Siheyuan: I have a multi-dimensional chat group!

"Holding a meeting before the New Year is a tradition in our institute. The selection of civilized institutes is over, and our institute remains a civilized institute. Let's all give ourselves a round of applause!"

The people present naturally gave Yi Zhonghai face and applauded enthusiastically.

After the applause subsided, Yi Zhonghai continued, "The peanuts and melon seeds that the neighborhood committee awarded us will be distributed in a couple of days. We'll distribute them together on New Year's Eve."

"This year, with all its ups and downs, is finally over. Any conflicts or arguments from the past are now behind us. Let's look forward together."

After hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, someone below chimed in, "That old man really knows how to put things into words!"

"Why don't you say a few words, Second Uncle?" Of course, there were also those who loved to watch the excitement.

When Liu Haizhong heard that someone wanted him to speak, he couldn't help but puff out his belly and adopt the air of a leader: "Well... ah... today is the Little New Year, and the year will soon be over. Um... yes, let's forget the past and welcome the future!"

Liu Haizhong stammered for a long time before finally coming up with this dry, uninspired sentence.

Furthermore, there is suspicion that it imitates Yi Zhonghai's legal insights.

Many people in the audience laughed out loud when they heard Liu Haizhong's speech.

Of course, there were also those who praised Liu Haizhong: "Well said, Uncle Erda has a good point!"

Xiao Shan was speechless. How could anyone support someone with this level of skill?

And why does this voice sound so familiar?

So they looked in the direction the sound came from and saw Liu Guangtian hiding furtively in a corner.

Clearly, he was just supporting his dad.

"Hey, I didn't realize this kid was such a filial son!" Xiao Shan chuckled to himself as he looked at the furtive Liu Guangtian.

After Liu Haizhong finished speaking, Yi Zhonghai asked Yan Bugui, who was standing to the side, "Third Uncle, would you like to say a few words?"

Yan Bugui nodded, stood up and said, "We'll do it the same way as every year. If you need couplets written, come to me! Just give me a little peanut or melon seed as payment."

"Uncle, give me a pack, I'll bring you some peanuts and melon seeds later," Xiao Shan said first.

Upon hearing that there was business to be done, Yan Bugui's face immediately lit up with a smile: "No problem, Xiaoshan, I'll write it for you as soon as I get back."

"Alright, if there's nothing else, then the meeting is adjourned!" Yi Zhonghai announced the meeting was over.

After the meeting, Xiao Shan took a small stool and went home.

He grabbed some peanuts and melon seeds, stuffed them into his pocket, and went out to find Yan Bugui to ask for a couplet.

When Xiao Shan arrived at Yan Bugui's house, Yan Bugui had already ground the ink and prepared red paper and a writing brush.

After placing the peanuts and melon seeds on the table, Xiao Shan said to Yan Bugui, "Third Uncle, this is my payment for writing. Please don't think it's too little."

“Not too little, not too little! It has to be the result of the labor of intellectuals that Xiaoshan respects the most,” Yan Bugui said to Xiaoshan with a smile.

Xiao Shan gently praised Yan Bugui, saying, "That's right. Our courtyard only has one intellectual, Uncle San. We can't do anything else in the courtyard, like writing, drawing, or keeping accounts. He can't do the math or write well with anyone else!"

Upon hearing Xiao Shan's words, Yan Bugui revealed a smug smile.

After writing a couplet, Yan Bugui put down his brush and said to Xiao Shan, "Xiao Shan, once the ink dries, take it back and store it properly. Take it out during the New Year, and I'll have Jiefang help you put it up. It definitely won't fade."

"Okay, I understand!" Xiao Shan nodded.

After the ink dried, Xiao Shan came out of Yan Bugui's house with the couplet in his hand.

Back home, Xiao Shan displayed the couplets and then prepared lunch.

Today is the Little New Year, so naturally we should eat something good.

So Xiao Shan took out the little hen he had previously purchased from the group store from the virtual warehouse of the chat group.

Kill them, and clean up the mess.

