Siheyuan: Domineering life

The next morning, the whole family got up early.

Even the children, who usually love to sleep in, got up early. They were going to wish the adults a Happy New Year, not for the money, but because it was a unique tradition of the Yang family.

"Dad, Happy New Year! Wishing you a joyful Year of the Rooster."

"Dad, Happy New Year."

Yang Jun had just gotten up and hadn't even had time to wash up when a group of children dragged him into the living room. They knelt on the ground and kowtowed, begging for red envelopes.

"Okay, okay, Happy New Year to you all too."

Looking at his children and grandchildren surrounding him, enjoying a happy time, Yang Jun felt that he had been quite successful in his role as a father, and that it had been worthwhile to protect his family from all the storms of life for so many years.

"One red envelope for everyone, don't fight over it, everyone will get one."

The red envelopes were prepared yesterday, and they were just waiting to be used today.

"Get up quickly, the ground is cold."

Yang Jun was in a particularly good mood today, and he showed unprecedented patience and care for the children.

The children were still young and didn't know the rules. They rushed to wish Yang Jun a Happy New Year. After wishing their father a Happy New Year, they went to wish the other aunts a Happy New Year. Before long, everyone had a thick stack of red envelopes in their hands.

"Dad, Happy New Year."

At this time, Yang Chengdao, along with Bai He and his son Yang Mingchan, came to pay New Year's greetings to Yang Jun.

"Okay, okay, I wish you and your family of three a happy new year and good health."

As Yang Jun handed out red envelopes to them, he said, "I want to give my eldest grandson an extra red envelope. You are the first grandson in our Yang family so far, so Grandpa must take extra care of you."

"Mingchan, quickly thank Grandpa." Bai He.

The little one is over a year old and can already walk, but his speech is still not fluent; he can only say some simple reduplicated words.

"Thank you, grandpa."

The little guy seems to have been taught by the adults at home, as he speaks very fluently and clearly now.

"Oh, you're welcome. You deserve it."

Afterwards, Yang Jun held his grandson in his arms and played with him for a while.

"Dad, Happy New Year."

At this moment, Yang Chengcai and Zhong Xiaohui knelt down to wish Yang Jun a Happy New Year.

"Alright, alright, Happy New Year to you all too." Yang Jun said with a smile, "I wish you all academic success in the new year."

"Thank you dad."

After receiving the red envelope, Yang Cheng and his wife repeatedly expressed their gratitude.

The significance of the Lunar New Year lies not in the size of the red envelopes, but in the orderly inheritance of the family and the continuous passing down of traditions – this is the true meaning of life.

"You two need to hurry up..."

Yang Jun was about to tell them to hurry up and have a child, but he changed his mind and said, "Hurry up and study, and try to take the postgraduate entrance exam as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Yang Cheng and Zhong Xiaohui exchanged a glance, clearly knowing what Yang Jun was going to say. They smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dad, we'll hurry up."

After a slight pause, Yang Cheng continued, "We are both career-oriented people. In the future, I will not only take the postgraduate entrance examination, but also the doctoral entrance examination. After I graduate with my doctorate, we will make other plans."

“Very good. It’s a good thing that young people are ambitious. Whatever you do, Dad will support you.” Yang Jun.

After a slight pause, Yang Jun asked Zhong Xiaohui, "Xiaohui, how is your father?"

"Thank you for your concern, Dad. I'm doing well," Zhong Xiaohui said. "A few days ago, when we went to deliver holiday gifts, Dad asked me to tell you that he wanted to have a drink with you after the New Year."

"Sure, tell your dad I'm ready anytime."

Yang Jun had indescribable feelings for Zhong Yuemin. After all, Zhong Yuemin and his group were his earliest friends when he came to this world. They had kept in touch for decades, and now almost all of them were his right-hand men, except for Zhong Yuemin, since that guy didn't follow the right path.

"Alright, Chengcai and Chengdao, you two brothers, stop staying in the backyard and go to the front yard. We have guests coming over soon," Yang Jun said.

"Yes, Dad."

Afterwards, Yang Chengdao and Yang Chengcai went to the front yard, while Zhong Xiaohui and Bai He went to the kitchen to help.

Children were running around wildly in the yard. Yang Jun stood at the door of the living room, watching them with a smile. He felt satisfied and gratified. These children were the future hope of the Yang family and the mark he left on this world.

"Slow down, the road is slippery, don't fall," Yang Jun reminded him with a smile.

The children didn't listen to him at all; they played and ran around as they pleased, filling the yard with laughter and joy.

A few mischievous little boys secretly stuffed firecrackers into other people's pockets, and laughed heartily at the sight of the terrified people.

