Siheyuan: Starting to work in the street office

After everyone returned to the living room, the three female comrades went back to the kitchen to continue their research. The dinner on New Year’s Eve was the most sumptuous. They just ate a little at noon and focused their main energy on dinner!

After lunch, the little guy Song Yi and Zhong Shan became familiar with each other. Maybe it was because Zhong Shan gave him a gift, or maybe it was because Zhong Shan looked kind, the little guy and Zhong Shan got along particularly well. After getting acquainted, the little guy kept circling around Zhong Shan, sometimes giving Zhong Shan candy to eat, sometimes bringing him apples, which made Song Wenqing a little jealous.

"Uncle-in-law, I'll give you some peach cakes. They're delicious!" Seeing the little guy bringing food over again, everyone couldn't help laughing. Zhong Shan also smiled and said, "Xiaoyi, uncle will eat later. Uncle is full now!"

"Oh, okay then!" The little guy skipped away again.

After watching his grandson leave, Father Song said to Zhong Shan, "Xiao Zhong, this little guy and you seem to get along really well. He's already clinging to you after just one day of knowing you!"

Zhong Shan looked at the little guy and said, "I like Xiao Yi too. He's chubby and smart."

Compared with his son and daughter, Song's father obviously likes his eldest grandson more. His face is always smiling!

The New Year's Eve dinner in the evening was prepared by Song's mother and sister-in-law Feng Yuqin. Perhaps because they had never lived together, the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was very harmonious and there were no conflicts.

The cooking skills were not very good, but the raw materials were good and not bad. In addition, the cooked food made by He Yuzhu brought by Zhongshan was enjoyed by the whole family.

Father Zhong took a bite of the braised beef with soy sauce that Zhong Shan brought. After he finished, he picked up some for his eldest grandson: "Grandson, eat beef!" Then he said to Zhong Shan: "I heard from you and Lili that this was made by the chef in your courtyard? It tastes really good, and it has the same taste as the chef, not much different."

After taking a bite, Zhong Shan said, "Uncle, this is Master He from our courtyard. He is a master of the Tan family cuisine, but it is no longer useful now. He later learned Sichuan cuisine and is pretty good. There is a senior leader from the Ministry of Industry in our courtyard who likes his dishes very much and often comes to the courtyard!"

After finishing the New Year's Eve dinner, the food was cleared away. Song's mother made a pot of tea. Several people sat around the eight-immortal table and chatted. Suddenly, Song's mother said, "Xiao Zhong, Lili, you two are old enough. When are you going to get things done?"

After listening to this, Song Lili blushed and lowered her head: "I will listen to Brother Zhong!"

Zhong Shan was stunned for a moment, then he thought, yes, this is not the future. In the future, it was normal to be together for a few years before getting married, but now after confirming the relationship, it won’t take long to get married. It’s a bit late for Song Lili to not get married for such a long time!

"Uncle and aunt, you know that I am the only one in my family, and no one thinks about these things. I will listen to you!" Zhong Shan said happily. After that, he said to Song Lili: "But if Lili and I move to the slum, I don't know if Lili can get used to it!"

After listening to what Song's mother said, she looked at her daughter and said, "Lili has indeed never lived in a compound, but if you want to live in a building, our hospital has also allocated me a house, but I have never lived there. You can move in, and it will be considered as Lili's dowry!"

Song Lili had been to Zhongshan's home and knew that although the house was not big, it had everything including a bathroom and a study, so she said, "It's okay, Brother Zhongshan's house has everything too. There's a bathroom in the house, so you won't be unaccustomed to it. It's different from the slum they talk about!" After she said that, she didn't know what she remembered and her face turned red again as she looked at Zhongshan.

Zhong Shan also said: "Aunt, you don't have to live upstairs. In fact, I have a house somewhere else. There is also a courtyard with two entrances at the foot of the imperial city. I just haven't lived there. I think it's safer to live in the courtyard at this time. But it's hard for Lili!"

