Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

"Oh dear, someone come quick!"

"Guangtian! Guangfu! Your father has fainted! Guangtian..."

The second aunt's heart-wrenching screams from the outer courtyard startled the entire compound.

Sha Zhu jumped out of bed with a start and ran to the front yard. The door to Yang Jianye's room was also open.

"I'll go take a look." After telling Yingzi, Yang Jianye quickly rushed out.

Liu Haizhong must have been provoked and fainted from anger.

"Old Liu! Old Liu! Haizhong, you absolutely can't get hurt!"

In the front yard, Liu Haizhong lay stiffly on the ground. Aunt Er was on top of him, raising her hands high and patting them down, her body swaying back and forth as if she were wailing.

"What time is it and you're still crying here!" Sha Zhu squatted down and touched his nostrils; he was still breathing. "Quick, call someone to help! Put Uncle Er on my back, I'll carry him to the hospital!"

"Zhuzi, the bicycle is stable." Yang Jianye, who had returned, pushed his bicycle over.

At this moment, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu also arrived at their parents' side. Together, they helped Liu Haizhong onto the back of the bicycle, the two brothers supporting him on either side. Once outside the courtyard gate, Yang Jianye straddled the frame, pedaled firmly, and shouted, "Keep up! Hold on tight!"

Huffing and puffing.

Yang Jianye pedaled with a steady rhythm, with Liu Guangtian on his left and Liu Guangfu on his right each holding an arm, and Sha Zhu supporting Liu Haizhong's back and neck from behind to keep his head steady. This was something Yang Jianye had specifically instructed him to do, in case of cerebral congestion; if he were to get seriously injured from the jolting, it would be even more troublesome.

They rushed to the hospital, got the person onto the stretcher, and were all soaked to the bone. Yang Jianye was alright, only sweating a lot on his forehead, but the other three's clothes were dripping wet.

"Brother Jianye, Zhuzi, thank you both!" Liu Guangtian said, wiping his sweat, having long since forgotten his earlier thoughts of "what if it weren't for my father." But to be honest, he was feeling a little guilty at the moment. Could it be that he cursed his father to be in this state? He really didn't mean that!

"Alright, that's enough. Let's hurry and see the doctor to see what's wrong." Yang Jianye urged his two brothers to follow, then thought for a moment and stepped forward to catch up. "Zhuzi, let's go take a look too."

At the hospital, Yang Jianye and Sha Zhu went to find out what was going on. Back at the compound, Aunt Er rushed to the hospital with money from home, accompanied by Uncle Yi and Aunt Liu, also known as "Uncle San". The two were the "uncles" in the compound, and since it was Uncle Er, Liu Haizhong, who had the accident, it was only right and proper for them to go with him.

Yingzi was originally going to come, but Aunt Liu pulled her aside and pointed to her stomach to stop her. "Your own health is the most important thing right now, so don't worry about it."

This reminder made Yingzi realize her special circumstances; she really wasn't suited to running around in a tense and anxious state. Well, Jianye will take care of it.

When Liu Haizhong suddenly fainted, there were people in the courtyard who felt sympathy and pity, but no one gloated. In the past, they might have quarreled or bumped into each other, and they might have exchanged a few harsh words when they were angry. But when the anger subsided and it really came down to a life-or-death situation, seeing a neighbor who had lived with them for so many years suddenly collapse, no one could help but feel a pang of anxiety.

"Sigh, I hope Uncle Er is alright!" This sigh reflected the sentiments of everyone in the courtyard. No matter what, they just hoped he was okay.

Meanwhile, Aunt Er and her group rushed to the hospital, clearly panicked. Fortunately, Uncle Yi and Uncle San were with them. Although Uncle Yi was known as "Old Man Yan," he was far less experienced than Aunt Liu in terms of life skills, so it was Aunt Liu who took the lead in making arrangements.

"Young lady, may I ask you something? The unconscious patient who was just brought in by several young men, where did he go?" Aunt Liu asked anxiously but politely.

The nurse immediately flipped through the booklet: "What's your name?"

"Liu Haizhong! Call me Liu Haizhong! Thank you!" Without thinking twice, start with a polite greeting, and things will go smoothly. Even if you can't get it done, people will still give you a kind word.

