Siheyuan: Being a fisherman in 1962

"Brother, I'm back, why don't I even have a hot meal?" There was a hint of dissatisfaction in He Yushui's tone. She thought she could find some comfort here, but she didn't expect this result.

Sha Zhu walked out of the house upon hearing the noise, and explained with an embarrassed look on his face: "Yu Shui, you know that I'm short of money these days, and I can barely support myself, so how can I have extra money to buy you food?"

There was a hint of helplessness in his voice, and his eyes were full of bitterness towards life.

When He Yushui heard this, her face instantly darkened. She didn't expect her brother to tell her the truth so bluntly. What was even more unacceptable to her was that her brother not only did not feel the slightest bit of guilt, but instead asked her to learn to cook independently.

"Brother, what do you mean? I'm back and you're going to let me take care of myself?"

Sha Zhu sighed and tried to persuade his sister in a gentler tone: "Yushui, you are not a child anymore. You should learn to take care of yourself. I am doing this for your own good. You will have to face life on your own in the future."

Instead of calming He Yushui's anger, these words made her even angrier. She turned around and was about to leave, but inadvertently smelled the tempting aroma of food.

The fragrance seemed to have magical power, instantly arousing her appetite and making her stop.

She followed the scent and finally stopped in front of Chen Fei's house.

"Wow, Chen Fei, what kind of cooking skill is this? It smells so good!" He Yushui's tone was full of surprise and admiration. She didn't expect that Chen Fei, who was usually unknown, had such superb cooking skills.

Chen Fei opened the door with a smile and invited He Yushui in to taste it.

On the dining table, several delicious dishes exude an enticing glow, making people salivate.

He Yushui took a bite and was instantly conquered by the deliciousness. All her dissatisfaction and anger disappeared at this moment.

"Chen Fei, you're so skilled in cooking that you can open a restaurant!" He Yushui praised sincerely, her eyes filled with admiration and curiosity for Chen Fei.

Having said that, she hurried home.

"Brother, I heard that you...your position was replaced by that kid Chen Fei?" As soon as he stepped over the threshold, He Yushui anxiously asked Sha Zhu who was smoking with his head down.

Sha Zhu looked up, the cigarette butt in his hand flickering in the darkness, as if reflecting his mood at the moment.

"Yes, Yu Shui, the world is changing fast. After all, my old bones can't compare with the young people." Sha Zhu smiled bitterly, with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

He went on to say, "My salary has been cut in half. I'm afraid our family will have to live a tight life in the future."

Hearing this, He Yushui frowned, "Brother, don't worry, I won't let him bully you like this! I'll go find him and argue with him right away!"

Having said that, she turned around and tried to leave, but was grabbed by Sha Zhu.

"Yu Shui, don't be impulsive! Chen Fei holds the power now, you can't defeat him." Sha Zhu's voice was full of worry. He knew his sister's temper very well. Once she made up her mind about something, no one could pull her back.

"But what can you do? The family depends on your salary alone. Now it's been cut in half. The money for mom's medicine, and our living expenses..." He Yushui's eyes were slightly red and her voice was choked with sobs.

She felt sorry for her brother and was even more worried about the future of the family.

Sha Zhu gently patted the back of her hand and comforted her: "Yu Shui, don't worry, there will always be a way. Besides, Qin Huairu..."

He hesitated to speak, as if he had something to hide.

"What's wrong with her?" He Yushui keenly captured the key words.

Qin Huairu has a gentle personality and has a close relationship with Sha Zhu, but recently she has become very close to Chen Fei.

"I heard that Qin Huairu has been going to Chen Fei's house frequently recently, and even at night." Sha Zhu's voice was low. Although he didn't want to believe it, the facts were before him and he had no choice but to believe it.

"What? How could she..." He Yushui was shocked, but more than that, she was confused and angry.

I decided to go and find out for myself what Qin Huairu was up to.

It was late at night and everyone was asleep. He Yushui quietly followed Qin Huairu and saw her walk into Chen Fei's house with ease.

This scene, like a sharp blade, pierced He Yushui's heart.

She hid in the dark, observing quietly, only to see Qin Huairu and Chen Fei talking in the yard. Sometimes they lowered their heads in thought, and sometimes they smiled at each other. The scene was so harmonious that it made her feel dazzling.

He Yushui's heart sank to the bottom. She didn't understand why Qin Huairu made such a choice.

But she knew that she couldn't just sit there and watch. For her brother and her family, she had to do something.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, and the leaves of the old locust tree rustled, as if telling an unknown secret.

He Yushui stood at the door of her house, her eyes passing through the sparse bamboo shadows and falling on Chen Fei's slightly lonely courtyard opposite.

Her brows were furrowed, her heart full of confusion - why did Qin Huairu, the usually gentle and virtuous sister next door, quietly step into Chen Fei's house in such an unusual night, wearing light pajamas?

Sha Zhu squatted aside, holding a half-burned cigarette in his mouth, with doubt in his eyes.

"Yu Shui, what do you think Qin Huairu is doing? It's inappropriate for her to go to Chen Fei dressed like that late at night, right?" There was a hint of joking in her words, but more of it was confusion about Qin Huairu's behavior.

At this moment, Chen Fei was sitting under the old locust tree in the yard, holding an old book in his hand, but his eyes were not really on the pages. He seemed to be waiting for something, but also seemed to be avoiding something.

When Qin Huairu's figure appeared in his sight, a barely perceptible indifference flashed across his face.

"Chen Fei, congratulations. I heard that you got a raise recently." Qin Huairu's voice was gentle and a little shy, with her signature smile on her face, but the casualness of her pajamas was out of tune with the tranquility of the night and seemed particularly abrupt.

Chen Fei gently closed the book and looked up at Qin Huairu without much fluctuation in his eyes.

"It's just a pay raise, nothing to celebrate." His tone was flat, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

Qin Huairu's smile froze slightly, but soon returned to normal.

"Then I'll help you wash the clothes. It can be regarded as sharing some housework for you."

As she spoke, she was about to walk towards the clothesline where a few pieces of wet clothes were hanging.

"No need, Yuli will take care of my clothes." Chen Fei's words were brief and firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Yu Li, the girl who always appears silently in his life, is hardworking and kind, and has long become an indispensable part of his life.

Qin Huairu's hand stopped in mid-air awkwardly. She didn't expect Chen Fei to reject her so directly.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "Well, is there anything else I can help with?"

There was an extra level of persistence in his voice, as if he was unwilling to give up.