Scholars in the courtyard

After finishing writing, Yan Fugui fanned the wind with his hands.

After the couplets were dry, he rolled them up himself and smiled at the confused people in the room, "Wait. Let me go and beg you for alms."

After saying that, the person walked towards the middle courtyard.

In the middle courtyard, Yang Xiaotao packed up everything, lit the stove to heat the room, and added water to the pot to prepare for a hot bath.

At this moment, he picked up the sweeping pole and was dumping the snow in the yard when he saw Yan Fugui walking over.

"Xiao Tao is back!"

"Third uncle, have a great New Year."

Yang Xiaotao saw him saying hello in advance and then continued busy.

"Hey, happy New Year, happy New Year."

Yan Fugui, however, followed suit and walked up to Yang Xiaotao in a few steps, with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face.

Yang Xiaotao just said hello politely, but he didn't expect the third uncle to look like this. Thinking of the third uncle's nature, he immediately cheered up.

"Third uncle, is something wrong with you?"

Yang Xiaotao spoke directly as always, and Yan Fugui was used to this way of communication. He squinted his eyes and looked at Yang Xiaotao's room, and even laughed.

"Xiao Tao, you are back now, and the third uncle will give you a generous gift."

Yan Fugui continued with a smile, "This is the Chinese New Year, just to celebrate."

"Every household here has hung up Spring Festival couplets. When the third uncle saw that your family hadn't hung up the Spring Festival couplets yet, he specially wrote a couplet and gave it to you."

As he spoke, he brought his hands to his eyes, holding a stack of red paper.

Yang Xiaotao narrowed his eyes and knew in his heart that Yan Fugui came here to ask for something.

According to the rules in this courtyard house, writing Spring Festival couplets must be given some luck. In the past few years, Yan Fugui has relied on this "craft" to make a lot of money every New Year and have a prosperous year.

I just didn't expect that this guy would actually reach out to me.

"Third uncle, thank you for your kindness."

"Look, doesn't it stick?"

Yang Xiaotao said, pointing to both sides of the door, which should have been posted by Uncle Chen.

Unexpectedly, Yan Fugui smiled even more happily, "I can't see this."

"Didn't you go back to the countryside? I thought you didn't have any decorations on your house here, so I brought two pictures for you."

I have to open the Spring Festival couplets and let Yang Xiaotao take a look.

"You'd better take these Spring Festival couplets back."

“New Year’s Eve is over, what’s the point of posting it now?”

Yang Xiaotao didn't let him open it and refused directly. Yan Fugui's smile froze in place.

"How can that be done? Besides, it's still the first month of the year. It's not too late to post it now."

"Here, Third Master will help you put it up. Take a look at these Spring Festival couplets. It definitely has a good meaning."

With that said, regardless of Yang Xiaotao's refusal, he opened it himself.

Yang Xiaotao took a look, and Yan Fugui quickly started to read.

"The first couplet is: Winter is gone and spring is coming, I wish you a radiant look."

"The second line is: The family is prosperous, and Xiao Tao is promoted step by step."

"Hengbiao: Fulin Siheyuan!"

"How's it going? I wrote this specially for you, Third Master."

Yan Fugui chewed on the words, and Yang Xiaotao felt numb in his heart. These are not related to each other, they are not matched, they are forced together. Is this also called Spring Festival couplets?

"Third uncle, I'm not talking about you."

"You have to be sincere when writing Spring Festival couplets to others. It doesn't matter if others don't understand. Are you using this to fool me?"

Yan Fugui was stunned, no one had ever said this before?

He always thought that the Spring Festival couplets he wrote were excellent. Otherwise, people from several surrounding yards would come to ask for Spring Festival couplets every Chinese New Year?

"Look, other people's couplets require neat contrasts, coordination of oblique and oblique tones, and stress on the harmony of rhyme and rhythm, scattered ups and downs, melodious, sonorous and powerful, and catchy. What are you talking about? I wish you the best, Xiaotao, can you write? "

"Look at Hengpi again, Fulin Siheyuan, why don't you Fulin your home?"

Yang Xiaotao didn't give him any face, and Yan Fugui's face turned red.

"You, you don't understand, this is called art."

