An extraordinary life journey through old Beijing courtyard houses

Yang Lao Er's thin wife asked with boundless anticipation, "Dad, will our family really be able to eat our fill every day from now on?"

Yang Lao Er's face hardened: "Don't talk nonsense. The boss was just saying that, did you really take it seriously?"

Yang Lao Er's wife paused, her expression froze: "Then..."

"Same old rule as always, one meal dry and one meal soupy."

Yang Lao Er's wife's face darkened, while the children all looked dejected.

There's so much food, we can't even finish it all, why are we still following the old rules?

However, what Yang Lao Er said next made everyone happy again.

"Those who eat dry food will each receive an extra half-cornbread, while those who eat soupy food will receive an extra two handfuls of flour."

"Yes, yes," Yang Lao Er's wife quickly responded.

Then, addressing the vegetables Jiang Baobin had brought, he said, "Dad, there's quite a lot of vegetables. We can't finish them all at once, so let's leave them to dry?"

"Yes, hang it up. I'll go exchange all the money for things right now. I can't keep saving it anymore."

"The landlord said that tomorrow, like legal tender, it will all become worthless paper."

He was about to get up when he said that.

"Dad!" But the eldest son called out to him.

The little guy mustered up his courage and said, "Dad, I... I want to eat dumplings."

Yang Lao Er immediately became unhappy and was about to scold his son, saying, "You won't go broke from eating or dressing up..."

Oops, I stole someone else's lines.

Yang Lao Er was about to say that his eldest son was being unreasonable, that he had just been able to stop going hungry, how dare he expect to eat dumplings?

But upon hearing the word "dumplings," the other three pairs of little eyes immediately turned to look at him, the father.

The children haven't had dumplings in a very, very long time.

Faced with those expectant little faces, Yang Lao Er couldn't bring himself to say the words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

After a long internal struggle, he finally hardened his heart and said, "My child's mother."

"Take a look at which vegetables are difficult to dry, wrap them up, and add some of that oil the landlord mentioned."

"Oh, oh, let's make dumplings, let's make dumplings..."

Before Yang Lao Er's wife could even agree, the children were already shouting with joy.

The youngest child, in particular, didn't even know what dumplings were, yet he jumped and danced along with everyone else.

So much so that when Yang Lao Er opened the warehouse, he went in carrying a bag of flour, and soon came out carrying a bag of cornmeal, he didn't even care about the details...

Next, Jiang Baobin arrived at Xitao Hutong.

As usual, we walked in.

Liu Decai had just returned and was resting and drinking tea at the entrance.

Jiang Baobin put down the flour, found a small stool, and sat down next to the small table.

Liu Decai glanced at the flour sack, then at him, and got up to go inside.

A moment later, he came out with a cup and a wad of banknotes and pushed them in front of Jiang Baobin.

The guy grinned and said, "You're too kind. I'm just thanking you for helping me find a great item a couple of days ago."

Liu Decai revealed a smug smile: "You're a good kid who knows his stuff."

"However, one thing at a time, I didn't take a penny less than what I was owed."

"That's what you deserve. I didn't mean anything by it. I just want you to think of me first if you ever have such good stuff again."

"Compared to Tang Yin's 'Listening to the Waterfall in Spring Mountains,' what is a bag of flour?"

Liu Decai pointed at him with his finger, smiling without saying a word.

Taking a sip of tea, Jiang Baobin asked seemingly casually, "Is your daughter not home?"

Liu Decai sighed softly: "I'm heading out to Wutai Mountain."

Jiang Baobin felt a pang of sympathy—with such a troublesome daughter, Old Liu would have to work hard to earn money.

Making conversation, he said, "It's alright, not too far."

But Liu Decai rolled his eyes at him – Who told you to be a good-for-nothing?

How many opportunities did I create for you? But you're such a disappointment, you can't even handle a woman!

If Jiang Baobin understood this, he would definitely cry foul: Is your daughter an ordinary person? She's an ice queen!

They were ruthless; they beat me to a pulp with just a few punches and kicks. How could I dare to make any rash moves?

But don't worry, I'm already putting in a lot of effort!

Sooner or later, I'll make her beg for mercy and call me "Daddy."

Liu Ling'er is an unsolvable problem for both of them.

So the conversation quickly turned to something that both of them were interested in.

The two chatted for a while about antiques.

Then Liu Decai said, "Men, judging from this situation..."

"I'm afraid things will get worse as the year draws to a close."

"Of course, I advise you to prepare a couple of backup plans."

"For example, we always need to have enough food at home for two or three months at a time."

"Also, prepare more autumn vegetables, and dry some dried vegetables as well."

"I don't have to worry about vegetables; I have relatives in the countryside who will send them to me."

"Just listen to me, it's better to be prepared."

"Alright."

"Oh, and also charcoal and firewood, please prepare those as well."

Liu Decai pondered for a moment, nodded, and then said, "You didn't understand what I meant."

"Oh, then please go ahead."

According to the experience of the older generation, whenever there are difficult times, good things are sure to come out.

"And the greater the hardship, the better the goods."

Jiang Baobin's eyes lit up: "Do you have a target?"

Liu Decai glanced at him sideways: "There are plenty of targets. In our line of work, it's all about luck..."

Then she went on and on, giving Jiang Baobin a lecture, which concluded in one sentence—

A great product is about to be released, so get your money ready.

I can confidently say that I have plenty of money!

Liu Decai then asked him where he had been recently, whether it was Liulichang or the Ghost Market.

Jiang Baobin then lied and said he hadn't gone anywhere and was just diligently practicing his skills at home.

We can't keep losing to Ling'er. If she always looks down on us, how will we ever have a chance?

Liu Decai loved hearing this and encouraged him to practice hard and try to turn things around as soon as possible.

As for the old items, leave it to him. He knows this place in Beijing like the back of his hand, and he'll make sure the best ones are kept for him...

"Daddy, Daddy... Dear Daddy..."

Clutching the 80 gold yuan notes that Liu Decai had forced upon him, Jiang Baobin left the house grumbling.

Thinking about it, I realized it had been a while since I'd visited the deaf old lady.

They are our saviors; we can't just use them and then discard them, can we?

On the way, I bought a braised pork knuckle that was mushy and overcooked, and then I arrived at the entrance of the alleyway of No. 95 Courtyard.

The old lady who guarded the gate had disappeared, and no one answered Jiang Baobin's calls even after he called out several times.

Never mind, he simply stepped inside...

When Jiang Baobin saw the person, he sensed something was wrong—

Why is this old lady looking at me with such gleam in her eyes, like she's seen Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf?

Then it dawned on me that the old lady had smelled the fragrance; her nose is really sharp!

"Then don't hesitate," Jiang Baobin said, quickly offering the two-pound pork knuckle with both hands.

After all, she came from a well-to-do family, so the old lady should express her gratitude and exchange pleasantries.

Jiang Baobin, however, felt uneasy. After exchanging a few words, he got up to say goodbye, not wanting to keep others from enjoying their meal.

The deaf old lady didn't linger and happily saw him off.

However, just as I reached the alley, I heard a loud "howl" from the front yard, a sound that no good person would make.

Then came a period of chaos and confusion...