Siheyuan: I am Banggeng's uncle

Chapter 884 The Son-in-Law Arrives!

Around 8 a.m. on Sunday, after everyone had finished breakfast, Qin Huairu took out a gift she had prepared in advance from the cabinet in the main room and said to Banggeng, who had changed his clothes, "Banggeng! This is a gift that your uncle prepared especially for you. Here is a pound of jasmine tea, two bottles of Moutai liquor, a carton of Peony cigarettes, a box of chocolates, a pound of milk peanut candy, and pastries from Daoxiangcun."

Lin Qiuyue, who was standing to the side, saw Qin Huairu packing the prepared gifts into a cloth bag one by one, and smiled as she instructed Banggeng: "Banggeng! When you get to Tang Yanling's house and meet Tang Yanling's parents, remember to be sweet-talking. Also, if Tang Yanling's parents invite you to lunch, try to drink as little alcohol as possible."

Upon hearing Lin Qiuyue's instructions, Banggeng immediately nodded obediently and said happily to Lin Qiuyue, "Auntie! I've remembered everything."

Bang Geng took the gift Qin Huairu had prepared for him and quickly walked out of the main room. He saw Master Lei and others building a house in the yard. He carefully tied the cloth bag in his hand to the back seat of his bicycle before pushing the bicycle towards the gate of the yard.

Around 9:30 a.m., Banggeng rode his bicycle and quickly arrived at the entrance of the alley where Tang Yanling lived, where he saw Tang Yanling already waiting.

When Tang Yanling saw Bang Geng dressed in military uniform, she immediately went up to him happily and greeted him, "Jia Geng! You're here."

When Banggeng saw Tang Yanling wearing a dress and radiating youthful energy, he quickly jumped off his bicycle and asked her with a smile, "Yanling! Have you been waiting long?"

Upon hearing Banggeng's words and seeing the bulging cloth bag on the back of the bicycle, Tang Yanling asked Banggeng with a happy expression, "Jiageng! When I called you yesterday, did I tell you not to bring too much stuff? Why did you bring so much stuff again?"

When Banggeng heard Tang Yanling's question, he thought of the gifts that Jia Dongming and Qin Huairu had prepared for him, and said to Tang Yanling with a smile, "Yanling! These things were prepared for me by my uncle and my mother. In my uncle's words, it is absolutely impolite to be a guest in your home for the first time."

Tang Yanling had known Banggeng for so long, and she had heard Banggeng mention his uncle more than once. Upon hearing Banggeng's words, Tang Yanling immediately smiled and said to him, "Jiageng! Your uncle is so good to you."

When Banggeng heard Tang Yanling mention Jia Dongming, he thought of the life his family had lived over the years and introduced him to Tang Yanling with gratitude: "Yanling! Our family is able to live a good life thanks to my uncle."

Banggeng paused slightly after saying this, and then continued, "Yanling! You don't know this, but after my father died in a work injury, my mother took over the job at the steel rolling mill. She only earned 27.5 yuan a month to support our family of five. At that time, our family was not doing well and we often needed help from other neighbors in the courtyard."

When Tang Yanling heard Banggeng mention the Jia family's past, a look of confusion immediately appeared on her face. She asked Banggeng curiously, "Jiageng! Wasn't your uncle the head of security at the steel mill? With your uncle around, how could your family have had such a hard time back then?"

When Banggeng heard Tang Yanling's question, he smiled and introduced to Tang Yanling: "Yanling! Actually, when my uncle was very young, he went out to buy grain with my grandfather. As a result, they encountered defeated soldiers. At that time, my grandfather was so scared that he hugged the grain and hid from the defeated soldiers, and he got separated from my uncle."

"My uncle tripped and fell while hiding from fleeing soldiers, hitting his head on a rock and losing his memory. He was taken in by a theatrical troupe and left Beijing with them before finally joining our ranks. We fought the Japanese first, then the Americans. When he was demobilized and returned, the steel mill, lacking apartment buildings, gave him the back courtyard of my house. It was around that time that my uncle reunited with my grandmother." Bang Geng paused slightly before continuing, "Yanling! Since my uncle came back, he's been in charge of our household. We've lived a good life, eating meat two or three times a week. My uncle arranged for me to learn to drive at the Hongxing Steel Mill. Just a couple of days ago, he was saying that after we get married, he'll transfer me to the city's Public Security Bureau to drive."

In that era, people generally believed in their subconscious that workers were the greatest class. So when Tang Yanling heard that Jia Dongming was going to transfer Bang Geng from the steel rolling mill to the police station to drive, she showed a shocked expression and quickly asked Bang Geng, "Jia Geng! You're doing fine at the steel rolling mill, why would your uncle suddenly think of transferring you to the police station to drive?"

When Banggeng heard Tang Yanling's question, he instinctively shook his head and replied, "Yanling! I don't know why my uncle suddenly made this arrangement. Back then, I wasn't even sixteen years old when my uncle sent me to the steel mill to learn to drive from my cousin. Not long after, the rural policy was introduced. So I believe that my uncle must have his reasons for making this arrangement."

When Tang Yanling heard Bang Geng's explanation and learned why he had gone to the steel mill to learn how to drive, she showed a surprised expression. At this moment, she no longer worried about Jia Dongming's plan to transfer Bang Geng to the police station to drive, and said to Bang Geng, "Jia Geng! My parents, brother and sister-in-law are all waiting for you at home, let's hurry up and go!"

Upon hearing Tang Yanling's words, Banggeng immediately pushed his bicycle and walked side by side with Tang Yanling into the alley.

"Yanling! Is this your boyfriend? He's such a handsome young man." The two walked into the alley side by side. The aunties and young wives in the alley who knew Tang Yanling greeted her warmly when they saw the young man beside her.

When Banggeng saw some older women and young wives greeting Tang Yanling, he immediately took out the hard candy he had bought on the way and distributed it to these enthusiastic neighbors.

"Sister! Is this my future brother-in-law?" Soon the two arrived at the gate of a large courtyard. A boy of about thirteen years old saw Bang Geng's arrival and immediately stepped forward to greet him, asking Tang Yanling with a curious look.

When Tang Yanling heard her younger brother mention the term "brother-in-law," a blush quickly rose to her delicate cheeks. She scolded him irritably, "Guoqiang! What are you calling him for no reason?"

When Banggeng heard Tang Guoqiang call her "sister," she was overjoyed. While taking out the gift she had prepared for Tang Guoqiang from her bag, she smiled and said to Tang Guoqiang, "Guoqiang, right? I've heard your sister mention you more than once. She also told me that you especially like soldiers. This is my favorite Mauser pistol model. I hope you will cherish it."

Upon hearing Banggeng's words and seeing the Mauser pistol model that Banggeng took out of the bag, Tang Guoqiang's eyes lit up. He quickly reached out and took the pistol from Banggeng, admiring it and happily thanking Banggeng, "Thank you, brother-in-law!"

As soon as Tang Guoqiang finished speaking, he grabbed his pistol, turned around, and ran into the yard, shouting in the direction of his house as he ran, "Dad! Mom! My brother-in-law is here."

(End of this chapter)