Life in siheyuan era

Zhou Zhiyuan felt strange; nearly five minutes had passed, and Shen Jue and Chen Shuying were still scrutinizing him with their eyes.

He didn't understand Shen Jue and Chen Shuying's style, so he couldn't express his confusion. He even thought their attitude was one of caution. Shen Lanbo treated him like a brother, so as parents, they had to show caution, which he understood.

That's what he thought, facing Shen Jue and his wife with composure.

However, Fang Nan felt that wasn't the case. When she returned at noon, Shen Lanbo's arrangement for her to buy some vegetables felt off. Today, Zhou Zhiyuan was visiting, and Shen Jue and Chen Shuying, who always valued etiquette, would have made arrangements in advance. Aunt Liu should have already bought those vegetables.

And when she returned with the vegetables, things felt even more wrong. The Shen family seemed to have just finished a meeting. Shen Jue and Chen Shuying looked solemn, Shen Lanyin had a gloomy expression, and only Shen Lanbo seemed relaxed.

Fang Nan was a smart person and wouldn't ask Shen Lanbo directly.

Faced with their scrutiny, Zhou Zhiyuan remained calm and sat as steady as a mountain. He discovered a secret: Shen Lanyin's phoenix eyes were inherited from Shen Jue, while Shen Lanbo's eyes resembled Chen Shuying.

"They really know how to grow them," Zhou Zhiyuan even had the leisure to think about this.

But Shen Lanyin had a face full of dark clouds, as if she was trying hard to suppress something.

After a few minutes, Shen Jue and Chen Shuying exchanged a look, as if they had reached some kind of consensus.

Then Shen Jue stood up and said, "Zhiyuan, come with me."

He walked towards the study, with Shen Lanbo and Zhou Zhiyuan following behind. They entered the study and closed the door, while Shen Lanyin looked at Chen Shuying and called out in a low voice, "Mom."

Her voice was full of grievance and a hint of unwillingness.

But Chen Shuying sighed and said, "Is there any other way?"

She asked a question, but it was an affirmative statement. And when Shen Lanyin heard this question, she stopped talking, indicating that she had no choice.

So Fang Nan felt extremely strange, but she heard Chen Shuying say to her, "Xiao Nan, your father knows about this. The reason you don't know isn't because we treat you like an outsider, but because we can only tell you based on Zhou Zhiyuan's attitude."

Hearing this, Fang Nan nodded lightly, but this was out of respect for her future mother-in-law, while her heart was full of curiosity. "What matter needs to depend on Zhou Zhiyuan's attitude?"

Fang Nan didn't know, but Zhou Zhiyuan, who now knew, looked completely bewildered. He was surprised to hear that Shen Lanyin's intended partner was actually him.

This was what Shen Jue said. He didn't want Shen Lanyin to become the daughter-in-law of some important figure, so he could only say this.

Shen Jue made it clear that this important figure hadn't met Shen Lanyin, but his wife had seen Shen Lanyin during her stay in the military hospital. After being discharged, she arranged for someone to conduct a detailed investigation of Shen Lanyin and then identified her as a potential daughter-in-law.

But this woman wouldn't ask someone to propose marriage; instead, she mentioned it to the important figure.

However, the important figure didn't take it seriously. In his words, "My children's marriages are their own decisions; I don't worry about them."

The truth was that the important figure didn't have time to care about this matter. His eyes were fixed on the plateau. As the commander-in-chief of the Sino-Indian War, winning this battle was what he cared about.

When the battle was won, the important figure turned his attention back and prepared to continue his health regimen, but his wife brought up the matter again. Her attitude was firm: "Shen Lanyin must become my daughter-in-law."

The important figure had a good impression of Shen Jue and was moved by his wife's words, thinking it was possible to become in-laws.

But he valued strategy and tactics, and he also needed to find a suitable opportunity when choosing a daughter-in-law.

So the opportunity came when he went to inspect that unit, just in time for Shen Jue to lead a team for research. When Shen Jue reported to him, the important figure felt that the opportunity had arrived and asked Shen Jue to speak alone.

This important figure always spoke concisely: "My son doesn't have a partner, and my wife likes your daughter."

Hearing this, Shen Jue was startled, and his brain cells immediately went into high-speed operation.

He admired the important figure's military talent, but he absolutely didn't want Shen Lanyin to be his daughter-in-law. The reason was simple: he didn't respect that important figure's wife at all.

He didn't have much contact with that woman, but he had heard about her ways. Her reputation wasn't good.

And Chen Shuying had contact with that woman, and her evaluation of her was just four words: "Arrogant and domineering."

