Siheyuan: I am the seventh uncle of Banggen

"Sister Liang, this is really not the reason. You are overthinking it," said Zhang Dabao.

The motorcycle left the factory and then moved into the staff quarters of the machine repair factory. Liang Ladi was in the last row of the staff quarters. Most of the workers had gone to work, and some shift workers were taking a break, so the whole yard was particularly quiet.

"Sister Liang, we're here." Zhang Dabao looked at the dazed Liang Ladi and pushed her.

Liang Ladi looked up and saw that they had arrived at their doorstep. She quickly got out of the car and asked Damao to boil some water. She soaked the meat in cold water and would cut it into small pieces for a treat after she got off work in the evening.

Zhang Dabao used pheasant feathers to make some shuttlecocks for Damao and his friends, and taught Damao and Ermao how to play shuttlecock. Sanmao was too young, so he ran to pick up the shuttlecocks that his two brothers dropped on the ground. The three brothers had a lot of fun playing.

"Sister Liang, are you going to the factory?" Zhang Dabao saw that she had processed the two chickens. She smeared salt on the pheasant meat and hung them in a ventilated and cool place in the house. She also cleaned up the chicken offal and soaked it in cold water. In the evening, she would stir-fry it with chili peppers to make a delicious dish of stir-fried chicken offal with chili peppers.

"Let's go together." Liang Ladi wiped her hands and got on the motorcycle.

"Director Zhang, you are different from others. They are nice to me, a widow. I know what they want to do. Don't they just want to sleep with me? But do I appreciate the little favors they give me? That Cui Dake wants to marry me with just a few sausages. He really doesn't know what he is talking about," said Liang Ladi.

"Cui Dake is not a good person. He is a thief in the village. I just said a few words to him. I will have a chance to talk to Director Liu Feng about it," said Zhang Dabao.

"I really want to be with you. I know you have a partner, and I won't cling to you. I'm a widow and I just want to find someone to rely on. Sometimes I feel it's too hard to be alone," Liang Ladi said, leaning her head on Zhang Dabao's shoulder.

"Are you having any difficulties now?" Zhang Dabao asked.

"You exchanged grain for me from the factory, and many people wanted to take advantage of me and came to my house to borrow grain. I refused them, and they said bad things about me. Cui Dake often pestered me. Also, the children are grown up, but Xiu'er is still so young and there is no one to take care of the children for me. Damao should also go to school. I really don't know what to do," Liang Ladi said, and began to cry.

"I have to go on a business trip in the next few days, a long trip. When I come back, I will take care of all these things for you. Just hold on for another month." Zhang Dabao couldn't bear to see women cry, especially the beautiful woman he liked.

"Okay, I'll wait for you to come back." At this time, Liang Ladi looked like a wronged young wife.

After sending Liang Ladi to the workshop door, Zhang Dabao went to the factory director's office to collect the money for the meat, said a few words to Liu Feng, and returned to Yard 95.

When I arrived at the yard, I didn't see Jia Dongxu, but the key to the gate of Chunfeng Hutong that I had hung behind the door was missing. It seemed that He Yuzhu and Jia Dongxu had already gone to No. 10 Chunfeng Hutong, because I told He Yuzhu where I put the key.

After a day of contact with wild boars, Zhang Dabao had an unpleasant smell on his body, so he hurried to the cross-yard to wash and change into clean clothes.

"Banggeng, are you guys out of school?" Zhang Dabao saw the goose-feeding trio Jia Geng, Yan Jiedi and Niu Xiaozheng at the door of the house.

"The last class this afternoon is labor. Instead of working in school, it is better to go home and work. My seventh uncle's goose is laying eggs now. I collected five yesterday, and there may be more today," Banggeng said happily.

"Really? That's great. Don't forget to ask your father for money when you sell it," Zhang Dabao instructed Bang Geng.

"Of course I have to ask for money. Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly. This business belongs to everyone, not mine. My mother ate the goose eggs, so of course my father has to pay," said Bang Geng.

After talking to Zhang Dabao for a few words, the three of them went to the cross-yard. Then Yan Jiedi and Niu Xiaozheng came out with baskets, and Bang Geng followed behind.

"Six today? One more than yesterday. You guys fed them really well," said Zhang Dabao, looking at the basket of eggs.

"I have one more egg, but the goose pinched me twice. It hurts so much," Banggeng said while rubbing his thigh.

"If you want to gain something, you must pay. Why does the goose lay eggs? It wants to give birth to goslings. The eggs are the goose's children. You take someone else's child, so isn't it normal for you to be pinched a few times?" Zhang Dabao said.

"But the big geese only pinched me. They didn't even raise their mouths to Aunt Si Ni and Xiao Zheng. All eight geese surrounded me," said Bang Geng.

