Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1123 Suddenly
On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Li woke up in her brother's arms. When she woke up, she found that her brother had already woken up, but he hadn't moved. He was holding a book and reading it with one hand. The room was still so warm. Wang Li gave her brother a big smile.

Last night, Wang Li asked all the questions she wanted to know. Wang Zhan patiently answered her questions, and gradually, Wang Li gained a deeper understanding of her mother and father. She also learned that her parents had sacrificed their lives for their beliefs, but at the same time, she recognized their greatness and how they had saved many people in the end. She changed her previous vague views and felt proud to have such parents.

Wang Zhan looked at his sister who was smiling at him, and smiled back, saying, "What? Are you all done? Your older brother has been suffering, not daring to move an inch. Hurry up and go downstairs, I'll stretch my legs too, my limbs feel numb."

Wang Li climbed off her brother's side, pouting, and said, "You're one to talk! I'm not feeling well either; I feel pain all over."

"What do you want to eat for breakfast? Oh, right, today is the temple fair, do you want to go?" Wang Zhan asked as he got out of bed.

Suddenly, Wang Li felt no pain anywhere and jumped up from the bed, saying, "I have to go! I haven't been there in a year. I'll go even if it's just to see what's going on."

Wang Zhan looked at his sister with a mischievous grin and said, "You mean, even if there's good food, we don't need to eat it, we can just look at it, right?"

"Hurry up and make breakfast, I'm ignoring you, you bad brother." Wang Li turned her head away from Wang Zhan and started making her bed.

The sky was still overcast today. Although the snow had stopped, it seemed like it could start snowing again at any moment. After breakfast, before we could even clean up the dishes, the street officials notified everyone to organize people to shovel snow in the alleys and lanes. Wang Zhan reluctantly took his shovel and broom and went out. Wang Li, on the other hand, was very excited and followed him. She took her brother's broom and headed straight for the alley.

The snow in Nanluoguxiang is allocated according to the sections of the hutong. The snow removal section of Yu'er Hutong is at the southernmost end. Following the instructions of the street office staff, Wang Zhan and his sister went to the southern snow removal section and happened to see Grandpa Yang, the manager of the neighboring courtyard. They then followed Grandpa Yang to remove the snow.

The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day for families to return to their parents' home. Families with husbands' families in Beijing usually go back to their husbands' homes, so there aren't many people out shoveling snow today. Wang Zhan looked around and saw that there were seven courtyards, a street office, and a police station in Yu'er Hutong. The number of people there was less than half of the usual number. Fortunately, all the people in the police station and the street office were working today, but they also had a heavy workload. After clearing the snow in their own sections, they also had to go to other hutongs to help.

Around noon, the snow removal section of Yu'er Hutong and the snow accumulation in the hutong were all cleared. The Wang siblings said goodbye to Grandpa Yang and went back to their house.

Back in the backyard, Wang Zhan poured a pot of hot water and told Wang Li not to rush to take off her cotton-padded clothes, but to wait a while before taking them off, so as not to catch a cold.

Wang Zhan asked Wang Li what she wanted to eat, and Wang Li replied, "Brother, we still have some leftovers at home. Let's heat them up and make some noodles."

Wang Zhan thought about it. He didn't want to eat the leftovers anymore, but it wouldn't be appropriate to throw them away these days. The meat dishes were easy to handle and would have benefited Jinbao. The main thing was the few vegetarian dishes. Wang Zhan also followed his sister's advice and went to the kitchen to heat up the dishes and make noodles.

After directing all the residents of the alley to finish shoveling the snow, Grandpa Yang returned to his courtyard. But as soon as he entered, he saw another steward of the central courtyard, Grandpa Feng Nianxuan, lingering at his doorstep. Grandpa Yang was taken aback and asked, "Master Feng, didn't you go back to your parents' home? Why are you back already?"

As soon as Grandpa Feng saw Grandpa Yang return, he said, "Hurry up, I need to come inside and talk to you about something."

