Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

"Come on, what are you doing today? You run outside every day!"

Zhang Zhiwen leaned over and said.

"Brother Zhiwen, you are more gossipy than those aunties! When are you and Sister Song Xue going to get married? You're not going to brag about it, are you?"

"How can that be possible? We're getting married on November 11th. I'll give you candy then."

Zhang Zhiwen became excited when he mentioned this matter, as his family had already discussed it with Song Xue's family.

"No wedding banquet?"

"No, there are regulations above, so keep it simple! I'll invite you alone when the time comes."

He Lai agreed when he heard this. As their family was in politics, they were very careful about the impact of this aspect and it was impossible for them to hold a large wedding banquet. It was even more impossible during the three-year natural disaster period.

"Okay, I haven't seen Sister Song Xue for a long time. I will definitely prepare a good wedding gift for you when the time comes."

"Okay, what is it?

"Now I tell you what surprises there are! Wait."

"Hey, you kid, okay! I'll wait."

He Lai has already thought about what to give as a gift. Nothing can be more practical than a modern cake!

As for the cake, it can be made with cream and eggs, but I don’t seem to have butter right now, so it’s not easy to make.

He Lai thought that this thing must be available in Western restaurants, so he just needed to go to Lao Mo's restaurant.

I haven't been there yet. It is said that a trip to Lao Mo's is incomplete if you haven't been there. I must go there once.

The two were discussing marriage when He Daqing came over.

"Uncle He, why are you here?" He Lai stood up and asked.

"I have something to talk to you about. Come with me." He Daqing glanced at the office and found that only He Lai and Zhang Zhiwen were there, so he spoke directly to He Lai.

"Oh, okay." He Lai closed the mechanical documents and left with He Daqing.

On the road

"Uncle He, how did you know I wasn't full? What delicious food did you make? And you specially came to call me!"

He Lai said with a smile.

"Hmph, it's delicious. I'm sure you'll be very satisfied when it arrives."

He Daqing glanced at He Lai and said in a low voice.

"Really? Is it Shandong cuisine? Or is it Tan's cuisine? I haven't eaten Tan's cuisine for a long time. Hey, Boss Lou is known as the best in the city. He treated me to a meal, but I was so hungry... Uncle He, let me tell you..."

When He Lai heard that it was delicious, he immediately started talking about it incessantly.

"Okay, okay, take your time eating now." He Daqing didn't want to listen to He Lai's chatter anymore, so he said this and quickened his pace.

"Hey, Uncle He, walk slower and wait for me." Seeing He Daqing suddenly speed up, He Lai hurriedly caught up with him.

Arrived at the third canteen

"Uncle He, is the food getting cold? It's okay, I don't mind."

"It won't get cold. The food is in the kitchen. Go and have some."

He Daqing signaled He Lai to go by himself.

"Is it still in the pot? Uncle He is very particular. Just let the monkey call me next time. Thank you for making such a trip. I'll go now."

He Lai ran to the kitchen excitedly, lifted the curtain, looked inside, and was dumbfounded.

A group of women gathered together and talked in a buzz, while the men also gathered together and whispered.

"Monkey, what's going on?" He Lai spoke and wanted to call the monkey over to ask.

Everyone immediately turned their attention to He Lai.

"Okay, you still dare to come! Sisters, come on, tie him up for me."

When Gu Dongmei saw that it was He Lai, she immediately called a group of aunts to rush over.

Before He Lai could react, the aunties grabbed his arms and he couldn't run away.

"Don't do it, don't do it, just talk nicely! My father is the head of the security department." He Lai didn't want to hurt them, so he could only persuade them in a low voice.

"Humph, it's useless even if we come to the factory today. You look like a decent person, but I didn't expect you to be so cruel. Sisters, take off his clothes."

Gu Dongmei shouted, and the aunts started to work.

"Uncle He, help me! If you don't come, they will strip your son-in-law of his clothes."

He Lai didn’t know what was going on, so he could only shout loudly for He Daqing to come and help.

When He Daqing heard this at the door, he came out immediately. He couldn't let these tiger women strip He Lai's clothes. After all, he was his daughter's sweetheart. Otherwise, if Yu Shui knew about this when he got back, he would be in big trouble.

"Alright, alright, that's enough, give me some face."

