Life in siheyuan era

Han Xue relaxed and, breathing a sigh of relief, was about to return to her room when she saw a slender figure pushing a bicycle into the courtyard.

He YuShui was a woman of her word, and the matter agreed upon last night was to be fulfilled tonight.

She was anxious because she had heard news today that made her unable to sit still, "Someone is trying to use connections through Chief Engineer Zhang's wife..."

Upon receiving this news, He YuShui took an hour's leave to leave her post early and went straight to the subdistrict office to find Zhou Zhiyuan.

But facing Han Xue, He YuShui wouldn't reveal the truth, whispering, "I was afraid you were anxious, so I arranged it for tonight."

Han Xue smiled and whispered back, "You're the one who's anxious, aren't you?"

"What am I anxious about? Chief Engineer Zhang won't be back for ten days to half a month. There's plenty of time. I'm definitely thinking of you."

He YuShui's words were reasonable, and Han Xue smiled, "Then thank you, but I can't go out tonight. Your good neighbor has become a mud man."

"What happened?" He YuShui asked in surprise.

Han Xue smiled and said, "He did a good deed by helping someone tear down a house, and he got himself covered in dirt and mud."

Just thinking about Zhou Zhiyuan's appearance made Han Xue want to laugh, and He YuShui also became interested, whispering, "Let's go inside and take a look."

She had met Zhou Zhiyuan once, and her impression of him was that he was a refined and clean person.

But Han Xue had shattered his refined image last night, and seeing him covered in dirt tonight would definitely be interesting.

With this expectation, He YuShui followed Han Xue into the room and saw Zhou Zhiyuan sitting on a chair describing his experience of doing a good deed, "I saw Xu Lao Er in a panic, so I immediately volunteered to grab a stone lock and smash it against the wall..."

He had washed his face, and his wet hair was dark and shiny, but his military uniform was covered in patches of mud.

But he didn't care, speaking calmly. There were six or seven listeners in the room, both men and women. Besides Zhang Yong and Zhao Xia, Han Xue didn't know the names of the other two listeners. They seemed to be from the Civil Affairs Section and the Economic Section.

They were either sitting on chairs, sitting on the table, or leaning against the filing cabinet, all listening with great interest and even asking questions, "Is your right hand okay?"

The one who asked the question was a little chubby, his fair and clean round face showing a concerned expression.

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Originally, it wasn't okay, but the powerful spirit of helping others encouraged me. Thinking about doing a good deed filled me with strength, and I swung the stone lock with my left hand and smashed it against the wall..."

Speaking of this, Zhou Zhiyuan recalled the scene just now. When he picked up the stone lock, a figure appeared in his mind. His right leg lifted, brushed past his left leg, and twisted his body. This move was called 'Reversed Arm,' using the momentum of the half-turn to borrow strength, making the speed as fast as a spin.

Zhou Zhiyuan used this move of 'Reversed Arm' to maximize his strength, and thinking about it now, he still felt unsatisfied.

Thinking of this move, he stopped talking, but then he heard Zhang Yong shout, "Please let Section Chief Han talk about the rest."

Zhou Zhiyuan turned his face and saw Han Xue walking in with He YuShui. He then replied easily, "There's nothing to say. When I went in, I saw a few gray people."

Han Xue gave a simple answer and then introduced everyone, "This is my junior high school classmate He YuShui, currently a technician at the power plant."

Speaking of this, Han Xue glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan and continued, "I just found out that YuShui and Zhou Zhiyuan are neighbors."

Things in the world are often so coincidental, classmates and neighbors working in the same section.

Everyone also found it interesting, and Zhang Yong laughed, "So Section Chief Han is a classmate of Zhiyuan's neighbor, and Zhiyuan is a neighbor of Section Chief Han's classmate. You two went around in a circle and met here."

Zhang Yong's tongue was quick, and his words were like a tongue twister, causing everyone to laugh, and the atmosphere in the room immediately relaxed.

But Zhang Yong had other plans. After shaking hands with He YuShui, he patted Zhou Zhiyuan's shoulder and walked out.

To get Guo YanHong through the door, Zhang Yong could be said to have put in a lot of effort. Guo YanHong's family conditions were not good, and her education level was not high, but she was beautiful and very diligent.

These were Guo YanHong's strengths, and Zhang Yong wanted to highlight these strengths.

This required someone to compare her to. He YuShui's appearance was delicate, slightly inferior to Guo YanHong's, and in terms of diligence, no matter how diligent He YuShui was, Zhang Yong, as the host, would not give her a chance.

He had thought it over, finding Guo YanHong a companion while highlighting Guo YanHong's diligence. As for He YuShui's identity as a technician, it was not within his scope of consideration.

His mother, Luo Sumei, married a chief engineer who was engaged in technology, and didn't want Zhang Yong to also find someone engaged in technology. He YuShui posed no threat to Guo YanHong.

But he could use this identity, whispering, "You know my dad is the chief engineer of the power plant. If you mention it, He YuShui will definitely come."

After saying these words, he left, leaving Zhou Zhiyuan with an unfathomable back view.

Looking at this back view, Zhou Zhiyuan shook his head gently. Zhang Yong was delivering himself to the door.

He knew why He YuShui had come. The dinner invitation was just a facade, and Han Xue also knew He YuShui's intention, refusing to go out to dinner and letting the two of them go together.

At this time, He YuShui spoke frankly, "Someone is thinking about Chief Engineer Zhang's wife. There are many people who want to find her. I want you to take me to Chief Engineer Zhang's house as soon as possible."

He Yu Shui's request put Zhou Zhiyuan in a difficult position. He hadn't seen Teacher Luo for five years, and it felt wrong to ask her for a favor upon meeting her again.

