chsdbacks Chapter 230 Another Chapter: The Four-Courtyard House
Chapter 230 Another Chapter: The Four-Courtyard House
Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e quickly walked over and looked Lin Yan up and down, their eyes filled with shock and joy.
"Oh my! It really is Xiao Yan!" Lou Xiao'e excitedly grabbed Lin Yan's arm, her eyes slightly red. "You...you look so good! Your heart condition...is it cured?!" She remembered clearly that when Lin Yan was hospitalized, he looked so frail and sickly that he could be blown away by a gust of wind. But the young man before her was upright, with a rosy complexion and bright, clear eyes. Where was the trace of illness?
Xu Damao also clicked his tongue in amazement: "My God! Xiao Yan, you've been treated in the south and you've completely transformed! If your face hadn't changed so much, I wouldn't have recognized you!" His gaze fell on Xiao Qi, who was hugging and munching on a candied hawthorn in Lin Yan's arms, and on that eye-catching red cotton vest. "Wow! This... this is your pet? It's really... energetic."
"My cousin and his wife gave this to me to keep me company," Lin Yan explained with a smile. At the same time, his mind raced, and he instantly sent out a divine sense: "Lin Gang, Yu Ling, I ran into Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e on Qianmen Street. Come to my rescue quickly. Don't forget to call Yu Ling Wang Cuihua, and dress her simply."
Almost immediately, Lin Gang responded in his mind: "Yes, young master, don't worry."
After severing his connection with Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e, Lin Yan gave them a slightly apologetic look: "Brother Damao, Sister Xiao'e, I need to wait here for my cousin and his wife. They went to buy some things and will be back in a bit. When they arrive, shall we find a place to sit down and talk?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Damao waved his hand enthusiastically and said, "Why are we looking for a place to talk? Let's go back to the yard! The steel mill is closed for lunch today, I'm going to buy some groceries. When we get back to the yard, I'll have Shazhu cook us a good meal! We must properly celebrate your recovery!"
He had barely finished speaking when a woman's urgent voice came from outside the crowd: "Xiao Yan! I told you not to wander off! If it weren't for your tall stature drawing attention, where would your sister-in-law have found you?"
Lin Gang and Wang Yuling, dressed in simple blue cotton-padded jackets and gray scarves, were seen struggling to squeeze through the crowd, carrying large and small bags of New Year's goods, their faces showing concern.
"Gangzi! Sister-in-law Cuihua!" Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e greeted them warmly.
"Brother Da Mao, Sister-in-law Xiao E!" Lin Gang said with a simple smile, and Wang Cuihua quickly responded, "Oh dear, I was wondering why I felt like something good was going to happen today. Turns out we ran into our old neighbor!"
Xu Damao, with his sharp eyes, noticed that the New Year's goods Lin Gang and Wang Yuling were carrying included not only pastries and dried fruits, but also two sizable pieces of pork belly and a large carp—a truly lavish feast! He immediately became even more enthusiastic, grabbing Lin Gang's arm:
"Gangzi, Cuihua! This isn't the place to talk. Come on, let's go back to the courtyard! Perfect timing, let Shazhu show us his skills, let's have some fun tonight! I'm going to buy groceries now..." He said, heading towards the market.
Lin Gang quickly grabbed him, pointed to the meat and fish he was carrying, and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Da Mao! Look, Gangzi, we're already carrying groceries! Why do we need to buy more? This is enough! Don't waste any more money!"
Xu Damao took a look and, sure enough, the meat and fish were much more substantial than the snacks he had planned to buy to go with his drinks! He chuckled sheepishly and readily agreed, "Right, right! Look at my brain, I get all confused when I'm excited! Let's not delay any longer, let's hurry back to the courtyard! Sha Zhu must be there by now!"
The group, carrying abundant New Year's goods and holding Xiaoqi who was munching on candied hawthorns, walked noisily towards Nanluoguxiang. Xu Damao was pondering how to talk to Shazhu, Lou Xiao'e was having a private chat with Wang Cuihua, and Lin Gang and Lin Yan exchanged a knowing glance.