Then chop it into pieces with a kitchen knife.

Blanch the vegetables, stir-fry them first, then stew them with the mushrooms.

While one side was stewing chicken and mushrooms, the other side in Xiaoshan was making dumplings.

The chicken was stewed for more than half an hour, and the dumplings in Xiaoshan were almost finished being made.

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.

Xu Damao's voice came from outside: "Xiaoshan, open the door, it's your brother Mao."

Xiao Shan put the dumplings into the pot before opening the door.

Xu Damao walked in carrying a bowl of braised pork and a plate of steamed buns.

Watching Xu Damao place the things on the table, Xiao Shan asked with a smile, "Brother Mao, what brings you here?"

"It's almost the Lunar New Year, and I'm too lazy to go see my parents, so I'll just spend it in the yard by myself," Xu Damao said with a smile. "After thinking about it, Xiaoshan, you're the only one in the yard who suits my taste the most, so why don't I invite you to have something to eat with me!"

As he spoke, Xu Damao also smelled the aroma coming from inside the house: "Oh my, the chicken is stewing. Xiaoshan, your cooking skills are pretty good! With your skills, you don't need to ask Auntie San for help or give her any benefits."

"Brother Mao, I'm a bit lazy sometimes, so I had Auntie San do it for me to save trouble!" Xiao Shan said dismissively.

Xu Damao said with some envy, "Xiaoshan, you're the only one in our compound who's so carefree! I earn a lot, both my salary and extra income, but I just can't bear to let others take advantage of me. I'd rather cook for myself."

"Brother Mao, wait a minute, I'll go scoop the dumplings out!"

Xiao Shan scooped the cooked dumplings out of the water, then took out a bottle of Fenjiu liquor and a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his bedroom.

After placing everything on the table, Xiao Shan said to Xu Damao, "Brother Mao, just make do with this."

"Xiaoshan, you really don't compromise at all!" Xu Damao exclaimed.

As he spoke, Xu Damao poured himself a glass of Fenjiu liquor and took a sip.

He then picked up a piece of braised pork with his chopsticks, took out a Daqianmen cigarette, lit it, and took a puff.

Then, with a satisfied expression, he said, "This feels good, this is life."

Watching Xu Damao's fluid movements, Xiao Shan couldn't help but chuckle to himself, "This isn't enough to keep him busy!"

Xiao Shan picked up a piece of braised pork with his chopsticks and tasted it, then nodded: "Hmm, this braised pork is not bad!"

Xu Damao gets cocky after drinking and has no self-awareness whatsoever.

Hearing Xiao Shan praise his braised pork, Xu Damao said nonchalantly, "That's right, I just don't want to do wait-and-see work. Otherwise, with my cooking skills, what would Sha Zhu have to do at the steel mill?"

"I'm a cultured man. You see, when the leaders entertain guests, they call me 'brother' many times!"

"Why? It's because my buddy is a smooth talker."

Looking at Xu Damao, who had already become arrogant, Xiao Shan was speechless.

Wasn't it because I wanted to invite you to show a movie?

Of course, you can't say it aloud while thinking this in your mind.

Xiao Shan laughed and said, "Brother Mao is right. When it comes to movie narration, no one in the steel mill can compare to Brother Mao! After listening to your narration, the other projectionists simply can't listen to it."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao was overjoyed.

"Xiaoshan, the leaders at the steel mill don't think you're good enough. They're afraid you'll take their positions, so they're deliberately not promoting you," Xu Damao said confidently. "But they won't be able to keep you in check anytime soon!"

Seeing Xu Damao's expression, Xiao Shan knew that he was probably going to marry Lou Xiao'e.

He Yuzhu was spurred on by Xu Damao finding a girlfriend, which prompted him to consider finding a partner and getting married.

Now that He Yuzhu is married, Xu Damao will naturally be close to getting married as well.

Without Xiao Shan even asking, Xu Damao revealed his intention to marry Lou Xiao'e.

