Siheyuan: Domineering life

When I got home in the evening, it was already completely dark.

White lanterns were hung everywhere inside and outside the yard, fluttering in the cold wind, and there were still elegiac couplets on the doors and beams of each room.

Although Wang Yuying's funeral was handled at the ancestral hall, the family could not skimp on it and still had to follow the rules.

When I came to the living room in the backyard, the family was sitting there chatting.

Seeing Yang Jun coming back, several women came to greet him.

Some people took off Yang Jun's outer coat, some took off his scarf, and some handed him hot tea. Everyone served him carefully and no one dared to talk nonsense. Wang Yuying had just passed away, and everyone knew that Yang Jun was in a bad mood, so no one dared to be presumptuous.

"Let's have someone remove everything on the door early tomorrow morning," Yang Jun said.

"Well, I'll have people evacuate it tomorrow." Yi Qiu Shui said as he handed him a cup of hot water to warm his hands.

Yang Jun took the cup, held it with both hands, and took a sip.

"Have you eaten yet? I asked you to bring your meal to me."

After saying that, he told the nanny to serve the meal.

"Stop working, I'm not hungry." Yang Jun said.

"Oh, you haven't eaten properly for a few days. You should eat something." Yi Qiu Shui said with concern.

Seeing Yang Jun frowning, she quickly said, "Just eat a little, just eat a little."

"Okay, bring it here." Yang Jun said helplessly.

To be honest, he was not really hungry and he didn't know what was going on. He clearly felt very hungry but just couldn't eat. He guessed it might be related to his mother's death.

After a while, the food was served and Yang Jun started eating directly on the coffee table in the living room.

Yi Qiu Shui and Huang Yani sat on his left and right respectively, picking up food for him and pouring water for him.

Yang Jun had no appetite and stopped eating after two bites.

"Old Yang, eat a little more."

Seeing that Yang Jun only ate so little, Yi Qiu Shui felt very distressed.

"Hubby, just two more bites."

Huang Yani also advised.

"Can't eat anymore."

Yang Jun wiped his mouth, leaned back and lay on the sofa.

Seeing this, Yi Qiu Shui had no choice but to give up and let the servants take the food away.

"Are you all okay?" Yang Jun asked.

He could see that the women had lost weight. They must have been busy at home these days and must be tired.

"Old Yang, we are all fine, don't worry about us. But you have lost a lot of weight in the past few days." Nalan Qingmeng replied.

"Oh." Yang Jun sighed.

To be honest, his mother had passed away and he felt so empty inside that he had no mood to care whether he had lost weight or not.

"Hubby, mom is gone, but you still have us. We and the children will be with you." Chen Ruolan comforted.

"Yes, husband, we are still here, and the children are here too." Seeing this, everyone also comforted him.

"Ok, I know."

Yang Jun took out a cigarette and Yi Qiu Shui quickly lit it for him. For the first time ever, no one disliked him smoking.

"We still have to live our lives, and we all have to look forward. I believe that life will get better and better."

"Yes, what my husband said is very good. We will live a good life in the future so that mom won't have to worry about us."

Everyone sat in the living room chatting. Yang Jun was holding a few younger children and playing with them. He tried to talk as much as possible to relieve his depression.

We chatted for more than an hour, and seeing that the time was almost up, we all said goodbye.

Yang Jun also returned to her yard with Yi Qiu Shui.

Arriving at the bedroom, Yi Qiu Shui first filled a bathtub with hot water for Yang Jun so that he could take a good bath.

During these days, Yang Jun lived and ate in the mourning hall. He did not change his clothes, take a shower, or even take good care of his hair and beard.

Yang Jun took off his clothes and jumped into the bathtub.

"Comfortable!"

Surrounded by hot water, Yang Jun couldn't help but let out a cry.

"I'll rub your back."

Seeing that Yang Jun was in a much more relaxed mood, Yi Qiu Shui also felt happy.

She took a bath towel and rubbed Yang Jun's back, saying as she rubbed: "Now that mom's funeral is done, you should have a good rest at home and go back to work after you've rested well."

"Ok, I know."

Yang Jun looked at his blurry self in the mirror through the rising mist and felt that he was sloppy. He hadn't shaved for several days and his beard was very thick, making him look a bit like a beggar.

"Give me the razor."

Yi Qiushui was stunned for a moment and said, "Didn't they say that you can't have your hair cut or beard shaved during the mourning period?"

"It's enough to be filial in your heart. There's no need to just go through the motions."

Yang Jun said: "Besides, I have to go to work in a few days. I can't show up in front of people like this."

