Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

After finishing work, Yang Jianye said a few words to his colleagues and then slipped away to take care of the matter Aunt Liu had asked him to handle at the office. He ran to more than a dozen places—personnel, logistics, finance, labor union, disability affairs office…—before finally gathering all the necessary documents. After organizing and submitting them, he got on his bicycle and headed home, wondering to himself, "Will I run into Yingzi on the way?"

This person shouldn't be muttered, because it's believed to work as soon as it's mentioned. Sure enough, when he reached the fork in the road, he spotted Yingzi turning the corner. He didn't call out, but quietly followed behind, only ringing his bell a few times when they were side by side.

"Jianye?" Yingzi smiled so much her eyes narrowed into slits when she saw him. It was rare for him to leave work on time today! The factory had just assigned tasks, so it wasn't easy to leave on time.

"I came back early because I had some business to attend to for Aunt Liu," Yang Jianye said.

Yingzi nodded vigorously: "What do you want to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."

"Oil-splashed noodles!" Yang Jianye swallowed hard at the mention of it. Yingzi's noodles were chewy and fragrant, and the aroma of hot oil poured over them could fill an entire alley.

"Okay, I'll knead the dough when I get back," Yingzi replied.

The two rode side by side to the alley entrance. Yang Jianye braked to let her go first, then pedaled to catch up. When they reached the courtyard gate, he propped up his bike first before saying to Yingzi, "Let's go to the front yard. Is Uncle Liu home?"

"Jianye, I'm here! Just open the door." Da Liu put down the cardboard box in his hand and propped himself up to sit up.

Pushing open the door, Yang Jianye jokingly said with a smile, "Uncle, you look more and more energetic!"

Big Liu chuckled, "Isn't it because I'm happy to see you? Get yourself a stool and sit down. My legs aren't very strong, so I can't take care of you."

"What are you talking about!" Yang Jianye moved a stool and sat down as if they were old friends. Seeing how unreserved he was, Da Liu felt a warmth in his heart: This kid is honest and kind-hearted, just like his parents. They are all good people and should be able to make a good living for others.

"Uncle, I have something to tell you. There's been some progress on the car repair issue," Yang Jianye said.

"Is the board ready? Let me see!" Da Liu eagerly peeked out.

Yang Jianye chuckled: "The board isn't even finished yet! I mean, this is 'legitimate' now. After talking to Director Yang about the 'makeshift water heater' today, I mentioned your idea of ​​repairing cars. The director said he'd let you register under the steel rolling mill's name, nominally responsible for employee vehicle repairs. It'll give you a legitimate starting point, all the paperwork is in place, and you won't get wet in the wind or rain..."

Da Liu's eyes lit up when he heard this. Originally, he was secretly trying to reduce the burden on his family, but now it has become a "formal" small business in the steel rolling mill. No one can gossip about it. When asked, he is told that he is "on secondment in the factory" and has nothing to do with speculation!

"Jianye, you've done me a huge favor!" Da Liu gripped his hand, trembling with excitement.

Yang Jianye responded and stood up, saying, "Now that I've finished talking, I have to go back. My wife is waiting for me! I'll bring you the board after work tomorrow."

"Okay, have your aunt cook a couple of dishes tomorrow, and we'll have a drink together!" Da Liu wanted him to stay. These days, entertaining guests, even at home, is a big deal. After one meal, you'll have to tighten your belt for the whole month.

"Uncle, don't be so polite with me!" Yang Jianye made an excuse to decline, "Let's drink slowly after we're done with this busy period."

After leaving the house, Yang Jianye shook his head and walked home. He really couldn't drink anymore. How could he eat and drink with people every day? It was too high-profile.

The next day, Yang Jianye brought back the finished bicycle frame. The Liu family thanked him profusely and busied themselves packing up their tools. On the day of the Sunday off, a bicycle repair stall appeared at the entrance of the alley, with a wooden sign in front that read "Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill Bicycle Repair Shop".

Yang Jianye was passing by carrying a bath basket when he saw Da Liu, who was wiping a wrench. Da Liu laughed heartily, "Of course, thanks to your help!"

Once a person has something to strive for, they immediately become more active. Lying paralyzed in bed is "living," but the heart slowly dies. Da Liu's heart was still warm, and after being "pranked" by Yang Jianye, he came back to life. This is a great thing.

"Okay, you go ahead with your work, I'm going to take a bath!" Yang Jianye waved and left. He could manage at home, but he still had to go to the bathhouse. How could he get clean if he didn't scrub himself every now and then? Old Beijingers all know how much "garbage" goes out of their pores every day.

The water in the bathhouse was still clear. Yang Jianye took a shower, lay down in the pool, the water reaching his shoulders, and rested his head back. Ah, so comfortable! This week had kept him very busy: he had to take care of both his home and the factory, rush to submit reports for Director Yang, and also keep an eye on the apprentices' scoring, evaluation, and summaries. His mind was never idle.