"Art, you are so big! Take it away quickly!"

Yang Xiaotao was too lazy to talk more, "It's the Chinese teacher, I think it was taught by the math teacher!"

"Besides knowing that the number of words is equal, what else do you know?"

"Okay, hurry up, don't post Spring Festival couplets like this and make people laugh to death. I can't afford to embarrass this person."

Yang Xiaotao continued to work, but Yan Fugui was frustrated and questioned his professionalism, which made him feel extremely insulted.

"You, you are ignorant and ignorant."

Yan Fugui wanted to say something more, but he thought that Yang Xiaotao also had a high school education. Although he had not graduated, his learning momentum was needless to say. He was definitely higher than his junior high school education level. If he continued to make trouble, he would be humiliating himself.

After Yan Fugui finished speaking, he left. Yang Xiaotao spat disdainfully behind him and continued working.

After returning home, Yan Fugui angrily threw the Spring Festival couplets into the stove, his face twisted.

"Daddy, what's up? He's deflated."

When the third aunt saw him like this, she knew she was not trying to please him. Yan Jiecheng, who was returning home, also came over and said, "Dad, don't even think about that guy's advantage!"

"Go, go, go. While you're at it, you might as well think about work while you have the time. Don't just pick a hammer here and there all day long. You don't have a serious job."

Yan Fugui was troubled, and Yan Jiecheng had no choice but to sit on the bed with his hands spread out.

"Hey, you don't know how hard it is to find this job. There are a lot of temporary jobs, but formal jobs are just like a carrot and a pit. It's hard!"

Yan Fugui also knew the situation, but he could not lower his demands. He could only say seriously, "You still don't care. I remember, you still owe one hundred and forty-eight yuan and sixty cents!"

Yan Jiecheng was speechless, and Yan Jiefang on the side lowered his head and did not dare to make a sound, for fear of attracting his father's attention.

After Yang Xiaotao beat Yan Fugui away, he continued to clean up in the yard.

After a while, Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen also came back. The old couple visited relatives and were happy to see Yang Xiaotao back.

When asked to come over for dinner in the evening, Yang Xiaotao agreed and prepared to bring something over.

On the other side, what happened at Yang Xiaotao's door happened to be seen by Xu Damao who came back.

I didn't think it was anything at first. After all, people come and go and people are so sophisticated.

But seeing Yan Fugui leaving angrily and Yang Xiaotao being proud, Xu Damao's eyes immediately rolled.

He is still a little weak in this courtyard now. It doesn't matter if he is bullied by Silly Zhu on weekdays. He can always find opportunities to get revenge.

But being bullied by Yang Xiaotao and being picked on every time made him feel uncomfortable.

What's more, now that he's married to a capitalist's wife, his reputation is somewhat compromised, but he's living a comfortable life.

The people in this courtyard are all reincarnations of pickled cabbage spirits, and they just don't like others.

Therefore, Xu Damao now urgently needs to find someone to share the pressure with, or to support him at critical moments.

As for this person, Xu Damao felt that the third uncle was very suitable.

Now is the opportunity.

Xu Damao ran back to the backyard, and soon he went out with a bag of peanuts, a piece of bacon sausage, and a bottle of white wine under Lou Xiao'e's surprised gaze.

Lou Xiao'e didn't bother to pay attention to him and continued to stay at home.

At the third uncle's house, Yan Fugui was lying on the bed, still feeling hurt about the burned pair.

The paper money added up to a few cents, and more importantly, the value of such a pair was several cents. Yan Fugui felt that he had lost a lot.

"Lao Yan, don't be angry about a pair. It's not worth much in the first place, so just treat it as leftovers from the New Year. Just tell me what you want to eat tonight."

The third aunt asked Yan Fugui. At this time, Yan Fugui's face was filled with unwillingness. What came to mind were bags and bags of things from Yang Xiaotao's house.

It would be great if I could get some in exchange.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, the third aunt asked again, "Lao Yan, I want to ask you something."

Yan Fugui came to his senses, put his hands into his sleeves to keep warm, and leaned sideways. "Dumplings stuffed with pickled cabbage."

The third aunt asked happily when she heard about making dumplings. "Want some meat?"

