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

Aunt Liu saw Yang Dalin and the others return.

Quickly hand Yang Dalin a towel so he can wash his hands.

They also said a few harsh words to Huang Weiguo and his children.

However, Yang Dalin was able to play games with them today.

They were happy even when their mother scolded them.

At noon, Yang Dalin helped Aunt Liu prepare lunch.

Everyone enjoyed a warm and cozy meal.

Yang Dalin originally planned to have lunch and sit for a while before heading back to Beijing.

But seeing Aunt Liu's plea to stay, and the hopeful eyes of the three children, they were surprised.

Yang Dalin gave up after all.

I agreed to stay for one day and leave tomorrow.

After all, Wei Guo was going to join the army, and it was estimated that we wouldn't see him for several years.

Since you're already here, stay a little longer.

It's not like Xiao Cui's new home, where she has nowhere to live.

Yang Dalin agreed to stay one night, and the three children were very happy.

After finishing their meal and resting for a while, Yang Dalin accompanied the three children to stroll around the streets of the Summer Palace.

I bought them some gifts.

That night, I slept on the kang (a heated brick bed) with Huang Weiguo and his younger brother Huang Jianguo, chatting with them.

Even Huang Xiaoying came over with her blanket, insisting on squeezing in with them to listen to their conversation.

Fortunately, the kang (heated brick bed) was large enough for everyone to squeeze in.

I don't know how late we talked, but it probably went on until very late at night.

He only went to sleep after Yang Dalin and his two other children had all fallen asleep.

When I woke up the next day, it was already broad daylight.

Yang Dalin got up and found that Aunt Liu had already prepared breakfast.

After finishing the meal, Yang Dalin drove away amidst the family's reluctance to part.

When they left, Aunt Liu saw them off outside the family compound. Huang Weiguo and his younger siblings cried and chased after Yang Dalin's car for a long time.

Yang Dalin had already driven quite a distance when he suddenly stopped and reversed back.

Yang Dalin rolled down the car window and said to Huang Weiguo, "Weiguo, would you like to come with me to Beijing for a few days, and stay for a while?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Weiguo immediately asked, "Is that alright?"

Brother Da Lin?

His younger brothers, Huang Jianguo and Huang Xiaoying, were also delighted: "I want to go, I want to go, Brother Dalin!"

The younger siblings only thought about having fun.

Huang Weiguo was only happy for a moment before his face darkened again. He said, "Brother Dalin, we'll go with you, but Mom will be all alone at home for the New Year."

Huang Weiguo was clearly conflicted. He was going to join the army after the New Year, and he wanted to go to Beijing, but he was also worried that he wouldn't be able to spend the last New Year with his mother before he went to the army.

After thinking for a moment, Yang Dalin said, "Let's go back and discuss it with your mother."

Ask her how many days off she has during the Chinese New Year period.

If she's not busy then, she can just take leave on New Year's Eve and buy a train ticket to Beijing.

"That day, your whole family can celebrate the New Year with our whole family in Beijing."

Yes, that's a good idea.

It only takes a few hours by train from Chengde City to the capital.

On New Year's Eve, as long as you take the train in the afternoon, you can make it to Beijing for your New Year's Eve dinner.

Huang Weiguo quickly ran to the back.

Yang Dalin told Huang Jianguo and Huang Xiaoying to get in the car, then turned around and drove back.

Back at the gate of the compound, Aunt Liu was still waiting for the children to return.

At this moment, Huang Weiguo had already run up to his mother and excitedly told Aunt Liu about it.

Yang Dalin came down.

Aunt Liu said, "Dalinzi, isn't this too much trouble?"

"No need to trouble you, Auntie, I have a place to stay."

My house is very big.

Go and see the old city, go and see the square, go and see Tiananmen Square.

And it just so happens that your whole family is going to visit my three children.

I'll see you off at the train station the day before your holiday ends.

It won't interfere with your work the next day.

This suggestion also appealed to Aunt Liu.

And seeing the longing in the three children's eyes, she finally nodded.

He finally nodded.

"Okay, I have three days off, from the first to the third day of the Lunar New Year. I'll let the institute know on New Year's Eve and leave early, no problem."

Then I'll have to trouble Dalinzi.

Then don't rush off.

In a little while, you can drive me to the train station to buy tickets for that day in advance.

So that you don't miss out on buying it later.

Then you can bring some food back from home.

Anyway, my family won't be able to eat it during the Spring Festival, so we'll have to go to Beijing.

I'll pack some more clothes for them.

Yang Dalin agreed to Aunt Liu's request.

They're not in a hurry to leave anymore.

I'll go back first.

I took Aunt Liu to the train station. Tickets were indeed hard to buy, if it weren't for the fact that Yang Dalin himself worked in the railway system.

You might not even be able to buy it.

The Spring Festival travel rush is now even more intense.

After buying the tickets, we returned to Aunt Liu's house.

Aunt Liu not only prepared changes of clothes for the three children,

They also wanted to give Yang Dalin a lot of food and household items from their home.

Yang Dalin would never agree, but Aunt Liu still managed to load a lot of things into the car.

After several refusals, Yang Dalin finally drove home with his three children.

Thanks to the vigorous construction efforts in China over the past two years, the roads are much easier to drive on.

It was also the first time the three children had taken a car to Beijing.

I was very happy the whole way.

They chattered incessantly.

With the three of them keeping Yang Dalin company and talking to him along the way, time passed a little faster.

It took Yang Dalin four hours to drive the more than 200 kilometers to reach Beijing.

There was no other way; there was still a lot of snow on the road, so Yang Dalin didn't dare to drive too fast.

Otherwise, like in later times when you take the highway, it would only take a little over two hours to get there.

Even when they were still far from Beijing, the three children were already marveling at the city walls and gate towers.

At this time, many city walls and gate towers have not been completely demolished.

Furthermore, Yang Dalin suggested that some of what could be preserved should be kept.

If something obstructs traffic, then just demolish it.

Preserve what can be preserved elsewhere.

These are all cultural treasures.

The higher-ups also listened to the suggestions.

Otherwise, if we dismantle everything, there won't be any left.

Once Yang Dalin entered the city, he drove slower and slower.

I kept introducing the sights along the street to the three little ones.

Around 3 p.m., I finally drove the car to No. 88, Dongsi Shitiao.

As soon as they entered, the three little ones exclaimed in amazement at how big Yang Dalin's house was.

The daughter-in-law, Qi Yanhua, heard the noise but did not come out.

Aunt Wang, who was helping to look after the child, came out.

As Aunt Wang took the things from Yang Dalin, she asked him questions.

"Dalinzi, you're back. Who are these children?"

Yang Dalin introduced the situation to Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang warmly welcomed them inside.

Yang Dalin first took the many things that Aunt Liu had given him, along with their children's change of clothes, to the west wing of the front yard.

There's a boiler here too, so the house isn't cold.

Let them stay here tonight.

Then Yang Dalin led them to the Intermediate People's Court and introduced his wife to the three children.

Upon hearing that the three children were coming to Yang Dalin's house for the New Year, it was discovered that Aunt Liu would also be coming later.

Sister Yan warmly invited them to sit down.

I also made them all some malted milk powder to drink.

Huang Weiguo and the others sensibly called her "sister-in-law" and then went to see Yang Dalin's three children.