Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1112 Four Families Celebrate the New Year
The main house in the middle courtyard of No. 95 is quiet. If it weren't for the occasional slurping sound of someone smoking, you would think no one was home.

Sha Zhu thought for a long time and suddenly said, "He raised me, gave me a job, and gave me a house, but he left. He's gone, so he's gone. Since he can leave, he shouldn't come back. Now He Yushui is also a bit distant from me, so from now on, I'll just live my own life."

Sha Zhu seemed a little down, which put Yi Zhonghai at ease. Seeing Sha Zhu's disappointment, he quickly said, "No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have brought this up during the New Year, making you think about things you shouldn't have. By the way, I called you here because of the New Year."

Sha Zhu's emotions changed quickly. His thoughts were immediately affected by what Yi Zhonghai said, so he asked, "What? Uncle Yi doesn't want to spend the New Year with me and the old lady like last year, does he? Sure, I'd love to. Don't worry, I'll still be in charge of cooking."

“Yes, the old lady was just saying that she has pork from her area and asked you to make braised pork for her. Wait a minute, your brother Jia’s family was also involved last year, why didn’t you mention that just now?” Yi Zhonghai said.

Sha Zhu looked at Yi Zhonghai and said, "You know the Jia family, right? Now there are two widows with three children. If I spend the New Year with them, who knows what the people in the courtyard will say about me? Maybe we should skip it this year?"

“Zhu Zi, I have to say something to you about this. When your brother Dongxu was alive, you were the best friends in the courtyard, right? Now that he’s gone, you’re left with an orphan and a widow. Life must be so hard for them. Add to that the current food situation, Jia Zhangshi still doesn’t have a ration, and Qin Huairu has a baby to support. You can imagine how difficult things are for them. They can’t even afford a decent meal for the New Year. If you don’t help them now, how can you face your brother Dongxu?” Yi Zhonghai looked at Sha Zhu seriously and said.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu quickly said, "Alright, alright, old man, please stop talking. You said you'd help, so please stop. Don't say anything more, or you'll bring Brother Dongxu up from underground."

"How come you started rambling on and on?" Yi Zhonghai said with a laugh and a scolding tone.

The two of them smoked and drank water while finalizing the menu for their New Year's Eve dinner. To be fair, Yi Zhonghai was quite generous this time, preparing eight dishes, one dessert, and one soup, making it a perfect ten. Yi Zhonghai also provided the wine.

After finishing his conversation with Sha Zhu, Yi Zhonghai left the house. As soon as he stepped outside, he was stunned. He saw a figure washing clothes by the pool in the middle courtyard, with a thermos on the ground next to her. Upon closer inspection, Yi Zhonghai realized that it was Qin Huairu, Dongxu's wife.

At this moment, Qin Huairu also saw Yi Zhonghai and quickly greeted him, saying, "Uncle Yi, you haven't rested yet?"

"Huai Ru, it's so cold and so late, why are you still doing laundry?" Yi Zhonghai said.

"Yes, the child is naughty and always gets his coat very dirty. If he doesn't wash it today, he won't have any clean clothes for the New Year. It's cold, so you should go home."

"Well, you should get some rest too." Yi Zhonghai turned and headed towards the east wing, but stopped halfway there and turned back towards Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu remained calm. In fact, she had overheard the conversation between the two people in Sha Zhu's family and already knew what was going on, but she pretended not to know and continued washing clothes by the pool.

Yi Zhonghai walked up behind her and said, "Huai Ru, I have something to tell you."

"Huh? Grandpa, you're back again? You scared me." Qin Huairu pretended to be startled, smiling with her lips pursed.

Upon seeing this, Yi Zhonghai was overwhelmed with emotion and his mind went blank for a moment. But being an old fox who had seen too many things, he regained his composure in just a few seconds.

Yi Zhonghai said, "Huai Ru, your family's situation this year isn't very good, is it? How are things? Have you bought all the New Year's goods? How's the New Year's Eve dinner preparation going?" Upon hearing this, Qin Huai Ru's face instantly changed, and tears welled up in her eyes. She lowered her head, weeping, and said, "Uncle, don't you know our family situation? What New Year's goods or New Year's Eve dinner? With so little money, I have to give my mother-in-law her retirement money. Where would we get anything left? I'm really worried. I originally planned to buy half a pound of meat, but with the rationing, I haven't saved any meat coupons. If things don't go well, we'll just have to make do. It's just that the children are suffering."

"Huai Ru, don't worry. As Dong Xu's mentor, I won't stand by and watch Dong Xu's child suffer. Here's what we'll do: tomorrow, I'll set aside some of my family's New Year's goods. Come over in the morning, and I'll have an older woman give them to you. By the way, this year, we'll celebrate the New Year together as usual—your family, my family, the old lady, and Sha Zhu will all be together. You can come over and help Sha Zhu out. Your family doesn't need to prepare anything; we can eat at your place. The leftovers should be enough for you until the end of the first month of the lunar calendar." Yi Zhonghai said to Qin Huai Ru with a kind expression.

"That's wonderful! I bet the kids will be so happy to hear that. I feel so embarrassed. Sigh, otherwise, our family wouldn't be able to... Waaah..." Qin Huairu sobbed softly.

"Alright, it's the New Year, stop crying. Go wash up and get some rest. I'm going back." Yi Zhonghai turned and left. He didn't want anyone to see this scene. It was late at night, and a young widow was alone with him in the courtyard, crying and sobbing. If someone saw this, it would be hard to explain.

As Qin Huairu watched Yi Zhonghai leave, her tears instantly dried up, a smile curved her lips, and she packed her things and went home.

The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, New Year's Eve
At No. 47 Yu'er Hutong, Wang Zhan got up early. The courtyard had been cleaned two days ago, and the rooms in the front yard had all been swept. In addition to decorating all the doors with couplets, the door gods, window decorations, and lanterns that needed to be pasted were all arranged.

But there was very little furniture in the house, and most of the rooms were empty. Liu's eldest daughter had already moved all his belongings out of his room and had even cleaned the house thoroughly. Wang Zhan locked all the rooms, since they weren't needed now and would deal with it later.

The second gate was also decorated with couplets and door gods, and two slightly larger red lanterns, the same size as those hanging at the main gate, were hung up. Further in was the backyard, where the grapevines were now bare. The yard was very clean, and Wang Zhan had emptied the water from the feng shui fish tank. Now, a large blue-and-white porcelain vat stood alone in the middle of the backyard.

Wang Li cleaned Jinbao's doghouse. Wang Zhan originally wanted to do it himself, but Wang Li took over the job, and not only that, she also took over the job of cleaning the small garden.

With nothing else to do, Wang Zhan began researching the dishes for his family's New Year's Eve dinner, his hands never stopping as he processed various vegetables and ingredients.

After cleaning Jinbao's doghouse and the small garden, Wang Li skipped and hopped into the kitchen. Wang Zhan washed a towel with warm water, handed it to Wang Li, and said, "Is there anything you particularly want to eat?"

"Mmm, mmm, I want to eat that sweet meat. I forgot what it's called, but it's the one you made for Brother Wu the day after we moved here," Wang Li said while wiping her face.

"Sweet and sour pork, that's enough, is there any more?" Wang Zhan asked.

“I love everything you make. Oh, and those crab roe soup dumplings too,” Wang Li said.

Wang Zhan turned around and glanced at Wang Li, saying, "Alright, I know. Go have fun. Er Ya should be waiting for you too. Oh, and don't take all the firecrackers. Leave half for tonight."

"I understand!" After hearing this, Wang Li turned around and ran towards the main room, looking rather impatient.

(End of this chapter)