Chapter 48: New Year's greetings at the Siheyuan
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, He Yuzhu woke up, had dinner with his family, and then drove everyone out to pay New Year's greetings.

It is a must to go to the big leader’s house.

I also visit the home of matchmaker Director Wang every year.

There are also some old relatives of the He family who I want to visit.

Although He Yuzhu is no longer a chef, one should not forget his roots.

In the past, when He Yuzhu hosted banquets for others, it was these old connections who introduced the business.

Now that I'm rich, although I can't bring them along with me, it's still necessary for me to visit them during the New Year.

By the way, He Yuzhu can also tell his children about his story of how he started making money when he was less than ten years old.

After waiting for relatives and friends to visit, we arrived at the courtyard.

When at Lou's house yesterday, Lou Zhendong specifically told He Yuzhu to go back to the courtyard to pay New Year's greetings to some old neighbors who had taken care of his family.

People cannot forget old relationships just because they have become successful.

Otherwise, if this matter were to spread, it would cause outsiders to become suspicious of He Yuzhu's character.

An old house where a treasure.

Lou Zhendong's words did serve as a reminder to He Yuzhu.

Originally, He Yuzhu planned to go back to the courtyard alone, burn some incense in front of his mother and the old lady's tablets, and say hello to the neighbors.

Because his father-in-law reminded him, He Yuzhu took his family out for a stroll and visited all the old relatives to wish them a happy new year.

It is said that He Yuzhu moved out with his family in November.

It’s been less than three months now, but when I came back, it was like a completely different world.

Every household posts Spring Festival couplets. No matter what the relationship is like on weekdays, when they meet at this time, they all say "Congratulations on your prosperity" and "Happy New Year".

Everyone celebrated the Spring Festival happily and no one felt uncomfortable.

"Uncle, I wish you a happy new year."

"Hey, Zhuzi, your family has been gone for several months. I haven't seen you for a long time."

As the third uncle spoke, he also clasped his fists and congratulated them, but his eyes were looking at He Yuzhu and the family behind him who were carrying large and small packages.

Suddenly he said, "Zhu Zi, your family was not at home during the New Year. The couplets on the door of your house were posted by me and your uncle."

"Uncle, thank you for your help. Here is your reward. Let's go home first."

After hearing this, He Yuzhu followed the old rules, took out a handful of melon seeds and milk candies from the package, stuffed them into the two children behind the third uncle, then ignored the third uncle's continued chatter and quickly said goodbye.

This third uncle is a calculating person. Even though his grandchildren have grown up, he is still like this. No wonder his children are unwilling to support him in his old age.

He Yuzhu didn't dare to talk to him for a long time, otherwise he would be plotted against.

Even if the couplets on my door were put up by someone else, it must have been paid for by a rich man.

The third uncle wants to have the best of both worlds and also wants to curry favor with others.

He Yuzhu refused to agree.

Lou Xiao'e and the four children also said hello and entered the courtyard.

The family greeted the neighbors in the courtyard along the way.

Everyone entered the central courtyard, and He Yuzhu asked Lou Xiao'e to open the door of her room and burn incense on the incense table where the tablets were placed.

He Yuzhu knocked on the wooden door of the old man's house himself.

"Zhu Zi, Xiao E, are back, and the children are back with them."

When the aunt saw He Yuzhu's family, she became very emotional. Over the years, she really treated He Yuzhu and Lou Xiao'e as her own children.

After He Yuzhu and his family moved away, the old lady cried a lot.

He Yuzhu greeted you first, then said, "Uncle, Aunt, I just came back from another place, and I've been busy with work since I came back, so I can only take advantage of the first day of the Lunar New Year to come and see you. I'd like to have lunch here at noon, do you mind?"

"No, no, I don't mind. Your uncle and I will only be happy that you and Xiao'e can come back. How could we mind?"

The old lady wiped her tears and pulled the old man who was still a little reserved.

