Chapter 647 Change 2
In this area, the reputation of the Siheyuan is well-known. The people in the courtyard are hardworking, kind, and positive. Neighbors help each other, just like a warm big family. Such a good reputation spreads farther and farther, and naturally attracts a lot of attention. Recently, many matchmakers have heard about the situation here and think that the young men in the courtyard must be good partners that are hard to find even with a lantern, so they come to propose marriage to the two brothers Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang.
Early this morning, when it was still light, the two brothers Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang had already gotten up early, their hearts were beating like a little rabbit, and they were very nervous. They knew that this blind date was of great significance to them, and it was related to the happiness of the rest of their lives, so they dared not be careless at all. Yan Jiecheng stood by the bed, carefully picked up the most decent clothes he usually wore, put them on carefully, and then began to tidy up his clothes nervously. His palms were slightly sweaty, and the sticky sweat made him feel more and more uncomfortable. While he carefully smoothed the wrinkles on the corners of his clothes with his slightly trembling hands, he kept muttering to himself what appropriate words he should say when they met later, and he was so entangled in his heart. On the one hand, he was full of expectations for a happy marriage, imagining how happy and sweet the days to come would be if he and the girl were in love with each other; but on the other hand, he was particularly afraid that if he performed poorly, said the wrong thing or behaved inappropriately, he would leave a bad impression on the other party, and then everything would be over.
Yan Jiefang was standing in front of the mottled mirror, staring at himself in the mirror, frowning slightly, with a nervous look on his face. He raised his hand and stroked his hair over and over again, trying to tidy up those unruly hairs and make himself look more energetic and neat. His eyes were full of tension and anxiety, and his gaze drifted to the window from time to time, as if as long as he looked carefully and attentively enough, he could see the upcoming blind date in advance. All kinds of speculations and worries were intertwined in his heart, not to mention how tormenting it was.
In this way, time passed slowly in the anxious waiting of the two brothers. Not long after, they heard the familiar and loud voice of the matchmaker coming from the yard. It turned out that the matchmaker brought the girl and her family into the courtyard. All of a sudden, the originally quiet courtyard was like a calm lake with a stone thrown into it, causing ripples. When the neighbors in the yard saw this scene, they immediately became energetic and gathered around enthusiastically. Everyone had friendly smiles on their faces and greeted them in a flurry. One said, "Hey, come on, come in and sit down," and the other shouted, "Welcome, welcome, today is such a good day." For a moment, the originally somewhat restrained atmosphere instantly became lively, and the whole yard was filled with laughter and joy, as if it were a festival.
Seeing this, Yan Jiecheng took a deep breath, as if to muster up courage, and then tried to put on a smile. Although the smile looked a little stiff, it also revealed a sense of sincerity. He hurriedly stepped forward, slightly bent over, and politely greeted the woman and her family one by one. His voice was a few notes higher than usual because of nervousness. Yan Jiefang followed behind his brother, his face flushed like a ripe apple, and nodded slightly in embarrassment. He didn't dare to speak loudly, but occasionally agreed with his brother in a low voice. His simple and honest appearance made anyone who saw him feel that this young man was really reliable.
Everyone sat down in turn at the quaint stone table in the yard. On the stone table were several cups of hot tea that had been brewed in advance, which were emitting curls of hot steam. The matchmaker first cleared her throat, her face full of smiles, and she introduced the situation of both parties warmly. Her mouth was like honey, praising the Yan brothers for being famous for their hard work in this courtyard. No matter whether it was a big or small matter in the courtyard, as long as they were called, the brothers would rush to help. Moreover, they were honest and loyal, and their character was beyond reproach. The neighbors all praised them. Then, the matchmaker praised the girl like a flower, saying that this girl was a model of gentleness and virtue. She usually kept the house in order, was clever, and did exquisite and beautiful needlework. The girls nearby admired her very much.
Listening to the matchmaker's praise, Yan Jiecheng gradually relaxed his nervousness. He encouraged himself secretly and began to find topics to talk to the woman. He first talked about the interesting things that happened in the courtyard recently, such as the child next door won a prize in school, and everyone in the courtyard was happy and celebrated for the child together; he also said that the old people in the courtyard organized a chess competition a few days ago, and the scene was so lively. Everyone sat together and gave advice to the chess players, and laughter echoed in the courtyard. After talking about the things in the courtyard, he talked about his work with great interest, and the interesting things he encountered at work, such as a new equipment in the factory, everyone didn't know how to use it at first, but later they learned it together and improved work efficiency a lot. He described it vividly, as if those things were happening right in front of him. The woman was deeply attracted by his wit and humor. Her eyes sparkled and she covered her mouth with her hands and chuckled from time to time. Her laughter was as clear and pleasant as a silver bell. The atmosphere between the two became more harmonious, as if they were old friends who had known each other for a long time, and the strangeness at the beginning was no longer there.
