Restarting life in Siheyuan

"Yes, I think what Xiaofeng said makes sense. You don't have to go to work these few days, and you always look sullen. You want me, who works, to rush back and cook for you. No way. You have to cook for me."

Xia's mother found the key information and happily scolded Old Xia, but Old Xia smiled and said, "Okay, it's indeed my turn. I'm free now, and it's time to serve the working people. Haha, Xiaofeng, let's have another drink together..."

Zhu Xuefeng, who had gotten his father-in-law drunk, was accompanying Xia Yuhong home. He sat in the back seat with his face pressed against the woman's back. The alcohol made his face feel a little hot.

"Are you okay? Your face is so hot on my back." Xia Yuhong asked with concern while riding her bike carefully.

"It's nothing. I just had a good chat with my dad. My face is a little hot now. Don't worry about me. Just ride your bike."

Xia Yuhong sighed, "You said my dad is the same. He doesn't care about this kind of thing. You know what, after he made a fuss, my mom has changed. She rarely cooked before, but now she cares about my dad. She's worried that he might get upset, so she rushes home after work every day and serves him carefully."

As Xia Yuhong spoke, she laughed softly. In her memory, it was always Old Xia who tried every possible means to make her mother happy, but now it seemed that all this was lost.

"This is what an old partner is. An old partner is an old partner. They support each other throughout their lives. Your parents have true love. It's really enviable." Zhu Xuefeng sighed.

"Tell me, when we get old, will you treat us like my mom did? Now we all give in to you in everything."

"We are still young, so let's think about getting old sooner." Zhu Xuefeng muttered behind him with his eyes closed.

"You are just a grown man, but your home is not even as good as a hotel. Every time you go home, you can only stay for a few days." Xia Yuhong said with some resentment.

Indeed, it has been several years, ever since they got their marriage certificate in Hong Kong, and they have been husband and wife for several years. Although the three of them have secretly moved their household registration to a large compound, there is always a lack of a home feeling because there is no man in the house.

"I'll accompany you guys when I come back and not run around aimlessly, okay?" Zhu Xuefeng quickly handed over the tranquilizer pills and added a few more words.

"I have not arranged things properly in the past few years, and you have suffered."

Xia Yuhong smiled again in front, "I believe you. It's not really a grievance. We know what you are busy with. If it weren't for Sister Na accompanying me, I don't know how I would have gotten through the days. In the past two years, you have spent less than a month at home."

Zhu Xuefeng had nothing to say about Xia Yuhong's complaints and could only remain silent. As soon as they arrived at the inner street, they were stopped. After checking Xia Yuhong's work permit, the patrol team pointed at Zhu Xuefeng.

"Comrade, where is your ID? What is your relationship?"

The patrol team members looked at Zhu Xuefeng with suspicion. It was so disgraceful for a grown man to sit on the back seat of a female car with his face pressed against her back.

"This is my wife. She just had a drink with my dad and feels a little dizzy."

Zhu Xuefeng was hesitating, and the patrolman shone a flashlight impatiently on his face. The glaring flashlight made him feel a little irritated, and he directly threw out a small red book.

The patrolman took it with a strange look on his face, looked through it, and quickly returned it as if it were a hot potato.

"We can go."

"Sure, sure." The patrol team was wondering how to start the conversation, so they quickly replied.

As they were almost at the yard, Xia Yuhong couldn't help but ask, "What kind of ID do you have? Aren't you still studying abroad? Where did you get your work permit?"

"Let's talk about it when we get home. You two will know about this sooner or later." Zhu Xuefeng leaned against Xia Yuhong's back and spoke with his eyes closed.

When they returned to the compound, it was almost ten o'clock. After knocking twice gently, Mr. Xie opened the bolt and the two of them pushed the cart into the yard.

"Boss, you two are back. Miss Lin is back, but it seems like she hasn't rested yet."

"Oh, I see. We came back a little late and disturbed your rest. It's okay. You can rest now."

The two parked the car under the eaves of the back house, and Mr. Xie locked the door. "It's still early to rest. I'm playing chess with Old Zhang."

Zhu Xuefeng knew that the two elders were waiting for them to come back, and he was grateful. The two old men saw everything but pretended to be ignorant. The two old men now have no worries about food and clothing, and can even have a drink in the yard from time to time, and they are very satisfied.

After probing twice whether they were willing to move to a more suitable place to retire, the two refused, saying that it was a great blessing to stay in the yard for retirement and they must help the employer to take care of the yard. Zhu Xuefeng just let the two old men do as they pleased. Most northerners were unwilling to move, and only a few were willing to go to Hong Kong like old man Jin. But old man Wang, the jade carver, was unwilling to leave.

