Life in siheyuan era

The next day, a little after three in the afternoon, Han Xue walked out of Deputy Bureau Chief Zhang's office and followed Zhang Xiao to the Equipment Department to collect her handgun and bullets, a special approval granted by Zhang Limin.

However, she was still in a state of confusion, as Zhang Limin's task for her was simply to closely monitor the building for any unusual phenomena.

She didn't know what constituted an 'unusual phenomenon,' but Zhang Limin didn't elaborate, stating that any known information was classified as top secret, and it was up to her to discover the unknown, which could be a person or an object.

Zhang Limin made it sound easy, even expecting her to conduct reconnaissance in her spare time, but the special authorization for a handgun indicated the dangerous nature of the reconnaissance mission.

What frustrated her the most was Zhang Limin's statement: 'Do not seek assistance from Zhou Zhiyuan unless absolutely necessary; you two will conduct independent reconnaissance.'

Zhang Limin told her that Zhou Zhiyuan had other important tasks, making her feel like she was just a substitute, which made her feel terrible.

With this awful feeling, Han Xue left the Equipment Department and ran into Li Bo on his way back as she exited the main gate.

Seeing Han Xue, Li Bo asked in surprise, "What brings you to the Municipal Bureau?"

Han Xue replied glumly, "Don't ask. I'll tell you when I can."

Hearing this, Li Bo knew Han Xue had received a secret mission and immediately changed the subject: "The captain told me to come back; I might be getting a new assignment too."

"I wish you success."

"I wish you success as well."

After exchanging good wishes, Li Bo went into the building. Han Xue left the Public Security Bureau, pondered for a moment, stopped her bicycle, found a public phone, and called He Yushui, telling her, "Zhou Zhiyuan was discharged from the hospital at two o'clock this afternoon. He should be home by now. Come home tonight; I'll visit you."

She knew the time of Zhou Zhiyuan's discharge because Zhang Limin had mentioned it inadvertently. She wanted to talk to Zhou Zhiyuan tonight. At that moment, Zhou Zhiyuan left Mo Youji's small courtyard and rode his bicycle back to the quadrangle courtyard where he lived.

As he entered the courtyard, he saw Bang Geng sneaking out of Silly Zhu's room, carrying a bulging cloth bag. When Bang Geng saw him, he immediately revealed a look of panic, standing frozen in place.

Just then, First Aunt's voice came: "Zhiyuan's back."

Three people were standing in the courtyard at this time. Bang Geng stood blankly in front of Silly Zhu's door, Jia Zhangshi stood at her door, watching him nervously, and First Aunt walked out of her house, waving at him.

Two small faces were pressed against the window of Qin Huairu's house, Xiao Dang with a look of panic, while Huaihua was grinning.

"Listen to him, he calls stealing 'taking' and even praises him. Bang Geng naturally won't be polite. Just ignore it; we don't want to offend anyone."

First Aunt said "we don't," treating Zhou Zhiyuan as family. Seeing him nod, she was pleased and continued, "I know what Silly Zhu is thinking. He needs Qin Huairu to help him with mending, washing, and scrubbing. I think he has a little something for Qin Huairu too."

"Jia Zhangshi can also see Silly Zhu's little thoughts. She's guarding against your brother, not Silly Zhu, and taking the opportunity to get something from him."

Saying this, First Aunt looked at Zhou Zhiyuan. Seeing him still nodding, she continued, "I can see that you're wary of Qin Huairu, but you're afraid of hurting your brother's feelings. It must be difficult for you."

Zhou Zhiyuan still nodded; First Aunt was truly his confidante.

Then First Aunt said, "Even parents can't control this kind of thing, let alone a younger brother? You can advise your brother, but you can't hurt your brotherly feelings."

First Aunt gave earnest advice. Seeing him sincerely listening to her, she was even happier.

When Zhou Zhiyuan heard her finish, he asked in a low voice, "Is Jia Zhangshi very shrewish?"

First Aunt replied, "She lost her husband in middle age and her son in old age, and she has no father or brothers to help her. How can she not be a little shrewish? Generally speaking, she's still reasonable, just a little selfish. The neighbors in the courtyard understand and usually let her have her way."

Hearing First Aunt's explanation, which matched his own thoughts, Zhou Zhiyuan nodded slightly, but then he heard First Aunt say loudly, "Old Lady Long is back from her walk."

Zhou Zhiyuan turned to look and saw Old Lady Long walking towards them, leaning on her cane. She stopped nearby, her small feet planted firmly, and looked at Zhou Zhiyuan with a smile, asking kindly, "I heard from your parents that you went to the army to participate in training and that you were an instructor in a small team?"

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "My unit from the plateau came, and the old chief just happened to be evaluating me."

"The chief is thinking of you; you can't let the chief down."

Old Lady Long said with a smile.

"How could I..." Zhou Zhiyuan replied briskly, "After the training, the chief even praised me."

