Chapter 11: It turns out that there are birds all over the courtyard! (Part )
Liu Zhiye looked at the courtyard in front of him and the surrounding environment.

This courtyard faces south and is connected to the stars above and the earth below, and it is a place that will produce a wealthy family. It is in perfect harmony with the natural luck of the universe. If it is built when luck is strong, it will surely bring prosperity to the people and talents, and produce great wealth and talents of great stature, and make the world famous for its wealth.

This courtyard is obviously quite large. As expected, according to Aunt Wang, it is a quadrangle with three entrances. Together with the east-west courtyards on both sides, it covers an area of ​​about 2500 square meters. This courtyard used to be the residence of a high-ranking official in the old society. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, the descendants of this high-ranking official began to fall into poverty. In order to make a living, they kept selling the houses in the courtyard. Now it has become a large courtyard where different families live together.

If this happened in the 21st century, given the geographical location, land area, and historical heritage, you would not be able to take it over without spending to million yuan.

The original residents of this quadrangle, plus the residents who were arranged to move in after the founding of the People's Republic of China, had a total of about 20 households and more than 10 people. Three households lived in each of the east and west cross courtyards, and three households lived in the outer courtyard, which was the back house. The main courtyard in the middle was divided into three small courtyards, the front, middle and back, where the remaining households lived.

Liu Zhiye's family lives in the main house in the east courtyard.

As they talked, they walked up the four stone steps. What came into view was the bright red lacquered gate, which may have lost some paint due to years of disrepair, and the color looked a little dull.

The gates of the courtyards are also very particular. The highest one is the red lacquered Guangliang Gate, which is also a symbol of nobility. This "red door" was included in the "Nine Gifts" in ancient times, and the Nine Gifts were the highest courtesy given by the emperor to the princes. It was used by the residences of dignitaries in feudal society.

Secondly, the next lowest level is the Jinzhu Gate, which is slightly lower than the Guangliang Gate and is used by lower-ranking officials and nobles.

Then there is the Manzi Gate, which is used by merchants and the like. (In the old days, northerners called southerners "Manzi" because most southerners who came to Beijing were doing business).

As for the one that ordinary people can use, it is called Ruyi Gate, which has two Ruyi doors on the lintel.

On both sides of the red lacquer gate, there is a pair of "baodui stones" carved with animal patterns, which are also called door piers. The door piers, also called Yingmentai, are placed at the bottom of the gate axis and their function is to support the bottom of the gate axis - the lower door pier.

This gate pier is inseparable from the courtyard house and has its own rules. It cannot be used indiscriminately.

The doorposts can be in the shape of a square box, with lions, tigers or no patterns carved on them. The box-shaped doorposts look like book boxes or money boxes, which represent a family of scholars or a prosperous business. They represent the owners of the courtyard, who are mostly civil servants or merchants.

Initially, the box-shaped doorposts with lion and tiger patterns on them were for high-ranking civil officials, while those without carvings were for merchants.

There is another type of door pier, the one in the shape of a drum is called "Bao Diao Shi". It is shaped like a round drum, which is also the shape of a war drum. In ancient times, people would carry a drum when going to war. Therefore, the drum-shaped door pier is a symbol of the military officer's house, meaning victory and return. The "Bao Diao Shi" carved with animal patterns is used in the houses of high-ranking military officers.

Seeing this, Liu Zhiye also understood. The original owner of this courtyard was a high-ranking military officer, and possibly a noble master, so his social status might not be low.

To make a long story short, push open the vermilion lacquered door, step over the high threshold, walk out of the corridor of the door, and enter the outer courtyard. Facing you is the screen wall of the quadrangle courtyard, on which is carved a big word "Fu", surrounded by patterns of plum, orchid, peony, lotus and other flowers and plants.

This screen wall is also indispensable in the courtyard. The ancients believed that the air should not rush directly into the hall or bedroom, otherwise it would be unlucky. In addition, people value privacy and will not let people see inside through the door. In addition, the screen wall also has the function of viewing, which I will not elaborate on.

Facing the screen wall and looking to the left of the gate, there are several back houses facing south and facing away from the street. This was once the residence of the original owner, some servants, grooms, and guards, and it can also be used to entertain guests. To the west is a moon gate, which leads to the west courtyard.

Facing the north of the back house is the hanging flower gate connected by the corridors on both sides. It is also the main gate that you can't go out of the main gate or the second gate.

On the right hand side, that is, to the right of the main gate, there are also two back rooms, which are the residences of the private school teachers hired by the owner.

A few steps further east, there is also a moon gate, and inside is the east courtyard where Liu Zhiye's parents live.

"Hey! Isn't this Director Wang?"

"Hello, Director Wang, if you have any instructions to convey, I need you to come over..."

There was a hint of courtesy and flattery in these words, and they had barely escaped his lips.

Liu and Wang saw a short man with a side part, short eyebrows, small eyes and a pair of black-framed glasses (one leg of the glasses was wrapped with white tape). He had a pointed face, big nose, and a thin body. He was a middle-aged man in his forties. He was wearing a gray Zhongshan suit and a round-neck sweater made of red wool. He was walking out of the hanging flower gate in the middle courtyard.