As expected, Lin Na did not rest. The night in Beijing in early April was still a bit chilly, especially after playing with guns for a while, and after the drunkenness subsided and taking a shower, the three of them went straight into the bedroom.

"Tell me, what other identity do you have? It's so mysterious." Xia Yuhong had not forgotten what happened just now. Seeing that the man finally took a break, she asked.

Lin Na also looked at the man with interest. Xia Yuhong told her when the man was practicing just now that they had actually been suspicious for a long time. He didn't take the plane with them, but he could buy the ticket by himself. You know, only a thirteenth-level cadre can buy a plane ticket. And that time when he went on a mission with Yan Zi, the whole process was mysterious.

"Just tell me briefly. If I don't want to tell you, don't ask any more questions."

The two looked at each other and said, "Okay, go ahead." Xia Yuhong expressed his opinion as a representative.

"It's nothing, actually. You two should have guessed it long ago. I have another identity in a certain department, that's all. Everything else is confidentiality."

Xia Yuhong's eyes sparkled as she clung to the man's shoulders. "You said you were on a mission last time, so this is it. Tell me about it. It's impossible for everything to be kept secret. You can always tell us something that's not confidential. We didn't even ask you to show us your ID."

Xia Yuhong was still as curious as a baby. She just liked to get to the bottom of mysterious things. This was also the reason why Zhu Xuefeng hesitated when he took out his ID just now.

"You, you are forcing me to make a mistake. I'll just say one thing. I did carry out a few missions. I get a salary every month now. It's not much. Don't think about it. I haven't received it in the past few years. It's only a few dozen yuan every month."

"A few dozen dollars is not a lot of money. Be honest. How much is it per month now?"

Zhu Xuefeng smiled. Now that he was wealthy, the two people asking about his salary were actually concerned about how much he was valued, so he smiled and said.

"The level is not low, now it is level 99, per month,"

"No way, we are only level 22 and 23. How can you be five levels higher than us?" Even Lin Na was surprised.

"That's right. I still have to wait until July to be promoted to level 22. Now it's 49.5 per month. Even if you are a graduate student, you can't be four or five levels higher than us."

"He must have made some contributions and got promoted. I don't really care. It's getting late. Go to bed. We'll go to Nana's house tomorrow night."

Zhu Xuefeng was about to lie down as he spoke. Lin Na on the side rolled her eyes and said, "That's not right. Your level 17 seems to be different from ours. You are... I understand." Lin Na cleverly did not continue speaking.

But her half sentence made Xia Yuhong feel uncomfortable, "What's the difference, Sister Na, you are not speaking clearly, do you want me to sleep?"

Seeing that Lin Na was holding back and not saying anything, Zhu Xuefeng pretended to be confused since it wasn't someone asking him. Xia Yuhong on the side was really anxious. One of them didn't say anything, and the other understood but held it back. "Sister Na, if you don't say anything, I'll tickle you, watch this..."

Seeing that Xia Yuhong was about to crawl out of the quilt and pass over him, Zhu Xuefeng had no choice but to pull her over and pat her butt.

"Be quiet and go to sleep."

"Then you need to explain clearly what your level 17 is."

Zhu Xuefeng ruffled Xia Yuhong's hair and whispered in her ear, "Keep it a secret and don't ask nonsense questions."

Xia Yuhong then reluctantly lay down obediently, leaning against the man, placing her small hand on the man's chest, feeling his strong heartbeat. She didn't know what she was thinking about, her face turned red, and she quickly closed her eyes.

The younger sister is still in school and the fourth child is also at work. After the two girls went to work, Zhu Xuefeng didn't want to go back to the compound or go to the street office. He went to secretly visit Coach Gao. Coach Gao has been idle for two years now and has nothing to do, but he has some ideas about moving. According to him, if he stays like this for a few more years, his hands will be numb. Zhu Xuefeng didn't take on too much responsibility, but just said that when Coach Gao really makes up his mind, he can arrange for Gao Bo to take over.

I just returned to the compound in the afternoon and unexpectedly found Qiu Hong appearing quietly in the study.

"Why are you back?" Zhu Xuefeng asked her to return to the Taoist temple as soon as he arrived in the capital, and told her that he would notify her when she left.

"Husband, I have a strong feeling, I have..."

Compared to Qiu Hong's happy expression, Zhu Xuefeng was startled and asked quickly.

"have what?"

"I feel it. I think I'm very close to a breakthrough now. I have to thank my husband for accompanying me in practicing for more than a year."

Zhu Xuefeng breathed a sigh of relief. Qiu Hong was about to turn 29. She was finally expected to break through. This was great news. But he immediately became nervous. Qiu Hong was going to break through! This was a big deal. There couldn't be any mistakes. He had no experience in this area and couldn't help her. He didn't know how much trouble it would cause. He suppressed his worries and thought about it.

