Siheyuan: I am the seventh uncle of Banggen

Zhang Dabiao has no relatives to visit. His mother was a revolutionary. She fell ill in the village while looking for the team. His father saved her. Then she went down to the countryside and contacted the local revolutionary team. She fought guerrilla warfare in the mountains until she died. There has been no news of her mother's family for so many years. Zhang Lianhua, the second sister, has no relatives to visit either. As a married girl, she should go back to her mother's family, but she lives there now. She doesn't visit her grandmother's family anymore because there are no elders.

"Da Biao, what can I do if I go to Beijing with you?" Zhang Lianhua wanted to live in a different place. As a widow in the countryside, there were a lot of gossips about her, which put her under a lot of mental pressure. But she was also worried about going to Beijing, as she would have to spend money to buy everything in the city. She and her mother still had rural household registration and no quota, which would bring a burden to her brother's life.

"I can definitely find a job for you. Let me tell you that the deputy director of the factory is our regiment commander's comrade-in-arms. We are brothers in life and death. He takes good care of me and even gave me an extra room when the houses were distributed this time," Zhang Dabao said to his sister.

"Well, if you can't stay here, we can come back later," said Zhang Lianhua.

"Don't worry, you can't come back. I have to go to work on the sixth day of the New Year. Tomorrow is the third day of the New Year. The buses should be available, so we will leave in the morning. Don't take things from home. There is everything there. Just take some clothes and a pot." Zhang Dabao saw his second sister putting everything into her bag and quickly stopped her.

After saying goodbye to his brothers and giving the key to the house to Zhang Dasen, Zhang Dabao, holding his crutches and holding his niece's hand, and Zhang Lianhua carrying a bag, the three of them walked towards the bus stop.

"Da Biao, isn't your leg healed? Why are you using crutches?" Zhang Lianhua didn't understand Zhang Da Biao's behavior.

"I use crutches at work, and when my leader sees me, he will say, 'Look at this young comrade, he comes to work with an injured leg, and his work enthusiasm is so high, he must be advanced,'" Zhang Dabia said with a smile.

"You are the only one with so many ideas." Zhang Lianhua also laughed. Her brother used to have a stubborn temper, but now he has become much more flexible than before.

The three of them got on the bus and went into the city.

Zhang Dabao finally came to the legendary compound at No. 95 Hongxing Street. The specifications of the compound seemed quite high, with three courtyards in front and back, and a side courtyard in the east and west. In the Qing Dynasty, if you did not hold an official position above the third rank, you could forget about living in such a house.

The threshold of the compound was quite high. Zhang Dabao carried his niece inside. Perhaps because it was close to noon, they did not meet anyone in the backyard. When they arrived at the backyard, Zhang Dabao took out the key given by Chief Kang and opened the north room first. There were two inner rooms with a kang, and the outer room was a reception room. Zhang Dabao then opened his east wing and let Zhang Lianhua and her daughter live in it. There was also a kang in this room. Their kitchen was in the alley leading to the outside courtyard. There was a door. After unlocking the door, there was a stove inside, but no kitchen utensils.

"Second sister, light up the kang first. There should be firewood in the cross-yard, such as the racks from the former animal shed." Zhang Dabao and Zhang Lianhua opened the door to the alley again. Sure enough, there was a pile of wood in the cross-yard. The two of them picked up some and started to light the kang.

Today is the third day of the Chinese New Year. In order to thank Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old lady for their care over the past year, He Yuzhu from the Central Court specially prepared two meat dishes to entertain them and also invited Yi Zhonghai's apprentice Jia Dongxu to join them.

The firewood was a little wet, causing a lot of smoke in the house. Zhang Dabao stuffed the stove with firewood and went out of the house to breathe some fresh air.

At this time, He Yuzhu saw the smoke coming out of the backyard through the back window and said to Yi Zhonghai, "Uncle, the man in the backyard has moved in and has started a fire at home. There is so much smoke."

"Really? He's still using crutches. It seems like he's really a war hero." Yi Zhonghai stood up and looked out the window. He saw Zhang Dabao breathing fresh air.

"It seems that he has made great contributions and has been seriously injured. His injury has not healed yet since last winter. The factory should be taking care of him, otherwise it would be impossible to give him three rooms," He Yuzhu continued to say to Yi Zhonghai.

"Maybe." Yi Zhonghai thought the same as He Yuzhu. He was thinking about how to deal with these two combat heroes and how to make them obey the management of the three uncles in No. 95.

With a "bang", Jia Dongxu put the wine glass on the table. He wiped his mouth and said, "I don't care if he's a hero or a bear. A little bastard can get three rooms. I'll go and borrow one from him." After saying this, Jia Dongxu walked towards the backyard angrily.

