Restarting life in Siheyuan

"Brother, look at what this is."

This Saturday's dinner was held at Sha Zhu's house. Unexpectedly, there was one more person. Sha Zhu happily showed off his treasure, which made Lou Xiao'e, who was standing next to him, roll her eyes.

"Brother got the marriage certificate, haha, come on, call me sister-in-law."

"Team leader, don't listen to his nonsense. It doesn't count because we haven't done anything yet."

Sha Zhu asked people to call her sister-in-law in person, especially Zhu Xuefeng. Although they were very familiar with each other at work and had a lot of dealings with each other and had a good relationship, Lou Xiao'e still blushed and felt a little uncomfortable.

"Sister-in-law, this document has legal effect. Even if you don't do it, you two are still a legal couple. Haha, good things take time, good things take time. Okay, okay, Brother Zhuzi, I'll have a couple of drinks with you later."

In front of Lou Xiao'e, He Yushui was also very considerate. She brought the two children with her and politely called her sister-in-law, which made Lou Xiao'e want to crawl under the table.

Sha Zhu was very unhappy after the meal. The two of them planned to set up a few tables in the yard during the May Day holiday and live a down-to-earth life together.

"Good, good, haha, come, let's toast to the two newlyweds again."

Zhu Xuefeng and He Yushui raised their glasses, and the two children also happily raised their drinks. Sha Zhu pulled up the shy Lou Xiaoe, and they happily drank a glass.

Sha Zhu was very excited today and drank a lot despite Lou Xiaoe's repeated dissuasion.

"Ezi, today is a good time, so just let me drink a little more. Don't worry, I promise to drink less in the future. Haha, I'm waiting to carry on the family line. Brother Zhu is not an outsider, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Sister, tell me, are our two families like the same people?"

"My brother is right, sister-in-law. It's rare for you two to get what you want. My brother is so happy, just let him be unrestrained for a while. He has been very pent up in the past two years."

Seeing her sister-in-law say this, Lou Xiao'e had no choice but to sigh and leave it alone. She found a wet towel out of pity and kept wiping Sha Zhu's sweat. In the early March weather, Sha Zhu was sweating profusely from drinking.

No matter how happy Sha Zhu was, his alcohol tolerance didn't change much. Today, he was so happy that he drank a lot more than usual and soon fell asleep leaning against the cabinet.

"Look, look, he's drinking like crazy, team leader, he drank so much, he'll be alright, right?"

Lou Xiao'e felt both distressed and worried. She could see that Sha Zhu was very happy, so she didn't feel like stopping him. But she watched helplessly as Sha Zhu's eyes gradually became dazed, and soon he began to snore softly while leaning against the cabinet.

Looking at Sha Zhu who had fallen asleep and was still sweating, Zhu Xuefeng felt relieved.

"He's drunken. Normally he can't drink this much. Just remember to let him drink more water later. It's a headache. Brother Zhuzi has woken up this time, so his alcohol tolerance will definitely increase, haha."

He helped Lou Xiao'e clean up Sha Zhu and throw him on the bed. Lou Xiao'e was worried, so she stayed by the bed while He Yushui took the two children to clean up.

"Sister-in-law, it's okay. I'll go back and rest for a while. You have to stay here for a while. Brother Zhuzi must be fine. Let him get some water. I'll take a rest and send you back."

Lou Xiao'e was a little hesitant, "Is he really okay like this?"

"Of course it's okay. Brother Zhuzi usually likes to drink a little wine. He's happy today. That's the good thing about him. He can drink well. He won't make a fuss no matter how much he drinks. He will definitely get up on time tomorrow. Nothing will happen to him. Few people can compare to his physique."

"No matter how healthy you are, you can't do this. I heard that if you keep getting drunk, your body will slowly break down. You can't accompany him like this in the future. You have to help me stop him."

"No problem, don't worry, you two will have to live together in the future, and some things can't be the same as before, haha, I'm leaving now."

Lou Xiao'e looked at Sha Zhu who was sleeping soundly, stroked his forehead with pity, and gently smoothed his slightly wrinkled brows.

"You're so happy, you're so drunk, what else are you worried about? Why are you frowning even when you fall asleep?"

I just cleaned up at home, and my younger brother, sister and He Yushui also finished cleaning up. Lou Xiao'e was guarding Sha Zhu over there, and He Yushui felt uncomfortable staying there, so the three of them came over together.

"Brother, you are too mean. When Chef He is happy, you drink with him. Now, even Sister Yushui can't stay."