"You should hurry to Xiangjiang and ask Taiyi Sect to help you. They have experience."

Qiu Hong nodded, "I came here for this matter. If my husband agrees, I will take my two disciples away today."

Zhu Xuefeng nodded. "Actually, I'd like to watch it, but I can't spare the time right now. You should go there as soon as possible."

After seeing Qiu Hong off, Zhu Xuefeng once again felt a strong sense of urgency. He was surpassed by this woman again. If she broke through, he would have to admit defeat. The training in the past few years made him clearly realize that this was a huge threshold. He seemed to be just a little bit short of it. He was depressed and fell behind the woman again.

It was already dark, and the campus was a little chilly. Lin Na tightened her coat and straightened Zhu Xuefeng's jacket. The two of them pushed the big pedal and strolled around the campus. They had just had dinner with Teacher Xu. Zhu Xuefeng cooked himself, which made Teacher Xu smile and say that her daughter was lucky and better than her. Professor Lin in their family seldom cooks, but when he does, he always creates one or two dishes according to his own ideas. Over time, Teacher Xu no longer dared to hand over the power to him.

The two of them strolled along the guidance of the street lights without saying a word, just quietly enjoying the peace. From time to time, students who were arguing endlessly passed by them hurriedly, as if they didn't see them and almost bumped into them.

"I'm sorry, comrade, we weren't paying attention."

"It's okay, just go about your business. The lighting is bad, it's not your fault."

Faced with the apology from her junior classmates, Lin Na didn't mind and smiled gently, which made the junior classmates a little dazed.

"Let's go." The mood just now was ruined by the accident. Zhu Xuefeng got on the bike and the two of them rode away. "Think about it, it's been 60 years since I reported to the school. It's been almost six years in a flash."

"Yes, time flies. When I met you, you were still in your third year of high school. Now you are studying for a doctorate."

Lin Na recalled the sweet times over the past few years, quietly hugged the man from behind, immersed in the memories, and neither of them spoke.

Unlike Lin Na, Zhu Xuefeng was thinking that this place would be the focus in a few months, and whether he had avoided this disaster by going out to study this time.

"By the way, tomorrow is Saturday, and my little sister should be back. You two should go home to be with your parents tomorrow. I have to show up in the yard."

"Well, go ahead. Xiaohong and I will make our own arrangements. We'll have my younger sister come to the yard on Sunday and we'll have a family dinner. But you, the master, will have to make the arrangements and serve us." Lin Na knew that she and Xia Yuhong could not appear at the same time to accompany Zhu Xuefeng's neighbors and friends.

"No problem, it's no big deal." Lin Na's thoughtfulness made Zhu Xuefeng smile knowingly.

...

"Brother, when did you come back? Why didn't you come to school to find me?"

When the younger sister came home from school on Saturday, she unexpectedly saw a kitchen full of dishes. She knew that her elder brother had returned, and she hurriedly searched for a long time before she found her elder brother at Sha Zhu's house.

"I just came back, and I knew you would definitely go home today, so I'll make something delicious to reward you." Zhu Xuefeng touched his little sister's head lovingly, then turned to Sha Zhu and gave instructions.

"Sister Yushui will be home soon, ask her to come over too. I've prepared a big table."

"Okay, I guess it will be here in a while, so let's save some time today and try my brother's cooking."

Sha Zhu rolled his eyes and poked his head towards the bedroom again. Lou Xiao'e was changing clothes with the door closed. He whispered, "Brother will bring some wine later. It's from Xiaotan's Xinghua Village. It's definitely good stuff. Let's drink to our heart's content."

"A jar of Xinghua Village? Brother Zhuzi, you are really capable. It's been aged for several years."

Sha Zhu laughed out loud, feeling somewhat proud. "I don't know how many years it has been, and no one has told me."

"Okay, I'll go back first. Come over as soon as people arrive." Zhu Xuefeng said hello and took his little sister home, greeting the neighbors who had just got off work along the way.

"Little sister, are you able to keep up with the studies?" In Zhu Xuefeng's mind, studying medicine was a very difficult thing. He only seemed to have some talent for the acupuncture taught to him by Master Yang, and he was able to learn it.

The younger sister rolled her eyes and said, "Brother, studying is not a problem for me. Come on, show me what you brought back."

Zhu Xuefeng pointed outside the door and the younger sister stopped. It was dinner time and people were coming home from get off work one after another. It was not appropriate to show off now.

"They are all beautiful clothes, and there are two pens. You can choose first, and then save one for the second one."

"Brother is so nice, hehe, I just wanted a pen, that's great."

Zhu Xuefeng looked at Xiao Hei, who was lying lazily, and said, "I went to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables and found that the two chickens were gone. What happened? Could it be that someone robbed them when no one was home?"

(End of this chapter)