Life in siheyuan era

Zhou Zhiyuan was still riding his bicycle, with Zhang Yong sitting on the rear rack. The bicycle carried the two of them into Yongning Street.

From a distance, seeing the building, Zhou Zhiyuan loosened his feet and glided over, slowly stopping the bicycle near the store. Zhang Yong jumped off, and Zhou Zhiyuan swung his leg over to dismount.

He propped up the bicycle, locked it, and, standing in front of the entrance, glanced at the building, a row of single-story brick and tile structures covering nearly a thousand square meters.

This arrangement was quite logical. Students standing outside the window could see books, pencils, and pencil cases, immediately sparking a desire to study hard.

Meanwhile, the candy and food section was placed against the back wall, so students standing outside couldn't see the food inside, even if they stood on their tiptoes.

The counter arrangement of Yongning Store clearly told the students that if they wanted something delicious, they had to study hard. They absolutely couldn't reach the candy and food section without passing the school supplies section.

The candy and food section represented delicious treats, but Zhou Zhiyuan didn't want to go there. His eyes were drawn to the shoes and clothing section. His goal was clear: a good student should buy clothes and accessories for his teacher.

Lin Shurong had given him thirty yuan, and he had over thirty yuan in his pocket, making a total of more than sixty. This amount could buy two gifts.

Having found his target, he wanted to rush towards the shoes and clothing section, but Zhang Yong went straight through the crowd to the candy and food section. Seeing Guo Yanhong standing behind the counter, his round face immediately blossomed into a flower, and he turned back to scold Zhou Zhiyuan: "What are you looking at? Keep up."

This was Zhang Yong's calculation. His purpose in praising Zhou Zhiyuan in front of Guo Yanhong was only one thing: "Even if he's excellent, he still has to listen to me."

He didn't need to tell Zhou Zhiyuan this idea beforehand. They cooperated tacitly. He liked to show off, while Zhou Zhiyuan liked to play the fool. He agreed and hurriedly followed, immediately spotting Yu Li standing behind the counter.

"So she's a shop assistant." Zhou Zhiyuan now knew Yu Li's profession.

However, he didn't greet her first. He watched as Zhang Yong greeted Yu Li warmly, then greeted Sister Li.

After greeting the other two sales assistants, he turned to Guo Yanhong and said softly, "Yanhong, have you spoken to Team Leader Yu?"

He wanted to take Guo Yanhong to buy things, and should get Yu Li's consent.

Zhang Yong understood the rules. After receiving Guo Yanhong's affirmative answer, he immediately said, "Thank you, Team Leader Yu." His voice was very gentle and polite.

Then he turned to Zhou Zhiyuan and said, "I'm taking Yanhong to buy shoes. I don't have time to manage you, buy what you want." This time his voice was very harsh and impolite.

"Okay." Zhou Zhiyuan's answer definitely highlighted Zhang Yong's status as the boss.

The effect was very good. Guo Yanhong glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan in surprise, then looked at Zhang Yong with admiration, and walked out of the counter with this look.

The two walked towards the shoes and clothing section, while Zhou Zhiyuan stood in front of the counter and looked at Yu Li, asking in an inquiring tone, "Sister Yu, I want to buy gifts for my mom and teacher, but I don't know what to buy. Can you help me with some ideas?"

He had called her "Sister Yu" last night, so it felt more natural to call her that now.

Yu Li paused slightly when she heard him speak, then turned to Sister Li and the other two sales assistants and explained, "Zhou Zhiyuan is my neighbor."

Then she turned to Zhou Zhiyuan and asked, "I know Auntie Lin, but I don't know about your teacher."

In daily life in the courtyard, Yu Li would call Lin Shurong "Master Lin," but calling her "Auntie Lin" at this moment seemed more intimate.

Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "My teacher is about the same age as my mom."

This answer was enough for Yu Li. After pondering for a moment, she replied, "If the person isn't present, it's best to buy a silk scarf."

Zhou Zhiyuan accepted her suggestion. The spring wind was strong, and a silk scarf was indeed very practical.

But he had a concern and said softly, "My teacher might already have several silk scarves."

Luo Sumei came from a wealthy family and didn't become poor even after marrying Zhang Xueqi. She probably wasn't lacking a silk scarf.

But Yu Li replied, "It's not about how many silk scarves you have, but about the color and pattern. Just buy one she likes."

This answer made Zhou Zhiyuan smile wryly. He didn't know what colors and patterns Lin Shurong and Luo Sumei liked.

Seeing his wry smile, Yu Li immediately understood and said softly, "Let me help you choose."

Zhou Zhiyuan was naturally delighted to have Yu Li's help and quickly said, "Thank you, Sister Yu."

"Neighbors don't need to be polite." Yu Li replied, turning to the middle-aged female sales assistant and saying, "Sister Li, can you cover for me?"

After giving the instruction, she walked out of the counter and led Zhou Zhiyuan to the shoes and clothing counter to take a closer look, saying to the sales assistant inside, "Xiao Wu, give me that pure blue one, and that blue one with orange stripes."

The female sales assistant handed over two scarves. Zhou Zhiyuan looked at the two scarves and asked softly, "Aren't they too plain?"

Yu Li also replied softly, "Your teacher wouldn't want a brightly colored scarf. This pure blue one is for your teacher, and this scarf is for Auntie Lin."

"If you're not sure, let your teacher choose first. If she likes brighter colors, this scarf with orange stripes is also a good choice."