No. 95 Nanluoguxiang Courtyard
As the year draws to a close, the courtyard is busier and more lively than usual. In the front yard, Uncle Yan Fugui and Aunt Yang Ruihua are busy preparing dinner in their makeshift kitchen. The past two years have been tough, with low rations, but thankfully some coarse grains can still be found on the black market. Life is tight, but they manage to get by.
Hearing Xu Damao's loud voice outside, Yan Fugui quickly wiped his hands and went to the front door to look around.
"Hey, Damao, you're back? What good stuff did you buy?" He adjusted his glasses and glanced at Xu Damao's hands.
Xu Damao, however, smugly stretched out his hand, blocking Yan Fugui's probing gaze, and turned to the side, revealing Lin Yan and the others behind him: "Third Uncle, don't look at me yet, look who's back?"
Yan Fugui looked closely, his face instantly filled with surprise and enthusiasm: "Oh my! Gangzi! Cuihua! Xiaoyan! You...you're back?!"
At this moment, Yang Ruihua also heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen. As soon as she saw Wang Cuihua, she immediately grabbed her hand affectionately: "Cuihua! Oh my, you're finally back! It's been almost two years since you left... Xiaoyan, your health... is it much better now?" She looked at Lin Yan, who had a rosy complexion and a straight posture, and could hardly believe her eyes.
"Quickly, come inside and sit down!" Yan Fugui hurriedly invited.
Xu Damao stopped the elderly couple, smiling as he said, "Uncle, Aunt, don't bother! We've already agreed to eat at my house tonight! Gangzi and the others brought some dishes, and Shazhu will prepare a feast later. You two can come over and have a drink together, it'll be quite a lively occasion!"
Upon hearing that there would be wine and food, and that it was cooked by Sha Zhu, Yan Fugui's eyes lit up, and he readily agreed, "Yes, yes! We won't stand on ceremony! We'll be there in a bit!"
After dealing with the Third Uncle, Xu Damao, Lin Yan, and the others passed through the hanging flower gate, arrived at the central courtyard, and went straight to the door of Sha Zhu's house.
"Silly Zhu! Silly Zhu!" Xu Damao shouted at the top of his lungs.
The door creaked open, and Sha Zhu, wearing an apron and holding a cabbage, glared at him irritably: "Xu Damao, are you trying to summon my soul? Spit it out!"
Xu Damao was in a good mood and didn't argue with him. He pointed to Lin Yan's family behind him and said, "Shazhu, look who's here! Lin Gang and his family from the front yard are back! I ran into them on Qianmen Street! They bought some groceries, so how about you treat them to a good meal? Consider it a welcome back dinner for Xiao Yan and a celebration of his recovery!"
"Gangzi? Xiaoyan?" Shazhu paused for a moment, then poked most of his body out of the doorway. Seeing that it was indeed Lin Gang and Lin Yan, a smile appeared on his face. "Hey! It really is you two! Good to be back!"
His gaze fell on the carp and pork belly Lin Gang was carrying. His eyes lit up, and he took them, weighing them in his hand. "Wow! This big carp, this three-layered pork belly, where did you buy these? This must have cost a fortune! Okay, these ingredients are top-notch! You go to Da Mao's house and wait here. I'll cook it and bring it over to you, I promise I'll make sure you understand everything!"
Sha Zhu is a straightforward person. When he sees good ingredients, his urge to cook kicks in. Without hesitation, he takes the vegetables back to his house, ready to show off his skills.
Xu Damao was finally satisfied. He led Lin Yan, Lin Gang, and Wang Cuihua, carrying Xiao Qi, towards his home in the backyard.
The news that "the sickly Lin family member has returned from his medical treatment" spread like wildfire throughout the No. 95 courtyard. Every household opened their windows to greet them, while many curious, surprised, and even calculating eyes were secretly observing the group's retreating figures.