Restarting life in Siheyuan

"Finally we're here. This damn weather is so cold."

A group of people came to Yudefu Shabu Shabu on Dongzhimennei Street in a lively manner. The shabu shabu restaurant is not big, and the old wooden building tells its history. This shabu shabu shop is indeed quite old.

"Hurry up and warm up first. This weather is really weird. It's already so cold just after the sun goes down."

Under the street lights at night, light snow was falling again, which seemed to be a foreshadowing of something, but the group of young people didn't realize it at all. They parked their cars in a hurry, slapped the scattered snowflakes at each other, and stomped their feet into the restaurant.

Maybe it was because it was the Chinese New Year, many people had some spare money in their pockets, and the weather was also cold, so quite a few people came to splurge a little, and the small shabu-shabu restaurant was actually full.

There are six or seven tables in the lobby, which is also crowded, not to mention the "private rooms" on both sides of the lobby. The so-called private rooms are actually a small isolated area with no cover or barrier, just one step higher than the lobby.

"I say, college student, your arrangement is unreliable. There are no seats at all. Looking at the situation, no one will be able to finish eating in a short time."

The tall Cheng Ling couldn't help but complain rudely when she smelled the tempting shabu-shabu aroma.

"That's right. There are so many people in this horrible weather. Xuefeng, what should we do? How about changing places?"

Liu Ze was also very depressed. It was just a meal together, so why was it so unlucky today?

Zhu Xuefeng didn't expect this place to be so popular. He got a family heirloom yesterday. He was so happy that he couldn't express it in words. He wanted to find someone to share his joy with. It happened to be the time for his classmates to get together and have some fun. He didn't expect to encounter this situation.

"This place is busy, and other places are not so good. Besides, it's starting to snow outside, and we can't go through the streets looking for houses one by one."

"That's right. What can you do? There's no room now." The classmates were talking at once. The snow outside was getting heavier, and there was the tempting smell of hot pot meat in the store.

"Xuefeng is right. If this small shop is so popular during the Chinese New Year, then all the restaurants here will be popular. Unless the cooking skills are really shameful, I think you should stop looking around." Shen Wei supported Zhu Xuefeng's suggestion.

"Yeah, let's do this. With so many people here, it should taste good." Liu Ze licked his saliva and expressed his agreement happily.

"This place is okay. Last time my second uncle and his family came, my dad brought us here once." Guan Qiumei also expressed her support.

"Don't worry if there's no seat. I know the chef here. Wait a minute. I'll go find someone to see if there's any solution."

Zhu Xuefeng and his two siblings had come here twice with Sha Zhu. The chef Sun in this place had some relationship with Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu always got his mutton from here, and as a result, he got to know Chef Sun.

Master Sun, who was busy in the kitchen, still had some impression of Zhu Xuefeng. He was quite considerate and resourceful. With a shout, several waiters found tables and chairs from somewhere and soon added a table in the aisle between the kitchen and the hall.

Apart from having some impact on the waiters serving the dishes, he was able to open his mouth and said, "Please forgive me, brothers. Since you are Zhuzi's friends, there is nothing to say. I will serve you right away."

"Thank you, Brother Sun, for the trouble."

Zhu Xuefeng handed over a cigarette, but Chef Sun pointed to the kitchen and waved his hand without taking it.

"You're welcome. Please sit down for a moment. I'll make arrangements."

Chef Sun was an open-minded man. He greeted everyone and apologized before going back to the kitchen to take care of things.

Eight people were just sitting down. Four long benches were set up to surround the octagonal table tightly. A large copper hot pot had been turned over on the table. The table was already full of mutton, tripe, tripe sheets, and the like. Potatoes and vermicelli were indispensable, and there was a large basket of cabbage. There were also two plates of pickled garlic, which looked very good. Unexpectedly, there was also a small portion of frozen tofu, which was quite good.

"Brothers, this is really a blessing in disguise for us. We arrived late but got on early. Haha, come on."

With the care of Chef Sun, everything was served very quickly. Of course, everyone didn't hold back and started to eat. The first chopsticks of the eight people reached out to the plates of mutton at the same time. Seeing the chopsticks about to fight, both men and women laughed.

"I say, old classmates, why did you think of getting together today without even saying hello in advance? Where's your Xiaohong? Why isn't she with us?"

