Scholars in the courtyard

Back home, the cold air speaks of the emptiness of the home.

Yang Xiaotao closed the door, lit the lamp and sat down, feeling melancholy.

When I came to this world, I became a loner and felt a little lonely.

"Now that it's here, let's make peace with it!"

After sitting for a while, watching Xiaowei get into the table, Yang Xiaotao got up and started lighting the stove.

The flames glowed faintly, and there was some warmth in the room.

However, compared to the snowflakes flying outside and the howling north wind, this temperature can't resist the cold at all, let alone sleep.

"Oh, I have to solve some personal problems, so I can have a warm bed."

Yang Xiaotao laughed at himself, but then he thought again, if a girl comes to the beast's den, wouldn't that bring harm to others?

Shaking his head to dispel the messy thoughts, he started cooking.

Take out the eggs you just bought from the space, then cut half a cabbage, heat the pan, pour in oil, stir-fry the cabbage with the eggs, and heat up two steamed buns, this is a simple dinner.

Yang Xiaotao started to eat, and the meal was also ready.

However, Yi Zhonghai was not in the mood to eat, and was still worried. He was a typical self-congested person.

The eldest mother didn't dare to speak. She didn't have the right to speak in this family. In addition, she had spent a lot of money over the years and had no children.

She even wondered if it was her fault.

However, she didn't dare to say it.

"Get your stuff and let's go to the backyard!"

The aunt naturally knew where she was going and quickly packed up.

The old couple braved the wind and moon and walked into the backyard and knocked on the old lady's door.

Entering the house, the old lady also looked decadent, even a little scared.

Especially what Yang Xiaotao said, "It's not that old people have become bad, but that bad people have become old." Her heart skipped a beat when she heard it.

When you are young, you have experienced a lot. Who doesn’t have some secrets about surviving?

As I get older, I tend to believe some things and not believe them, and I have random thoughts.

Over the years, I have settled down and lived a stable life.

But she wasn't indifferent. With her age and status, she walked around the alleys and came into contact with many people, and she knew everyone's temperament.

Especially for the people in the yard, they are basically all clear.

However, this time she misjudged him. She thought he was a good-natured boy, but after the death of a relative, his "temperament changed drastically" and he became so ruthless.

Just when the deaf old lady was thinking about how to deal with Yang Xiaotao. Yi Zhonghai and his wife walked in, interrupting the deaf old lady's thoughts.

The three of them sat together in silence.

Ever since the three of them started discussing how to support themselves in old age, so many years have passed and they have been moving towards the ideal situation.

Today, someone is starting to waver, and damn, this is someone they've never paid attention to before.

"It's all the fault of that little prodigal hoof."

The deaf old lady banged her cane on the ground and said viciously.

Yi Zhonghai and Yi Zhonghai knew who they were talking about, and they both lowered their heads.

"At first, I said not to let him marry into the Jia family, but you two didn't listen."

"If it hadn't been for that, there wouldn't be what happened today, and we wouldn't have to be pointed at and scolded like this. We would just have to live forever."

The old man continued to be silent.

He also regretted in his heart that he didn't see Qingyang Xiaotao's face in advance. If he had known that he was so capable, he would never have provoked this evil god.

In his eyes, the current Yang Xiaotao is an evil god.

"Old lady, now we need to find a way to get Silly Pillar out."

The aunt spoke. She knew the role that Silly Zhu had on their old couple. To put it bluntly, the deaf old lady still had them to help them. When they got old, they could only watch Jia Dongxu and Silly Zhu.

"Yes, old lady, this must be done as soon as possible."

"If we really keep a criminal record, Shazhu will be ruined from now on."

Yi Zhonghai also spoke, and the deaf old lady lowered her head and sighed. She really liked Si Zhu and wished him well from the bottom of her heart.

"I'll go there tomorrow."

"However, they are all human beings, and every one of them needs this favor."

"From now on, you have to keep an eye on Shazhu."

