The Beginning of a Courtyard House: Sixty Years of Internal Strength

He started thinking about what to write? He had no idea what was valuable.

Yan Jiecheng thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out what to write.

I think I could ask the owner of the antique shop and write down some of the antiques I had previously owned.

Will asking leave any evidence?

Never mind, I'll ask my two older brothers tomorrow.

Anyway, he won't have to pay back the money next month.

Thinking of this made him happy.

The next day, Yan Jiecheng coughed up a mouthful of blood and immediately bought a pound of braised beef.

When they arrived at Li Jianguo's house, they sought his advice.

"Brothers, I've finished making my handprints now."

What do you think I should write on it?

"Jiecheng, you just need to write about a famous antique."

For example, a Ge ware octagonal cup, with a note saying it's an authentic piece or something.

Just say your dad borrowed it to admire.

Then make him return it to you.

Yan Jiecheng nodded happily.

Then Yao Yao took a pen.

Yan Jiecheng took out a piece of white paper and started writing.

After it was finished, Li Jianguo and Xu Damao took a look at it and felt there were no problems.

Even the dates for borrowing things are listed.

"Jiecheng, why don't you just write two copies? It wouldn't be good if your dad snatched them away."

Yan Jiecheng thought about it and found it made a lot of sense, so he wrote another copy.

At this point, Yan Jiecheng had another question.

"What if he threatens me with the theft of money, brothers?"

Xu Damao slapped his forehead speechlessly.

"Jiecheng, what you wrote to Yan Laokou is an IOU."

You borrowed the money at the time.

When did you steal the money?

"Jiecheng, Da Mao is right."

You didn't steal any money at all.

You borrowed it from your dad openly and honestly.

It's just that you're only now remembering about antiques.

I can't return the antique to you.

"This debt is the only way to settle it."

Yan Jiecheng burst into laughter after hearing this.

"My two older brothers are right."

I didn't steal the money; I borrowed it.

Yan Jiecheng happily started drinking.

Looking at the Ge kiln octagonal cup on the IOU.

Yan Jiecheng was even happier.

Before we knew it, it was early October, time for payday.

Yan Bugui swaggered into the back room.

He only spoke after sitting down.

"Jiecheng, it's time to pay this month's bill."

Yan Jiecheng refused with complete confidence.

"Dad, I can't give you this money anymore."

Yan Bugui was taken aback.

"Jiecheng, you still have your IOU here. Do you dare not pay me back?"

"I'm going to report you to the police station."

"What a coincidence, I also have one of your IOUs here."

You lent me a precious antique Ge kiln octagonal cup back then.

Do you know how much this antique is worth?

It's worth at least a two-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house).

Four or five thousand yuan is priceless!

Yan Bugui was completely dumbfounded.

"Yan Jiecheng, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I lend you any antiques?"

At this moment, Yan Jiecheng calmly took out an IOU.

He waved his hand in front of Yan Bugui.

"Look, this is the IOU you signed back then."

There are your fingerprints on it.

The one I borrowed was an octagonal cup from the Ge kiln.

I found this in an antique shop and got a real bargain.

It's absolutely genuine; you must give me back a genuine one.

Otherwise, we can settle the debt.

Yan Bugui stared in disbelief.

"Yan Jiecheng, you're talking nonsense. When did I take your antiques?"

When did you get this thing?

And don't assume you made a fake handprint.

"You can fool me."

"Father, here's the ink pad."

If you don't believe me, just press your right thumb.

Let's compare them.

Yan Jiecheng directly took out the inkpad.

Yan Bugui accepted the inkpad with some skepticism.

I pressed it on the paper.

Upon careful comparison, it turned out to be my own fingerprint.

When did that brat Yan Jiecheng secretly press it?

Yan Bugui had a sudden inspiration and stuffed the IOU into his mouth.

He chewed it hard and swallowed it.

"Jiancheng, what kind of IOU are you talking about?"

Stop talking nonsense, that never happened.

To Yan Bugui's disbelief,

Yan Jiecheng then took out another IOU from his pocket.

He looked at Yan Bugui with a smug expression.

"Father, have you forgotten?"

You wrote two pages back then.

Yan Jiecheng held it in his hand and shook it, letting Yan Bugui glance at it.

He then put it back in his pocket.

Yan Bugui was stunned.

I didn't expect that this brat would print more than one copy.

"Yan Jiecheng, tell me the truth."

When did you secretly put my fingerprints on me?

Tell me the truth.

Yan Bugui slammed his hand on the table and glared angrily at Yan Jiecheng.

Yan Jiecheng, however, remained unfazed and said...

"Father, how did you lose your memory?"

Everything I said is true.

Yan Bugui continued to threaten him.

"Yan Jiecheng, don't forget, you stole money."

"Watch out, I'll call the police. Stealing so much, you'll be in jail for years."

Yan Jiecheng sat there calmly.

"Dad, when did I steal money?"

How come I didn't know money was missing from my house?

Didn't I lend you more than 1200 yuan?

When was it lost?

Yan Bugui is now trembling with anger.

What a mistake! I only wrote an IOU back then.

They simply made this brat write a confession.

"Yan Jiecheng, there is only a handprint on it, there is no signature of mine at all."

The explanation should prove that you pressed it secretly.

"Father, don't talk nonsense."

Since neither of us had a pen with us at the time, you could have just said that a fingerprint would suffice.

Dad, do you have Alzheimer's?

Forget about it.

Yan Bugui paced back and forth anxiously.

He truly underestimated Yan Jiecheng.

I don't even know how many photos I pressed now.

"Jiecheng, tell your father the truth, when did you secretly put your fingerprint on my handprint?"

Yan Jiecheng, of course, could not admit it.

"Father, you already asked this question earlier."

Stop asking?

I didn't secretly press your fingerprint.

You did all of this by holding something in one hand and pressing it yourself with the other.

You can't deny it.

Yan Jiecheng looked at Yan Bugui with a smile.

After pacing back and forth for a long time, Yan Bugui still couldn't figure out what to do.

Suddenly, something came to mind.

He suddenly stormed out of the door, slamming it shut behind him.

After returning home.

Yan Bugui examined the door bolt carefully.

Sure enough, there were signs of tampering.

He immediately realized that Yan Jiecheng had secretly come over that night.

I'm so damn stupid, I was sleeping so soundly.

He rushed to Yan Jiecheng's door.

They started banging on the door.

"Yan Jiecheng, open the door! Did you try to break in?"

The door latch is covered in marks; this is evidence of your crime.

"Open the door now, or I'll call the police."

Yan Jiecheng only panicked for a moment, after being influenced by Li Jianguo and Xu Damao.

He's become much more shrewd.

They quickly came up with an excuse.

He opened the door without changing his expression.

"Father, what are you saying? What door bolt? What evidence?"

Yan Bugui glared angrily at Yan Jiecheng and roared.

"Yan Jiecheng! It doesn't matter if you don't admit it."

There are definitely your fingerprints on the door latch; you can't escape.

This time you must write me a confession.

Yan Jiecheng was not afraid at all now, and looked at Yan Bugui with disdain.

"Dad, what nonsense are you talking about? We're all family."

Isn't it normal to have my fingerprints in the house?