As soon as the younger sister came in, she criticized her brother. She then raised her head and used one hand to push away her older brother's uncomfortable big hand on her head.

"You've been drinking a lot, are you okay? How about I make you a pot of tea so you can wake up."

He Yushui was also speechless about the younger sister, "This girl, she was scolding you in the first sentence, and then she was eager to make tea for you in the next sentence..."

Zhu Xuefeng sat down and said with a smile, "As a sister, it's only natural for her to care about her big brother."

"What do you mean? If you say I didn't take care of my brother, it should be my turn. Now I'm free. I won't stop you two from drinking in the future. Someone will take care of you two anyway." He Yushui curled her lips and smiled, which was quite charming. Who knows if that boy will get the chance in the future.

"It's done in May, so it doesn't take very long. You still have to find time to tidy up your house. Last year, the renovation was stopped before it was halfway done."

"That's not my business. My brother said that the furniture has already been made, and everything else is ready. We just need to wait for the weather to get better before we tidy up the house. There shouldn't be any problem."

Thinking of the possible rainstorms in summer, Zhu Xuefeng gave a subtle reminder, "Remind your brother when the time comes to renovate the house and spend more time and effort on it, otherwise it will be hard to get through the summer."

He Yushui thought that it was because there were many mosquitoes when the windows were open in the middle of summer and he needed to be careful, so he said with a smile.

"I really have no business doing this. Xuefeng, let me tell you something. I will go there for an internship during the summer vacation. This matter has been decided. I will go to the grassland to escape the heat this summer."

"It's decided so quickly? Didn't school just start? Aren't summer internships usually decided in May?"

Zhu Xuefeng was very surprised. He Yushui had told him about going to the Grassland Woolen Mill, but he didn't expect it to develop so quickly.

"Not so fast. We finished all the third grade homework during the summer vacation. The fourth grade is an internship. It's not like you, who have to study for six years."

That’s right, He Yushui’s internship this time is different from the usual summer internship. This one is connected with the internship assigned after graduation.

"The living habits there are very different from those in the city. You should think carefully about it. Don't go there and get unaccustomed to it, or it will be difficult for you to come back."

He Yushui didn't care. "No matter how difficult it is, it's harder than being hungry. I've only had enough to eat in the past few years since I was a child. It's okay. If others can endure the hardships, I, He Yushui, can definitely endure them. Besides, I really yearn for the sea and the grassland. I can't count on the sea, but I must go to the grassland."

Zhu Xuefeng stopped persuading them, and the two chatted for a while about what they had seen and heard at school, and discussed ethnic costumes. Because He Yushui was going to the grassland, it was apparent that he had studied the traditional costumes of the Mongolian, Manchu and other ethnic groups in the grasslands, and there was a lot of information on this in the capital.

Seeing that it was getting late, he said, "Let's go over there. I'll take your sister-in-law home, and you should pay attention to your brother."

"How about I send it off?"

Zhu Xuefeng knew what He Yushui was worried about. If a sister-in-law who had not yet married into the family went out with a young man late at night, there would definitely be people with ulterior motives who would spread rumors.

"You're worried about this too? Your sister-in-law is a member of my team. We see each other almost every day these days and work in the same office. If anyone wants to gossip, let them do it."

"You are really unpopular. They have both gotten their marriage certificate, but I am still worried about my sister-in-law. Don't you see that my brother is so happy to death? I am worried about you. If your reputation is affected, it will be a loss." He Yushui glared at Zhu Xuefeng.

"That's even better. You've met Xiao Xia before. She's not that kind of person. Let's go."

Under the dim light of the Jia family in the central courtyard, Qin Huairu was holding a bamboo stick in her hand, and in front of her was kneeling Bang Geng. Although her buttocks were burning with pain and her eyes were full of tears, she was stubborn and said nothing, neither admitting her fault nor begging for mercy.

Qin Huairu felt very unhappy. She heard clearly the noise of toasting and chatting at Sha Zhu's house in the Central Courtyard. She knew that Sha Zhu had obtained the marriage certificate. Sha Zhu had not concealed it at all. He seemed to be afraid that no one would know. He happily brought Lou Xiao'e to her house with a smug look on his face, and he wished that everyone would ask him about it.

Seeing all this, Qin Huairu always felt boundless sorrow in her heart. She once again felt that something precious was drifting away from her. Her heart ached. Qin Huairu couldn't understand it. Now, after two confrontations with Lou Xiaoe, she had completely extinguished the ambition that was not strong in her heart. But why was it like this? She felt heartbroken.

