Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

Chapter 246: Confrontation between Yan Jiecheng and Yan Bugui (Part )

Yan Jiecheng said, "Dad, I don't want the furniture from Yi Zhonghai's house. Give me a few of the ones we have at home that you think are similar."

Yan Bugui asked: "You don't like those furniture?!"

Yan Jiecheng said: "It's not that I don't like it. I just think that things used by Yi Zhonghai are unlucky."

Yan Bugui didn't expect Yan Jiecheng to come up with such a powerful reason. Yan Bugui was stunned on the spot. At this time, He Yuzhu came in from outside. He Yuzhu said, "Uncle, the furniture is not simple. Even if you don't want to buy new ones, you can't bear to buy second-hand ones. Can't you take Jiecheng to the scrap recycling station?! Find some furniture there, clean it up yourself, keep the good ones, and sell the bad ones to them. Isn't that enough?!"

Yan Bugui's eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "Why didn't I think of this?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Uncle San, you are calculating too much. Your brain is lacking oxygen, and your cerebellum is not fully developed. I advise you to get more rest and take good care of your brain. If your brain is completely damaged and you get Alzheimer's, you will be a burden to future generations." After saying that, He Yuzhu left Yan Bugui standing there in a daze and went straight back to the Intermediate Courtyard.

After a while, Yan Bugui came back to his senses and muttered, "This He Yuzhu actually dared to scold me?! Okay! This time I'm screwed. I'll remember this for you. Sooner or later, you'll have to beg me for help."

The next day, Yan Jiecheng took his belongings and met up with Aunt Zhang, and went to Yu Li's house to propose marriage. Yan Bugui was also not idle, and took Yan Jiekuang out. Not long after, Yan Bugui and Yan Jiekuang arrived at the waste recycling station.

"Stop! What's going on between you two?!" The old man watching the warehouse blocked Yan Bugui's way.

Yan Bugui said, "Old comrade, there are a few pieces of furniture missing at home. I want to come and see if there is anything suitable."

The old man looked at Yan Bugui and said, "It's the second warehouse on the west side. The furniture is all in there. If you like any furniture, bring it over and I'll give you an estimate."

"Thank you!" Yan Bugui thanked him and took Yan Jiekuang into the gate.

Following the instructions of the old man, Yan Bugui led Yan Jiekuang into the second warehouse on the west side. After entering this warehouse, Yan Bugui was like a mouse falling into a rice jar. He wanted everything he saw. Anyway, although many of the furniture inside had become parts, there were still some that were well preserved. These furniture, in terms of workmanship and materials, were more than twice as good as the ones his family was using now.

After selecting and choosing for more than two hours, Yan Bugui and Yan Jiekuang moved more than a dozen pieces of furniture to the door. The old gatekeeper saw that Yan Bugui and his son had almost finished moving, so he came out of the message room and checked all the furniture. It's true that Yan Bugui was quite cunning. He took apart the selected furniture if it could be taken apart, and covered the ones that couldn't be taken apart with dust. Anyway, he made the things as broken as possible. The old gatekeeper calculated in his mind and gave a price of six dollars.

Yan Bugui paid the money without hesitation, and then borrowed a cart to move some furniture that was not too badly damaged onto the cart with Yan Jiekuang. Yan Jiekuang was left to look after the remaining furniture, while Yan Bugui dragged a cart of things home alone.

When Yan Bugui returned home, Yan Jiecheng just came back. Yan Bugui stopped Yan Jiecheng and asked him to help unload the car. After unloading the car, Yan Bugui asked, "How was the marriage proposal?!"

Yan Jiecheng smiled and replied, "It's all settled. We'll get married on May 1. Then our two families will have lunch at a state-owned restaurant, and that will be considered the wedding."

Yan Bugui's expression changed slightly, and then he sneered, "Let's go to the state-owned restaurant to eat. Do you have too much money and nowhere to spend it?!"

Yan Jiecheng said, "Dad, I know what you mean. It's not easy to prepare some dishes now. Besides, marriage is a lifelong event. I will do as much as I can. We can't let others say anything about us, right?!"

Yan Bugui said: "Nowadays, people are advocating not to have a big wedding. When you get your marriage certificate, you will be given a ticket for the wedding. Among them is a candy ticket. You can buy some candy and give it to your neighbors. Isn't this grand and economical?!"

Yan Jiecheng said: "It's your business what you want to do. I have the final say in marriage. If you don't want to go, that's fine too!"

"You really don't know how expensive firewood and rice are until you run the household. I won't tell you anything! Come on! Come with me and move the remaining furniture back." After saying that, Yan Bugui urged Yan Jiecheng to go with him.

After all the furniture was moved back, the third aunt looked at the pile of furniture and couldn't help asking, "Old Yan, why did you buy so much furniture?!"

Yan Bugui smiled and said, "Old woman, you don't understand. Our furniture has been used for so long that many of them are no longer in good condition. The furniture over there is cheap, and with a little repair and a coat of paint, it will be like new. After we get these furniture done, we will replace them inside and out. We can also sell the replaced furniture to a scrap recycling station. This means spending the least money and doing the most. This is killing two birds with one stone."

Auntie said: "Some of these furniture are in pieces. How can we fix them?!"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Mom! Dad deliberately disassembled those parts into this shape. The parts are counted as firewood."

"Who told you to talk too much?!" Yan Bugui yelled, then glared at Yan Jiekuang and said, "Go back and eat!"

"Hey!" Yan Jiekuang didn't dare to say anything and went back to the house obediently. Yan Jiecheng looked at Yan Bugui with a somewhat unfriendly look. Yan Bugui said: "What are you looking at?! Isn't it to save you some money?!"

Yan Jiecheng tried hard to open his mouth, but finally swallowed back the words he was about to say. Yan Bugui continued, "These furnitures are worth twenty yuan in total. We will each take half. You just need to give me ten yuan."

"What?!" Yan Jiecheng jumped up and said, "Ten dollars?! Why don't you just go and rob it?!"

Yan Bugui replied, "Robbery is illegal. What I'm doing is not illegal. If you don't want it, then find another way yourself." After that, Yan Bugui ignored Yan Jiecheng and walked towards home.

"Wait!" Yan Jiecheng stopped Yan Bugui and said, "Ten yuan is too much, five yuan at most!"

Yan Bugui stopped, turned his head to look at Yan Jiecheng, the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously, and he said: "Okay! Who makes me your father?" After that, Yan Bugui walked in front of Yan Jiecheng and stretched out his hand.

Yan Jiecheng took out a stack of small bills from his pocket, counted out three dollars and put them into Yan Bugui's hand, and then nothing happened. Yan Bugui said, "Didn't you say five dollars?!"

Yan Jiecheng asked: "Do you want me to repair these furniture?!"

Yan Bugui nodded.

Yan Jiecheng then asked: "Do you want me to repaint it?!"

Yan Bugui still nodded.

Yan Jiecheng said, "It is said that brothers should settle accounts clearly, not to mention what you taught me. If you can't afford to be poor, you will suffer if you don't plan well. Repairing and repainting furniture requires labor. Those two dollars are my labor costs."

"Okay!" Yan Bugui put away the three dollars and said, "For the wood needed for the next house, we'll split it in half. If you want to use my wood, pay me. Not much! Just ten dollars!"