I, Yan Jiefang, will live to 2025 in this courtyard house.

When Yan Jiefang left school for the mid-term break, he did not return to the courtyard house immediately.

Instead, he went to the 49 City Library to return the overdue books, and then selected a few new books on music theory and traditional Chinese medicine to borrow before setting off on his return journey.

By the end of November, nighttime temperatures in 49 cities had dropped below zero, with biting winds.

All residents of the compound had completed their winter vegetable purchases before November 20th.

Neatly stacked cabbages, green and white radishes, and dried scallions were placed along the walls and under the eaves of each house, and straw mats were uniformly covered in the evening to prevent them from getting cold and freezing.

The Yan family's winter-stored vegetables were all piled up in a simple wooden shed built under the eaves of the south house, which blocked the wind and light and made them easy to access during the winter.

In previous years, Yan Jiefang would get up early to help with stockpiling vegetables.

Before dawn, you have to queue at the state-run vegetable market. The temperature is close to zero in the early morning, and the cold wind blows straight into your collar and cuffs. After standing there for half an hour, your whole body is frozen stiff, and your hands and feet are shivering.

This year, he stayed at school to study and play ball, and was unable to take care of his family at all. Many of the tasks, such as queuing, carrying vegetables, stacking vegetables, and building vegetable sheds, fell on the shoulders of the third son, Yan Jiekuang.

Upon entering and seeing Yan Jiekuang, Yan Jiefang immediately noticed something was amiss.

The boy's ears were red, swollen, and shiny, and his fingers and the backs of his hands were dry, cracked, and red, covered with chilblains. He instinctively pulled his hands away when touched, clearly indicating that he had recently been exposed to the cold.

Yan Jiefang said in a deep voice:

"Your hands and ears are frostbitten. I'll take you to the local health center to get medicine and bandages."

Yan Jiekuang lowered his head, rubbed the back of his hands, and shook his head:

"No need, it'll be fine once spring arrives."

He declined verbally, but a warm feeling welled up inside him.

All the hardship he endured during that time—getting up early in the morning to brave the cold, carrying vegetables and heavy loads—was worth it, and his second brother remembers him.

Yang Ruihua, who was sewing shoe soles nearby, immediately spoke up to stop them:

"Why go to a hospital? That's just a waste of money! These days, who doesn't get chilblains?"

Minor ailments caused by the cold wind can be easily treated by keeping warm by tucking your clothes in your sleeves; there's no need to waste money on medical treatment.

Yan Jiefang didn't bother with her frugality and stinginess at all, and just wanted to drag Yan Jiekuang to the hospital.

No sooner had these words been spoken than the youngest, Yan Jiedi, ran over, tugged at Yan Jiefang's sleeve, and looked up to speak:

"Second brother, did you bring back any steamed buns from the cafeteria? I want to eat meat-filled steamed buns."

Yan Jiekuang immediately pulled the younger sister aside and gently persuaded her:

"Don't be silly, Second Brother. The school meals are rationed, and Second Brother is already struggling to make ends meet at school. How could he possibly have extra buns to bring back?"

Yan Bugui, who was under the eaves, took in the whole scene and his mind immediately started working. The second son must have a lot of savings.

He always loved to take advantage of his children, and seeing this, he slowly stepped forward, his gaze landing on Yan Jiefang:

"Second brother, have you published any new articles lately? You must have made a lot of money, right?"

"Look, our family hasn't had any meat in ages, and you won't get anything good to eat when you come back..."

Yan Jiefang felt disgusted when he heard this, but he had already seen through the schemer's little tricks and didn't bother to argue with it.

He took two yuan out of his pocket and handed it to Yang Ruihua.

"Take this and find a way to buy a chicken for Jie Kuang to help him recover. You'll have to figure out the ration coupons and the supply channels yourselves."

These days, supplies are strictly controlled and scarce. Live chickens and chicken meat require special food coupons, and you can't buy them even if you have money but no coupons.

Even if you have both money and tickets, you can only have a chance to grab them if you queue up early at the end or beginning of the month.

Yang Ruihua held the two yuan in her hand, her expression instantly improving, and she stopped complaining about wasting money.

