Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

Jia Dongxu had already agreed with Zhang Dabao to return to Jiajia Village. Originally, Zhang Cuihua had no plan to return to Jiajia, but now that she had become a cadre and most importantly, she had been commended, she felt that she had to talk to Jia Youfu about it.

"You are really redundant. Why do you let brother-in-law Youfu listen to this? Do you want him to feel ashamed of himself? How long has he worked in the factory? He worked from before liberation to after liberation, and he was never commended until his death, let alone a cadre." Zhang Dabao couldn't help but mocked Zhang Cuihua when he saw her like this.

"Da Biao, you don't understand this. Youfu was good to me before, but he was the one who supported the family. When he left, he was worried about us two, afraid that we wouldn't live well. Today I want to tell him that I, Zhang Cuihua, can do it too," said Zhang Cuihua.

"I know you are good. Is there anyone in Hongxing Street who doesn't know your name? Have you prepared your things? You must bring something when you go to Brother Youcai's place. Are there any elder relatives in the village? You and your mother are just going back home with your heads tucked under your arms for the New Year?" Zhang Dabao said a few more words to Zhang Cuihua.

"Thanks for reminding me. Dongxu's ninth grandfather is a blessed cousin. He should visit him during the New Year. I'll go get some things." Zhang Cuihua thought of an elder in Jiajia Village.

"Dongxu, think about it again. It is better to miss a group than to miss one person. Others will find fault with you." Zhang Dabao instructed his eldest nephew again.

"Or, I'll go visit Seventh Grandpa. He's my grandfather's cousin, very close. Ninth Grandpa is my grandfather's uncle. These are the only two elders in our branch now," Jia Dongxu asked Zhang Dabao.

"If you want to go, just go. Why are you asking me? There are two of us in total, and not a large number. Does your family need these things?" Zhang Dabao couldn't help but kick Jia Dongxu.

Zhang Cuihua and her son packed their things, and Zhang Dabao took them to the countryside, first sending them to Jiajia Village, and then Zhang Dabao returned to Zhangjia Village.

"Third Uncle" Jia Dongxu returned to the village and found that the New Year atmosphere was not very strong. Not to mention being happy, there were not many people on the streets.

"Sister-in-law, you and Dongxu are back?" Jia Youcai opened the door and saw his sister-in-law and nephew.

"Youcai, the village doesn't look lively this year," Zhang Cuihua said when she came home.

"Sister-in-law, everyone is hungry, how can we be in the mood to have fun? How can we be happy even if we are poor? We don't have the strength. Will you and Dongxu come back to visit the grave?" Jia Youcai asked.

"Yes, let me see Youfu. Where are the things Dongxu gave to your third uncle? Bring them here. Take those things to your seventh grandfather and ninth grandfather. Go quickly and come back soon. When you come back, we will go to see your grandparents and your father," said Zhang Cuihua.

Jia Dongxu nodded, called his third uncle's younger brother Dongzheng, and the two of them went out.

"Youcai, is life still difficult this year?" When Zhang Cuihua saw the furnishings in her brother-in-law's house and her sister-in-law lying on the bed, she knew that they were not having a good time.

"It's been too dry this year, but luckily we planted some sweet potatoes in our village. The village is close to the mountains, so we can get some food from the mountains. Life has been hard, but fortunately no one has starved to death. Now you're a worker, and Dongxu's wife has also found a job, so your life is getting better," Jia Youcai said to his sister-in-law and sighed.

"It's all thanks to Dongxu's seventh uncle, otherwise, we would have a hard time. I brought some flour and two pounds of meat. Let's make some dumplings for the children. Where's Aunt Dongxu? Let her get up," said Zhang Cuihua.

Jia Youcai saw that his nephew and sister-in-law brought a lot of food to their family, including flour and dough, and most importantly, a piece of meat. He hadn't eaten meat for two years. Last year, after the village distributed the meat from the New Year pig, he exchanged it for food. This year, the village's New Year pig was not raised and died of illness, resulting in no meat to be distributed in the village this year.

"Mother, get up. My sister-in-law has brought meat and flour. Let's make some dumplings." Jia Youcai went to the inner room and woke up his wife and daughter.

Jia Dongxu went to his two grandfathers' homes, exchanged greetings for a while, and then returned to his third uncle's home. Jia Youcai took a piece of paper from home and went up the mountain with Jia Dongxu and his mother.

As soon as she entered the ancestral tomb of Jiajia Village, Zhang Cuihua could no longer suppress her inner emotions. She ran a few steps, lay down on Jia Youfu's grave, and then cried "Youfu, Youfu" over and over again.

After Jia Dongxu finished visiting the graves of his ancestors, his mother was still crying at his father's grave. "Mom, don't cry. My dad heard everything you said. He will definitely be happy when he knows how we live now." Jia Dongxu came to persuade his mother.

"Sister-in-law, the ground is too cold. It would be bad if you catch a cold. Get up quickly. Brother will be so happy when he knows you come to see him," said Jia Youcai.

"Youcai, you said that your eldest brother died at the age of 37 and never had a good life. Now that life is better, he can't see it anymore," Zhang Cuihua asked Jia Youcai.

Jia Youcai was speechless. How could he answer such a question? But it was true that his elder brother had not had a good life. Jia Youfu had never enjoyed a single day of happiness. He really did not live up to the name Youfu.

"Uncle San, do you think there is something wrong with the name my great-grandfather gave me?" Jia Dongxu suddenly thought of this question.

"What do you mean?" Jia Youcai asked his nephew.

"Look at the names your great-grandfather gave you, Youfu, Youwang, and Youcai, but our surname is Jia. My father's name was Youfu, but he never enjoyed a happy day. My second uncle's name was Youwang, who was prosperous, but he only had two daughters. Now that he is dead, his two younger sisters have followed their aunt, and our family is now extinct. Your name is Youcai, but does your family situation have anything to do with wealth?" said Jia Dongxu.

"Stop nagging about your mother. Your great-grandfather is right here. Why don't you go and ask him?" Zhang Cuihua was a little angry when she heard her son asking his third uncle this question in this situation.

"Sister-in-law, don't talk about Dongxu. I think what he said makes sense. Our name is very auspicious, but our surname is Jia after all. I think our family is getting poorer and poorer. How about I change my name?" Jia Youcai said to Zhang Cuihua.

"Youcai, is it up to me whether you change your name or not? The person who gave you the name is lying there," said Zhang Cuihua.

"Let me think about it again. When I have time, I will go ask Uncle Seven and Uncle Nine. It doesn't matter if I suffer, but I can't let the children suffer with me. Do you think it's okay for me to change my name to Shitou?" Jia Youcai took Jia Dongxu's words to heart.

Zhang Cuihua said nothing, but hit her son's back twice as punishment for talking nonsense.

Jia Dongxu was a little speechless after being slapped twice. He just said it casually, but who would have thought that his third uncle would take it seriously? It's easy for you to change your name, but how about my father? How about my second uncle?