Life in siheyuan era

He Yushui was happy that her matter finally had some progress. After coming out of the Zhang's house and chatting with Han Xue for a few words, she saw Zhou Zhiyuan, Zhang Yong, and Guo Yanhong about to leave, and hurriedly said, "Zhiyuan, wait for me downstairs for a while."

Zhou Zhiyuan turned around and asked, "Aren't you staying at Section Chief Han's house?"

"I'm going home tonight," He Yushui responded, continuing to whisper to Han Xue.

Zhou Zhiyuan, Zhang Yong, and Guo Yanhong went downstairs. Seeing Zhang Yong riding away with Guo Yanhong, he waited quietly for a while. When He Yushui pushed her bike out, Zhou Zhiyuan said in a low voice, "I feel a little dizzy."

"You've had too much to drink..." He Yushui said, then immediately added, "I'll take you."

When Zhou Zhiyuan sat on the rear rack, his left hand remained in his pocket. As He Yushui rode onto the road, Zhou Zhiyuan shouted, "Stop!" He was sober enough to ride He Yushui.

He Yushui didn't suspect him. She got off the bike and switched places with him, sitting on the rear rack, watching Zhou Zhiyuan silently ride forward.

Zhang Limin said he didn't use his brain, but the truth was that he knew there was something fishy about his transfer, so after returning home, he tried his best to befriend his neighbors, especially Shazhu, who was righteous and dared to stand up at critical moments, making him an object he had to befriend.

He didn't know what he would face after the mystery was revealed, but no matter what, his parents' and brother's future lives were what he needed to arrange.

But he didn't expect the mystery to be revealed so quickly. Zhang Limin's arrival made it impossible for him to delay. An order was given to act immediately.

And feeling that eerie aura just now, he knew he was already on the stage.

At this time, he had to speed up the construction of the Siheyuan fortress, so that once he went on a mission, his parents and brother would have someone to take care of them.

"Walker."

Just thinking of this code name made him know he wouldn't be idle, and he couldn't help but smile wryly. He heard He Yushui's voice from behind, "Zhiyuan, are you still not sober?"

"I'm fine now," Zhou Zhiyuan replied easily, putting those things aside.

Then he heard He Yushui ask, "Do you really want to be the director of the neighborhood office?"

"Of course..." Zhou Zhiyuan replied proudly, "The day I reported, I saw Director Qiu walking out in a military coat, followed by a group of people. At that time, I wanted to sit in that position. 'A real man cannot be without power for a day.' I, Zhou Zhiyuan, am a dignified man."

He was saying insincere words, but He Yushui believed it and continued to ask, "What are you going to do?"

He smiled and said, "First, I need to have a good relationship with the director and secretary, and get their support. I have an advantage because Director Qiu and I are both from the army and have a common language."

"The next step is to try to cater to his preferences. Director Qiu likes capable and writing people, so I will focus on this. As long as I do better and write better than others, I will definitely catch Director Qiu's eye."

"Then he will recommend me to the leaders above, find an opportunity to show my talent, and I will be able to enter the eyes of the higher-level leaders."

"I have formulated a plan. At this time, I will devote all my energy to improving my abilities. Opportunities are always for those who are capable."

Hearing that he was going to devote all his energy to improving his abilities, He Yushui asked, "Aren't you considering matters of the heart?"

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I'm only twenty-one. It's not too late to consider matters of the heart in two years."

He was right. Men should focus on their careers. In two years, he would only be twenty-three years old, and it would indeed not be too late to find a partner then.

But He Yushui, who was the same age as him, couldn't do that. Gender equality didn't apply to age. In a time when late marriage and late childbirth were not yet popular, women should marry at the age of twenty-one or twenty-two.

According to He Yushui's age, she should get married no later than next year, but Wang Aimin was busy with work. They had been dating for more than half a year, but Wang Aimin hadn't proposed marriage.

And He Yushui didn't have this idea either. She was a career-oriented woman. Hearing Zhou Zhiyuan talk about age at this time, she suddenly thought of her own age.

Zhou Zhiyuan could consider matters of the heart in two years, but could she?

Thinking of this, He Yushui considered her own affairs. In silence, the bicycle sped along. After a while, the bicycle entered Ping'an Hutong. Not far away, two headlights appeared behind them, and a car followed them all the way.

The two headlights annoyed He Yushui. When the bicycle stopped in front of the Siheyuan gate, He Yushui jumped off and turned around to glare at the car.

Zhou Zhiyuan also parked his bike and turned to look. The car was doing this intentionally, flashing its headlights from time to time to remind him to pay attention.

Hearing He Yushui speak with anger, Zhou Zhiyuan hurriedly interjected, "We met on the road and came back together. Comrade Lou Xiao'e, why are you coming back so late?"

