Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

"No, no, no, please don't tell anyone!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao immediately became anxious.

He quickly waved his hands, vehemently objecting.

"In that case, wouldn't I have to formally become your disciple?"

You're only two years older than me.

"If this generational hierarchy gets out, it just doesn't sound right."

"Haven't you heard of the saying 'a master takes on a disciple'?"

Of course,

If you're absolutely determined to become an apprentice,

I wouldn't mind taking you on as a cheap apprentice!

He Yuzhu deliberately teased him.

A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Xu Damao shook his head like a rattle drum.

"Then wouldn't I be a generation younger than you for no reason?"

When I see your little one again,

I still have to respectfully call her "Master Aunt"

This is so awkward!

"Hahaha,

Why do you use your brain on all these trivial things?

Learning skills is for self-defense and protection.

In order to avoid being bullied by others

What's so shameful about that!

He Yuzhu burst into laughter at his earnest and conflicted expression.

"No means no."

She's so young.

How could I possibly call her "Master Aunt"?

Xu Damao gestured with his hands to indicate the significant height difference between the two.

His face was full of conflicted and troubled expressions.

"Alright, alright."

Let's leave that aside for now.

"We'll talk about it slowly when you've figured it out yourself."

He Yuzhu saw that he was really too awkward.

So he stopped pressuring him.

They deliberately let the topic drop.

"Then let's continue building the snowman."

"Shall we go play with slingshots instead?"

Xu Damao quickly changed the subject.

His eyes darted around in a circle.

"Using a slingshot?"

Do you have any marbles?

He Yuzhu turned the question back on him.

"have!

I have plenty at home.

I'll run back and get it right now!

After Xu Damao excitedly shouted,

He took off running towards his home.

Not long after,

He hung his head again.

He ran back with a long face.

"Brother Zhu, it's all over, it's all over."

I can't get into my house.

My mother locked the door from the outside.

She took the keys with her.

Xu Damao scratched his head in frustration and said with a depressed look.

He Yuzhu reached out and touched his chin.

His brows furrowed slightly.

He silently considered the feasibility of taking the kid out for a drive.

There really isn't anything decent to play with in this yard.

Staying here all the time is really too stifling.

Although this kid isn't particularly brave,

But when it comes to cleverness and cunning,

He's probably better than ten or so other kids his age combined.

The only thing he wasn't sure about right now was whether the kid's mouth was truly shut.

If it were like the "cotton waistband" described in plays—loose and baggy, it wouldn't be able to hide any secrets.

Taking him out rashly would be asking yourself a lot of trouble.

"Never mind, let's go check out the front yard instead."

After weighing the pros and cons repeatedly in his mind, He Yuzhu finally changed his mind.

"What are you doing in the front yard?"

Xu Damao didn't react for a moment and asked again with a puzzled look on his face.

Are you coming or not?

He Yuzhu was too lazy to explain further and walked towards the front yard.

"Come on! Brother Zhu, wait for me!"

Seeing this, Xu Damao quickly jogged after him.

The front yard was completely empty at this time; not a single person could be seen.

The snow on the ground was piled up thick and compact, and when you stepped on it, it immediately made a crisp crunching sound.

Xu Damao looked around and then asked excitedly:

"Brother Zhu, are we moving to another spot to continue building the snowman?"

He Yuzhu shook his head slightly and pointed mysteriously in the direction of the hanging flower gate.

"We already piled it up yesterday, so there's no point in piling it up any more."

"I'm asking you, do you want to eat a sugar figurine?"

"Sugar figurines? Where can I find sugar figurines?"

Xu Damao looked in the direction He Yuzhu was pointing; that was the only way to the alley entrance.

"You...you want to go out and buy it?"

Xu Damao immediately became alert, shaking his head vigorously.

"No, no! My aunt and my mother both told me repeatedly that I absolutely must not go out and run around."

"It's a huge mess outside right now!"

"Alright, since you're so scared, let's just stay here and build a snowman."

Upon seeing his timid appearance, He Yuzhu immediately abandoned the idea of ​​taking him out.

This kid is practically a "little snitch" who could leak secrets at any moment; taking him out would make it too easy for him to sell himself out.

So the two of them got busy and started building their own snowmen.

This naturally makes the process much slower than when two people work together.

Xu Damao's snowman has just taken a rough shape.

He Daqing's figure appeared at the gate of the courtyard as he returned from work.

I saw the two boys still having a great time playing in the snow.

He Daqing shouted from afar:

"How long have you two been playing there?"

"It's been piling up ever since we finished lunch."

He Yuzhu raised his head and answered loudly.

"Alright, stop playing and go home!"

He Daqing stepped forward and gently patted the heads of the two children.

His tone betrayed his unconcealed heartache:

"Look at your little faces, they're all red from the cold, and your hands and feet are freezing."

"Be careful not to get frostbite again."

"Okay, Dad!"

He Yuzhu readily agreed.

"Okay, Uncle He!"

Xu Damao, however, seemed somewhat reluctant, muttering under his breath.

Because his snowman isn't completely finished yet.

"Okay, let's go."

He Daqing waved to the two children, signaling them to hurry up and follow him.

The two children obediently followed.

He Daqing gently held one of them by the back of their necks and led them towards the central courtyard.

Upon entering the He family's courtyard.

Hearing the noise, Chen Shuxiang, who was busy inside, immediately poked her head out and asked:

"Great Qing, you've returned?"

"They're back. Those two rascals were having so much fun playing that I had to call them back."

As He Daqing changed his shoes, he patted the chill that had seeped into his body.

"Yes, it's time to come back and rest. It's freezing cold outside."

"Don't let the children get cold."

Chen Shuxiang picked up the conversation and shooed He Yuzhu and Xu Damao into the house.

"Alright, you two little brats, hurry up and go to the kitchen to warm yourselves by the fire."

"Look at your hands, they're as cold as carrots."

He Daqing gave instructions to the two children.

"Hehe, okay!"

He Yuzhu and Xu Damao exchanged a smile and quickly ran towards the warm kitchen.

He Daqing stood at the door, waiting for the chill on his body to dissipate.

Only then did he step into the inner room, take off his shoes, get onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and sit on the edge of the kang.

He asked his wife with a concerned expression:

"Honey, how are you feeling today? Has your milk come in yet?"