Courtyard Houses: Starting with Li Yunlong's Comrades-in-Arms

Back in the east wing, Liu Yuheng sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and took a bowl of hot tea from Wang Xiuhe.

Liu Yuheng took a sip of tea and suddenly remembered that he hadn't seen Liu Erhe since he came in.

He put down his teacup, turned to Liu Shuanzhu, and asked, "Dad, where's Erhe? I haven't seen him."

Liu Shuanzhu was tidying up the work surface, dusting the remaining flour into the basin, and said without looking up, "Oh, I sent him to invite my in-laws. It's almost New Year's Eve, and it's just the two of them alone at their place, all quiet and lonely. Inviting them over to celebrate the New Year together will make it more lively. Erhe has been gone for a while, he should be back soon."

Liu Yuheng nodded and said sincerely, "It's only right. Master Liang and his wife treat Erhe like their own son. It's not fair to leave the old couple to spend the New Year alone after Fangfang married into our family."

Wang Xiuhe chimed in, "That's exactly right. Master Liang is a good man, and he's been incredibly kind to Erhe. How could we let the elderly couple spend the New Year alone? I had Erhe bring some dumpling filling and dough over there. If they don't come, they can eat there, saving us the trouble of making more."

Just then, the curtain was lifted, and a gust of cold wind swept in. Liu Erhe entered first, a thin layer of snowflakes clinging to his head and shoulders, grinning, "Dad, Mom, I've invited my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

As he spoke, he stepped aside to let the two people behind him into the room.

Liang Cheng and his wife followed behind Liu Erhe. After entering the room, their eyes first swept around the people in the room, and then landed on Liu Yuheng. They paused for a moment, and their smiles became more restrained.

Liang Cheng rubbed his hands together, nodded and smiled at Liu Yuheng: "Commander Liu... you're here too. Happy New Year, Happy New Year."

His wife nodded in agreement, her smile tinged with nervousness. She didn't know what to say, but she joined Liang Cheng in calling out "Commander Liu."

In their eyes, Liu Yuheng was a military commander, a real high-ranking official. Although they knew he was Liu Erhe's older brother, they still felt nervous every time they met, unsure of how to act.

Liu Yuheng noticed Liang Cheng's awkwardness and quickly stood up from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his face beaming with smiles. He took the initiative to greet Liang Cheng, extending his hand to shake his: "Master Liang, you're being too polite. Don't bother with any 'Commander Liu' stuff. Just call me Yuheng like my dad does. Come in and sit down, it's cold outside."

Liang Cheng was taken aback by Liu Yuheng's enthusiasm. He quickly clasped his hands back and said repeatedly, "Hey, hey, good, good." His nervousness immediately subsided by more than half.

Wang Xiuhe quickly greeted them, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, please come in and sit down. It's warm on the kang! The dumplings will be ready soon!"

Liu Shuanzhu moved a chair over and added two more pieces of coal to the stove, making the room a bit warmer.

After Liang Cheng and his wife sat down, Liu Tingting brought over two bowls of hot tea, sweetly calling out "Uncle Liang, Aunt Liang," and handing them the tea. Liang Cheng's wife took the teacups, looking at Liu Tingting's round, smiling face, and exclaimed in admiration, "Tingting has grown so tall! She's much taller than last year, and she's becoming more and more beautiful. Girls really do change a lot as they grow up; she's getting prettier and prettier!"

Liu Tingting was so embarrassed by the praise that the tips of her ears turned slightly red. She put down her teacup and ran back to the kang (a heated brick bed) to tease Liu Yixuan.

The water boiled, and the dumplings were put into the pot. Wang Xiuhe stood in front of the stove, holding a strainer, gently pushing the dumplings in the pot to prevent them from sticking.

Liu Tingting ran to get a dish of vinegar and garlic cloves, Liu Erhe helped set up the table and chairs, and Liu Shuanzhu found the half-empty bottle of Fenjiu left over from last year, wiped the dust off the bottle, and poured a glass for each of the four men. Liang Cheng held the glass, twirled it in his hand a couple of times, smelled it, and praised, "Good wine."

When the dumplings were served, there were two large plates full, and Wang Xiuhe invited everyone to sit down.

Liu Shuanzhu raised his wine glass and gestured towards Liang Cheng: "Father-in-law, another year has passed, and our two families are celebrating the New Year together again. Come, let me toast you."

Liang Cheng picked up his wine glass, clinked it against Liu Shuanzhu's, and took a large gulp. It was so spicy he gasped for breath, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his face: "Master Liu, you're too kind. We're family, no need for such formalities. Let's celebrate the New Year together again next year!"

Liu Yuheng also raised his wine glass and gestured towards Liang Cheng: "Master Liang, I toast you. Erhe owes his success today entirely to your guidance; you are practically his father."

Liang Cheng's eyes reddened slightly at these words. He picked up his wine glass, his voice trembling slightly, "Liu... Yuheng, how can I accept such a compliment? Erhe is a promising young man. I was just lending a hand. He got to where he is today because of his hard work and dedication."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "It's a blessing for my daughter to marry into your Liu family. With in-laws like you, my wife and I are at ease."

After several rounds of drinks and most of the dumplings eaten, the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly lively. While serving dumplings to Liang Cheng's wife, Wang Xiuhe glanced at Liu Yuheng, her lips twitching. After hesitating for a while, she finally spoke.

"Yuheng, after today you'll be twenty-nine, right?"

Liu Yuheng paused, his chopsticks still in his hand. He looked up at Wang Xiuhe, a sense of foreboding rising within him. Sure enough, Wang Xiuhe's next words followed.

"It's the 29th of the lunar year now, and the 30th will follow. Look at your younger brother, he's several years younger than you, and Yixuan can already run around. And you? You'll be 29 after the New Year, and you don't even have a girlfriend. When your mother was your age, you were already several years old."

Liu Yuheng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Wang Xiuhe didn't give him the chance and continued, "You said last time that you were looking, and several years have passed. Have you found one yet? If you don't bring a wife back this year for the New Year, I really won't allow it."

Liu Yuheng felt a headache coming on. He put down his chopsticks, scratched the back of his head, and said with a look that was three parts helplessness and seven parts pleading, "Mother, don't worry, I'll look for one right away. I'll start looking seriously after the New Year. I'll definitely bring you a daughter-in-law within this year."

Wang Xiuhe looked at him, her gaze scrutinizing him: "Really?"

"Really. I mean it. I'll definitely bring someone back next Chinese New Year."

Wang Xiuhe nodded in satisfaction, but still wouldn't let him off the hook: "Then I'll take it seriously. Liu Yuheng, you have to keep your word. If you drag this out for another year, I won't acknowledge you as my son anymore."

Liu Yuheng quickly picked up his wine glass and took a sip, using the wine to cover up his embarrassment.