"Why don't we let Jie Di and Xiao Zheng go to pick up eggs? Your father and brother Zhuzi went to Chunfeng Hutong to slaughter pigs. There must be pig bladders. Don't you want to cut the grass? Go there and take a look. It's so fun. You can even kick it like a ball," said Zhang Dabao.

"Is there a pig bladder? I have to go quickly." Banggeng no longer felt the pain in his legs. He put the eggs in his room, then went out with Yan Jiedi and Niu Xiaozheng, carrying the baskets on their backs.

Zhang Dabao made some tea, sat on a chair at the door, and enjoyed the cool breeze. He felt particularly comfortable at this moment.

Chapter 304: Memories of Zhang Cuihua and her son

"Grandpa..." Xiaodang came running over staggeringly.

Zhang Dabao put the water cup aside, held Xiaodang on his lap, took out the hawthorn cake wrapped in paper from his pocket, gave one piece to Qin Jingru, and then peeled another piece and put it in Xiaodang's hand.

Xiaodang took a bite and her eyes narrowed because of the sourness, but she kept smacking her lips.

"Xiaodang, is it delicious?" Zhang Dabao asked.

"It's delicious," Xiaodang said as he raised the hawthorn cake in his hand and asked Zhang Dabao to eat it. Zhang Dabao pretended to take a bite and continued to let Xiaodang eat it.

"Jingru, why don't you eat?" Zhang Dabao asked when he saw Qin Jingru holding the hawthorn cake in her hand.

"Seventh Uncle, I want to bring some home for my mother to eat. The factory will have a few days off during the National Day, and I want to go home to visit her," Qin Jingru said.

"You have been out for a long time. You should go back and visit your parents. You came to the hospital during the Qingming Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here. Wait for me. I will get you something." Zhang Dabao put Xiaodang in Qin Jingru's arms and turned into the house.

After a while, he took out two bags of snacks and handed them to Qin Jingru, "This is not mooncakes, but a bag of peach cakes. You have been out for so long, you have to bring something back. Put them in your room and take them with you when you go back."

"Seventh Uncle, I have money, I can buy it." Qin Jingru felt a little embarrassed.

"It's not easy to buy it now. Food will be sold out once it comes on the market. Take it with you." Zhang Dabao took the small bag and stuffed it into Qin Jingru's hand.

"Thank you, Uncle Seven." Qin Jingru took the snacks, ran to the central courtyard, and put them in her room.

"Da Biao" Zhang Cuihua came to the backyard panting.

"What's the hurry? Why did you run away?" Zhang Dabao motioned for her to sit down and talk.

"Today the factory director and my cousin asked me to give you a message. They will come to your house for dinner tomorrow," said Zhang Cuihua.

"Just come. It's not like they haven't been here before. What's the rush? How many people are coming?" Zhang Dabao asked after wiping Xiaodang's mouth.

"There are about ten of them. My cousin said that with you, Dongxu, Zhuzi and Xinsheng, there will be more than ten people, and a big table. Director Yang also said that there should be plenty of meat and good wine," said Zhang Cuihua.

"There's plenty of meat and wine. Dongxu and Brother Zhuzi are going to Chunfeng Hutong to slaughter a pig," Zhang Dabao said to Zhang Cuihua.

"Eat meat," Xiaodang raised his head and said to Zhang Dabao.

"Can you eat it? You only like meat. You have been eating hawthorn cake for a long time, but you only ate one corner. You are far worse than your grandma. Come and give the thing in your hand to grandma, and we will change another one." Zhang Dabao gave the hawthorn cake in Xiaodang's hand to Zhang Cuihua and gave Xiaodang a small cake.

"Is this hawthorn cake? My grandfather knew how to make it. We ate a lot of it back then. My father also knew how to make it. This is the first time I've eaten this kind of thing since he passed away. There were two hawthorn trees at home when I was a child." Zhang Cuihua ate the hawthorn cake left by her granddaughter, and thought of her grandfather and father who loved her. Her eyes became red again.

"Your childhood memories, you are 47 years old this year, what's the point of talking about this? It's been more than 30 years. You have to look forward. How can you make any progress if you just think about the past? Come on, child, doesn't Xiaodang want to eat some meat? I'll go to Chunfeng Hutong to get some meat. All you do is reminisce day by day. It's not too late to reminisce when you are 80 years old." Zhang Dabao handed Xiaodang to Zhang Cuihua and said a few words to her.

"Jingshu, let's go and see if there is anything you want to eat." Zhang Dabao went to the middle courtyard and called his niece. The two of them went out of the yard, got on a motorcycle, and came to Chunfeng Hutong.

