Siheyuan: Security Office of Wude

Zhu Qingan rolled his eyes at him and said, "How dare you say that? Give it to me and I'll fix it for you."

Of course, making dumplings also includes a traditional activity - putting coins inside.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the first set of RMB coins was minted in 55 and officially issued in 57. Now it is widely circulated. Bai Wanli took two coins and asked Zhu Qingan to put them into dumplings.

"Be careful when you eat it, don't swallow the coins."

Finally, after twelve o'clock, the white and plump dumplings were thrown into the boiling pot. After the dumplings floated up, cold water was added twice. After it boiled again, a bowl of dumplings was ready.

Everyone held the steaming hot bowls, blew on them, and after they cooled down a little, they dipped them in soy sauce or vinegar and stuffed them into their mouths. Soon, the first coin of the Bai family appeared.

With a cry of "ouch", everyone in the room looked at Wu Yongqing.

"Did you get a coin?"

Wu Yongqing didn't say anything, but carefully spit a coin into his palm, then raised it with a smile on his face.

"Yongqing, congratulations, next year... no, this year you will definitely have good luck"

Everyone said some words of congratulations, then looked at each other, and the atmosphere suddenly changed.

We only made two coin dumplings today. Wu Yongqing ate one, so there is only one chance left.

The speed at which everyone ate dumplings increased instantly.

Although Bai Wanli wanted to complain that the location of the remaining dumpling was decided when it was served, and it was useless for you to eat fast, he was unconsciously affected by this atmosphere and sped up.

Damn! What kind of weird desire to win?

Similar situations are happening in other houses in the yard at the same time.

The Yan family also cooked dumplings, but unlike other families that opened the pot and saw white dumplings, the Yan family opened the pot and saw yellow dumplings in the pot.

Because of the steam that blinded him, Yan Bugui couldn't see what was in the pot for a moment, and could only repeatedly say: "Ruihua, can you please give me a bowl of dumplings, give me a bowl of dumplings quickly."

Yang Ruihua took the soup spoon and scooped it into the pot, then smashed it on the edge of the pot, making a crisp sound.

"Where are the dumplings?! Old Yan, look at this, it's all just noodle soup!"

Everyone blew away the steam, and then they could see the situation in the pot clearly. The yellow area was all cracked dumpling skins, and the cabbage and meat stuffing inside had all scattered in the pot and turned into soup.

Yan Jiefang retracted his head as soon as he saw it and complained, "I just said that this would definitely not work. The noodles are said to be mixed with a little corn flour, but I think at least half of it is yellow. It's already cracked before it's even cooked. If it's put into the pot, won't it turn into noodle soup?"

"Brother, do you have cornmeal noodle soup?"

“My dad is creative.”

After being insulted by his two sons, Yan Bugui felt a little embarrassed. But even so, it was impossible for him to waste food. He gritted his teeth and said:

"What are you two saying? I'm just trying to make sure my family can have enough to eat. Besides, what's the difference between noodle soup and dumplings? Aren't they just noodles and vegetables?"

"Dad, you're so stubborn. If you say that, then noodles are noodles and vegetables, and steamed buns are noodles and vegetables, aren't they the same?"

"Don't say anything else. Anyway, this is our dumpling soup this year. Ruihua, serve a bowl to everyone, and go to bed after eating."

Yang Ruihua also knew that it was impossible for his family to get another bag of white flour to make dumplings, so he could only hold his nose and eat this strange corn flour noodle soup.

Corn flour is rough in texture, absorbs water easily, and lacks stickiness. After being boiled in water, it becomes very loose and tastes strange.

In reality, some people use corn flour mixed with white flour to make buns, but the buns are steamed, and they can still maintain their shape after steaming. There is really no other way.

Yan Jiefang said while eating:

"It's not as sticky as cornmeal porridge, nor as smooth as noodle soup. What the hell is this?"

"Eat if you have something to eat. Can't eating keep your mouth shut?"

"There is food to eat, but I know that bag of flour in our house is wasted. If I had known this, I would have ordered some noodle soup instead."

Yan Bugui, who was speechless, simply pretended to be dead and did not respond to Yan Jiefang's complaints.