Watching Xu Damao fantasize about how he could rise through the ranks after marrying Lou Xiao'e, relying on Lou Bancheng's connections, Xiao Shan couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

Xiao Shan knew very well that in this day and age, Xu Damao, having married the daughter of a big capitalist, had absolutely no room for advancement.

However, he did not tell Xu Damao this.

Given Xu Damao's current state, even if he told him, Xu might not believe him.

She might even think she's jealous of him!

Xiaoshan would naturally not do something so thankless and arduous.

Besides, given Xu Damao's personality and style, being promoted might not necessarily be a good thing for him.

If you honestly work as a member of the working class, you can at least save your life!

After listening to Xu Damao's boasting, Xiaoshan's chicken stew with mushrooms was almost ready.

When Xiao Shan served the chicken stew with mushrooms, the rich aroma sobered up Xu Damao, who had been quite drunk.

Seeing Xiao Shan place a bowl of chicken in front of him, Xu Damao couldn't wait to taste it.

While eating, he kept exclaiming, "Delicious! It's fucking delicious!"

Xiao Shan picked up a chicken leg and started eating it.

After finishing the chicken leg, Xiao Shan looked at Xu Damao and asked, "By the way, Brother Mao, is the steel mill showing movies before the New Year?"

"We definitely have to release them!" Xu Damao thought for a moment, "But it's not decided yet. We have to take care of the farmers first. They definitely have to be released on the 28th or 29th!"

"What, want to watch a movie?" Xu Damao asked with a smile.

Xiao Shan nodded: "Staying at home is boring, so I'll join in the fun."

They poured themselves a glass of wine and started chatting about all sorts of things.

Xu Damao's alcohol tolerance was indeed poor; he collapsed onto the table while talking.

Seeing that Xu Damao was drunk, Xiao Shan could only help him home and put him on the bed.

Then I went home, tidied up the table, and sat down to rest for a while.

Chapter 74, Setting off Firecrackers and Watching a Movie! (Please Subscribe!)

After resting for a while, Xiao Shan decided to go out for a walk to digest his food.

As soon as Xiao Shan stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw many children setting off small firecrackers.

Seeing the children having so much fun, Xiao Shan felt a little itchy to join in.

So I decided to buy two hanging baskets.

Anyway, today is the Little New Year, so setting off a couple of strings of firecrackers is a way to celebrate.

Having made up his mind, Xiao Shan went to the firecracker shop on the street corner and bought a few strings.

Back in front of the courtyard gate, Xiao Shan took out a string of firecrackers, lit them, and threw them on the ground.

The firecrackers that fell to the ground immediately exploded with a series of crackling sounds.

Many children gathered around as they watched the firecrackers explode.

A child, watching the exploding firecrackers, said enviously to Xiao Shan, "Uncle Xiao Shan, you should open them one by one, so you can set them off slowly. You're going too fast."

"It's alright, your Uncle Xiaoshan won't miss out on a few firecrackers."

Xiao Shan took out two strings of firecrackers from the bag, lit one string, and threw it out.

It earned it the envious glances of all the children.

Xiao Shan handed another string of firecrackers to the child who had just spoken to him: "You can take this string of firecrackers and share it! Everyone should get some, don't fight or snatch them."

The child who received the firecrackers immediately said to Xiao Shan, "Thank you, Uncle Xiao Shan."

The other children also gathered around: "Thank you, Uncle Xiaoshan!"

Looking at these well-mannered children, Xiao Shan nodded in satisfaction.

After putting the remaining firecrackers at home, Xiao Shan came out through the back door and began to stroll around the streets of Beijing.

Although today is only the Little New Year, the festive atmosphere is already gradually intensifying.

The streets were filled with the sounds of firecrackers and children making noise.

Before my trip to Xiaoshan, I hadn't experienced this strong festive atmosphere since elementary school.

After I grew up and started working, the New Year celebrations lost all their meaning.

Time quickly came to the twenty-eighth.

Xu Damao was right; the steel rolling mill showed a movie that day.

When Xiao Shan arrived at the steel rolling mill square, quite a few people had already gathered.

If we come later, there might not even be a standing room left.