Life in siheyuan era

A friend of Fang Xiang's was getting married soon and had invited close friends of both the bride and groom to get together in advance to coordinate the wedding arrangements.

At six o'clock in the evening, more than ten people arrived at Modi Western Restaurant one after another. Fang Xiang walked over and sat down, immediately spotting Liu Junling sitting diagonally across from him. He knew she was a good friend of the bride-to-be.

They knew each other, but when the bride and groom introduced their respective friends, they made sure to pretend they didn't, both thinking the same thing: they didn't want others to pay attention to them.

So, dinner began as normal. After a few rounds of red wine, everyone started chatting with people they knew well. Fang Xiang sat down next to Liu Junling and complained to her, "You're Lan Yin's best friend, yet you didn't screen her properly. How could someone like Zhou Zhiyuan sneak in? That's irresponsible."

Fang Xiang was frustrated; he had actually lost to Zhou Zhiyuan.

But on closer thought, he couldn't really blame her. Shen Jue mentioned Zhou Zhiyuan in front of that high-ranking leader, and Fang Muxian immediately placed him under strict control after hearing the news.

His father couldn't afford to offend that high-ranking leader, and neither could he, so he obediently disappeared.

But that was a tactical necessity. Now that the coast was clear, the scapegoat, Zhou Zhiyuan, had actually become the real deal.

He knew that Shen Lanyin had disappeared with Zhou Zhiyuan for three days and three nights, but he absolutely didn't believe they had crossed any boundaries. Shen Lanyin wasn't that kind of person.

So, he felt his chance had come and started his pursuit again, only to find the situation extremely favorable. Shen Lanyin was ignoring Hao Zhiwen.

But the problem was, she was ignoring him too. When she looked at Zhou Zhiyuan, her eyes were full of tenderness, those phoenix eyes only had his reflection. He stood to the side like air.

But even air gets angry. After walking out of Shen Lanbo's hospital room, Fang Xiang was pondering how to get revenge on Zhou Zhiyuan. After thinking carefully for two days, he realized he had no chance.

He couldn't beat Zhou Zhiyuan in a fight. Fang Nan had warned him that if he tried to make a move, he would be the one rolling on the ground, beaten to a pulp. He wouldn't try something so embarrassing.

Relying on his father's power was also impossible. Fang Muxian wouldn't support him.

And Shen Jue would definitely support Zhou Zhiyuan. Fang Nan also told him that Shen Jue and Chen Shuying had already accepted this future son-in-law.

Fang Xiang was puzzled when he heard this news. What did Shen Jue and his wife see in Zhou Zhiyuan?

This answer confused Fang Xiang, and he asked in a low voice, "Why?"

Hearing his question, Liu Junling turned to look at him and replied seriously, "Because he's righteous and extremely loyal to his comrades. If you treat him well, he'll repay you twice as much. If you treat him with all your heart, he'll treat you with genuine affection."

"It's relaxing to be with him. You don't have to worry about him betraying you or harming you, and you don't have to think about scheming. If you're in trouble, he'll do everything he can to help you. If someone tries to harm you, he'll stand up for you. Who wouldn't want to be friends with someone like that?"

She spoke of Zhou Zhiyuan too favorably, Zhou Zhiyuan the chivalrous.

Fang Xiang replied in a deep voice, "You're talking about making friends, not lovers."

"Nonsense," Liu Junling said impolitely. "How can you become lovers if you can't even be friends?"

Fang Xiang couldn't refute this, so he found another topic. "But he's disabled."

This was Zhou Zhiyuan's fatal flaw, and Fang Xiang wouldn't be polite.

But Liu Junling said coldly, "Lan Yin doesn't mind, what's it to you?"

This rebuttal made Fang Xiang unable to bear it any longer, and he jumped up and shouted, "A small-time clerk who's not only disabled but also drives around in a beat-up Jeep all day long is an eyesore to everyone."

Fang Xiang's attitude enraged Liu Junling, and she stood up abruptly and shouted back, "Zhou Zhiyuan is a small-time clerk at the subdistrict office, and you're a big-time clerk at the Bureau of Industry. Why can't you drive around in a beat-up Jeep? Aren't you still running around on a beat-up bicycle?"

Hearing Liu Junling expose his shortcomings, Fang Xiang had to shout back, "My father is strict with me, and Uncle Shen dotes on him, isn't that the only difference?"

"Humph..." Liu Junling sneered and then said loudly, "Would Uncle Shen give him a Jeep? That was the Fangshan Exploration Team that gave him..."

Realizing she had revealed a secret, she quickly shut her mouth.

Fang Xiang asked suspiciously, "What does the Fangshan Exploration Team do?"

Fang Xiang was curious, but Liu Junling, knowing she had revealed a secret, ignored him, sat down in her chair, picked up a spoon, and took a sip of borscht to indicate that her mouth was busy.

But their argument alarmed the others, and everyone looked in their direction, eager to hear what was going on. But Liu Junling stopped talking, so they said one after another:

"Junling, keep talking."

