Life in siheyuan era

Mo Youji's life was very regular. He would get up around six in the morning, exercise a bit, and then wash up. After getting a haircut and trimming his white beard, he looked much younger.

Around seven o'clock, he would prepare his breakfast. Seeing Zhou Zhiyuan enter, he couldn't help but grumble, "Next time, call ahead so your Aunt Tao doesn't have to make breakfast."

He knew Zhou Zhiyuan never came empty-handed in the morning.

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I bought you a few meat-filled buns on the way."

Then, he whispered, "Master, Liu Wenxiang contacted me..." He recounted the events of last night, sitting to the side and watching Mo Youji, who had closed his eyes in thought.

After a good while, Mo Youji opened his eyes and slowly said, "This matter is a bit strange. Why must he involve me?"

Zhou Zhiyuan asked softly, "What do you mean?"

Mo Youji slowly said, "That is a piece of top-grade mutton-fat jade, eleven centimeters high, six centimeters wide, and three centimeters thick. Such a large piece of mutton-fat jade is extremely rare."

"This kind of jade is called Emperor's Jade. Unless bestowed by the emperor, even princes and ministers would not dare to hoard it privately. But strangely, this jade only has its shape and has not been carved, which I cannot understand."

"And Liu Wenxiang works in the文物 Management Department of the museum and has always been in contact with those experts. Why doesn't he go to them for appraisal?"

After Mo Youji finished speaking, Zhou Zhiyuan asked in a low voice, "You don't want me to get involved?"

Mo Youji gently shook his head and slowly said, "I want you to be aware. There are many strange things in the world, and if something feels wrong, leave immediately."

"Liu Wenxiang may be trying to involve you in order to rope me in. But from the perspective of gaining experience, it would be good for you to take a look."

Mo Youji agreed, got up, and walked to the west room. After a while, he came out with a stack of money, sat at the table, and said, "Here's five hundred yuan for you to practice with."

Zhou Zhiyuan didn't decline, stood up, and respectfully accepted it.

Mo Youji smiled and said, "I admire your forthrightness the most."

Zhou Zhiyuan bowed and replied, "A teacher is like a father. If I were to decline what my master gives, it would be insincere."

The small pavilion was surrounded by a low pine forest, arranged in a staggered and orderly manner. The snow on the open space had already melted, and in just over ten days, green shoots would sprout, followed by a lush green lawn.

The small grove was exposed, and seeing the figure from afar, Zhou Zhiyuan walked along the bluestone path into the pavilion. He saw Shen Lanbo staring at a pine tree, silently, so he walked over, stood beside him, and entered a daze.

After a good while, Shen Lanbo slowly said, "I feel like I am the white crane under this pine tree."

Zhou Zhiyuan solemnly said, "I only see a white crane; I don't see a person."

Shen Lanbo chuckled, then whispered, "My mother is the vice president of the army hospital."

He no longer concealed it, and Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I figured you had someone in the hospital's upper echelons."

Shen Lanbo then changed the subject, "Should we finalize the contents of the 'Plan'?"

"You speak, I'll listen."

"With the political commissar's style, how could there be no plan? He just wants us to say it ourselves."

Hearing his speculation, Zhou Zhiyuan said faintly, "Luring the enemy into a trap is his favorite game."

"Yes..." Shen Lanbo smiled and said, "This game is quite fun, I also want to play a game of luring the enemy into a trap."

"In this game, I am the bait, and you are the hook. Let the political commissar be the fisherman."

Shen Lanbo took out the plan, and Zhou Zhiyuan pondered for a moment and said, "The original plan is no longer suitable."

What he said had two meanings: first, Shen Lanbo could no longer be a substitute teacher; second, his own "August 31st Plan" could be put on hold for the time being.

But Shen Lanbo didn't know about the "August 31st Plan" and said regretfully, "Yes, I can't be a substitute teacher anymore. Do you think it's better for me to go to the political department or the first division?"

"The political commissar is in charge of the first division. There's no point in you going to the first division. As an open first-class military merit recipient, and a hidden 'scholar,' it's best for you to go to the logistics department, preferably a department that is both leisurely and lucrative."

Hearing Zhou Zhiyuan mention "lucrative," Shen Lanbo smiled and said, "Am I going to dare to embezzle or take bribes?"

"Whether you embezzle or take bribes is up to those above to decide; it's not up to you and me to say."

"Not bad..." Shen Lanbo replied in a deep voice, "A first-class military merit recipient from the battlefield, and a child of high-ranking cadres, with poor health needing rest, finding a leisurely and lucrative department is the most suitable. Should I manage the cafeteria?"

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "That's a good choice. Here's a suggestion: carry a mesh bag every day with two lunch boxes inside, and you can sneak a few steamed buns home after work."

Zhou Zhiyuan's suggestion made Shen Lanbo burst out laughing, then he coughed violently. Zhou Zhiyuan reached out and gently patted him on the back, whispering, "Compared to your body, fishing should also be secondary."