Upon hearing that the family was going to make chicken soup, Yan Jiedi immediately loosened Yan Jiefang's clothes, clapped her hands, and jumped up and down, instantly forgetting about the lack of steamed buns, and was overjoyed.

Yan Jiefang had his own plans; it wasn't just that he felt sorry for his younger brother.

He had been in this world for so long, and although he could eat several large meat buns every day, his mouth was still incredibly bland. He longed for a sip of hot chicken soup to satisfy his craving.

He secretly marveled that in later generations, chicken, duck, fish, and meat could be bought everywhere, and any ordinary person could eat their fill whenever they wanted.

In an era of scarcity and rationing, this was a dream life that ordinary people dared not even dream of.

After paying, he took Yan Jiekuang to the nearest hospital.

Let the doctor apply medicine and bandages to him.

After it was finished, Yan Jiefang gave Yan Jiekuang a few yuan and told him to come back on time to change the dressing as instructed by the doctor.

The next day, the Yan family stewed chicken soup, and the aroma filled the courtyard.

In the past, the Jia family would have been the first to arrive, carrying large bowls of soup and meat, to beg for some.

But now that Yi Zhonghai has been sentenced to prison and is in labor camp, with no one to back him up, the Jia family has lost all confidence and has been much more subdued lately.

They usually stay indoors and dare not cause trouble in the yard.

Moreover, when Yi Zhonghai was present last time, the Jia family came to take advantage of the situation, but in the end, they gained nothing.

Qin Huairu knew that the Yan family was numerous and powerful, and they were completely unyielding in this courtyard, making them difficult to control.

She appears well-behaved, but that doesn't mean she's truly restrained.

While everyone was having lunch, Qin Huairu quietly approached Sha Zhu, who lived in the gatehouse, and whispered her urging. (Note: Yan Jiefang usually went home for holidays on Saturday noon and returned to school the following afternoon.)

"Zhu Zi, it's okay if I go hungry, but I can't let the children go hungry!"

Sha Zhu was overjoyed to see his beloved coming to him for help, and readily agreed.

"Sister Qin, don't worry, just wait here. I'll go get you a bowl!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu maintained a tearful expression on the surface, but inwardly she was overjoyed.

Although she looked down on Sha Zhu, she enjoyed the feeling of Sha Zhu being completely manipulated by her.

This greatly satisfied her desire for control, making her irresistible.

Sha Zhu carried the large bowl, a family heirloom of the Jia family, to the Yan family's door to ask for it.

Just as he was about to speak, he was mocked and driven away by Yan Jiecheng, the eldest of the Yan brothers:

"Hey, you silly Zhu, how did the Jia family's heirloom bowl end up in your hands?"

You didn't actually acknowledge Jia Zhangshi or Qin Huairu as your mother, did you? Haha..."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu's face turned red, and he couldn't utter a single word. He simply turned and ran away.

Having gained nothing, he retreated to the gatehouse in a sorry state.

Seeing Qin Huairu's expectant eyes, Sha Zhu lost all face.

He felt sorry for Qin Huairu and her son going hungry, so he gritted his teeth, took out the only two yuan he had saved, and stuffed it into her hand.

"Take the money, buy a chicken and make soup yourself another day."

After Qin Huairu swayed her big buttocks and left, Sha Zhu felt increasingly frustrated.

After Yi Zhonghai left, no one in the courtyard took sides with the Jia family.

The three Yan brothers were domineering and powerful, and no one in the courtyard would go along with them or accommodate them anymore.

The old rules of getting along had completely changed, and the atmosphere in the courtyard filled him with resentment.

Many people in the courtyard actually witnessed this incident.

While laughing at Sha Zhu, I couldn't help but sigh in my heart: the Yan family has truly risen to power.

He Daqing had basically seen what had happened, and felt only disappointment towards Sha Zhu.

After the holiday, Yan Jiefang packed his books and headed back to school.

While these things were happening in the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai, on the surface, had already given up resistance at Qinghe Farm, dozens of kilometers away.

He became taciturn, and most of the time, he wouldn't say a word all day.

At the same time, he was utterly disappointed in his apprentice, Jia Dongxu.

It's been so long, and the other party hasn't come to see him even once, nor has they even sent a letter.

All those years of training Jia Dongxu have been wasted.

Whenever the night was quiet, he would curse the other person in his heart, wishing them a terrible death.