He explained, then asked a pointless question.

Lou Xiao'e chuckled, waved at the car, and turned to face Zhou Zhiyuan, saying briskly, "I'm back from my parents' home. Comrade Zhou Zhiyuan, I happen to have something to ask you. Let's talk alone."

He Yushui immediately objected, "Under the cover of night, how can a married woman talk to an unmarried man alone? Aren't you afraid of gossip?"

He Yushui was arguing with Lou Xiao'e.

Lou Xiao'e replied readily, "That's right. I'll borrow your room. Zhou Zhiyuan and I will talk alone in the room, and you can stand guard outside the door, so no one will gossip."

He Yushui said angrily, "Show some respect."

"How am I not showing respect? What does it have to do with you that I'm looking for Zhou Zhiyuan? What's your relationship?" Lou Xiao'e asked three questions in a row, leaving He Yushui speechless for a moment.

He Yushui made a mistake. An unmarried woman almost never wins in a verbal battle with a married woman.

The reason is simple: women need to be reserved before marriage, but they let go after marriage. He Yushui would never be able to say the words Lou Xiao'e just said. She didn't know how to refute, so Zhou Zhiyuan spoke in time, "Comrade Lou Xiao'e, what do you need me for?"

Hearing Zhou Zhiyuan's question, Lou Xiao'e glanced at He Yushui and turned to Zhou Zhiyuan, saying, "It's not me looking for you, it's Zhao Yongmei."

She revealed another woman's name, removing herself from the situation, while He Yushui looked at Zhou Zhiyuan suspiciously.

Zhou Zhiyuan hurriedly said, "What does Sister Zhao need me for?"

He first expressed his relationship with Zhao Yongmei, that was Sister Zhao, and then turned to He Yushui, saying, "Yushui, you go in first. I'll talk to Comrade Lou Xiao'e for a few words and then come in."

He called her "Yushui" to show their close relationship, and then called her "Comrade Lou Xiao'e." This distant relationship satisfied He Yushui, and she glanced at Lou Xiao'e with a victorious look, pushing her bicycle inside.

Lou Xiao'e looked at her back and asked in a low voice, "Are you two together?"

"Neighbors who get along well," Zhou Zhiyuan first defined it, then asked, "What does Sister Zhao need me for?"

Lou Xiao'e said in a low voice, "Her husband wants your master to appraise a piece of jade."

Zhou Zhiyuan immediately refused, "My master has retired and won't take this job."

But Lou Xiao'e was already prepared. Hearing him refuse, she immediately replied, "Yongmei thought of this and wants you to help with the appraisal."

Zhou Zhiyuan still refused, "I'm still in the learning stage and don't have this ability."

Lou Xiao'e used her trump card, "There's a reward."

"It's not about the money, I..."

Lou Xiao'e interrupted him, "If your appraisal is accurate, I will invite you to my house to appraise my father's collection. There's a reward."

Lou Xiao'e's offer made Zhou Zhiyuan's heart flutter. The idea of relying on Lou Xiao'e's father to become a ten-thousand-yuan household rose in his heart again.

Seeing him pondering in silence, Lou Xiao'e continued to encourage him, "My father also has some friends who have some antiques that need to be appraised. These people don't lack money."

This made it impossible for Zhou Zhiyuan to refuse, but he had to say euphemistically, "I need to ask my master for instructions and give you a letter tomorrow."

"No problem, I'll wait for your reply."

After settling this matter, Lou Xiao'e walked inside. After taking two steps, she looked back at Zhou Zhiyuan. Seeing that he hadn't moved, she asked in confusion, "Aren't you going home?"

"We'll walk separately."

Zhou Zhiyuan's answer made Lou Xiao'e laugh and reply, "You will live to be a hundred years old." Then she walked into the gate.

But Zhou Zhiyuan stood there, thinking seriously. This opportunity was rare, but was his level of skill good enough?

He had memorized "Gu Jiu" thoroughly, but he was like Zhao Kuo, who only knew how to talk about war on paper. Once he failed, it would be difficult to try again.

In this state of gain and loss, Zhou Zhiyuan carefully considered it, but still couldn't make up his mind. He decided not to think about it anymore. He would go to Mo Youji tomorrow. If he said it was okay, then it was okay.

Having made this decision, Zhou Zhiyuan was about to walk into the gate, but he saw Yu Li walking over.

It was really a coincidence tonight. One of the two major wives of the Siheyuan had just gone in, and another one had come.

He had a good impression of Yu Li. The silk scarf Yu Li helped him choose was very successful. Luo's satisfaction represented Yu Li's level of skill.

It was necessary for him to have a good relationship with Yu Li. He was going to the Shen's house on Sunday, and this housewarming gift was giving him a headache.