Yang Jun didn't bother with them. Children have their own nature, and as long as they don't do anything more outrageous, he won't interfere. They were only playing with firecrackers, and Yang Jun had already explicitly forbidden them from playing with firecrackers that could be lit. If they were caught, they would be severely punished, so they would never play with anything more dangerous.

"If you become famous, you're not allowed to bully your sister."

Seeing Yang Chengming about to stuff the firecracker into Yang Chengxun's pocket, Yang Jun quickly stopped him.

Yang Chengming was startled when his father called his name. He secretly glanced at him, but still threw the firecracker at Yang Chengxun's feet.

"Snapped!"

Yang Chengxun seemed to have gotten used to the sound. Not only was she not afraid, but she was also unusually excited. She threw the firecracker in her hand at her brother's feet and laughed heartily as she watched him dodge and hide.

Yang Jun watched all this with a smile, his eyes full of doting affection.

Looking into the distance, I saw Yang Chengwu and his wife walking towards us with their three children.

"Godfather, Happy New Year!"

"Grandpa, Happy New Year!"

Yang Chengwu and his family of five knelt directly in the snow in the yard, bowed their heads, and kowtowed three times.

"Get up quickly, the ground is cold."

Yang Jun stepped forward and helped him up.

Normally, Yang Jun wouldn't have helped him up, but today is the Lunar New Year, and everything must be done according to the rules. Some rituals still need to be observed. This act of helping him up represents Yang Jun's recognition and respect for him.

"Yin Fang, go to the kitchen and find your godmother," Yang Jun said to Yin Fang, Yang Chengwu's wife.

"Okay, godfather, I'm off then."

After saying that, she turned to her three children and said, "You three play with your uncles and aunts, don't fight, do you hear me?"

"understood."

The children had been eyeing the firecrackers for a long time, so they could only give their mother a perfunctory answer.

"Godfather, have a smoke."

Yang Chengwu pulled out a cigarette, put it in Yang Jun's mouth, and lit it.

Then, the father and son squatted on the steps under the eaves of the living room and watched the children playing in the yard.

"Where's Xiao Liu? Why hasn't she come to wish me a Happy New Year yet?" Yang Jun asked.

"Oh, she'll be right there."

Yang Chengwu explained, "As you know, her disabled body is different from ours. She needs time to dress and wash herself."

"Hey."

Yang Jun sighed after hearing this.

“This child is stubborn and doesn’t like others to help her. All the nannies I sent for her were driven away by her.”

Xiao Wu laughed and said, "Hey, Xiao Liu is just that kind of person. You know that, she lost both her legs and is very self-conscious. She doesn't want others to see her disabled state, and she doesn't like others to pity her."

"Hey."

Yang Jun sighed again.

He watched Xiao Liu grow up, and he knew her personality very well. If it weren't for her strong character, she wouldn't be where she is today. Since losing her legs, her personality has become even more eccentric. In the huge villa, she lives alone without even a nanny. She takes care of her daily life on her own and never asks for help. She doesn't even need anyone else to help her with housekeeping.

This kind of personality isn't exactly good or bad; in any case, he's the one who suffers and endures hardship.

As they were talking, they saw Yang Chengliu approaching in a wheelchair from afar. Because the ground was slippery, the wheels of her wheelchair were covered in mud, and the sleeves on her arms as she turned the wheelchair were also covered in mud.

"little six."

Upon seeing this, Yang Chengwu immediately rushed over.

"Fifth brother."

Yang Chengliu turned around sweetly and called out.

"You, you, you could have just called out and I would have pushed you. Look at your clothes, they're covered in mud," Yang Chengwu scolded.

He doted on his younger sister and felt very sorry for her seeing her in such a disheveled state.

Yang Jun stood up early and took a few steps forward to greet him.

"Godfather, Happy New Year!"

Yang Chengliu sat in her wheelchair and smiled as she spoke. She couldn't put her legs down and could only bend over to kowtow.

"Little Six, Happy New Year."

Yang Jun stepped forward and stood in front of her, scolding, "Where's Lucy? Why didn't she come with you?"

"Lucy won't be here for a while."

After saying that, Yang Chengliu revealed a mysterious smile and whispered, "Godfather, let me tell you, Lucy is in love. She went on a date early this morning."

"Lucy is in a relationship?" Yang Jun was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "That's a good thing. She's not young anymore, it's time for her to settle down and start a family."

"But I wonder which family's young master she's dating?"

“The young master of the Guo family next door,” Yang Chengliu said with a smile.

"Next door...you mean Lucy and Uncle Guo's son are dating?"

