Life in siheyuan era

With a mind free of distractions, a relaxed body, slow and deliberate movements, and using intention to guide strength, this set of techniques, a fusion of Wu-style Tai Chi, Five Animal Frolics, combat boxing, and Dragon Whirlwind Energy, after two nights of practice in his dreams, is now skillfully displayed by him.

These past two nights, he hadn't been idle. He spent half an hour before sleep studying "Ancient Investigations," effectively combining its records with historical texts.

After falling asleep, a figure would practice boxing under the starry sky. The knowledge, practice, and insights he had gained over the years gradually merged, and this newly formed cultivation method was demonstrated by him. Twenty minutes later, he concluded the form.

Standing firmly with both feet, facing east, he gently took three breaths, a look of joy on his face.

On the way jogging home, he named this cultivation method "Zhou's Fitness Method," then walked into the courtyard contentedly, hearing Qin Huairu ask, "Zhiyuan, do you have any clothes for me to wash? Bring them to your sister."

"Thank you, Sister Qin." Then he went inside, retrieved a few pieces of clothing, and brought them out.

His cheerful face pleased Qin Huairu, who believed her efforts were paying off.

But it made Lin Shurong wary, and she said in a deep voice, "You're so happy just from earning five hundred yuan?"

"No..." Zhou Zhiyuan immediately became serious and said, "I will keep Mom and Dad's instructions in mind and absolutely will not do anything illegal or disruptive."

Zhou Dehou put down his rice bowl and said, "Don't worry, Zhiyuan knows what he's doing."

Lin Shurong replied, "I'm just afraid he'll get consumed by money."

"A gentleman loves wealth, but he acquires it in the right way," Zhou Zhining's words were unclear, whether to defend him or warn him.

But Zhou Zhiyuan wouldn't consider this matter. He was the founder of "Zhou's Fitness Method," and the mere thought of this title made him happy.

He was in a very good mood. He spent the morning with Qin Xue, Wan Chunfang, and Wang Dagang. Later, Wan Chunfang went to a dinner party, Wang Dagang went home to see his wife, and only Zhou Zhiyuan and Han Xue were left in the Urban Management Office preparing to eat lunch.

Taking out lunch boxes from the steamer, the two sat facing each other. Zhou Zhiyuan opened his box, revealing half a box of vegetable rice.

Han Xue looked at the box of vegetable rice, which looked oily and appetizing.

Zhou Zhiyuan said, "In the morning, I washed the rice, added a spoonful of soy sauce, a spoonful of lard, and a little salt and MSG. Then I put in the shredded cabbage, added cold water when I got to work, stirred it evenly, and put it in the steamer. That's how you make vegetable rice." Saying this, he picked up a spoon.

Han Xue hurriedly said, "Wait a minute, let's switch." As she spoke, she placed her lunch box in front of Zhou Zhiyuan and reached for his.

Zhou Zhiyuan quickly protected his lunch box and refused, "I like vegetable rice."

Han Xue angrily said, "What's wrong with switching lunch boxes? I brought white flour buns with scrambled eggs, which is better than yours."

Their lunches were both good, which was typical of the time. The older generation brought corn buns and pickles, and that's what they ate at home too, but the younger generation had to bring good food so they wouldn't lose face.

Han Xue's appetite was piqued by the oily vegetable rice and insisted on switching lunch boxes with Zhou Zhiyuan, but Zhou Zhiyuan didn't want to eat buns and eggs and refused to switch.

So Han Xue reached out to grab it, and Zhou Zhiyuan put up a token resistance before Han Xue took the lunch box.

Just as the two were grabbing the lunch box, a figure pushed a bicycle in, glanced coldly at the two through the window, parked the bicycle, and knocked on the door and entered.

Seeing her enter, Zhou Zhiyuan asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

Shen Lanyin ignored him, stared at Han Xue coldly, and asked, "Director Han, aren't you being a little too casual with my boyfriend?"

Shen Lanyin said coldly, "That's not what I saw."

Han Xue immediately retorted, "I wonder what Doctor Shen saw?"

Seeing them arguing, Zhou Zhiyuan hurriedly said, "Misunderstanding, it's definitely a misunderstanding. Director Han, you can have this box of vegetable rice. Lanyin, haven't you eaten? I'll take you out to eat."

Trying to smooth things over, Han Xue said coldly, "I wouldn't dare eat your vegetable rice. I can't bear being labeled as a bully."

Shen Lanyin said coldly, "I don't need you to take me out to eat. You should still pay attention to the impact." After saying this, Shen Lanyin turned and walked out.

Zhou Zhiyuan put his hands together and made a gesture to Han Xue, then turned and chased after Shen Lanyin, whispering, "It's not a big deal, is it?"

"It's not a big deal to you," Shen Lanyin said, throwing down this sentence, pushing her bicycle and walking out.

Zhou Zhiyuan hurriedly caught up to coax her, "Don't be angry, what do you want to eat? I'll treat you."

But Shen Lanyin ignored him, pushed her bicycle out of the courtyard, Zhou Zhiyuan looked around and saw no one, raised his thumb and whispered, "This jealous act was well-played."

