Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

"Didi didi..."

A white double-row light truck drove to the open space next to the office, pulling several bamboo baskets filled with soft grass.

After Xu Damao, Li Dabao and Wang Sigen got off the car, they directly lifted the bamboo basket down.

"Da Mao, did you buy a car?"

Yang Ruihua was really enlightened today. The white light truck looked so beautiful no matter how he looked at it. He was envious and jealous.

"Oh my, Auntie, you think too highly of me. I don't have such great ability."

"Could this be Liu Guozheng's?"

"Yes, this is from my brother Zheng. Auntie, haven't you heard about it? My brother Zheng was given this by his cousin who lives overseas. Everyone in Beijing knows about it."

"I heard about it, but I couldn't believe it. I didn't expect it to be true. Is Liu Guozheng's cousin that rich?"

"Hey, rich? Let me tell you this. In ancient times, my brother would be a royal relative. Do you think he would be short of money?"

While Xu Damao was talking to Yang Ruihua, Li Dabao and Wang Sigen also carried bamboo baskets into the office.

"Da Mao, I need your help."

Yang Ruihua's eyes turned and he had an idea in mind.

"What's the matter? Tell me first, Auntie. Let's make it clear first. My ability is limited. If I really can't help, please don't blame me."

"Yes, Damao, you can definitely help?"

"Oh, Aunt, don't scare me. I, Xu Damao, know my own weight."

"It's not a big deal, but can you help me ask if the office is still hiring?"

"Oh, about this matter, no need to ask, no recruitment."

"Da Mao, you kid, you didn't even ask Liu Guozheng, how do you know he won't recruit?"

"Hey, Auntie, let me count for you. Right now, there are Brother Nan, Brother Wang, Sister Qingfang, Sister Xiaomei, and Dabao's wife in the office. That's five people in total. Usually, there are me, Dabao, Xiaohao, and Yushui, and we don't have much to do. That's a total of nine people. Look at how big our office is. We don't need so many people at all."

Xu Damao was very proud. He counted the number of people on his fingers and showed it to Yang Ruihua.

"Da Mao, with Auntie in tow, we can make ten people."

"Oh, I see. Auntie, you want to come to the office to help, right?"

"Yes Yes Yes."

"Okay, I agree on behalf of Zheng Ge."

"Really? I told you that you, Damao, are the most capable young man in our hospital."

"Aunt, it's like this. I can work, but I don't get paid."

"No, Damao, what you said is wrong. Why don't you pay me for my work?"

"Let me put it this way. Dabao, Xiaohao, and I don't have any money to take from Yushui, but we can provide meals. If you are willing, you can come and help this afternoon."

"How many people are you feeding? Can you bring some home?"

"Whoever works is responsible for his own food. You can only eat, not take it away."

"That won't work. Damao, you should ask Liu Guozheng. Since Liu Guozheng is a royal relative and very rich, one more person like me won't make much difference."

"Hahaha, Auntie, it's noon, time to eat. Take a nap after lunch. You'll have all kinds of good things in your dreams."

Xu Damao locked the car door and turned back to the backyard.

"Da Mao, let's not talk about work first, what was that you just pulled?"

"egg."

"Eggs? I want them. I want them."

"Aunt, those are reserved by others, so forget it. If you want eggs, you can also reserve them, but the reservation amount cannot be less than ten yuan."

"Reservation? Damao, we have been neighbors for many years. Please be flexible and give Auntie two dollars. I think there are so many baskets of eggs, a few more or less won't make much difference."

"Hey, what you said is true. People should be honest and keep their word. Forget it. I won't talk to you anymore. I'm tired after working all morning. I need to go back and rest for a while."

Xu Damao was just showing off his superiority. He knew the family tradition of the Yan family. They always took advantage of them. Even if the office was recruiting, they would not consider people like the Yan family.

"Xu Damao, no wonder the deaf old lady said you were a bad seed. I don't think you are a good person."

"Haha, Auntie, you better be careful. The deaf old lady always spreads rumors and slanders others. You don't want to follow in her footsteps, do you?"

"Humph!"

Yang Ruihua glanced at Xu Damao with dissatisfaction, snorted coldly, and returned to the courtyard angrily.

"What's going on?"

Yan Bugui didn't expect this. He asked Yang Ruihua to buy eggs. Yang Ruihua went happily but came back angrily.

"Old Yan, Liu Guozheng is really excited. He even has a car to drive."

When Yang Ruihua spoke, his tone was full of jealousy.

"Who told you that? Cars are not something that can be purchased by individuals. They are supplied to enterprises, institutions and government agencies. Does Liu Guozheng have that much ability?"

Others may not know, but Yan Bugui knows. This is the benefit of being educated. Reading newspapers regularly can help you understand some of the country's policies.

"I saw it with my own eyes, and Xu Damao said it himself, how could it be false?"

"Really?"

If his legs had been fully healed, Yan Bugui would have been able to jump out of bed.

"Of course it's true."

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible. I still understand the national policy."

"I heard from Xu Damao that Liu Guozheng has a cousin overseas, and the car was given to him by that cousin."

"Liu Guozheng's cousin? Overseas? Such a powerful person?"

In other words, Yan Bugui had been lying in bed for the past few months and had no way to go to work, so naturally he had no newspapers to read and did not know about the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Tang Dynasty and the Xia Kingdom, which was widely reported in the newspapers last month.

"Anyway, that's what Xu Damao said."

"I think you were deceived by Xu Damao. He must be driving a car from the steel mill. Factories like the steel mill are indeed eligible to purchase cars."

"I don't think he looks like a liar."

"Huh, have you ever seen a liar who looks like a liar?"

"That's true."

"No, Ruihua, where are the eggs you bought?"

It would have been fine if Yan Bugui didn't mention eggs, but when he did, Yang Ruihua became extremely angry.

There were so many baskets of eggs, but that bad guy Xu Damao refused to sell her any for even two dollars.

"No, Xu Damao said that the eggs in the office can only be reserved. They are not available if you want to buy them normally."

"Just make a reservation. How can Xu Damao deceive you?"

"You have to pay first to make a reservation. The minimum reservation amount is ten dollars."

Yang Ruihua sat at the door, his chest heaving, and it was obvious that he had not yet recovered.

"The lowest price is ten yuan? Who can eat so many eggs? Xu Damao is going too far. Let's go and talk to him."

"Old Yan, let's go? Can you take a few steps so I can see? If you could walk, wouldn't you have gone to work a long time ago?"

"Oh, I am also very angry. No, when Lao Xu comes back tonight, I want him to give me an explanation."

"Okay, what did they tell you? The office is not opened by the Xu family."

"I..."

After saying that, Yang Ruihua got up and went to cook. Anger cannot be eaten. No matter how unpalatable the corn porridge is, you will still feel full if you drink too much of it.

Yang Ruihua left, leaving Yan Bugui there with a scowl, looking at his three good-for-nothing sons lying on the bed next to him. He was especially furious at Yan Jiecheng, who thought that if it weren't for Yan Jiecheng, he, Yan Bugui, would have suffered so much.

"Ugh!"

The more he looked, the more upset Yan Bugui became. He simply closed his eyes. His constant twitching of his eyelids showed that he was not at peace.