think it's appropriate to buy a bicycle for your mother. I think we can consider buying a tricycle, which is the same as the carts on the street, but smaller, with a cargo box at the back that can pull people and is very stable to ride. I can assemble it. Dongxu, take out the money from your small treasury, and add Banggeng's money. Your mother can pay for the remaining money herself. Go to the store to buy spare parts, and I will assemble it for you when I come back from my business trip," said Zhang Dabia.

"This is a good idea. I will buy some accessories for Lotus, and then you and Da Biao can assemble it together," said He Yuzhu.

Everyone said this was a good idea, but Jia Dongxu held his pockets tightly. He had saved a total of eight yuan and sixty cents, but it seemed he could not keep it.