Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Interesting, really interesting...

"Let's go shopping in Wangfujing."

Xiao Yuan put his arm around his wife and said with a smile, "We've been married for a while now, what's wrong with us not even having strolled through Wangfujing?"

Li Ying was also tempted and nodded, saying, "Okay, let's go take a look."

After saying that, she tugged at his arm, "You can't waste money!"

Yang Jianguo nodded, "Definitely not."

To get to Wangfujing, you have to pass through two hutongs: one is called Wuliang Daren Hutong, and the other is called Jinyu Hutong.

Looking north from Wuliangdaren Hutong, you can see the rooftop platform of a white Western-style building.

This is the house where Mr. Mei once lived, but now everything has changed.

Jinyu Hutong was originally the residence of a prime minister, and the garden alone occupied two-thirds of the area on the north side of the hutong.

Now, it is completely unrecognizable.

However, wherever you go, you'll find your own unique characteristics.

sidewalk!

It's not the "convenient" kind of "convenient," but rather the "convenient" kind of "convenient."

Right next to the high wall, on the narrow path, you could smell the odor even before you got close.

They quickened their pedaling pace and laughed as they crossed the alley.

As soon as they came out, the streets immediately became lively.

Jixiang Theater, Donglaishun, Wufangzhai, Tianyishun Sauce Shop, and Silian Barber Shop.

Of course, no one can resist taking a second look at the Wangfujing Department Store.

The building was gray and drab, with small windows all over it.

It looks so welcoming that you can't help but walk towards it.

First, park your car at a parking spot near the building and lock it.

The old lady who came back to watch the car paid 6 cents.

One vehicle at a time, temporary storage fee of 3 cents.

The price is the same everywhere in Beijing; Wangfujing is no more expensive than other places.

"Let's go in and take a look."

The entrance was teeming with people, coming and going.

The men were all dressed similarly, mostly in work clothes.

These days, wearing work clothes is considered a designer brand.

The only thing that looks better than work clothes is the Zhongshan suit.

The women each had their own unique style; some wore work clothes, some wore plaid shirts, and others wore floral maxi dresses or cheongsams.

These are quite remarkable; they attract attention wherever they go.

The little flowers on that long dress are so vibrant!

Once inside the department store, my eyes were dazzled.

Furniture, mirrors, clothes, watches, scarves, silk pajamas, cheongsams, appliances...

Everything you can think of and everything you can't think of, you can find here.

Yingzi linked arms with him, looking around happily.

When I reached the general merchandise store, I stopped walking.

"Jianguo, shall we buy a steamer for the house?"

The brand-new, gleaming silver steamer pleased Li Ying.

Yang Jianguo is busy with work and always comes home late.

Yingzi wished she had a steamer like that, so she could put it on the stove.

Keep the rice warm in the pot so it'll be hot when he gets back!

Another advantage is that you don't have to keep the stove burning all the time.

The stove and hearth in that room are both burning fuel; it's such a waste.

"Okay, I'll buy one."

Yang Jianguo still had the tickets for these pots, pans, and utensils.

It wasn't signed in, nor is it his own.

It was left over from my family.

Every year, daily necessities and household goods.

Both urban residents and employees are subject to quotas.

The issued tickets can be used for purchases and exchanges.

Some were replaced at home, while others were kept.

Some of them were taken to markets or black markets to resell for a little money.

What Yang Jianguo held in his hand was money he had saved up at home.

It was originally intended for his wedding, but now it's actually in use.

Seeing that he had a ticket, Yingzi walked towards the counter.

"Comrade, let me take a look at that."

Pushing through the crowd, Yingzi pointed to the steamer she had her eye on at the counter.

The sales clerk, with a stern face, placed the items on the counter.

Lift the pot lid, remove the steamer basket, take out the bottom rack, and then turn the inner wall outwards to let you see it.

Put the steamer rack back, place the steamer basket on top, close the lid, and you're done!

This is what you call a viewing process; you can't do anything yourself.