Zhang Dabiao knew Jia Dongxu, he and Zhang Cuihua had been back to Zhangjia Village several times. Zhang Dabiao recognized his cheap nephew at first sight with his curly hair, but Jia Dongxu did not recognize Zhang Dabiao.

"Boy, are you the only one who got three rooms?" Jia Dongxu questioned Zhang Dabao while drunk.

"What the hell does it have to do with you whether I get a room or not?" Jia Dongxu's words made Zhang Dabao very angry. How dare he talk to him like that? How disrespectful.

"You dare to scold me? Do you know who I am?" Jia Dongxu was stunned by the scolding. He has lived in Yard 95 for many years, and few people dared to scold him.

"I know who you are and what can you do to me? Even if that bastard Jia Youfu comes, what can he do? He is an uneducated guy." Zhang Dabao certainly would not be polite and continued to scold Jia Dongxu.

"How dare you call my father uneducated?" Jia Dongxu was furious. He originally wanted to borrow the house, but before he could say a word, he was directly irritated by this man. Jia Dongxu rushed up and swung his fist to hit Zhang Dabao.

Chapter 10: Eldest Sister Zhang Cuihua

In Zhang Dabao's eyes, Jia Dongxu's behavior was simply treasonous. He dared to beat his uncle on New Year's Day. What's the difference between him and a beast?

Zhang Dabiao leaned sideways, then the handle of his right crutch hit Jia Dongxu's chest, and his left hand slapped Jia Dongxu's face. Jia Dongxu was stunned again. Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu, who were watching the fun at He's house, were also stunned. Who is this person? Is he so tough? Isn't he afraid of Jia Dongxu's mother? She is a well-known shrew.

Regardless of what they were thinking, Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu quickly ran to the backyard.

"Young man, why are you hitting people?" Yi Zhonghai came over and accused Zhang Dabao.

"What's the use of the two holes on your bastard's face? Are you blind? Did you eat shit today? You talk so tastefully. I hit someone? Do you know what's going on?" Zhang Dabao has never had any good feelings towards moral bitches, and he started to confront them right away.

"Why are you speaking so harshly? We don't welcome you in Courtyard 95, please go away." Yi Zhonghai was so angry.

"My words may sound unpleasant, but I'm telling you this is still nice. If you don't welcome me, who do you think you are? Do I need you to welcome me? Let me go. Does the Communist Party have the final say? Is this yard yours? This is no longer a place led by the Party. Are you independent?" Zhang Dabao asked several questions in a row, leaving Yi Zhonghai unable to answer.

"How dare you scold my master?" Jia Dongxu on the side saw Yi Zhonghai's dilemma and rushed up again.

The crutch came up from below and hit Jia Dongxu's crotch. Before he could scream, Zhang Dabao kicked him away.

"Zhu Zi, go call the police and say that someone is intentionally injuring someone here." Yi Zhonghai saw Jia Dongxu being knocked down again and made another move.

Zhang Dabao remained indifferent to Yi Zhonghai's move and showed no fear at all.

"Zhuzi, wait a minute, let me talk to this young man," the deaf old lady on the side spoke and called out to He Yuzhu first.

"Young man, you beat Dongxu pretty badly. If the police come, you'll be locked up for at least three years, and then your job will be over. Just listen to me and apologize to him," the deaf old lady acted as a peacemaker.

"It's not enough to just apologize, you have to at least compensate me with a room, no, two rooms." After being knocked to the ground, Jia Dongxu perked up again after hearing what the deaf old lady said.

"Old lady, how old are you?" Zhang Dabao did not answer the deaf old lady's question, but asked her a question.

"I'm seventy this year," said the deaf old lady proudly.

"You are seventy years old, not young anymore. I told you that you should worry less when you are old, otherwise you will not live long. Now I am not angry because you are old. If you say anything else, your age will not matter to me," Zhang Dabao said to the deaf old lady.

"Young man, the old lady is so old, why are you talking to her like that? Do you have any social ethics?" Yi Zhonghai on the other side became excited again.

"You bastard, you're already old, do you kowtow every day? If you can't speak, just shut your stinky mouth. You're so old, you've lived like a dog, and you can't say a word. What the hell are you?" Zhang Dabao continued to confront him.

"Who dares to hit our Dongxu..." A ball-like person came to the central courtyard. She was Jia Dongxu's mother Zhang Cuihua.

"Is it you, little bastard, is it..." Zhang Cuihua raised her head and saw a familiar face, looking at her with a smile.

"Are you Da Biao?" Zhang Cuihua quickly stopped cursing and changed the subject.