Hearing Zhongshan's words, Song's father and mother looked at each other. It seemed that their son-in-law was not that simple. When they knew Zhongshan, they had investigated him openly and secretly, but they did not realize that Zhongshan was hiding quite deeply. There were only a few private courtyards near the imperial city, and Zhongshan actually had one.

The eldest brother Song Wenqing looked at Zhongshan, worthy of being the one who always had Xiao Huangyu with him: "Brother-in-law, I have never been inside the courtyard at the foot of the imperial city. In the past, it was where the royal family lived. Take me there if you have a chance, so we can see what it is like!"

Zhong Shan smiled and said, "Any time is fine. Big Brother, you can live anywhere you want. To be honest, I have been leaving it there since I received it!"

Song Wenqing said hurriedly: "I'll just take a look. I'm going to stay here or not. I'll be going back to the Northeast in half a month."

Mother Song looked at Zhong Shan deeply for a while, and then said, "Xiao Zhong, you are right. It is indeed much safer to live in a compound at this time. But you actually have a yard. I remember when you and Lili were dating, Sulan said that you bought Kuijun's five-courtyard house in Heizhima Hutong. I didn't expect you to buy another one without saying anything."

Zhong Shan was not surprised when he heard Song's mother mention Heizhima Hutong. Director Li's family knew about the purchase of the yard. Song's mother and Director Li were good friends, so it was not surprising that they knew this. So he said:

"Aunt, although the yard is big, it is already in a state of disrepair. Only the three houses at the entrance have been cleaned up, and the rest have almost collapsed. Moreover, they dare not rebuild it now, so it has been left abandoned!"

When Song Wenqing heard that Zhongshan had a courtyard with five entrances, his eyes changed when he looked at Zhongshan. This kid is really good at hiding things. He is so rich but still lives in a slum!

Father Song also knew about the five-courtyard house. He looked at Zhong Shan and said with a smile, "Xiao Zhong, you like houses so much at such a young age. But you still have to be careful. The five-courtyard house is abandoned, but it's not a problem. Don't let others know about the courtyard at the foot of the imperial city. The two-courtyard house is a bit over the standard, exceeding the 15-room standard per person."

Zhong Shan also said after hearing this: "I know, I didn't want to buy this house at first, but the location at the foot of the imperial city was too tempting, plus the old Huanghuali furniture in that yard, I couldn't resist it for a while, and after that, I didn't buy any other yards!"

Song's father nodded when he heard this. He also felt a little itchy when he heard about the yard full of huanghuali furniture, but he didn't say anything.

Mother Song took over the conversation again: "Xiao Zhong, your idea is right. Living in the compound is not bad. Like you said, it is safer among the people. Since you asked me and your uncle to make the decision, you and Lili should do the matter after the New Year while your eldest brother is not back to the Northeast. Otherwise, if your eldest brother goes back to the Northeast, we don't know when he will come back next time."

Zhong Shan had no objection when he heard this: "I will listen to you and uncle."

After hearing this, Song's mother took a look at the calendar and said, "Then let's do it on the sixth day. It's a good day. Although it's a bit urgent, we should keep everything simple now. There's nothing to prepare. The most important thing is that our whole family is here!"

After setting the date, the family became closer. After chatting with Song's father and eldest brother Song Wenqing for a while, Zhongshan was about to say goodbye and go home.

Song's mother advised: "Xiao Zhong, stay here, there is a room, don't bother so late!"

The little guy Song Yi also said: "Uncle-in-law, don't go back, let's live together, I will accompany you!"

Zhong Shan laughed, rubbed the little guy's head and said, "Aunt, no, I'd better go back. It's better to have someone at home during the New Year!"

When Song's mother heard what Zhong Shan said, she knew that he was right, so she stopped persuading him: "Well, Xiao Zhong, go back and be careful!"