Siheyuan: Yan Jiekuang's carefree life

Near noon, Yan Jiekuang and Su Zihui arrived at the county. After getting off the long-distance bus, Su Zihui asked, "Where are we going now?!"

Yan Jiekuang replied: "This place is not far from the train station. Let's go buy train tickets first. After buying the tickets, we will go to the state-owned restaurant for dinner."

"Okay!" Su Zihui responded and followed Yan Jiekuang to the train station.

When they got to the train station, Yan Jiekuang asked Su Zihui to look after the luggage while he ran to the ticket window with the letter of introduction. Probably because it was too cold, there were not many people taking the train, so it was soon Yan Jiekuang's turn. Yan Jiekuang handed in the letter of introduction and said, "Comrade, do you have a train ticket to Sijiucheng today?!"

The conductor looked at the timetable and said, "There is a train at five o'clock this afternoon."

Yan Jiekuang then asked, "Do you have sleeper tickets?!"

The conductor checked and replied, “Yes!”

Yan Jiekuang said, "Give me two berths near the door, preferably the lower and middle berths." After saying that, Yan Jiekuang handed in eighty yuan.

The conductor quickly handed Yan Jiekuang two pieces of cardboard printed with the time, train number, carriage and berth, as well as a letter of introduction and change. Yan Jiekuang put away the letter of introduction and change, then walked up to Su Zihui with the train ticket and said, "I have bought the ticket. The train is at 5 o'clock this afternoon. I bought two hard sleeper seats."

Su Zihui said, "That's the luggage storage area. Let's store our luggage first and then go eat."

"Okay!" Yan Jiekuang agreed, picked up his luggage, and followed Su Zihui to the storage room.

In this era, few people travel far away. And since it was in the Northeast, there were few people on the train. A little after 4:30 in the afternoon, Yan Jiekuang and Su Zihui boarded the train. Soon they found their berths. Yan Jiekuang stuffed his luggage under the lower berth and said, "I'll sleep on the lower berth, and you sleep on the middle berth. Be alert at night. Don't let anyone steal your things."

Su Zihui said: "How about I guard the first half of the night and you guard the second half?!"

Yan Jiekuang thought about it and agreed: "Okay! I'll do as you say!"

As the clock pointed to five o'clock, the train whistle sounded, and then the train slowly started moving. Not long after, the conductor came. After checking the tickets, the conductor told Yan Jiekuang and Su Zihui to take good care of their belongings, and then left.

Passengers kept getting on and off along the way. But it seemed that they had nothing to do with the carriage Yan Jiekuang and his companions were in. Five days later, the train pulled into the Sijiucheng Railway Station. After getting off the train and walking out of the station, Yan Jiekuang said, "I'll take you home first, and then I'll go home."

"Okay!" Su Zihui agreed without thinking.

Yan Jiekuang and Su Zihui brought so many things that it was impossible for them to squeeze into the bus. Yan Jiekuang generously called a tricycle. He put the luggage on the tricycle, told the driver the address, and then the two got on the tricycle.

More than half an hour later, the tricycle arrived at the gate of the compound. Yan Jiekuang had just unloaded the things from the tricycle when an old lady carrying a basket came from a distance. Su Zihui saw the old lady and ran to greet her excitedly: "Grandma!"

The old lady heard the shout, looked at Su Zihui, and called out, "Xiaohui!"

Su Zihui threw herself into the old lady's arms. The old lady patted Su Zihui on the back and asked, "Why are you back?!"

Su Zihui replied, "The brigade gave me leave to visit my family, so I came back to see her." Then she said excitedly, "Grandma, I missed you so much! Are you okay?!"

The old lady replied: "I am in good health!"

Su Zihui accompanied the old lady to the front gate of the compound. Su Zihui said, "Grandma, this is Yan Jiekuang mentioned in my letter."

The old lady looked at Yan Jiekuang carefully and said, "Thank you for taking care of my Xiaohui, young man."

Yan Jiekuang said: "Grandma, it's fate that Xiaohui and I met."

The old lady said, "Pick up your things and come home with me!"

"Hey!" Yan Jiekuang responded and picked up the luggage at his feet with swift movements.

The old lady was surprised by Yan Jiekuang's strength and complained, "Xiaohui, why don't you help Jiekuang get some?!"

Su Zihui grinned and said, "Grandma, I wanted to help him get it on the way. But he thought I was too weak."

Yan Jiekuang said hurriedly: "Grandma, please don't talk about Xiaohui. I volunteered to do this! You lead the way and I will follow behind."

"Okay! You two are both willing to fight and be beaten. I will not care about you anymore." After saying that, the old lady let Su Zihui support her and walk into the courtyard.

After walking for about ten minutes, Yan Jiekuang followed the old lady and Su Zihui to a two-story western-style building. The old lady took out the key and opened the door, shouting as she walked in, "Old man, look who's back?!"

"Old lady, why are you shouting so loudly?! It's not like I can't hear you!" After saying that, Su Zhiguo put down the newspaper in his hand and saw Su Zihui standing next to his wife. His eyes immediately lit up and he asked, "Girl, why are you back?!"

Su Zihui asked: "Grandpa, didn't my brother write a letter to our family saying that I have a home visit leave this year?!"

Su Zhiguo said, "Didn't you say that you can only get home visit leave after two years? You've only been there for a year, how come you can get home visit leave?!"

Su Zihui pulled Yan Jiekuang to the front and said, "It's all thanks to him."

Su Zhiguo looked at Yan Jiekuang and asked, "Young man, you are Yan Jiekuang, right?!"

Yan Jiekuang was stunned and asked: "Grandpa, do you know me?!"

Su Zhiguo laughed and said, "My granddaughter mentioned you the most in her letter!" Then Su Zhiguo nodded unconsciously and said, "You are worthy of my Xiaohui."

Yan Jiekuang scratched his head a little embarrassedly and glanced at Su Zihui secretly. Su Zihui laughed unscrupulously at Yan Jiekuang's reaction and said, "Oh?! You also have shy moments?!" Then Su Zihui opened the luggage, took out two wooden boxes from it, and said, "Grandpa! Grandma! This is what Jiekuang and I give to you as a gift."

Su Zhiguo asked curiously: "What is it?!"

Su Zihui replied, "What can be found in the Northeast?! Of course, ginseng and deer antlers!" Then Su Zihui told Su Zhiguo and his wife how Yan Jiekuang dug ginseng and caught wild deer. After listening to Su Zihui's narration, Su Zhiguo asked, "Little Yan, these ginseng and deer antlers are not cheap. Are you willing to give them up?!"

Yan Jiekuang understood what Su Zhiguo meant and said, "Grandpa, Xiaohui is my girlfriend. Giving her to you is like giving her to my family. Why would I be reluctant?! Besides, good things should always be shared with family. It's not just for you and Xiaohui's grandfather. I've prepared some for my grandfather and them, too."

Su Zhiguo nodded, looked at Su Zihui, sighed silently in his heart, and thought to himself: "Girls really can't be kept at home when they grow up!" Then he asked: "How much vacation time did your team give you?!"

Yan Jiekuang replied: "Including travel leave, the brigade gave us a month and a half of leave. If something happens, it can be extended to after the Chinese New Year."

Su Zihui continued, "Grandpa, we have already discussed it on the way back. We will go back on time this time, and next time we have the chance to come back to visit relatives, we will stay longer."