Jia Dongxu and He Yuzhu had already finished processing one wild boar and were skinning the second one.

"Seventh uncle, why did you bring Jingshu here? Banggeng and the other three just took away the pig bladder," said Jia Dongxu.

"I'm here to get some meat for Xiaodang. By the way, tomorrow night, Director Yang and my cousin are coming to our yard for dinner. Let's cook the offal tonight and prepare two tables tomorrow, one for the people from the factory and one for our yard. Xinsheng is leaving soon. We don't know when he will come back, so it will be difficult to meet him again. Please send him a gift," said Zhang Dabao.

"Uncle Xinsheng, are you going to work in another place?" Jia Dongxu asked.

"The factory's overseas offices have to be in other places for a long time," said Zhang Dabao.

"What should I do if I miss him?" Jia Dongxu asked.

"If you miss him, just write to him, or I can send a letter to you," said Zhang Dabao.

"Why do they all have to go to other places? My master too, and Uncle Xinsheng too. After my master passed away, he only wrote me back once, saying that he was doing well. I don't know if he was really doing well. His leg wasn't healed when he left Beijing. My master's wife isn't in good health either." Jia Dongxu's eyes turned a little red as he spoke. He thought of the time when he was learning from Yi Zhonghai, and his heart was filled with longing for Yi Zhonghai.

"Why are you women like this? Your mother misses your grandfather and your great-grandfather, and you miss your master. Why don't you go and see him?" Zhang Dabao said.

“It’s too far, and I don’t know exactly where

Yi Zhonghai, who was far away in the southwest, sneezed five or six times in a row. "I caught a cold. I need to put on more clothes. I have to talk to my wife after get off work and ask her to put on more clothes for the child. It would be heartbreaking if such a young child caught a cold." Yi Zhonghai thought to himself. He and Liu Cuiping loved their two children so much that they held them in their hands for fear of dropping them, and held them in their mouths for fear of melting them.

Yi Zhonghai was willing to spend money on his two children, and he and Liu Cuiping were also willing to spend money on food. Their quality of life was many times better than when they were in Compound No. 95. Because they ate well and were in a good mood, they both gained a lot of weight and looked a lot younger than when they were in Beijing.

As for Jia Dongxu, he was a topic they talked about occasionally. Now their hearts were completely filled with these two children, and there was no place for Jia Dongxu in their hearts at all.

Zhang Dabao didn't want to pay any attention to Jia Dongxu. He cut a piece of meat from the processed pig and told the two men that he would take their place in the evening. He asked them to just boil the offal and if they were hungry, they could steam some rice and fry some meat.

"Uncle, I want to eat rice too," Jingshu said to Zhang Dabao after getting in the car.

"Then let's go home and eat rice. We'll also fry some meat and stew some meat soup. Xiaodang can't chew meat now, so just eating some meat soup and rice will be enough," Zhang Dabao said to Jingshu.

The two returned to Yard 95, where Qin Huairu and He Yushui had just returned. Zhang Dabao asked them to steam rice while he went to cook. Zhang Lianhua also took the steamed buns made earlier to the backyard.

Zhang Dabao also told them about dinner tomorrow night, and after dinner, they went to Chunfeng Hutong.

He casually cut more than ten pounds of meat for Jia Dongxu and He Yuzhu each and asked them to take it home to eat. He watched the fire and let the two go home.

Chapter 305: Letter from the Capital

After the two left, Zhang Dabao divided the meat and would distribute it to relatives and friends tomorrow morning. He would bring the offal back to Yard 95 in the evening. He would dig sweet potatoes the day after tomorrow and should set off next week.

I wanted to ask Huang Xinsheng today. I don’t know how many comrades will come and when they will come?

On second thought, if my comrades came over, I couldn't go with them, so I should go first and wait for Huang Xinsheng to call me when he left Beijing. Then I could just wait for them at the beach.

The aroma of the boiled offal became stronger and stronger, drifting far away with the autumn wind, causing several neighbors to curse at them at home, saying that it was so unethical to eat meat every day without considering the feelings of their neighbors.

Huang Xinsheng wrote letters to his eight comrades, and now all eight of them have sent telegrams back to Huang Xinsheng to express that they can go. Huang Xinsheng has sent out the resettlement expenses, and now all he has to do is wait for his comrades to arrive.

What Huang Xinsheng didn't know was that his letter directly disrupted the peaceful life of his comrades. Liu Hu, 22 years old, is Huang Xinsheng's fellow villager. Unlike Huang Xinsheng who was transferred due to injury, Liu Hu applied for transfer. If he didn't apply for transfer, his mother threatened to commit suicide because she was afraid that something would happen to her son.