Yan Jiefang had been acting weird the whole time, trying to force Yan Bugui to get some white flour to make normal dumplings for his family, but seeing that this was impossible, he stopped making sarcastic remarks. The family finally finished this strange meal of "dumplings" in a silent and weird atmosphere, and after cleaning up, they went to bed.

Hopefully next year will be better...

Chapter 287: New Year's Day, Yan Jie Di, the Cheating Father

The next day, the first day of the Lunar New Year, the courtyard was bustling early in the morning.

Some children wore new clothes. Even if their families could not afford to make new clothes, they could at least have a pair of new gloves, or wash their clothes clean. Then they went door to door to wish everyone a happy new year.

"Uncle Yan, I wish you all the best in the new year and a healthy and energetic life."

"Aunt Zhao, I wish you good health and all the best"

"Uncle Liu, I wish you and your family happiness and peace every year"

These children gathered together and said the auspicious words they had memorized. Most of them had not grown all their teeth yet, so they spoke with a lisp. Their mouths missing teeth looked very cute.

During the Chinese New Year, most people will not be too stingy. Seeing a group of children wishing them a happy new year, they will always give them some New Year's money.

Those in need will be given one or two cents, and those who are rich will be given one or two cents.

After a round of New Year greetings in the yard, a child can get a few cents of New Year's money.

Bai Wanli didn't put on airs at this time. A group of children came to wish him a happy new year and said a few nice words. Bai Wanli was willing to give them some New Year's money. After all, it wasn't much for him.

After visiting all the families, the children dispersed and went home. Their parents asked them how much New Year's money they had received.

The same is true for the Yan family. Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang are already grown-ups. It is too embarrassing to ask for New Year's money with a bunch of little kids. People in the yard are definitely not willing to give it, so Yan Jiedi is the only one in the Yan family who pays New Year's greetings in the yard.

As soon as his daughter came back, Yan Bugui couldn't wait to ask:

"Jie Di, how much New Year's money did you receive?"

Yan Jiedi held a pile of loose bills and coins in her left hand and a fifty-cent note in her right hand, and said in a baby voice:

“This is from Uncle Bai.”

Bai Wanli's family was wealthy, so they gave him more New Year's money than other families, but he was not a sucker, and he would not deliberately give others a red envelope of eight or ten yuan to let others check him, so he gave 50 cents.

With Bai Wanli's 50 cents, plus the money from other families, Yan Jiedi earned almost one yuan just by doing a round of New Year's greetings in the yard. Her daily wage was higher than that of ordinary workers.

Yan Bugui's eyes sparkled, he rubbed his hands, and said with a smile on his face:

"Jie Di, it's not good for you to hold so much money. Give the money to Dad and I will keep it for you. When you get married in the future, I will buy you a dowry."

Although Yan Jie Di is young, she grew up in the Yan family environment. Compared with other children, she is really smart. When she heard that Yan Bugui wanted to take her money, Yan Jie Di stuffed the money into her arms.

"No!"

Yan Bugui would not give up easily when it came to the issue of money, and continued to coax her: "Jie Di, don't you trust Dad? Dad won't harm you. What if you are targeted by bad guys with so much money? Give it to Dad, and Dad will keep it for you, and nothing will happen."

Yan Jie Di's eyes started to roll around. Yan Bugui thought he had convinced his daughter and was about to continue trying, but Yan Jie Di turned around and ran out of the door, howling at the top of her lungs.

"Uncle Bai, help me!"

Yan Jie Di was abducted last time. Afterwards, she heard from her family and the street office that it was Bai Wanli who rescued her. Yan Jie Di still didn't quite understand what "abducting" meant and what the consequences were, but she knew that Bai Wanli could save her, so she started to cry.

The children had finished their worship and the parents were ready to take their children home to go shopping. Bai Wanli was also ready to go back and hug his wife for a nap, but when they heard the crying, they all stopped.

Bai Wanli was not familiar with the Yan family, and he could not tell that the crying voice was Yan Jiedi's. Although he thought that nothing serious would happen in the yard in broad daylight, he still walked quickly to the front yard just in case. When he saw that it was Yan Jiedi who was crying, Bai Wanli's mouth twitched and he said:

"Yan Jiedi, why are you crying?"

