Life in siheyuan era

He YuShui was anxious. Chief Engineer Zhang had arrived home last night and appeared on the production line early this morning, inquiring about their recent work.

Faced with Chief Engineer Zhang's inquiries, everyone was actively trying to perform well, striving for one last chance. He YuShui was no exception, and she noticed a complex light flashing in Chief Engineer Zhang's eyes as he looked at her.

This look made He YuShui uneasy, deducing that Teacher Luo must have spoken to Chief Engineer Zhang, but Chief Engineer Zhang had not yet made a final decision.

He YuShui knew that if she wanted Chief Engineer Zhang to make a final decision, Zhou Zhiyuan had to step forward.

After the report, He YuShui immediately called the subdistrict office, learning that Zhou Zhiyuan had gone to the district with Director Qiu and didn't know when he would be back.

So she waited anxiously all morning. At noon, she called again, but Han Xue, who answered the phone, said that Director Qiu had returned, but Zhou Zhiyuan had not.

"Where did he go?" He YuShui asked anxiously.

"Maybe he went to see his girlfriend," Han Xue analyzed calmly.

Han Xue's reply once again confirmed He YuShui's thoughts. Zhou Zhiyuan wanted to pursue that Doctor Shen, and the statement about not being in a relationship for the sake of his career was a lie.

"That big liar," He YuShui was determined to label Zhou Zhiyuan with this title.

But Han Xue didn't echo her words. Zhou Zhiyuan's absence from home for the past few nights was what she was concerned about.

The message He YuShui conveyed to her was that Zhou Zhiyuan went to inspect a house for a leader. Sha Zhu believed it, and He YuShui also believed it, but Han Xue absolutely didn't believe it, instinctively thinking that Zhou Zhiyuan must be up to something.

This intuition was inexplicable, but she just thought so and really wanted to know what he was doing.

But she wouldn't know at this time that Zhou Zhiyuan was treating Yu Li to dinner.

He had convenient means to have Zhang Yong find Guo Yanhong and then invite Yu Li out. The four of them sitting at the same table for dinner wouldn't have any adverse effects.

Zhou Zhiyuan was humbly asking Yu Li for advice, "Sister Yu, you have to help me brainstorm. What gift is better to give to a former capitalist?"

Zhang Yong replied in surprise, "My dad isn't a capitalist."

"Don't interrupt..." Zhou Zhiyuan said in a low voice, "I've already prepared Chief Engineer Zhang's gift. You and Sister Guo should discuss your gift."

Yu Li said, "Yanhong asked me, and I told her to make dumplings for Chief Engineer Zhang. Yanhong said that Chief Engineer Zhang loves to eat dumplings, so I told her to bring the ingredients and make dumplings for Chief Engineer Zhang in person. This is better than any gift."

Yu Li's idea surprised Zhang Yong, and he questioned Guo Yanhong, "How do you know my dad loves to eat dumplings?"

Guo Yanhong hesitantly replied, "The last time I went to your house, I heard your mom talking to Zhiyuan, and she mentioned that your dad loves to eat dumplings. Zhiyuan said he likes cabbage filling, and your mom said your dad likes seafood filling. I'm going to make both kinds of dumplings."

Her saying she would make two kinds of dumplings meant she wanted to please Zhou Zhiyuan.

Guo Yanhong was quite clever. Seeing Luo Sumei's friendly attitude towards Zhou Zhiyuan, she immediately had the idea of befriending him. Zhou Zhiyuan's strong support would be very helpful for her to enter the Zhang family.

But Zhang Yong didn't think of this and immediately expressed his opposition, "My dad and mom both love to eat seafood dumplings. Making one kind is enough. Don't worry about this kid; let him starve if he doesn't like it."

Zhang Yong objected, but Guo Yanhong didn't argue with him. Her gentle smile made Zhou Zhiyuan immediately feel good about her. She was a woman who knew how to behave.

This idea was indeed good, but Zhou Zhiyuan couldn't give away paintings anymore, saying in a low voice, "Is there anything else?"

Yu Li pondered again and gave him an idea, "You can give him a pot of peony flowers, symbolizing wealth and auspiciousness. He will definitely be satisfied."

This idea was also good, but where could Zhou Zhiyuan find a pot of peony flowers?

Seeing him frown, Yu Li knew he was in trouble, but she still had an idea, "My dad likes to grow flowers and promised to give me a pot of peony flowers. If you need it, I'll give it to you. When do you need it?"

"Tomorrow morning," Zhou Zhiyuan replied casually.

Yu Li said readily, "I'm going back to my parents' house tonight. I'll bring the pot of flowers to work tomorrow. Wait for me at the intersection of South Fifth Hutong on Fengxiang Road at seven in the morning."

Yu Li's attitude made Zhou Zhiyuan happy, but he didn't know where South Fifth Hutong was.

Guo Yanhong immediately said, "Come pick me up tomorrow morning, and I'll take you to South Fifth Hutong."