Liu Hu was originally a rural soldier. After demobilization, he returned to the village to farm. Nowadays, rural life is not something you can do just by having strength. Where can you put your strength when it’s not raining?

Liu Hu's family has little labor force. His father died before liberation. He is the eldest and has three younger brothers and sisters. Only his second brother can be considered a full-time worker. His mother is in poor health. Now their family only eats one meal a day. How much strength can they have? It's good enough if they can barely stay alive.

As if it weren't raining, the ship was late and encountered headwinds. Liu Hu's family was already in financial difficulty. At this time, his mother fell ill and was sent to the hospital. She was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. The hospital prescribed two kilograms of soybeans, but Liu Hu didn't have the money to buy soybeans. It was his second brother who borrowed money from the village to buy soybeans for his mother.

When Liu Hong got home, his mother started a hunger strike and she didn't want to burden her children. When Liu Hu was injured on the battlefield, he didn't cry. When he saw his comrades die, Liu Hong suppressed his grief in his heart and didn't cry. But when he saw his mother's current situation, Liu Hu couldn't help but burst into tears.

He was powerless to change the current situation at home, nor could he persuade his mother. He could only watch his mother die. Just then the village accountant came and said, "Xiao Hu, is your sister-in-law's illness better? There is a letter for you, sent from the capital."

"Sixth Uncle, my mother won't listen to my advice, what can I do?" Liu Hu said with tears in his eyes as he took the letter handed to him by the accountant.

After the accountant left, Liu Hu opened the letter, which was from his comrade-in-arms Huang Xinsheng. "Brother Hu, this is Xinsheng. It's been two years since we last met. I wonder how you are doing. It shouldn't be too good, because life in the village is so difficult right now. I have an opportunity to work in a confidential unit, and I wonder if you are willing to take part. The salary is very high, 300 yuan a month. If you go, you may not be able to go home for two or three years, and the job is somewhat dangerous. If you are willing to go, send me a telegram and I will send you 500 yuan as a resettlement allowance. By the way, the person in charge of the new unit is our company commander Zhang Dabao. If you don't want to go, don't send a telegram, and don't tell anyone else about this. Huang Xinsheng".

"Mom, our family is saved. Our company commander has gone to a new unit to be in charge and asked me to go over. The treatment is good. You should have something to eat." Liu Hu put the letter and ran back home to say to his happy mother.

"Really?" Mother finally spoke, raising her head.

"This is a letter, it's real. It's written by Huang Xinsheng, the tall and thin guy from the next village, two years younger than me. He has six brothers. Haven't you met him? He came to see me last winter. He has transferred to the capital and is in the same unit as our company commander. It seems that the company commander has been promoted," Liu Hu said to his mother.

If people have hope, they will not go to a dead end. Huang Xinsheng's letter gave Liu Hu's mother hope to live. "Xiao Hu, do you want to be a worker?" the mother asked Liu Hu.

"Being a worker means the workplace is a little far from our home, and I can't come back often, but I get 30 yuan a month, and food and accommodation are provided." Liu Hu lied to his mother. If his mother knew that the job was dangerous, she would not let him go. But he had to go. This was a chance to improve his family's life, it could be said to be the only chance. Liu Hu didn't believe 300 yuan a month. Huang Xinsheng must have written it wrong. It should be 30 yuan, he thought to himself.

"That's great, thirty yuan. Our family can't even earn thirty yuan a year. We must go." Liu Hu's mother sat up happily.

After seeing his mother eat, Liu Hu took out fifty cents, which was money borrowed from the village. He had less than one dollar left. He walked ten kilometers to the commune and sent a telegram to Huang Xinsheng. There were only two words on the telegram: "I'll go."

After sending the telegram, he went home and waited for Huang Xinsheng to send him the resettlement fee. He estimated it to be fifty yuan, because it cost more than ten yuan to take a train to the capital, plus two or three yuan for food and drinks on the way. Liu Hu decided to take twenty of the money and leave thirty for his family, and buy some food for his family. If there was any money left, he would say that the second son would find a marriage, and the Liu family would continue. He remembered that when his father died, he held his hand and asked him to take care of the family. Thinking of his father's eyes, Liu Hu now just wanted to cry, because he felt sorry for his father and that his family was not living well.

One day, Liu Hu was working in the fields. The village party secretary ran to the fields and called Liu Hu over, "Xiao Hu, go to the village office quickly. I've sent you money from Beijing. You have friends in Beijing."

"Thank you, Fourth Uncle. This was sent by my company commander when I was in the army. He is now a factory director. I used to be a worker. You know my family situation, so I sent him a telegram to borrow money. My mother needs treatment for her illness. If I go out of town, the second son will have to take over. I use the remaining money to find him a wife," Liu Hu explained.