"I think Auntie Lin's clothes are relatively plain, so she can accept either scarf."

Yu Li's words were very insightful. Zhou Zhiyuan nodded lightly and said softly, "I still need to put on a show, don't be surprised, Sister Yu."

Then he raised the two silk scarves and asked loudly, "Brother Yong, can you decide which scarf Teacher Luo would like?"

At this time, Zhang Yong was watching the sales assistant put a pair of leather shoes into a shoe box. Hearing Zhou Zhiyuan's voice, he turned his head and shouted, "You want me to make decisions for you on everything. Can't you use your own brain?"

He didn't have time to help Zhou Zhiyuan choose at this time. He was still calculating, "Yu Li is actually Zhiyuan's neighbor. What benefits can Yanhong get?"

Not using an opportunity is a waste. Based on this principle, Zhang Yong made up his mind, picked up the shoe box, and walked over with Guo Yanhong, standing in front of Yu Li and smiling, "Zhiyuan is my childhood friend, and he's very chivalrous. Feel free to ask him to do anything. If he dares not listen, let Yanhong tell me, and I'll take care of him."

Zhang Yong expressed his attitude; he was the boss.

Yu Li, however, glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan and replied faintly, "Director Zhang is too polite. Zhiyuan and I live in the same courtyard. A near neighbor is better than a distant relative, so we'll naturally get along well."

Her saying this was to tell Zhang Yong, "I don't need you." And calling Zhou Zhiyuan by his name showed intimacy.

Then, changing the subject, she said to Guo Yanhong, "I really like Yanhong and will definitely train her well."

Yu Li also expressed her attitude. Zhang Yong should appreciate her favor. Then she glanced at Zhou Zhiyuan, seeing his sunny smile, and suddenly had a strange feeling, "Is he watching a show?"

She and Zhang Yong had co-acted in a play, the two of them performing a drama of human relationships through their dialogue.

Zhang Yong's subtext: "I'll have Zhou Zhiyuan help you with things, so you should be nice to Guo Yanhong."

And Yu Li meant, "I'll handle Zhou Zhiyuan, you should just appreciate my favor."

Guo Yanhong didn't understand this play; her smile was purely natural.

Zhou Zhiyuan's smile was different. His smile was more natural than Guo Yanhong's, and very sunny, but Yu Li knew he was watching a show.

If she hadn't experienced the "three-way trial" in the courtyard, Yu Li would have thought Zhou Zhiyuan's smile meant he didn't understand either.

"Zhou Zhiyuan is scheming, even a little insidious." This was Yu Li's view, and she wouldn't change it because of Guo Yanhong's words.

Zhou Zhiyuan is chivalrous, but that doesn't mean he's chivalrous to everyone.

He didn't have a chivalrous spirit towards Xu Damao. One story was enough to make Xu Damao fall into the gutter.

But she didn't care about this matter. Knowing Zhou Zhiyuan's character through Guo Yanhong's mouth was enough.

And Zhang Yong's words also guaranteed Zhou Zhiyuan.

Guo Yanhong's appearance was pretty, and Zhang Yong's hard praise of Zhou Zhiyuan in front of her meant he was confident and not worried that Zhou Zhiyuan would steal her away.

Zhou Zhiyuan's performance just now also showed this. In front of women, men are willing to show a strong side and hate others ordering them around.

But Zhou Zhiyuan didn't have this attitude, willingly acting as a green leaf to set off Zhang Yong's red flower. This scene made Yu Li believe that Zhou Zhiyuan was loyal.

Yu Li understood clearly, but she also wanted to act clearly, watching the three figures walk out of the store, and thinking about how to contact him.

The interaction between men and women should maintain a distance, and it should be known to the public.

But she needed Zhou Zhiyuan's help in a way that she didn't want others to know, which was a difficult problem.

Thinking about this matter, Yu Li returned to her counter and looked out the window. It was almost five o'clock, and the sky outside was already dim, but the figure standing in front of Yongning Elementary School still caught her eye.

"It seems to be He Yushui." Yu Li said to herself.

Seeing the three figures walking over there again, Yu Li remembered Guo Yanhong's words: "Zhang Yong was afraid I'd be nervous, so he not only had Zhou Zhiyuan come over, but also had him find a female companion."

Thinking of Guo Yanhong's words, Yu Li was surprised, "Zhou Zhiyuan and He Yushui got together in just one week after he came back?"

Discovering this situation, Yu Li had to analyze it carefully. She didn't know He Yushui, only that He Yushui was a vocational school graduate, and she didn't even know where she worked.

This matter was a bit of a headache for Yu Li, and it was also a bit of a headache for Zhou Zhiyuan. He wanted to have a good relationship with Silly Zhu, and actively revealed his relationship with Chief Engineer Zhang, but he had put himself in an awkward situation.

"What does Teacher Luo think?" Thinking of this, Zhou Zhiyuan felt melancholy.

Zhang Yong was happy to introduce the two of them, and another female neighbor of Zhou Zhiyuan took the stage.

Guo Yanhong was simple but definitely not stupid. She needed He Yushui's help tonight, so she called out "Sister Yushui" intimately and reached out to hold He Yushui's hand.

He Yushui thought long-term. The woman in front of her might become Chief Engineer Zhang's daughter-in-law.

This idea made her very enthusiastic, and she warmly held Guo Yanhong's hand and replied, "You're so beautiful!"

Both women wanted to get closer to each other, and in a short time, they entered the sister stage, calling each other "sister" very intimately.