Siheyuan: A journey of mountains and rivers

He Yuzhu thought for a while and said slowly: "Uncle Zhonghai, you have always been so good to me, I certainly can't refuse your request. However, this matter must be handled with caution. We still have to discuss it with other neighbors. After all, this is a big deal."

Yi Zhonghai nodded, tears of gratitude flashing in his eyes: "Yuzhu, you are such a good boy. Let's find a time to talk about this with everyone."

That night, He Yuzhu and Yi Zhonghai gathered their neighbors in the yard and told them about this idea. After hearing this, the neighbors expressed their support and blessings, and praised He Yuzhu's filial piety and Yi Zhonghai's foresight.

Grandpa Zhang smiled and said, "Yuzhu, you are such a filial child. Zhonghai will definitely have a much better life in the future as it has a godson like you."

Aunt Li also agreed: "Yes, our courtyard is like a family. If there is any problem, we can all shoulder it together."

He Yuzhu felt warm in his heart as he listened to everyone's praise. He looked at Yi Zhonghai's wrinkled face and secretly made up his mind to do his best to let Yi Zhonghai live a stable life in his later years.

Since then, He Yuzhu has been more attentive to Yi Zhonghai. Whether it is the trivial matters in life or the relief of his mood, He Yuzhu has done his best. Sometimes, Yi Zhonghai would tell He Yuzhu stories about his youth, and the two would recall the past and talk about the future together.

One autumn afternoon, Yi Zhonghai's legs and feet suddenly became stiff. He Yuzhu found out and took him to the hospital for a checkup. The doctor told them that Yi Zhonghai was old and his joints were degenerating, so he needed to rest and pay attention to his diet. He Yuzhu immediately took on the responsibility of taking care of Yi Zhonghai, preparing nutritious meals for him every day and doing rehabilitation exercises with him.

Yi Zhonghai was deeply moved when he saw this. He knew that He Yuzhu was no longer just a neighbor, but more like his own son. Whenever he saw He Yuzhu busy at work, his heart was always filled with comfort and gratitude.

One night, Yi Zhonghai was lying in bed, feeling a little heavy. He knew that his health was getting worse and he couldn't always rely on He Yuzhu. He decided to write a letter to He Yuzhu and write down what was in his heart. He picked up the pen, took a deep breath, and began to write:

"Yuzhu, I know you have done a lot for me during this period, and I am very grateful. You are like my own son, staying by my side and taking care of my life. I hope you can understand my feelings, and I also hope that you can have your own life and not delay yourself because of me. I will try my best to take care of myself so that you don't have to worry too much."

When He Yuzhu read the letter, he was moved and distressed. He knew Yi Zhonghai's concerns and understood his feelings. He Yuzhu returned to Yi Zhonghai's bedside, held his hand, and said firmly: "Uncle Zhonghai, don't worry, I will take good care of you. You are like my own father to me. Taking care of you is my responsibility and my wish."

When Yi Zhonghai proposed that He Yuzhu be his godson, He Yuzhu's heart was moved. He looked at the expectation and gratitude in Yi Zhonghai's eyes, and he knew that Yi Zhonghai really wanted him to become a family member. However, before He Yuzhu could agree, a familiar sound of footsteps came from the gate of the courtyard.

"Yuzhui! I'm back!" He Daqing's loud voice spread into the yard. He Yuzhui was shocked and turned around. He saw his father He Daqing standing at the gate of the yard carrying luggage. His face was full of fatigue and joy to see his son.

He Yuzhu's heart was suddenly filled with mixed emotions, on the one hand, it was Yi Zhonghai's request, on the other hand, it was the return of his biological father. He knew that he had to make a difficult decision at this time.

He Yuzhu walked forward to greet his father: "Dad, you are back, why didn't you say hello in advance?"

He Daqing patted his son's shoulder and said with a smile, "I was in a hurry to go home this time, so I didn't say hello. By the way, what did I hear you and Uncle Yi talking about just now?"

He Yuzhu's heart tightened, and after hesitating for a moment, he said to Yi Zhonghai: "Uncle Zhonghai, my father is back. I think we should talk about this another day."

Although Yi Zhonghai felt a little disappointed, he also understood He Yuzhu's difficulties and nodded: "Okay, Yuzhu, we will talk again when we have time."

He Yuzhu accompanied his father back home, feeling somewhat guilty and mixed. He poured tea for his father while thinking about what had just happened. He Daqing saw his son's worries and asked, "Yuzhu, what happened? You look upset."

He Yuzhu hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell his father: "Dad, it's like this, Uncle Zhonghai has been in trouble recently, and he hopes that I can be his godson and help him share some of the burden."

After listening to this, He Daqing pondered for a moment and said, "Yuzhu, Uncle Zhonghai is a good man, and his request is not unreasonable. However, you have to think carefully. This is not just a matter of title, but it means that you have to bear more responsibilities."

He Yuzhu nodded. He understood what his father meant and knew that he needed to think carefully. He decided to put these things aside, accompany his father well, and make a decision after everything was settled.

A few days later, He Yuzhu accompanied his father to walk around the courtyard, and He Daqing felt very close to everything here. When the neighbors in the courtyard saw He Daqing, they also greeted him warmly.

Uncle Zhang smiled and said, "Daqing, you're back. That's great news! Our yard is bustling again."

Aunt Li also came over and said, "Yes, now that He Daqing is back, Yu Zhu has someone to rely on. That's great."

He Daqing was talking to his neighbors while observing the changes in the courtyard. He Yuzhu watched his father interact with his neighbors and gradually made up his mind. He knew that no matter what decision he made, it had to be carefully considered.

That night, He Yuzhu and his father talked for a long time in the house. He Daqing told him that he came back this time to settle down and no longer travel around. He hoped to live a stable life with his son, and also hoped that He Yuzhu could find his own happiness.

He Yuzhu felt warm in his heart after hearing this. He understood his father's intentions and felt the importance of family. At the same time, he also knew Yi Zhonghai's expectations and trust in him.

The next day, He Yuzhu decided to go to Yi Zhonghai again and have a good talk with him. He walked into Yi Zhonghai's room and saw Yi Zhonghai reading a newspaper, so he knocked on the door gently.

"Uncle Zhonghai, I want to talk to you." He Yuzhu said straight to the point.

Yi Zhonghai put down the newspaper and looked at He Yuzhu with a smile: "Yuzhu, sit down and talk."