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

Yang Dalin did not stop his family from helping him.

This is what it feels like to come home.

This time, my aunt was much better; she didn't get so emotional that her eyes welled up with tears like last time.

Yang Dalin said, "Auntie, it's okay if the man in the bedroom is a little dark. Besides, I'm not that much darker."

She's grown a bit taller, but hasn't lost weight.

I went to work as a driver training instructor, as a master instructor, and the food there is pretty good.

"Don't worry, Auntie, you won't go hungry."

Aunt Qi asked again, "Really? Then where did you go to be a master driver and teach people how to drive?"

"Can't you write a letter to contact your family?"

Yang Dalin had come up with this reason on the spot, so he had no choice but to continue making it up.

"Auntie, that's a secret base. We're not allowed to contact the outside world."

Just keep this to yourself, don't tell anyone else. Don't worry, it's very safe over there; they just teach people how to drive.

It's just that it's a bit remote and we're not allowed to contact the outside world.

"Oh, that's good. Then I won't ask anymore. As long as it's safe and there's no danger, that's fine."

Are we still going?

"Okay, this is a few days of leave for me to visit my family. I still have to go to my aunt's house in a few days."

"Alright, if the country needs you and has made arrangements, then you just need to complete your mission well."

I'm relieved as long as there's no danger.

There's also leave for visiting relatives, which is great.

"Your aunt is here, so you can go to work without worry."

Seeing that he had finally managed to appease Aunt Qi, Yang Dalin quickly opened his backpack and changed the subject.

Chu Xiaoning had been eagerly anticipating the gift Yang Dalin would bring.

Yang Dalin took out some common tropical fruits.

Tell Chu Xiaoning, "You can only eat these at home, you can't take them outside."

Xiaoning then asked, "Why?"

Her aunt slapped her again: "Silly girl, didn't you learn about secrecy in school?"

These fruits are not commonly seen in northern China. If an outsider who knows about these things sees them, they'll immediately tell him where Brother Lin went on a mission.

So you can just eat at home. If you want to share with your friends, just use the kind that's commonly found in northern China.

"Your brother Lin's new yard has some fruit growing, right? Take those."

"Okay, I got it."

Upon hearing this, Yang Dalin was surprised to find that the fruit trees in the courtyard had already borne some fruit in the first year.

However, those fruit trees were transplanted from other places with soil attached, not as small saplings planted directly. It's good that they can bear some fruit in the first year after transplanting.

Yang Dalin asked what kinds of fruits were available.

When Yang Dalin asked about the new compound, his aunt happily told him, "There are apples, pears, pomegranates, dates, and things like that."

There are quite a few scattered ones.

By the way, you did a really good job with the soil for that vegetable.

The crops are so fertile they're practically dripping with oil. We haven't used any fertilizer this year. The produce alone is more than our family, your master's family, and your brother Sheng's family can possibly eat.

Many were given away as gifts.

The soil there was certainly fertile. Before leaving, Yang Dalin replaced the soil in the vegetable garden with a thick layer of black soil he had gotten from the Russians.

How can it work if it's not fertile?

Yang Dalin changed the soil because he was worried that his aunt and Sister Yan would need to use some strong-smelling farmyard manure for the vegetable garden.

If you really have land outside the city, it's fine to use some farmyard manure.

The surrounding area is all residential. If you put in some strong-smelling farmyard manure, wouldn't that just annoy people?

Not to mention the new house I'll be living in in the future.

As Yang Dalin ate his noodles, he listened to his family talk about the changes in the new courtyard.

Aunt Qi also talked about some things at home and in the yard.

For example, Sha Zhu named his firstborn son He Dan, which sounds like "nuclear bomb," after listening to Yang Dalin's suggestion. Later, when naming his second son, he thought of naming him He Wuqi (He Weapon), but Mi Ya's sister-in-law strongly rejected it.

One He Dan in the family is enough; he's already mischievous enough.

I strongly disagree with giving my second child such a name.

In the end, Sha Zhu gave in.

The second son's name is He Bing, not "Bing" as in ice and snow, but "Bing" as in the People's Liberation Army.

Sister-in-law Miya is satisfied with this.

When Yang Dalin first heard the name He Bing, he almost spat out his noodles.

It turns out they were soldiers of weapons.

The actor who played He Yuzhu, Teacher He, was probably born around the 1960s, right?

Goodness, I almost continued.

Yang Dalin smiled and shook his head.

Sister Yan even asked him, "What's wrong? Didn't you like the noodles?"

"No, Sister Yan's noodles are quite delicious. I just remembered a joke."

Nothing.

By the way, I heard from Uncle Qi that Xu Damao got married again. How's his second wife?

Aunt Qi said, "This time, Da Mao married a very good one. She's from the countryside, quite pretty, and knows how to manage a household well."

She smiles at everyone she meets and keeps her home spotless.

He's a very efficient person.

Even though you haven't come back, I've already paid my respects to both families.

Go visit them later and get to know them.

"Okay, I understand, Auntie. As long as you know how to manage your household, that's fine."

I'll visit both of their houses tomorrow.

It's getting late, you should all go and get some rest.

I washed my feet and went to sleep.

Tomorrow morning, Sister Yan and I will go to my workplace to report to our supervisor.

Then I took five days off.

"Okay, then go to sleep. I'll wash the dishes."

Xiaoning, prepare some water for your brother Dalin to wash his feet.

Chu Xiaoning, who was eating a mouthful of dragon fruit, asked with dissatisfaction, "Why me again?"

Aunt Qi wouldn't tolerate her: "Just look at the fruit in your mouth, are you going to take it or not?"

Chu Xiaoning will probably never have the chance to fight against Aunt Qi, this mountain, in her entire life.

"Let's do it, right away."

Do I dare?

He muttered something under his breath, but quickly poured water for Yang Dalin to wash his feet.

Yang Dalin watched her busy herself, muttering, "Wow, that's really good."

"It deserves a reward."

After saying that, he quietly handed Qi Xiaoning a one-yuan bill.

Chu Xiaoning was overjoyed to see that she could earn a dollar just for pouring out foot bath water.

Quickly hold onto the money tightly.

He even stole a glance at his mother behind him.

She didn't see her mother's actions.

He quickly stuffed the money into his pocket and gave Yang Dalin a gesture of thanks with his hands clasped in gratitude.

Then, in a flattering tone, she asked in a low voice, "Brother Dalin, would you like me to wash your feet myself?"

The fee isn't expensive, just five times more than that would be fine.

After saying that, she looked at me with her big, bright eyes, pleadingly.

Yang Dalin knew that this little girl was a money-grubber; she probably had been afraid of hunger when she was a child.

I used to have the habit of hiding snacks and my allowance, but I don't know if I still do that now.

He teased her, saying, "I'm out of money, are you going to wash my clothes or not? Oh, and I'm also out of money for cigarettes tomorrow, can I borrow some from your little stash?"

The little girl had become clever and wasn't easily fooled anymore. She directly exposed him: "I don't believe you have no money."

After saying that, she ignored him and went back to eating fruit.

Alright, the little girl isn't falling for it anymore, so Yang Dalin had no choice but to wash up on his own.

He really wanted Sister Yan to come and wash his feet.

Unfortunately, her family was there, and although Sister Yan was eager to try, Yang Dalin rejected her with a look.

Yang Dalin was mainly embarrassed.

He knew that if he nodded, Sister Yan would definitely dare to come up and wash his feet.

Sister Yan is quite daring in some ways.

Unfortunately, Yang Dalin was sometimes timid, and he was embarrassed to be too close to his aunt and Sister Yan in front of her.