Yan Jiefang was so nervous at first that his mouth seemed to be blocked by something. He stammered and couldn't say a word for a long time. He just sat there with his face flushed and didn't know where to put his hands. But just when he was in a state of embarrassment, the woman probably saw his nervousness and took the initiative to ask about his hobbies. Yan Jiefang was stunned for a moment, and then he seemed to have found a savior. He quickly replied that he liked to play with small objects and think about handicrafts, such as carving small ornaments with wood or weaving small baskets with bamboo. Every time he immersed himself in these handicrafts, he felt very interesting and fulfilled. When the woman heard this, her eyes lit up. It turned out that she was also quite interested in these handicrafts and would try to make some simple gadgets on weekdays. Now, the two of them started talking about this topic, one after another, from talking about their favorite handicrafts to the small difficulties encountered in the production process, and then to sharing some unique production techniques with each other. The more they talked, the more they got along. Yan Jiefang's originally nervous expression was gradually replaced by a smile. He became much more relaxed, and his face was filled with the joy of finding a soulmate.
After chatting for a while, Yan Jiecheng felt that just sitting here and chatting was not enough for the woman to fully experience the unique charm and strong atmosphere of life in the courtyard, so he proposed with a little expectation to take the woman for a walk in the courtyard so that she could personally experience the unique atmosphere here. When the woman heard this, a trace of joy flashed in her eyes, and she readily agreed to the proposal. After all, she had long been curious about this famous courtyard and wanted to learn more about it.
So the two of them slowly stood up and walked along the corridor of the courtyard with a light figure. The corridor has a simple charm. Although the stone pavement under their feet is a bit old, it has been polished very smooth by time, as if silently telling the story of the courtyard's past. Yan Jiecheng walked in front, turning sideways from time to time, with a gentle smile on his face, pointing to the colorful and vibrant flowers and plants in the courtyard, and began to introduce them patiently. He said that this beautiful rose was carefully taken care of by Uncle Zhang next door. Uncle Zhang got up before dawn every day to water it, fertilize it, and trim its branches and leaves, just like taking care of his own children, so it can bloom so beautifully; the several pots of spider plants in the corner are the treasures of Aunt Li who lives in the east wing. Aunt Li sits beside them and watches them when she has nothing to do, taking care of them carefully. Even if a leaf turns slightly yellow, she will be very nervous and rush to find a way to treat it.
Talking about flowers and plants, Yan Jiecheng naturally told a heartwarming story about neighbors helping each other. He said that once, Grandma Wang in the courtyard accidentally fell down, and her children were not around, which made everyone very anxious. As a result, without being asked, every household took the initiative to lend a hand. Some helped to call a doctor, some helped to take care of Grandma Wang at home, and some specially made nutritious and delicious meals for Grandma Wang. During that time, the whole courtyard was full of busy and concerned figures, just like a family, working together to help Grandma Wang overcome the difficulties. The woman listened to it so fascinatedly, staring at Yan Jiecheng without blinking, as if she had been immersed in these warm stories, and she could imagine the loving scene at that time in her mind. Looking at this courtyard full of life and harmony, she felt a little more favorable to Yan Jiecheng in her heart, thinking that this man was not only talkative and humorous, but also so carefully paid attention to every detail in the courtyard. He must be a person who values friendship and loves life.
