Life in siheyuan era

Guo Yanhong was a little nervous; the atmosphere at the dinner table was too serious.

At this moment, she sat next to Qin Huairu on the right side of the table, with Zhang Yong next to her and Shen Lanbo sitting opposite. This arrangement showed respect for her.

The Zhou family followed rules. Zhou Dehou had Silly Zhu on his left, followed by Shen Lanbo, then Fang Nan and Shen Lanyin.

Lin Shurong had Qin Huairu on her right, followed by Guo Yanhong, then Zhang Yong and Zhou Zhining, with Zhou Zhiyuan at the end.

This arrangement made Guo Yanhong feel comfortable, but the Zhou family's posture made her nervous.

She understood Zhou Zhiyuan, who came from a military background, but she couldn't understand Zhou Zhining. Seeing Zhou Dehou and Lin Shurong also sitting upright, she became even more nervous.

She had attended Zhang Yong's family banquet, but she hadn't felt this kind of atmosphere even in that intellectual family. In her nervousness, Guo Yanhong heard Zhou Dehou say, "Today, we have distinguished guests at the Zhou family, which truly brings honor to our humble home. Thanks to Yuzhu's generosity, and Xiao Guo has also helped with a lot of work. You've worked hard."

Silly Zhu quickly replied, "You're too kind."

Guo Yanhong said in a low voice, "Sister Qin did more."

She reminded him, but Zhou Dehou still didn't mention Qin Huairu. Instead, he continued, "Those who came are Zhiyuan's brothers. Zhining, as the eldest son of the Zhou family, it's up to you to entertain them."

"Yes," Zhou Zhining replied respectfully, straightening up and saying, "My father's background is peasant, and my mother's background is farmhand. My family doesn't have so many rules."

No one believed him when he said this, but he had to say it. "My family is just stricter with my two brothers because my maternal grandmother came from a scholarly family and was extremely strict with my mother, and even more strict with my brothers."

"Take eating, for example. My family used a kang table. Whether kneeling or sitting cross-legged, we had to sit up straight. If our posture wasn't standard, we would definitely get beaten."

"Of course, I was the one who got beaten the most. My grandmother doted on Zhiyuan and treated me like a chicken."

Zhou Zhining actually told a joke, and he did so in a serious manner, which brought low laughter to the dinner table.

After everyone laughed, Zhou Zhining continued, "As the eldest son of the Zhou family, I have the power to discipline Zhiyuan. This is Zhiyuan's biggest regret. When he turns around, he finds that he doesn't have a younger brother or sister under his control."

Another burst of light laughter erupted at the table, and Zhou Zhining raised his glass with both hands and stood up, saying, "Zhiyuan and I will first toast our parents."

Zhou Zhiyuan also stood up and, together with Zhou Zhining, raised his glass with both hands and drank it all in one gulp, while Zhou Dehou and Lin Shurong only took a small sip.

The brothers sat down, and Zhou Zhiyuan picked up the wine bottle to pour wine for Zhou Zhining, then filled his own glass. Zhou Dehou said, "Have a drink with the young people."

At Zhou Dehou's words, Silly Zhu and Zhang Yong quickly stood up with their glasses. Shen Lanbo and the others drank soda and also raised their glasses. Zhou Dehou and Lin Shurong drank half a glass of wine, and Zhou Dehou immediately stood up and said, "Young people, have a good time. Your Aunt Lin and I won't join you."

After saying this, Zhou Dehou and Lin Shurong walked out. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then heard Silly Zhu say, "Old rules, elders don't sit at the same table as the young. The Zhou family's rules are really strict!"

Silly Zhu understood the rules. There was no such emphasis when the family ate together on a regular basis, but it was necessary to pay attention when there were guests.

But he didn't know that this was the life of ordinary families. Wealthy families also ate separately on a daily basis.

Zhou Dehou had experienced it as a child. After his grandmother passed away, his grandfather had a separate small table, then his father and his brothers had a table, and Zhou Dehou, his stepmother, aunts, and cousins had a table.

The rules were even stricter at that time. His grandfather was the last to come to the table. He would first take a sip of wine, pick up a chopstick of food, eat it, and then put down his chopsticks before they could eat. Even when Zhou Dehou was so hungry that his stomach was sticking to his back, he had to wait.

Zhou Dehou had told Zhou Zhining and Zhou Zhiyuan about his childhood experiences. Now there weren't so many rules, but the basic rules had to be followed. With Zhou Zhining present, Zhou Zhiyuan had no power to represent the Zhou family.

So Zhou Zhining raised his glass to Silly Zhu and said, "Brother Zhu, you've worked hard."

Hearing Zhou Zhining call him Brother Zhu, Silly Zhu's face lit up with a smile, and he drank the glass in one gulp.

Then Zhou Zhining drank another glass with Shen Lanbo and Zhang Yong, and then turned to Qin Huairu and said, "Huairu, please toast the sisters for me."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhiyuan's face changed, but Qin Huairu cheerfully stood up and said, "Please forgive me for any shortcomings in my care."

Qin Huairu was happy. She had worked hard all day, and Zhou Dehou thanked Silly Zhu and Guo Yanling but not her, which meant he was treating her as one of the family.

