Siheyuan: Domineering life

"You son of a bitch, what are you doing here?"

Yang Jun had just come out of the shelter when he saw Wang Erwa sitting in the living room.

Although this guy is nearly seventy years old, he still acts like a child, squatting barefoot on the sofa, tilting his head back and squinting as he smokes, acting like the master of the house and not considering himself an outsider at all.

"This is my home, I can come whenever I want."

Wang Erwa blew smoke rings at him and gave him a provocative look.

"You son of a bitch, how did you become your home?"

Yang Jun cursed and swore, then plopped down next to him and took out a cigarette to smoke.

"When did you arrive?"

"Have you got a meal yet?"

Yang Jun glanced at the sky outside. He hadn't realized how quickly time had flown by while he was in the shelter; he hadn't expected it to be so dark outside.

"I came here to drink with you, did you tell me I've eaten?" Wang Erwa rolled his eyes at him.

Yang Jun smiled upon hearing this.

Just as I was about to ask the nanny to cook, I saw Yi Qiushui come in.

"Old Yang, Brother Wang, the food is ready, go and eat."

It seems that Yi Qiushui had already prepared the meal.

"Thank you, sister-in-law, for your trouble."

After saying that, Wang Erwa glared at Yang Jun and said, "We're all family, how come there's such a big difference in how we treat people?"

"Brother Wang, you're too kind. This is your home, please make yourself at home." - Yi Qiushui

Yang Jun rolled his eyes and got up to go to the restaurant.

Have you all eaten?

“We’ve already eaten, so don’t worry about us. Old Wang has come all this way, so you should keep him company and have a good drink.”

"Okay, let's go."

Afterwards, Yang Jun and Wang Erwa went to the restaurant.

This manor was built according to the Peng Garden, and even the layout is exactly the same. Yang Jun found the restaurant with ease.

The meal was already laid out on the table: six dishes and a soup, plus two bottles of Jiannanchun liquor. The servants and nanny had long since been dismissed, leaving only Yang Jun and Wang Erwa in the dining room.

"I just got here, why did you chase after me, you old rascal?"

After a glass of wine, the two started talking non-stop.

Wang Erwa smacked his lips twice, picking up some food as he said, "I'm bored out of my mind, so I'm finding something to do."

"Now that I'm retired, I have a lot of time. I can't stay idle every day. I think it's better to stay with you, Lao Yang, than to wander around aimlessly."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun laughed and said, "Isn't it better to be with my beautiful wife? What's the point of me being with her?"

"Don't mention any beautiful wife, I... sigh, never mind, I won't say anymore."

Wang Erwa sighed, his whole body deflated like a punctured balloon, and he immediately lost his temper.

Yang Jun understood immediately and chuckled, "Thirty is like a tiger, forty is like a wolf, that's understandable."

Wang Erwa has been married three times in his life. His first wife, Wang Xiaocui, died young. His second wife, Linda, betrayed him and was executed by him. His third marriage was to a girl more than 30 years younger than him. Now, ten years have passed, and she has reached the age of 30. At her age, Wang Erwa's small body could not withstand her torment, so he found an excuse to hide away.

"Heh, you're one to talk, aren't you almost seventy too?" Wang Erwa rolled his eyes at him.

"Yes, that's right, I'm almost seventy, but my body is still that of a twenty-year-old," Yang Jun chuckled.

"Are you trying to provoke me, kid?" Wang Erwa glared at him.

"Look at you, why are you getting so worked up?" Yang Jun said. "Isn't what I said true?"

Wang Erwa was speechless.

"Hey."

Wang Erwa suddenly sighed and said, "You've been a groom every night for decades, I really envy your good health."

"Hey old man, why do you still look like a young man?"

Yang Jun's appearance and age were a mystery to everyone, and Wang Erwa was especially surprised.

The two have known each other since they were teenagers. More than fifty years have passed. He has long since become a white-haired old man, while Yang Jun still looks like he is in his twenties. In recent years, he seems to have become even younger.

He really couldn't understand why Yang Jun would do this.

"I do not know either."

Yang Jun smiled bitterly. This was his biggest secret, one that he couldn't even tell his closest brothers. Perhaps this secret would stay with him until he died.

"Hey, you'll have to take care of me in my old age and see me off when I die," Wang Erwa said.

"You son of a bitch, I think you're asking for it."

Yang Jun chuckled and cursed, then casually refilled his glass.

"Done."

Wang Erwa picked up his wine glass and clinked it against his.