The old man then said, "Zhu Zi, let the child come in and warm up first. It's so cold outside and the child is wearing so little."

The four children were indeed not dressed warmly.

However, these four sons all had the thermal underwear brought back by He Yuzhu, so although they looked thin, they were actually not cold at all.

Of course, this thermal underwear was not a gift that He Yuzhu thought of bringing for his family.

Chen Jiazhen bought the gifts secretly after asking about the number of people in He Yuzhu's family.

When He Yuzhu came this time, he also brought a lot of things for the old man.

The big and small packages he and Lou Xiao'e were carrying were all gifts.

While He Yuzhu was chatting with the old man, people from other families in the yard also came over.

At that time, supplies in the market were not abundant, and if a family could buy a few pieces of cloth and make new clothes for their children during the New Year, it was considered a good family.

For example, He Yuzhu's family of six all wore brand new down jackets, tweed pants, and shiny leather shoes.

This costs a lot of money.

Everyone looked at the He family with envy. Those who were close to them asked where they worked and if they needed anyone.

There were also some workers in the steel rolling mill who, knowing that He Yuzhu was now on an equal footing with the mill leaders, asked He Yuzhu if he could talk to the leaders to raise their salaries by one level or something.

Faced with these neighbors, He Yuzhu could only face them with a smile, then laugh it off and say that he was a cook, but he was lucky and now he was working with a big boss.

He Yuzhu doesn't care whether others believe it or not, this is what he says anyway.

The people in the room changed one after another.

It was finally time for lunch.

The uncle then started to chase people away: "It's noon, go home and eat."

At this time, the old man didn't dare to try to keep him or say anything polite.

If someone really gets the upper hand, I'll just stay with a thick face.

Then let’s not have lunch.

During the meal, an old man brought up the old topic again and asked when He Yuzhu would be transferred back to his job.

He Yuzhu still said the same thing, it will still take about five or six years.

The old man frowned, feeling that he had been wasting his life.

Auntie's thoughts were much simpler. She had deep feelings for He Yuzhu's four sons.

The four little brats also gathered around Grandma Yi and talked to her.

He Yuzhu listened for a few words and suddenly heard He Xiao say that he would come back with Huaihua to see Grandma Yi when he had time.

He Yuzhu's eyebrows twitched, but he didn't say anything. From what He Xiao said, He Yuzhu simply judged that He Xiao and Huaihua often met in school and had a good relationship.

Although he didn't want his son to be involved with the Jia family, He Yuzhu was unwilling to force the child.

The complex emotions in his heart made He Yuzhu's eyes begin to look blurry.

Just then, an old lady suddenly pulled Lou Xiao'e aside and started talking about gossip in the courtyard.

"Ezi, you still remember Xu Damao and Yu Li in the backyard, right?"

"Remember, when Zhuzi and I moved out, they had just divorced."

Lou Xiao'e remembers this incident very clearly. Because of this incident, she was locked up at home by He Yuzhu and they had several fights. She still remembers it vividly.

"A few days after you moved out, Xu Damao was arrested." Auntie didn't know that Xu Damao's arrest was related to He Yuzhu, so she told Lou Xiao'e as gossip, "I heard that Xu Damao and Yu Li got married, and it seemed to involve some kind of marriage fraud. In order to get Yu Li to withdraw the lawsuit, Xu Damao's parents transferred the two rooms in the backyard of the Xu family to Yu Li."

"Is there still this?"

Lou Xiao'e gave He Yuzhu a meaningful look. He Yuzhu felt a chill down his spine when he was looked at by that cold gaze.

The auntie didn't know that she was just gossiping and would end up hurting He Yuzhu.

"Yu Li is living in the backyard now. Not only Yu Li, but also her sister Yu Haitang, both sisters live here."

"What about Xu Damao?"

"Xu Damao was detained for more than half a month and has now been released. However, he was fired from the steel mill and I heard he is now working as a temporary worker in a movie theater."

The aunt just heard gossip and rarely went out on weekdays, so naturally she didn't know much about Xu Damao's situation.

