Siheyuan: Yan Jiekuang's carefree life

Yan Jiecheng took the bun and ate it in two or three bites. Then he picked up a steamed bread and said while eating: "Dad, Mom! You don't know! There is a severe shortage of food outside now. People in many places have already started to flee from famine."

Yan Bugui and his wife looked at each other, and they both remembered Yan Jiekuang's previous reminder. When they remembered that Yan Jiekuang could get food, they were relieved. Yan Bugui asked, "Jiecheng, where is your partner from?!"

Yan Jiecheng took a sip of the porridge, slowed down, and said, "My girlfriend is Yu Li, she was my former classmate."

When Yan Jiekuang heard the name "Yu Li", his heart skipped a beat and he thought to himself, "The way of heaven is really good at correcting mistakes. I thought Yan Jiecheng would have no contact with Yu Li since he had a job. But I didn't expect them to meet after all?! It seems like this is really God's will!"

The third aunt suddenly remembered something and asked, "Is it Yu Li from the old Yu family in Beibingmasi Hutong?!"

Yan Jiecheng replied: "It's her."

Yan Bugui asked: "Old lady, do you know her?!"

The third aunt smiled and replied, "How could I not know him? Do you still remember when Xie Cheng was studying, he came home hungry one afternoon?!"

Yan Bugui replied, "How could I not remember it?!" Then he came to his senses and said, "Could it be that this guy gave the meal that day to Yu Li?!"

The third aunt said: "The meal that Yu Li brought was stolen. Jie Cheng gave his share of the meal to Yu Li. I didn't expect that the two of them are now a couple."

"Why is there such a thing going on between the two of you?!" Yan Jiekuang muttered, and asked, "Brother, where are you and your partner at now?!"

Yan Jiecheng's face immediately turned red, and he said vaguely: "We just confirmed our relationship."

Yan Bugui asked: "How many people are there in Yu Li's house now?!"

Yan Jiecheng replied: "Five. In addition to her parents, she also has a younger sister and a younger brother. She is the eldest in the family."

Yan Bugui nodded thoughtfully and said, "It's similar to our situation." Then he asked, "Does Yu Li have a job now?!"

Yan Jiecheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "She doesn't have a job yet. But she has registered with the Labor Bureau. I guess she'll have a job soon."

At this time, Yan Jiekuang started coughing. Everyone in the family looked at Yan Jiekuang at the same time. The third aunt asked anxiously, "Jiekuang, what's wrong with you?!"

Yan Jiekuang took a sip of the cornmeal porridge, smoothed his throat, and replied, "It's nothing, I just ate too hastily and choked."

It is said that no one knows a son better than his father. Yan Jiekuang's reaction escaped the eyes of others, but it did not escape Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui thought about it thoughtfully and said, "Jiecheng, since you have confirmed your relationship with the girl, bring her home when you are free so that your mother and I can meet her."

"Hey!" Yan Jiecheng responded and finished the steamed bread in his hand in just two or three bites.

After dinner, Yan Bugui walked outside to digest his food, and then returned to the courtyard. When he reached the door of the main hall, Yan Bugui suddenly stopped, hesitated for a moment, turned around and walked to the door of Yan Jiekuang's room, stretched out his hand and knocked on the door, saying, "Jiekuang, open the door!"

When Yan Jiekuang heard Yan Bugui's voice, he was stunned for a moment, then walked to the door, opened it, let Yan Bugui in and asked, "Dad, what's the matter?!"

Yan Bugui closed the door and asked directly, "Your brother just mentioned work. Why did you react so strongly?!"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Dad, how do you think the job hunting situation now compares to the job hunting situation my brother faced?!"

Yan Bugui said indifferently: "I think it's about the same."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "The situation is far worse now than it was then. All the factories in the city are downsizing now, and many workers recruited from the countryside are being persuaded to return home. If it weren't for the fact that Jia Dongxu's father was an old worker at the steel mill, his family would have been persuaded to return to the countryside long ago. Besides, food is scarce now, and it's good enough that the factories don't lay off workers. In the next one or two years, it's a pipe dream to expect the factories to recruit people. Unless someone in the family happens to retire or has an accident."

Yan Bugui frowned immediately and said, "Your brother earns quite a bit of money now. Apart from what he gives home every month, the rest is enough for the two of them."

Yan Jiekuang reminded him, "Yu Li's family consists of five people, and they rely on Yu Li's father's work. If Yu Li marries my brother, the financial power of the couple will definitely fall into Yu Li's hands. Yu Li is well-known for her filial piety in their area."

Without Yan Jiekuang finishing his words, Yan Bugui had already imagined the scene after Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li got married. He sighed unconsciously and said, "Since your brother likes Yu Li, let him go! When your brother pays off the money he owes to the family, we will separate. He can do whatever he wants."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Dad, you and Mom are willing to separate. But Yan Jiecheng may not agree."

Yan Bugui acted like a patriarch and said, "I said we should split up. He won't say no." Then Yan Bugui looked at the things on Yan Jiekuang's desk and asked curiously, "Jiekuang, what are you fiddling with?!"

Yan Jiekuang smiled and replied, "Nothing! I'm going to repair the watch I bought a few days ago while I'm free. I'll find time to send it to the commissioning store tomorrow."

Yan Bugui asked curiously: "Jie Kuang, how much money have you saved?!"

"Dad, don't ask. It's not much money anyway." After saying that, Yan Jiekuang walked to the desk, sat down, picked up the magnifying glasses on the table and put them on his eyes, and said, "Dad, if you go out, don't forget to close the door." After saying that, Yan Jiekuang picked up the tools and skillfully assembled the watch.

Yan Bugui watched from the side for a while and thought to himself, "I really can't do this job?!" Then Yan Bugui turned around and left the room without disturbing Yan Jiekuang.

"Dad, where have you been?!" Yan Jiecheng's voice rang out as Yan Bugui walked into the main room. Yan Bugui replied, "I went out for a walk to help digest my food." Then he asked, "What do you want from me?"

Yan Jiecheng said, "Dad! You need a house to get married. You see Jie Di is still young, can you give up Jie Di's house to me?!"

Yan Bugui said, "Jie Di's house belongs to Jie Kuang. If you want it, go ask Jie Kuang. I can't make the decision."

When Yan Jiecheng heard what Yan Bugui said, he collapsed immediately and said with a bitter face: "I told him, he would definitely not agree! Dad, you are the head of the family, you should make the decision on this matter."

Yan Bugui said, "When I applied to the subdistrict office for the back house, I asked for your opinion. It was you who didn't want it. Now that Jie Kuang has repaired his house, you want to take advantage of it?! Others are the eldest brothers who take care of their younger siblings. But you, on the contrary, want your younger brother to help you?! If you want to get married, then get married. If you don't want to, forget it. If you want a house, you can pay for it yourself and separate the one you live in from Jiefang's current one. Half will go to Jiefang and the other half will be your wedding house."

Yan Jiecheng rolled his eyes and said, "Dad, Jie Di's room is bigger anyway. Why don't you and mom move into Jie Di's room and vacate your room for me to use when I get married?!"