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

In the corner, Jia Zhangshi leaned against her doorway, holding a handful of melon seeds in her hand, her lips moving incessantly, but her eyes were fixed on the crowd in the center of the courtyard.

She saw Liu Yuheng handing out cigarettes to Yi Zhonghai and the others, and saw several middle-aged women surrounding Yao Qingwan and praising her endlessly. She pursed her lips and muttered something under her breath. Her voice was too soft for anyone to hear, but judging from her expression, it probably wasn't anything nice.

Liu Yuheng ignored the stares from the corners. After finishing his cigarette, he chatted with Yi Zhonghai and the others for a few more minutes, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.

He Yuzhu was busy in front of the stove, wearing an apron. His large ladle flew up and down, the oil in the pot sizzled, and the aroma wafted through the yard.

Liu Yuheng walked to the kitchen door and waved to He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, you've worked hard today."

He Yuzhu turned around, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and smiled, "It's not hard work at all."

Liu Yuheng took out two packs of cigarettes from his pocket and handed them to He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, take these."

He Yuzhu glanced at the two packs of cigarettes, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took them, stuffing them into the front pocket of his apron. He said, "I'm so sorry," but a genuine smile spread across his face.

Liu Yuheng patted him on the shoulder, said nothing more, and turned back to the center of the courtyard.

Around noon, the courtyard gate was pushed open again. Liu Erhe was the first to go forward, and Liang Cheng and his wife walked in one after the other.

Liu Erhe quickly stepped forward, called out "Dad, Mom," and then stepped aside to lead the two into the courtyard.

Liu Shuanzhu had already stood up and pulled out a chair next to him: "Our in-laws are here? Please sit down, please sit down."

Liang Cheng smiled and shook hands with Liu Shuanzhu, then nodded to Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and others next to him, before sitting down in his own seat. Liang Cheng's wife was pulled by Wang Xiuhe to sit at the women's table.

Once everyone had arrived, the dishes were served one after another. Several cold dishes and a bottle of baijiu were placed on the main table. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, Xu Fugui, Liang Cheng, and Liu Shuanzhu sat around the table and started drinking in a rather serious manner.

At another table, Jia Zhangshi took the lead. The dishes had just been served, and a plate of braised pork hadn't even settled on the table yet, when her large chopsticks had already reached over and quickly scooped half of the plate into her bowl. Her movements were so fast and precise that the several middle-aged women next to her were stunned for a moment, and then, as if some instinct had been activated, their chopsticks began to fly around as well.

A plate of braised pork was gone in the blink of an eye, and even the broth was soaked up by Yan Bugui's wife with a steamed bun.

Liu Yuheng stood not far away watching this scene, his lips twitching involuntarily, and he couldn't help but shake his head. Luckily, he had the foresight not to invite Jia Zhangshi and her group to the North City Compound. If the old brigade commander and the others had seen this, who knows what their expressions would have been?

However, although Jia Zhangshi's actions were exaggerated, she at least knew whose diners she was having today. After finishing a few dishes, she became much more well-behaved and stopped trying to snatch food from other tables. She just sat in her seat, burying her head in her rice, occasionally glancing up at Yao Qingwan's side, then pouting and lowering her head again.

Liu Yuheng looked around and felt the situation was relatively under control, so he took a glass of wine and walked to the main table. He clinked glasses with Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and the others, taking a few sips as a token gesture. Then he took his glass to the table of the younger people, where Liu Erhe, Jia Dongxu, Xu Damao, and He Yuzhu sat together. The atmosphere there was much livelier than at the main table.

Liu Yuheng walked over and patted Liu Erhe on the shoulder: "Erhe, help me entertain everyone. There's plenty of wine, don't be stingy."

Liu Erhe stood up, patted his chest, and said, "Brother, don't worry, I promise I'll take good care of them today."

Jia Dongxu and Xu Damao, who were standing nearby, joined in the commotion, raising their beer glasses to Liu Yuheng and saying, "Congratulations!"

The banquet lasted from noon until after 1 p.m. The men at the main table had finished their drinks and eaten almost nothing. Yi Zhonghai put down his glass, leaned back in his chair, let out a satisfied burp, his face slightly flushed, and his expression conveyed a sense of contentment after a good meal. Liu Haizhong also put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and chatted casually with Yan Bugui next to him. Xu

The older women's table had completely finished eating; only a few empty plates and chopsticks remained on the table, and even the soup had been soaked clean by the steamed buns.

Liu Yuheng stood up, picked up his teacup, and walked to the table where the women were sitting. He smiled at the group of middle-aged women and said, "Aunties, if you don't mind the leftovers on the table, please clean them up and take them home. Don't waste them."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jia Zhangshi seemed to have been turned on a switch. She jumped up from the stool and rushed to the main table. With quick eyes and hands, she picked up the plate of braised pork that was still half full and carried the plate and the dish into her room. Her movements were so swift and her goal so clear that even Yi Zhonghai's wife next to her was stunned.

Yan Bugui's wife was a beat slow to react, but she quickly got up and went to the main table to take away the remaining two dishes. Seeing this, the remaining women were not to be outdone, and they all started working, clearing away even the plates of peanuts and melon seeds on the table. Their movements were so fast that it was as if they had practiced a thousand times.

In just a few minutes, the table, which had been covered with bowls and plates, was spotless, not even a single vegetable leaf remained. Several middle-aged women, carrying their spoils, went back to their houses, satisfied. Soon, only a table of young people still drinking and several empty tables remained in the courtyard.

Seeing this scene, Liu Yuheng's lips twitched involuntarily. He shook his head and didn't say anything more. He turned around, walked to Liu Shuanzhu and Wang Xiuhe, and lowered his voice, saying, "Father, Mother, Qingwan and I have to go back to our parents' home tomorrow, so we need to go back and prepare some things. Please help us tidy up the tables, chairs, and dishes here. We'll be leaving now."

Wang Xiuhe nodded: "Alright, you can go back now. Have you prepared everything for Qingwan's family visit tomorrow? Don't go empty-handed."

"I still have two bottles of wine and two packets of tea left from yesterday. I'll buy some fruit, and that'll be enough."

Wang Xiuhe was relieved. She turned around, went back into the house, took out a clean glass jar from the cabinet, which was full of homemade pickled vegetables, and handed it to Liu Yuheng: "Your father just pickled these a few days ago. They're very crisp. Take them over to your in-laws tomorrow to try. Homemade is cleaner than what you buy outside."

Liu Yuheng took it, weighed it in his hand, smiled and said "Okay," then greeted Liang Cheng and his wife before leaving the courtyard with Yao Qingwan.

The two got into the car, Liu Yuheng started the engine, and the jeep slowly drove out of Nanluoguxiang Hutong, heading towards the north of the city in the warm afternoon sun.