Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

Near noon, the children who were playing were reluctantly called back home by their parents. Liu Xiaoxiao hugged Liu Guozheng's neck and looked a little depressed. Her chubby little face lay on Liu Guozheng's shoulder and she said in her soft voice, "Dad, Xiaoxiao is tired."

"What should I do when I'm tired?"

Liu Guozheng understands his child's strengthened physique best. It is impossible for him to feel tired after playing for an hour or two. When Liu Xiaoxiao says she is tired, it means she wants to eat, and Lou Xiaoe usually doesn't allow her to eat too much.

"Tired, eat something."

Seeing that her father had been "tricked", the little girl whispered in Liu Guozheng's ear.

Liu Guozheng followed the little girl's words and asked, "What does Xiaoxiao want to eat?"

"Sour and sweet."

"Hawthorn in syrup?"

"Dad is so smart."

The little girl clapped her hands happily, her big, black, bright eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Liu Guozheng couldn't help but gently pinch the little girl's cute, plump nose and said lovingly, "You!"

"Hehe, Daddy is the best."

The laughter was like the sound of a clear bell, making people feel happy. It was obvious that the little girl was smart and knew when to use what tone.

Liu Guozheng carried the little girl to the counter, and Liu Xiaoxiao couldn't wait to say, "Master, I want to eat candied hawthorn."

"Okay, I'll get it for you."

A smart and polite child can always win the favor of others, not to mention a pretty little girl, who wouldn't like her?

Handing Liu a bottle of hawthorn in syrup, Huang Qiuxia continued, "Guozheng, is Xiaoxiao really only one year old?"

"Sister Huang, this can't be fake."

"I can't believe it. When our child was three years old, he couldn't even smile or speak clearly."

Looking at the little girl in Liu Guozheng's arms, Huang Qiuxia's face was full of disbelief. The little baby, who was only one year old, walked and talked like a child of four or five years old. Such a child must have come to repay her gratitude.

"If the nutrition is adequate, the child will grow and develop quickly."

Regardless of whether others believe it or not, Liu Guozheng could only say this. If the little girl hadn't insisted on sticking to him, he really wouldn't have let her show up in the office, just like her three brothers, who have never come to the office once until now.

"Liu Xiaoxiao, who told you to eat candied hawthorn again?"

When Lou Xiao'e came out of the yard, she saw the little girl holding a spoon and putting hawthorn into her mouth. When she saw her mother coming, the little girl panicked and the hawthorn fell into the bottle again.

"Mom, I'm feeding Dad."

The panic only lasted for a moment, and the little girl quickly came up with a solution. She scooped up another hawthorn and looked at Liu Guozheng with her little mouth open.

"Hahaha, Xiaoxiao, be good. This is a reward from daddy."

The little girl put the hawthorn into her mouth naturally and looked at Lou Xiao'e proudly.

Liu Xiaoxiao's cleverness was really unexpected. Huang Qiuxia said enviously, "Xiao'e, you two are so lucky. This child is so smart."

"Hopefully."

Lou Xiao'e was smiling happily, her eyes sparkling with happiness, and a gentle curve appeared at the corners of her mouth.

“This one is for mom.”

The little girl leaned forward and fed a hawthorn to Lou Xiao'e in a flattering manner.

"Girl, who did you learn this from?"

Lightly tapping the little girl's forehead, Lou Xiao'e took Liu Xiaoxiao with a look of doting, and the responsibility of cooking lunch fell on Liu Guozheng again.

"Xiaoxiao, what do you want to eat for lunch?"

"I want to eat meat, lots of meat."

As she spoke, the little girl did not forget to put a hawthorn in her mouth.

"Snack food."

Liu Guozheng has already thought about it. He has arranged non-spicy dishes such as braised pork, braised fish, and homemade tofu. He is also preparing spicy chicken, twice-cooked pork, two stir-fried vegetables, a plate of cut beef, pig ears, and two drinks at noon.

"Guo Zheng, I'll go and cook for you."

Seeing Huang Qiuxia's "unfriendly" look, Zheng Jiandong ran back to the backyard.

"Xiao'e, you have a good eye. I heard that you have never cooked at home."

"Sister Huang, our village eats in the collective canteen, so of course I don't have to cook."

Lou Xiao'e felt a little embarrassed. Nowadays, it is women who cook at home. Men work outside and women work inside. Most men, when they get home, just sit there and wait for food.

“My father’s cooking is the most delicious.”

When adults are talking, children will want to interrupt from time to time.

Huang Qiuxia pinched Liu Xiaoxiao's chubby little face and said with a smile: "You are a smart kid. Yes, your father's cooking is delicious."

"whee."

The little girl nodded happily that her father was recognized by others.

At noon, Xu Damao brought his son Xu Ruyun to have a free meal. As long as Liu Guo was in the office, Xu Damao would come back from the factory at noon. The food in the factory cafeteria was hard to describe. From time to time, they would have a so-called "bitter past and sweet past" meal. Xu Damao, who was used to eating big fish and meat, really didn't want to eat in the cafeteria.

"Big."

Xu Ruyun greeted him timidly and sat down next to Xu Damao.

Everyone knew at a glance that this was something Xu Damao had instructed in advance. Everyone who knew him knew that Xu Ruyun was a little shy and didn't like to talk, which was completely opposite to Xu Damao's outgoing personality. Xu Damao even doubted whether this was his own child.

Seeing Xu Damao coming in, Liu Xiaoxiao called out in a clear and loud voice: "Uncle Mao."

Xu Damao corrected him: "Xiaoxiao, it's Uncle Damao."

Liu Xiaoxiao counted on her fingers and said seriously, "It's Uncle Mao. Uncle is always pronounced with two characters. Look at me, Uncle Hai, Uncle Bao, Second Uncle. Of course, you are Uncle Mao."

"You girl."

Xu Damao was speechless. The Uncle Hai mentioned by Liu Xiaoxiao was Erleng, Uncle Bao was Li Dabao, and Second Uncle was Liu Guohao.

"Ha ha ha ha"

Everyone in the room was amused by Liu Xiaoxiao.

After lunch, Liu Xiaoxiao took Xu Ruyun to continue playing with their friends at the door of the office. Children's happiness is very simple. They can play with a small stone for half a day. What's more, Liu Xiaoxiao took out a picture book. No matter whether they can understand it or not, the main purpose is to have fun.

Happy times always pass quickly.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, it was time to go back to the village.

"Dad, hug."

The little girl never forgot to let Liu Guozheng hold her while riding in the car, and she was looking at the scenery outside the window with great interest.

"Dad, look at that man, he has no hair."

Looking in the direction the little girl pointed, I saw a bald man, not really bald, just with short hair, carrying a small bag, walking into the alley.

"Cui Dake?"

Liu Guozheng did not expect to meet Cui Dake today. It seems that this kid is quite capable. He got out of there in just five years. It seems that the courtyard will become lively again.