Chapter 1 New customers arrive
Nanluoguxiang in March 2019
The front yard of No. 95 Courtyard
In No. 95 Courtyard, a new family moved in , a couple with two children, the older one is a bit shy, and the younger one is quite tough. The couple was holding a child each.
Two porters followed behind, but the two porters parked the cart carrying luggage at the door and did not come in. They handed each other cigarettes and squatted at the door to smoke.
The couple, both carrying their baggage, walked into the door and looked directly to the left. The house assigned to them by military control was in the west wing of the front yard, one wing and one ear. The gay man put his baggage on the ground and pushed up his glasses. Go to the door, take out the key and open the door. His wife followed closely behind, and the two of them walked into the house.
The two children were not afraid of strangers, looking east and west.
The gay man quickly called to the older one, "Xie Cheng, your mother is pregnant with the baby and can't do heavy work. Please help your father move things."
Just like this, an adult and two children began to move things home. There were a lot of things and they were very complicated. As big as boxes, tables, chairs. As small as a spittoon or a cord box. The two porters nearby didn't move or help, they just watched.
At this time, a man walked out from the concierge on the right side of the gate. He was wearing a military uniform and was in his fifties. He looked at a boy of about three or four years old, dragging a chair into the courtyard. Later, his dad yelled, "Be careful, don't break it." He couldn't stand it anymore, so he went up to help and turned back to stare at the porter.
The porter saw the man in military uniform staring at him and understood that he had to explain. He quickly got up and ran over, handing him a cigarette as soon as possible.
"Comrade, don't get me wrong, it's not that we don't help him, it's just that he went too far."
The gay man who was moving was not happy when he heard this, "Why have I gone too far and not allowed to bargain?"
"It's not too much. I found our two brothers so early in the morning. Our brother It’s not easy for you two to look at you. It costs you 50,000 yuan to support a family. You don’t need to do anything. How are you doing?” He suddenly asked me, saying that he had a lot of things in the morning and left the car at the door. He loaded the car himself and asked us how much it would cost. I didn’t add up. For the sake of his pregnant wife, we gave him a discount of 20,000 for loading the car himself. He pulled me to the door. We were almost at the door. He told me that loading the truck cost 20,000 yuan, and unloading the truck cost 20,000 yuan. I casually said yes, and he suddenly said he would unload the truck. In total, we were busy inside and outside. Earn 10,000 yuan a day.”
When the comrades in military uniform heard this, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hello, comrade, I am your neighbor. Just call me Lao Li. I live in the concierge. Come, let me help you." As he said this, Lao Li also started to help the comrade lift the thing.
"Hello, my name is Yan Bugui, and I live in the west wing. These are my two boys. The eldest is nine years old, named Yan Jiecheng, and the younger is three years old, named Yan Jiefang. Thank you."
Old Li also tried to help the porter, "You There are too many, let the porter help, hurry up, you can also add some, are you all revolutionary comrades?"
Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses, "That can't be done, how can it be done at the agreed price? Regret it, besides, it was him who said the price.”
Both Old Li and the porter could see clearly that this was a man who would give up his life rather than his wealth. The two porters looked at each other and both stepped forward to help.
"Well, we are unlucky to meet you. We have been working hard all day long from West City to East City. I will help you till the end. We are both in a hurry to get a car."
Four adults and two children were able to move in a short time. The porter finally left with 10,000 yuan. When Lao Li saw this scene, he shook his head.
There are not many residents in the yard now. As soon as you enter the gate, there is Uncle Li in the concierge on the right side. Uncle Li was over fifty years old. He came off the battlefield and was seriously injured and had to retire from the army. The organization took care of him and arranged for him to be guarded by the Nanluoguxiang Military Committee. The Military Committee also assigned him a house and settled in him. Having just been liberated, putting Uncle Li in Nanluogu Alley was also meant to scare Xiao Xiaoxiao.
After a while, Yan Bugui came to thank me again for coming, and also to check out the situation in the yard. Lao Li didn't say anything to him, he just said that he hadn't been here for a few days, but he knew that there was a family named Yi in the Zhongyuan who was an old resident and he was very friendly. You could ask him.
Lao Li also knew that Yan Bugui was transferred to Hongxing Primary School as a teacher, so he settled here. His wife was still alive for more than nine months, and there was nothing he could do. The house in Xicheng was taken back without compensation. Anyway, the implicit meaning was that his family was very poor.
Lao Li came from the battlefield and did not understand the twists and turns of the people in Lao Sijiu City. But as for the porter incident, Lao Li didn't want to see Yan Bugui. After a while, we couldn't continue the conversation, and Yan Bugui left angrily.
In the evening, people from work and school came back one after another. Yan Bugui stood at the door, greeting everyone who came in enthusiastically, and took the trouble to introduce himself. Not to mention, the effect was amazing. Seeing that his family had just arrived, Yi Zhonghai from the Intermediate Court warmly invited the family to dinner.