After listening to this, several thoughts flashed through He Yuzhu's mind, but he suppressed them in the blink of an eye.

It has been 30 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China. We can no longer do anything that violates the law and discipline.

This society still needs harmony.

He Yuzhu suppressed his thoughts and listened to the aunt and her daughter-in-law chatting for a while.

After the four children finished their meal, they ran out.

There are quite a few children in this courtyard, so there is no shortage of playmates.

He Yuzhu chatted with them for a while, and finally left the phone number of his new home: "Uncle, Aunt, Ezi and I don't live here anymore. If you have any problems in the future, just call home and treat us like your own children."

After He Yuzhu said this, the old lady burst into tears.

The old man did sigh, but he thought it was just a polite remark from He Yuzhu.

After seeing off He Yuzhu's family, the other people in the courtyard came to sit with the old man.

This time, the second and third uncles, who had been reserved all this time, also ran over.

There is no other way. During the Chinese New Year, if relatives come to visit, two packages of fruit and two bags of candy are considered a valuable gift.

Most people just bring a few eggs and noodles when visiting relatives.

When He Yuzhu and Lou Xiao'e's family came over, they carried a lot of packages, big and small.

Everyone was very curious about what gifts He Yuzhu's family had given.

The old man knew that wealth should not be shown off and was unwilling to show it to others.

The old lady was shy and was teased by everyone. After a few words, she couldn't help wanting to show off, so she opened the small package.

As soon as the package was opened, everyone was surprised.

Not that everyone recognized what was inside.

Instead, there was actually an exquisite packaging box inside the package, and the box was tied with a wide, shiny pink rope.

The words on the packaging box are in foreign languages, which is very beautiful.

"Old man, what the hell is this thing?"

The aunt was a little dumbfounded. She didn't know what to do with the exquisite gift box.

"I'm not letting you open it, so why are you opening it?"

The old man said something to the old woman, and then the neighbors started to make a fuss and insisted on coming to see the strange thing.

There was no choice, so the old man looked for a while and finally found the bow, then reached out to untie the rope.

A little girl next to her moved quickly and pulled the wide pink rope away in one go.

The child's parents were there too. They grabbed their daughter awkwardly and scolded her, "What are you doing with your Grandpa Yi's rope, kid? Return it to Grandpa Yi now."

But the little girl was not happy, and tears welled up in her eyes. She felt the rope in her hand was slippery and pink, which looked very beautiful. She was reluctant to let it go.

"No need, just a rope, give it to the child to play with."

The old man felt sorry for wasting such a beautiful rope, but he also knew that it was New Year's Day and it was not a good idea to let the child cry and make a fuss just because of a rope.

After hearing this, the girl’s parents asked her to express their gratitude again.

The girl said nothing and walked straight out of the crowd.

Seeing this, some of the other children in the room ran out as well. They all seemed to be very interested in the pink rope.

To be honest, at this point, the old man no longer wants to open the gift box.

The old lady also felt a little regretful, her face full of sorrow.

But now that it has come to this, the old man can only bite the bullet and continue opening the box.

Fortunately.

The box is closed.

The old man opened the box and saw the gift inside.

Four smaller clear glass bottles were neatly arranged.

There was a label on the bottle with Chinese characters written on it.

“Is this a bird’s nest?”

Everyone crowded over and looked at the transparent box in surprise. Inside the box was something white that looked like dumplings.

A voice suddenly sounded:
"Is this bird's nest? It looks like dumplings, not that great!"

The uncle's face darkened and he closed the lid again: "It's not good. Now that you've finished reading, get out now."

Someone behind didn't see it and was unhappy: "No, uncle, I haven't seen what bird's nest looks like yet?"

The uncle yelled in annoyance: "It doesn't look that good."

The neighbor who had said he was not very good before, now smiled awkwardly and quickly slipped away.

At this time, a group of people laughed unkindly.

(End of this chapter)