Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 700: Exchange for Work Clothes
Wang Zhan took his sister to Xiejia Hutong, and soon they arrived at a large courtyard on the west side. It was a two-courtyard house, and Xiaowu and Xiaosi lived in the backyard. As soon as the two of them walked into the backyard, they saw Xiaosi and Xiaowu with their two children surrounding a large vat in the middle and looking into the vat.

The brother and sister walked over quietly and looked over. It turned out that they kept all the frogs they caught in the tank. Wang Zhan said, "What are you looking at?"

Several children jumped up at once, and Xiaowu said, "Damn it, I was scared to death."

Xiao Si also patted his chest and said, "I can't even make a sound when I walk. I don't know if I can scare people to death."

Wang Li was giggling at the side, and Wang Zhan said, "I have something to ask you two. Do you have any work clothes for spring and autumn? I'm talking about the ones that your parents have altered to be smaller."

Xiao Wu said, "Yes, there is, but if you want it, you have to ask my mom."

"Is your aunt at home? I don't want it for free. I'll exchange it for my military uniform. Xiaosi, go home and ask your mother. I'll go to Xiaowu first." Wang Zhan said.

When Xiao Si heard about the military uniforms, his eyes lit up and he said, "Leave two sets for me." Then he ran home.

Xiaowu brought Wang Zhan and his sister home. As soon as they entered the house, Xiaowu shouted, "Mom, my classmate is here. He wants to talk to you about something. Mom, mom, hurry up."

"Hurry, hurry, why are you rushing?" A woman's voice came from the inner room, and then the curtain was lifted, and a woman in her thirties came out of the inner room. As soon as the woman came out, she saw Wang Zhan and Wang Li.

She ignored Wang Zhan completely, walked quickly to Wang Li with a smile, and said, "Oh, where did such a pretty girl come from? She's so cute. What's your name?" Then she took Wang Li's hand.

Wang Li said sweetly: "Auntie, my name is Wang Li, my brother and I are here to change some clothes with you."

"You're such a good girl. No problem. Wait a minute. I'll give you the candy his father gave out yesterday." The woman said and walked into the house.

Xiaowu was stunned and said, "My dad gave out candy, how come I didn't know?"

The woman took a few candies and stuffed them into Wang Li's hands. She turned to Xiao Wu and said, "Why do you want to eat candies when you are a man?"

Xiaowu looked at his mother with a bitter face and shouted, "Wang Shufen, don't forget that I am also a child."

"What did you call me? You're so rebellious. If you shout again, please say it." The woman walked towards Xiaowu, who turned around and ran out of the house.

Only then did the woman say to Wang Zhan, "What clothes do you want to change into?"

Wang Zhan smiled and said, "Auntie Wang, this is what I am talking about. I am wearing military-style clothes and I want to change into two sets of workwear-style clothes. Do you have any?"

Aunt Wang smiled and asked, "Silly child, why did you exchange your good clothes for those tacky work clothes?"

Wang Zhan said, "No one in our school wears military uniforms. I don't want to stand out."

"Oh, I understand. You don't want to be too conspicuous, right?" Aunt Wang said.

Wang Zhan nodded, and Wang Shufen patted his head and said, "Good boy, wait, I'll get you two sets. These are for Xiaowu to wear when his clothes get worn out."

Aunt Wang went into the inner room and took out two sets of children's clothes made from factory work clothes. She even tried them on Wang Zhan and said, "You know what, they fit perfectly."

Wang Zhan took out two sets of military uniforms from his bag and handed them to Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang hesitated for a moment, but still took them. Wang Zhan smiled, happily put the uniforms into his bag, and said, "Thank you, Auntie. We won't bother you anymore."

"Don't bother me. Come often and bring your sister with you." Aunt Wang said enthusiastically.

As soon as Wang Zhan and Wang Li left the house, they were pulled to the stone table by Xiao Si, who handed them two sets of work clothes that had also been modified. Wang Zhan directly took out two sets of military uniforms and handed them to Xiao Si. Xiao Si took the military uniforms and ran back home. Wang Zhan guessed that he was going to try on clothes. At this time, Wang Zhan saw Wang Li stuffing candy into Xiao Wu's pocket, but Xiao Wu stubbornly said no.