"Got it, the inpatient department. Walk to the end from here, go out and turn left at the small building opposite on the second floor..." The girl pointed behind her, explaining the route clearly.

"Thank you, thank you!" Without stopping, Aunt Liu turned around and thanked her again, then helped Aunt Er straight to the inpatient department.

Upon arriving at the destination, before even going upstairs, one could see Liu Guangfu squatting by the stairs.

"Guangfu! What are you doing here?" Seeing his dejected appearance, Aunt Er grabbed him. "Your dad wouldn't... wouldn't be..."

"No! Mom, she's perfectly fine!" Liu Guangfu replied irritably.

"Nothing wrong?" Aunt Er was taken aback, then seeing his dejected look, her anger flared up. "You're perfectly fine, who are you looking at with such a gloomy expression for?"

What's wrong? You're unhappy that your dad isn't dead? You unfilial son! If there weren't other people around, Aunt Er would have slapped him twice.

Liu Guangfu glanced up, then turned his face back to the wall: "Nothing, she's in the ward upstairs. You can go see for yourself."

What's wrong with Liu Guangfu? He's getting scolded by his father.

When the old man arrived at the hospital, the doctor examined him, gave him an injection and some medicine, and he slowly regained consciousness. This should have been good news, but before the two brothers could even rejoice, he unleashed a torrent of abuse upon them.

"I'm already in the hospital! And you two are still laughing! What are you laughing at! Are you hoping I die?"

"I worked so hard to raise you all, it wasn't easy for me! Not a single one of you has any conscience!"

"What's the point of all the rules I taught you? Can't you be a little more disciplined? Huh?"

"So, Glory wasn't there..."

The two brothers were initially willing to tolerate it, but when they heard him mention the eldest brother again, implying that the eldest brother was better and would be more successful than them even if he were to marry into another family, the two brothers immediately exploded.

Liu Guangtian exploded on the spot, yelling at the top of his lungs, "If the boss is so capable, why don't you let him serve you!"

He exchanged a few words with the old man, and then disappeared. Liu Guangfu remained, but he couldn't suppress the chill in his heart.

They were worried about the father's health, but their good intentions were completely wasted!

Fine! You can do whatever you want with me. I'm in your way, I'll leave, I'll leave, okay?

As I went upstairs, I ran into Sha Zhu arguing with Uncle Er.

"Hey Uncle Er, Guangtian and Guangfu went to great lengths to get you to the hospital. They deserve some credit, even if they didn't do anything special. How come you get nothing in return?"

"Hey, I've always wondered, your eldest son is so capable, why don't you have him carry you?"

As soon as Aunt Er entered the door, she overheard this and immediately flew into a rage: "Silly Zhu! How dare you talk to your Uncle Er like that? He's still lying in a hospital bed, and you're just hitting him where it hurts!"

She grabbed Sha Zhu and launched into a tirade, bringing up the nickname "Sha Zhu" again. Sha Zhu immediately protested, "Auntie Er, why do I feel like I'm doing all this work for your family and not getting any credit?"

Aunt Er opened her mouth, but didn't dare to reply. Sha Zhu had run all the way to the hospital with his wife; his son had run away, but he was still here with her. If she were in that situation herself, and was scolded like this, what would the people in the neighborhood say behind her back?

"It's not like I'm begging you. I have a son..." Liu Haizhong muttered softly from his hospital bed.

He was also feeling guilty, but sometimes people are just too proud to back down. For the sake of saving face, he had to put on a brave face, even if it didn't do him any good, he still had to get the upper hand verbally.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu was furious. Yang Jianye, who was waiting to take over, was also unhappy and spoke up before Sha Zhu could: "Uncle Er, what you're saying is meaningless. According to you, next time something happens, everyone will just stand by and watch, and you'll rely on your son. If something goes wrong, don't blame the yard for not helping. If that's really what you want, just say the word, and from now on, you can just stand in front of my door, and I'll step over it!"

Sha Zhu nodded in agreement: "Yes, I'll step over it too! Is that what you mean?"

