Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Yan Bugui first wrote the couplets at home, prepared the paste, and then brought the cooking broom.

I went out with my wife and we went from house to house putting up the stickers on the doors.

After posting, knock on the door and ask for a reward!

Hey ~

If you give a reward, the couplet will be more appealing.

If you don't want to give me the reward, don't rush me.

We brought the pre-cut lettering with us!

I've changed it to 'none' for you, 'okay, I've changed it to ''.

Therefore, Yan Bugui could receive a lot of tips during festivals every year.

I wouldn't dare say much, but I can get a few dollars.

A pound of the finest pork belly costs only 87 cents.

With these two or three coins, we can't help but make a big meal of meat dumplings with lots of oil during the New Year.

Everyone just wants good luck and happiness.

They gave out 1 or 2 cents, even though it was Chinese New Year.

Besides, buying a couplet from outside would cost a few cents.

They won't even put up the couplets for you, so you come back and put them up yourself.

It's not worth making a special paste for it!

Therefore, as long as Yan Bugui writes auspicious couplets and writes the characters well, that's fine.

If the couplet is pasted up correctly, the reward money will be given.

Even the old-fashioned look in his bangs wasn't shaved off.

This year was no exception; Yan Bugui had his family prepare things for him well in advance.

Once his school is completely closed for the holidays, he will come back and write the couplet.

After they were dried one by one, we pasted them on early in the morning.

Knock on the door, eh~

Asking for a reward!

Old Yan's stinginess in giving out rewards during the New Year has almost become a characteristic of this compound.

Once a year, and each time quite a few.

Anyone who spent the New Year in this courtyard knows this.

But Yingzi didn't know that!

The new bride hasn't even celebrated the New Year in the courtyard yet.

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

During the Chinese New Year, couplets are a must-have decoration.

Every household, regardless of whether they are doing well or not, has to put it up.

If a family doesn't have a couplet, people will definitely say:

"This family is probably going to go out of business, and things won't be any better next year."

Seeking good fortune, especially during the Lunar New Year.

That is absolutely essential.

So even if we eat less meat at home, we'll still make some cabbage dumplings.

We must put up this couplet today too.

It's the same not only in the city, but also in the countryside.

Even if it's just writing a few words on a piece of white paper and sticking some paste on the door of your own earthen kiln.

A person passed by the door, glanced inside, and thought, 'This place is alright.'

At least, at least they've saved face!

Sometimes, appearances are indeed more important than substance.

If you can handle it, people will say you're capable. Even if you can't do it, you can still do it.

If you can't support it, just give up.

People criticize you for being incompetent, even if you are.

Those with strong inner strength are able to remain unaffected by external disturbances.

How many?

Chapter 127 Wearing a Cheongsam and Walking

"Don't bother with the couplets, someone will put them on our door in a couple of days."

Yang Jianguo chuckled, deliberately teasing Yingzi.

"what?"

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

"Good thing?"

Yang Jianguo was both amused and exasperated; his daughter-in-law was far too naive.

"You can tell me when it's time to ask for a reward."

Hearing him say that, Yingzi realized what he meant: "I knew it! There are people who give away couplets for free."

My mind wandered to the houses in the courtyard.

"Hey, it's the Third Master... no, it's now called First Master, isn't it?"

"That's him, just wait and see."

Yang Jianguo sat on a small stool in front of the stove and picked up a small twig from the ground.

He broke each piece into the appropriate size and then threw them into the woodpile.

"I'll give you a penny or two then, just as a lucky charm, to make you happy."

Yingzi nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll give you two cents. Uncle Yi has been good to our family."

“Every time I come back, if I see that I have something in my hands, the old lady will ask someone to help me carry it.”

Yang Jianguo had no idea that Yan Bugui's personality had changed.

Now you know what it means to invest first and then get a return.

Okay, that's progress.

"As you wish, give me two cents."

Snap, throw it!

The pile of firewood was full in no time.

These branches are used to start a fire in the stove.

They were all bought from the market by villagers in the countryside.

No one dares to cut down or break the trees in the city.

Those are all things that cost money, resources, and manpower, and whose origins are unknown.

Do you think you can just casually disregard the dignity of Beijing?

If those little princesses with red armbands see this, they'll definitely block the door and drag you out for a public parade.

After that, you still have to apologize and compensate for the losses.

At work, there's a good chance they'll issue another round of public criticism.

After discussing the couplets, Yang Jianguo glanced at Yingzi, who was still busy, and asked, "Wife, how are you feeling?"

He didn't have much experience with this, but he remembered Yingzi saying that he should know in the next few days.

I've been busy for a week, but I haven't heard her mention it once.

Yang Jianguo's heart was itching like a cat's claws.

Seeing his anxious look, Yingzi couldn't help but chuckle.

Then, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly: "Yes, I am pregnant."

"Ugh!"

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

She sipped the rice like a chick eating rice for several times before Yang Jianguo finally let go of her.

"Honey, 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 Jianguo straightened his face and said, "How can it be called 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), touching her belly with her hand, and said softly with a kind expression, "What's the point of having such a great future?"

"I just hope he can be safe and sound."

"In the future, he should be like his father, down-to-earth and honest."

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

Yingzi glanced at him and said softly, "With great success comes great responsibility."

"A burden as heavy as a mountain, carried on just two shoulders, how tiring must it be for the child?"

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

Yang Jianguo lowered his head and looked at her affectionately, "What's it to blame you for?"

"It's my fault, I'm so useless. I'm only counting on my child's health and safety."

Yingzi lowered her head somewhat embarrassed, feeling a little guilty.

With a capable father like Yang Jianguo, what if the child doesn't have any talent in the future?

He was bound to be criticized behind his back; what kind of lies was he 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 a gentle male voice came: "As a mother, who could feel more heartache than her for the flesh that was lost during ten months of pregnancy?"

“In this world, there’s no child who blames their own mother.” Yang Jianguo held her hand.

"Don't worry about it, your children and grandchildren will have their own blessings."

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

"What are you doing?" Yingzi asked him curiously.

Why change into a cheongsam indoors on a weekday?

Those cheongsams are so expensive, and you still have to do chores with them, so they get scratched and dirty.

Wouldn't she be heartbroken?

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

"what?"

Urged on by him, Yingzi took out a neatly folded cheongsam from the bottom of the wardrobe.

First, place it on the kang (a heated brick bed), then remove the outer cloth covering it. Yingzi asked shyly, "Can I wear this out?"