Life in siheyuan era

Old Man Mo was probably a businessman, but he emphasized the words "deal" a little too much, not with the attitude of a common merchant.

Would a restaurant owner say "make a deal" to a customer?

Would a fabric store owner say "make a deal" to a customer?

What kind of industry would use such language?

Zhou Zhiyuan's brain cells were rapidly firing. He paid attention to details. Zhang Limin had told him every time he set a trap for him: "If you don't want to fall into a trap, pay attention to the details."

Paying attention to details had become a habit for him, seizing upon Old Man Mo's use of the word "deal" for analysis.

Zhou Zhiyuan was multitasking, pondering carefully on one hand, while listening to Old Man Mo say, "There are two pretty girls here. One is named Shen, a cold and aloof girl. I've only seen her twice. She's in charge of the military ward upstairs, rarely seen."

"The other girl is the nurse in charge of our ward, named Yang Dan."

Having said this, Old Man Mo stopped, looked at Zhou Zhiyuan's expression, and seeing him looking indifferent, said softly, "That girl named Shen is not easy to approach. Yang Dan is more gentle. If you want to find a wife, it's better to find a girl like Yang Dan."

After saying these words, he glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan again and closed his mouth, saying nothing more.

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "What you're saying is probably a feeler. What I'm curious about is, why do you want to make a deal with me?"

Old Man Mo sighed softly and replied, "There aren't many young people with pure eyes like yours. I'm also curious..."

He paused, considering his words before saying, "Showing you a little something is the only way to get you to make a deal with me."

Old Man Mo told the truth, then analyzed for him, "You're wearing a retired military uniform, and every move you make is standard military behavior. This is a military hospital, so there's no need to put in so much effort to inquire about medical matters."

"And your calling me Old Man Mo is just a front. The surname Mo is uncommon. You're using this front just to find a patient and inquire about some news."

"This news can't be about a patient; it can only be about a doctor or nurse. Inquiring about a pretty doctor or nurse is the most likely scenario."

Old Man Mo's analysis was thorough. Zhou Zhiyuan raised his left arm, gave a thumbs up, and said seriously, "Let me guess your identity. The most likely possibility is that you worked in a pawnshop."

This was a flash of inspiration for him, and he guessed correctly with a casual remark.

"Heh..." Old Man Mo chuckled, raised his right arm, gave a thumbs up, and said proudly, "The top appraiser of Bao Cheng Pawnshop, the largest pawnshop in the capital back in the day, the famous Mo Youji."

"Impressive."

Zhou Zhiyuan praised him, lowered his arm, and replied in a deep voice, "Zhou Zhiyuan, one of the strongest border soldiers in the plateau."

"Impressive."

Mo Youji imitated his gesture, giving a thumbs up in praise, then asked, "How many enemies have you killed?"

"Heh..." Zhou Zhiyuan chuckled and didn't answer.

After this conversation, he knew that Mo Youji was good at observation and deduction. At this time, he had two choices: find an excuse to leave or tell him everything, expressing his trust.

Zhou Zhiyuan made the second choice; he had a good impression of Mo Youji.

And Mo Youji, after hearing him tell everything, pondered for a moment and replied, "Formal deal."

"Okay, ask for the sky price, and I'll bargain on the spot."

Zhou Zhiyuan's attitude was cautious.

But Mo Youji said faintly, "As I said, a bowl of wontons and five meat pies for lunch tomorrow."

Zhou Zhiyuan accepted the deal price, "I won't bargain on this price, but the deal can only be at noon, until noon on Sunday. I have to go to work on Monday."

And Mo Youji changed the subject, "Where are you reporting to?"

"Probably the Xingyi Subdistrict Office. Before officially reporting, I can only say probably."

Zhou Zhiyuan still maintained a cautious attitude.

Mo Youji said readily, "Okay, it's settled then. Go find a nurse."

He arranged for Zhou Zhiyuan to find a nurse to remove the needle for him. Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "No need, I'll remove the needle for you."

He pressed the cotton gauze with his right thumb and removed the needle with his left hand. Mo Youji looked at this hand without feeling anything and asked, "You know how to insert needles?"

"No."

Zhou Zhiyuan flatly denied.

"Heh..." Mo Youji chuckled, turned over, got out of bed, put on plastic slippers, and walked out with a shuffling sound.

And Zhou Zhiyuan got up and followed behind him. The two walked to the toilet door. Mo Youji went inside to relieve himself, and Zhou Zhiyuan stood in front of the door waiting.

After a while, Mo Youji came out and asked, "What time is it?"

Zhou Zhiyuan raised his right hand, looked at his watch, and replied, "Twelve fifty-three."

"Walk with me."

Mo Youji said as he walked forward, and Zhou Zhiyuan followed behind him, strolling along.

The two walked around the U-shaped corridor twice, and seeing a figure coming down from upstairs, Mo Youji greeted warmly, "Doctor Hao, going to see Doctor Shen?"

His greeting let Zhou Zhiyuan know that he had found the right person and immediately scanned him.

