Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

"Shanhai, this whole hospital meeting is so interesting. This Second Master is so funny. Look how angry he made Master Yi. He told everyone in the hospital about it. Why didn't he tell you about it?"

"You must have gone crazy from having a baby. Can't you see that your big brother is here? Besides, I'm such a good person, what else can I say?"

"You are stupid. Come on, go home and tell me the stories about the old compound. I think they are very interesting."

"Come on, Shanhe, let's go to my house and have a drink before going to sleep. Your wife is in the front yard anyway." Xu Damao said

"No, the kids will be back from playing soon and I have to look after them. Let's do it another day."

"Shanhe, let's go to the front yard. Your third uncle's eldest son Shandong is here with his children." Aunt Chen came running over and said

"Really? What are you doing in Shandong?"

"He came to see your uncle and aunt. He said that there was no news since the New Year, and his family couldn't wait any longer, so he came to check on them."

"No way, Uncle San, didn't I ask him to write a letter home? Didn't Shandong receive the letter?"

"I don't know about that. He said it himself, so I rushed to find you. Shanhu is on the night shift today and has already left. Shanhai is chatting with me."

Pushing open the door, Zhao Shanhai found that Aunt Chen had a confinement lady in her room. Shanhu was not there, so she could only lead Shanhai inside. Zhao Shanhe went in and greeted them first, "Shandong is here, and Daniu is here too."

"Big Brother"

"Hello uncle"

"You haven't eaten yet? Aunt Chen, can you please make some food for me? Make more."

"Oh, I'll go right away."

"Brother, I'm sorry to trouble you."

"It's just a meal, why bother? Just make do with what you have today, and I'll take you to a good meal tomorrow."

"Shandong, what's going on? Didn't you receive the letter?"

"What letter? I don't know. My father left in a hurry, saying that grandma might be dying. I thought it had been such a long time, and she should have come back, but there was no news. My family was worried. I have been to the old city once, so they asked me to come and take a look.

I originally went to look for my second uncle first, but there was a security guard standing guard at the door of his house, so I didn’t dare to go over, so I came to look for my eldest brother instead.”

"Okay, let's eat first. After dinner, I'll take you to find your uncle."

"Brother, are my parents okay?"

"It's okay. Everything is fine."

Zhao Shanhe went to Aunt Chen's room and took some snacks. "Aunt Chen, please ask Bai Xue to take care of the child today. I have to go to Uncle San's place later, so I might be late when I come back."

"Okay, don't worry, kid."

Zhao Shanhe gave Daniu some snacks and asked, "Daniu, why didn't you go to school?"

"Brother, I plan to send Daniu to school again this fall. This time I brought him here to see the world. I don't want him to be like me, staying at home farming all his life."

After dinner, Zhao Shanhe went back to get two bottles of wine and some snacks, and he and Zhao Shanhai rode their bicycles to take the father and son to their uncle's place.

Zhao Shanhe didn't expect his uncle to be so thrifty and turn off the lights and go to bed so early, so he went up and knocked on the door.

"Who?"

"Uncle San, this is me, Shanhe. Please open the door."

Immediately the light came on and the door opened. Zhao Shanhe saw that his uncle was not wearing any shoes and was only wearing shorts, so he came to open the door for him.

"Shandong, Daniu, why are you here?"

"Dad, I'm here to find you"

"I'm fine. Why are you looking for me instead of focusing on farming?"

"Uncle San, they came to look for you. Didn't I ask you to write a letter to let your family know? Shandong said he didn't receive the letter. It must be because he was worried about you guys."

"Shanhe, Shanhai, please sit down. Um, um, let me pour you a cup of tea first." Uncle San hesitated.

"Uncle San, what's going on?"

"I didn't know many words, so I didn't write a letter. I sent a telegram, but I couldn't express myself clearly. The telegram was expensive, so I didn't send it. I didn't send money and I didn't dare to send it, so I didn't tell my family and planned to bring some money back for the New Year.

Besides, I told my family when I came here, and they all know that I came to your place. How could two grown men like us get lost?"

"Hey, Third Uncle, if you don't have any problem, you can come to me. Didn't I tell you to come to me if you have any problem?"

"Shanhe, you are looking for a job and a house, so I don't want to bother you anymore."

Zhao Shanhe felt a little regretful. He just asked his third uncle to write the letter without asking him whether he could read or not. He knew that his third uncle and aunt were very thrifty and would definitely not be willing to spend a telegram, so he didn't take it to heart.

"Uncle San, you really are wrong. Saving money is a good thing, but there are some things that cannot be saved. Look how worried your family is now. Shandong even thought you were lost.

Besides, we are uncle and nephew, so if you have any problem, just tell me."

"I know, Shanhe, it's your uncle who has caused you trouble."

"Shandong, you are such a fool. If I don't write to you, why don't you write to me and ask me?"

"I didn't expect this."

"You have a dog brain, but you still come here. This is not more expensive than writing a letter."

"Okay, Uncle San, they're already here, so stop scolding me. Take them for a walk tomorrow."

"Why are you shopping? I still have to go to work. I only make about one dollar a day. They should hurry back home tomorrow. The earlier they go back, the earlier they can earn work points. How can they make money by shopping?"

Zhao Shanhe got drunk directly, but he also understood that the older generation was like this because they were afraid of being poor and hungry.

"Old lady, old lady, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and cook some dishes. Can't you see Shanhe is coming?"

Third Aunt stood aside, wanted to speak but closed her mouth again, looking embarrassed.

"No trouble, no trouble, we have already eaten, and Shandong has also eaten at my place." Zhao Shanhe took a look, but there was no dish.

Uncle San may have remembered it, scratched his head and said, "Sorry, Shanhe, we have finished the food at home."

"Uncle, you can't be so frugal. You still have to eat vegetables." Zhao Shanhe walked over to the noodle jar and took a look. "Uncle, you can't always eat corn flour. I'll get you some white flour to mix with it later."

"Shanhe, the cafeteria is very greasy. We've had a good meal at noon, and we don't have to work at night, so we can just eat something in the afternoon."

"And in the morning?"

"Why eat in the morning? That's a waste. Both of us are not tired from work. Just drink some water and the morning will pass."

The main reason was that Zhao Shanhe was a bit busy after the Chinese New Year, with factory work and the children, so he didn't have time to take care of his third uncle.

"My Third Uncle, you, I don't know what to say. I asked you to come here to enjoy yourself, but you are doing this. Can your body withstand it?"

"What's so hard to bear? This is better than what I ate when I was earning work points in the village."

"Uncle San, where is your ticket? I tell you, that ticket has a time limit. If you don't use it, it will be invalid."

"I know. I don't need to buy anything. I sold the ticket to Old Liu next door. He likes meat and has a big family."

"Uncle San, you can't do this next month. You are not allowed to sell tickets anymore. If you are reported, it will be speculation. Eat well and take good care of your body. I still want to help you make big money. This little money is nothing. If you still do this, I will not take you with me in the future. Think clearly, do you want to make small money or big money?"

"Shanhe, I listen to you. I won't do it next month."

"And don't leave Shandong tomorrow. It's not easy to come here. I'll take you for a walk tomorrow."