"I was the one who beat Jia Dongxu. Don't you want to ask why?" Zhang Dabao took a step forward, came to Zhang Cuihua, and asked with a smile.

"You hit Dongxu, then it's okay, it's definitely wrong for you to hit him. Dabiao, this is assigned to this courtyard?" Zhang Cuihua's words shocked everyone at the scene. Is she still the unreasonable and shady bitch? It's definitely wrong for Dongxu to hit him, what's the point of saying this? This sentence is completely inconsistent with your personality. You are Zhang Cuihua, one of the most ruthless people in Hongxing Street.

"Mom, he hit me very hard," Jia Dongxu came over and said to his mother. It was obvious that he didn't understand why Zhang Cuihua said that.

"Dongxu, this is your seventh uncle. Isn't it right for him to hit you? Didn't you speak nicely to your seventh uncle?" Zhang Cuihua scolded her son while winking at him.

"My seventh uncle, isn't he a soldier?" A figure appeared in Jia Dongxu's memory and gradually overlapped with the person in front of him.

"Is it impossible for me to be demobilized since I was in the army? Jia Dongxu, let me ask you, did you visit your uncles during the New Year?" Zhang Dabao walked up to Jia Dongxu and asked.

"No, I..." Jia Dongxu stammered, not knowing what to say.

"Da Biao, this is my fault. I had a bad relationship with his uncle's family the last time I went back to the village. Plus, our family is in financial difficulty this year, so I didn't let him go back," Zhang Cuihua hurriedly tried to smooth things over for her son.

"Zhang Cuihua, how old is your son? You are still protecting him. Not only is he uneducated, he also doesn't understand human relationships. Let me ask you, how many years has he not been to Zhangjia Village? Has your family been in difficulty every year? Why didn't you tell me that you took your family to Zhang Dasong to eat and drink for free? Who's family is not in difficulty now? He went to his uncle's house during the Spring Festival to pay New Year's greetings. Is he too young? Who the hell cares about your stuff?" Zhang Dabao's voice became louder and louder, and finally he pointed at Zhang Cuihua's nose and asked.

"Who was Da Biao arguing with?" Zhang Lianhua asked her brother after leaving the room.

"Sister, why are you here?" Zhang Lianhua was surprised to see Zhang Cuihua.

"Lianhua is here too. I also live in this courtyard. Did you come to see me or stay here?" Zhang Cuihua couldn't answer Zhang Dabao's question. When she saw Zhang Lianhua appear, she immediately went to greet her, which helped her out.

"Youxing is gone, and I'm back to Zhangjia Village now. Dabiao brought me here and asked if he could find a job for me. Is this your son Dongxu?" Zhang Lianhua saw her eldest nephew standing there with a dusty face.

"Aunt" Jia Dongxu is more familiar with Zhang Lianhua because Zhang Lianhua also married into Jiajia Village, and her husband is Jia Youxing, Jia Dongxu's uncle who is within the fifth degree of mourning.

"Come in and talk. I'll go cook some more food. We just arrived today and only brought a small pot, so it might take a while," Zhang Lianhua explained, and then she pulled Zhang Cuihua into her house to sit down.

"Lotus, don't sit down. You just arrived, so clean up first. You will be staying here too, so we have plenty of time to talk." Zhang Cuihua rejected her sister's invitation.

"Come again when you have time, Da Biao, would you like some noodles?" Zhang Lianhua asked her brother.

"Okay, put an egg for Jingshu," Zhang Dabao turned around and said to his second sister.

After Yi Zhonghai and others saw Zhang Cuihua coming, the situation changed completely. In the end, it turned out to be a family reunion scene. What was going on? It seemed that Jia Dongxu had no hope of getting the house. He didn't get the house, but was scolded here. Yi Zhonghai remembered this incident.

"Go back," Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and asked everyone to leave.

Chapter 11 Zhang Cuihua's Persuasion

When Zhang Cuihua saw that everyone had left, she pulled down her son's clothes and wanted to leave too.

"Zhang Cuihua, it seems your son is really ignorant. You told him who I am, but he didn't even come over to say hello? I really don't know who he takes after. As far as I remember, Jia Youfu is not such a person. He is very talkative, otherwise he wouldn't have tricked you into the city." Seeing that Jia Dongxu wanted to turn around and leave, Zhang Dabao retorted to Zhang Cuihua.

"Da Biao, don't meet him. He is still a child." Zhang Cuihua quickly pushed her son and explained to Zhang Da Biao.

"A child? Are you kidding? When has he ever been a child in your eyes? Is Jia Dongxu three hundred months old?" Zhang Dabao asked.

Zhang Lianhua on the side laughed and said, "Da Biao, how can you talk like that?"

"Seventh Uncle" Jia Dongxu called out awkwardly.

