Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

Without Xiaodang, the scapegoat, the burden of supporting Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi would fall on Banggeng and Kuihua.

Half a year ago, a family of five, including Yi Zhonghai, only needed more than 30 yuan a month for living expenses.

Half a year later, the family's monthly living expenses skyrocketed to fifty yuan.

Yi Zhonghai will pay 15 yuan, and the remaining 35 yuan can only be shared by Banggeng and Kuihua.

She felt guilty because she had to pay Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu ten yuan every month and share the living expenses of fifteen yuan each month.

The remaining twenty yuan for living expenses will be shared by Banggeng.

This means that after working hard for a month, Banggeng can only get a dozen yuan in the end.

Under such circumstances, the chances of success in finding a wife are almost zero.

This was indeed the fact. Qin Huairu was busy all day long looking for a wife for Banggeng to continue the Jia family's bloodline. He had traveled all over the villages around the old city, but still hadn't found a daughter-in-law that everyone was satisfied with.

This forces Banggeng to find a job with higher salary.

But Banggeng has no skills, and he is also lazy and likes to cheat. It is almost impossible for him to find a job with high salary and light workload.

Faced with these problems, Qin Huairu hasn't smiled for several days.

Whenever I have time, I go out and ask about jobs, hoping I can help Bang Geng.

"Xu Damao..."

A scream suddenly sounded in the front yard of the courtyard, instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

Ever since Xu Damao was fired from the steel mill, he has disappeared from the courtyard.

The Xu family's house in the backyard was also locked up by Xu Damao's father.

Except for the Chinese New Year, when Xu Damao's parents would come to clean the yard and put up a pair of couplets, there was almost no movement in the Xu family at other times.

At that time, everyone thought that something had happened to Xu Damao outside and he would never be able to return to the Siheyuan again.

Today, Xu Damao suddenly appeared in the front yard, and it was impossible not to attract everyone's attention.

He was wearing an expensive tweed coat, had his hair parted in the middle, was pushing a brand new bicycle, had a smile on his face, and looked like a successful man.

"Uncle Yan... so many years have passed, why are you still tending to your flowers and plants at the gate of the yard? I didn't bring anything home today, so don't think of hitting on me..."

Yan Fugui immediately showed a trace of embarrassment on his face, and replied awkwardly: "Da Mao..."

"That's your fault. Uncle Yan is a teacher after all. How could he possibly have any intentions towards you? I just have nothing to do and want to plant some flowers and plants at the gate of the yard to cultivate my sentiments..."

"Look at your attitude, you must have made a fortune out there..."

"Mr. Yan knew you would have a bright future since you were little. Sure enough, this set of clothes is worth at least fifty yuan. I saw a colleague wearing it at school..."

"As soon as I put it on, I feel much more energetic..."

"If there is any way to make a fortune, you must not forget Uncle Yan..."

Seeing more and more neighbors gathering around, Xu Damao spoke louder than before, as if he was afraid that others couldn't hear him. He proudly replied, "Uncle Yan has good eyesight..."

"I bought this woolen coat in Shanghai. It cost more than 80 yuan, which is more than many people's monthly salary."

"If I hadn't made some money in the past two years, I really couldn't afford it."

"By the way..." "Where are the two brothers Jie Cheng and Jie Fang?"

"Today is a day off, why don't I see them in the yard?"

Yan Fugui was furious when he mentioned his two sons. He looked at Xu Damao and replied angrily: "Don't mention those two unfilial sons to me..."

"At the instigation of my wife, they separated from us. Now even I, as their father, don't know where they live. It's clear that they don't take us parents seriously."

"I get so angry just thinking about them."

A neighbor who didn't get along well with Yan Fugui suddenly said, "Teacher Yan..."

"You can't say that about your two sons..."

"I think Jiecheng and Jiefang are both very filial boys."

"If you hadn't forced them to pay half of their wages and rent to the family, they wouldn't have separated from you."

"Go ask around in the streets and find out which son lives in my house and has to pay rent. You are bringing shame to our parents."

"Besides, Jie Cheng Jiefang didn't abandon you after he separated from you."

"The two brothers will give you twenty yuan a month for your retirement..."

"There aren't many young people in our courtyard who are willing to give their parents so much money for retirement."

"They've done such a good job, and you still say they're unfilial. You're such an unqualified father."

"Everyone is out there defending their sons, but you, as a father, are the only one out there saying that your son is not good in this way or that way..."

"Isn't this ruining your son's reputation?"

"Yes... Mr. Yan... Anyway, I think the brothers Jiecheng and Jiefang are quite filial. Please don't talk nonsense in front of Damao and mislead our Damao..."

Yan Fugui didn't expect that so many people in the courtyard would help the eldest and second brother talk, and even stepped on his face to the ground. His face suddenly turned red.

He originally wanted to get some tips on how to get rich from Xu Damao, but faced with the ridicule and sarcasm from a group of neighbors, he simply dropped the tools in his hands and ran home with his head down, not daring to stay there any longer.

When I walked to the door, I felt that I was a bit too cowardly, so I mustered up the courage to retort to the neighbor behind me: "This is my own family matter, what do you know? Don't talk nonsense here."

"In my eyes, Jiecheng and Jiefang are two unfilial sons..."

Then he turned his gaze to Xu Damao, and the angry expression on his face was replaced by a smile at this moment: "Da Mao..."

"You just came home..."

"There must be something missing at home. I can't cook..."

"Why don't we come to Uncle Yan's house tonight for a meal... and tell me where you've made your fortune in the past few years, and whether you can help me make some money with you."

Xu Damao's main purpose of returning to Siheyuan this time was to make money. Although Yan Fugui was particularly fond of calculating in Siheyuan and was called Yan Laoshen, he must have a lot of savings in his hands.

If I could get it, it would definitely be a considerable income, so I subconsciously agreed.

But when she thought about how he was so stingy that he forced his two sons to separate, and how he often gave her fake wine mixed with water, her head shook like a rattle and she quickly refused.

"Uncle Yan..."

"Forget about tonight. I finally got back to Sijiu City. I must go see my parents..." (End of this chapter)