Life in siheyuan era

Around six in the morning, Lin Shurong came to the window of the brothers' room, about to reach out and knock on the glass, when she suddenly remembered, "Zhiyuan is home."

She went to the door, pushed it open, and entered. Seeing two figures lying on the kang, Lin Shurong was slightly taken aback. Then, she tiptoed to the edge of the kang, bent down to look at Zhou Zhiyuan, then turned to Zhou Zhining, reached out to touch his forehead, and said softly, "Zhining, get up."

She didn't need to raise her voice, knowing that Zhou Zhining was already awake, just being lazy.

Zhou Zhining's three great loves were calligraphy and painting, reading, and sleeping in. After waking up in the morning, he always had to laze around on the kang for a while.

He always cherished every minute and second of his lazy sleep, asking the time with his eyes closed, then muttering, "Mom, let me sleep two more minutes."

Lin Shurong didn't urge Zhou Zhining when he was lazy, and turned to look at Zhou Zhiyuan again.

Zhou Zhiyuan never slept in. He was the kind of person who rose with the crowing of the rooster, but he hadn't gotten up this morning.

"Zhiyuan is too tired," Lin Shurong muttered to herself, then straightened up and walked out. After a few steps, she suddenly remembered something, turned back, and came to Zhou Zhiyuan's head again, bending down to examine him closely.

His sleeping posture was very standard, lying on his side, his right hand in front of his head and his left hand tucked into the quilt. The muscles on his face were very relaxed, and his breathing was long but almost inaudible. If Lin Shurong hadn't listened carefully, it would have seemed as if he wasn't breathing at all. This was the reason why Lin Shurong had turned back to examine him carefully.

Lin Shurong listened carefully, and was relieved to hear Zhou Zhiyuan's breathing. She straightened up again and walked out, heading straight for the side room.

The side room was the Zhou family's kitchen. Zhou Dehou was preparing breakfast. The millet porridge was cooked, and the cornbread buns were warmed up.

This plate of stir-fried soybeans with pickled vegetables was his specialty. He also took a handful of cowpeas and a few small cucumbers from the pickle jar, chopped them up, and placed them on the plate. Then, he extinguished the fire in the stove. Turning around, he saw Lin Shurong enter and asked in confusion, "Zhiyuan isn't back yet?"

Zhou Zhiyuan ran and practiced martial arts every morning, and should have been back by now. Not seeing him, Zhou Dehou was puzzled. Hearing Lin Shurong say "He's still sleeping," he felt relieved.

"He's tired, let him sleep a little longer. I'll prepare the food and put it in the pot for him to eat when he gets up."

"Hello, Auntie One." Zhou Zhiyuan's face was filled with a sunny smile, and he bowed to Auntie One.

Auntie One was looking him up and down, and replied with a "Hello," a happy smile on her face.

Uncle One was right, Zhou Zhiyuan was very delicate-looking, with a slender square face, long eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose, and an air of heroism on his face, giving people a strong sense of affinity.

After looking him over, Auntie One showed a satisfied expression, watching Zhou Zhiyuan walk towards the water pool.

At this time, Zhou Zhining was standing by the water pool talking to Qin Huairu, "Sister Qin, has the water pool been cleaned?"

"Don't worry, it's been cleaned." Qin Huairu responded cheerfully, then turned to Zhou Zhiyuan, who had followed, and said, "Good morning, Zhiyuan."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I should have greeted you first, good morning, Sister Qin." After greeting her, he saw her give up her position, took two steps, and stood by the water pool.

This water pool, made of red brick and cement, was one meter two long, about five hundred wide, and one meter five high, with two faucets installed. The brothers stood side by side by the water pool, brushing their teeth.

They were both around one meter eight tall, and the two figures standing side by side emitted a unique aura.

Looking at the brothers, Auntie One showed an envious look, and Silly Zhu, who had walked out of the house, shrank back.

Qin Huairu's face showed a smile, and she said cheerfully, "Zhiyuan, if you need any sewing or washing in the future, just ask me, don't tire out your teacher's wife."

Zhou Zhiyuan brushed his teeth and replied vaguely, "Thank you, Sister Qin, I won't be shy about bothering you."

