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

Mr. and Mrs. Yi Zhonghai, having survived the war years, naturally think further ahead.

Don't be fooled by the fact that they just finished drinking with Yang Dalin. These two old folks are incredibly shrewd; how could they possibly completely trust someone they usually associate with?

Analyzing Yang Dalin's words, it's not surprising.

How many fools could have survived the warlord era of the Republic of China, the occupation and surrender of the Kuomintang, the reoccupation of Beijing by the Kuomintang, and the peaceful liberation of Beijing to the present day?

Especially in the city.

It's not like living in the countryside where you can just make a living by owning a piece of land.

There are still landlords, hooligans, and all sorts of rotten things in the countryside.

Yi Zhonghai and Wen Xiumei's plan was very good; they believed that cultivating a good relationship with Yang Dalin would be a great help in the future.

This couple is very clever.

Many novels portray Yi Zhonghai as someone who dares to confront even the protagonist who works at the police station and has a gun, which makes him seem incredibly foolish.

If Yi Zhonghai were that kind of person, he would have died thousands of times over.

How could that be?

If there's an official, a gunman, or someone with power in a courtyard, instead of the other people in the courtyard rushing to curry favor with them, they go around trying to sow discord and cause trouble. Do they really think they're not afraid of death?

It should be noted that the Chinese people have a tradition of fearing officials for thousands of years.

It was still in the place with the most officials in Beijing.

How much courage must a courtyard-style elderly care group have?

The next day, just as dawn broke, Aunt Qi got up.

Qi Yanhua and her sister went to Sha Zhu's house to continue learning martial arts with Mi Li.

Ma San arrived soon after.

Yang Dalin told Ma San to ride his bicycle and go to work with Sister Yan today.

Leave the tricycle behind.

Yang Dalin was also helping Aunt Qi make breakfast.

Yi Zhonghai's wife, Wen Xiumei, arrived and warmly invited Yang Dalin and Qi Yulan to come over for breakfast.

Aunt Qi politely declined Yang Dalin's offer.

Aunt Qi finished eating early and went to her workplace first, then to the orphanage.

Yang Dalin took Qi Xiaoning to school in the morning.

Then he rode his tricycle to wait for Mr. and Mrs. Yi Zhonghai at the entrance of Aunt Qi's workplace.

The couple arrived before eight o'clock.

Yi Zhonghai asked Liu Haizhong for leave today, so he doesn't need to go to work.

Yang Dalin rode his tricycle with two people and arrived at the orphanage in Dongcheng in less than twenty minutes.

This is a large courtyard house that has been converted.

It's estimated that it used to be a large courtyard where high-ranking officials and nobles lived, and it even had a garden. It's obvious that the original garden area has been turned into a small playground.

For children's activities.

However, it was too cold, so the children didn't come out.

When Yang Dalin and his group arrived, Aunt Qi and Director Zhang of the orphanage were already waiting at the door.

Dean Zhang looks to be in his fifties. One of his legs is not very good, and he walks with a limp. He is in good spirits, but he looks very thin.

His clothes were patched upon patched.

But it was still washed very clean.

Hearing that Mr. and Mrs. Yi Zhonghai wanted to adopt some children, they were overjoyed, holding Mr. Yi Zhonghai's hand tightly for a long time, and thanking him profusely.

The campus also has classrooms, dormitories, and a canteen.

At this time, most children are in the classroom, where dedicated teachers instruct them in cultural knowledge.

Yang Dalin and his group couldn't just go directly into the classroom.

You can only look inside through the glass in the window.

As expected, Aunt Qi told Dean Zhang, and Dean Zhang led them directly to the area for senior students.

The children inside looked to be around eleven or twelve years old.

However, there weren't many children in this classroom.

There were only about twenty children.

The children mostly wore clothes patched upon patched or old cotton-padded jackets that were patched again and again. Some sleeves were so blackened from wiping their noses so often that they were almost unrecognizable.

Their little faces were pitifully thin.

However, they all seemed quite attentive during the lecture.

As Director Zhang just mentioned, this orphanage has over 300 children in total. The oldest children are the fewest, as many of them are unwilling to come or have been adopted by other families to help with chores. The majority of the children are younger, some still breastfeeding, and some are disabled and unable to take care of themselves.

Wen Xiumei and Yi Zhonghai stared intently at each child inside, trying to see which one would be their destiny.

However, the two of them might be a little overwhelmed by the choices.

I hesitated to make a decision until the first class of this class was over.

When the children come out to use the toilet or rest.

Many children probably understand what Yi Zhonghai and his wife came for.

Many children looked at Yi Zhonghai and his wife with expectant eyes.

Among them was a little girl of eleven or twelve years old. She may not have paid much attention to Yi Zhonghai and his wife, but it was she who attracted their attention.

She immediately ran to the next classroom, brought out a five or six-year-old girl, wiped her nose, and took out a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe the little girl's hands.

They probably knew that they were unlikely to be chosen, so when many people came to adopt children, they would choose a boy first.

Not little girls like them.

However, Wen Xiumei immediately asked Dean Zhang, "Dean Zhang, what's the situation with those two little girls?"

Can you tell me more?

Dean Zhang is probably very familiar with each child's situation, and he can just say it offhand: "Those are two cousins ​​who came from a village near Beijing two years ago."

Their parents are gone, and some distant relatives only want the older little girl because she can do some farm work; they don't want the younger one.

Because the younger one was only three years old at the time, less than four.

The older sister carried her younger sister on her back as they fled the famine, eventually arriving in Beijing.

We have more children than employees.

So sometimes, in places we can't take care of, these children are cared for by their older, close friends.

It can also lighten our workload a bit.

"What, has Sister-in-law Yi taken a liking to these two sisters?"

Dean Zhang doesn't look any younger than Yi Zhonghai, but he calls Yi Zhonghai's wife "sister-in-law" because he eats so little and works so hard that he looks older. I just asked his age, and Dean Zhang is only in his forties.

She is younger than Yi Zhonghai and his wife.

Yang Dalin felt terrible at this moment, looking at so many pitiful children.

Thinking to myself, I'll secretly donate some food and supplies to Dean Zhang later.

I have so much stuff in my own space that I can't use it all, why didn't I think of this place?

That was really wrong.

Yang Dalin plans to do it tonight.

You can donate to any orphanages or shelters throughout the city.

Wen Xiumei did not directly answer Dean Zhang's question.

She looked at Yi Zhonghai with anticipation.

Yi Zhonghai also quite likes the two children.

The older ones are sensible and responsible, while the younger ones are well-behaved and adorable.

He nodded.

Wen Xiumei said happily, "Dean Zhang, we want to adopt these two children. Could you help us ask if they are willing?"

In addition to these two children, we would like to adopt two more boys.

Upon hearing this, Dean Zhang thought, "Old Yi's conditions are quite good; he wants to adopt four at once."

He said happily, "Okay, okay, I'll call the children over right away and ask them."