Hearing his praise, Shen Lanyin stopped, stared at him coldly, and said coldly, "While we're acting, you also need to stay away from Han Xue."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Whether we're acting or not, Han Xue and I are colleagues. She has a boyfriend."

"Just because she has a boyfriend doesn't mean they can't break up?"

Hearing her say this, Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "Whether they break up or not is their business, it definitely has nothing to do with me. I always stay away from married women, including women who are dating. There are plenty of fish in the sea, why ruin my reputation for one woman?"

Zhou Zhiyuan expressed his principles, and Shen Lanyin asked coldly, "Even if there's a good girl, you wouldn't pursue her?"

"There are plenty of good girls..." Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I believe in fate. If there's fate but no destiny, why pursue it? If there's neither fate nor destiny, why pursue it? It's a waste of time and emotions, and it's humiliating. It's not worth it."

This was his attitude towards relationships. Shen Lanyin stared intently into his eyes, and after a while, she said, "You're ruthless."

Zhou Zhiyuan shook his head gently and whispered, "In this life, I only owe one woman. I'm afraid when she frowns, and I tremble when she's angry. If she tells me to kneel, my legs won't straighten up. Apart from her, I don't owe any woman anything. Why should I humiliate myself to pursue someone, just for that little bit of physical pleasure?"

Hearing him say this, Shen Lanyin angrily said, "Rogue." Then she lifted her foot and walked forward.

Zhou Zhiyuan followed her, whispering, "Don't deny it. So-called love should be discussed separately. Love is just that physical thing, but emotion is the key. Love gives rise to emotion, and when two people stay together forever, that's called love."

Hearing him speak, Shen Lanyin turned to look at him and whispered, "You've done quite a bit of research on this!"

Zhou Zhiyuan didn't respond to this, looking ahead and saying slowly, "Of all the emotions, I like one sentence the most, 'Holding hands, growing old together.'"

Shen Lanyin coldly replied, "And I like another sentence, 'What is love? It makes people willing to die for each other.'"

Zhou Zhiyuan chuckled and replied, "There's no word 'person' in that poem. People are advanced creatures, and they're all selfish. Throughout history, I haven't seen anyone who can achieve that. It's already not easy for a man and woman to achieve 'Holding hands, growing old together.' Why pursue such an illusory thing?"

Saying this, Zhou Zhiyuan turned to look at Shen Lanyin, seeing her deep in thought, and whispered, "You're still just a little girl, your thoughts are immature."

Hearing him say "little girl," Shen Lanyin angrily shouted, "Little pig, you're a little pig."

Shen Lanyin was indignant, and when walking, she decided to ignore him. When eating, she couldn't help but kick him three times under the table, and her mood instantly improved. She whispered, "You're going to show the chief the house tomorrow night. What secrets are hidden there?"

Zhou Zhiyuan asked in surprise, "What secrets are there in showing a house?"

"It's hard to say..." Shen Lanyin replied, "You and my brother are so mysterious, who knows what you two are doing?"

"Comrade Shen Lanyin..." Zhou Zhiyuan said seriously, "For me, resolving the Shen family's crisis is the top priority. Other things can be put aside."

Shen Lanyin agreed with this statement and whispered, "Tonight, you come pick me up, and we'll have dinner and go see a movie to dispel those people's doubts."

Shen Lanyin's attitude surprised Zhou Zhiyuan. She actually took the initiative to make this suggestion?

Seeing his expression, Shen Lanyin explained, "I don't want to be that person's daughter-in-law, and you're an idiot. If I don't take the initiative, you won't have a solution. I can come up with good ideas, you just have to execute them."

She explained, but Zhou Zhiyuan actually asked, "Is it really that simple?"

"It's that simple." Shen Lanyin coldly replied to him and lowered her head to eat. The sweet and sour carp at Yonghe Restaurant tasted good.

She simplified Zhou Zhiyuan's question. The matter of two people dating was definitely not that simple.

And Shen Lanyin thought too simply, which was what he was worried about.

After seeing Shen Lanyin off, Zhou Zhiyuan returned to the Subdistrict Office. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Zhao Xia running out and asking in surprise, "Did you really get Doctor Shen?"

Zhao Xia's curiosity was bursting, and Zhou Zhiyuan replied helplessly, "Is it that difficult for me?"

After saying a perfunctory sentence, he quickly walked into the Urban Management Office and immediately saw Han Xue's cold eyes.

Seeing that she hadn't eaten the box of vegetable rice, Zhou Zhiyuan whispered, "I'll bring you another box of vegetable rice tomorrow."

Han Xue ignored him, so he continued, "A little misunderstanding, no need to take it seriously."

Just as he was speaking, he saw Zhang Yong running in and shouting, "Did you really get Doctor Shen?"

Then Wan Chunfang's voice came, "Which Doctor Shen? Zhiyuan, tell us about it."

He went to the military hospital yesterday, and Shen Lanyin came to the Subdistrict Office today. Tit for tat, no one loses out.