"Dongxu, today is the third day of the Chinese New Year, and tomorrow is the fourth day. It's not too late to visit relatives now. Come to my uncle's house tomorrow and bring your child with you," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu, acknowledging this nephew.

Jia Dongxu did not continue to go back to He's house to drink, but went straight back home, "Mom, why didn't you help me? Zhang Dabao beat me so hard?" Jia Dongxu was not satisfied with his mother's performance and asked the reason.

"Dongxu, should I help you? Have you forgotten who your seventh uncle is? How dare I mess with him? He won't stop just because I'm his sister. When he was thirteen years old, he slashed your eldest aunt with a knife and chased her around the village for a long time, determined to kill her. If your second uncle hadn't stopped Dabiao and made your eldest aunt kneel down and apologize to your third uncle, she might have been killed by Dabiao." Zhang Cuihua said here, looking at her son.

"Is he so cruel?" Jia Dongxu obviously didn't know how brave his seventh uncle was.

"That's just the beginning. Have you forgotten what your cousin Shoucheng said years ago? Da Biao almost beat him to death with his crutch. After knocking him down, he kept hitting him. It looked like he wanted to beat him to death. Your aunt was also hit several times in order to protect your cousin. And your cousin's wife was beaten to the point of vomiting blood," Zhang Cuihua continued to say to her son.

"His name is Zhang Dabao. Is he really fierce? He beats people so cruelly. Doesn't the country care?" Jia Dongxu said angrily.

"Why didn't they care? Shoucheng went to the commune to report it at that time, and then your uncle was arrested. The commune director told the villagers that your seventh uncle had a head injury. Anyone who provokes him deserves to be beaten to death. Doesn't your uncle live in his hometown house? That's why he was beaten. Don't provoke him in the future. He doesn't care about the severity of his attacks. What if he hurts you?" Zhang Cuihua also advised her son not to provoke her little cousin.

"If it wasn't for the house, would I bother with him? It's as if no one would want to mess with him," Jia Dongxu knew that the beating was in vain after hearing what his mother said, and his expression immediately became depressed.

"Dongxu, take a rest and then go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some snacks, such as a bag of peach cakes and some fried dough twists," Zhang Cuihua thought of something and said to her son.

"Mom, these things are so expensive, and they require tickets. Why should I buy them?" Jia Dongxu became anxious when he heard about spending money and didn't want to buy them.

"Tomorrow go to your seventh uncle's and aunt's homes in the backyard to pay New Year's greetings. When you go home, your seventh uncle will tell you to bring the children over tomorrow. If you don't go, he might really make trouble. If he beats you again, I won't be responsible." Seeing that her son didn't want to go, Zhang Cuihua explained the seriousness of the situation to him.

"Is this my uncle? This is an ancestor. How can I afford to buy this?" Jia Dongxu was overwhelmed when he heard what his mother said.

"Dongxu, you decide for yourself." Zhang Cuihua was a little unhappy when she saw her son's attitude, so she went to the outer room and lay down on her own small bed.

Zhang Dabao had lunch and asked Zhang Lianhua to rest at home. He came to the Red Star Supply and Marketing Cooperative, which was closest to Yard 95, and bought pots, pans, two thermoses, spittoons, some miscellaneous items, and two new clothes for Jia Jingshu. He found a three-wheeled cart from the supply and marketing cooperative, put all the things on the cart, and then went into the alley on the side of the supply and marketing cooperative. When he came out, he was holding two sets of bedding, a military coat, and two more sets of children's clothes. He thought of Qin Huairu's two children, seven-year-old Jia Geng and ten-month-old Jia Dang.

After putting down the things, he went to the alley on the other side. This time he brought out rice, flour, grain, oil, and two or three pounds of pork.

When they arrived at the gate of No. 95 Courtyard, Zhang Dabao and the cart driver made three trips back and forth before they transported all the things back home. They paid the freight and let the driver go.

Zhang Lianhua was sorting out Zhang Dabao’s new things at home, “Dabao, how much money did you spend? You bought too much.”

"We have moved to a new house, so everything must be new. Put all the food in your room. The people living here are mixed. This is not the village, and some people have dirty hands," Zhang Dabao instructed his sister.

"Is there anyone else stealing things? You have to put the things away." Zhang Lianhua was shocked to hear that there were actually bad people in the capital city. She had to put all the things away.

Zhang Dabao bought so many things and when he was moving them, some people in the yard saw it and started talking about it.

At Yan Bugui's house in front, "Old Yan, the young man who just came to the backyard is Zhang Cuihua's younger brother. Jia Dongxu got drunk and started trouble, and ended up being beaten badly," Yang Ruihua said to his wife.