Life in siheyuan era

Yu Li was always cautious and would never discuss anything with Zhou Zhiyuan on the street. Seeing Zhou Zhiyuan riding his bike over, she simply greeted him normally, "Going for a bath?"

Her question seemed pointless, but the small bamboo basket she carried told Zhou Zhiyuan that she was also going for a bath.

So Zhou Zhiyuan politely asked, "Sister Yu, can I give you a ride?"

Yu Li declined, "No need, it's just a few minutes away."

"I'm going first."

After replying, Zhou Zhiyuan rode his bike towards the bathhouse ahead. He lingered for over an hour before leaving the men's bath. He saw Yu Li standing at the counter, slowly tidying up the toiletries in her small bamboo basket. Seeing him come out, she immediately handed the cashier five jiao.

She wouldn't pay for Zhou Zhiyuan, nor would she let Zhou Zhiyuan pay for her. After paying the bath fee, she picked up her small bamboo basket and walked out.

Zhou Zhiyuan paid his own bath fee, picked up his cloth bag, and walked out of the bathhouse. He rode his bicycle forward, stopped under a dimly lit utility pole, and stood by the roadside, watching Yu Li walk towards him.

It was already past eight o'clock in the evening, and the street was sparsely populated. Two minutes later, someone walked past him. After another minute, Yu Li walked up to him and whispered, "I have something to show you."

Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "Potato, potato, I am sweet potato."

"What?" Yu Li was stunned.

"Comrade, you need a password for the rendezvous. You should say, 'Sweet potato, sweet potato, I am potato.'"

"Heh..." Yu Li smiled, then replied, "You're the potato."

"Okay..." Zhou Zhiyuan replied helplessly, "Sweet potato, sweet potato, I am potato."

"Heh..." Yu Li smiled again, instantly relaxing. She whispered, "Stop fooling around, I have something to show you." As she spoke, she looked around and reached into her small bamboo basket with one hand.

Zhou Zhiyuan sighed, "If there were spies nearby, this action alone would expose you."

"Then what should I do?" Yu Li asked, turning her head and whispering, "Can't I just find you openly?"

"Why can't you be open and aboveboard? Is there something between us?"

Zhou Zhiyuan responded, reaching out to take the item Yu Li handed him. He then said, "A jade thumb ring."

He then took the flashlight Yu Li handed him, turned around, and carefully examined it in the light. He turned off the flashlight, turned back around, and handed the flashlight and jade thumb ring back to Yu Li, whispering, "This is a white jade thumb ring, not for use by ordinary people. It won't fetch much of a price now, so keep it safe."

He didn't ask where it came from, which made Yu Li feel relieved. She put away the jade thumb ring and whispered, "I don't want to sell it, I just want to learn antique knowledge from you."

Yu Li's attitude surprised Zhou Zhiyuan. After a moment of contemplation, he whispered, "Let's talk as we walk."

Zhou Zhiyuan felt that some things should be clarified. He pushed his bicycle forward and said to Yu Li, who was walking beside him, "There isn't a large market for antiques and calligraphy right now, and there are very few collectors."

"Those few collectors are looking for high-quality items. The creator, the user, and the history and culture contained within are key. Taking the thumb ring as an example, the thumb rings used by emperors are what they are interested in."

"This raises a question: is such a thumb ring a cultural relic? If it is a cultural relic, privately buying and selling it is illegal."

Hearing him say it so seriously, Yu Li pondered for a moment and replied, "I trust you."

Zhou Zhiyuan chuckled and replied, "That's the second aspect of the problem. Antiques and calligraphy are not like cabbages and radishes with clear prices. The same item can fetch vastly different prices depending on the buyer."

"It might sell for a sky-high price now, but in ten or twenty years, the price of this item might be multiplied by a hundred or even a thousand. How would you feel then?"

Zhou Zhiyuan raised a question, and Yu Li pondered for a moment before replying, "I won't regret it."

Her reaction was quick, but she hadn't deeply considered the meaning of Zhou Zhiyuan's words.

Zhou Zhiyuan explained, "It's not a question of regret, but our friendly relationship might be completely ruined. We might not even be able to be neighbors anymore."

"Why do you trust me?"

Yu Li couldn't answer this question. Zhou Zhiyuan continued, "People change, especially in the face of利益. People's hearts are even more unpredictable. I can't even guarantee that I won't change, so who can guarantee a lasting trust?"