But He Yu Shui said that someone else had already gone to Teacher Luo. If Teacher Luo agreed to them, it would be too late for him to speak up.

This was a dilemma. Zhou Zhiyuan thought about it over and over, but couldn't figure out how to satisfy both sides.

His silence made He Yu Shui anxious. She asked in a low voice, "The house is on fire! What are you still hesitating about? Do you not want to help with this?"

He Yu Shui interrupted his thoughts. Zhou Zhiyuan sighed and replied, "I have an appointment with Teacher Luo for tomorrow night. But I don't know if I should bring you along?"

This news excited He Yu Shui, and she immediately replied, "You should bring me. This is a good opportunity."

Zhou Zhiyuan sighed again and replied, "I haven't seen Teacher Luo for five years. Is it really okay to ask her for a favor as soon as we meet?"

This question was indeed tricky. He Yu Shui was also worried that Zhou Zhiyuan's actions might irritate Teacher Luo.

The two walked in silence for a while. He Yu Shui sighed and said, "If we don't mention it tomorrow night, I'm afraid it will be too late."

Zhou Zhiyuan didn't say anything, still calculating the scene for tomorrow night in his mind. But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't get around the hurdle of asking Teacher Luo for help at their first meeting. But if he didn't say anything tomorrow night, what if someone else found Teacher Luo?

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhiyuan made a decision, "Choose the lesser of two evils."

If Teacher Luo was dissatisfied with him, he could slowly smooth things over in the future. As a student, he could use all sorts of flattering and bootlicking tactics with his teacher, and he also had Zhang Yong to cooperate with him.

But He Yu Shui was different. If she thought he wasn't doing his best, it would affect Sha Zhu, and Sha Zhu was someone he wanted to befriend.

Understanding the stakes involved, Zhou Zhiyuan solemnly said, "I'll take you to see Teacher Luo tomorrow."

He had made his position clear, but He Yu Shui hesitated, "Isn't this bad? You haven't seen Teacher Luo for five years, and you're asking her for a favor as soon as you meet. What will Teacher Luo think?"

Saying these words, He Yu Shui suddenly realized how hypocritical she was. She wanted it desperately in her heart, but she had to say words of opposition.

At this moment, she was worried that Zhou Zhiyuan would go along with her. "It's not good..." If Zhou Zhiyuan said this, she would definitely cry.

That position was too attractive to her. Becoming Chief Engineer Zhang's assistant would give her the opportunity to continue her studies, and in a few years, she could potentially become an assistant engineer, and in ten years, she would have a high chance of becoming an engineer.

This was foreseeable, so many people wanted this position.

She originally had no hope, but Zhou Zhiyuan gave her hope, making her mentality even more urgent. If she couldn't succeed, the sense of loss would be too great.

At this moment, He Yu Shui was extremely worried, nervously looking at Zhou Zhiyuan, and heard him reply briskly, "I've always been straightforward with Teacher Luo, she's used to it, and she won't blame me this time."

But this answer couldn't reassure He Yu Shui. If Teacher Luo didn't blame Zhou Zhiyuan, it would be fatal if she didn't help.

But she couldn't say that. After organizing her words, she said softly, "You're familiar with Teacher Luo, but I'm not. Wouldn't it be awkward at that time?"

She said this to remind Zhou Zhiyuan that the focus was on her matter.

After saying this, she stopped and looked at Zhou Zhiyuan worriedly.

Zhou Zhiyuan also stopped, but his eyes looked at the bustling crowd. It was the time when people were getting off work, and people were rushing to their small homes. The traffic and people flow mixed together, sometimes converging and sometimes diverging, like small streams flowing into this big river, and then diverging into small streams.

Looking at this scene, a smile appeared on Zhou Zhiyuan's face. He turned to look at He Yu Shui and said easily, "Don't worry, I'll make Teacher Luo agree to help."

He suddenly understood at this moment. Why think so much? Just do it! He wasn't a planner.

But his attitude made He Yu Shui feel uneasy. She was a planner, and such a big matter must be planned in detail.

"No need," Zhou Zhiyuan refused.

"It's very necessary..." He Yu Shui insisted, "Tell me your thoughts, let's improve it together."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I have my own wonderful plan, you don't have to worry about it."

His refusal to speak made He Yu Shui even more anxious. She unconsciously raised her voice, "Tell me."

This shout attracted the attention of passersby. Seeing several gazes looking over, Zhou Zhiyuan lifted his foot and walked forward.

He Yu Shui pushed her bicycle and caught up, saying in a low voice, "Tell me your thoughts, let me feel at ease."

Zhou Zhiyuan stopped and said in a low voice, "Adapt to the situation, use different methods for different situations."

He was good at adapting to the situation, and he was telling the truth.

But the curious He Yu Shui still insisted on him speaking, "Even adapting to the situation must have a final method, and this final method is the bottom line, which needs to be studied before it is more stable."

Zhou Zhiyuan replied impatiently, "No need to study."

"Must study..." He Yu Shui still insisted, "Only by studying it clearly in advance can I better cooperate with you."

"You can't cooperate," Zhou Zhiyuan said helplessly.

He Yu Shui replied firmly, "Don't worry, I can cooperate with you well."

Zhou Zhiyuan looked at her suspiciously. He Yu Shui really couldn't cooperate with his method.

But He Yu Shui still looked at him firmly, she could cooperate no matter what the method was.

Seeing that her attitude was so resolute, Zhou Zhiyuan could only helplessly say, "If Teacher Luo doesn't agree, I'll hug her leg and cry hard."