Siheyuan Back to the 1950s

On the way back, the family was talking and laughing. After a while, Lin Wenjun discovered something wrong. This road was not the road leading to the courtyard.

“Jungguk, where are we going? This is the wrong road.”

"Uncle, you have a sharp eye. Look, Grandpa and the others didn't notice it. Isn't it because there is not enough room in the yard? I found a yard outside. Let's go there first. Mom and Dad will come over after get off work."

"Hey! Look at what's happened. We've got so many people here. We're causing you trouble."

Lin Wenjun blamed himself.

"It's no problem. This yard belongs to a friend of mine. No one lives there. You can just stay here as long as you want."

Sun Zhengguo explained on the side.

After hearing this, Lin Wenjun felt a little relieved.

The few of them walked and talked like this, and after more than ten minutes, they arrived at the gate of the small courtyard in Juhua Hutong.

Sun Zhengguo took out the key, opened the door, and showed a few people around.

"This house is really nice, with a separate entrance and yard, and plenty of rooms. Look at the furniture, it's all new, and the wood used is all ash, which is old and strong. It must have cost a lot of money, right? Tsk tsk!"

After all, my grandfather is a carpenter, so he can tell the materials used in the furniture at a glance.

"Grandpa, if you feel good here, you can stay for a while."

Grandpa smiled and said.

"You guys! It's enough to have this filial piety. Grandpa is from the countryside and works on the farm. If he doesn't work for a day, he will feel uncomfortable all over. As for me! I'd better stay in the countryside!"

“Jungguk, don’t worry about him. Your grandfather was born to do this kind of work, and he still speaks so nicely.”

"Hahaha……."

Grandma's words made everyone laugh, so everyone started chatting.

There was a sudden burst of laughter in the courtyard.

At around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Sun Zhengguo saw that it was almost time, so he called his younger brothers and sisters to the kitchen and started cooking dinner. When his grandmother, aunt, and sister-in-law saw this, they all came to the kitchen and everyone started to get busy together.

By the time the workers got off work, the courtyard was already filled with fragrance.

……

At the gate of the steel rolling mill, Sun Dajiang, who had just got off work, was riding a bike with Sun Zhengdong behind him. Lin Jiguo, who was standing next to him, was also riding a bike with Lin Wencui behind him. The two bikes drove towards Juer Hutong.

Because Juer Hutong was not far from the steel rolling mill, and they had a car, it didn't take long for them to reach Juer Hutong.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the alley, they met Sun Zhenghong who was waiting there.

"Mom and Dad, now you are here, I will take you there."

After Sun Zhenghong finished speaking, he turned and walked into the alley, and the others quickly followed.

Under the leadership of Sun Zhenghong, Sun Dajiang and his companions soon arrived at the small courtyard.

Once they entered the yard, the place became lively, with people greeting each other. When the grandmother saw her grandson, and the aunt saw her son, they held their hands tightly and asked about their lives. It was not until the two said that they were doing well recently that they calmed down.

At dinner, because there were too many people and not enough stools, all the children had to eat while standing. But the children had no objections at all. They finished their meal quickly and ran to the yard to play. Only a few adults were still eating in the house.

After dinner, the few of them played for a while. Then Sun Dajiang arranged everyone and made an appointment to have breakfast at the Siheyuan the next morning. Then he took his wife and children back to the Siheyuan.

The next morning, Lin Wencui got up early, steamed buns, cooked porridge, and prepared some pickles. When she was almost done, a large group of people came to the courtyard.

"Good morning, Mom and Dad! Please wait in the living room first. I'll be there soon."

"Good morning, Wen Cui, please help me!"

After grandma finished speaking, she prepared to go in.

"Mom and Dad, please go to the main room first. I'll help my sister-in-law."

My sister-in-law volunteered to help, and no one else argued because everyone knew that the kitchen in this courtyard was too small to accommodate so many people.

With the help of his sister-in-law, breakfast was completed quickly. When eating breakfast, there were still not enough stools, but no one cared. Everyone finished breakfast in a hurry, and Sun Dajiang arranged for people to go out and borrow tables, stools and plates.

In this compound, no matter which family has problems, they all borrow money in this way, and the Sun family is no exception.

In less than half an hour, the tables, stools and plates were all in place. There were four tables in the front yard and six tables in the middle yard, with the middle yard being the main area.

Just as they finished their work here, Liu Dachuan arrived with two helpers. When Sun Dajiang saw them, he hurried to greet them.

"Good morning! Director Liu, I'm really sorry to bother you today!"

"Morning, Chief Sun, you are too polite. It's my duty, it's my duty."

After the two of them exchanged some pleasantries, Liu Dachuan went to get busy. He still had to build the stove, set up the table, and clean some ingredients in advance, otherwise he would not have come so early.

Liu Dachuan came to the central courtyard and took a look. He thought the land in front of Sha Zhu's house was good, so he decided to build a stove and a stage here.

There is strength in numbers. Master Sha Zhu, his apprentice and their helpers built the stove and set up the platform in no time.

Seeing that the stage was set up, Sun Dajiang arranged for several people to bring the ingredients. When Liu Dachuan and his companions saw the ingredients, they began to clean up.

Everyone was busy in an orderly manner. As time passed, the courtyard was gradually filled with fragrance, making the children in the courtyard drool.

But there was no other way. Only one person from each household could go, and children could not be brought along. This was the rule of the compound, and no one could break it. So, these children had to be locked in the house and not allowed to go out.

At 11 o'clock in the morning, all the main dishes of Liu Dachuan were ready, and the remaining dishes were fried freshly, waiting for the guests to arrive.

Sun Dajiang's family all came to the gate of the compound, ready to welcome the guests, and even several old men helped to maintain order.

Twenty minutes later, the first wave of guests arrived, almost all of whom were colleagues and friends from the steel rolling mill. After exchanging some pleasantries, they were welcomed into the courtyard and arranged to sit by several uncles.

The arrival of the first wave of guests was like a signal. People started to arrive one after another, including teachers and students. Soon, the two directors of the street office and Secretary Liu also came.

"Captain Sun, congratulations to your son on passing the imperial examination."

"Thank you Director Wang, Deputy Director Chen, and Officer Liu. Thank you all for your presence. Please come in."

After some pleasantries, Sun Dajiang welcomed the guests into the courtyard, made some arrangements, and then returned to the door, waiting for the last wave of guests to arrive.

Nearing 12 o'clock, the last wave of customers finally arrived, all of them were cadres from the steel rolling mill.

They were Secretary Chen representing Secretary Zhou, Deputy Factory Director Yang, Director Nie of the Office, Chairman Wu of the Trade Union, Director Li of Logistics, Director Zhang of the Women's Federation, and Deputy Chief Wang of the Personnel Department.

Seeing the guests had arrived, Sun Dajiang and his wife hurried to greet them.

"Captain Sun, congratulations! Your son has won the first prize, and our steel mill has also benefited from it! After all, he is the son of a worker in our factory! Ah! Everyone agrees, isn't that right?"

"Yes, yes, Deputy Director Yang is right."

A group of people nearby responded.

"Thank you, Deputy Director Yang. You are so polite. Dajiang is unworthy of it. Today, I would also like to thank all the leaders for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend my son's graduation banquet. Please come in and have a few more drinks later."

After the pleasantries, Sun Dajiang welcomed them into the courtyard and arranged them at the same table with Director Wang from the Street Office. After all, they were all old acquaintances and had plenty of common topics.

Sun Dajiang breathed a sigh of relief only after seeing everyone present.