After hearing what He Daqing said, the aunties gave up on stripping He Lai's clothes, but they still held He Lai's hands tightly.

"Humph, I'll give you face, but who will give face to my sister Lan?"

Gu Dongmei objected verbally but still withdrew her hand. Her mind was still recalling He Lai's sturdy body. The young man had such taut muscles, and she really wanted to touch him a few more times.

"What? Sister Lan? Liu Lan!" He Lai suddenly realized what was going on. He had been busy helping Daya with work these past two days and had forgotten about this matter. No, this is not a good thing?

"That Aunt Gu, no, Sister Gu, can you please let me go first? I can explain to you."

He Lai had his hands held behind his back and begged.

"No, let me make it clear first. Look at how Liu Lan got beaten. Liu Lan said it was all because of you. She's divorced now, and her job is yours. How are you going to let the three of them live in the future?"

Gu Dongmei pulled Liu Lan over and pointed at the wound on her face and said.

"Who said I wanted her to work? I didn't. You misunderstood. You misunderstood. Let go. I didn't want her to work."

He Lai hurriedly explained.

"What? Didn't she say that her wicked husband, bah, ex-husband, lost the job to you?"

Gu Dongmei was a little confused.

He Lai took advantage of the aunts' confusion and broke free.

"Aunties and sisters, this is not the case. Listen to me..."

He Lai recounted what had happened.

"That's how it is. I don't want the job. I just want Sister Liu Lan to leave that man and get rid of him."

The aunts were also stunned after hearing this.

"Then...then...Liu Lan doesn't need to give you the job?" Gu Dongmei asked in surprise.

"No, no, I just don't want Sister Liu Lan to have her good life ruined by that gambler."

He Lai explained.

"Is that so? Then Liu Lan's injury wasn't caused by you asking that beast to come and beat him up."

"Of course not, why would I do such a thing?" He Lai said speechlessly.

"Well, well, well, Liu Lan, I think so too. Ren Helai is an engineer after all, he certainly wouldn't lie. It must be your gambling ex-husband who lied to you."

Gu Dongmei thought about it carefully, then turned around and said to Liu Lan.

"If he hits you, you can go to the factory women's federation and sue him. I guarantee you'll win." He Lai interrupted.

"Yes, Liu Lan, go and sue him. This bastard is worse than a beast, and he even beats a woman!"

"Yes, yes, go to the Women's Federation and sue him."

……

The aunties started talking to each other.

"You really don't want my job?"

Liu Lan ignored what they said and asked He Lai.

She still couldn't believe it, a job paid so much money!

"No, no, why do I need you to do this job of washing vegetables? You don't make much money a month."

"What did you say? You dare to look down on us? You don't have much money. Believe it or not, I will have someone strip you right now."

When Gu Dongmei heard He Lai say this, she immediately became unhappy, and the aunts also glared at He Lai.

He Lai realized that he had said the wrong thing and quickly hid behind He Daqing.

"Okay, okay, since it's just a misunderstanding, let's forget it. Liu Lan, work hard in the future. The job is still yours. Don't let your imagination run wild."

He Daqing spoke again.

"I'm sorry and thank you." Liu Lan finally felt relieved. Knowing that He Lai would not ask her to work, she immediately apologized and thanked him.

"No need, you should go to the Women's Federation right away. I don't think your gambling husband will let you go so easily."

He Lai added, After all, once a gambler loses his source of income, who knows what he will do.

"Yes, yes, yes. Come on, Liu Lan, I'll take you to the Women's Federation. I'm familiar with that place and will definitely help you solve it."

After Gu Dongmei finished speaking, she pulled Liu Lan, who didn't want to go, out of the kitchen.

After everyone dispersed, He Lai glared at He Daqing.

"Uncle He, you are not kind. I will tell Yu Shui when I get back."

"Okay, then I'll go to your mother and tell her about your gambling."

He Daqing looked at He Lai with a smile and said slowly.

"You're so cruel. Let's wait and see." He Lai was immediately deflated when he heard this. He couldn't let Wu Juan know that he went to the casino, otherwise he would get a lecture and his cheap father would be in trouble too.

I could only leave unwillingly and decided never to come to the third canteen again.

ps: I only updated one chapter today, I’m a bit stuck