Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

There was a big plate of dumplings on the table at Yan Bugui's house that night. Yes, you read that right, a big plate of dumplings. They were dividing the dumplings now, and they had to be fair.

"Dad, it's not fair. My dumplings are rotten and there's less vegetables inside," Yan Jiekuang said, pointing at the dumplings in the bowl.

"Okay, I'll give you another rotten one, so you have the dish. You also got an extra dumpling skin, which is a great deal," said Yan Bugui.

Everyone in the Yan family ate dumplings with gusto. Today's dumplings were filled with meat.

"Dad, why don't we share the peanuts and melon seeds as well?" Yan Jiecheng suggested.

"No, we still have to entertain people at Guazihuayuan, and we have to hold a group party tomorrow," Yan Bugui said, shaking his head.

"Yu Li, why don't you eat? Don't you like dumplings? Or I'll eat it," Yan Jiecheng said to Yu Li, who was covering her mouth with disgust.

After Yan Jiecheng's words, everyone's attention shifted to Yu Li, who was covering her mouth with her hands as if she wanted to vomit but couldn't.

The third uncle and aunt immediately understood. They had four children, so they had experience.

"Jiecheng, you should have some conscience. You even want to snatch your child's food rations. Yu Li is pregnant now. You are going to be a father, and I am going to be a grandfather too," Yan Bugui said to Yan Jiecheng.

"Dad, are you serious? I'm going to be a father too." Yan Jiecheng was too excited. He had been recuperating for more than a year, but there was no movement. Even Xu Damao had recovered and had a son, but he was anxious.

"Why, would Dad lie to you? I gave birth to four of you, I definitely wouldn't be wrong."

"Yu Li, eat quickly. Don't let the child suffer. I will try harder to make you eat better in the future," Yan Jiecheng said to Yu Li beside him with concern.

"Dad, you're going to be a grandfather, and my brother is going to be a father, so why don't you replace this bottle of wine with one that's not diluted with water? Let's celebrate and have some peanuts and sunflower seeds," Yan Jiefang said.

"Okay, today is Chinese New Year, and Yu Li is pregnant again, so we have to celebrate. I'll take out my treasured wine and we'll drink half a bottle and have some peanuts and sunflower seeds," Yan Bugui said.

Yan Bugui said this as he took the wine diluted with water on the table and went to exchange it for the one that had not been diluted with water.

"Dad, don't take away the bottle that has been diluted with water, otherwise who will drink half a bottle?" Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang suddenly became anxious.

The food at Sha Zhu's house was quite sumptuous. Both father and father were cooks. They hadn't seen each other for more than ten years, so they had a cooking competition. They cooked a table full of dishes and tasted each other's food.

"Shazhu, you are no good. You are far worse than your father, especially the cooking time. The cooking time of your dishes is not enough," He Daqing commented while eating the dishes made by Shazhu.

Sha Zhu ate He Daqing's dishes and felt that they were indeed better than his own, but he said stubbornly, "It was you who ran away back then. If you hadn't run away and passed down your cooking skills, I would definitely cook better than you. Besides, your dishes are not as good as this one."

"Daughter-in-law, tell me, whose cooking is better, me or Sha Zhu?" He Daqing asked Ma Dongmei again.

Ma Dongmei is so lucky. There are two chefs in her family. They are both very skilled. The food is delicious and beautiful. She doesn’t have to cook for herself. “It must be my father who cooks well. But Shazhu is still young. In a few years, he will definitely catch up with you.”

"Okay, Shazhu, I'll teach you my skills in a while, so you don't have to talk about your father again. We'll compete again later and see if you have any excuses," said He Daqing

After dinner, the man started drinking wine while Ma Dongmei looked after the child.

"Happy New Year, grandma! I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains," Zhao Shanhe wished the old lady a happy new year.

The three brothers Zhao Shanhe and the two brothers Zhao Shanwen paid New Year's greetings to the old lady, which made her very happy. The old lady also gave red envelopes to her older grandchildren.

The three brothers also paid New Year's greetings to Aunt Chen and their second uncle and aunt. The rest of the people were younger than Zhao Shanhe, so it was their turn to pay New Year's greetings to Zhao Shanhe, but they didn't have to kowtow.

The happiest person was Zhao Antong. Everyone gave New Year's money to the little guy, even those who were still in school. Zhao Shanhe had to give some, as they all claimed to be the little guy's elders.

"But your third uncle is not here, and I don't know if I can see him again." The old lady thought of her youngest son again.

The youngest son and the eldest grandson are the old lady’s lifeblood. The old lady used to be able to see her youngest son in Shandong, and now she can see her eldest grandson in Beijing. Unfortunately, the youngest son is no longer around.

"Grandma, don't worry, you will live a long life. If you miss your uncle, I will take you to see him later, or send a telegram to him to come over and see him.

A few days ago, I sent our family portrait to Uncle San, and I think he received it. I also gave him 200 yuan when he went back. His life will be better this year, so don't worry, grandma," said Zhao Shanhe.

"It's okay, grandma is just old. When people get old, they like to talk a lot. The country and your work are more important. Grandma also knows that it is not convenient for your third uncle and his family to come over. I am satisfied that I can find your family before I die," said the old lady.

Early the next morning, Zhao Shanhe took Qin Jingru and Zhao Antong out, wrapping the little ones tightly to prevent them from getting cold. The little ones were more than three months old and could go out.

Zhao Shanhe planned to spend the whole day at his master's house. He went there too late last year and his master complained about it for a long time. If he doesn't take the little one with him this year, his master will probably be angry again.

When Zhao Shanhe arrived at his master's house, only the master and his young daughter-in-law were at home. The rest of the family was not there as they had all gone out to pay New Year's greetings to their leaders. Several of the master's grandchildren were older than Zhao Shanhe.

Zhao Shanhe kowtowed to his master respectfully and wished a happy new year. The master was extremely happy to see Zhao Antong and gave the little guy a longevity lock. The master had prepared the longevity lock when he met Qin Jingru last year.

The master is old, but full of energy. Zhao Shanhe thinks that the old man can live to over 90 years old in this condition without any problem. At noon, he met the master's two sons, and a group of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The old man has strict family education. Several grandchildren who are older than Zhao Shanhe still wished Zhao Shanhe a happy new year, because Zhao Shanhe is of a higher generation.

Zhao Antong received another large wave of New Year's money. At noon, he had lunch with his master's family, drank a few cups of tea with his master, and then went home.

Zhao Shanhe had planned to get drunk, but the master gave him a few cups of tea and told him to go home early with the child, fearing that it would be unsafe to go home after drinking and that the child would be cold if he went back late. It was true that the generations were close to each other.