"That's true. The focus is not the actions. As long as you have filial piety in your heart, that's enough." Yi Qiu Shui.

Then she brought Yang Jun a razor.

She personally applied foam on Yang Jun's chin, then brought a mirror and let Yang Jun shave himself.

"Hey, don't get in the water, it's dirty."

Yi Qiu Shui cleared the foam that had fallen into the bathtub out, and then tied a towel around Yang Jun's neck so as not to dirty the bath water.

Seeing this, Yang Jun simply stuck his head out of the bathtub.

After a short while, he had shaved his beard and looked much more energetic, but he had also lost weight, and his cheekbones were clearly visible.

"I've really lost weight." Yang Jun said to himself.

"How can you not lose weight? You haven't eaten well these days, and you're worried, so it would be strange if you didn't lose weight." Yi Qiu Shui.

"It's better to be thinner. It's healthier."

Yang Jun smiled and handed her the razor.

"You just know how to comfort yourself. I feel so sad to see that you have lost so much weight." Yi Qiu Shui said coquettishly.

"Come in and keep me company for a while." Yang Jun suddenly said.

"what?"

Yi Qiushui was stunned for a moment, blushing and said, "Isn't this a bit bad?"

"You can take care of your beard and hair, but sleeping together... you can't break the rules."

"Why is it not good?"

Yang Jun smiled and said, "It's the same old saying. If the focus is not on the practice, why bother about the form?"

"It can't be that fast..."

"Hey, stop talking nonsense. Haven't you seen how irritated I have been these days?" Yang Jun said with a straight face.

"Okay, I'll just listen to you, okay?"

Yi Qiu Shui giggled and then jumped into the bathtub.

……

The next day, Yang Jun slept until noon.

He hadn't gotten much sleep in the past few days, and now that he had finally relaxed, he naturally fell into a deep sleep.

We arrived at the restaurant just in time for lunch.

All the family members were sitting at the table waiting for him, including Yang Chengdao and his wife, and Yang Chengcai and his wife, all the male members of the family were there.

The children haven't started school yet and are now reviewing their lessons at home. School will start in a few days after the Lantern Festival, so the whole family should get together before school starts.

"Dad, it's time to eat."

"Dad, I'm waiting for you."

As soon as they saw Yang Jun, several children greeted him, especially Yang Chengdao and Yang Chengcai, who stood up and held Yang Jun. "Okay, okay."

Yang Jun said this while looking at the children with a smile.

After his mother passed away, he felt more family-friendly than ever before, especially when he saw his children and grandchildren around him, which made him feel very comforted.

"Everyone use your chopsticks."

Yang Jun said something, and the children all started eating.

Maybe because he had a good rest last night, Yang Jun had an appetite and the food tasted much better.

"Chengdao, Chengcai, you guys have done a good job these past few days. You have grown up and matured."

Yang Jun chatted with his son while eating.

These days, he felt that his sons had grown up and were much more sensible than before, especially when they knelt at the door of the ancestral hall in the cold wind and snow and worked hard without complaint. He was really happy for his sons.

"Thanks for the compliment, Dad."

Yang Chengcai said shyly.

Yang Chengdao, however, said with a nonchalant smile: "Dad, the sun is rising from the west. It's rare to hear you praise me."

“I just praised you for being mature, but you showed your true colors so soon.” Yang Jun scolded with a smile.

"A dog's stomach can't hold two pounds of sesame oil, but he can't help but praise it." Yi Qiu Shui said with a smile.

"I can't help but praise him, but this kid has the charm and demeanor that I had in my youth." Yang Jun said with a smile.

"It's your cheeky demeanor, haha."

Everyone was amused.

"You even have a daughter-in-law here, so give me some face." Yang Jun glared at Yi Qiu Shui.

"Okay, okay, I'll pay attention next time."

The family was having a lively time, and the restaurant was filled with laughter.

After dinner, Yang Jun had nothing to do, so he went for a walk in the front yard.

This morning, the whole family took down all the elegiac couplets and white lanterns. Now the house has returned to its previous state. The yard is still the familiar yard, but things and people have changed, and the owner of a certain yard is gone.

Yang Jun walked around and unknowingly came to the yard where Wang Yuying lived before her death.

Standing in the yard, everything around was quiet, silent and lifeless.

"Hey!"

Yang Jun couldn't help but sigh.

Only then did he realize that his mother had really left him, and that he would be the child who was not loved by anyone.

"Boom boom boom!"

At this time, a burst of rapid footsteps came.

Yang Jun frowned slightly.

Looking back, I saw Sun Zhaocai running towards me in a panic.

