Siheyuan: Learning to be the sixth

Liu Haizhong returned home and sat in a chair without saying a word, his face looking heavy.

Auntie Liu Erni carefully poured a cup of tea for Liu Haizhong and asked, "Old Liu, what's wrong with you?"

"My dear, I have finally understood the matter of the Yan family's division. We have to keep a close eye on Tianqi. If we let the Yang family win him over, there will be no one to take care of us in our old age."

"Aren't there two little ones?" Liu Erni said in a low voice.

"Don't mention those two little bastards to me. They haven't come back to see us for a long time. You still expect them to take care of us in our old age? You're dreaming."

Liu Erni's heart skipped a beat and she felt very panicked.

From that day on, Liu Tianqi felt that his parents treated him better, but he also vaguely felt that something was wrong.

In the evening, Yan Jiecheng, who was feeling depressed and had no one to talk to, bought a few bottles of good wine and went to drink with He Yuzhu.

In order not to disturb their two babies' rest, He Yuzhu and Yan Jiecheng set up a table in the front yard and called Xu Damao and Zhao Xu to drink together.

People get drunk even if they don't drink alcohol. Yan Jiecheng didn't need anyone to persuade him tonight. He just drank one glass after another.

"Brother Zhuzi, Brother Damao, Zhao Xu, you said that I have made a lot of money in the past few years to help the family, why do I have to look at Yan Jiefang's face even to marry a wife now?"

"Yu Li's family fell in love with me, and I like Yu Li, so why is it so difficult for us to get married?"

"Jie Cheng, I think it's a good idea for you to separate now. Get yourself a few houses, get married, and live with your little son behind closed doors. Look how comfortable your sister-in-law Huairu and I are."

"Brother Damao, we are different. You can do whatever you want in your family, but as for me, I helped my family to make a good living, but in the end, you kicked me out. I am living a miserable life."

"Jie Cheng, if you say so, then Second Master and Yan Jiefang are a bit too much."

"Zhao Xu, I don't blame my father and mother at all. I hate Yan Jiefang. I eat and drink my food, so why does he treat me like this?"

"Jiefang, no one's life is smooth sailing. Look at those of us sitting here. Didn't Xu Damao make it step by step by riding a bicycle to the countryside? I don't need to say anything. My mother is gone, my father ran away, but I also made it through, and I am living a pretty comfortable life."

"We have to look forward. After this drink, we will say goodbye to the past. Tomorrow is a brand new day."

"That's right. If Jie Cheng wants to talk about suffering, it's not as hard as Zhuzi and Zhao Xu. They've come through it all, so let's drink and stop thinking about those bad things."

"Well, I don't want to think about it anymore. I think I understand that brothers are just like this. It's better for us brothers to play together comfortably."

"I like to hear that. Come on, let's get it over with. Your brother Damao will drink with you alone."

There is nothing a man’s trouble cannot be solved by drinking. If one drink can’t solve it, try two.

In the next few days, everyone was busy with their own things during the day, and the drinking team gathered at night.

A few days later, "Before we drank, I told my brothers something: I found a house, but I didn't rent it. I bought it directly."

Yan Jiecheng said in high spirits, holding a wine glass.

"Where did Jie Cheng buy the house? It won't be far away, right? Then it will be inconvenient for us brothers to get together in the future."

"Brother Zhuzi, how could I bear to be so far away from you guys? It's just Old Liu's house at the entrance of the alley."

"Jie Cheng, Old Liu was a hero who fought in the battlefield. How did you buy his house?"

"Brother Zhuzi, don't worry. I'm just lucky. Old Liu has never married in his life. Now that he's old, his nephew wants to take him home to take care of him in his old age, so I sold the house."

"Because he's an old hero, I gave him whatever price he offered without bargaining."

"Jie Cheng, you did the right thing. By the way, how is your marriage with Yu Li going?"

"Brother Zhuzi, we have almost finished discussing this. Originally, Yu Li's father was a little concerned about the division of our family, but after my father went over to explain it, he relented."

"Good things take time. Once the date is set, if you need any help, just tell us. Don't be shy."

"Brother Zhuzi, I know. I will definitely let you know if there is anything."

……

Yan Jiecheng calmed down and the drinking team disbanded temporarily. Just kidding, which good person can drink like this every day? It must hurt his stomach.

In the blink of an eye, another month passed and it was time for Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li to get married.

Although food was still in short supply, in order to reassure the Yu family, Yan Jiecheng still asked He Yuzhu to help prepare a few tables, one for the wedding, and the other to take the opportunity to build good relationships with the neighbors in the new courtyard.

The courtyard where Yan Jiecheng lives now is also the steel rolling mill’s family compound. When they heard that He Yuzhu was the chef, every family gave him face and gave him generous gifts.

After drinking the tea offered by Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li, the old couple Yan Fugui left after saying a few words. They were afraid that they would not be able to hold back their tears.

Yu Li patted Yan Jiecheng's back gently and said, "Jiecheng, when we have time, let's go visit our parents. It's not far away anyway."

These words happened to be heard by He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu had a good impression of Li to begin with, and now he felt that Yan Jiecheng was well-deserved. Having a virtuous wife at home is something that many people wish for.

The banquet was going smoothly, everyone was having a great time, and it was a joyful occasion.

I don't know where Yan Jiefang got a few bottles of cat urine from, but he came and sat at the door and cursed me in a roundabout way. His curses were very ugly. I was afraid it would be difficult to harmonize them if I wrote them down, as he cursed me to this extent.

Today is his brother's wedding day, so there is no need for him to do anything.

"Zhao Xu, Yan Jiefang is drunk. You and I will take him back."

"Okay bro."

The two men carried Yan Jiefang and walked out of the yard.

He still refused to accept it and kept shouting, "He Yuzhu, Zhao Xu, you two should mind your own business."

After leaving the yard, He Yuzhu didn't tolerate his bad habits and hit him on the back of the head.

"Yan Jiefang, if I were you, shut up right now and don't force me to slap you, or you'll be the one who'll be embarrassed. If you don't believe me, just try it."

"Second brother, let him go and let him go back by himself. If I hear you talking nonsense today, I won't be so easy to talk to."

Yan Jiefang was a guy who looked strong on the outside but was actually weak on the inside. After being beaten, although he was indignant, he still went home in shame.

"Brother, Yan Jiefang is becoming more and more outrageous."

"Second brother, don't you see who he hangs out with every day? It would be strange if he could learn anything from Jia Dongxu and Liu Tianqi."

"Just wait and see. After Xie Cheng squanders all the money he left for the Yan family, he will have a lot of hard times ahead."

"Forget it, we are not the second brother's father, why should we worry so much about him? Let's go back and eat and drink."

Yan Jiecheng was still drunk at the end. He held Yu Li's hand and kept pointing at He Yuzhu and yelling: "Wife, this is my brother. If you don't allow me, I would call him He Jiecheng."