"Don't be polite with Sister Qin." Qin Huairu stated her position, then glanced at Zhou Zhining, took the chamber pot, and turned to walk towards her own home.

After she walked into her own house, Zhou Zhining rinsed his mouth, put his toothbrush in the toothbrush holder, poured half a basin of cold water into the washbasin, and walked back to his room with the washbasin and toothbrush holder.

They shared a washbasin. After Zhou Zhining washed his face, Zhou Zhiyuan walked to the water pool again with the washbasin. Seeing Silly Zhu standing by the water pool brushing his teeth, he greeted him warmly, "Good morning, Brother Zhu."

Hearing his greeting, Silly Zhu was stunned, a complex look flashing across his face. No one had ever called him "Brother Zhu."

Silly Zhu's real name was He Yuzhu. Everyone in the courtyard called him "Silly Zhu." The best treatment was the three children of the Qin Huairu family calling him "Silly Uncle." Even his sister called him "Silly Brother."

He happily accepted "Silly Zhu," "Silly Uncle," and "Silly Brother," but was not used to the title "Brother Zhu." Seeing Zhou Zhiyuan's sincere smile, a question flashed in his mind, "Doesn't he know my name is Silly Zhu?"

Then he rejected the idea, Zhao Ping had called him "Silly Zhu" the first time they met.

Silly Zhu was confused, and didn't know how to respond to this "Brother Zhu."

But Zhou Zhiyuan had already poured out the dirty water in the washbasin, filled it with half a basin of cold water, and turned to walk back, saying goodbye again as he left, "Brother Zhu, I'm going back to the house to wash my face."

Silly Zhu nodded, turning to look at Zhou Zhiyuan's back.

The two had fought last night. Zhou Zhiyuan kicked him twice, letting him suffer a little, and retaliated by calling him "Second Boy."

But this "Brother Zhu" made him secretly ashamed. Last night's scene was a misunderstanding. Zhou Zhiyuan didn't care, and he would be petty if he kept holding on.

Silly Zhu understood, and felt a good impression of Zhou Zhiyuan. Auntie One, who had seen everything clearly, turned and sat at the table, saying to Uncle One, who was eating, "Zhou Zhiyuan is still more likable."

Uncle One had also seen it, and nodded in response, "Zhou Zhiyuan is very polite, the military training is really good!"

He attributed Zhou Zhiyuan's performance to the training of the military, which was agreed by Auntie One, "Soldiers are all disciplined and polite, Zhou Zhiyuan is still more likable."

Auntie One reiterated to clarify her attitude, and Zhou Zhining also understood Auntie One's thoughts, "Auntie One has no children and wants to cultivate a close person to take care of her in her old age."

Zhou Zhiyuan also knew Auntie One's little thoughts, but he didn't care, and replied indifferently, "As neighbors, we should help Uncle One and Auntie One if they need anything, but we don't have the ability to take care of them in their old age. They should be clear about that, there's no need to keep them at arm's length."

This attitude made Zhou Zhining praise, "No wonder you're a soldier, your awareness is high."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and replied, "Don't talk about this, don't give yourself away during the meal."

These words reminded Zhou Zhining, and he felt uneasy thinking about the private money in his pocket, this was the first time he had hidden private money.

He felt guilty towards his parents, and lowered his head to drink millet porridge while eating, with no appetite for the cornbread buns.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Dehou asked, "Zhining, what's wrong?"

Zhou Zhiyuan immediately explained, "My brother didn't sleep well, we lay in bed and chatted for a while last night."

Zhou Dehou accepted this explanation, their brothers had a good relationship, and it was common for them to chat in bed.

Lin Shurong cheerfully said to Zhou Zhiyuan, "You have to go through the household registration procedures in the next two days, and also run errands for work assignment. Mom will give you twenty yuan and five jin of food stamps, ask Mom for more if it's not enough."

After thinking about it, she added, "Grandma Long is the oldest elder in the courtyard, buy two jin of Caozi cake and two jin of walnut酥 to see her. There's no need to visit the other elders, we can't afford it."

Lin Shurong's words made Zhou Zhiyuan lower his head and gulp down millet porridge, feeling guilty, he hadn't slept well last night either.