The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

After washing his feet, Yang Dalin was planning to go straight to bed.

Suddenly I remembered that I wanted to eat frozen pears.

Then he opened the window and placed several long-stemmed pears one by one on the outside windowsill.

His frozen pears are different from those from Northeast China. Frozen pears from Northeast China need to be thawed, but his don't.

It's truly frozen solid, like an ice cube.

These pears become especially sweet after being frozen.

It's just so hard that you can only bite off a tiny bit with your front teeth each time.

A pear is the kind that can keep an adult eating for an hour.

If you have bad teeth, you should probably avoid it. You might lose several teeth before you even finish the pear.

After Yang Dalin put it away and closed the window, he went to sleep.

The next morning, Yang Dalin woke up and immediately signed in. After washing up, he packed a few frozen pears from the windowsill and left some for Aunt Qi and the others at home.

We can't leave it on the outside windowsill forever; it might be gone by the time Aunt Qi and the others get up.

Yang Dalin then instructed the Qi sisters, who were getting up early to practice their martial arts, to eat the pears after their meal, and not to eat them if they were feeling unwell. He also advised them not to eat them in large bites, as they could hurt their teeth, before leaving.

Yang Dalin met up with Ma San and went to the workplace. Before officially starting work, Yang Dalin handed one to Brother Tian.

When Brother Tian took the pear, apart from noticing that it looked cool on the outside, the skin didn't seem any different.

Then he opened his mouth wide and started biting. Yang Dalin, after putting down his bag, turned around and saw Tian Ge's actions, and quickly shouted, "Tian Ge, be careful, take small bites, ouch..."

As a result, Tian Xueyi hit his tooth. Covering his mouth, he asked, "What is this thing? How come it's as hard as a rock?"

It almost knocked my teeth out.

Yang Dalin said, half-laughing and half-crying, "These are specially frozen pears, meant to be eaten in small bites. They're delicious, sweet and icy. Who knew that in the short time I turned around to put down my bag, you would start eating them right away without even waiting for me to finish reminding you?"

Yang pretended to be very innocent.

Tian Xueyi already knew Yang Dalin's tricks, so he came over and kicked Yang Dalin in the butt: "You brat, give me a break."

Why didn't you warn me before handing it to me? You were just trying to scam me.

Tian Xueyi kicked Yang Dalin twice more. After Yang Dalin pretended to be pitiful, admitted his mistake, and begged for forgiveness, Tian Xueyi carefully nibbled on the frozen pear, taking only a small piece of peel and flesh with each bite.

But it really is delicious, cool and sweet.

Tian Xueyi said, "It tastes good, is there any more?"

Yang Dalin asked, "What's wrong, Brother Tian?"

Tian Xueyi kicked him again: "Are you pretending to be stupid?"

"What do you say? Give me two, I'll go scam that guy surnamed Qi."

Yang Dalin grinned wickedly and handed two more to Brother Tian: "Yes, we definitely have some."

This time, Yang Dalin didn't come along. Sometimes, Yang Dalin felt sorry for Qi Desheng.

Having two brothers like that must be incredibly unlucky.

After finishing his lunch at the cafeteria, Yang Dalin didn't rest for a while and rode his bicycle straight out of the workplace.

He arrived at Wang Tonglin's house again. There was a burlap sack on the back of his bicycle, half-filled with things.

The stroller entered the courtyard, where children from the west wing and the rear house were playing.

Upon seeing Yang Dalin arrive, they all ran home to tell their parents that someone had come. At this moment, the two male heads of the household pushed open the door and came out. Seeing that it was Yang Dalin, who had brought them pears yesterday, the two men thanked him and invited him to their home.

Yang Dalin said, "Thank you both, uncles. There's plenty of time. I'll have plenty of opportunities after I move here."

I saw yesterday that Grandpa and Grandma Wang weren't feeling well, so I brought them some things. Next time I move in, I'll treat the two uncles to drinks.

I'm running out of time today; I have to go back to work soon.

The two neighbors are the same; they just go home for dinner and then go back to work.

Yang Dalin is right, there's no rush.

It's likely that the noise outside was heard by Grandpa Wang in the main house.

Wang Tonglin pushed open the curtain and saw Yang Dalin, who was holding a half-eaten black cornbread in one hand. He warmly invited Yang Dalin to come in and sit down.

Yang Dalin greeted the two neighbors before entering the Wang family's house.

Carrying half a bag of things themselves, these two neighbors didn't, like Yan Bugui, have the same lack of tactlessness in trying to find out what was in the bag.

They wisely went home.

When Yang Dalin entered the house, he found that the room was dimly lit and the couple were having lunch.

On the table were two black cornbread buns, a small dish of pickled vegetables, two bowls of thin porridge, and the unfinished cornbread in Grandpa Wang's hand. In other words, their lunch consisted of only three black cornbread buns of unknown origin and two bowls of thin porridge.

It was truly shabby, even worse than when Yang Dalin first came to the Qi family.

When Aunt Wang saw Yang Dalin arrive carrying a half-full sack of things, she happily asked him, "Dalinzi, you're here! Come and sit down. Haven't you eaten yet? I'll go and make you some more food."

Yang Dalin knew the old couple meant well; they wouldn't let him eat the dark cornbread and even planned to cook him a better meal.

Yang Dalin quickly pulled her aside: "Auntie, I've already eaten. Don't worry about me, please sit down and don't bother yourself."

Grandpa Wang, please sit down and continue eating before it gets cold.

I'll ask something I shouldn't: There are only two of you in your family, and you're not in good health, so why are you eating so poorly?

Grandpa Wang sat down again, a little embarrassed. Grandma Wang sat down again and said, "Oh, it's all my fault. I'm not well and I need to take medicine. Half of your uncle's salary goes to buying medicine for me. Your brother Wang can't come back either. I know they must be having a hard time there, so I had your uncle send them all the fine grains. We two old folks can just eat whatever we can."

Well, this couple really dotes on their son. Even though they're not in good health themselves, they still save their precious grains to send to him.

Really pity the parents of the world.

As Wang Dama chattered on, Yang Dalin learned that the two neighbors outside would often lend a hand, but they were both large families, so their help was limited.

Moreover, Aunt Wang really likes the neighbor's children, and she often tries to give them the good things that the neighbors give her.

This elderly couple is so kind-hearted.

Yang Dalin said, "Auntie, you really need to think more positively and take good care of your health."

You're waiting for Brother Wang to come back; you still want to hold your grandson.

What have I brought you?

After saying that, Yang Dalin untied the sack and took the contents out one by one.

There were five catties of flour, five catties of rice, a piece of smoked bacon, and two pheasants inside. Yang Dalin didn't take any rabbit because it wasn't good for him.

There was also a very fatty piece of pork, a bag of dried seafood, and two frozen fish.

Grandpa Wang and Grandma Wang were overjoyed to see so many good things.

Aunt Wang said, "Oh dear, child, why did you bring so many nice things? How much do all these things cost?"