He was soaking in the hot water when he dozed off. The bathhouse attendant patted him on the shoulder and said, "You must be exhausted! You can even sleep lying here!"

As he rubbed you, the foreman chatted, "Look at your physique, a worker, right? So muscular! From the steel mill? That's a good place, those back muscles are really hard!"

This bath was so relaxing; I didn't even scrub before rinsing, just rinsed off thoroughly. I dried myself off with a towel, picked up my little basket, and hummed a tune as I walked home. Life is so good.

"Jianye, you're back?"

"Oh, I'm back. Auntie, have you eaten yet?"

"I've eaten."

After Yang Jianye walked away, Yan Jiefang poked his head out of the house: "Mom, I was just saying hello, what's all the fuss about?"

Auntie Yi (formerly Auntie San) glared at me and said, "What do you know! If you ever had half... no, even a tenth of Jianye's ability, I'd be laughing in my sleep."

Yan Jiefang was displeased: "Hey, look at what you're saying, you don't even think much of your own son?"

"If you want me to look up to you, you'd better step up your game!"

"If you want me to look up to you, you'd better step up your game!"

Yan Jiefang opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't utter a word. What was there to say? He really couldn't compare to Yang Jianye. Fine, he turned and went back inside.

"Solved! Solved!"

"What's wrong?"

"Did you buy the red paper your father asked you to buy?"

"It's all bought, it's on the table!"

"Okay." Aunt San lifted the curtain and entered the room. Seeing the stack of red paper on the table, she added, "You guys be careful going back and forth. This paper isn't cheap! Whether our family can have a good New Year depends entirely on it."

Giving Spring Festival couplets as gifts is a long-standing tradition in the Yan family. How does it work? Yan Bugui first writes the couplets at home, mixes the paste, takes a broom, and goes out with his wife to paste them on doors from house to house. After they're done, they knock on doors and ask for a reward!

Hey, if you give me a tip, this couplet will be more appealing; if you don't want to give me anything? No rush. We have pre-cut characters here! Some can be changed to "nothing," others to "finished." So every year during festivals, Yan Bugui receives quite a bit of tip money—I wouldn't dare say more, but he'll definitely get a few dollars. A pound of good pork belly only costs 87 cents; with a few dollars, wouldn't he be able to make a feast of juicy meat dumplings for the New Year?

Everyone just wanted good luck and happiness. A dime or two was fine, especially during the New Year. Besides, buying a couplet outside would cost a dime or two, and they wouldn't even put it up for you. Putting it up yourself, plus making the paste, wasn't worth it! So as long as Yan Bugui's couplets were auspicious, the characters were neat, and the couplets were pasted up properly, the reward was given. Even that old-fashioned Liu Haizhong didn't object.

This year was no exception; Yan Bugui had his family prepare everything well in advance. Once school was completely out for break, he returned home, wrote the couplets, dried them one by one, and then pasted them up early in the morning. He knocked on the door, and there it was—a reward!

Old Yan's stinginess in giving out New Year's gifts has almost become a characteristic of this courtyard. It happens every year, and each time it's quite substantial. Everyone who has spent the New Year in this courtyard knows this. But Yingzi doesn't know! The new bride hasn't spent a New Year in the courtyard yet.

So when Yang Jianye returned, Yingzi specifically asked, "When are we going to buy the couplets?"

During the Lunar New Year, couplets are a must-have. Every household, regardless of how well they are doing, has to put them up. If a family doesn't have a couplet, people will say, "This family is probably not doing well, and next year won't be any better." It's all about good fortune, especially during the Lunar New Year; it's absolutely essential. So even if the family eats less meat and makes only cabbage dumplings, they still have to put up a couplet today.

It's the same in the countryside, not just the city. Even if you just write a few words on a piece of white paper, smear it on the door of your earthen kiln, and someone passing by will glance at it and think, "This place is alright." At least you've saved face!

Sometimes, appearances really are more important than substance. If you can pull it off, everyone will say you're capable; even if you're not good enough, everyone will support you. If you can't pull it off and just give up, everyone will criticize you for being incompetent, even if you are.

How many people are truly strong-willed and unaffected by external disturbances?

"Don't bother with the couplets, someone will put them on our doors in a couple of days," Yang Jianye said with a smile, teasing Yingzi on purpose.

"Huh?" Yingzi turned around curiously and asked, "Is there such a good thing? Who is it?"

"A good thing?" Yang Jianye was both amused and exasperated. His daughter-in-law was too naive. "You can tell me when she asks for a reward from you."

Hearing this, Yingzi realized, "I knew it! There are people who put up couplets for free!" Her mind raced, then she thought of the people in the courtyard, "Hey, it's Uncle San... no, it's Uncle Yi now, isn't it him?"

"That's him, just wait and see." Yang Jianye sat on a small stool in front of the stove, picked up a small twig from the ground, broke it into suitable sizes one by one, and threw it into the firewood pile. "I'll give him a penny or two later, just for good luck, to make him happy."