On the other side, Yan Jiefang and the woman also walked to a corner of the yard, where some handmade gadgets he had made in his spare time were placed. Under the sunlight, those small objects looked even more exquisite and unique. There was a small wooden box that looked extremely exquisite. Each side of the box was polished to be extremely smooth, and there were some delicate and beautiful patterns engraved on it, as if all the beauty of the world was concentrated in this small world; there were also unique bamboo ornaments, the texture of the bamboo was clearly visible, and it was cleverly woven and bent into various interesting shapes, some like birds spreading their wings to fly, and some like smart little rabbits, so vivid that people couldn't help but want to pick them up and take a closer look. When the woman saw these small objects, her eyes lit up instantly, as if she had discovered a treasure. She couldn't wait to walk forward, gently picked up those small objects, put them in her hands and rubbed them repeatedly, and couldn't let them go. She kept praising Yan Jiefang's dexterity, saying that these things were too delicate and better than those sold in stores outside. Yan Jiefang was a little embarrassed by the compliments. He scratched his head, with a simple smile on his face, and waved his hands repeatedly, saying that he was just thinking about it and killing time. But the woman refused and pulled him to tell him the details of the production of these handicrafts. Seeing this, Yan Jiefang no longer refused. The two stood there and discussed one after another. From what to pay attention to when selecting materials, to how to grasp the strength and angle during the production process, to what are the tips for the final finishing and polishing, they talked very clearly, as if they had forgotten that this was a blind date, but it was like old friends who had not seen each other for a long time sharing each other's hobbies. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant, making people feel particularly comfortable.
Unconsciously, the red sun gradually set in the west, and the sky was dyed a gorgeous orange-red, like a beautiful painting. And this blind date also came to an end in this warm and beautiful atmosphere. The matchmaker walked up with a satisfied smile on her face, and asked both parties with a smile, and her eyes showed some expectation. Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang were like two shy big boys at this time, their faces suddenly turned red, but they had the same idea in their hearts, so they blushed slightly and nodded gently. After this time together, the girl and her family also felt that the two brothers were really good, honest, and had their own shining points. They happily agreed on the time for the next meeting, and they all looked forward to more opportunities to get to know each other better.
After the girl's family left, the yard became lively. The neighbors gathered around like a group of curious children, joking and asking questions. One said, "Hey, Jiecheng, I think that girl is interested in you. How do you feel about her?" Another shouted to Yan Jiefang, "Jiefang, you two seem to be chatting well. What did you talk about? Tell us." The two brothers were embarrassed by what everyone said. They lowered their heads with shy smiles on their faces, but they didn't know how to respond. Although they didn't say it, they were full of joy in their hearts. They kept thinking about the details of today's blind date in their minds, and they were full of expectations for the future, as if they had seen the beautiful love waving to them.
Since then, Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang have often made appointments with the woman. Yan Jiecheng wanted the woman to know more about his life and work, so he would take her to see where he worked. As soon as he arrived at the factory, he was like a proud general, showing the woman the fruits of his labor with great interest, pointing to the products he had participated in producing, and talking in detail about how much effort he had put in during the production process and what difficulties he had overcome. He looked so proud. The woman, looking at his serious and lovely look, was filled with joy in her heart. She would always prepare some snacks, put them in a delicate little box, and send them to Yan Jiecheng during his work breaks. The moment Yan Jiecheng took the snacks, he felt warm in his heart and felt that he was the happiest person in the world. When his colleagues saw this scene, they also followed suit and teased them, making the atmosphere even sweeter.
Yan Jiefang was not idle either. He and the woman had the same hobby, so naturally they would often go to the market together. The market was very lively, with people coming and going, and all kinds of stalls were full of all kinds of things. The two of them went straight to the stalls selling handmade materials, picking as they walked. They looked at this one and thought that this piece of wood had a good texture, touched that one and thought that the bundle of bamboo was just the right thickness, and from time to time they would quietly argue about which material was better. After choosing the materials, the two of them found a quiet corner to sit down and study new styles together. You put forward an idea, I add some creativity, and then we start to try it out. The laughter and joy echoed in the streets and alleys, attracting many passers-by to cast envious eyes, as if they were a unique landscape in this market.
As for the other people in the courtyard, seeing the two brothers' sweet love, they were all happy for them from the bottom of their hearts. Every time they saw them walking into the courtyard hand in hand, everyone's face would unconsciously be filled with smiles, as if the happy atmosphere in the courtyard was a little stronger. The children in the courtyard were even more lively. When they saw them, they would surround them like a group of birds, tugging at their clothes and clamoring for wedding candy. The childish and cheerful voices made the whole courtyard full of vitality and energy. The adults would smile and tell them that this fate was not easy to come by, so they should cherish this fate, get along well with each other, tolerate each other, communicate more when encountering problems, and strive to achieve success as soon as possible. This blind date is like a stone thrown into a calm lake, which creates beautiful ripples in the life of the courtyard house, adding a bit of romance and warmth to this place that is already full of stories. It seems that every corner is shrouded in the breath of happiness, and the people living here feel that their lives are more fulfilling and full of hope.