"Yes, it's that kid Guo Tianmin."

Yang Jun knew Guo Tianmin, but he had only met him a few times and wasn't very familiar with him. He vaguely remembered that the guy worked at a bank, but that was all he knew.

At this moment, Yang Chengwu spoke up: "Godfather, something's not right."

"What's wrong?" Yang Jun asked.

"Godfather, Guo Tianmin is of the same generation as you. If he were to date Lucy, wouldn't the generational hierarchy be messed up?"

Yang Jun paused for a moment after hearing this, then smiled.

"Each side has its own opinion; we shouldn't take it too seriously."

After a slight pause, she continued, "It's not easy for Lucy to find love, and we can't let a beautiful relationship be ruined because of generational differences."

Strictly speaking, Yang Jun and Guo Tianmin are not related by blood at all. Yi Qiushui is just Guo Caodi's adopted daughter and has no blood relation to him. If Yang Jun hadn't married Yi Qiushui, he and Guo Tianmin wouldn't have any connection at all.

Moreover, Lucy is just his adopted daughter and has no blood relation with him, so it's perfectly fine for Lucy to be with Guo Tianmin.

“That’s true. They’re not related by blood. We can’t break them up just because of a form of address,” Xiao Wu said.

At this moment, Xiao Liu spoke up.

"Godfather, I thought you would object to them being together, but I didn't expect you to agree."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun put on a stern face and said, "Is this the kind of old-fashioned impression you have of your godfather?"

"Hmm." Yang Cheng nodded heavily, then quickly added, "However, my impression of you has changed now."

"Just because I agreed to let Lucy and Lucy be together?"

"Not entirely, but you're different from before anyway."

After hearing this, Yang Jun turned to look at Xiao Wu: "Do you also think I'm old-fashioned?"

"No, I absolutely didn't." Yang Chengwu shrank back in fright and denied it repeatedly.

“You will always be the most open-minded person in my heart. If you are a rigid person, then there is no one more open-minded in this world.”

"Stop flattering me. I know my own worth." Yang Jun rolled his eyes at him.

"Hehe, as long as you know what I mean."

While the three of them were talking, Shi Tou Bang Geng, He Xiao, and the other two arrived.

Although they had already given New Year's gifts before the holiday, they didn't come empty-handed this time; each of them carried a gift box.

"Godfather, Happy New Year!"

The three greeted each other from a distance.

Upon arriving in front of Yang Jun, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, completely disregarding the puddles on the ground.

"No need, no need for anything."

Yang Jun stepped forward and helped them up.

No matter what, we have to give them face today because it's Chinese New Year.

"Thank you godfather."

Then, the three of them got up.

"Fifth Brother, Sixth Sister," they greeted the fifth and sixth brothers.

Among Yang Jun's godson and godson, Yang Chengwu is the eldest, followed by Sun Zhaodi.

"Banggeng, Shitou, He Xiao, you're here too."

These sworn brothers and sisters usually get along well and help each other with any difficulties.

"Come in first, I'll give you red envelopes..."

Just as Yang Jun finished speaking, he saw a group of people walking towards him from the archway.

Wang Xiaoxiao, Sun Zhaodi, and Lucy all came with their families and children.

"Godfather."

"Grandpa".

A group of people rushed to the courtyard and were about to kneel down to kowtow and wish Yang Jun a Happy New Year.

"Get up, all of you, and come inside."

Yang Jun was worried that if he stood in the yard any longer, these people would come out to offer New Year's greetings in the snow and get covered in mud, which wouldn't be good.

"Come in, it's warm inside."

Yang Jun sat directly in the main seat of the living room, with three futons on the floor.

"The red envelopes are all ready, come one by one."

Yang Jun smiled and patted the stack of red envelopes next to him.

"Godfather, I wish you a prosperous new year." Stone was a shrewd man and was the first to kneel down and offer his New Year's greetings.

"Wishing my godfather good health and peace in the new year." - He Xiao

"I wish my godfather a long and healthy life," Bang Geng said with a grin.

"Godfather Zhu..."

Those who had just offered New Year's greetings also offered them again.

Yang Jun sat there smiling, handing out red envelopes to them, in a particularly pleasant mood.

Looking at the results of his business over the past twenty years, he felt genuinely proud.

These godson and goddaughter are just like his own children; they will all be Yang Jun's support in the future. They will not only share life and death with the Yang family, but will also be a powerful force on Yang Chengdao's path to success.

Seeing his descendants and family power growing stronger, Yang Jun felt genuinely gratified.

"Alright, alright, Godfather wishes you a Happy New Year too." (End of Chapter)