Siheyuan: After I moved in, the compound became a mess

Chapter 348 New Year 2

After Xu Damao left, Wang Dabao simply tidied up the house and prepared to make some porridge on the stove.

I thought that since I had rejected other people’s invitations, I had to prepare myself well and spend the New Year alone.

After eating some food and drinking some tea, Wang Dabao finally felt full. He put on his cotton coat and strolled out.

After going down the stairs and taking only two steps, he was stopped by Liu Haizhong.

"Brother Dabao, brother Dabao, wait for me, let's go together."

Liu Haizhong originally went out with his hands behind his back, but now he came jogging over, swinging his fat arms quite skillfully.

Wang Dabao waved his hand, signaling the other party to slow down: "Okay, I'll wait for you here, just come over. Don't run if you're this fat."

Liu Haizhong trotted over, holding his stomach with one hand and breathing heavily.

"Let's go for a stroll in the yard. Dabao, you don't have to go to work today, right?"

"I'm on duty at night, and I'm going to an elder's house to celebrate the New Year at noon."

As they talked, they strolled towards the central courtyard.

When passing by Xu Damao's house, Liu Haizhong was still muttering that every year Xu Damao went to the countryside diligently during the New Year, but why was there so little work this year?

As soon as I entered the central courtyard and looked to the left, I saw Shazhu chirping with Banggeng Cricket at the door of his house.

Seeing Wang Dabao and Liu Haizhong looking over, Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment, then patted Bang Geng's shoulder and said, "Okay, go ahead. Just remember to get up early."

Bang Geng ran away happily, and Sha Zhu also ran towards Wang Dabao and the others with his sleeves tucked in.

"Oh, you look really energetic in this outfit, but it looks a bit weird on you. It's because it's too tight!"

Sha Zhu pronounced the word "la" with a long sound and laughed.

Liu Haizhong's face immediately turned half red. It was cold, and the other half turned pale with cold: "Silly Zhu, don't be so disrespectful to me here. It's New Year's Day and you can't talk. Go away."

"Hey, you don't know how to be funny, do you?"

Sha Zhu was scolded by Liu Haizhong, but he didn't care. He still had a sly smile on his face, "Okay, then I'll wish you a happy new year. I wish you a new year, a new beginning, and another son next year."

As soon as Sha Zhu said this, even Wang Dabao, who was watching the fun with his hands in his pockets, couldn't help laughing and almost laughed out his breakfast.

Give Liu Haizhong another older son?

Then Liu Haizhong might not even be willing to eat eggs.

The remaining half of Liu Haizhong's face suddenly turned red. He pointed at Sha Zhu, but his eyes were on Wang Dabao: "Dabao, look at me. Do you think I can forgive him? This guy is like a dog that can't spit out ivory."

"Alright, alright, Lao Liu, calm down, and Zhuzi should stop talking too much. It's New Year's Day, let's all be happy and don't get so angry."

Wang Dabao patted Liu Haizhong and turned to look at Sha Zhu, "By the way, Zhuzi, you were just talking about Lao Liu, why don't you change your clothes during the New Year?"

Sha Zhu's clothes remained the same, just the greasy green cotton jacket he usually wore to get off work, loose dark blue pants, and black cotton shoes.

"Well, I have to go to the factory to cook lunch at noon. I really can't live without this canteen."

Sha Zhu waved his hands and said seriously, "Even if I don't cook, I have to go over and watch it today. Don't let those guys in the kitchen take anything away during the New Year."

"You're so proud of yourself. You didn't bring back much!"

Liu Haizhong muttered beside him.

Sha Zhu smiled mysteriously: "Hey, uncle, you know the old saying, the cook does not steal the grains and does not accept them. We have to believe what he says."

Liu Haizhong finally smiled a little, and pointed at Sha Zhu: "Sha Zhu, Brother Dabao is now the head of the security department, you are really good at talking about this in front of him."