"Done."

That's how the two of them are; they can talk about anything, they don't need to follow any rules, they can do whatever they want, say whatever they want, and it doesn't matter if they curse.

Over the years, the two have become accustomed to this way of speaking, and if they were to become serious one day, they would probably find it difficult to adjust.

"Old Li is in the hospital again," Wang Erwa suddenly said.

"Lever head?"

"Who else could it be but him?"

Yang Jun chuckled and said, "If this old guy doesn't stay for ten or fifteen days a month, he'd be doing a disservice to his meager pension."

"He's a sickly person."

Upon hearing this, Wang Erwa rolled his eyes at him and said, "It's easy for you to talk when you're not in the same boat. You may be immortal, but we old folks are just ordinary people, especially at this age. It's normal for us to be going to the hospital all the time."

"Yes, yes, I misspoke."

After saying that, Yang Jun laughed and said, "Is he still suffering from the same old problem?"

"Yes, I spoke to him on the phone the day before yesterday. He not only has high blood pressure, but also high blood sugar. The doctor said that if he doesn't control his diet, he will get... that disease."

"Diabetes," Yang Jun reminded him.

"Yes, it's diabetes. Gangtou said his blood sugar is 15, so he's basically been diagnosed with diabetes."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun smiled bitterly and said, "This disease is a tormenting one; it's best not to get it."

"What you're saying is all nonsense. Who wants to get sick?"

Wang Erwa rolled his eyes at him, paused slightly, picked up his wine glass, and downed a glass in one gulp.

“We old folks are getting old, our body parts are all breaking down, it’s time to fix them up, and what can’t be fixed… we’ll just hang it on the wall.”

"It's over," a look of pain flashed across his face.

"I recently underwent lung removal surgery and spent a full month in the hospital."

Yang Jun was stunned for a moment after hearing this.

"You're in the hospital? What's wrong with you?"

"why did not you tell me?"

"What's the use of telling you? Can you remove my lung or suffer for me?" Wang Erwa said, "Early-stage lung cancer, once it's removed, everything will be fine. It's not a serious illness, so why should I tell you?"

"Is lung cancer a minor illness?"

Yang Jun exclaimed, "Old Wang, you're completely disregarding me! You didn't even tell me about something as serious as getting sick."

Seeing Old Wang's resentful expression, as if he were saying, "Can you cut out my lung or suffer for me?" Yang Jun quickly changed his tone.

"Are you out of your mind? Drinking right after being discharged from the hospital?" After saying that, Yang Jun took away his wine glass and forbade him to drink anymore.

"Please let me drink it."

Wang Erwa reached out to grab the wine glass, but Yang Jun firmly refused, and in the end he had no choice but to give up.

"Sigh, I'm already this old, I don't even know how many more days I have left, why bother with all that?"

Yang Jun said, "I could have let it go if I didn't know before, but now that I do, I absolutely won't allow you to continue ruining your health like this."

"Listen to me, I'll arrange for some specialists to give you a thorough medical check-up tomorrow."

“I’m fully recovered, is it really necessary?” Wang Erwa said.

"Whose decision is it, yours or mine?" Yang Jun asked sternly.

Seeing that Yang Jun was angry, Wang Erwa quickly said, "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you."

Yang Jun's expression softened upon hearing this.

Only then did he understand why Wang Erwa had come all this way to catch up with him.

It turns out that they cherished the last moments of their lives.

Most people who have survived a brush with death have a deeper understanding of the meaning of life and cherish it more. Wang Erwa cherishes their relationship and thinks that being able to chat and drink together is a particularly meaningful thing.

"Even though you can't drink alcohol, I'll get you a beverage."

Just as Yang Jun was about to get up to get him a drink, Wang Erwa stopped him.

"Drinks are for women, I don't drink them."

"Then I'll get you some water."

"What do you mean?" Wang Erwa glared and said, "You drink alcohol but I'm given water?"

"Fine, you're my son now, okay? I won't drink anymore."

Yang Jun simply stopped drinking, put the bottle cap back on, and set it aside.

Then, the nanny brought up a pot of tea, and the two chatted over tea instead of alcohol.

The two talked most about the old days, a topic that never gets old and they could never get enough of.

"Back in the day, I could run 50 kilometers without even breaking a sweat," Wang Erwa boasted again.

“Yeah, you can brag without even panting.” Yang Jun.

Wang Erwa seemed completely unconcerned and continued to boast.

