Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

"Go get the gun, Dad, why are you just standing there?" He Lai saw that He Zhan didn't move, so he urged him.

"Little Lai, stop making trouble. We have to wait for the time to shoot. There is still more than a week before the next shooting. Dad will call you when the time comes, okay?"

He Zhan smiled slightly and explained the reason.

"What! I have to choose a day for target shooting!" He Lai was stunned.

"Nonsense, do you think we shoot every day? Without a mission, only those in the security department who patrol and guard the gates are equipped with long guns. A few of us officers only have a pistol on our waist.

The rest of the people focus on physical training, and of course those who work the night shift need rest.

"Every month our security department organizes a shooting competition, and we have to go to a shooting range outside the city. What do you think?"

He Zhan explained patiently.

When He Lai heard this, he was immediately deflated. Looking at He Zhan's expression, He Lai understood that his father probably wouldn't take him shooting so easily.

He Lai immediately gave up the idea. His father would definitely not call him, and he would definitely say that he had forgotten.

Oh, it seems that I have to find Grandpa Zhou to go shooting targets. He Lai doesn't want to go to the deep mountains to practice alone. Not to mention that there are many wild beasts in the deep mountains, even if he goes in, deep into the mountains, He Lai is afraid of getting lost!

"Okay, Dad, I'll go back then." He said and left He Zhan's office.

……

After work, He Lai went to Mr. Zhou's place with a bag of fruit.

When they reached the door, He Lai was pulled into the house by Old Mrs. Zhou.

"Old Zhou, Xiao Laizi is here to see you. Look at this big bag of fruit. I don't know what they are. There are red and blue ones."

Old Mrs. Zhou started shouting as soon as she entered the room.

"Grandma Zhou, the red ones are strawberries, and the blue ones are blueberries. You can eat more. I just cultivated them."

He Lai explained.

He Lai later discovered that the persimmon was actually blueberry, which is a good thing. It has the effects of protecting the eyes, improving memory, and slowing down aging, making it suitable for the elderly.

"Okay, then I'll take it in, wash some and try it." Old Mrs. Zhou walked into the kitchen with a smile.

"Hey, come here, find a seat and sit down. I'll finish playing chess."

Mr. Zhou glanced at He Lai and spoke.

He Lai looked towards Mr. Zhou and saw another man playing chess with him. He was probably also a big shot.

He Lai took a stool and sat down, looking at the chessboard carefully.

The two old men also looked at He Lai, smiled, and continued playing chess.

Soon Mr. Zhou was defeated again, He Lai said embarrassedly.

"Grandpa Zhou, are you the worst chess player in your generation? Why do I feel like you always lose every time I come to watch you play chess?"

"Bullshit, it's you who distracted me, otherwise I would have lost."

Mr. Zhou scolded with a smile.

"You lost, so what? Why are you still angry? You can only beat me. I saw it a long time ago. You must have lost all the wine in your house."

He Lai said indifferently.

"Hahaha, Lao Zhou, this must be your little brother, so interesting."

The old man laughed out loud.

"Xiao Laizi, let me introduce you to this person, this is Deputy Minister Yu who is in charge of your steel mill."

Mr. Zhou pointed at the old man and introduced him.

"Hello, Minister Yu." He Lai looked at the old man and instantly connected him with the big leader in Qingman Siheyuan. It seemed that they were a little bit similar.

How to describe this big leader? He is the noble person in Sha Zhu's life. He can be said to be Sha Zhu's guiding light and life mentor.

He is a very upright person and cannot tolerate any injustice. When he heard Xu Damao saying bad things about Sha Zhu behind his back, he sent him back and even gave his wife a lecture.

But he is also a person who loves to enjoy life. He has a chef at home, a place to play small movies, and a phonograph. I didn't find these things at Grandpa Zhou's house. The things in Grandpa Zhou's house are very simple, just ordinary decorations.

"Hello, young comrade. I've been wanting to meet you for a long time. You're quite capable."

Deputy Minister Yu said with a smile on his face. It was obvious that he had some understanding of He Lai's affairs.

"Not bad, not bad. It's all thanks to Grandpa Zhou's good teaching, isn't it? Grandpa Zhou."

"Uh, yes, yes, I taught him, I taught him." When Mr. Zhou heard what He Lai said, he immediately understood what He Lai meant, nodded and continued.

"You two are still acting in front of me. Isn't that a bit too much?"

Deputy Minister Yu said helplessly as he looked at the two people who were still covering for him.

"Um, Xiao Laizi, what are you doing here today?"

Mr. Zhou quickly changed the subject.

"I want to play with guns, but my dad won't let me. So I want Grandpa Zhou to take me to the shooting range to broaden my horizons."

He Lai said directly that being procrastinating is not his character.

"Okay, I'll take you there on the weekend. I haven't shot a gun in a long time."

Soon the three of them started talking about the time when they fought the Japanese invaders. However, it was obvious that Deputy Minister Yu was a civilian and had not fired as many guns as Grandpa Zhou.

Old Mrs. Zhou also brought out a plate of fruit and joined in.

"Xiao Laizi, you are amazing. This red one is so big. I have never seen a minister like you before!"

Mr. Zhou picked up a strawberry, took a bite, and said with a smile.

In this era, the only common fruits available were apples and pears. Fruits like strawberries and blueberries were basically only available to rich people. Capitalists like Lou Bancheng would definitely know about them.

"That's because Grandpa Zhou doesn't know how to enjoy himself. Strawberries are plentiful in the countryside, but they may be less abundant in the north.

There are a lot of blueberries in Northeast China. You can eat more. They are very good for the elderly and can delay aging."

He Lai explained.

"Really? This little thing has such benefits. Okay, the old man has to eat more. Lao Yu, don't be polite, eat some."

Mr. Zhou finished the strawberries in his hand, picked up the blueberries and started eating them, and greeted Mr. Yu at the same time.

"Well, it tastes very good. I'll share in the fun too," Vice Minister Yu said with emotion as he picked up a blueberry and ate it.

In this way, the four of them ate and chatted, and soon it was time for dinner, and Mr. Yu left.

"Old Yu usually doesn't visit other people's homes. You just happened to run into him today. Isn't that a coincidence?"

Mr. Zhou said with a smile.

"Why do you say that? Aren't you all from the Ministry of Industry?" He Lai was very surprised why Mr. Zhou said that.

"Hey, your Grandpa Zhou is just a figurehead now, not in charge of much. But Old Yu is different, he is in charge of a lot of things."

Old Mrs. Zhou explained.

He Lai thought that it might be related to Mr. Zhou’s poor health.

"Who said I don't care? I'm just... just taking a break. I'll take care of it later!"

Mr. Zhou defended himself.

"Grandpa Zhou, why do you worry about that? To be honest, I just want to lie down every day and do nothing. It's so good. I haven't gone fishing for a long time. I have to go to work every day!"

He Lai envied Mr. Zhou, who could hold the title of deputy minister even though he did nothing. Who would dare to refuse him face?

"Are you okay? I heard that you and Xiao Wang secretly built a greenhouse that occupies more than half an acre of land, is that right?"

"Well, that's true, but it's Aunt Wang who's doing it, so I'm just giving some guidance."

He Lai just remembered that Director Wang seemed to be Mr. Zhou's subordinate, and it was impossible to hide this matter from him.

"You can do it, hurry up and we'll give Old Xu a good scare."

Mr. Zhou said quietly.

He Lai gave the old naughty boy a cold look, saying that he became more and more playful as he got older.