Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

If I had known, I would have given him two pounds of cornmeal as a favor.

"I'm so easily swayed, sigh~" Yan Bugui sighed, looking as sad as if someone in his family had died.

It was past eight o'clock, and the lights in the courtyard were still on.

The dim kerosene lamp flickered, casting shadows of people inside the room onto the window, like watching a shadow puppet show.

Yang Jianguo parked the car under the window and carried the basin to the sink.

Due to limited facilities, one has to go to a public bathhouse to take a bath, and even then, one has to be mindful of the opening hours.

Aside from his Sundays off, he can only wipe himself down with a damp towel to make himself feel better.

Whether it's dirty or not, go to the bathhouse on Sunday and have a good soak, find a masseur with a strong grip to scrub you.

Ah, life!

However, Yang Jianguo was thinking about the bathtub in the room.

When I get a wife, I'll definitely need her.

Washing once a week is inconvenient...

However, isn't it too troublesome to carry water back and forth, boil it, and then pour it in?

Get a heater, the kind that boils water, no need for radiators, just run the pipes around the room a few times.

Then install a large enough sheet metal box in the middle of the pipe...

The water is heated first and then poured into a metal tank; only after it is full can it flow back.

After completion, the water inlet and outlet are kept circulating, and the water in the metal box can also maintain its temperature.

Then install a valve at the bottom and connect a flexible hose.

Want to take a shower? Just turn on the tap and hot water will come out...

Snapped!

With a wet towel draped over his shoulder, Yang Jianguo grabbed one end behind his back, pulling the towel up and down with a silly grin.

Hey, you're a real genius, that's a brilliant idea...

"Build the nation, build the nation."

The neighbor across the street, Silly Zhu, came over with a lunchbox, grinning. "What are you grinning about? Got your girlfriend?"

The news of his blind date spread throughout the courtyard, and everyone was watching Yang Jianguo's attitude.

Third, as the older woman said, Yang Jianguo is now single-mindedly focused on finding a wife and settling down.

Judging by his enthusiasm, even if this doesn't work out, he'll find another opportunity.

Putting aside everything else, the second and third aunties in the courtyard have all spoken to their nieces in private.

If they fail to deliver here, they'll immediately bring people over.

And Sister Qin...

"That's about it. Is there anything else, Master He?"

Release the towel from behind your back, pull it off, wash it clean, and wring it dry.

Yang Jianguo then wiped the water droplets off, and a cold wind blew, making him shiver slightly.

Sha Zhu put the lunchbox he was holding on the table. "The factory is having a party today. I brought some food. Shall we have a drink?"

Yang Jianguo paused in his work and said with a smile, "Master He, just say what's on your mind. I have something to do tomorrow morning."

"I know, I know, just a couple of drinks... it won't interfere with anything!" Sha Zhu grinned and squeezed him in, half-pushing and half-pulling him into the house.

"Okay, I'll take it." Seeing his determination to succeed, Yang Jianguo agreed.

"Alright, alright, let's drink in my room. You move aside first, let me clean up the bowl."

The washbasin itself wasn't a problem, but his vest was still draped over the sink pipe.

Letting a man pull you into the house, what kind of nonsense is that!

"Okay, let me get the wine."

"Don't take it, I have a bottle of Xifeng tea, I'll drink that."

Upon hearing that Yang Jianguo's liquor was Xifeng, Shazhu's eyes lit up.

This is incredible! Absolutely incredible!

Yang Jianguo is going to be something extraordinary in the future!

Chapter Twenty-Two: Qin Huairu's Kindness?

In 1952, a national wine appraisal conference was held in Beijing.

With the personal approval of a top leader, the first National Wine Appraisal Committee, a national-level body, was officially established.

Wine experts and scholars from all over the country conducted a rigorous selection and evaluation of the 103 types of wine that entered the main competition.

Ultimately, eight of them became national famous liquors, with baijiu (Chinese white liquor) occupying four of the spots.

These are Xinghua Fenjiu, Moutai, Daqu, and Xifeng, respectively.

The results of this selection will influence the development of the liquor industry for more than 60 years to come.

The three major aroma types of Chinese liquor were established at this time.

As a representative of the niche Fengxiang type, Xifeng is less popular and influential than the previous three.

However, even in the niche market of the Phoenix Fragrance type, it is a dominant force that reigns supreme.