"What does the Fangshan Exploration Team do?"

One of the men even asked loudly, "Who is Zhou Zhiyuan?"

This man was a little anxious. As he shouted, a questioning voice came from a distance, "Who's looking for me?"

The commotion here was a bit too loud, and Zhou Zhiyuan had to show his face. He had endured again and again, but he couldn't endure it any longer.

Bai Wenming was hosting tonight, and Zhou Zhiyuan had accepted the invitation. He had come as promised. Dinner started at five-thirty, and the four of them began talking about everything under the sun.

Wu Shan said sincerely, "Zhiyuan, thank you."

"Don't mention it, we're brothers, it's what I should do. But I have a question, what's going on with Gu Chengliang?" Zhou Zhiyuan was curious about this matter.

"How would I know?" Wu Shan replied aggrievedly. "They didn't say, they just asked me, who does Chengliang usually associate with? What are his hobbies? Just a bunch of questions. Later, they asked me about my义父's situation."

"They asked very broadly, including about my own affairs, but they didn't say what specific crime he had committed. I was completely confused at the time, and I still haven't figured it out. Zhiyuan, what did your comrade say?"

Wu Shan asked in return, also curious.

Zhou Zhiyuan sighed and said, "I went to find that comrade. He scowled at me as soon as we met. I explained my purpose, and he told me not to interfere. I begged him for a long time before he reluctantly said, 'Check again, if there's nothing wrong, release him, and get lost.' Since he said that, how dare I ask why!"

At this time, Bai Wenming asked, "What does your comrade do that he's so arrogant?"

"He's just like that..." Zhou Zhiyuan replied. "If it weren't for Brother Wu's matter, I wouldn't have gone to find him."

He didn't say what his comrade did, but it seemed he must have considerable power.

Wu Shan immediately raised his glass to thank him, "Zhiyuan, I'll toast you."

"Don't just toast me, Brother Bai and Brother Lou have been very worried about your matter." Zhou Zhiyuan knew how to speak, and Wu Shan immediately turned his glass to the two of them. After thanking them, everyone raised their glasses together and took a sip.

Putting down his glass, Lou Xiaoning asked in a low voice, "Zhiyuan, I heard that Curator Shi has invited you to appraise some cultural relics?"

Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "It's scheduled for tomorrow afternoon."

He confirmed it, and Lou Xiaoning sighed, "Zhiyuan's appraisal skills have reached the level of a master!"

Bai Wenming laughed and said, "My father left me some small trinkets, and I originally wanted to ask Zhiyuan to appraise them, but after hearing that Zhiyuan is going to the museum to appraise cultural relics, I immediately felt that mine were not presentable."

"But a relative of mine has some good things in his hands. When he comes back, I'll invite Zhiyuan to take a look."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhiyuan was very interested and asked in a low voice, "What good things?"

Bai Wenming smiled and said, "Whether they're good things or not still needs you to appraise them. By the way, my relative is very fond of antique calligraphy and paintings. If you have any good things in your hands, you can bring them along, and he'll definitely sell them at a good price."

Hearing "good price", Zhou Zhiyuan immediately smiled and raised his glass, "Happy cooperation."

When he said "happy cooperation," he meant to establish a trading channel. Bai Wenming understood and raised his glass as well.

Lou Xiaoning raised his glass and said, "Zhiyuan, his relative will have to wait a few days. If you have any good things in your hands, why not let me see them first?"

Seeing Lou Xiaoning intervene, Bai Wenming hurriedly said, "I made an appointment with Zhiyuan first, you can't cut me off."

Lou Xiaoning didn't think so. Bai Wenming still got to know Zhou Zhiyuan through him, and he had the right to cut him off. Just as he was about to refute, he heard Wu Shan say, "I'm also very interested in antique calligraphy and paintings, but I don't know anything about this field. Zhiyuan, would you be willing to teach me?"

Zhou Zhiyuan replied briskly, "Let's drink first. This field is not easy to learn. After drinking, I'll give you an introduction."

Among these four people, Zhou Zhiyuan graduated from a professional school. It was a pleasant task to fool two self-learners and one illiterate. Putting down his glass, he began to talk about the history of antique calligraphy and paintings. After a few words, clouds appeared in front of Bai Wenming and the others.

This thing was just like clouds and fog, you could see it clearly but couldn't grasp it. Just as their hearts were itching, they heard the name "Zhou Zhiyuan" from a distance.

The noise there made the few people shift their gaze and listen carefully.

After hearing a few words, Zhou Zhiyuan asked, "Am I that famous?"

Wu Shan replied, "I heard about the fighting as soon as I came back. That group of teenagers shouted slogans to defeat you, you're quite famous."

As the two were asking and answering, they heard a questioning voice, "Who is Zhou Zhiyuan?"

At this time, Zhou Zhiyuan had to show his face. He was here in person, no need for others to introduce him.