Siheyuan: Learning to be the sixth

When they arrived at the kitchen, He Yuzhu asked and found out that Ma Hua had no experience at all. He Yuzhu felt relieved and it would be much easier to teach him.

Since they were all acquaintances, He Yuzhu cooked this meal very slowly, trying his best to let Ma Hua get familiar with the process. Mainly, He Yuzhu wanted to test Ma Hua's understanding.

Just a few simple dishes, but they are delicious and tasty.

Ma Hua, who was not good at speaking, ate with his mouth full of oil. He admired He Yuzhu's cooking skills very much and made up his mind to learn something from He Yuzhu.

Director Zhou, who had put his mind at ease, took He Yuzhu to drink and chat.

After drinking happily, Director Wang asked with a smile: "Zhu Zi, do you want an independent courtyard?"

When He Yuzhu heard this, he immediately woke up and his eyes lit up.

"Auntie Wang, do you know of a small courtyard that can be sold?"

"Zhu Zi, you know the dilapidated courtyard behind the house, right?"

"I know Aunt Wang very well. Could it be that the owner of this courtyard has returned?" He Yuzhu asked puzzledly.

"Yes, they are back. They have settled down in Guangdong Province and have no plans to come back, so they came to our street to ask if there are any suitable buyers."

Although He Yuzhu was very tempted, he still had some reservations.

"Auntie Wang, is there any problem with the sale of that small courtyard now?"

Director Wang knew He Yuzhu's concerns. "Zhuzi, his son is a soldier in Guangdong Province. He is from a respectable family. There is no problem with our street office guaranteeing him. Don't worry."

After hearing this, He Yuzhu was very excited.

"Auntie Wang, he didn't say how much it wanted. I can't afford it if it's that expensive. I have to get married this year, and it will cost a lot."

"He also knows that his yard is in a state of disrepair, and he wants eight hundred for it."

He Yuzhu lowered his head and thought for a while, "Auntie Wang, can I meet him? Eight hundred is a bit expensive."

Director Zhou, who was also very familiar with the streets, said: "Whoever buys the house will have to clean it up first. Eight hundred is indeed a bit expensive."

Director Wang smiled and said, "You raise the price and pay it back when you land. Let's talk slowly. I'll take you to find the landlord after dinner."

As they had something important to do later, Director Zhou did not ask He Yuzhu to drink. They just drank a moderate amount and then finished their drink.

After dinner, Director Wang took He Yuzhu out and went straight to the guesthouse to find the landlord.

After entering the guesthouse, Director Wang asked someone to go upstairs to call the seller.

After a while, a thin old man in a worn cotton-padded jacket followed the waiter down from upstairs.

He just cupped his hands and said, "Director Wang, thank you for your concern."

"Comrade Zou, this is my nephew He Yuzhu. He wants to buy your old house. Please discuss it with the two of you."

With Director Wang's help, He Yuzhu felt assured when buying. Zou Ping'an also hoped that the deal would be successful so that he could return to the south as soon as possible. He had not been back for a long time and the capital was too cold.

The two found a secluded corner, and He Yuzhu took out a cigarette and handed it to Zou Ping'an.

"Uncle Zou, have a cigarette."

Zou Ping'an took a deep breath and said, "It still tastes the same."

"Your name is Zhuzi, right? Is your father's name He Daqing?"

He Yuzhu nodded, "Uncle Zou, you have a really good memory."

Zou Ping'an seemed to be lost in memories. After a long while, he said slowly, "Is your father okay?"

"My father is in good health. He has gone to Tianjin now and hasn't been back for a long time."

Zou Pingan knew that he was exposing someone's shortcomings, so he quickly changed the subject:

"Zhu Zi, since we are old neighbors, I, Uncle Zou, won't ask you for more. I will give you my old house for seven hundred."

"If your brothers hadn't all settled down in Guangzhou, I really wouldn't be willing to sell it."

He Yuzhu smiled and said: "Uncle Zou, I understand. After all, a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as your own doghouse."

After saying that, both of them burst into laughter.

In the end, the deal was sold for seven hundred yuan, and He Yuzhu didn't bargain.

After finishing a cigarette, the two walked towards Director Wang. "Auntie Wang, can you please go through the formalities for me and Uncle Zou?"

"We are old neighbors, so it is a pleasure to get things done." Director Wang was very happy that this matter was accomplished.

Fortunately, there was someone on duty at the street office, and Director Wang took care of it personally, so the two of them quickly handed over the money and received the new land deed.

He Yuzhu originally wanted to invite Uncle Zou and Director Wang for dinner, but Zou Ping'an just wanted to go south as soon as possible. After all, the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to leave his hometown.

"Zhu Zi, there is nothing left in this old house. I'll give you the key and you can pack it up yourself."

"Director Wang, I'm leaving now. We'll meet again someday."

After saying that, Zou Ping'an went out and was busy with something unknown.

Director Wang sighed softly: "Alas, it is not easy to be away from home when you are old."

He Yuzhu nodded, but didn't say anything.

Because he knows that Guangdong City, which is looked down upon by everyone now, will be a prosperous place in twenty years.

After leaving the neighborhood office, light snow started falling from the sky and the cold became even worse.

"Auntie Wang, the road is slippery. Please ride slowly on the way back."

"Zhu Zi, don't forget to treat me and your uncle Zhou to a drink after you have finished cleaning up this new house."

He Yuzhu knew that this was a joke from Director Wang, but he still kept the favor in mind. After all, the house was exactly what he wanted.

In a good mood, He Yuzhu rode his bicycle back to the yard humming a little tune.

He Yuzhu didn't want more people to know that he had bought a small courtyard. Being too high-profile was not his style.

Lou Xiaoe could see that He Yuzhu was in a good mood. Since there were not so few people around tonight, He Yuzhu briefly told the people close to him about buying a new house.

Lou Xiaoe asked with a smile: "Zhu Zi, you bought another house?"

Aunt Yi smiled and joked: "Zhu Zi, you are worried that you will have too many children and no space for them."

Lou Xiaoe's face turned red instantly.

"It's just right to leave a small door so that we can clean up the house at the back and go back and forth conveniently." Yi Zhonghai said.

"Godfather, I thought so too. It's convenient to move back and forth."

In the next few days, He Yuzhu visited every household to wish them a happy new year. He had to act as a cook wherever he went, which gave He Yuzhu a headache.

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the first day of work, He Yuzhu had just arrived at the office when Deputy Director Qian arrived.

"Zhu Zi, our factory is going to recruit a new batch of people. Can you reconnect the previous line?"

He Yuzhu said with a smile: "Brother Qian, I can only say that I have tried my best. My father's friend is still angry. He didn't even see me when I went to pay New Year's greetings."

"It's all Li Zesheng's fault for messing around and leaving such a mess. Zhuzi, thank you for taking care of it." After saying that, he pushed an envelope in front of He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu felt that this scene was so familiar to him.

Both were given by Deputy Director Qian, but the feeling they give people is different.