Others in the yard also came to watch the fun.

Yan Jiedi had tears in her eyes and her nose was twitching. She looked pitiful.

"Uncle Bai, my dad is trying to steal my New Year's money"

Yan Bugui didn't expect that his little daughter not only didn't listen to him, but also ran away and went to Bai Wanli to complain. Yan Bugui, who was shocked by Yan Jiedi's actions, hurried out to explain.

"No! Director Bai, I didn't mean to rob you of your money. I was just worried that Jie Di was too young to be safe with so much money, so I wanted to give it to her so that I could buy her a dowry in the future!"

No one in the yard believed what Yan Bugui said. Bai Wanli felt that this scene was familiar, as if he had experienced something similar when he was a child.

Xu Damao grabbed a handful of melon seeds and laughed:

"What are you talking about, Mr. Yan? The New Year's money given to Jie Di by the courtyard is her money. The dowry of a girl is always prepared by her parents. How can it be reasonable for a girl to spend her own money to prepare her own dowry?"

Aunt Wang squinted her eyes and said, "Isn't this the tradition of the Yan family? Sons have to pay for their own food and accommodation, and daughters have to pay for their own dowries. It's really funny to tell others about it."

Others also followed suit and started to mock Yan Bugui. Although it was common for parents to help their children "manage" their lucky money, when it came to Yan Bugui, it was as if he had committed some heinous crime and was to be condemned by thousands of people.

In fact, it all came down to Yan Bugui's bad reputation. He had pretended to be poor and ate and drank for free in the courtyard, which was too bad. Although Yan Bugui paid for the courtyard to have a meal, it only made people stop pursuing the matter. The reputation could not be restored.

When he was still a teacher, everyone politely called him Teacher Yan because their children were being educated by Yan Bugui. But now he has lost his job as a teacher and his reputation is completely ruined. If something like this happens again, he will surely be ridiculed by countless people.

Yan Bugui was mocked by a group of people and had no power to refute. He was not a martial artist, and he could not beat people up like Sha Zhu did before. He could only stand there stupidly, his old face flushed red.

Seeing this scene, Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang naturally would not come out to rescue, and even Yang Ruihua hid at home, not wanting to be blamed by everyone.

Bai Wanli didn't want them to be too noisy and disturb Zhu Qingan's rest.

"Okay, everyone, be quiet for a moment. Don't make the New Year unhappy because of such a small matter."

"Yan Bugui, Xu Damao is right. The New Year's money was given to Yan Jiedi, so it belongs to Yan Jiedi."

"If you are afraid that she will feel unsafe with the money or spend it recklessly, you should teach her how to spend money reasonably, save money, and do her duty to take care of the child. If you continue to neglect the child like you did last time, it will not be safe regardless of whether Yan Jie Di has money or not."

Chapter 288: Visiting Relatives During the Chinese New Year, Jia Zhang is Sick

Bai Wanli's words determined the nature of the matter. Yan Bugui hung his head, his face full of disappointment.

This time I didn't get the money and was ridiculed by others. I was taught a lesson by Bai Wanli. I really lost a lot.

The neighbors in the yard looked at Yan Bugui with mockery in their eyes.

No matter how nice Yan Bugui's words sounded, he was just trying to embezzle Yan Jiedi's New Year's money. Although this matter had nothing to do with them, Yan Bugui had a bad reputation, and they were happy to see Yan Bugui suffer.

Yan Jiedi didn't understand those great principles, but when she saw Yan Bugui's expression, she knew that her father had lost this time, and her New Year's money could be kept. She hugged Bai Wanli's legs, raised her head, and shouted in a leaky voice:

"Thank you Uncle Bai"

Bai Wanli looked at Yan Jie Di helplessly, not knowing whether to say that this girl was scheming or smart. Normally, a child would not be able to come up with such an idea to deal with his own father in such a situation.

However, thinking about the New Year's money that his parents had taken away for "safekeeping" and never saw again, Bai Wanli still didn't hate Yan Jie Di, the little devil, and reached out to pat her on the head.

"I'm going home, go play by yourself"