"Uncle Yang, something bad has happened."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun looked even more displeased.

"Someone's dead? The house's on fire?"

When Sun Zhaocai heard this, he was stunned for a moment.

Then he said with an awkward grin, "The fire didn't burn the house, but someone died."

"Who died?"

After hearing this, Yang Jun couldn't help but become nervous.

My mother just passed away, and what I fear most now is hearing the word "dead".

"Yes, it's your second uncle Yang Dong."

Sun Zhaocai said embarrassedly.

Yang Jun was stunned for a moment when he heard this.

"he died?"

No wonder I didn’t see my second uncle at my mother’s funeral. It turned out something happened to him.

He was wondering why his second uncle didn't come. Logically speaking, since his sister-in-law had passed away, it was not excessive for him, as the younger brother-in-law, to wear mourning clothes. At the very least, he should have been busy running around. His cousins ​​and the clan members were all here, so he couldn't not come, right?
Before my mother passed away, I didn’t have the mood to think about these things, but now that I have calmed down, I think about it.

"Well, dead."

Sun Zhaocai nodded and said, "Uncle An Guo just called from home and said that he died in the hospital this morning."

After hearing this, Yang Jun was stunned.

He found it unbelievable. How could misfortunes never come alone? Such bad luck befell their Yang family. In the space of a few days, they lost two of their closest relatives and elders.

"How did my second uncle die?" Yang Jun asked.

"Uncle Yang, actually, the old man has been suffering from cancer for a long time, but Uncle Anguo didn't tell you. He has been recuperating in the hospital of his hometown all this time. He didn't even dare to tell him when grandma passed away. I wanted to tell him after he got better, but who knew..." Sun Zhaocai.

"cancer?"

After hearing this, Yang Jun asked in confusion, "Are you sure he died of illness, not...some other accident?"

He couldn't help but think of this. After all, he married a college student in her early twenties. The old man and young wife combination, plus his considerable wealth, inevitably made people think too much.

"It's liver cancer, not..."

Sun Zhaocai thought of something, and then laughed, "Uncle Yang, you worry too much. During this period, Ma Juan has been taking good care of the old man. She is doing her best. Uncle An Guo and the others have seen it and are very grateful to her."

"Oh, I hope it's not an accident."

Yang Jun listened and nodded.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Tell An Guo that I will take care of work at the company these days, and I will come over when I am done."

During their mother's funeral, the brothers Yang Anguo and Yang Anbang left their critically ill father and ran over to help. He saw their kindness, and now that his second uncle has passed away, he cannot help but express his gratitude.

Of course, he couldn't stay at the funeral for 24 hours like them. He was a public official and a senior leader, and there were still many things waiting for him to deal with.

"Ah."

Sun Zhaocai said: "An Guo asked me to tell you that if you are too busy, don't come back. He understands you."

"Okay, I see."

Yang Jun waved his hand, motioning him to go back.

Afterwards, Yang Jun returned to the backyard with his hands behind his back.

"Honey, it's bad, my second uncle passed away."

Before Yang Jun opened his mouth, Yi Qiu Shui spoke first.

"I know my second uncle just passed away." Yang Jun said.

"Oh, you know."

Yi Qiushui said: "Xiangxiu just called me and told me that my second uncle passed away in the hospital this morning."

After saying that, he sighed and said, "What's going on? Why are there so many deaths in our Yang family?"

Yang Jun said: "People eat grains and cereals. Birth, aging, illness and death are common. Don't over-interpret it."

"Yes, yes, I didn't think much about it, but...oh, forget it, husband, what are you going to do?" Yi Qiu Shui asked.

Yang Jun pondered for a moment and said, "Well, let's do this... You take Cheng Dao, Cheng Cai, and Cheng Yun back first, and I will go back on the day of the funeral."

Although Yang Jun cannot be present, his son can go in his place.

When an elder of the Yang family passed away, the male members of the Yang family had to go with them. Yang Jun only had these sons who were a little older, and the rest were five or six years old, or were hungry babies, and it would only cause trouble if they went.

As for the daughters-in-law of the Yang family, only Yi Qiu Shui could go there, and other women were not qualified.

"Well, that's all there is to it."

Yi Qiu Shui thought about it and felt that this was the only way.

Second uncle Yang Dong passed away, and they, as the younger generations, had to go. However, Yang Jun had a special status, and even if he was free, he could not stay in one place for such a long time. Therefore, unless it was absolutely necessary, Yang Jun would never show up in public.

"Okay, I'll pack it up right away and fly over later." (End of this chapter)