Liu Haizhong glanced back at Sha Zhu, then looked at Yang Jianye, his brows relaxing slightly. He didn't dare to glare or argue with him. Putting on airs? Yang Jianye wasn't buying it. Liu Haizhong wasn't senile; a few words to Sha Zhu would at most make him angry and cause trouble. Yang Jianye was different; he was capable, reliable, and might even need Liu Haizhong's help someday. He couldn't afford to offend him! Besides, he couldn't bring himself to say it, and he felt guilty. Sha Zhu had gone to great lengths to get him to the hospital and pay for his medical bills; why should he be the one to blame? Liu Haizhong himself felt incredibly guilty.

In short, it boils down to one thing: honest people are easy to bully.

"Jianye, Second Uncle didn't mean it that way, I..." Liu Haizhong sighed, unable to continue. He was angry, but even more so, his heart was ice-cold, utterly ice-cold! Hearing his eldest son say he was going to marry into another family, Liu Haizhong felt all his hopes and dreams vanish. All those expectations, hopes, and investments... He had practically gambled everything on his eldest son, only to have his "cards" betray him before the dealer even revealed his hand. The pillars of his mind collapsed instantly! This cataclysmic change left Liu Haizhong's brain a beat slow, until his wife stopped him in the front yard, saying, "If Guangrong is willing, let him go," before his numb emotions returned to normal. But the pain in his heart was like a dull knife tearing at his flesh, a dull, grating pain. He needed to find a place to vent, and Liu Guangrong, Liu Guangfu, and the easy-to-bully Sha Zhuzi in front of him were perfect trash cans.

Seeing that his attitude had softened, Aunt Er remained silent. Yang Jianye didn't intend to stay any longer: "Aunt Er, let's settle the debt now, the fifty yuan you advanced."

Aunt Er looked at her husband, Liu Haizhong, who nodded hurriedly and gestured with his chin, meaning "Here, take it quickly." Liu Haizhong was also a little intimidated by Yang Jianye, not for any other reason than that Yang Jianye was obsessed with power. Although Yang Jianye was only a team leader, his words carried more weight in the factory than those of the factory director. Would he dare to offend him? He wouldn't even dare to offend him, let alone dare to embezzle his money?

"Hey, Auntie's here to get it for you." Auntie Er turned her collar out and pulled a rolled-up handkerchief from a small pocket sewn inside her collar. Unfolding it revealed a thick bundle of ten-yuan notes, probably two or three hundred yuan—it looked really satisfying! Unfortunately, Yang Jianye didn't care; he had a much thicker stack at home. He counted out five notes for him, casually put them in his pocket, and looked at Sha Zhu: "Want a ride? I'll give you a lift."

"Go away, what are you doing here? You're just an eyesore!" Sha Zhu said sarcastically, then left.

Liu Hai's anger, which had just subsided, was reignited by him. Liu Guangtian had said something similar earlier. "Hey, you idiot Zhu, cough cough cough..." "Ouch, my head..." The ward was in chaos. In the corridor, idiot Zhu grinned wickedly: Serves you right! You didn't know what was good for you!

"Zhu Zi," Yang Jianye called from ahead. Sha Zhu ran up a couple of steps, laughing as he stood beside him, "Jianye, did you hear that? You're angry, haha..." He felt a surge of relief. Yang Jianye glanced at him and chuckled, "A man should use his brain more than his mouth." He said it casually and then fell silent. Sha Zhu scratched his head awkwardly, but inwardly he thought: Jianye never speaks nonsense; there must be a deeper meaning to his words. He was somewhat obsessed with Yang Jianye, to the point that "everything Jianye says is right," treating him as a guiding light.

He went downstairs, unlocked his bike, and got on. He felt a little uneasy riding with a grown man on the back, but seeing similar bikes on the street, Yang Jianye pretended nothing was wrong and pedaled back to his courtyard.