Zhu Xuefeng has poured wine for everyone. No matter men or women, they all drank a full cup of Erguotou, which was about 200 grams. Eating hotpot in winter with some white wine is really exciting. You will soon forget that it is still snowing outside.

"You mean her? She ran off with her classmates to celebrate the New Year in another place. We don't know when she'll be back. Come on, let's ignore her and have a drink first."

Being with classmates is relaxing, and Xia Yuhong would drink too much unconsciously at several gatherings.

"Hey, hey, hey, old classmate. So you were abandoned and came to the organization because you were lonely. Haha."

The one who spoke was Guan Qiumei. She has a younger sister named Guan Hongmei, who coincidentally is in the same class with her younger sister.

"Student Qiumei, I can't say anything. She was here in the second half of last year, and we also left her behind and drank in the cafeteria once."

"That happened several months ago. He was away at military training..."

The classmates were together without any burden. There was no need to talk about any topic. The five guys and three girls had a great time eating hotpot.

"Come on, brothers, make way."

Zhu Xuefeng was stunned and quickly made room for Liu Ze. The waiter put down a plate of sesame sauce pancakes and walked out, handing Zhu Xuefeng a bag. Zhu Xuefeng took it and it was still warm, so it should also be sesame sauce pancakes. The waiter saw that Zhu Xuefeng was stunned and pointed to the kitchen, where Chef Sun was looking at them with a smile.

"The chef told you to bring some back to his friend. Please, there is a plate on the table for you."

Zhu Xuefeng nodded. The day before yesterday, when he was having hotpot at Sha Zhu's house, he casually said that mahjong sesame cakes tasted good. He didn't expect that Sha Zhu also made it from this. This thing is not easy to make these days. Zhu Xuefeng only ate one at Sha Zhu's house this time. He hadn't seen this thing for many years.

"Thanks, buddy." Zhu Xuefeng thanked him in a low voice.

"You're welcome. Please use it first. Let me know if you have anything to say."

The waiter was quite polite to Chef Sun's friends, making Zhu Xuefeng feel as if he had returned to the hot pot restaurant decades later.

There are not many small restaurants selling sesame sauce biscuits. At least when I ordered the food just now, it was not on the list of the hot pot restaurant.

The sesame sauce sesame buns really attracted the attention of the students. The hot sesame sauce sesame buns exuded a charming aroma, and the pleasant sesame fragrance made several people put down their chopsticks and look at the basket of tempting sesame sauce sesame buns.

"Xuefeng, I don't think we want this."

Shen Wei asked in a low voice, there is no such thing as giving it away as a gift if it is wrong, these are all food and sesame seeds.

Zhu Xuefeng lowered his voice and said, "There are exactly eight of us, one for each of us, don't be too fussy."

The students understood immediately and picked up the mahjong pancakes one by one without saying a word. Some couldn't help but bite them directly, while others made some hot soup and broke the pancakes into pieces and put them into the soup. The lively table became eerily quiet.

"Don't just eat, have another one."

Having just eaten it the day before, Zhu Xuefeng was not that greedy. He did not take the sesame cake, but filled everyone's glasses. When he saw that the scene had quieted down, he raised his glass to greet everyone, and the atmosphere became lively again.

"Qiumei, look at the small cubicle over there, is it from our factory?" Zhou Min'an pointed to the "private seat" across the hall.

Guan Qiumei looked for a long time. The hall was full of hot pot mist, and it was difficult to see clearly across the hall. "It seems so. It's the noisy head of the security department."

"Where is it? Let me take a look."

When Liu Ze heard the security chief, he also squeezed over to take a closer look.

"It's really that bastard, damn it..."

Liu Ze cursed softly and sat down. Several classmates asked curiously.

"Why, do you have a grudge against him?"

"It was during the last holiday when we distributed things. We got a little more when we came back from there. I carried the things on my bike, but it was hard to get off at the factory gate. I said hello and wanted to ride over. Unexpectedly, this guy stopped me and dragged me down to search my bag. In the end, all the things were spilled. He also wanted to punish me by making me stand, saying that I was evading inspection by trespassing..."

"That's it. Who would come with so much stuff on their backs and not get off the car without saying hello? I think this person is just being pretentious. Ignore him and let's continue drinking."

