Siheyuan: A master brewer starts with a jar of bone-strengthening wine!

But now?

Even exchanging eggs with a neighbor in private is considered an "underground transaction," let alone strolling around the alleys telling stories.

Public-private partnership? Even factory directors avoid him—partnership? What kind of partnership would you have with a storyteller? A partnership based on storybooks?

And the result? Pian'erye was completely "laid off".

They usually rely on the neighborhood committee for a little bit of coarse grains, and occasionally they help others carry sacks or move honeycomb briquettes, earning a few cents here and there. But that little money isn't even enough to make a decent meal of dumplings.

This meal tonight was paid for by Boss Niu!

"Liu Dong..." Pian'er suddenly reached out and poked his chest, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, "Among us brothers, you're the one with the biggest pockets! You...you could...give me a hand?"

"Cough, cough, cough!" Old Niu coughed three times and slammed his hand on the table. "Old Pian, stop! Don't say that!"

He turned to Liu Dong and winked, "Look at him, he can't even speak properly! You have a family to support, we know how tough things are. He's had too much to drink today, let's not argue with him—come on, I'll help you home!"

"Liu Dong, don't take it to heart!" Uncle Niu shouted back as he helped the man out. "He's just talking nonsense because he's drunk, don't take it seriously! Come on, give him a hand, let's take him home!"

When Uncle Niu spoke, his eyes were practically shooting sparks as he kept glancing at Liu Dong's face.

Liu Dong understood immediately: "Okay! I'll do it! Third Uncle, take care!"

He took the old man from the tavern and half-helped him out.

After turning three or four corners, we entered a quiet alley.

"Stop!" Uncle Niu patted Liu Dong on the shoulder. "Liu Dong, let's have a heart-to-heart talk today, the three of us brothers."

"Go ahead, I'm listening." Liu Dong immediately stood up straight.

Old Niu lowered his voice: "The problem lies with Uncle Pian. You've seen it yourself, his finances are getting tighter every day, and he's about to starve. The old couple have no children, all alone in their empty house, it's heartbreaking. I've been thinking about it, and among my acquaintances, you're the only one who's financially well-off—would you be willing to lend a hand?"

"I won't let you run errands for nothing!" Uncle Niu continued, "They have a few old pieces of furniture—rosewood, sandalwood, and huanghuali—all quite old. Last year, just one of those sets would have been enough to live on for half a year. But this year—you know, buying and selling antiques? If they find out, they'll be labeled as speculators on the spot! Who dares to touch them?"

Liu Dong scratched his head: "Brother Niu, do you mean... I should take the furniture away?"

"That's it!" Old Niu slapped his thigh. "That's exactly what I meant!"

Liu Dong frowned: "Then wouldn't I become a 'speculator' too?"

"Not even close!" Uncle Niu waved his hand with a laugh. "We're all neighbors, do you think I don't know your character? You're tight-lipped, steady, and reliable! As for Uncle Pian, he values ​​his reputation more than life itself—even in his current state of destitution, he's never asked anyone for a favor. His ancestors were quite famous in old Beijing, very particular!"

"I'll act as the middleman, guaranteeing the authenticity and quality! If anyone ever says it's fake—I, Uncle Niu, will take responsibility! I'm not bragging, I'm not an emperor, but once I say something, it's like a nail in wood—it can't be pulled out!"

Liu Dong nodded: "I trust you two."

They are definitely trustworthy.

Uncle Niu is an honest man; Uncle Pian is even more so, he would rather starve than bow his head. With no descendants in the family, there's no one to inherit the old things, so it's better to replace them with something more practical as soon as possible, at least to give them a breather.

"Alright! I'll go with you and take a look at the things." Liu Dong readily agreed.

"Let's go!"

Master Niu let out a long sigh of relief, then led the two through a maze of narrow alleys, finally stopping in front of a large black gate.

squeak-

As soon as the door opened, Liu Dong stopped in his tracks, stunned.

Grandpa Pian's house...it's too intimidating.

Upon entering, one first sees a blue brick screen wall carved with cloud patterns and bats; behind the screen wall is a square courtyard; entering through a side door next to the screen wall leads to the outer courtyard—a row of rear-facing houses on the south side, with a large vermilion gate in the center of the north wall.

Only after crossing the threshold can one enter the main courtyard.

Wow, that's really spacious!

There are three side rooms on the east and west sides, a three-bay main hall to the north, and an additional side room on each side.

Two old locust trees in the yard spread out their green shade, and two patches of green grass stood neatly in place.

This courtyard alone is at least 1,500 square meters!

Looking further to the left wing of the main room—there's a hidden moon gate!

Pushing open the door, there is another backyard: toilet, storage shed, well... the older generation called it the "back courtyard".

"Master Pian'er..." Liu Dong gasped, his voice trembling, "Your house... it's practically a 'princely mansion in a hutong'!"

Honestly, compared to the grandpa's house in this area, the backyard of his courtyard house is like a student's homework book compared to a finely bound picture book—it's incomparable.

Even the backyard where Liu Aiguo lived was a size smaller than this.

That's amazing...

After following Master Pian'er on his tour, Liu Dong stood under the screen wall, staring at his meager household accounts, and suddenly felt... rather endearingly poor. "Master Pian'er, your house is truly magnificent! In all of Beijing, your courtyard ranks among the top three!"

Liu Dong's words were not just polite; they came from the bottom of his heart.

An ordinary family's courtyard house is only about the size of a palm, but Pian'erye's courtyard alone is brighter and more spacious than the entire courtyard of other people's houses.

Upon hearing this, Pian'er immediately straightened his neck, his chin almost reaching the sky: "Oh my, you don't know, do you? My great-grandfather was a veteran of the Forbidden City—a bodyguard with a sword! He guarded the palace gates with real swords and spears!"

"This isn't the only place our family has inherited; there's another courtyard hidden in the alley behind us. If you count them together, it's two courtyards!"

"It's the one at the back that's a little smaller."

Grandpa Niu nodded in agreement, "Yes, that's a small courtyard in the back, with a main house, side rooms, and wing rooms—seven or eight rooms in total, more than enough for two families!"

"Wow, that's awesome!"

Liu Dong gave a thumbs up.

As they were talking, a woman in her early fifties peeked out from the doorway of the main room, carrying an enamel mug in her hand.

Uncle Pian quickly introduced, "Look, this is your aunt!"

"Hello, ma'am!" Liu Dong greeted her immediately.

"Sigh..." Old Man Pian's face fell, and he sighed, "If only you had given me a child earlier, the kids would be working now, and I wouldn't have to worry about retirement. Sigh... I don't even have anyone to serve me tea and water!"

The woman didn't reply, but simply shook her head and turned back into the house.

"Alright, alright, you two, stop bringing up the past!" Old Niu quickly smoothed things over. "Let's go look at the furniture first!"

Old Man Pian rubbed his hands together: "The east and west wing rooms have been empty for a long time—we sold several of them when we were short of money a few years ago!"

"Right now, only the main room remains intact, and it will remain exactly as it was!"

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

As soon as they entered the main room, the space suddenly opened up before them—

The room was tall and bright, with a large square table in the middle and a long table against the wall behind it, piled with bottles and jars, bronze mirrors, old clocks, enamel basins... all common household items, none of which were valuable.