"Heh..." Old Lady Long chuckled and replied, "You're the most promising child in this courtyard."

Zhou Zhiyuan quickly replied, "You're praising me too much, Old Lady. I only know a little about combat skills; I'm clueless about everything else."

He was being modest, and Old Lady Long chuckled and asked, "You're back so early; are you going to cook for your parents again?"

"Yes, it's been a long time since I've cooked."

"What do you want to make tonight?"

Zhou Zhiyuan hadn't really thought about it, and First Aunt suggested, "Go take a look at the outhouse. If there's still sauerkraut in the jar, you should eat it quickly; it's getting warmer and warmer."

This reminded him, and he quickly said goodbye, pushing his bicycle towards his own house.

Watching him walk into his house, Old Lady Long smiled and said, "This child is polite and can talk to the older generation. Only Lou Xiao'e and him can do that."

First Aunt retorted, "Lou Xiao'e only chats with you; she ignores us."

Old Lady Long smiled and said, "Xiao'e isn't very good at socializing."

First Aunt replied with dissatisfaction, "Are you saying Zhiyuan is good at socializing? I think this child is very honest."

"You're fond of this child, so naturally everything about him is good."

Old Lady Long's statement made First Aunt continue to retort, "What's not good about this child?"

Old Lady Long thought carefully and had to admit, "This child is indeed good."

Hearing Old Lady Long admit it, First Aunt smiled triumphantly, just like when others praise her own child.

First Aunt got her wish; Zhou Zhiyuan got along very well with her.

But she didn't know Zhou Zhiyuan's true thoughts. It's impossible to please everyone. There are nine families and over thirty people living in the quadrangle courtyard. It's impossible to be harmonious with everyone; it's enough to get along with a few representatives.

Silly Zhu is the representative of the younger generation. He's the troublemaker of the quadrangle courtyard. Besides First Uncle and Qin Huairu, no one pays attention to him, but as the male protagonist of the quadrangle courtyard script, Zhou Zhiyuan took the initiative to befriend him.

And he is a junior in the courtyard. The older generation will not take the initiative to associate with him. It is rare that First Aunt is good to him, and Zhou Zhiyuan naturally accepts it.

First Aunt and First Uncle are both positive role models in the courtyard, with high prestige, and they have the support of Old Lady Long. It is beneficial for him to have a good relationship with First Aunt.

But he will not be limited to these two people. There is also a family that he wants to get along with.

At the end of the three-judge joint trial that night, several young people cleaned up the tables and chairs. Liu Guangtian expressed dissatisfaction with him not working, and Wang Dali spoke up for him, so he couldn't turn a deaf ear.

Back in his room, he took off his watch and put it in the drawer, changed into an old military uniform, put two bags of milk powder into his jacket pocket, and took a vegetable basin from the kitchen and headed to the front yard.

Arriving at the front yard, he looked up at the chimney above the side room, came to the door of this side room, knocked on the door and walked in, seeing Wang Da Niang looking at him in surprise, and respectfully called out "Wang Da Niang".

Then he walked up to Wang Da Niang and said, "When I came back that night, I heard the child crying in Da Ji Ge's room. I knew that Da Sao had brought the child back, so I wanted to buy something for the child."

"But there have been too many things going on during this time. Today, I can come back early, so I bought two bags of milk powder to express my feelings."

Saying that, he took out two bags of milk powder and handed them over.

Wang Da Niang quickly said, "You can't, I can't let you spend money?"

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Wang Da Niang, I sincerely want to befriend Da Ji Dali Ge. Da Ji Ge's child is my nephew, and it is just a small gesture from an uncle, so you must accept it."

Hearing him say it sincerely, Wang Da Niang hesitated for a moment and reached out to take the two bags of milk powder, and said happily, "I will thank you for Da Ji."

"It should be."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled, and after saying a few more words to Wang Da Niang, he walked out of the Wang family's side room, came to the front of the outhouse, counted from east to west to the sixth door, took out the key, opened the iron lock and went inside.

There are no windows in the outhouse, and the sun does not shine in all year round. The room is dark, humid and cold, and it is a natural cold storage.

This is a storage room of the Zhou family, with an area of about four square meters. Garlic is hung on the walls in the room, and Chinese cabbage and green onions are neatly stacked on the ground. Potatoes and radishes are placed in the frame, and a large aluminum basin is hung on the wall.

This large aluminum basin evoked his memories, and a warm expression appeared in his eyes.

This is the large aluminum basin that his two brothers used to take baths when they were young, and he was still bathed in this large aluminum basin when he was six years old.

At that time, he was sitting in this large aluminum basin, and Lin Shurong wiped his body, and Zhou Dehou occasionally added some hot water to the basin, carefully for fear of scalding him.

Seeing this large aluminum basin reminded him of his childhood scene, a warm current welled up from his heart, the blood in his whole body flowed lightly, and the fingers of both hands could not help but flick lightly.