Siheyuan: Walking the Path of Qin Huairu

Back at Xu Huizhen's house, after He Yuzhu had divided the meat among his colleagues, he carried a sack and went home.

He threw the sack on the ground and asked his two apprentices to pick it up.

At this time, Li'er and Kunkun came running over, shouting, "Dad, Dad, you're back? I missed you so much."

He Yuzhu showed his big teeth happily, picked up the two little guys, one in his right hand and one in his left hand, and kissed them each on the face.

KunKun turned his face away in disdain and said, "Dad is bad, his beard pricks people."

Xu Huizhen came out and said, "Both of you get down. Your father just came back and is exhausted. Let him rest."

He Yuzhu put the child down, hugged his wife, and kissed her on the face. Yingzi, who was standing by, blushed and said, "Brother-in-law, can you please go inside and make out? It's unsightly!"

He Yuzhu said shamelessly: "It feels like a long time since we last met. Is it illegal for me to kiss my own wife?"

Han Qingqiu is old and conservative. He was shocked by this guy's shamelessness. He covered his eyes and pretended that he saw nothing.

He Yuzhu returned to the house, washed his face, and changed his clothes. The clothes he was wearing had been in a state of disrepair in the past few days.

Xu Huizhen made him a cup of tea. He sat down and drank it while enthusiastically telling his wife what he saw and heard on the road.

Hearing that sheep on the grassland cost 14 yuan each and beef cost more than 30 cents per pound, Xu Hui was extremely envious. She thought to herself that after Kun Kun was weaned, she must go to the grassland for a walk.

Ma Hua and Shuanzi quickly prepared the meal. The family sat down to eat. Hu Yingzi looked at the table full of meat and vegetables and said with regret, "It's a pity that Brother Jianshe is out driving. We won't be able to enjoy the meal."

Xu Huizhen rolled her eyes: "I only have eyes for you, Brother Jianshe!"

Hu Yingzi smiled shyly, not getting angry. "What's wrong? The governor is allowed to set fires, but the people are not allowed to light lamps? You and your brother-in-law are so sweet, and I am not allowed to think about my man?"

Xu Huizhen glared at him and said, "Hey, you are so rebellious. Where is your firewood stick? It seems that I haven't punished you recently. You are so capable now."

Kunkun slid down from the stool, ran into the kitchen, took out a fire stick, handed it to Xu Huizhen, and said, "Mom, this is for you!"

Yingzi was so angry that she grabbed the fire poker and said, "Kunkun, be good and give me the stick. Your aunt will buy you some candy tomorrow. Oh, you are so good." When he heard that there would be candy, Kunkun let go.

Yingzi threw the stick far away and made a face at Xu Huizhen.

After some fooling around, He Yuzhu suggested that we start eating. Braised mutton, beef stew with potatoes, and mutton soup were all served in small bowls, with large quantities to satisfy your appetite.

Although Ma Hua and Shuan Zi could get some grease in the canteen, it was impossible for them to eat so much meat. Especially Ma Hua, who had many brothers and sisters at home and lived in poverty, had to think about his family if he wanted to eat something delicious.

While eating, He Yuzhu said, "Ma Hua, when you leave, take some meat home to entertain your family. Shuanzi lives in a dormitory, I will make some braised beef and bring some to you later." They are both apprentices, so he has to treat them equally.

Shuanzi quickly expressed his opinion: "Master, you command and I will do it. It's a good opportunity for me to practice my skills."

After a meal, everyone was rubbing their stomachs and burping. Han Qingqiu was also very satisfied with her current life. She knew that it was a disaster year, and that she could eat such a meal thanks to Xu Huizhen and her husband. The only thing she could do was to help Huizhen take care of the two children.

After seeing Ma Hua and Shuan Zi off, Ying Zi went to clean up the dishes. Xu Huizhen didn't do the housework anyway. She had to take care of the crops in the space when she had time. Food was in short supply this year, so she basically didn't grow any vegetables. She only grew corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Eating these made her feel less hungry than eating vegetables.

In the evening, He Yuzhu asked, "Wife, there is still a lot of beef and mutton left. Do you think I should send some to Director Yang and Director Li?"

Xu Huizhen: "I don't think it's necessary. If you give it to them, they will think you have hidden a lot of meat. They are the leaders of the factory. If you bring back four carts of meat, how can you not have enough for them? In a few days, Xu Jianshe will be able to bring back a lot of apples. Giving them some apples will be the same."

The next day, Xu Huizhen left enough meat for the family to eat, and asked Cai Quanwu to pay for the rest, and still asked him to replace as many old items as possible.

Seeing that there was some meat left, Cai Quanwu sent another 20 kilograms of meat to his family. After all, the weather was cold and the meat could be kept for a long time.

As for Xu Jianshe, he was coming back from work, passing by Yushui County, and turned a corner and went back to Xujiawan. He hadn't been home since he came back to deal with Wen Xin's matter. He sent five yuan to his family every month as retirement money, and they could do whatever they wanted.

I have to go home and visit them this time, because they are my parents. Although Huizhen has told me about her experience in a dream, filial piety is very important in this era, so I have to do superficial work.

He knew that he would suffer a fate if he went home, and that he would be stabbed if he stuck his head out. He parked his car at the door of the warehouse and walked home. When he met people on the way, he deliberately shouted hello to let the neighbors know that he was back, so that if something unpleasant happened later, he could also let the neighbors be witnesses.

When he entered the house, Xu's mother was cooking in the main room. When she saw Xu Jianshe, she grabbed the stick in her hand and swung it at Xu Jianshe.

Xu Jianshe is no longer the Xu Jianshe of the past. He reached out and grabbed the stick in my mother's hand.

He raised his knees and pushed with both hands, breaking the stick into two. He threw the stick into the yard and said, "If mother doesn't want me to come back, I will never enter this house again."

After saying that, he turned and left. At this time, Xu Wannian came out of the inner room holding a pipe and shouted, "Second brother, come back here. Is this how you treat your parents who gave birth to you and raised you?"

Xu Jianshe stood in the yard and deliberately said loudly: "I really want to ask, am I your biological child? Why do I feel that only the eldest son is your son, and I seem to be adopted?"

Xu Wannian was so angry at Xu Jianshe's words that his hands were shaking: "You, you rebellious son! You have reported me to the police station, and you still won't allow your mother to beat you a few times?"

Xu Jianshe sneered, "Speaking of this, I would like to argue with you. Is there any mother who would drug her son? Is there any mother who sends another woman to her son's bed when she knows her son is engaged? How can she be a biological mother? Even a stepmother would not frame her son so blatantly."

Xu Wannian: "We don't agree with the woman you picked."

Xu Jianshe: "Times have changed. Freedom of marriage is advocated now. I forgot to tell you that I am already married and have obtained a marriage certificate. Our husband-wife relationship is protected by law."

Xu Wannian: "You! I never thought that after all the hard work we put into raising you, you would turn out to be such an ungrateful person!"

Xu Jianshe: "You did raise me. But how did you do it? I've been wearing clothes left over by my eldest son since I was little. Not to mention food, ever since I can remember, you've always said that my eldest son was weak and that the good food had to be given to him. I never had a share of the good food. But when it came to work, I did all the dirty and tiring work. Whenever there was good news, the eldest son was always given the first chance. I won't even mention the distant ones, but the most recent one was when someone found me a good job, and you did everything you could to get me to give it to my eldest son. I don't understand, we have the same sons, but why are we so different?"