Siheyuan: Struggle Begins in the 1950s

Wang Jianjun thought to himself, that’s exactly it.

How many good people can there be in a courtyard full of birds?

"Uncle, don't worry. I'm old enough now and can take care of myself."

After they chatted for a while, Wang Jianjun mentioned the purpose of his visit.

"Uncle, I'm working as a buyer at my dad's steel mill. I came back to the village this time to help the factory purchase some supplies. You can take me to meet the village chief later. I haven't been back for so many years that many people in the village don't recognize me."

Wang Decai took out a cigarette, put it on the table, flicked it and asked:

"The village chief of our village is your third uncle. I'll take you to meet him later. We are from the same village, so it will be more convenient for you to do things in the future.

But isn't your father a fitter? How come he is a buyer here?"

Wang Jianjun took out the opened Daqianmen from his arms and handed it over, saying:

"Uncle smokes this, this cigarette has a filter.

I am not taking over this job from my father. I made a great contribution in the army and they arranged a job for me which also happens to be in a steel rolling mill.

By the way, uncle, do you want to take my dad's job? I have a formal job now, so it would be a waste to leave the position unused."

Wang Decai refused without even thinking:

"Forget it. I, your uncle, have been farming all my life, so I am not cut out to be a worker. Besides, my whole family lives in the countryside, so it's not realistic for us all to move to the city."

Seeing his uncle's firm attitude, Wang Jianjun didn't mention it again.

After the three chatted for a while, Wang Decai took Wang Jianjun to the village secretary's house to get acquainted with him.

Laoyugou Village is a natural village developed from a clan, and most of the villagers have the surname Wang.

Neighbors are more or less related.

My third uncle Wang Honglin was a respected elder in their village. He had studied in a private school and was well educated. He was the village chief before the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Wang Decai brought Wang Jianjun to the other party's house to recognize each other as relatives, and asked the other party to help notify the villagers to cooperate with Wang Jianjun's work.

In remote natural villages like this, interpersonal relationships are often more important when speaking and doing things.

The old uncle was also willing to take care of the younger generation, so he asked Wang Jianjun to come early tomorrow morning and he would personally take Wang Jianjun to go shopping.

After so many years of development, Laoyugou Village now has about a hundred households.

My uncle has been the village chief for so many years, and he basically knows what good things everyone has.

With him in the picture, everyone will give Wang Jianjun face, and it is also much more convenient when purchasing things.

Wang Decai thanked Wang Jianjun and the old village chief on his behalf, then took out the Daqianmen and a bottle of Lianhuabai that Wang Jianjun had brought him and stuffed them into the old uncle's mouth before taking Wang Jianjun home.

Wang Jianjun also realized that he was still not mature enough in terms of social skills. When he went to his elders' house to ask them to help with something, he even forgot to prepare a gift.

On the way back, Wang Decai took Wang Jianjun to visit several relatives.

My second brother's nephew is going to be the head of the family, so it would be easier to ask these relatives for help if they need any help in the future.

But both of them deliberately avoided Wang Jianjun's uncle's house.

Wang Defa has another brother, the eldest brother Wang Deyao.

The names of the three brothers together represent the most straightforward wish of grandfather Wang Jianjun.

To get rich!

Unfortunately, the old man was unable to realize this wish at the moment of his death.

Wang Jianjun didn't even know his grandfather's name because Wang Defa rarely mentioned anything about his grandfather.

He had heard a lot of things from his uncle.

Wang Jianjun's grandmother died early, and his grandfather was the same type of person as Liu Haizhong, favoring his eldest son.

The second son and the youngest son were basically left alone.

Later, Wang Jianjun's uncle married a shrew, and the situation became even worse.

Wang Jianjun's aunt was a money-hungry person. She often gossiped in front of the old man and was not nice to her two younger brothers-in-law.

Later, under the instigation of the eldest son's family, Wang Jianjun's grandfather divided the family early, and when dividing the family, he was even unwilling to give the house and land to the second and third sons.

It was only with the help of the great uncle and a group of elders that the two brothers were able to obtain a few acres of land.

Wang Defa was also tough. At the age of sixteen, he took his twelve-year-old brother to settle down at the foot of the mountain.

Not only did they build houses, they also reclaimed some fields.

It was at that time that Wang Defa went to the city to do odd jobs to earn money, and later went to a steel rolling mill to work as an apprentice.

As for Wang Jianjun's grandfather, he was unable to realize his wish until he died.

After he divided all his property among his eldest son, his wife seemed like a different person.

Not only did they dislike him, they even refused to treat him well with food and drink.

In the past, we could eat white flour buns and even meat occasionally, but after the separation, only cornmeal porridge was left.

Wang Defa and Wang Decai don’t know whether the old man regretted it later.

Because after the family split up, the old man no longer had any contact with his other two sons.

When the old man passed away, Wang Defa and Wang Decai went to see him off. By then, there was very little flesh left on the old man's body.

Wang Jianjun's aunt only pretended to cry a few times at the funeral, but she didn't shed a single tear.

Anyone with a discerning eye knows her character.

Laoyugou Village is not big, and any gossip can spread throughout the village within two days.

So later on, Wang Deyao's family became notorious in the village.

In Wang Jianjun's opinion, the only person who could be compared with his aunt was probably Jia Zhang.

After visiting all the way back home, as soon as I arrived at the door, I saw Wang Jianshe and Wang Wenjuan playing pebbles there.

Seeing Wang Jianjun coming back, the two of them immediately came forward to greet him.

"Third Brother!"

Wang Jianjun is the only son, but there are two boys in Wang Deyao's family who are older than Wang Jianjun.

Although the two companies do not interact, the rankings cannot be messed up.

Wang Jianjun smiled and took out some fruit candies and gave them to the two of them.

These are the few he hid away. My uncle and his wife are usually frugal.

It is estimated that the bag of fruit candy will not reach the hands of the two little ones before the end of the year.

Both of them were excited when they saw the candy.

After getting his father's approval, he shared the candies.

There was still some time before dinner, so Wang Jianjun and Wang Decai informed the brother and sister and took them for a walk nearby.

Wang Jianshe first set his sights on Wang Jianjun’s bicycle.

Bicycles, which are rare in the city, are even rarer in these mountain valleys.

Wang Jianshe looked at the bicycle eagerly and asked:

"Brother San, can I ride your bike?"

"Of course, but can you ride it?"

Wang Jianshe shook his head. He had only seen a bicycle but had never touched one.

"Come on, I'll teach you how to ride."

As he said this, he took down the bamboo basket on the back of the bicycle and let Wenjuan sit on it.

Wang Jianjun sat on the crossbar of the bicycle.

The three of them rode their bicycles to the village’s public threshing ground.

Wang Jianjun first asked Wen Juan to sit aside and watch while he acted as a coach.

Learning to ride a bicycle is not difficult. As long as the bicycle does not fall over after the person teaching you lets go, you have learned it. If it falls over, you just have to start over.

Wang Jianshe has good balance. After Wang Jianjun helped him ride twice and he fell once, he was able to ride on his own again.

This caused Wang Wenjuan, who was standing by, to clap and cheer.