Siheyuan: A Family of Loyal and Brave People

On New Year's Eve, families reunite. In the courtyards, the aroma of each family's New Year's Eve dinner wafts through the yard. Not only children, but also adults are immersed in a sea of ​​joy.

The neighbors were all very happy, except for the deaf old lady in the backyard, whose house was dark and unusually cold compared to the hustle and bustle outside.

The deaf old lady sat at the dining table, looking at the simple food on the plate and couldn't help sighing.

As a five-guarantee household in the institution, the deaf old lady's daily life is guaranteed, but she has no job and no income, and cannot save much money relying solely on government subsidies.

In addition, she could not help but go out for a feast on weekdays, so when the New Year came, she had an empty wallet and could only eat choking steamed corn bread.

Compared with material scarcity, spiritual scarcity makes the deaf old lady feel more uncomfortable.

Every family in the courtyard was reunited, but the deaf old lady was suffering alone. How could she bear to hear the laughter coming from outside the window?

The deaf old woman slammed the steamed bun on the table, stood up, picked up the walking stick beside her, and walked out into the cold wind.

No matter what, she is the oldest ancestor in the courtyard. On this special day, the younger generations in the courtyard should give her some face.

……

Apart from the deaf old lady, the most deserted family in the courtyard is Yi Zhonghai's.

Yi Zhonghai and his wife had no children and no relatives in the city. Every Chinese New Year, the couple would have a New Year's Eve dinner together and then go to bed early, not even staying up all night to celebrate the New Year.

After all, the children in the yard are the most noisy when they stay up all night to celebrate the New Year.

Watching other people's children lie is as painful as rubbing salt into the wounds of a couple.

"Old Yi, there are only three people in Zhuzi's house, it's quite quiet, how about inviting them to come over and join a table to make it more lively?"

Yi Zhonghai's income is one of the highest in the hospital, so he has enough money so the New Year's Eve dinner is naturally sumptuous.

The table is full of food, enough for a few more people.

Yi Zhonghai paused, then shook his head and rejected his wife's proposal.

“It’s too late, the pillars have probably been eaten.

Let’s wait until next year.”

It’s not that Yi Zhonghai had never thought about inviting He Yuzhu over for a New Year’s Eve dinner, but he was rejected a few days ago.

It's a great festival, and He Yuzhu doesn't want to get involved with the annoying Yi Zhonghai.

"Ok."

An old lady lowered her head in disappointment and whispered, "It's better to have more people during the festival."

Perhaps the old lady’s prayer was answered, as there was a sudden knock on the door.

Yi Zhonghai and his wife looked outside the door together, then looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

They really couldn't imagine who would come to visit them at this time.

The answer to the mystery was soon revealed. The hoarse voice of the deaf old lady came in from the window along with the cold wind, and Yi Zhonghai and his wife changed color almost instantly.

The couple hopes that someone will spend the New Year with them, except for the deaf old lady in the backyard.

Thinking of the last time the deaf old lady had dinner at Yi Zhonghai's house, the aunt is still furious.

If she were allowed in, this table of New Year's Eve dinner would be destroyed.

"Hide it. Hide the food first."

Yi Zhonghai acted promptly and asked his wife to hide the delicious meat dishes on the table, leaving only some vegetable buns as decoration. He then walked slowly outside to prepare to deal with the deaf old lady.

"Hey, old lady, why are you here on New Year's Day?"

Although he was unhappy in his heart, Yi Zhonghai still showed concern on his face.

As the manager of the courtyard and a gentleman of moral integrity, he must not lose the image of respecting the elderly and loving the young.

The deaf old lady did not answer immediately, but turned her head to look into the house.

Seeing that the table in Yi Zhonghai's house was filled with radishes and vegetables, the deaf old lady couldn't help but look disappointed.

"Xiao Yi, why is your New Year's Eve dinner so shabby?"

Yi Zhonghai was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Madam, there are only two of us in my family, we can't eat that much, this is enough."

Yi Zhonghai's smile was forced and ugly, and he kept greeting the deaf old woman's ancestors in his heart.

This old witch is so shameless that she comes to disturb us on New Year's Eve and even has the nerve to mock the simple meal.

"It's so cold, what brings you here?"

The deaf old lady's rudeness made Yi Zhonghai more determined to expel her.

"What's the matter?"

The deaf old lady's face changed, and she said in a bad tone: "Yi Zhonghai, you always talk about respecting the elderly and loving the young, but during the New Year, you let me, a lonely old man, sit on the bench in the backyard.

Do you think this is appropriate?"

Yi Zhonghai smiled sheepishly, scratched the back of his head and said, "Look at my memory. I was so busy with family matters that I accidentally forgot about you. Please forgive me, please forgive me."

"What do you mean by accidentally forgetting? Can you forget something that you should keep in your heart?"

The deaf old lady continued to complain.

Yi Zhonghai hurriedly said carefully: "Yes, yes, yes, it's all my fault. I apologize to you. How about I ask Auntie to bring the food to your room and have a New Year's Eve dinner with you?"

In order to prevent the deaf old lady from smelling the meat in the house, Yi Zhonghai refused to let her enter the house and could only move the battlefield to the other party's home.

"Ok."

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai was sensible, the deaf old lady snorted and was about to turn around when her nose suddenly twitched.

"What does it smell like? It's so fragrant."

Yi Zhonghai's pupils trembled, and he quickly thought of a way out. He pointed in the direction of He Yuzhu's house and said, "It's Zhuzi. Zhuzi is making delicious food. He is the chef of a big restaurant and his cooking skills are very good.

If we were to ask which family in the courtyard has the best New Year's Eve dinner tonight, it would be his family."

Yi Zhonghai's words successfully diverted the deaf old lady's attention. She walked a few steps towards He Yuzhu's house, raised her head and took a deep breath, smelling the aroma of food, with an intoxicated expression on her face.

"Yi Zhonghai, since you are here, why not call Zhuzi along as well.

More people means more fun.”

Yi Zhonghai's face fell instantly, and he said helplessly: "Old lady, the pillars have probably been eaten, so forget it."

I don’t know if the deaf old lady was blown to her head. She actually dared to provoke He Yuzhu. It seems that she didn’t suffer enough last time.

"I am the oldest elder in the courtyard, and you are the uncle in the courtyard. How dare he not listen to us?!"

Yi Zhonghai's obedience gave the deaf old lady a boost of confidence, and she insisted on eating the food made by He Yuzhu today.

"You should know Zhuzi's personality. Last time he..."

Yi Zhonghai tactfully reminded them that He Yuzhu didn't give them any face last time.

“Then go find another place first.

Call people from every household, and wait until all the other neighbors in the yard agree. I don’t believe he will dare to refuse.” The deaf old lady said sternly, stiffening her neck.

Yi Zhonghai was suddenly shocked. He didn't expect that the deaf old lady could come up with such an idea.

One solution is to get all the neighbors in the compound to put pressure on He Yuzhu.

But going door to door and shouting on New Year’s Eve is really offensive.

If he really does this, Yi Zhonghai, as a big boss, will probably reach the end of his rope.

"Old lady, not every family in the yard respects the elderly and loves the young like I do. If you run into a young man who is not good at learning, wouldn't it be embarrassing for you?"