Siheyuan: I am the Smart Pillar

It is late autumn now, and the hot weather makes many people in the courtyard cool down. Some sit together in groups of three or five, chatting, or playing cards. There are also children in groups of three or five, playing small games. Elderly people over fifty look at the children with kind smiles on their faces.

He Yushui is the king of children in this courtyard, because He Yuzhu and his wife love this sister very much, and her pocket is always full of snacks and candies. He Yushui used these candies to become the king of children in the courtyard. Wang Erya is one of He Yushui's playmates and one of the few girls in the courtyard.

In this era, whether in the city or in the countryside, boys are highly valued over girls. Because when a girl grows up, she will get married and become a member of another family. Most people really want a boy, unless they already have a boy, they will want a girl. If the first child is a girl, cruel parents will throw the girl away, and this situation is not uncommon.

Several little girls stretched out rubber bands under the tree, sang nursery rhymes, and started skipping rubber bands. In this era, everyone was equally poor, so there was no distinction between high and low. Although the children were hungry and cold, they were all the same, and it was very happy to play together.

Xu Damao led Liu Guangtian and his brother out of the courtyard in a servile manner. Liu Guangfu said with some fear, "Brother Damao, do we really want to do this? If Jia Zhang gets to know about this, we brothers will be finished."

Xu Damao glanced at Liu Guangfu and said, "That old guy, just wanted to save some money, but he ruined us like this. If I hadn't been flexible this afternoon, I would have fallen into the cesspool just like that old guy Jia Zhang. Besides, tonight is his son's wedding night, what do we call it? We call it making trouble in the bridal chamber. Didn't the old people say it? Make fun of the wedding, the more you make fun of it, the happier you will be, right?"

What were the three of them discussing at the door? The Yan brothers also came over with a smile and asked, "Include the three of us brothers?" Xu Damao and the other two were startled. Xu Damao wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and said, "You kid, when did you come to us?" Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "When you three brothers were discussing, brother Damao also called us brothers the third brother."

Xu Damao looked at the three brothers of the old Yan family with some curiosity and said, "Aren't you three brothers afraid?" Yan Jiecheng curled his lips and said, "The mother and son of the Jia family are always picking on us, the old Yan family. They look down on us, so we naturally have to teach them a lesson. Brother Damao, let's add the three of us brothers."

Yan Jiefang nodded and said, "We need to teach that old man a lesson. He curses everyone in the courtyard every day." Xu Damao thought about it and nodded, "Well, let's just do it to the three of you brothers." Liu Guangfu said, "Let's go buy some firecrackers first and throw them directly at the Jia family."

Xu Damao shook his head and said, "No, if they follow the clue of buying firecrackers, they will definitely find us." Yan Jiecheng thought for a while and said, "That's easy. I have a string of firecrackers at home. When the time comes, we can use the firecrackers to celebrate for Jia Dongxu."

Yan Jiefang looked at his elder brother curiously and said, "When did our family have firecrackers? How come I didn't know about this?" Yan Jiecheng said, "A few months ago, a small store opened and they set off several large firecrackers. After the firecrackers were all set off, there was a small firecracker that didn't go off, so I secretly hid it at home and planned to set it off during the Chinese New Year. I didn't expect it to come in handy today."

Xu Damao nodded and said, "Your brother Damao is at work now. When the Chinese New Year comes, he will buy you a string of small firecrackers to set off." Yan Jiecheng nodded and said to Xu Damao, "I'll go get it now. You guys wait here for me." Xu Damao saw that Yan Jiecheng did not return to the courtyard, so he said, "You didn't hide the firecrackers at home."

Yan Jiecheng shook his head and said, "If I hide it at home, my father will definitely find it. There is a big tree in front and an abandoned bird's nest on the tree. I hid the cannon in it." Xu Damao said with a dark face, "Can that thing still go off now?" Yan Jiecheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, I wrapped it in several layers of oil paper. I guarantee it will go off."

Inside Liu Haizhong's home, Liu Haizhong said with a gloomy face "Where are those two little bastards? It's almost dark, why haven't the two little bastards come back yet. Old woman, you go out and look for them first. Oh, forget it, just fry an egg for me, or half an egg. I'm unhappy today, and I have to teach those two bastards a lesson."

Wu Cuihua sighed and said, "Old man, the eldest brother took away all the money we saved for half a lifetime. How are we going to live in the future?" Liu Haizhong took a sip of wine and said, "How did we live before? We live the same way now. Damn, a living person can be suffocated to death by urine. I am now a seventh-level forger in a steel rolling mill, and I make more than 70 to nearly 80 yuan a month. It is definitely more than enough to support this family."

Wu Cuihua thought for a moment and said, "What about the boss? I don't care about the boss." Liu Haizhong slapped the table, gritted his teeth and said with a dark face, "This little beast, this little ungrateful wolf, don't let me catch him, I must give him a good beating. I'm so angry, I went to my in-laws' house today, but I didn't expect that they didn't tell me where Guangqi and his wife went. I'm so angry, really so angry."

Wu Cuihua patted her husband's back and said, "Okay, okay, don't be angry, dear. Didn't Guangqi say that he would definitely come back during the New Year? We just have to wait." Hearing what her husband said, a smile appeared on Liu Haizhong's old face and he said, "That's right. The eldest son is our guarantee for our future retirement and his most capable son."

Wu Cuihua also agreed very much. She nodded and said, "Among our three children, the eldest is the smartest. He is also very hardworking. It would be great if Guangtian and Guangfu could also do so well." Liu Haizhong snorted coldly and said, "Only those two brats can compare to the eldest, unless in his next life. Forget it, let's not talk about those two little bastards. Go and make me some food first. I'm really starving."