Shen Lanbo slowly stopped coughing and whispered, "I feel much stronger these days. Grandpa Xie will be back in the next two days. Join me to see him on Sunday. You don't have to worry about my health. What do you want to do?"

Zhou Zhiyuan withdrew his arm and looked at the pine tree in front of him, slowly replying, "You know I've been fighting with gangsters since I was a child and am familiar with their ways. I'll start with them."

"But there's a small problem with doing this. Wine, women, wealth, and temperament are the biggest characteristics of gangsters. Without these four, you can't get along with them."

"I'm a public official, and lifestyle issues can kill people. I have an excuse to avoid this. I'm not afraid of alcohol. They've already seen my temperament. The important thing is wealth. I not only have to find a way to make money, but I also have to play mahjong and roll dice."

"These things are nothing to me, but to my parents and my unit leaders, they are a big deal. I don't know how to solve these problems?"

Zhou Zhiyuan spoke heavily, and Shen Lanbo slowly said, "With the political commissar and me as witnesses, and Chief Section Officer Luo above knowing the situation, there won't be any consequences."

Shen Lanbo reassured him, and Zhou Zhiyuan sighed and said, "I don't trust those officials. If you sacrifice yourself and the political commissar runs away, I won't be able to clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River."

Shen Lanbo smiled and said, "Don't beat around the bush trying to persuade me. I'll pay attention to my health. Fang Nan and I are getting married on June 8th, and I'll have a son next year. You can teach him martial arts."

"Okay..." Zhou Zhiyuan called out, "Then I'll beat your son up every day."

"You dare."

Shen Lanbo also called out, then both of them laughed.

After laughing, Zhou Zhiyuan asked lightly, "How tempting is your bait?"

Shen Lanbo replied, "I am Zhang Limin's confidant, and I have many friends among the children of high-ranking cadres. More importantly..."

Saying this, he paused and turned to Zhou Zhiyuan, solemnly saying, "My dad is responsible for international strategic research. All domestic and foreign intelligence passes through his hands, and he produces comprehensive analysis reports."

Shen Lanbo revealed his trump card, and Zhou Zhiyuan understood everything, bitterly smiling and saying, "I've been killed by you."

Shen Lanbo sighed and said sadly, "I've always wanted to get away from my dad's influence. Knowing that my dad didn't have many comrades-in-arms on the plateau, I volunteered to go to the plateau, but I didn't expect that after going around in a circle, I still had to use my dad's name to do things."

Saying this, a smile appeared on Shen Lanbo's face, and he said happily, "My choice was right. If I hadn't gone to the plateau, I wouldn't have been able to participate in the Plateau Counterattack and wouldn't have been able to become good brothers with you."

Shen Lanbo expressed his feelings, and Zhou Zhiyuan poured cold water on him, "Don't play the emotional card. I'm ruthless and unfeeling, and I don't recognize my relatives."

Shen Lanbo smiled and said, "I'm very happy to see the political commissar. I'm still useful to the organization, and I can fight on another front with my brother. The only regret is that my code name is actually 'Scholar'."

"Yesterday, when I returned home, I originally wanted to carefully look for clues from that list, but I suddenly realized that I am a clue."

"So I burned the list and sat in the chair quietly looking at that painting of 'Pine and Crane,' and suddenly understood the benefits of 'stillness.' The code name 'Scholar' is very good."

Saying this, Shen Lanbo turned to look at Zhou Zhiyuan and said lightly, "Scholar and Traveler are brothers. A scholar can be a traveler, and a traveler can be a scholar. Why can't we switch roles when necessary?"

What he said made Zhou Zhiyuan vigilant, and he asked in a low voice, "You want to steal my job?"

"I don't want to steal your job..." Shen Lanbo smiled and said, "The direction is different. You take the social route, and I take the workplace route. The general direction is to use me as bait, and you take action against the powerful characters."

Shen Lanbo presented the core content of the plan, and Zhou Zhiyuan pondered for a moment and said, "This plan is good, but there's a problem you need to pay attention to. You still need to keep your identity secret. Some people with ulterior motives will know your background."

Shen Lanbo replied, "I'll pay attention to distinguishing. I'll hand over anything I can't figure out to you, and it's the same on your side. Hand over anything you can't figure out to me."

After clarifying the last detail, Shen Lanbo saw Zhou Zhiyuan gently nodding and said happily, "I'll report this 'Plan' to the political commissar when I get back. If it's feasible, I'll put it in writing and give it to him."

Shen Lanbo's words were the final unification of opinions. Seeing that Zhou Zhiyuan was still gently nodding, he said happily, "Let's go see Lanyin."

This time, Zhou Zhiyuan gently shook his head and said in a low voice, "It's work time; we shouldn't disturb her."

Saying this, he paused, then said in a deep voice; "I won't let my family get involved, and you shouldn't let your family get involved either. This is our business."