Grandpa Yang laughed and said, "What could be wrong with you? Did your wife hit you again?"

This old man's wife, whom everyone called Second Aunt Feng Qinshi, was a woman from Northeast China. She was a real tiger woman, beating her husband as if it were a daily routine. Almost all the residents of Yu'er Hutong knew this.

Grandpa Yang joked, but still took out his key and opened the door. Grandpa Yang lived in the west wing of the front yard, and the north-facing side room also belonged to his family. This was thanks to Grandpa Yang's military experience. Although he lived alone, he was a man of great military merit. Not only in Yu'er Hutong, but throughout the entire Nanluoguxiang, everyone respected Grandpa Yang. Grandpa Yang invited Feng Nianxuan into the house. After Feng Nianxuan entered, he deliberately closed the door and locked it from the inside, then checked it carefully. Grandpa Yang watched Feng Nianxuan's actions suspiciously, but still took off his coat, picked up the tin kettle from the stove, and with his other hand, picked up a teacup from the side table and poured Feng Nianxuan a cup of water.

Grandpa Yang had brewed tea in his own teacup before he left. He refilled it himself before sitting down next to Feng Nianxuan, who was already seated at the octagonal table.

Grandpa Yang looked at Feng Nianxuan and asked, "Judging from your expression, is something the matter? Why are you being so mysterious?"

“Uncle Yang, there is indeed something very important, but it’s hard to say.” Feng Nianxuan knew Uncle Yang’s temperament. Uncle Yang was the type who couldn’t tolerate any injustice and was very fair in his dealings. In addition, Uncle Yang was always ready to stand up for others and the neighborhood committee had tried to persuade him about this matter many times.

Grandpa Yang was a little unhappy and said, "If you want to say something, just say it. Are you even a man anymore? Why are you being made to speak so cautiously by your wife?"

Feng Nianxuan looked at Grandpa Yang and said, "Grandpa Yang, do you still remember whose house is across from yours?"

"Nonsense, we've been neighbors for over ten years, how could I not remember Grandma Sun and her grandson and granddaughter? What, you have a problem with that? Let me tell you, you better stop now, she's a martyr's family member, don't cause trouble for yourself. Besides, you'll never get away with this." Grandpa Yang said sternly.

"What are you saying? How could I dare? It's not me, it's someone else who's eyeing these three rooms," Feng Nianxuan quickly said.

"Who is it? Who dares to steal a house in broad daylight? They've gone too far!" Old Yang shouted, standing up abruptly.

Feng Nianxuan quickly stood up, pressed Grandpa Yang down onto a stool, and said, "Listen to me, why are you getting angry after only hearing half of what I have to say? Please sit down, and I'll explain everything to you in detail."

Grandpa Yang sat down, staring intently at Feng Nianxuan. Feng Nianxuan took out some cigarettes and offered one to Grandpa Yang. After they both lit them, Feng Nianxuan said, "This matter involves several people, but the most important one is the brother and sister in the next courtyard. You know their relationship with Grandma Sun; they're practically living together. Grandma Sun sent a letter from Shandong to the brother and sister. You know the current situation; all incoming mail is censored. This brother and sister's letter is even more special; Director Wang from the neighborhood committee personally reviewed it. Guess what happened?"

Grandpa Yang was an impatient man, and said, "Speak up, what happened?"

Feng Nianxuan said in a low voice, "Grandma Sun is not coming back, but her house is private property. The old lady gave the house directly to Wang Zhan and his sister, along with the house deed, land deed and gift document."

"Yes, the Wang Zhan siblings are lucky. No, this is a good thing. Why is there something else going on?" Grandpa Yang asked, frowning.

“Master Yang is smart. Someone doesn’t want to give this house to Wang Zhan and his sister, so…” Feng Nianxuan didn’t finish his sentence, but Master Yang understood. Someone wanted to keep the house from Wang Zhan and his sister.

Grandpa Yang lit another cigarette, and as he smoked, he tapped his fingers on the table, making a "tap! tap! tap!" sound.

(End of this chapter)