"Tell me, why did you go to an old man's house to steal money again? Don't think that no one knows because no one saw you. Your teacher said that you stole your classmates' stationery at school. I thought it was a mistake and wronged you. Now it seems that our Jia family has a little enemy like you. You are so dirty at such a young age. How can you be a good person when you grow up? Who taught you that?"

Qin Huairu didn't think that Banggeng would have the idea of ​​stealing money on his own. Someone must have instigated him. She had watched the child grow up by herself and had never seen him have this problem at home. Her mother-in-law used to hide her money under her pillow, but the little guy never stole it. Now she doesn't hide her own money deliberately, and it has never been less.

"If you don't tell me, I'll beat you to death." Seeing that Banggeng kept holding his head up stubbornly and refused to admit his mistake, and hearing the laughter of Shazhu's family in the middle courtyard, Qin Huairu got an idea and whipped out the slender bamboo stick without any strength. She regretted it the moment she whipped out, but looking at the stubborn Banggeng, she still whipped out his butt.

Bang Geng subconsciously reached out to stop him. The tough bamboo stick left a glaring red mark on Bang Geng's hand. Qin Huairu was stunned for a moment.

"Mom, don't hit my brother, don't hit my brother."

Gently pushing away Xiaodang who was begging for mercy, I looked at Banggeng who was shaking his hands and breathing cold air. He was really a Banggeng. Even in such a situation, he still didn't beg for mercy or admit his mistake.

Qin Huairu seemed to be possessed by a madman at this moment, and asked again with clenched teeth.

"You're still not telling me?" He raised the bamboo stick again. Seeing his mother becoming unfamiliar and the stick about to fall again, Bang Geng wanted to get up and run away at the first moment. Now, if he really wanted to run, Qin Huairu could not catch up with him at all. But Bang Geng always felt that the two boys from the Liu family who ran away at every turn were not manly. But at this moment, the burning feeling on his hands made him decide to be a man who could bend and stretch.

Unfortunately, he had been kneeling for so long that he could no longer walk. He moved a little, but his stiff knees forced him to open his mouth.

"I say, I say..."

Qin Huairu, whose nameless anger had not been vented, had a dark face and asked with gritted teeth.

"Then tell me, who taught you?"

"It's grandma, it's grandma. She said that the neighbors next door want me to take care of them when I grow up, but why?"

"You are still stubborn. Your grandmother has been gone for almost two years. Who can teach you?"

Qin Huairu didn't quite believe it. When her mother-in-law went in, Banggeng was only nine years old, and he didn't have this problem.

As my mother raised the bamboo stick again, the stick would stretch and bend to the fullest.

"That's right, that's right. The neighbors next door never gave me good things, nor did they support us. Why should I support them in the future? Since they let me call them grandpa and grandma, taking a little from them is nothing. This is not stealing."

Seeing that Bang Geng was still stubborn and trying to argue, Qin Huairu was furious.

"You ungrateful bastard, Auntie was so nice to you for nothing. Your mom was not at home, and you didn't have dinner at Uncleie's house that day. Auntie cooked that meal for the three of you. Do you still have a conscience?"

Bang Geng raised his neck and said, "What do you think? Her dishes are getting more and more vegetarian. I haven't seen any meat in half a month. Is this good for us? How can their uncle be rich? Why can't he eat such disgusting food like other families? Even so, he still wants me to raise them when I grow up?"

Qin Huairu finally realized that Banggeng had secretly remembered even these little things, which was evidence of abuse.

"Your grandmother is sick and can only eat this kind of food. You are not a child anymore, but you can't even tell good from bad. People have worked hard to cook and serve you three devils, and you have done something wrong. I will beat you, you heartless thing."

Bang Geng was struggling to move his stiff knees to dodge, but he was still nagging.

"She can't eat by herself, so she asks us to accompany her? Why not share the food? I am not wrong..."

The bamboo sticks came down on his head again. Bangbang couldn't avoid it. He endured it silently with red eyes, but he didn't cry. He stared at Qin Huairu with eyes full of resentment and unwillingness.

The noise finally alarmed an old man on the opposite side. Looking at the stick with several red marks on it, the old man stopped Qin Huairu, who seemed to have lost her mind, snatched the bamboo stick from her, and criticized her harshly.

"What are you doing? You have no brains. The child is still young. Let me tell you, I asked you to reason with him, but why did you hit him? If you make a noise, how can the child face people in the future?"

