Siheyuan: A journey of mountains and rivers

"Yuzhu, what are you looking at?" A soft voice sounded behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

He Yuzhu turned around and saw Qin Huairu standing at the door, holding a bowl of cool mung bean soup. She had a smile on her face as always, but her eyes could not hide the deep worry.

"Oh, it's Huairu. I didn't see anything. I was just distracted." He Yuzhu smiled and took the bowl from her hand. "Thank you. It's very hot this day. Your bowl of soup is just right."

Qin Huairu nodded slightly, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She watched He Yuzhu drink the bowl of soup quietly, sighing in her heart. Since her husband passed away, the burden of life has been on her shoulders all of a sudden. The issue of raising four children, the trivialities of life, and the disputes among neighbors have made her feel breathless. And He Yuzhu, who has always been her support, seems to have his own troubles recently.

"Yuzhu, actually... I have something I want to discuss with you." Qin Huairu finally plucked up the courage to speak, her voice slightly hesitant.

"What's the matter? Tell me." He Yuzhu put down the bowl and looked at her seriously.

Qin Huairu took a deep breath and said slowly: "Recently, I heard that there are rumors outside that our relationship...is not normal. I know these are rumors, but I am afraid that if this continues, it will affect the lives of the children."

He Yuzhu frowned slightly. He knew that there were always some gossipers in the courtyard who liked to gossip, but he didn't expect that this time Qin Huairu and her children would be implicated. "Who is talking nonsense? These people are really looking for trouble!"

"I don't know who spread the rumor, but it does have an impact on me and the children. Yuzhu, I know you have been helping me and taking care of our family, and I am really grateful. But... maybe we should keep some distance to prevent these rumors from spreading." Qin Huairu's voice gradually lowered, and she felt very uncomfortable when she said these words.

He Yuzhu was silent for a while and looked at Qin Huairu deeply. He understood her concerns and knew that what she said made sense. As a man, he was not afraid of those gossips, but he could not let Qin Huairu and her children get hurt. "Okay, Huairu, I understand what you mean. From now on, I will be more careful. But don't worry, no matter what, I will help you when you need it."

Qin Huairu forced a smile and nodded. "Thank you, Yuzhu. I know you are a good person. I have been here for so many years thanks to you. Otherwise, I really don't know what I would do."

He Yuzhu smiled bitterly. He looked into Qin Huairu's eyes with an indescribable complex feeling in his heart. Over the years, he has always treated Qin Huairu as his own family and helped her solve the difficulties in life. Now, with rumors spreading, he can only choose to take a step back to protect her and the children.

In the following days, He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu did interact less in the yard. Whenever they met in the yard, they always nodded and greeted each other, and then each went about their own business. This change soon attracted the attention of other neighbors, and the gossip gradually disappeared.

However, Qin Huairu's mood did not ease much. She felt that the pressure in her life was even greater. The children's education problems, the financial burden of the family, and the trivial troubles that popped up from time to time made her feel that she was about to collapse. She often sat alone by the bed in the dead of night, crying silently.

One night, Qin Huairu was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen when she heard a knock on the door. She put down the spatula in her hand, wiped her hands, walked to the door and opened it, and saw that it was He Yuzhu standing outside.

"Yuzhui, why are you here so late?" Qin Huairu was a little surprised.

"Huai Ru, I heard that you've been in some trouble recently, so I came here to see if you need any help." He Yuzhu said with a smile, but his eyes were full of concern.

Qin Huairu felt warm in her heart, and her eyes were moist. "Yuzhu, thank you...some things have been giving me a headache lately, such as the children's tuition fees and the expenses at home...I really don't know what to do."

He Yuzhu patted her shoulder and comforted her: "Huai Ru, don't worry, everything will be fine. I will try my best to help you solve these problems. Tomorrow I will go to the leader of our unit to see if I can help you apply for some subsidies. In addition, I have some savings that I can use for emergencies."

Qin Huairu looked at him gratefully, her eyes full of tears. "Yuzhu, you are really a great benefactor to our family. I really don't know how to thank you."

"Don't say that. We are friends and we should help each other." He Yuzhu smiled and continued, "I will stay here with you for dinner tonight and visit the children."

Qin Huairu nodded, wiped her tears, and went back to the kitchen to get busy. He Yuzhu helped on the side, and the two of them cooperated tacitly and soon prepared a sumptuous dinner. When the children saw He Yuzhu, they all happily circled around him, and the atmosphere became warm and pleasant.

After dinner, He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu sat on a small stone bench in the yard, chatting about trivial matters. The breeze blew, and the yard seemed particularly quiet.

"Yuzhu, I've actually been thinking that it's not a long-term solution for us to keep relying on your help." Qin Huairu said softly, looking at the night sky.

He Yuzhu nodded. He understood Qin Huairu's worries. "Huairu, you are right. But the most important thing right now is to solve the current difficulties first. When there is a chance in the future, I will help you find a job so that you can support yourself."

"Well, I will try my best." Qin Huairu nodded firmly, and new hope ignited in her heart.

As time passed, He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu's lives in the courtyard were quietly changing. Although the pressure from the outside world still existed, they supported each other, faced it together, and gradually found a way forward.

However, life is always full of surprises and challenges. On a bright and cool autumn morning, Qin Huairu suddenly received a letter saying that her youngest son had a conflict with a classmate at school and was injured and hospitalized. Qin Huairu's heart tightened all of a sudden. She rushed to the hospital and saw her son lying on the bed. She was so distressed that she burst into tears.

"Huai Ru, don't worry, the child will be fine." He Yuzhu arrived at the hospital at some point. He comforted Qin Huairu and communicated with the doctor to understand the child's condition.

The doctor told them that the child's injury was not too serious, but he needed some time to recuperate. This made Qin Huairu feel relieved, but she was still worried about the child's studies and future.