"Jianye, you're back!" Aunt Yi, who was waiting in the courtyard, came to greet him. Yang Jianye nodded and smiled, "Yes, Uncle Er is alright. He'll be back after half a day of observation." Aunt Yi's tense expression dissipated, and she patted her chest, saying, "Thank goodness, thank goodness." Sha Zhu, seeing her like that, wanted to tease Liu Haizhong, but glancing at Yang Jianye's back, he swallowed his words. Less said, less said! This whole incident on the first day of the new year was quite unlucky. If something had really happened to Liu Haizhong, he wouldn't even dare to smile; people would say he was cold-blooded, how awkward. Now that he's alright, everyone can go about their business as usual, and they don't have to suppress their joy anymore.

After parking the car and returning to the house, Yang Jianye found Yingzi leaning against the headboard, listening to music with her eyes closed, her small hand resting on her stomach, radiating tenderness. He didn't disturb her, sitting quietly by the bed, gazing at her with loving eyes. Yingzi reached out and took his hand in hers, the two listening intently to the music on the gramophone. When the song finished, Yingzi sat up, opened her eyes, and smiled, "You didn't start arguing, did you?" She'd gotten to know Uncle Er's personality quite well these past few days; he was just a stubborn, senile old man. He hadn't been able to control his tongue in the hospital, so it wasn't unusual for them to argue.

"My wife is really smart!" Yang Jianye praised, then told her about the hospital incident. Yingzi frowned. "That Second Uncle is really something. Just how good is his eldest son?" Yang Jianye described him from memory: He's the most imposing and spirited of the three brothers; his education goes without saying; his personality is different from his father's—he's kind and honest, without that bad temper or patriarchal attitude, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to the marriage; he's a bit selfish, but that's because he's been spoiled at home. His father taught him that from a young age, so it's no wonder he's selfish. Overall, he's alright, more promising than Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu. "He's not exaggerating. He's the best in the Liu family."

Yingzi was starting to understand. How could someone who'd been pampered since childhood be the same as those two who'd been whipped? Definitely not. "Alright, enough about other people. What are you planning to do today?" It was just past noon; the days were still long. Shouldn't they find something to kill time? Yang Jianye's reminder made Yingzi clap her hands: "You almost forgot! We need to steam some buns at home!"

Yang Jianye was dumbfounded. "Wife, is that what I meant?" Steamed buns are sold outside, two cents each, for two ounces of grain coupons, but if you buy too many, they're always shortchanged; no one can guarantee you'll get the exact two ounces. It's more cost-effective to steam them ourselves. Besides, the outside mainly sells mixed grain steamed buns; white flour ones sell out as soon as they're released, sometimes for weeks on end. With supplies so scarce, just having enough to eat is a blessing; who dares to be picky? This kind of thing only happens in Beijing.

The old yeast is the leftover dough from the last time you steamed buns. You knead it into a ball and let it dry. When you need to use it again, you take it out and knead it together with the flour, let it ferment, and then you can steam the buns!

Take out the fermented dough, knead it vigorously on the work surface, then stretch it into a long strip about the thickness of a baby's wrist, and pinch off small pieces about the size of a fist. Knead each piece, loosely grasp it with both hands, and roll it into a ball. Place the balls in a pot and steam them.

It takes 25 to 30 minutes to cook one pot. Turn off the heat and let it sit for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Lifting the lid, steaming hot, golden-brown steamed buns are ready.

"Try it." Yingzi held a steaming hot bun and tossed it back and forth between her hands to Yang Jianye's mouth.

Take a bite, and it's fragrant, sticky, and sweet.

"Wife, why isn't this sour?" Yang Jianye's eyes lit up as he kneaded the dough.

Because of the alkaline taste inherent in fermentation, the steamed buns at this stage usually have a slightly sour taste, not severe, but noticeable and impossible to mask. But Yingzi's steamed buns had absolutely no alkaline taste.

Weird!

Seeing his surprised expression, Yingzi said with a touch of pride, "It's delicious, isn't it? My mother taught me how to make it."

The key to its non-sour taste lies in the ratio of yeast to cornmeal. Don't be fooled by the coarse texture and harshness of cornmeal; if the ratio is right, its natural corn flavor neutralizes the alkalinity and acidity. This retains the softness and chewiness of wheat flour while enhancing the overall texture.

"My wife is really something," Yang Jianye praised, giving Yingzi a thumbs-up, which made her laugh heartily.