The old couple nodded.

The deaf old lady said again, "And that kid, don't mess with him."

"I know."

"Um!"

The front yard is Yan Fugui's house.

"Dad, how can I get the money for running errands?"

Yan Jiefang looked troubled. He went to the police station today and called Director Zhang and others. After finishing the work, he found that no one paid attention to him, and no one paid him for running errands.

"You're stupid. I didn't even ask for money, so you ran out. You're such a fool."

The boss on the side, Yan Jiecheng, laughed.

The three aunts around him led Yan Jiekuang and said to the second child, "You, you have to look carefully before running away."

"The first and second uncles won't give you money if they call someone, but it's hard to tell the others."

"Especially Yang Xiaotao, he was the one who started this incident, and it might happen again in the future."

"I know, mother, I will listen to Yang Xiaotao from now on."

Yan Jiefang nodded, but Yan Fugui on the side interrupted.

"If you make money and hand it over, it will be used as your food expenses."

"Food expenses? Dad, I haven't made any money yet?"

Yan Jiefang immediately argued that the eldest son of the family was now an adult and was looking for a job, so he would start paying monthly subsidies to his family.

But he is still a primary school student, how can he make money?

"Underage? Then you have to hand over the money."

Yan Fugui's eyes flashed, looking determined.

"But, I, that's my errand fee!"

Yan Jiefang still wanted to struggle, but the third aunt on the side snorted coldly.

"Erranding fee? One dime is enough."

"Listen to your father and you will never be poor in this life."

Yan Jiefang was naturally not immune to the mixed doubles match between the two couples. After determining the distribution of benefits, he had no choice but to accept his fate.

Yan Jiecheng on the side curled his lips, "I knew that was the case."

Yan Fugui glanced at his son in the room. The younger son was still young, so it was a bit early to plan now, but the road must be paved in advance. When they grow up, they can follow the footsteps of the two brothers.

"Okay, let's have a meeting and talk about the New Year."

"This year, we are going to do this..."

In Liu Haizhong's house in the Intermediate Courtyard, Liu Haizhong is sitting in the middle of the living room, with Liu Guangqi sitting on one side and the second aunt standing on the other side.

Below, brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu stood.

"Ahem!"

Liu Haizhong coughed and imitated the way the leaders in the factory spoke, "We are convening a meeting today. There are two main aspects!"

"First, the Chinese New Year is coming soon..."

In Jia's house, bursts of crying disappeared and appeared, Jia Zhang's curses continued to penetrate the snowflakes, and occasionally rough male voices echoed on the snow.

In the deserted dark night at Shazhu's house, He Yuyu hugged his belly and huddled under the quilt, wanting to sleep, but couldn't, and tears of grievance fell one by one.

In this cold world, no one cares about her or thinks about her.

The first man, the Jia family, and the deaf old lady, all they like are fools, people who are useful to them.

As for He Yuyu, this poor girl was someone else's woman after all, so he didn't take this little girl seriously.

After Yang Xiaotao had eaten, he lay on the bed and chatted with Xiaowei for a while. Of course, most of the time Yang Xiaotao was telling about the New Year, and Xiaowei was listening.

I don’t know if you understand it, or if you are listening to something about mobile phones, online games, or computers, I don’t know if you understand it.

In short, that night, I listened to the sound of snow falling outside, talked nonsense, and dreamed about another world.

It was dawn, and the sky and the earth were completely white.

This year is the off year, and the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month is New Year’s Eve.

When I woke up in the morning, the sky had cleared up. The snow was as heavy as goose feathers last night, and it was already up to my ankles when I went out.

Yang Xiaotao took a wooden board and piled the snow in the yard into the corner. In the old rural areas, the snow would have been a natural refrigerator. If you put the New Year's goods in it, you can eat it until the end of the year.

However, in this era, there is not much to eat, not to mention that Yang Xiaotao still has storage space, where time stands still and will not rot over the years.