This was a handsome young man, tall and thin, with a fair, long face. A pair of black-rimmed glasses added a touch of refinement to him.

Zhou Zhiyuan glanced at him, leaving an initial impression of Hao Zhiwen, then looked back at Mo Youji. At this time, Hao Zhiwen walked down the stairs, stopped, stared at Mo Youji, and said seriously, "Comrade Mo Youji, why aren't you lying in your hospital bed and shouting everywhere?"

"Hey..." Mo Youji smiled obsequiously and replied softly, "Just finished the IV drip and went to the toilet. Missed Doctor Hao, so I came over to see you."

"No need to miss me..."

Hao Zhiwen replied in a deep voice, "You should be discharged too."

"Let me stay two more days."

Mo Youji pleaded. Seeing Hao Zhiwen turn his gaze to Zhou Zhiyuan, he immediately introduced him, "My big brother's child, Zhou Zhiyuan."

In his mouth, Zhou Dehou became his big brother, and Zhou Zhiyuan was his big nephew.

Hearing him introduce himself, Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and nodded lightly to Hao Zhiwen.

And Hao Zhiwen looked at him, nodded slightly, and then walked forward.

Mo Youji quickly followed behind him, pleading softly, "Doctor Hao, let me stay two more days."

Hao Zhiwen replied in a deep voice, "This is not a hotel. You can't stay as many days as you want. The director has already approved it. Discharge tomorrow."

And Zhou Zhiyuan followed behind the two, listening to Hao Zhiwen speak, feeling that this person was quite arrogant.

At this time, a pretty nurse walked towards them and said softly to Hao Zhiwen, "The patient in room fifteen has very unstable blood pressure."

"Go take a look."

Hao Zhiwen decisively led the nurse inside.

Watching the two enter that ward, Mo Youji sighed softly, led Zhou Zhiyuan back to his ward, took out a bag of milk powder and a package of cakes from the bedside cabinet and placed them on the counter.

Then he took out an aluminum insulated container from the cabinet and set it up, scooping five spoons of milk powder from the bag into the insulated container.

Zhou Zhiyuan picked up the thermos and poured hot water into the insulated container, put down the thermos, and sat back on the small stool.

He didn't speak, feeling that Mo Youji's words and actions were full of profound meaning.

And Mo Youji sat on the bed, slowly stirring the milk powder, and said indifferently, "That pretty nurse just now is Yang Dan."

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan, and seeing him sitting on the wooden stool without any reaction, he sighed softly and continued, "Doctor Shen is not easy to approach. Even if you two know each other, you may not be able to take it further. Nurse Yang is a gentle woman, with a relatively easygoing personality and a lively person."

Mo Youji said that he knew Shen Lanyin, which Zhou Zhiyuan was not surprised about. Earlier, he had said, "I'm not interested in the girl Shen..." This revealed a piece of information that Mo Youji wouldn't fail to hear.

But he repeatedly praised Yang Dan, which puzzled Zhou Zhiyuan, who curiously asked, "Just tell me straight."

Mo Youji sighed and replied, "This girl Yang Dan is indeed good, but she's wrong to like Hao Zhiwen. Hao Zhiwen may become an excellent doctor in the future, maybe even a leader, but he won't become a good husband."

These words were of interest to Zhou Zhiyuan, who immediately asked, "May I ask for details?"

Mo Youji stirred the milk powder in the insulated container with a spoon and slowly said, "Hao Zhiwen's medical skills are good, and he also knows how to study medicine, but his character of only looking upwards prevents him from treating people equally. Yang Dan comes from a common family and is a nurse. Regardless of family status or personal identity, she won't be valued by Hao Zhiwen."

Mo Youji finished speaking, and Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "You want me to pursue Yang Dan, but don't forget that I'm a disabled person."

Mo Youji smiled and replied, "If you don't take it seriously, who else will? You're handsome, you smile very warmly, you're both a ruthless character and a cadre. These conditions are enough."

He affirmed Zhou Zhiyuan, but Zhou Zhiyuan shook his head lightly and smiled, "I'm here to investigate Hao Zhiwen's character on behalf of someone else. I'll leave as soon as I complete the task. I have no intention of getting involved."

Mo Youji nodded lightly, picked up a piece of cake and put it into the insulated container, scooped it up with a small spoon and put it into his mouth, chewed it twice and swallowed it, then said faintly, "Some things are beyond your control."

His words contained mystery or were deliberately mystifying. Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Can the top appraiser also read faces? What kind of face do you see in me? Will I become a general or a minister in the future?"

Mo Youji looked at him and smiled, "The possibility of you becoming a general or a minister in the future is unlikely. You'll be ordinary, but you'll always have benefactors to help you. You'll have no worries about food and clothing, but you won't have good luck with beautiful women."

Hearing him say this, Zhou Zhiyuan laughed, and Mo Youji chuckled and picked up another piece of cake and put it into the insulated container.

He liked to eat cake soaked, just like some people eat fried dough sticks, breaking them into sections and soaking them in soy milk, eating them together with the soup.