Until the emergence of 'OEM' (private labeling), the efforts of several generations were destroyed in an instant.

However, at this time, Xifeng was still one of the representatives of the national liquor.

Once you've had a drink, you'll have plenty to brag about!

I washed the towel in the sink, threw it into the basin, and carried it back to the house.

Sha Zhu followed him in. "Jianguo, your room is much brighter now that you've tidied it up."

"It's alright, but the flooring isn't very suitable; quite a few sections are warped."

Yang Jianguo kicked the upturned floor tile with his foot, his brows furrowed. After thinking for a moment, he decided to leave it as it was for now.

You can't get fat overnight when it comes to life.

Sha Zhu chuckled and said, "That's enough. If you keep causing trouble, you might as well move to a different house."

“I’d like to,” Yang Jianguo replied.

Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Hey, you really dare to think that way."

These days, houses are allocated.

Apart from some patriotic businessmen, capitalists, and overseas Chinese.

Every household is the same.

It's not impossible to change houses. If your children are growing up and there's a shortage of housing, you might get a house if you're lucky.

But nowadays everyone wants to move to the city, and every family has three or four children.

The city of Beijing is such a small place, where did all these old houses come from?

If you can make do with it, then make do. That's called having the right mindset!

Besides, Yang Jianguo wouldn't be replaced even if he could, unless he was still in this courtyard.

It wasn't that he couldn't bear to leave the right and wrong behind; it was just that the 'system' check-in points were tied to him.

Where would he sign in after leaving the compound?

When the system was first activated, Yang Jianguo was starving and had no time to think about anything further ahead.

Besides, if he doesn't stick with his own company, he has nowhere else to go.

You can't just randomly pick a main road and stand there, can you?

Besides, the road doesn't belong to him, so a binding agreement is impossible...

Thinking about all this, Yang Jianguo's good mood of the past few days turned somewhat bad.

That's why they say every family has its own problems.

Place the bowls on the table and put the chopsticks on them.

Yang Jianguo went to get the wine...

Sha Zhu opened the lunchbox, and steaming hot meat was soaking in the white soup.

"There's a stewed goose, only half left, and here's the butt... Here you go." Sha Zhu handed him the goose butt.

At that time, chicken butts and goose butts were considered delicacies by ordinary families.

Some people love this dish, and some even make it specifically for mealtimes.

Those who liked to give it a nice name: Phoenix Tail Fragrance!

"Nothing else, just drink this!"

Yang Jianguo placed the large tea mug on the table, twisted off the cap, and poured half a cup for each of them.

It should be about three or four ounces; after drinking it, you can go to sleep.

As for the goose butt in the bowl, Yang Jianguo didn't mind.

There's a common saying that goes: "Money is hard to earn, and shit is hard to swallow."

Having experienced hunger, Yang Jianguo truly didn't mind...

For the first month after I started working at the factory, all I ate when I got home at night was cornbread and cornmeal.

Want some meat?

There wasn't even a scrap of meat in sight, let alone any meat.

Going back a few years, people were scrambling to eat Guanyin clay; it was better to die of overeating than starving.

You're complaining even though you have meat to eat? Heh~

"Jianguo, let's have a drink first," Shazhu called out, picking up his jug.

"Okay, let's have one." Yang Jianguo smacked his lips and took a big gulp.

"Tell me, what's the matter?"

Yang Jianguo shook the wine in his teacup. "If we wait until we finish drinking before talking, I'll go to sleep."

"Hehe~"

Sha Zhu grinned and took another swig of wine.

He smacked his lips twice with delight, picked up a piece of meat, and put it in his mouth before calmly opening his mouth.

"There's something I need to ask Sister Qin. How's your blind date going?"

Sister Qin? Qin Huairu.

Is she planning to introduce her cousin to herself?

Yang Jianguo smiled faintly, but didn't seem annoyed.

Sha Zhu hadn't figured out Qin Huairu's intentions yet.

In his heart, Qin Huairu was still that virtuous, gentle, filial, and family-oriented good woman.

Asking around is for the good of the nation's founding!

In case he doesn't make it, Sister Qin was just trying to help him...

Although she was from the countryside, she was beautiful and a skilled worker.

Who knows, maybe Jian Guo might take a liking to him?

Chapter Twenty-Three: A Few Words, Silly Pillar Eats Brains