Sha Zhu was startled and slapped his forehead: "Oh my, how could I forget about this, Dabao, don't mind it, I just want to eat something, I haven't taken public property many times, at most I just eat the leftovers."

After saying that, Sha Zhu immediately reached into his trouser pocket and took out a cigarette.

The three of them lit up cigarettes, and Wang Dabao finally spoke: "Zhu Zi, I'm not saying anything, but if you keep doing this, something bad will happen sooner or later. So, bring more good food and dishes during the two days of the New Year, and stop eating when you're done."

"Yes, yes, brother Dabao, you are right. I understand."

Sha Zhu responded while lighting a cigarette.

"I'm going to stroll in the front yard with Lao Liu, together?"

"One by one, Yan Bugui should be writing couplets. Uncle Yi next door went there a long time ago. I'll see if there are any heavy ones and pick up a pair to bring back."

The three of them walked towards the front yard while talking.

When I arrived at the front yard, I saw that there were quite a lot of people in front of Yan Bugui's house.

"Old Yan writes some couplets every year and doesn't charge anyone for it," Liu Haizhong explained to Wang Dabao.

Sha Zhu laughed and said, "No money is charged, but I have to take some writing fee, like peanuts and sunflower seeds. But there should be a lot of sunflower seeds left over from the movie show this year. I wonder how the writing fee is calculated this year?!"

As they were talking, Yi Zhonghai and Xu Damao walked out of Yan Bugui's house.

Xu Damao was holding a couplet in his hand, and Yi Zhonghai was holding a bowl of cooked porridge.

"Oh, you've come at the right time. Let's go to the gate and paste the couplets together. Please watch out and make sure they are not pasted crookedly." Yi Zhonghai greeted Wang Dabao and others with a smile.

"Hey, Third Uncle is generous. He is not stingy during the New Year and even remembered to write a couplet for the gate."

Sha Zhu smiled and followed.

Wang Dabao and Liu Haizhong smiled at each other and walked towards the door.

When I got to the door, I saw that Yan Bugui, who called himself the Old Master of Siheyuan, really didn't give himself a random nickname. The name looked quite regular, and it was true.

Everyone gathered at the door to watch Xu Damao and Yi Zhonghai put up the couplets.

Sha Zhu joked, "Xu Damao, this represents the good fortune of everyone in our courtyard. You have to stick it right, otherwise if everyone has bad luck this year, it will be you who will be blamed."

Xu Damao rolled his eyes at Sha Zhu and said, "You are the only one who talks too much nonsense. If you have the time, you can help Uncle Yi and me move the benches. Besides, you can't blame others for your own bad luck."

Sha Zhu looked at Wang Dabao and Liu Haizhong: "Look, I reminded him with good intentions, but it was my fault."

At this moment, Yan Bugui ran out in a hurry.

"Da Mao, Lao Yi, you two must put up the couplets correctly, as this symbolizes a year of happiness in our courtyard."

Sha Zhu curled his lips and said, "Look what I said, you still don't believe it. Although we can't promote superstition, there are some things that we really can't help but believe in."

Yan Bugui glared at Shazhu and said, "Go away, teacher, why are you talking to me about superstition? I think you ate too much this morning."

"Okay, Second Uncle, today is New Year's Day, I won't bother with you. Although I won't bother you on the 30th, I will definitely not let you go on the first of tomorrow."

Sha Zhu chuckled and stood aside with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

After the couplets were posted, everyone was admiring them when Qin Huairu came back from the street with locust flowers.

"Oh, once this couplet is posted, the festive atmosphere of the New Year is immediately felt." Qin Huairu said with a smile.

When Sha Zhu saw Qin Huairu, he hurried over and said, "Sister Qin, if there's anything we need at home, just let me know."

Qin Huairu looked at Sha Zhu with gratitude and said, "It's almost done. Thank you, Zhuzi. Just come over early to make dumplings in the evening."

"Yes."

Sha Zhu agreed happily.

Qin Huairu said everyone was busy and took Huaihua into the yard.