Life in siheyuan era

March 28th was a good day for Wan Chunfang and Wang Dagang, as it was payday.

Therefore, they rushed back before eleven o'clock.

Watching Wan Chunfang and Wang Dagang walk towards the general office, Han Xue turned to look at Zhou Zhiyuan. Seeing his calm expression, she couldn't help but smile and said, "Are you sad that you didn't get your salary?"

Then she explained, "I asked. Salaries are usually paid on the 20th of each month. You reported for duty on the 23rd, so it can only be moved to next month. Don't worry, you won't lose any money."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Zhiyuan said, "Section Chief Han, where did you see that I was sad?"

"I can read minds," Han Xue replied cheerfully.

She was naturally in a good mood. In the past few days, she had established an alliance with Zhou Zhiyuan, won over Wan Chunfang and Wang Dagang, and quickly gained a foothold in the street office.

Taking advantage of Zhou Zhiyuan's crackdown on Xu Lao Er to start work, five households had already expressed their willingness to demolish their illegal buildings.

In a good mood, she was talkative and said jokingly as they walked into the office.

As soon as they entered the room, Han Xue whispered, "I want to invite Li Huaiyi to participate tonight. What do you think?"

Zhou Zhiyuan looked out the window and whispered, "What are Wan Chunfang and Wang Dagang's opinions?"

"We're partners. I'm asking for your opinion first."

"I'm so touched. You're not asking for my opinion, you're letting me speak, right?"

"You don't need to speak."

"Let me speak, I can say it better."

"It's your own will."

"Yes, for Section Chief Han, I can go through fire and water without hesitation."

"You should raise your hand when you say that. Do it again."

"Isn't that too much?"

As they were talking, Wan Chunfang and Wang Dagang walked in one after the other. Wan Chunfang asked, "What are you two talking about?"

Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "I was just talking to Section Chief Han about dinner tonight. I have a suggestion, invite Li Huaiyi to participate tonight."

Hearing his suggestion, Wan Chunfang immediately frowned, and Wang Dagang also remained silent.

Zhou Zhiyuan continued, "Sister Wan, Brother Wang, think about it for me. I offended the leader in charge as soon as I came. It doesn't matter if I don't want to be promoted, but if I do, it won't be easy for me if the leader in charge speaks ill of me."

His words moved Wan Chunfang, and at the same time, she became vigilant. She said solemnly to Zhou Zhiyuan, "Zhiyuan wants to be an official. When Section Chief Han is promoted, your sister and Brother Wang will definitely support you with all our strength."

Zhou Zhiyuan didn't believe her words, but he showed a grateful expression on his face and said sincerely, "It's worth it to make friends with Sister Wan and Brother Wang in just a few days."

"After taking office, because I am familiar with the leaders of various departments, it will be easier to carry out work, and the leaders above will also pay attention to me. If I achieve some success, I can be promoted."

After he finished speaking, Wan Chunfang's face showed a smile, and she said cheerfully, "This path can lead to higher positions, but only Zhiyuan can take it. Your sister can't take it, so I can only give you my full support."

Then Wang Dagang expressed his position, "Brother Wang also supports you."

Hearing their statements, Zhou Zhiyuan looked at Han Xue and heard her say solemnly, "Support you."

Han Xue also expressed her position. Zhou Zhiyuan put his hands together and bowed to each of them, whispering, "Please, brothers and sisters, be sure to keep it a secret."

Wan Chunfang immediately said, "Your sister will definitely not say a word."

Then she turned to Han Xue and said, "Section Chief Han, for Zhiyuan's future, let's invite Li Huaiyi."

Wan Chunfang had expressed her position. Han Xue turned to look at Wang Dagang and saw him nod. Then she said, "I will find a chance to invite Li Huaiyi to participate. We will go to Yonghe Restaurant tonight."

With this matter settled, Zhou Zhiyuan said to Han Xue, "I'm going to the library at noon to return the book and see Old Liu."

Han Xue said cheerfully, "Go ahead."

Wan Chunfang said, "No wonder you didn't bring a lunch box. Are you eating outside again?"

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I don't want to eat lunch. I'm saving my stomach for tonight."

"Heh..." Wang Dagang laughed, and then Wan Chunfang laughed. Han Xue said with a smile, "You're really promising."

Amid everyone's laughter, Zhou Zhiyuan walked out of the room and rode his bicycle straight to Yong'an Street.

Walking into the library, he saw Lou Xiao'e waving at him. Following behind her, he entered an office and saw Zhao Yongmei and two other men.

Liu Wenxiang was relatively thin, wearing a pair of nearsighted glasses on his long face. The eyes behind the lenses were scrutinizing Zhou Zhiyuan.