Judging by appearance, the inner diameter is about 25 or 26 centimeters.

Two layers, with a steamer basket, enough for four or five people.

After getting married, the two of them have to consider the future when buying things.

If it can be used even after having children, then it's not a waste.

Li Ying glanced at Yang Jianguo, and only asked after he nodded, "Comrade, how much is this pot?"

"Ten yuan and four mao, aluminum, 25cm, do you have a receipt?"

Taking the ticket from Yang Jianguo, Li Ying handed it to him and said, "I have a ticket, I have a ticket. I'd like to take another look."

Having obtained the ticket, I still want to buy it.

Now that you've taken a good look at it, there shouldn't be any problems.

However, we still need to be careful.

It fell or bumped.

Whether you've thought it through or not, you're the one!

"Jianguo, what do you think?"

I took the pot apart and touched the inner wall; it felt so smooth and nice.

Li Ying liked it, but Yang Jianguo was naturally uninterested: "We'll take this one."

Ten dollars and four cents, plus a ticket.

This pot belongs to their family; it's not wrapped in anything, just tied with a rope and carried around.

Yang Jianguo carried the pot, and Li Ying linked arms with him as they continued strolling forward.

Upon reaching the front, Yang Jianguo spotted a handmade cheongsam shop.

The door is open in the center, behind which is a screen, and on both sides are large glass display cases.

There were two cheongsams hanging on each side inside, one in different colors and one in different styles.

Seeing Yingzi pausing to admire the cheongsams in the display case, her eyes full of affection, Yang Jianguo pulled her inside.

"Jianguo, Jianguo..." Just as he was about to enter the door, Yingzi stopped him.

He shook his head and said, "We're not buying this, it's too expensive."

"Besides, I have nowhere else to wear it."

"If you want to buy me one, let's go up ahead and take a look. I think those cotton-padded coats are pretty good."

Yang Jianguo stood rooted to the spot, turned around and looked at her with a smile: "Okay, stop pulling me, let's go in and take a look, okay?"

"No, no." Yingzi knows him too well!

Once you go in, you'll definitely have to carry something with you when you come out; that won't do.

Handmade cheongsams are too expensive; they're not something the average person can afford.

A cheongsam costs at least twenty or thirty yuan.

How much does this pot, which is used for the whole family's meals, cost?

She might not have been willing to use this pot if it weren't for wanting to warm up Yang Jianguo's food.

An ordinary iron pot, even a decent one, costs only three to five yuan.

Ten dollars and four cents, for two or three servings.

Moreover, you need a ticket for that.

Where would we get silk or cotton coupons?

Yingzi's reminder really startled Yang Jianguo.

He had forgotten about this; he didn't actually have any silk or cotton coupons.

After glancing around the warehouse, he came to his senses and asked, "Would silk be suitable?"

Now it was Yingzi's turn to be dumbfounded.

Is silk okay? Absolutely.

The price is really reasonable; it wouldn't be much to ask for a hundred or so dollars!

Seeing her standing there in a daze, Yang Jianguo broke free and quickly went into the cheongsam shop.

By the time Yingzi tried to call out again, the person had already gone behind the screen.

He stomped his foot, both pleased and annoyed, and followed her inside, swinging his arms.

After going around the screen, the noise outside, which was like a bustling market, subsided.

A tailor in a long gown greets customers and introduces the shop.

This service is miles ahead of anything else.

The place isn't big, only seven or eight square meters.

The curved wall cabinets, divided into sections, are filled with various fabrics: "We have the most complete selection of fabrics here, just take a look..."

Two chairs were placed in the middle of the semicircle, with footrests underneath.

Turning around again, I discovered that the back of the screen was a large mirror.

The person inside is reflected clearly, without any discrepancy.

Yingzi felt a little embarrassed after hearing what the master said, and hurried over to Yang Jianguo.

She tugged at his sleeve. "Let's go quickly, I really don't want to."

"No, that won't do. Look how beautiful this silk fabric is."