From then on, the heat inside the room never stopped. You could tell from the outside, just by looking and smelling, that they were steaming buns.

From then on, the heat inside the room never stopped. You could tell from the outside, just by looking and smelling, that they were steaming buns.

"Sister." It was almost lunchtime when He Yushui rushed over.

"Rain, come on, try the steamed buns I made." Yingzi handed her one, and He Yushui happily took it and took a bite.

While chewing, she said, "Sister, my brother asked me to ask if we could share a few steamed buns with him first. He has the money and coupons."

Yingzi glanced at her husband and laughed, "Sure, why not? What's wrong? Did you finish eating at home?"

He Yushui nodded, holding up the steamed bun in her hand and asking curiously, "Sister, why does your steamed bun smell so good?"

"A secret recipe, haha." Yingzi picked up ten steamed buns for her.

He Yushui counted out two mao (0.2 yuan) and two jin (0.5 kg) of grain coupons, said, "I'll bring the basin back to you later," and took the half-eaten steamed bun with her in her mouth before heading back home.

After she left, Yang Jianye said, "My wife lost money selling these steamed buns for two cents."

Yingzi smiled and said, "There's no selling or anything. It's just neighbors helping each other out. Master He is a cook; surely he can make steamed buns. If it were a real business, I wouldn't dare do it."

Yingzi would never dare to engage in speculation or profiteering.

"How could that be? I don't even have enough to eat!" Yang Jianye's distressed expression amused her again.

After steaming the last batch, it was past dinnertime. Yingzi started preparing dinner again. Luckily, there were freshly steamed buns, so she could just make a couple of dishes and it would be ready to eat.

Yingzi opened the door and went into the cellar. She planned to make a pork stew with vermicelli using cabbage, cured meat, and vermicelli. She also planned to cut half a white radish, boil it with water diluted with the pork stew broth, and then simmer two potatoes under the stove.

One dish, one soup, plus some snacks—that's it.

In northern China, there aren't many vegetables available in homes during winter. The two most common ones are Chinese cabbage and white radish. And you have to stock up in advance, otherwise, once winter really arrives, you won't even see Chinese cabbage.

The sweet potatoes and potatoes we're eating now, and the cucumbers we ate earlier, were all prepared in advance. Even though they're not very fresh anymore, in the dead of winter these days, seeing something green on the table is rarer than meat!

It's because ordinary families are used to poverty and lack of food that Da Juan and Xiao Juan went to pick up cucumbers first, thinking they weren't as precious as meat. No matter what, they can't compare to meat. But in the eyes of people who don't lack meat, it is indeed more precious than meat.

Yingzi carried the vegetables and meat back to the house in a basin, and soon she had tidied up and started stewing the vegetables. By the time the steamed buns were almost cooked, the stew was also ready.

Radish and vermicelli soup, pork stew with vermicelli, and freshly steamed buns.

Snoring, snoring...

Yang Jianye drank two large bowls of wine and ate four steamed buns in one go. He also finished most of the pork stew with vermicelli in a small bowl.

Fragrant, really scented!

Pour the remaining vegetables together and let them cool under the stove and windowsill. Tomorrow morning, just boil them in a pot, make a few steamed buns and two eggs, and that'll be breakfast.

Yang Jianye had intended to find some fun to pass the time, but ended up steaming buns all afternoon. However, he didn't feel bored or disappointed; on the contrary, he felt exceptionally at ease.

Life should be this simple and unpretentious.

The next morning, they boiled the pork stew with radishes and vermicelli that they had made the night before, and planned to go to Yingzi's house to offer early New Year's greetings after breakfast. Going early rather than late showed they valued it.

Just then, He Yuzhu and his sister arrived, carrying the bowl they had used to hold the steamed buns the night before.

"Jianye, Yingzi, you're eating!"

"Hmm, something's up so early in the morning?"

When Yang Jianye asked, Sha Zhu scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, "Um, Jianye, did Yingzi steam those buns yesterday?"

"I steamed them myself. Didn't Chef He have enough?" Yingzi said, getting up. "Then I'll get you a few more, it's no trouble!"