The guards at the rolling mill have the duty of inspection. Stopping someone for inspection is also within their duties. However, they can tell at a glance that the company distributes gifts during festivals and holidays, so they won't make things difficult for them. There are only a few entrances and exits in a large factory with more than 10,000 people. If they check everyone one by one, they won't have to go to get off work. "You're lucky. Maybe you got more than others, so they found something wrong and suspected you. Haha, if you ask me, this guy has a sharp eye. He can tell at a glance that you are a bad guy and need to be treated differently. Come on..."

Shen Wei hooked his arm around Liu Ze's neck and joked. Everyone laughed and raised their glasses again, thus changing the subject.

Section Chief Ma, who was not far away, didn't know that someone was talking about him. Four people were sitting around a hot pot. Section Chief Ma looked hesitant and seemed very embarrassed. It took him a long time to nod awkwardly.

"Okay, I agree to your request. When you two return, don't make it public. Go back and wait for the news. When someone comes, come find me directly. Remember to bring everything you need..."

Seeing that Section Chief Ma agreed, the two men opposite were overjoyed and nodded timidly.

"Of course. You have helped me so much. If we are not sensible again, we will not be able to ask you for help again in the future. Thank you for what you did today. I toast to you..."

People over there started toasting each other, and here they were chatting lively too. The focus was still on the funny guy Liu Ze. Zhu Xuefeng, who was paying the money, just sat there with a smile on his face, enjoying his leisure time.

"By the way, Liu Ze, you said you wanted to do it last year, but now Guo Ting hasn't come back, when are you going to do it?"

After Zhou Minan drank some wine, her little face turned red and her two pigtails swung, looking very cute. She and Guo Ting used to be desk mates and were very close.

"How would I know? I'll just have to wait until I get back. I can't worry about this."

Guo Ting was left in Hong Kong as a financial staff member. Liu Ze certainly had no choice. The most important thing was that it was not clear at all that she could not come back after a few years, which made him quite annoyed.

"If you ask me, you should file a report to the factory and at least get the certificate first. Otherwise, you two won't get a chance to get a room next time."

Those who have not obtained a certificate are not eligible for housing. At most, they can get a temporary mobile bed due to work needs or long distance from home.

"That's right. It was such a good opportunity last year. If you two had gotten married, you would have been able to get in line. You're both working. At the beginning of last year, many people didn't want to go. Now, even if you fight hard, you can't get a chance."

The follow-up plan for the family quarters has been clarified. Although it is not visible yet, everyone is thinking about it. If there are markets, supply and marketing cooperatives, grocery stores, primary schools and so on, life will be no problem. As it becomes more and more complete in the future, it will be almost the same as in the city.

"That's right. Liu Ze, you have to let Guo Ting apply, even if it's just a leave of absence. This matter can't be delayed. If you miss one step, you will miss every step."

Guan Qiumei reminded with a smile, and Cheng Ling was also happy, "You really put your head teacher's words into practice. Teacher Cheng, who went to see it this year? I haven't been yet. Is there anyone who wants to go? Let's make an appointment to go together."

"I didn't go either..."

Several people made an appointment to see the teacher in a noisy manner. The things on the table had been cleaned up, leaving only a sesame sauce pancake of Zhu Xuefeng which had not been touched.

Looking at the time, it was already late. Half of the tables in the hall were occupied and it seemed to be snowing heavier outside.

"Everyone, have you eaten well today?"

"It's OK, but if you want two more plates of mutton, I can also reluctantly help you with it, haha."

Liu Ze was the first to make trouble, and the others were not ambiguous either, saying that such gatherings should be held regularly.

"But next time it should be Liu Ze's turn. He was supposed to come last time, but the landlord Zhu got there first."

"That's right. I've been there for a year, and I heard that you all get paid in foreign currency."

Shen Wei was still upset about not being able to go and send foreign currency.

"That's because we have money but can't spend it, okay? After we come back, we have to exchange it all and hand it in."

"Stop talking nonsense. Everyone thinks you have living allowances. Let's make it a deal. We are all salaried people. It's not appropriate to always let the college students who receive subsidies treat us. Just like before, you treat us and then we can take turns again. Next time it will be my turn."

Guan Hongmei was not afraid that Liu Ze would cheat, because someone in their workshop had worked there for a year and told her everything.

"Please come on, Guo Ting isn't here anyway, hahaha, let's have some fun a few more times."

"Liu Ze, there is something wrong with what you said. Next time I write to Guo Ting, I will tell her that you are not allowed to attend the class reunion as long as she is here." Zhou Min'an immediately found the error in Liu Ze's words and refused to give in.