Yingzi nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll give you two cents. Uncle Yi is good to our family. Every time I come back, if he sees me carrying something, Auntie will have someone help me carry it."

Yang Jianye had no idea that Yan Bugui's temperament had changed; he now understood the concept of investing first and expecting returns later. Good, that's progress.

"As you wish, give me two cents."

He had no experience with this, and only remembered Yingzi saying that he should know in the next few days. But after a week of busy work, she hadn't mentioned it once. Yang Jianye's heart was itching like a cat's claws.

Seeing his anxious expression, Yingzi chuckled. Then, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly, saying, "Yes, I'm pregnant."

"Hey!" Yang Jianye was stunned for a moment, then jumped up suddenly: "Haha, that's great, wife."

After sucking on the rice like a chick, Yang Jianye finally let go of her. "Wife, do you want to listen to music or the radio? Don't try to save money for us; this child needs to be educated from the womb."

Yingzi slapped him irritably and spat, "What nonsense are you talking about? If people outside hear this, they'll think you're promoting feudal superstition!"

Yang Jianye straightened his face and said, "How can you call it feudal superstition? Science has proven that genes can be altered by external influences. Let him listen to more music and news; he'll definitely be successful in the future."

Yingzi sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), gently touching her belly, and said softly with a kind expression, "Why does he need to be so successful? I just hope he can live a peaceful and safe life. In the future, I hope he can be like his father, down-to-earth and honest."

Seeing her like this, Yang Jianye stepped forward, put his arm around her shoulder, and said, "What, don't you want our child to be too successful?"

Yingzi glanced at him and said softly, "With great success comes great responsibility. A mountain of burdens on just two shoulders—how tiring that must be for the child!"

Looking up at Yang Jianye with a guilty expression, Yingzi said, "Jianye, you won't blame me, will you?"

Yang Jianye lowered his head, looking at her with deep affection, "What's wrong with you?"

"It's my fault, I'm so useless. I only hope the child is healthy and safe." Yingzi lowered her head somewhat embarrassed, feeling guilty. With a capable father like Yang Jianye, if the child doesn't amount to anything in the future, he'll definitely be the subject of gossip. What kind of nonsense am I spouting?

"If this child doesn't amount to anything in the future, and knows that it was I, as his mother, who hoped for him, he'll probably blame me."

The hand on her shoulder tightened, and the man's gentle voice came: "As a mother, who can feel more heartache than her for the flesh that was lost after ten months of pregnancy? In this world, no child blames their own mother." Yang Jianye held her hand, "Don't worry, children and grandchildren have their own blessings."

Yang Jianye pulled her up and said, "Yingzi, put on the new cheongsam we made for you."

"What are you doing?" Yingzi asked curiously. Why was he changing into a cheongsam inside on a holiday? Those cheongsams were so expensive, and she had to do chores with them. If they got scratched or dirty, wouldn't she be heartbroken?

"Let's go to the photo studio and take some pictures," said Yang Jianye.

"what?"

Urged on by him, Yingzi took out a neatly folded cheongsam from the bottom of the wardrobe. She placed it on the kang (heated brick bed), removed the outer fabric, and said somewhat shyly, "Can I wear this out? There are so many people outside; wouldn't it be bad if they saw it?"

Yingzi thought it was too high-profile; if she wore it out, wouldn't word spread throughout the courtyard?

Yang Jianye replied matter-of-factly, "My wife is pretty, so what's wrong with her wearing something nice? Besides, it's something I earned legitimately, bought with ration coupons, so who can say anything about it?"

Seeing his self-righteous demeanor, Yingzi stopped making excuses.

Having changed into her cheongsam, Yingzi turned around. She smoothed out the wrinkles with her hand, looked up, and smiled, "How is it? Does it look good?"

I didn't hear anything, so I looked ahead again.

"Pfft~" Those two eyes stared straight at her. Like a silly fool who had lost his soul, they made Yingzi laugh.

"Wife." He stepped forward and embraced Yingzi. Yang Jianye sighed, "What good deeds did I do in my past life to be able to find such a fairy-like woman?"

"Go away, don't talk nonsense." Yingzi playfully shoved him, secretly pleased with herself. Her man's praise was the sweetest candy in the world to her. She felt wonderful inside, and her face glowed with a rosy radiance. Her complexion was so bright and clear that anyone who saw her would be stunned.

"That's you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Outsiders don't see it that way." Yingzi took his arm, and the two went out one after the other.

"So what if it's me? She's my wife. I think she's pretty, so who cares what others think?"

After Yingzi locked the door, Yang Jianye pushed the old-fashioned double-bar bicycle, and the two of them walked towards the outer courtyard.

"Oh my god, who is this?"

"Yingzi, is that you?" An older woman who watered the flowers in the yard all day spotted the two of them immediately. Had she killed her flowers by overwatering them?

Then there's Auntie Yi, whose eyes lit up when she saw Yingzi's cheongsam. It was such a rare find!

The color, the fabric, the style...

So lovely!