As he said this, he wanted to pull Banggeng over to check his injuries with concern, but he didn't expect Banggeng to avoid him with a cold face. The old man was stunned, looking at Banggeng's cold eyes, he was a little distracted for a moment.

There was a knock on the door of Sha Zhu's house in the middle courtyard, and Zhu Xuefeng and Lou Xiao'e came out together. The Jia family suddenly fell into deathly silence. Only Xiaodang was sitting on the kang, holding his ignorant sister, looking at his mother who seemed like a different person, and trembling.

"The pillar thing is finally done. Someone will take care of it from now on."

The third uncle glanced at the two figures pushing the cart out of the front yard and put down the book.

"It's not easy. We didn't succeed last year and I thought there was no hope for these two. But I think this girl is okay." The third aunt handed over the teacup filled with hot water.

"You can check how much money Shazhu paid to Jie Cheng at that time, and then we will pay it back accordingly. We can't let anyone complain about this kind of thing."

On an early spring night, under the dim street lights, there was no one walking in the alley, and Lou Xiao'e was sitting in the back seat of Zhu Xuefeng's car.

"I heard from Zhuzi that you are here to cover our problems. Team leader, how do you plan to cover our problems?"

Lou Xiao'e mustered up the courage to ask the question that had puzzled her for a long time. Now that she and Sha Zhu had obtained the marriage certificate, there was nothing to worry about. At that time, in order to ease her mind, Sha Zhu couldn't help but reveal that Zhu Xuefeng had promised to cover for them.

"Brother Zhuzi, you are talking nonsense. Well, you two will be a family in the future, so you can't blame him."

He originally wanted to complain to Sha Zhu, but after thinking about it, he felt relieved. They will be a couple in the future, and this kind of thing will be revealed sooner or later. Although it is of great importance, Zhu Xuefeng now has peace of mind and no longer has the worries he had before.

"Originally, I shouldn't have told you this. It doesn't matter now, but if you tell anyone, I won't admit it."

"Just tell me. I'm not like him. I dare to speak out about anything, regardless of the importance of it."

"It's nothing, but if there's any trouble with your relationship, I'll find someone to send you two away so you can live your life outside."

Lou Xiao'e was stunned and asked in a low voice, "Team Leader, do you really have a way in this regard?"

"I guess so, but now that you two are together, I don't need it anymore, which is good."

Originally, in Lou Xiao'e's mind, she married a worker and was also a worker, so she should be safe, especially since Zhuzi and Zhu Xuefeng were good friends. She was very clear about Zhu Xuefeng's influence in the steel rolling mill. With his help, the two of them should have a stable life. Besides, Sha Zhu also became friends with Director Yang, so in the future, they would not seek wealth, but it should not be difficult for them to have a safe family.

My parents have always wanted to leave but had no way to do so. I didn't expect the team leader to have a way to help them, so I kept it in mind. Of course, there is no need to do so now. If my parents really have a problem, this person should be able to help.

"Team leader, please come to my house and sit for a while. My parents have heard of you. Especially since you transferred me to the vehicle factory this time, my dad has always wanted to thank you."

"This kind of thing is not worth mentioning. It's as it should be. Since we are a team, I can't just watch you two live in an awkward situation over there. It's fine now, and you two can help me a lot."

As they were about to get home, Zhu Xuefeng still refused to come over, so Lou Xiao'e had to give up the idea and look for another opportunity.

"You two decided to set the date around May 1st this time. Aren't you going to the Spring Canton Fair?"

"I missed an important event last time I went, so I don't want to go this time. Besides, the participants of this Canton Fair were decided the day before yesterday, so there is nothing for us to do."

Although Lou Xiao'e said this, she still felt a little regretful if she was not really allowed to go. She and Zhou Wenwen had never missed a place, and this time the list of personnel was finalized early, but the two of them were unexpectedly not selected.

"I heard that the secretary personally selected the candidates this time. Few of those who had been there before were selected."

It seems that the steel rolling mill is slowly changing, and this is not something an outsider can interfere with. Zhu Xuefeng is only concerned about whether Lao Yang and Lao Xia will be affected.

"Wait a minute."

Seeing the gate of Lou Xiao'e's house, Zhu Xuefeng whispered a reminder.

Lou Xiao'e's house is a two-story building with a yard in the front and back. The yard is not big and not very eye-catching, but Zhu Xuefeng can clearly feel the presence of several people just outside her backyard.

"It's nothing. Just be careful when you go back. There might be a thief targeting your house."

(End of this chapter)