Yan Bugui was not polite at all and turned around to greet his family. After a while, the whole family rushed straight to the middle courtyard.
The West Wing of the Central Courtyard of the Siheyuan (I am the dividing line. I sometimes appear and sometimes disappear)
Yi Zhonghai is also a generous person. He prepared four dishes and one soup, "Chicken stewed with mushrooms, cabbage and tofu, potato slices fried with meat, Tomato, egg, pickled mustard and shredded pork soup," a large bowl of Erhe noodle steamed buns. He also called his apprentice Jia Dongxu across the street to take two pounds of Sanbai.
Welcome everyone to sit down, Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai’s wife Li Cuilan, Jia Dongxu, the deaf old lady, Yan Bugui, Yan Bugui’s wife Yang Ruihua, Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang.
Yi Zhonghai first introduced the deaf old lady in the backyard. She is 61 this year. The earliest resident of the compound is highly respected. Then directly announce that dinner is ready.
Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang have not seen meat a few times since they were born, but seeing that their parents were there, they did not dare to touch it. In the end, it was Yi Zhonghai's wife who picked up the food for the two children, who lowered their heads and ate fiercely.
Yan Bugui was a little embarrassed and quickly toasted to Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu, and the banquet became lively.
After dinner, Yang Ruihua wanted to clean up, but Li Cuilan didn't let him. It’s been over nine months, so it’s better to be careful.
Yan Bugui's family of four left happily. Yi Zhonghai helped the deaf old lady to the backyard. Looking at Yi Zhonghai's questioning eyes, he chuckled, "He is a man who knows the rules, but he is a little bit. Stingy." After hearing this, Yi Zhonghai understood that he was a talkative person and went home without saying anything.
The west wing of the front yard of the courtyard
Yan Bugui was a little greedy and fell on the bed when he got home. Yang Ruihua ignored him and asked the two brothers to go to the side room to pack their bedding.
There was only one bed in the wing room. The two brothers took off their shoes and went to bed. Yang Ruihua turned around and tripped on a small horse tie. He fell to the ground. Yang Ruihua realized that it was broken and he was about to give birth. She shouted to the two stunned brothers, "Go and call your dad."
Yan Jiecheng jumped out of bed with bare feet and ran out. Yan Jiefang also wanted to get out of bed, but Yang Ruihua refused to let him. He stayed there and didn't cause any trouble.
After a while, Yan Jiecheng ran back, "What did I do to my dad? My dad didn't even wake up." Yang Ruihua said in his heart that Yan Bugui was drunk at this critical moment.
"Go to the courtyard to see who is there and tell me I'm about to give birth. Go quickly." Yan Jiecheng ran out with a bang. After a while, Lao Li came, borrowed a cart, and took Yan Jiecheng with him. The two of them worked together to send Yang Ruihua to the hospital.
Yan Jiecheng did not run to the backyard at all, but went directly to find Uncle Li, because Uncle Li was wearing a military uniform. After Lao Li handed Yang Ruihua over to the doctor, he paid for the treatment in advance. The advance payment was only 50,000 yuan, and he would refund more or less in compensation when the bed was withdrawn.
Lao Li asked Yan Jiecheng to accompany Yang Ruihua. He returned to the courtyard alone and walked into the west wing. He had to wake Yan Bugui no matter what. His wife was giving birth. Who would be responsible if anything happened. Lao Li tried all kinds of methods. Finally, he got a basin of cold water and pressed his face directly into it.
Yan Bugui woke up, but was still confused and looked at Lao Li angrily. Lao Li said directly, "Your wife fell and was taken to the hospital." All of a sudden, Yan Bugui woke up. Get up quickly and walk out.
Lao Li grabbed him and said, "Your wife is in Dongcheng Hospital 202. You prepare your things before going there. It's okay now. Hurry up." Yan Bugui finally woke up and quickly packed his things and towels. After packing up the thermos, teapot, and his wife's change of clothes, he ran straight to Dongcheng Hospital.
Old Li shook his head and was about to go back to the house. No, the youngest in his family was there. Old Li came to the small wing and saw Yan Jiefang crying on the bed. When he saw Uncle Li coming, he jumped on Li In the uncle's arms, he cried louder. Quickly lower your head to coax the child and tell him that his mother is fine and that you are going to have a little brother or sister.
After a while, Yan Jiefang fell asleep. Lao Li covered him with quilt, closed the door, and then returned home.
A different courtyard house, a chronicle of a family's short life.
Yan Jiekuang’s life path is unique. He walks in the city, in the countryside, and on the road of the times. There are various distinct characters in the courtyard throughout, some are right and some are wrong, some are bitter and some are sweet. Life has changed them, various things have changed them, and the Yan family has changed the most. Struggling on a path to escape the quad, they eventually return to their old ways.
(End of this chapter)