Life in siheyuan era

Zhao Xia, who had been working for half a year, actively sought to improve herself. Every morning, she was the first to arrive at the street office, helping Old Liu clean the leaders' offices.

As she walked out of the main room with a basin of water, she saw Zhou Zhiyuan walking into the courtyard.

Zhou Zhiyuan was still wearing that set of demobilized military uniform, with a military satchel slung across his shoulder. Seeing Zhao Xia, he greeted her warmly, "Morning."

Zhao Xia subconsciously returned a "Morning." Her eyes followed Zhou Zhiyuan's figure as he walked into the Urban Management Office. Carrying the basin of water, she quickly walked to the window of the Comprehensive Office, glanced inside, and then hurried to the water room. Seeing Zhang Yong washing a rag, she whispered, "Zhou Zhiyuan is here."

Zhang Yong turned to look at her and asked, "So?" There was no surprise on his face, nor was there any surprised tone in his voice.

But Zhao Xia didn't notice this. Anxious to express her surprise, she said, "Zhou Zhiyuan is unscathed, he didn't even change his clothes."

Zhao Xia was indeed surprised. She had heard a lot of things, and it was said that Hu Biao was vindictive and that no one dared to provoke him.

But Zhou Zhiyuan beat him up during the day, and everyone guessed that Hu Biao would definitely retaliate that night, but Zhou Zhiyuan seemed to be fine.

Zhao Xia wanted to get some news from Zhang Yong, but she saw that Zhang Yong's round face was still calm, and his tone was still indifferent, "So?"

Seeing his reaction, Zhao Xia was stunned for a moment, and then whispered, "Do you know?"

"Know what?" Zhang Yong pretended to be confused.

Zhao Xia was young after all, and blurted out, "You know Zhou Zhiyuan..."

At this moment, a figure walked in and interrupted her, "What about me?"

As the voice came, Zhao Xia's voice stopped abruptly. She turned to look at Zhou Zhiyuan, at a loss. She heard Zhang Yong ask, "What time did you work overtime until last night?"

"Eight o'clock or so, didn't check the time."

Zhou Zhiyuan responded, walked to the sink, dumped the dirty water in the basin, and said to Zhang Yong, "Make some room."

Zhang Yong moved the basin, took two steps inward, and Zhao Xia followed suit, moving the basin inward. Zhou Zhiyuan stood at this end of the sink, using the faucet to wash the rag.

Zhang Yong looked at his hands, seeing him pinch the rag with the tiger's mouth of his right hand and rub it with his left hand. The coordination between the two hands was not at all sluggish.

Learning the answer, Zhao Xia's face turned red. She didn't know that Zhang Yong was originally from SY. She picked up the basin of water and hurried out.

Watching her figure walk out of the water room, Zhang Yong retracted his gaze and said softly, "This girl graduated from technical secondary school and was assigned here last year. She likes to write poetry and is very close to Secretary Zou."

Zhang Yong briefly introduced Zhao Xia's situation, and then whispered, "How was the situation last night?"

Zhou Zhiyuan replied indifferently, "Hu Biao and his brother gathered nineteen hoodlums, one of whom was a bald man named Xu Laosan. I annihilated them all."

Zhang Yong said in surprise, "Xu Laosan? If there's him, there should be Xu Laoer."

Zhou Zhiyuan affirmed, "The guy I knocked down with a whip kick should be Xu Laoer."

Zhang Yong said excitedly, "Take me next time."

Zhou Zhiyuan refused, "Your identity doesn't allow it."

This hit the nail on the head. Although Zhang Yong wore a "temporary" hat, he was also a small cadre. There were some things he really couldn't participate in.

This was a fact. Zhang Yong sighed and changed the subject, "Let's not talk about this. I want to bring someone with me when I visit tomorrow night."

Zhou Zhiyuan guessed, "Don't tell me it's your girlfriend."

Zhang Yong affirmed, "Exactly right."

Zhou Zhiyuan knew what he wanted to do, "Let me help you get through?"

Zhang Yong affirmed again, "The answer is correct."

Zhou Zhiyuan replied in a deep voice, "I refuse."

Zhang Yong complained, "You're not being a good friend."

Zhou Zhiyuan ignored his complaint, picked up the basin of water and walked out of the water room. Seeing Han Xue walking in pushing a bicycle, and seeing him, her bright almond eyes revealed a surprised look. Zhou Zhiyuan not only came to work, but the image of a pig's head hadn't appeared either.

Han Xue was puzzled, "Hu Biao didn't retaliate last night?"

At this time, Zhao Xia ran out. Seeing Qiu Jianye walking in, she immediately shouted, "Director, Hu Biao's brother called and said that Hu Biao is very sick and is asking for a few days off."

Hearing this news, Qiu Jianye first glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan, then turned to Zhao Xia and asked gently, "What's wrong with him?"

