Siheyuan: Yan Jiekuang's carefree life

The people in the kitchen were chatting and walked to the door of the Finance Department. Although the line at the door was very long, it was very orderly. After about a quarter of an hour, it was finally Liu Lan's turn.

Liu Lan took out her and He Yuzhu's stamps from her pocket and said, "Liu Lan and He Yuzhu from the Third Canteen. These are our stamps." The finance officer found Liu Lan and He Yuzhu's names on the list and said, "Liu Lan's 17.84 yuan, He Yuzhu's 35.5 yuan."

Another accountant found the envelope with Liu Lan and He Yuzhu's names on it from a pile of envelopes. He pulled the envelope out and handed it to Liu Lan. Liu Lan took the envelope and counted the money inside on the spot. After confirming that there was no problem, Liu Lan put the money back into the envelope, then took the receipt for receiving benefits from the accountant and turned to leave the finance department.

"Shazhu, come and help!" Liu Lan walked into the kitchen of the third canteen carrying the New Year's benefits issued by the factory. He Yuzhu heard the call, walked quickly to Liu Lan, took the things in Liu Lan's hand, and asked: "Why are there only these things?!"

Liu Lan replied, "We are lucky to have some things distributed in our factory this year. The factories around us, let alone the welfare, have even started to limit the amount of food in the cafeteria at noon."

"That's true!" He Yuzhu echoed, saying, "Go to the supply and marketing cooperative later and buy some things. Send them to our parents before the New Year. We won't go there during the New Year."

Liu Lan understood what He Yuzhu meant. After thinking about the current situation, she compromised and said, "This is the only way."

"Silly Zhu!" Just then Kong Defan walked in from outside.

He Yuzhu asked: "Director, what's the matter?!"

Kong Defan said, "We have a treat tonight, thank you for your hard work."

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Director, can you tell me who the factory leaders are inviting to the banquet today? Are there any dietary restrictions for the guests? Besides, we don't have much left in our small kitchen warehouse."

Kong Defan sighed and said, "Isn't it all because of the materials?! Now the quotas of all factories have been lowered. The factory leaders can't just watch the workers work on an empty stomach, right?! This time the factory invited the leaders from the Materials Bureau. As long as they are happy, our lives will be better. I heard that the people who came this time are all from the Northeast."

He Yuzhu replied: "I understand! Director, don't worry! I will make sure they eat comfortably!"

"Okay! I'll leave it to you! As for the shortage of things in the small warehouse, there's nothing we can do now. The New Year is coming soon, and the purchasers don't want to go to the countryside. We can only wait until after the New Year." Kong Defan turned and left. Looking at Kong Defan's back, Liu Lan said, "It's not easy for Lao Kong, the canteen director!"

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "It's really not easy. Wife, put the things away first. We'll take them back in the evening."

Liu Lan said hurriedly, "No! Yu Shui is still at home! I'll send the things back first, and then give the girl some money so that she can have a meal at night. Or let her come to the factory."

He Yuzhu said, "It's inconvenient to come to the factory. If she doesn't want to eat by herself, send some back to her when the dishes are halfway done."

Liu Lan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay! I'll go back and ask her first." After that, Liu Lan picked up the welfare money issued by the factory and turned to walk out of the kitchen.

Master Yang walked up to He Yuzhu and said, "They say fools have good fortune. Shazhu, you are lucky to have a wife like Liu Lan."

He Yuzhu smiled and agreed, "Master Yang, you still don't say anything. My wife has nothing to complain about except her mouth. But then again, people from the same family stick together. I, He Yuzhu, am not very good at talking either." Then he asked, "Master Yang, are you free tonight? Can you help me?!"

Master Yang smiled and replied, "Shazhu, you gave me face, so of course I have to cover it. Even if I don't have time, I have to make time for it."

"Hey?! Liu Lan, your factory distributed a lot of things?!" Liu Lan had just walked into the gate of the courtyard when she met Yan Bugui coming out of the main hall.

This year, the steel mill gave away a set of enamel casserole and a set of enamel wash basins for the New Year, both of which were quite festive. Liu Lan replied, "Uncle, don't be fooled by the number of things. These things can only be used, not eaten."

"That's true!" Yan Bugui agreed, looked at Liu Lan's figure entering the gate of the central courtyard, smiled bitterly, turned around and went back to the main room.

"Sister-in-law, you're back?!" He Yushui heard the sound of the door opening and ran out of her room.

Liu Lan asked, "You didn't go out with your classmates today?!"

He Yushui replied, "No!" Then he saw what Liu Lan was holding and asked, "Is this the only thing your factory is giving out this year?!"

Liu Lan replied, "It's good enough if I get some." Then Liu Lan put the things on the table and said, "I'll tell your brother later that I'll leave a set for you as a dowry."

"Sister-in-law!" He Yushui called out shyly. Liu Lan continued, "The factory is hosting a dinner party tonight. Do you want to go out for dinner or do you want me to bring it to you?!"

He Yushui thought for a moment and replied, "Sister-in-law, you work hard, so don't make an extra trip for me. There's food at home anyway, I can just make a meal myself."

"How can this be possible?!" Liu Lan took out five yuan from his pocket, a pound of Sijiucheng local food coupons and half a pound of meat coupons and handed them to He Yushui, saying, "Don't treat yourself badly tonight."

"Sister-in-law!" He Yushui couldn't help but throw herself into Liu Lan's arms, burst into tears, and said, "Sister-in-law, why are you so good to me?!"

Liu Lan was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses and patted He Yushui on the back and said, "You silly girl! People always put themselves in others' shoes. You treat me well, how can I treat you badly?!"

He Yushui wiped away her tears and said with a wronged look: "Sister-in-law, you don't know that before you came in, my brother only cared about making sure I was full. He didn't care about anything else."

Liu Lan replied with a smile: "Don't you think about it. What's your brother's nickname?! Shazhu! He's lucky enough to feed you. What else do you want from him?! And even if he wants to control you, there are some things he doesn't understand. Okay! What happened in the past is in the past, don't take it to heart."

"Well! Hello, sister-in-law!" He Yushui gave Liu Lan a good guy card, and then chatted with Liu Lan for more than half an hour before letting Liu Lan leave.

Liu Lan had just walked out of the courtyard gate when Xu Damao pushed his bicycle in. Yan Bugui heard the noise and walked out of the main hall. Before Yan Bugui could speak, Xu Damao asked first, "Uncle, is your Jie Kuang here?!"

Yan Jiekuang heard Xu Damao's question, walked out from the back room and asked, "Brother Damao, what's the matter?!"

Xu Damao patted the sack on the back seat of the bicycle and said, "Jie Kuang, I got the things. Can you please help me assemble them?"

"Okay! You go back first, I'll be back soon with the tools." After saying that, Yan Jiekuang went back to the back room, took out a cloth bag specially used to hold tools, and came out again.

Yan Bugui asked: "Jie Kuang, where are you going?!"

Yan Jiekuang walked up to Yan Bugui, leaned close to Yan Bugui's ear, and whispered, "I'll go help Xu Damao assemble the radio."