The thick snow was pushed aside, and then the yard was swept clean with a bald broomstick.

Uncle Chen next door also got up to clear the snow. Yesterday, he and his wife went to a friend's house for a visit. When they came back in the evening, they heard the news from the neighbors' gossip.

"Boy, I heard what happened yesterday."

"That bad guy Lao Yi was so angry that he vomited blood?"

Uncle Chen said, holding out his thumb with a very proud face.

Yang Xiaotao also became interested. Obviously the older generation knew a lot about Yi Zhonghai.

It's a pity that Uncle Chen didn't want to say more. After the two cleaned up the yard, Uncle Chen asked him to go to the house to celebrate the New Year today, but Yang Xiaotao refused.

After all, this is his first year in this world.

Uncle Chen didn't say much, since they were close anyway, so he could just give him a bowl of dumplings the next day.

After cleaning up the yard, Yang Xiaotao went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some coal. It was too cold this winter, so it was good to prepare more coal.

Then I read books at home to pass the time.

In the front yard, the third uncle swept the door clean and set up a square table with red paper on it. Next to it was an old inkstone. He held a brush in his hand and stood in front of the table to contemplate his feelings.

Many people stopped at the table, waiting for the work to be completed, and then left a handful of peanuts or melon seeds in a porcelain basin aside. They took home the festive couplets and pasted them on the mottled wooden door.

To celebrate the New Year, people would paste couplets on their doors to pray for a prosperous life in the coming year.

As for Yang Xiaotao, there is no need for it. His father has passed away at home, so according to custom, he will not be red this year.

After working for a long time, the color of the entire courtyard changed.

The couplets were posted, and the children bought small firecrackers with the money they collected from their parents. There were sounds everywhere in the yard and alleys, and there were sounds of joy.

Yang Xiaotao stood in the yard for a while, feeling the lost atmosphere of his previous life. He wanted to blend in and be happy, but a sense of fear arose in his heart.

"Maybe I'm really afraid of blending in."

Yang Xiaotao laughed at himself, "A ridiculous time traveler."

In the afternoon, the New Year atmosphere was even stronger, and everyone smiled when they met. Even the mean Jia Zhang was chatting and laughing with everyone in the yard.

Of course, she can't change her narrow-minded mentality of taking advantage of others. If she can't say more than three sentences, she will talk baldly and swear a lot.

Yang Xiaotao also saw Silly Zhu. Although his nose was bruised and his face was swollen, he picked it up at home and prepared for the New Year.

Yang Xiaotao thought for a moment and thought of the deaf old lady.

This old guy has some favors in Sijiu City, so she should be the one to take action.

When Sha Zhu saw Yang Xiaotao, he couldn't hide the disgust and hatred in his eyes, but he couldn't hold it back.

I don’t know if it was the Chinese New Year or someone warned him, but in short, if Silly Zhu didn’t come looking for trouble, Yang Xiaotao wouldn’t make himself uncomfortable.

In the evening, Uncle Chen came over to invite again, but Yang Xiaotao still refused.

In the courtyard, a cheerful atmosphere began to spread, quickly bringing out the flavor of the New Year.

Silly Zhu led He Yuyu to the uncle's house, prepared a table of big dishes, and even brought the Jia family over. Together with the deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai's house was considered the busiest place.

Of course, the same is true in other people's homes. Only in the corner of the penthouse, the cold candlelight illuminates the empty room, and one person can quietly appreciate the New Year's Eve that has disappeared from memory.

Yang Xiaotao stayed up until twelve o'clock, then stewed all the meat he bought and asked him to make dumplings. He probably couldn't even make the noodles.

Although I am not good at cooking, I always remember to add more salt, so I spent this year quietly enjoying the salty pork stew with cabbage.

Of course, it can't be said to be a person, because there is Xiaowei on Yang Xiaotao's chest.

Xiaowei is now Yang Xiaotao's relative.