Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1111 It’s New Year’s Eve
The dumpling feast was just for six people, and they ate every last bit. After finishing their meal, no one wanted to move, so they just chatted. Fei Qing also said that he met Xu Damao through Yu Fei. He felt that Xu Damao was a decent person, good at interpersonal relationships and handling affairs, and a genuine person.

Fei Qing also mentioned that Xu Damao had talked about their courtyard. According to him, there were no good people in that courtyard, and if it weren't for the family's ancestral home there, he would have moved away long ago.

Xu Damao is now a projectionist at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, a full-time employee, earning 41.5 yuan a month. A few days ago at a gathering, Xu Damao officially announced that he was getting married after the Chinese New Year and invited them to the wedding. Fei Qing and Yu Fei both agreed, but unfortunately Fei Qing couldn't go.

Wang Zhan didn't comment on Xu Damao much anymore, but he was very puzzled. The Xu Damao he heard from Yan Jiekuang was quite different from the one Fei Qing described. They were completely different people. He would ask Yan Jiekuang when he had the chance. Anyway, he had nothing to do now and was just idling around.

The end of the gathering meant that the brothers would have to go their separate ways again. They were all struggling at a crossroads in their lives. Xiao Wu and Da Lao Tie chose to join the army, Xiao Si was going to university, and Fei Qing successfully persuaded himself to go with his parents by making fun of himself. Wang Zhan supported Fei Qing's decision because his parents were no longer in office. Who knew what uncertainties he would encounter if he joined the army? It was better for him to stay with his parents.

Yu Fei heard that he was going to work in a steel rolling mill. His father was a section chief in the steel rolling mill and had already paved the way for Yu Fei. This was one of the reasons why Xu Damao was willing to befriend Yu Fei.

Since that gathering, Yu Fei and Xiao Si have visited Wang Zhan's house twice. Yu Fei was always excited when he saw the place, thinking it was great. There were ready-made guest rooms, and he could just bring a set of bedding and move in. The key point was that there were no parents to discipline him here, nor a bunch of elders to nag him. He could do whatever he wanted here.

Wang Zhan sneered at Yu Fei. After finishing lunch, he kicked him out the door and told him to get lost. He said, "You want to move in? Do you expect me to serve you? Get lost. You're dreaming, Yu Fei."

The deaf old lady's home in the backyard of courtyard number 95.

It was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. Mr. and Mrs. Yi Zhonghai came to visit the deaf old lady. Actually, it was mainly Mr. Yi Zhonghai who came to visit, while his wife, Li Cuilan, usually spent more time at the deaf old lady's house than at her own home.

Yi Zhonghai came today to discuss the New Year's arrangements. The deaf old lady didn't have many opinions, but she mentioned that she wanted to eat the dishes cooked by Sha Zhu.

Yi Zhonghai said with a smile, "Don't worry, how could Sha Zhu refuse when you say so? He'll definitely be the one cooking. Grandma, shall we just do what we always do? You alone, our family, Sha Zhu, and the Jia family all together?"

The deaf old woman, who had been squinting, suddenly opened her eyes wide upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, staring intently at him. Yi Zhonghai felt a little uneasy under her gaze. After a long while, the deaf old woman said, "Zhonghai? You're too calculating. If you want Shazhu to take care of you in your old age, you have to be sincere in return. Shazhu may be called Shazhu, but he's not stupid. You're putting him with a young widow during the New Year. Aren't you afraid of the gossip?"

Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat. He had previously guessed that the old lady treated Sha Zhu like her own grandson. Now it seemed that she really didn't want Sha Zhu to get involved with Qin Huairu's family. But Yi Zhonghai's own plan was different. He wanted to tie Sha Zhu to the Jia family's broken car, otherwise he would have to pay a higher price.

The deaf old lady seemed to see what Yi Zhonghai was thinking, and she continued, "Zhonghai, don't be so arrogant. That old hag from the Jia family has changed her mind. You can't control her family. Those two widows are not easy to deal with."

Yi Zhonghai was somewhat skeptical of what the deaf old lady said. He still believed he could definitely control the Jia family. After all, Qin Huairu was still working under him. However, he couldn't tell the deaf old lady this on the surface, so he quickly changed the subject and said, "What are you talking about? I was talking about the New Year. I didn't mean to drag Shazhu into the Jia family. Isn't it because Jia's daughter-in-law is my apprentice? I'm also her master. I just saw that the family was having a hard time, so I wanted to help them out. Old lady, you're overthinking it."

The deaf old lady looked at Yi Zhonghai with wise eyes, then sighed and said, "I hope I'm overthinking it. Alright, do whatever you want during the New Year. Oh, and take a piece of pork that my niece sent over. Tell Zhuzi I want to eat braised pork." Yi Zhonghai smiled and said, "Okay, old lady, just wait and eat. I've prepared some too. We'll all go to the Jia family's house for the New Year."

"Alright, you can arrange it as you see fit, I'm not going to interfere anymore," the deaf old lady said, waving her hand.

Yi Zhonghai left happily and went straight to Sha Zhu's room when he returned to the Central Courtyard. Sha Zhu had drunk a little wine at noon and was originally planning to make dough, but then he got lazy and took off his shoes and went to bed. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Yi Zhonghai pushed the door open and came in.

"Oh ho, you've been sleeping all day, are you even going to sleep tonight?" Yi Zhonghai sat down at the square table as if he were in his own home, picked up the thermos on the table, and poured himself a glass of water.

Sha Zhu opened his eyes and saw that it was an old man who had come over. He forced himself to sit up in bed and said, "You disturb my peaceful sleep. You old man are not very nice. You didn't even knock before coming in."

"What kind of relationship do we have that I need to knock on the door? I need to talk to you about something," Yi Zhonghai replied.

"Fine, next time I'll go to your house in the middle of the night without knocking, and see if this old lady can stand it." Sha Zhu got off the bed and sat down next to Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai handed him a cigarette, and Sha Zhu lit it with a match. Only then did Yi Zhonghai say, "The New Year is just around the corner. How are your New Year's preparations going?"

"Sigh, don't even mention it. We were all prepared, and we were even planning to bring back rainwater so we siblings could have a good New Year. But as soon as the holiday started, this girl took the train to Baoding. I don't know what kind of spell He Daqing cast on her," Sha Zhu said with a worried expression.

Yi Zhonghai frowned. He knew that He Yushui and He Daqing were connected, but he did not expect the connection to be so close. He suddenly wondered if one day Shazhu would also run to his father's side like He Yushui, since everyone knows the principle that blood is thicker than water.

Yi Zhonghai lit a cigarette, then stared intently at Sha Zhu, and suddenly asked, "Zhu Zi, haven't you ever thought about going over to celebrate the New Year with them?"

Sha Zhu didn't notice Yi Zhonghai's change in mood and said nonchalantly, "Why would I go over there? Call a widow I don't even know 'Mom,' and then act like brothers fighting with those kids who are fighting over my dad. I can't be bothered with them."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai felt a sense of relief. He then asked, "What about He Daqing? After all, he is your father."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu was stunned. Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat, and his heart, which had just been half relieved, was now hanging in suspense again. He just stared at Sha Zhu.

(End of this chapter)