Liu Ze wanted to argue, but Zhu Xuefeng stood up and stopped him. "Everyone, everyone did well today. Liu Ze's performance was also OK. Min'an, please let him go. I think it's getting late. The snow seems to be heavy. Why don't we stop here today and go home? But don't forget to visit the teacher. We have to go together when the time comes."

"Okay, it's settled." Everyone agreed.

Zhu Xuefeng greeted everyone and started putting on their cotton-padded jackets. Everyone was laughing and looking for their own clothes and school bags.

"You kid, if you don't touch such a good thing, Qing will waste it."

A group of people had already stood up and prepared to leave. Liu Ze was very dissatisfied with Zhu Xuefeng's waste of food, so he picked up the mahjong pancake and pretended to bite it, but Zhu Xuefeng snatched it away.

"You won't die from overeating. I have to take this back and bake it tomorrow." The sesame seed cake had already gone cold, otherwise Zhu Xuefeng would have eaten it while it was hot. Now that it's cold, it doesn't taste the same and it would be a waste to eat it.

A middle-aged man with a red face and thick neck happened to pass by. He saw the sesame sauce pancake in Zhu Xuefeng's hand at a glance and asked with his eyes wide open.

"This is a mahjong pancake. Damn, is it from this store?"

Liu Ze didn't react for a moment and nodded. Zhu Xuefeng ignored him and stuffed it into the bag of mahjong cakes, allowing the other party to see a bag of mahjong cakes.

Just then a waiter passed by. The middle-aged man pulled the waiter over and pointed at Zhu Xuefeng's bag.

"Comrade, you clearly have sesame cakes, but you don't sell them to us. Isn't this inappropriate?"

Without waiting for anyone to answer, he threatened, "Hurry up and give us one. We don't want too much. Just one. Otherwise, you won't be able to open this store anymore."

The waiter didn't understand what was going on and the classmates looked at each other. Zhu Xuefeng understood that it was all Chef Sun who secretly made trouble for his sesame seed cake, and now it involved the hot pot restaurant. If there was a quarrel, the hot pot restaurant would not be in the right.

The waiter was stunned for a while before coming to his senses, with a look of contempt on his face. This store was a public-private partnership, and he really didn't know who had the ability to shut it down. He was usually spoiled by his customers and didn't take the man's threats seriously, let alone take the man seriously. What era is it now, and there are still such brainless threats.

"Who the hell are you? Where did you come from? You are so arrogant that you can't let us drive on. Go to the door and try to pull the car backwards. Let me see if you can turn the car upside down."

The middle-aged man must have drunk a lot, and his brain seemed to be a little not working well at this time. Although he didn't understand it for a moment, he knew that no one would be nice if he had anything to do with NB. He raised his fist and was about to attack, but was held back by Zhu Xuefeng behind him.

"Comrade, you misunderstood. I brought these pancakes. They are not available in the store. Don't make a fuss. It's just a misunderstanding."

The man pointed at Liu Ze with red eyes, "This kid said he was from the store. Who are you trying to fool? Do you think I'm stupid?"

Liu Ze put his hands in his pockets and said with a smile, "Who are you to me? Why should I tell you? This is not sold in the store. Why do you even need to ask where it came from? Are you out of your mind? If you ask this, who else can I deceive if not you, you idiot."

Liu Ze understood that his casual remark just now seemed to have caused trouble in the store, and he was taking this opportunity to bite back. Combined with his pretended ruffian attitude, it seemed like it was true.

The man was still holding on to Zhu Xuefeng's hand and tried hard to break free and beat Liu Ze up, but he couldn't and the clerk didn't tolerate him either.

"Now that you understand, stop being unreasonable or I'll kick you out."

Liu Ze also took the opportunity to slip back into his group of classmates and prepared to leave. It was unwise to reason with a drunkard, so Zhu Xuefeng let go.

The middle-aged man seemed to be drunk and took advantage of Zhu Xuefeng's letting go to rush in front of Liu Ze and reached out to grab Liu Ze's collar. Several male classmates stopped him and surrounded the middle-aged man. Seeing the dispute here, many people in the hot pot restaurant stood up and looked around.

The man who was surrounded looked at the angry young faces around him, but he was not nervous and continued to curse.

"You little bastards, get out of the way. I want to have a chat with this stupid guy."

"Who's causing trouble here?"

(End of this chapter)