Under these circumstances, Shen Jue's first reaction was to refuse.

But he needed an excuse, and no excuse was more suitable than Shen Lanyin having a partner.

But choosing this partner was the key. If he said someone was Shen Lanyin's partner, and the important figure's wife investigated and the person denied it, it would be completely over.

With the important figure's personality, he would allow Shen Lanyin to have a partner, but he would never allow Shen Jue to deceive him.

So his first reaction was Zhou Zhiyuan, and there was a reason for this.

When he learned that Shen Lanbo regarded Zhou Zhiyuan as a brother, he conducted a detailed investigation of Zhou Zhiyuan, not only knowing his performance in the army but also knowing his performance in SY, not only knowing his character but also knowing the character of everyone in the Zhou family.

After the investigation, he didn't speak, tacitly approving of Shen Lanbo's brother.

Then he learned the specific details of Zhou Zhiyuan wielding a bayonet, so he affirmed Shen Lanbo's brother.

In his opinion, Zhou Zhiyuan was extremely loyal, willing to go to great lengths for his brothers, and he was a good soldier, which was very important. The important figure had fought all his life and appreciated such soldiers the most.

So Shen Jue could only say Zhou Zhiyuan's name at that time.

Sure enough, when he detailed Zhou Zhiyuan's performance in the Sino-Indian War, the important figure expressed his affirmation: "A good soldier." Then the matter ended.

For the important figure, Shen Lanyin had a partner, so the matter was over.

But Shen Jue was worried that the important figure's wife hadn't let it go.

Fortunately, he had time. The important figure had to inspect several other units, and before he returned home, his wife wouldn't know about this.

Shen Jue had time to personally handle this matter and even pulled Xie Yun in.

For him, Shen Lanbo's affirmation of Zhou Zhiyuan had no reference value, but Xie Yun's affirmation made him and Chen Shuying determined to call Zhou Zhiyuan into the study for a conversation and directly lay their cards on the table.

As for Zhou Zhiyuan, after hearing the cause and effect of this matter, he immediately entered a state of bewilderment.

Then he heard Shen Jue say, "That woman may retaliate against you. I heard that her son isn't a good person either."

Shen Jue had investigated Zhou Zhiyuan and knew that he was a person who became stronger when facing stronger opponents, but he was also worried when facing the important figure. He wanted to give him a heads-up and see Zhou Zhiyuan's reaction.

But Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "I'm not worried about retaliation. The initiative in this matter is in that woman's hands. If she wants to retaliate against me, so be it."

"But I'm worried about Comrade Shen Lanyin's attitude. We have some minor conflicts. If she resists me, there's nothing I can do."

"I can only express my position and play this role well according to Uncle Shen's plan, dragging it out for a year or two. When that woman forgets about this matter, Comrade Shen Lanyin can freely choose a partner."

His attitude made Shen Jue look at Shen Lanbo, so Shen Lanbo solemnly said, "As far as I know, that leader's tolerance isn't great. Once the matter is exposed, he will directly retaliate against my father."

"Moreover, this matter may not be able to be concealed. No one dares to participate in it if it spreads. My dad told Uncle Fang, and Uncle Fang immediately stopped Fang Xiang from continuing to pursue Lanyin, which shows the problem. Do you think Hao Zhiwen has the guts?"

"My parents have explained this matter very clearly to Lanyin. Her resistance isn't against you but against this matter. You have to understand her."

"So you have to take this matter seriously and treat Lanyin well, not just go through the motions."

Shen Lanbo's words put all the responsibility on him.

He had a sense of resistance to this and expressed his attitude, "I can take it seriously, but I can't do this well alone. What can I do if Comrade Shen Lanyin doesn't take it seriously?"

Shen Lanbo immediately replied, "You're calling her Comrade Shen Lanyin? Is that how you address a girlfriend? First, change the way you address her, and then just coax her well, right?"

"Do I know how to coax people?" Zhou Zhiyuan exclaimed.

"If you don't know how to coax, then learn," Shen Lanbo growled.

The two began to argue, and Shen Jue was about to step in. He coughed to stop the two from continuing to argue, then said in a deep voice, "I can write a self-criticism and admit that I lied."

His words forced Zhou Zhiyuan into a corner, and he could only helplessly say, "Okay, I'll learn the art of coaxing people and coax Shen Lanyin... um, coax Lanyin."

He gave in. Wasn't it just dating Shen Lanyin? This wasn't difficult. Just study hard and make progress every day.

However, he also had a condition. If he didn't mention it now, he wouldn't have the chance to mention it later.