These words made Yu Li feel very oppressed. After a moment of silence, she slowly said, "You don't want to teach me anymore?"

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Zhiyuan whispered, "I can tell you some knowledge about antiques and calligraphy. You can decide how to do it yourself, but remember, you have to spend money to learn knowledge in this business."

These words misled Yu Li, and she quickly said, "I'll pay tuition."

Zhou Zhiyuan quickly explained, "What I mean is, you need to be prepared. The antique market is full of fakes, and it's impossible for non-experts to tell them apart. Buying fakes is common, but I'm not asking you for tuition."

Hearing his explanation, Yu Li smiled and said, "With you as my teacher, what am I afraid of?"

"I'm afraid..." Zhou Zhiyuan replied solemnly, "There will be times when even I make mistakes."

Who in this business would dare to say they wouldn't make mistakes? Mo Youji didn't dare to say it, and Zhou Zhiyuan certainly didn't dare to say it. Relying on Orange requires a massive amount of knowledge. Without this knowledge, he'd be clueless, and Orange would be clueless too.

Zhou Zhiyuan understood this principle and stood at the entrance of the alley, making a study plan for himself. History books were essential. Zhou Zhining could teach him about calligraphy and painting, but what other books did he need to read?

As he was pondering, he heard a voice, "Zhiyuan, why are you standing here?"

Hearing the voice, he looked over and the first thing that caught his eye was a mesh bag and lunch box, then he saw Silly Zhu's face appear before him.

Seeing Silly Zhu, Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I was just thinking about how to tell you something."

"What is it?"

Hearing Silly Zhu's carefree tone, Zhou Zhiyuan wasn't polite, "Several guests are coming on Sunday. We use a kang table at home, and they're not used to it. I'm wondering if it's better to eat at a restaurant or borrow your room."

Shen Lanbo was coming on Sunday, and Zhang Yong was also coming. Given his current relationship with Shen Lanyin, she should also come. If Shen Lanbo brought Fang Nan and Zhang Yong brought Guo Yanhong, five people would be visiting together, and Zhou's family's kang table simply wouldn't be able to seat them all.

Zhou Zhiyuan did want to entertain them at a restaurant outside. Zhou Dehou was happy with this arrangement, but Lin Shurong reminded him, "If you eat at someone else's place, when they come, it's better to treat them at a restaurant, right?"

Hearing Lin Shurong say this, Zhou Zhiyuan had to consider something. If it were just Shen Lanbo and Zhang Yong, it wouldn't matter, but if Fang Nan and Guo Yanhong came, it would be a little awkward, especially with Shen Lanyin, as this visit had special significance.

Thinking this way, he turned his thoughts to Silly Zhu. Mentioning it now, Silly Zhu replied carelessly, "Just arrange it in my room. I'll personally cook that day."

Silly Zhu took on the responsibility, and Zhou Zhiyuan wasn't polite. He smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Zhu."

"Why be polite between us brothers?"

Silly Zhu replied, taking a few steps forward and whispering, "I also have a problem here. Help me think about it."

"About Teacher Ran Qiuyue?"

"You know?"

"I got home before four o'clock, and I heard Xiaodang mention it a little after four twenty. Even Xiaodang knows, so I'm the last to know, right?"

"Third Master isn't righteous."

"He's not very righteous. Do you really like Teacher Ran Qiuyue?"

"Yes, Teacher Ran is beautiful and cultured."

"The problem is, what is Teacher Ran's attitude?"

"She looks down on me because I'm a cook."

"People with different paths can't work together."

"What's wrong with being a cook?"

The two talked all the way to the entrance of the courtyard. Silly Zhu said solemnly, "Go talk to her for me."

"Me?" Zhou Zhiyuan called out in surprise.

"Yes..." Silly Zhu replied solemnly, "You also know Teacher Ran. She was the one who almost ran into you that night."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhiyuan was even more surprised and asked, "Does that count as knowing her?"

"I guess it should count as knowing her." Silly Zhu's answer made Zhou Zhiyuan laugh and cry.

That night, he had just returned home after being discharged from the army. He almost got hit by a bicycle when he walked into the alley, and that's why he had two exchanges with Silly Zhu.

He didn't have much of an impression of that young woman. Now that he thought about it, he would only give her one comment, "Her driving skills are terrible."

And even worse was Silly Zhu, who actually wanted him to be a matchmaker. There couldn't be a worse idea.