"Hey! It's Teacher Yan! The get out of class ends so early today!"

"Come here, Zhiye! Let me introduce you. This is Teacher Yan, the head of this hospital."

"Teacher Yan, this is Liu Zhiye, who just returned from military service. He's a good guy."

"You two just might as well get to know each other!"

"Hey~!"

Liu Zhiye agreed and politely extended his hands to shake hands with Uncle Yan.

"Hello! Uncle Yan, my name is Liu Zhiye, and I'm a new resident in our courtyard. I hope you can take care of me in the future..."

"You are welcome, man! My last name is Yan, and my name is Bugui. I am the third uncle in charge of our hospital. You can just call me the third uncle from now on~"

"From now on, neighbors need to take care of each other. If you have any problems or need help, just say hello to Uncle San."

When Liu Zhiye heard the other party say that he was the third uncle Yan Bugui, and then looked carefully at the face that looked very similar to the later actor and teacher Li Guangfu, he was completely stunned.

"Jiaodaokou, Director Wang, Red Star Steel Plant, Loubancheng. Nanluoguxiang Siheyuan, Third Uncle, Yan Bugui. Isn't this, isn't this Qingman Siheyuan?"

Oh my! I have traveled through time and space in the TV series "Love in the Courtyard". Looking at the young face of the third uncle, I think the time now may still be before the plot. Director Wang said:

"Teacher Yan, are Teacher Liu and his family from the East Courtyard here?"

Then he suddenly slapped his forehead:

"Hey, look at my brain, Uncle Yan, let me introduce you again. Xiao Liu is the eldest son of Teacher Liu, the one who served in the army in his early years."

The third uncle was stunned at first, then he stared at Liu Zhiye and looked him up and down carefully.

"Like, really like, hey~"

"You look so much like your dad. You're also tall, with a high nose bridge, and you look gentle and handsome. But you're better than your dad, because you look extraordinary and heroic, like a hero~"

As he said that, he walked forward and took Liu Zhiye's arm.

"You haven't gone home yet, come on, Uncle San will take you home."

"Hey~ This is something you bought for your parents, right? Let Uncle Sanda help you carry it. It must be tiring to come back from such a long distance and carry such things~"

As he was talking, he enthusiastically wanted to help Liu Zhiye carry things, but Liu Zhiye declined.

"Thank you, Uncle! I can take it myself. This little thing is not enough~"

Liu Zhiye didn't notice that the third uncle's eyes flashed with unwillingness.

The third uncle took the lead and walked into the east wing. He shouted as he walked:
"Is Lao Liu home? Is Lao Liu home?"

"Come out quickly, your boss is back~"

Everyone entered the east courtyard, which was also arranged in a north-facing south layout. The three main rooms in the middle had no side rooms, and the east and west wing rooms were on both sides. The center of the courtyard was paved with stone slabs, which looked particularly neat.

On both sides of the door of the main house, there is a 30-centimeter-high ceramic flowerpot, in which two camellia trees are planted. The red flowers are in full bloom, competing for beauty.

At this time, a man in his 50s, about meters tall, walked out from the main door. He wore black-rimmed round glasses, had his hair parted in the middle, had sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, a high nose bridge, a pale and thin face, and a pair of neatly groomed mustaches.

He was wearing a yellow sweater with a sweetheart collar, a white shirt underneath, trousers and black leather shoes.

Judging from his attire, he looks like a cultured teacher or cadre.

(In the 1.70s and s, the average height of men was less than meters)
"Dad~"

Liu Zhiye shouted, walked quickly forward, and knelt down in front of his father.

Father Liu took a closer look and saw that it was his eldest son who had returned. He was also very excited, tears welled up in his eyes instantly, his eyes were red, his hands were shaking, and he hurried to help Liu Zhiye.

"Zhiye, my son~ After so many years, you finally came back~"

Liu Zhiye could no longer control his childish emotions. He hugged his father's thighs and cried loudly.

"Dad, I'm back and I'm never leaving again."

"Okay, okay, I'm glad you're back, I'm glad you're back!"

As he spoke, he looked at Liu Zhiye carefully, fearing that he might be missing some parts or limbs.

Liu Zhiye originally thought that he came from the future, even though he inherited some of the original owner's memories.

He had such deep feelings for his family that he would not be too excited after meeting them. He just thought that he was an outsider and might be just a passer-by in this world.

But when he really saw his father, he finally understood that he was Liu Zhiye and Liu Zhiran, but with some memories of later generations.

He is still himself, his family is still his family, and his world is still his world, and it may have never changed.

Father Liu wiped away the hot tears that were flowing.

Then he said to Liu Zhiye, "Don't cry, kid. You should be happy. Let the ground cool down. Go inside and see your mother."

Then, he smiled embarrassedly at Director Wang and the third uncle who had arrived.

"Director Wang, Old Yan embarrassed you. Please come in and have a cup of hot water."

(End of this chapter)