Lou Xiaoning was slightly chubby, with a round face that looked a bit like Lou Xiao'e. These round eyes were also scrutinizing Zhou Zhiyuan.

Lou Xiao'e introduced them, then looked at Liu Wenxiang. Zhao Yongmei gently nudged his arm, and Liu Wenxiang took out a cotton cloth bag from his satchel and gently placed it on the table opposite him.

Zhou Zhiyuan sat down, glanced at the cotton cloth bag, looked up at Liu Wenxiang sitting opposite him, then turned to look at Zhao Yongmei and Lou Xiao'e and Lou Xiaoning sitting by the wall, and slowly said, "Yesterday, I called Comrade Lou Xiao'e. I don't represent my master, and my master won't return to his old profession."

He wanted to make things clear before the appraisal.

Liu Wenxiang asked, "What does Master Mo mean?"

Zhou Zhiyuan said lightly, "My master said, 'If you want to go, go and take a look. It's not shameful if you can't identify it. Just consider it an experience.'"

After saying this, Zhou Zhiyuan looked up at Liu Wenxiang again and asked in a deep voice, "Under these circumstances, Comrade Liu, do you still want me to appraise it?"

Liu Wenxiang pondered in silence, but Zhao Yongmei said readily, "Since we've invited you, please take a look."

Zhou Zhiyuan nodded lightly and made another statement, "I told Comrade Lou Xiao'e yesterday that whether I can identify it or not, I won't charge any fees."

After saying this, he looked at everyone again and saw everyone nodding lightly. His eyes fell on Liu Wenxiang's face, and he said in a low voice, "Comrade Liu Wenxiang, please tell me where you got this jade from?"

Liu Wenxiang pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, "I went to Fangshan for sightseeing last October and found this jade in a forest."

After saying this, he closed his mouth. Zhou Zhiyuan asked lightly, "That's it?"

"That's it," Liu Wenxiang said firmly.

Zhou Zhiyuan shook his head lightly and said indifferently, "My master is very strange. With your status, you can find those professors to appraise it. Why did you have to find my master?"

Asking this question, Zhou Zhiyuan stared at Liu Wenxiang's eyes, seeing his eyes blink a few times, and then said, "I understand. You will tell me the truth after I see something, right?"

When he said this, he saw Liu Wenxiang's eyes blink again. Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and looked away at the cotton cloth bag on the table. Then he stretched out his hands to untie the cotton cloth, revealing a white rectangular object.

Seeing this object, a line of words immediately appeared in Zhou Zhiyuan's mind, "Pure white with a greasy luster, as delicate and warm as mutton fat..." This line of words perfectly described this jade.

But such a large piece of mutton fat white jade is relatively rare. It is eleven centimeters high, six centimeters wide, and three centimeters thick. The surface and edges are polished very smoothly, and the shape is very regular.

It was the first time Zhou Zhiyuan had seen such a large piece of jade. Even Lou Xiaoning whispered in surprise, "Rare."

Lou Xiao'e asked a question, "What is it used for?"

This question hit the nail on the head. Jade is used to make various objects, jade pots, jade cups, jade pendants, jade belts... These objects are symbols of status, but this jade was not processed in any way after it was polished, no wonder Lou Xiao'e questioned it.

But Zhou Zhiyuan would not answer her question. He picked up the jade with his left hand and examined it carefully, only feeling that the jade was as cold as ice.

Liu Wenxiang and Zhao Yongmei were staring at Zhou Zhiyuan, and they had no time to answer Lou Xiao'e's question.

Only Lou Xiaoning said in a low voice, "Maybe something happened after it was polished and there was no time to carve it."

Lou Xiaoning loved Lou Xiao'e and couldn't bear to let her question go unanswered.

But Lou Xiao'e continued to ask, "What happened?"

Lou Xiaoning replied helplessly, "How would I know? Stop talking."

Lou Xiaoning stopped Lou Xiao'e from speaking, and the siblings focused their attention on Zhou Zhiyuan. They saw him put the jade on his right hand, holding the jade and observing it carefully, his long eyes slightly closed, as if he was concentrating his focus.

But Lou Xiao'e had a strange feeling that Zhou Zhiyuan was not looking at the jade at all. It seemed like he was pondering something?

Lou Xiao'e had this strange feeling in her heart, and Zhou Zhiyuan also felt very strange. Jade is a heat conductor. Putting a piece of jade on the palm of your hand, the jade will quickly match the temperature of your hand. But this jade was different. The icy cold feeling never dissipated.

He felt strange and put it on his right hand. This yin and cold air suddenly changed.