Zhao Xia replied, "He said it was a bad cold, he was drowsy and couldn't get up."

Qiu Jianye said indifferently, "Tell Deputy Director Li and Director Sun."

"Okay." Zhao Xia agreed and looked at Zhou Zhiyuan as she ran to the front yard.

Qiu Jianye glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan again, returned a "Morning" to his and Han Xue's greetings, and strode towards the office.

After Qiu Jianye walked past, Zhou Zhiyuan carried the basin of water into the room. Han Xue, who was following behind, asked curiously, "Why is Hu Biao sick?"

She found a topic. She was too embarrassed to ask "Didn't you get beaten up?"

But her question was strange. Zhou Zhiyuan put the basin on the shelf and replied in confusion, "How would I know?" Then he picked up the thermos and ran to the water room. The water in the water heater was already boiling.

When he came back with the thermos, he saw Wan Chunfang and Wang Dagang entering the courtyard. As he walked into the room, Wan Chunfang immediately asked, "Why is Hu Biao sick?"

"I don't know." Zhou Zhiyuan's answer was very firm, and the expression on his face was also very calm. He didn't know why Hu Biao was sick? Being sick and being injured were two different concepts.

But they didn't believe it. Wan Chunfang directly stated, "Didn't you see Hu Biao last night?"

This question made it impossible for him to avoid it. He replied readily, "I saw him. We had friendly communication, cleared up misunderstandings, enhanced friendship, and then parted amicably and went back to our respective homes."

He felt that everyone was very friendly. Last night, they gathered together to enthusiastically study the art of fighting. Isn't that using martial arts to make friends? There was no problem with this answer.

But this answer made Han Xue, Wan Chunfang, and Wang Dagang look at each other. Through eye contact, they made it clear that no one believed him.

So Han Xue changed the subject, "I'll go tell Deputy Director Li and go to the alleys to see the situation."

She went out of the room. Zhou Zhiyuan took out a pen from the drawer and inserted it into his upper pocket, then took out a notebook and put it in his satchel.

He did it slowly and methodically, revealing a full of refined demeanor.

Seeing him like this, Wang Dagang and Wan Chunfang looked at each other and walked helplessly to their respective positions and sat down. Wan Chunfang said, "Zhiyuan, this older sister didn't bring food."

Zhou Zhiyuan replied readily, "We agreed yesterday, I'll treat you at noon."

"This older sister wants to drink wine and eat meat." Wan Chunfang emphasized again.

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "You have the final say."

At this time, Wang Dagang said, "I told my parents and my wife last night, and they were all very happy."

Zhou Zhiyuan replied with a straight face, "I said, Brother Wang is destined to have many children and grandchildren."

"Heh..." Wang Dagang smiled. He believed it.

"Heh..." Wan Chunfang also smiled. She didn't believe it.

What Zhou Zhiyuan said was ambiguous. If Wang Dagang's wife gave birth to a girl, he would definitely say, "What I said about many children and grandchildren doesn't count this one."

For some reason, Wan Chunfang was looking forward to that scene, wanting to see what method Zhou Zhiyuan would use to justify this lie.

With this expectation, she wouldn't expose Zhou Zhiyuan. Seeing Han Xue coming back, she took the lead in getting up and walking out.

Han Xue and Wan Chunfang walked in front, and Zhou Zhiyuan and Wang Dagang followed behind. The group came to the front yard and saw more than a dozen people standing in front of the Sanitation Office.

They were discussing something enthusiastically. Seeing them coming out, they immediately fell silent, their eyes focused on Zhou Zhiyuan, with a curious look.

They also wanted to know, "Why is Hu Biao sick?" But they weren't familiar with Zhou Zhiyuan and were too embarrassed to ask. Watching them walk out of the courtyard, they continued to discuss a question: "Why is Hu Biao sick?"

No one knew the answer to this question for the time being, including Zhou Zhiyuan. Being sick and being injured were two different situations.

He didn't know why Hu Biao was sick, but he knew that Hu Biao wasn't that badly injured. A kitchen knife on a cotton coat would at most cut out cotton wool. Bricks and iron chains hitting the body were conducive to the expansion of the cotton wool, and the rolled edges were flattened.

But there were exceptions. At that time, there were several strong men who swung bricks and iron chains specifically at Hu Biao's head. Hu Biao's cotton hat was thrown off. Attacking his head could have a fattening effect.

So Hu Biao's head should have been a circle fatter, and the swelling wouldn't subside for ten days and a half.

But this matter had nothing to do with Zhou Zhiyuan. He only gave Hu Biao a punch in the stomach and would not bear the responsibility for the injury.

He calculated it clearly, minding his own business. He walked leisurely out of the street office, but heard Han Xue say, "We're going straight to Xu Laoer's house."

This decision made Zhou Zhiyuan feel uneasy. Last night, he had a cordial exchange with a bald man named Xu Laosan and also gave his brother a gift. Could they also be sick?