Zhou Zhiyuan continued to ask, "Where does Sister Guo live?" He asked this question while looking at Zhang Yong.

Seeing him look over, Zhang Yong immediately said, "Find it yourself. I want to sleep in tomorrow morning and won't accompany you."

Yu Li chuckled and said, "Go east along Yongning Street, first find the bus stop for Route 21, then turn onto Yongning Third Road along the bus stop..."

She spoke in great detail, and a walking route immediately appeared in Zhou Zhiyuan's mind. He understood.

After Yu Li finished speaking, Zhang Yong immediately said, "You can't ride a bicycle to pick up the flowers. Borrow a car from your girlfriend."

Zhang Yong didn't know if Shen Lanyin could borrow a car, but he had to say it.

Guo Yanhong immediately asked in surprise, "Zhiyuan has a girlfriend? Where does she work? Is she pretty?"

She was curious, asking three questions in a row.

Zhang Yong replied readily, "A doctor in the military hospital..." As he spoke, his eyes quickly swept towards Yu Li, and he continued, "She's a little less beautiful than you, but still pretty."

He knew how to talk, making Guo Yanhong happy with one sentence.

Yu Li smiled and said, "Zhiyuan, congratulations. I was still thinking about introducing you to someone, but it seems I don't need to."

Yu Li also knew how to talk, writing this empty check readily.

But Zhou Zhiyuan still expressed his appreciation, "Thank you, Sister Yu. I appreciate your intention."

He also knew how to talk, but it wasn't an empty check. Yu Li gave him a pot of flowers, so he had to accept her kindness.

He thought that Yu Li was trying to win him over because of Hu Biao. This was easy to handle. If Hu Biao harassed Yu Li again, he would beat him up. If that didn't work, he would beat him up two or three times. Anyway, he had beaten him up twice, so it wouldn't matter to beat him up a few more times.

But Zhang Yong didn't think so. Watching Yu Li and Guo Yanhong's figures walk into the store, he turned to Zhou Zhiyuan and said seriously, "Yu Li's attitude towards you is a bit ambiguous. You need to be careful."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "We're neighbors, just helping each other. Don't overthink it."

He couldn't talk about Hu Biao. If Zhang Yong knew, it would be difficult to guarantee that Guo Yanhong wouldn't know, and if Guo Yanhong knew, it would be difficult to guarantee that Yu Li wouldn't know.

He promised Yu Li not to tell anyone and would definitely not say it.

But Zhang Yong had to remind him, "You're a bit slow with women. Listen to me, and you won't go wrong. Your lifestyle will kill you..."

Zhang Yong mumbled and sat on the back of Zhou Zhiyuan's bicycle, his mouth never idle.

At this time, he suddenly realized that Zhou Zhiyuan seemed to be quite popular with women. Han Xue was nice to him, He YuShui was also nice to him, and he was even dating that cold Shen doctor.

Even Yu Li, who was always cautious, was fond of him, willing to give him her favorite peony flowers to help him give a gift.

So Zhang Yong couldn't help but wonder, "Where did this kid learn how to date?" This question puzzled him.

He overlooked his own perceptions. Zhou Zhiyuan gave people a strong sense of security. He wouldn't harm the people around him, nor would he allow others to harm the people around him. For him, this was a responsibility.

The combination of this responsibility and other qualities formed a unique charm that made people happy to be around him.

Yu Li had to seek Zhou Zhiyuan's help because of Hu Biao. Through several contacts, this sense of security was consolidated, and she really wanted to establish a good neighborly relationship with Zhou Zhiyuan.

But she also had deeper considerations. Zhou Zhiyuan possessed the skill of appraising antiques, and this skill should be a way to make money.

But Yu Li was always cautious. She first wanted to figure out what she could do on this path. She wouldn't tell Zhou Zhiyuan about this until she had figured it out.

She had consulted her father, who liked to grow flowers. Although he knew nothing about antiques, he knew that the risks of this industry were extremely high.

For Yu Li, the job of a store clerk was very popular. It wasn't impossible to open up another way to make money at the same time. In this environment, the antique industry was indeed feasible, but it involved three key issues: how to collect antiques? How to determine the authenticity and price of antiques? How to sell the antiques?

Yu Li couldn't solve any of these three problems. In other words, she was completely a layman in the antique industry, not even seeing the door of this industry, let alone walking into it.

Her father analyzed it very clearly for her, telling her to give up on this.

But Yu Li thought about it carefully and set her sights on Zhou Zhiyuan. Zhou Zhiyuan could help her solve these problems.

This was a very strange idea. Even Yu Li herself was puzzled. Thinking about it carefully, she found this sense of security and affirmed her idea. What she had to do next was to make Zhou Zhiyuan appreciate her kindness.

Zhou Zhiyuan was going to visit a former capitalist, and Yu Li naturally fully supported him. As for whether this former capitalist was Lou Xiao'e's father, Yu Li wouldn't consider this question.

Yu Li understood that even if it was Lou Xiao'e's father, she wouldn't be involved.