"I can eat fifteen two-ounce steamed buns."

"big eater."

"I could take on five soldiers like you in one go."

"Right, right, who was really abused like a dog back in the army?"

The two talked to themselves, one setting up the stage and the other dismantling it, neither affecting the other.

"Hey, look at me now, even my pee tastes sweet."

"You have diabetes."

"Not only is my pee sweet, but my blood is sweet too."

"It's diabetes..."

……

The two were chatting with slurred speech, unaware that Yi Qiushui and Huang Yani were standing outside, listening and giggling.

Seeing that she was laughing out loud, Yi Qiushui nudged her with her arm, and the two then left.

"I never imagined that even high-ranking leaders could be so vulgar in their conversations." Huang Yani shook her head, her perception of men being completely shattered.

"Big leaders are human too, aren't all men like that?"

Yi Qiushui laughed and said, "Don't be fooled by Lao Yang's serious demeanor in front of us. When he starts making raunchy jokes, no one can keep up."

“Exactly. He always puts on a gentlemanly act in front of us, but he’s actually a scoundrel.” Huang Yani.

“And he’s a complete jerk,” Yi Qiushui agreed.

The two left the restaurant and went straight to the living room.

Suddenly, Yi Qiushui sighed.

"What's wrong, Sister Qiushui? Why are you sighing?" Huang Yani asked.

“I feel sorry for our sisters.”

"What do you mean by that?" Huang Yani looked at her, puzzled.

“Look at Old Yang, how carefree he is. He’s almost seventy, but he looks like he’s in his twenties, even younger than his son Chengdao. And look at us, old and faded… no, we don’t deserve that word anymore. We should be described as frail and like the setting sun.”

"We are gradually approaching the end of our lives, while Old Yang seems to be getting younger and younger. I really don't know what the future holds..."

She couldn't continue speaking at this point, then sighed and went into the living room.

After hearing those words, Huang Yani stood there in a daze.

No one knows what she was thinking; perhaps Yi Qiushui's words deeply touched her.

Yes, they were originally family, but they went to two extremes. One grew old day by day, while the other grew younger and younger. Their eventual separation was inevitable. Especially now, she dared not show her face with Yang Jun in public. She was afraid that others would point fingers at their appearance and age, and afraid of what others would say behind their backs. Therefore, she tried to avoid going out together.

However, although they try to avoid it, the facts are there and they cannot escape them. They are now in their twilight years. If they are lucky, they may live another 10 or 20 years, but if they are unlucky, they may not live for more than a few years.

The scene of impending separation is about to unfold, which is especially painful for people their age.

She couldn't imagine what that day would be like. She didn't know if she would have the courage to face it all calmly. She just hoped that day would come later.

That night, Wang Erwa stayed at the Yang family's house.

The next morning, the Yang family got up early and ran ten laps around the river as usual before preparing to go back and take a shower.

As he passed by Yi Qiushui's courtyard, he seemed to see that guests had come to visit.

"Brother-in-law."

Ding Qiunan called out to Yang Jun.

Yang Jun was stunned for a moment, looking at the plump woman in front of him, and didn't recognize her for a moment.

"Brother-in-law, don't you recognize me?"

Ding Qiunan waved her hand in front of his eyes a few times.

"You are... Qiu Nan," Yang Jun asked uncertainly.

"It's me, brother-in-law."

Ding Qiunan looked at her in surprise, with an incredulous expression: "It's only been a few years, and you don't even recognize me?"

"Yes, it's been years, and you've become... even more beautiful," Yang Jun said with an awkward smile.

"Liar."

Ding Qiunan pursed her lips and said, "If you want to say I'm old, you can just say it directly, no need to beat around the bush."

"I didn't mean that at all. We're all of the same generation. How could I have the right to call you old?"

"Yes, we're all retired now, so naturally we can't be the same as before. At the very least, we've gained weight," Ding Qiunan said, hands on her hips, somewhat embarrassed.

"You've retired, but I haven't," Yang Jun joked.

“I’m talking about retirement in terms of age, not actual retirement. Besides, we’d love for you to never retire,” said Ding Qiunan.

“That won’t do. I can’t keep occupying this land and blocking the way for the young people.”

"Brother-in-law, please don't say that, and don't even think that way. All of us are counting on you to make a living."

After saying that, without giving Yang Jun a chance to speak, she continued, "Alright, brother-in-law, you should go back and wash up; you smell all over."

"Okay, see you at the restaurant later." (End of Chapter)