Siheyuan: Sending Shazhu into the call center, Yi Gu is useless

On the day the store opened, Chen Rufeng did not do much publicity. He just posted a notice at the door to tell the neighbors that he had some daily necessities for sale. To his surprise, on the first day of the opening, the neighbors came to patronize. Aunt Liu, who lived next door, bought a bag of rice and a bottle of soy sauce.

He also said to Chen Rufeng enthusiastically: "Xiao Chen, your store is a good one. It will be much more convenient for us old neighbors in the future." Chen Rufeng smiled and nodded, feeling a little proud. The business of the store gradually stabilized. Chen Rufeng not only sold some daily necessities, but also put some seasonal vegetables at the door, which he personally selected from the morning market. The neighbors gradually developed a habit of visiting him and chatting with him every morning when they went out to buy vegetables. Sometimes, they would bring him some homemade snacks, as if to thank him for the convenience he provided to everyone.

Life in the courtyard is slow and rhythmic, and every day is spent in peace. Chen Rufeng's store is not just a place for business, but more like a center for community communication. Whether it is the chat of the elderly or the laughter of children who come here to buy snacks after school, he feels an indescribable sense of satisfaction. He likes this kind of life. This lifestyle makes him feel that he has truly integrated into this land. He is no longer just a cold city dweller, but a part of the courtyard and neighbors. Chen Rufeng was tidying up the shelves when a stranger walked into the store. The man was in his forties, dressed simply, but his eyes revealed a hint of anxiety. He walked up to Chen Rufeng, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "Boss, can I put something here for you? Temporarily." Chen Rufeng raised his head and looked at the man carefully. Although he was a little surprised, he nodded and agreed. The stranger showed a grateful expression, took out a small wooden box from his bag, and placed it solemnly under the counter. Watching the man's back gradually disappearing into the night, Chen Rufeng felt a little curious, but he did not open the box. He just placed it carefully in a corner.

The days still flowed peacefully, and Chen Rufeng's store became a part of the courtyard, just like the two locust trees, silently guarding the life here. Neighbors still came to patronize every day, and the trivialities of life continued. Only the wooden box seemed to be waiting for some unknown moment to reveal its secrets.

Since Chen Rufeng opened his store in a corner of the courtyard, his life seems to have become busy and fulfilling. Every morning, he gets up early and puts fresh vegetables and fruits on the shelves before his neighbors go out. Recently, he found that the customers around him are not only the old neighbors in the courtyard, but also many primary school students who come to patronize after school. It turns out that his store happened to be opened next to a primary school, and students often come here to buy snacks and drinks after school. Chen Rufeng gradually became familiar with these children. Every afternoon after school, the store is always full of children's noise. Sometimes, they will gather in front of the counter and carefully choose their favorite snacks; sometimes, they will argue over a few candies. Chen Rufeng looked at them and seemed to see the shadow of his childhood. He remembered that he was like this when he was a child, running and playing in the courtyard with his friends, scrambling to buy a few candies. Memories came to his mind, and he couldn't help but smile.

However, although Chen Rufeng always treated these children kindly on the surface, he occasionally felt a little uneasy in his heart. Ever since someone put the wooden box in his store that day, he often thought of that incident. The appearance of the stranger lingered in his mind. Although the other party did not look special, the anxious look made Chen Rufeng feel extremely uneasy. Every time he finished a day's business, closed the store door and sat in the yard to smoke a cigarette, he would always wonder what was in the wooden box.

Once, he couldn't help but walk to the counter and stretched out his hand to open the wooden box to take a look. But just when his fingers were about to touch the lid of the box, he suddenly stopped. Chen Rufeng was struggling in his heart. On the one hand, he was very curious about what was in the wooden box, but on the other hand, he was worried that this matter would cause trouble. In the end, he withdrew his hand and decided to continue waiting for the stranger to appear.

As the days went by, the store's business was still booming, and Chen Rufeng gradually got used to this ordinary and busy life. Whenever he saw the children happily leaving the store with snacks, he felt a little satisfied. This simple happiness made him feel that he had found the meaning of life. Although he was not a big shot, he could bring convenience and happiness to others in this small world.

One day, after school, the store was still bustling with people. Children crowded in the small store, chattering about something. Chen Rufeng patiently greeted each little customer, gave them change, and handed them their favorite snacks. Suddenly, he noticed a little girl standing aside, staring at a bag of potato chips on the shelf with eager eyes. Chen Rufeng remembered this little girl. She often came to the store, but she only bought some cheap snacks every time, never those slightly more expensive things. Today, she was just like usual, holding a few coins and hesitating.

"Do you want to buy this?" Chen Rufeng asked softly.

The little girl nodded, but then shook her head and whispered, "But I don't have enough money."

Chen Rufeng looked at her clear eyes and felt touched. He knew that these children might not be well off and their families gave them limited pocket money. So he smiled, took the bag of potato chips from the shelf, and handed it to the little girl: "It's okay, this time it's my gift to you, you can buy something else next time."

The little girl looked up in surprise, her eyes full of gratitude. She took the potato chips, whispered a thank you, and then hurried out of the store, as if she was afraid that others would see her predicament. Chen Rufeng looked at her running back, and a warm feeling rose in his heart. This insignificant kindness may not be a big deal in the eyes of others, but for the little girl, it may be a huge warmth.

In the evening, the store gradually quieted down. Chen Rufeng sat behind the counter, thinking about what happened during the day. He was used to the children's noise, but today's scene touched him deeply. He found that he had unknowingly begun to rely on this ordinary life, on these little customers who came every day. Their laughter, their joys and sorrows, seemed to have become an indispensable part of his life.