"That's enough, that's enough," Sha Zhu hurriedly stopped her. "I'm just curious, why do your steamed buns smell so good?"

Yang Jianye chuckled and said, "A special skill, you know?"

Sha Zhu nodded understandingly: "Got it. You two eat, I'm going back to my room."

He Yushui was a little disappointed; she had been looking forward to having sweet steamed buns to eat from now on. Now, her silly brother hadn't even opened his mouth. Should she ask him herself?

Inside the room, Yingzi glanced at Yang Jianye, a smile spreading across her face.

"If Master He wants to learn, I'll teach you."

Sha Zhu stopped, turned around and looked at Yingzi, saying, "Yingzi, don't be so polite, just call me Zhu."

After saying that, he took two steps forward and asked, "You can really talk?"

"It's not that difficult; if you're really willing to try, you'll get it."

Hearing her say that, Sha Zhu didn't take it seriously. Any tricks of the trade are simple to those who know how. It's like cooking; some dishes, missing one ingredient or adding one, can make all the difference. No one will explain it to you; you have plenty of time to figure it out yourself.

"Come in and sit down, don't just stand there." Yang Jianye called the two of them in and told them to sit down and talk slowly.

Yingzi gestured with her hands, explaining the proportions, the tricks to kneading the dough, and how to dissolve the yeast. Being a chef, he understood everything after just one explanation.

"No wonder, Yingzi, I really have to thank you." Shazhu thanked her sincerely.

But in her heart, she was already thinking about what to give them later. After the two of them ate, they'd have to go back to her parents' house, right? It's the first year of the new year, so the gifts definitely need to be substantial.

Just then, Qin Huairu's voice came from outside: "Master Yang, are you home?"

They looked at each other, wondering: Why is she here?

Inside the house, upon hearing Qin Huairu deliver sesame oil, Sha Zhu's eyes flickered as if he had learned to change faces.

How much food did he bring to Widow Qin's family? In the end, he only received complaints and nothing in return.

These days, Sha Zhu is living a comfortable life, busy with blind dates, setting a date with Teacher Ran, and confronting Yi Zhonghai about all that messy stuff. Qin Huairu hasn't bothered him anymore and has put the past behind her.

Hearing her voice again now, so close, gives me a strange feeling, as if I've lived through another world.

My heart was filled with a mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling! It was as if I had tasted all the flavors of life at once.

Seeing that she had a third of a bottle of sesame oil in her hand, Yang Jianye asked curiously, "Where did you get this?"

Qin Huairu, holding the bottle, said, "I brought it from home."

The sesame oil inside is at most two or three ounces. But in those days, it's not a small gift.

Yang Jianye glanced at her: "Keep it for yourself, we have plenty at home."

Qin Huai lowered his head slightly, then raised it again, insisting, "I know you don't lack anything, but I don't have anything else to offer. It's the New Year, I should at least give you something, Master."

That's true. As an apprentice living in the same compound as his master, it would be incredibly rude and tactless of him not to offer his master an early New Year's greeting. When Jia Dongxu was still alive, he frequently visited Yi Zhonghai to pay his respects during holidays, never empty-handed.

"Okay, I'll keep the things, and I'll return the bottle to you another day." Yang Jianye reached out and took the things.

He's not a saint; he should accept the gifts his apprentice gives him. If he takes them, he'll have something to eat, and his apprentice will be at ease. If he doesn't take them, he won't have anything to eat, and his apprentice will be wondering—did he do something to upset his master? Or does his master have a problem with her? Will he be able to teach her properly then?

Qin Huairu's face lit up with joy. He said, "Happy New Year, Master," and then went back.

He took the small bottle into the house and saw that all three of them were looking at him.

Yang Jianye picked up the small bottle and said, "Qin Huairu gave me, her teacher, a small gift."

"Sesame oil?" Yingzi's eyes lit up, quite surprised.

"Okay, Yingzi, you can put it in a different bottle." Yang Jianye nodded with a smile.

"Okay." Yingzi took the bottle and went to the stove.

Sha Zhu's eyes were complicated as he said, "Jianye, Qin Huairu is a good disciple."

These sesame oils are treasures even to him, the chef.