Wang Zhan walked over and said, "Take it. I have more at home. Is it worth a few candies?"

"Is it about a few candies? I blame my mother for hiding it from me, her only son." Xiao Wu said with a pout.

Wang Zhan laughed and said, "Be prepared. I guess your mom and dad will discuss giving you a sister tonight. You won't get any good things by then. Haha, let's go." After Wang Zhan finished speaking, he took his sister away. In the backyard of the courtyard, Xiaowu was standing there in a daze. The brother and sister walked out of the courtyard and looked at him. He was still motionless. The brother and sister laughed and walked home.

After returning home, Wang Zhan changed into a set of overalls-style work clothes, and still wore yellow rubber shoes. Looking at himself in the bronze mirror, he said to himself, "This is much better. At least I can't be found in a crowd."

As soon as Wang Zhan went out, he saw his sister looking at him with strange eyes. Wang Zhan frowned and asked, "Why? Not good-looking?"

Wang Li shook her head and said, "It feels weird that you suddenly don't wear a military uniform. Well, it's a bit unlike you."

"You'll get used to it after a long time. By the way, what was missing? I didn't see He Yushui coming today." Wang Zhan asked.

Wang Li said, "Oh, Sister Yushui said she and her brother were going to buy food today. I forgot to tell you."

Wang Zhan nodded and asked, "What do you want to eat for lunch?"

"What else is there at home? Let's eat whatever we have. Let's not go out." Wang Li said.

Wang Zhan agreed and ran to the cellar in the front yard. When he got to the bottom of the cellar, he saw mutton offal. No, he had to eat it. It wouldn't work if he kept it any longer. Then he found some onions, ginger, and garlic and carried them out of the cellar.

Wang Li was waiting at the kitchen door in the front yard. Wang Zhan said, "Let's have mutton soup today. I'll make you scallion pancakes. You have to eat them. If you keep them for too long, they will go bad."

Wang Li nodded happily and said, "Just scallion pancakes and mutton soup."

Wang Zhan took the things and went into the kitchen and started working.

While the mutton offal soup was stewing, Yan Jiekuang started to knead the dough. Finally, he took out the frying pan and placed it on another stove, then squatted down to add more fire.

After a while, Wang Li ran in with a katydid gourd and said, "Brother, is it dead? Why is there no movement at all?"

"How long have you not fed it?" Wang Zhan took the gourd and opened the tortoise shell.

Wang Li was stunned when she heard this and said, "Does it need to be fed? You didn't tell me."

Wang Zhan heard that the food was spoiled and he forgot to tell his sister. When he poured it out, he saw that it was all dry. Wang Zhan said, "It's all my fault. I forgot to tell you that this fish needs to be fed. Let's go buy another one in autumn."

Wang Li said with a bitter face: "It can only be done this way. I am not the type to keep animals. If I keep a squirrel and put it in the back garden, it will disappear. If I keep a katydid, it will die."

"That's impossible. It's all my fault. I didn't explain it clearly. Next time I will make sure to explain it to you clearly. Okay, don't be sad. Find a place to bury it." Wang Zhan said.

Wang Li looked at the skinny katydid, pinched one of its legs with two fingers, picked up the katydid and ran towards the small garden.

Wang Zhan returned to the kitchen and started making scallion pancakes. After a while, he had made more than a dozen. He thought that it should be enough for two people, so he started cutting scallions, coriander and other side dishes for the mutton soup.

After more than ten minutes, the mutton soup was ready. When Wang Zhan lifted the lid, the room was filled with mist, but the unique aroma of mutton soup was also full.

Wang Zhan filled two large bowls with wooden bowls and wooden spoons bought at the temple fair. He then put four pancakes on a tray with paper and carried them to the restaurant. He called out at the door, "Sister, are you ready? Wash your hands and eat."

Wang Li came back running, quickly washed her hands in the basin, and happily went to the table.

At this moment, there was a knock at the door. Wang Zhan opened the door and saw He Yushui standing at the door. Wang Zhan said, "Have you eaten yet? If not, hurry up. Mutton offal soup with scallion pancakes."

He Yushui walked quickly into the yard and went to wash her hands. Wang Zhan locked the door and went to the kitchen to bring out a bowl of mutton soup and placed it in front of He Yushui. The three of them began to drink it with sips.

(End of this chapter)