And Zhou Zhining openly asked her to represent him, which was an affirmation of her status.

What made her even more pleasantly surprised was that Shen Lanyin took the lead in standing up and sincerely saying, "Sister Qin, you've worked hard. My sisters and I will get along well in the future."

Shen Lanyin's open friendliness made Qin Huairu overjoyed.

Ever since Shen Lanyin walked into the quadrangle courtyard, Qin Huairu had been on tenterhooks. Shen Lanyin was too beautiful and was also a university student at the medical university, a doctor in the cardiology department, and the daughter of a military officer and high-ranking cadre. These conditions immediately pushed her to the bottom. There was no comparison between the two.

At this time, a question arose. Zhou Zhiyuan's partner had these conditions. Zhou Zhining's partner would also have to rise with the tide. Zhou Dehou and Lin Shurong's ideas might be different from the past.

That's what she thought. Zhou Dehou's attitude made her feel a little more at ease, and Zhou Zhining's attitude stabilized her. She stood up to toast with a nervous heart, and seeing Shen Lanyin stand up in response and say that she wanted to get along well with her, she could hear the subtext and was immediately overjoyed.

Shen Lanyin's attitude surprised Zhou Zhiyuan, while Zhou Zhining smiled slightly.

After the brothers came out with their wine glasses, Zhou Zhiyuan asked in a low voice, "Brother, what do you mean?"

Zhou Zhining chuckled and replied in a low voice, "Shen Lanyin is smarter than you."

He didn't explain, but took Zhou Zhiyuan into the home of the First Elder, where Zhou Dehou and his wife were sitting in this room drinking and chatting with the First Elder and his wife. Zhou Zhining and Zhou Zhiyuan came over to toast the elders.

At this time, Jia Zhang's face was also not good, turning from initial satisfaction to doubt.

Zhou Zhiyuan had bought a lot of meat, and Silly Zhu's braised pork was authentic, and the three children ate it with relish.

Jia Zhang saw clearly that the Zhou family sent a bowl to each family, but they gave her family the most, while other families didn't have fish and chicken.

Jia Zhang was satisfied with this and took it for granted. It was normal for Qin Huairu to stay for dinner, but it was not normal to bring two young women to toast.

The toasting procedure was not like this. Normally, the women followed the men, and the two young women should have followed the two young men to toast with Zhou Zhining, instead of being led by Qin Huairu.

This scene made Jia Zhang suspicious, but she didn't know that Zhou Zhining had done it intentionally. Zhou Zhiyuan brought Shen Lanyin home, and Zhou Zhining had to carefully consider how to investigate Shen Lanyin's character.

Shen Lanyin came from a high-ranking cadre family and was also very outstanding herself. This prerequisite made Zhou Zhining think deeply.

Humans are advanced animals who are good at disguising themselves. Shen Lanyin likes Zhou Zhiyuan, so she will naturally perform well in front of his parents and brother.

Therefore, Zhou Zhining would not consider the problem from this aspect, and after thinking about it, he focused his attention on Qin Huairu.

The Zhou family had to entertain five guests. This number meant that the Zhou family had to prepare in advance. Zhou Zhiyuan asked Silly Zhu to be the head chef, and Zhou Zhining had to let Qin Huairu take care of it, and then he had to consider Qin Huairu's identity.

It would definitely not work if she was Zhou Dehou's apprentice. This identity would not reveal Shen Lanyin's true reaction.

It would be different if she appeared as his partner. Was Shen Lanyin willing to become sisters-in-law with Qin Huairu?

This depended on Shen Lanyin's mentality. Did she look at people with a condescending eye, or did she look at people with an equal eye? Her reaction would definitely reveal it.

So Zhou Zhining formulated a plan and received Zhou Dehou's support, but Lin Shurong firmly opposed it.

But Zhou Zhining was prepared and immediately stated a fact, "It's fake anyway. Does dating necessarily mean success?"

He had done some research and knew of real-life examples in the steel mill, listing five or six, and Lin Shurong began to hesitate.

Seeing her hesitation, Zhou Zhining could continue, "You also know Zhiyuan's nature. He has no scheming in matters of love. If we don't check for him, it will be too late to regret it if he marries a bad wife in the future."

This statement made Lin Shurong reluctantly agree, and Zhou Zhining could smoothly implement the plan, and then he was satisfied to find that Shen Lanyin's performance was very good.

She didn't reject Qin Huairu, but instead chatted with her very harmoniously.

Seeing this scene, Zhou Zhining was curious. What common language did they have? He listened for a while and found that they were talking about family life and children.

Women have a common language in this regard, whether they are unmarried or married.

Fang Nan was about to marry Shen Lanbo, so she naturally had to consider her married life, while Shen Lanyin wanted to investigate Qin Huairu's character from this.

In this regard, Qin Huairu could be their teacher, and even Guo Yanhong, who was the youngest, understood more than the two of them.

This is the principle that everyone has their own strengths. Excellent women are not necessarily excellent in everything.

He Yushui hadn't thought of this. She could make dumplings quickly and well, but she didn't necessarily know how to cook them.

Shen Lanyin had never cooked dumplings and didn't know that dumplings would float to the surface when they were cooked.