Yan Fugui immediately turned his head, his face serious, "What kind of meat are you putting?"

"Have you just eaten during the Chinese New Year? Are you still struggling to survive?"

The third aunt lowered her head and did not dare to speak.

tuk tuk tuk

"Third uncle!"

"Third uncle, are you going home?"

Suddenly Xu Damao's voice came to mind at the door, and the old couple reacted. At this time, the door was pushed open, and Xu Damao walked in, carrying something in his hand.

In an instant, Yan Fugui got up from the bed when he saw these things.

The third aunt also saw something and smiled on her face.

"Da Mao."

"Third aunt."

"Why"

Xu Damao stepped forward and put the bacon sausage and wine in front of him. "What's wrong with you, Mr. Third? Are you lying down and sleeping so early?"

Yan Fugui looked at the thing in Xu Damao's hand and licked his lips, "No, this, Damao, you..."

Xu Damao clicked his tongue, "I'm not here to see you for the Chinese New Year. I'm free today, so I'll come over and have a drink with you."

"Besides, my family can also cook and eat?"

"Look. I brought everything!"

Yan Fugui shook his head happily and slapped his hands on his thighs, "You, you Damao, you really are exactly what I want."

"Both of us, we will never get drunk again today!"

Yan Fugui said happily, and the three aunts on the side quickly took the things from Xu Damao's hands, and then scolded Xu Damao with a smile.

"You said you drank two cups, just drink two cups. You said you still took so many things, it's really..."

Xu Damao responded with a half-smile.

"I don't know how carefully you and the third uncle are living their lives. The two of us are better off than yours."

"You hurry up and fry the peanuts and stir-fry the bacon and sausage. The third uncle and I will drink first."

Yan Fugui felt even more comfortable after hearing this, and the third aunt immediately walked into the kitchen with a smile.

Yan Fugui and Xu Damao sat down, took out teapots, and Xu Damao filled them with teapots.

"Third uncle, you are the only one in our courtyard who has the level of an uncle."

"Others, not me, can't do it."

Xu Damao said with emotion, and Yan Fugui was also happy, "Da Mao can still see clearly."

"That is."

"Third uncle, don't look at what other people say about me on weekdays, like this or that, think about it for yourself, when you come back from the countryside, you are not allowed to get something from me?"

"There are so many people in the courtyard, why would I give it to you? Or is it because I still have you in my heart?"

"Others, to put it harshly, are people who eat and do nothing. They are not worthy, not worthy."

Xu Damao meant something and attributed the third uncle's shrewd calculations to himself, speaking with a sharp tongue.

If you say that others are shrewd in calculations, you might be offended, but to say that the third uncle is shrewd in calculations is to praise him in person.

Not to be ashamed of, but to be proud of.

"Da Mao, I didn't expect you to say that. Third uncle, I'm so happy."

Yan Fugui felt that he had found his soulmate, and he wished he could drink it right away and shout out that he was happy.

The two of them talked again, and the third aunt brought out peanuts and stir-fried vegetables. Judging from the quantity, she should have kept half of them.

"Come on, Damao, let's drink and drink."

He knew his own affairs, so Yan Fugui quickly opened his mouth to fool him.

Xu Damao also understood the family tradition of the third uncle, so he picked up the wine cup and drank without saying anything.

After three drinks, half of the food was finished.

Xu Damao's face was red and his eyes were blurred with drunkenness.

The third uncle held his head with his hands, his eyelids were also fighting.

"Third uncle, this Yang Xiaotao is nothing."

"How dare he be disrespectful to the master of our courtyard? How dare he take advantage of my wife? He doesn't even look at what he looks like. How can he compete with me, Xu Damao!"

Xu Damao spoke with a loud tongue. When Yan Fugui heard Yang Xiaotao's name, his head suddenly raised and his palms slapped on the table.

"That's not good. This guy doesn't understand anything about human nature. He has no education, no quality, and no conscience!"

"He won't be able to stay in our courtyard for long!"

As Yan Fugui spoke, Xu Damao also began to add fuel to the fire. After a while, the table became a denunciation meeting against Yang Xiaotao.

After a while, the vitality focused on Silly Pillar again.