Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

He Lai was sitting in the office, thinking about what to do next, when there was a knock on the door.

"Please come in!"

Unexpectedly, the person who came in was Lou Xiaoe.

"Is that Sister Xiao'e? Is there something you want to talk to me about?" He Lai asked.

"Well, my father asked me to give you a letter." Lou Xiao'e took out a letter from her arms and gave it to He Lai.

"Oh, I see. Thank you." He Lai took the letter and said.

"He Lai, can you tell me what's going on in my family? I see my father going in and out every day, and he seems to be very busy. What is he doing?" Lou Xiao'e asked.

"Well, I'm sorry, I can't tell you, but don't worry, it's not a bad thing, just go to work with peace of mind."

He Lai couldn't let Lou Xiao'e know that Lou Bancheng was going to escape from Sijiu City.

"Hmph, I knew that you must be hiding something from me. You must tell me today, otherwise I will stay here and not leave." Lou Xiao'e snorted coldly.

"Sister Xiao'e, just be obedient. You will know it when it's time for you to know it."

He Lai smiled bitterly.

"You all use the same words to fool me. Why don't you tell me first?" Lou Xiao'e has obviously heard too many similar words.

"Okay, Sister Xiao'e, stop acting like a spoiled brat. I believe you will know soon."

He Lai felt that since Lou Bancheng had left him a letter, he must have packed up and was ready to leave, and it wouldn't be long before he left.

Lou Xiao'e looked at He Lai, unable to understand why her father trusted him so much, as if he knew everything.

"Okay, then I'm leaving."

Lou Xiao'e also knew that He Lai would never tell her, and since he would soon know, she would not make things difficult for He Lai.

After Lou Xiao'e left, He Lai opened the envelope and began to read.

There was not much content in the letter, and it did not mention when Lou Bancheng would leave. Lou Bancheng only told He Lai that he had left all the antiques that he could not take away somewhere, as a gift to He Lai, so that He Lai could pick them up when he had time.

It seems that Lou Bancheng is really preparing to leave in the next few days.

……

After work, He Lai and Yu Shui returned home.

In the yard, Nannan and Xier were playing with two puppies; Wu Juan was holding Wener and watching from the side, and next to them was our little miss Wuer, who was sitting in a baby walker, learning to walk.

"Come here, brother (uncle)." Xier and Nannan ran over immediately.

"Hey, why are you all here? Are you here to look after your brother?"

He Lai joked.

"We are playing with the puppy." Nannan said with a smile.

"Then remember to wash your hands and face after playing, okay?" He Lai touched Nannan's head and reminded.

"Yes, I know." Nannan nodded in agreement.

"Let's continue playing." He Lai sent the two little ones away and came to Wu Juan with Yu Shui.

Yu Shui took Wu'er out of the stroller and held her in her arms.

Unfortunately, when Wu'er saw He Lai, she kept shouting for her brother to hug her.

"Oh hey, Yushui, you should let her stay in the car." He said, and then took Wu'er reluctantly.

"The little girl is really abominable! She only knows how to come to her brother every day."

The raindrops gently hit Wu'er, and then awakened Wen'er in Wu Juan's arms.

"Mom, what's wrong with you? Why are you sitting here with me today? Do you want to cook for me?"

He Lai said with a smile.

"Yes, there is no food at home, so I have no choice but to come to my son's place."

Wu Juan sighed.

"Why is there no food? Is there no food at the grain station?" He Lai asked in surprise.

"We do have food, but it's all mixed grains. Even this cornmeal is mixed with more than half corn stalks. How can we eat it?"

Wu Juan explained that there was no other way. He Lai had spoiled her appetite and she had to eat some flour. Besides, her two children also needed to eat fine grains, so she had no choice but to come to He Lai.

"Uh, Mom, it's okay. I have flour and rice here. You can eat whatever you want. I have saved a lot. I guarantee you will have enough for you."

He Lai advised.

"The Russians are so mean, they turn against us so quickly. How can we expect our country to pay such a huge sum of money?"

Wu Juan has already blamed the Soviet Union for the country's food shortage. After all, when several women in the yard were chatting together, they were basically talking about this.

"Mom, let's not discuss national affairs. Just live your own life behind closed doors."

He Lai advised.

"You can't even complain a word, mom. When your mom was working at the steel mill, she was talking about it every day! How could they still arrest me?"

Wu Juan gave He Lai a blank look.

"Mom, don't think about the past. My son is hungry. Come and cook."

He Lai also took Wen'er from Wu Juan's arms, one in each hand, without any pressure.

"Oh, be careful, don't let Wu'er hit Wen'er. Yu Shui, go hold Wen'er. I see Wu'er looks nervous!" Wu Juan pushed Yu Shui away and said.

As Wu Juan expected, Wu'er raised her little hand and waved towards Wen'er.

Fortunately, He Lai was watching and pulled his arm outward, and Wu'er's little hand immediately fell into nothingness.

Yu Shui also took Wen'er from He Lai.

"Little guy, if I had known you would do this, your eldest brother would be on guard against you. This is your second brother! How can you fight him, you little monkey?" He Lai held Wu'er with both hands and said with a smile.

Wu'er doesn't care about him being the second brother, she will never allow herself to share He Lai's arms with anyone else.

His fierce and aggressive look completely suppressed Wen'er.

He Lai started to play with Wuer, Nannan and Xier.

Seeing that nothing was wrong, Wu Juan got up and went to the kitchen to cook.

……

At the dinner table, Wu Juan cooked a few simple dishes. Mainly because there was plenty of rice here, Wu Juan simply cooked rice.

"My son is really amazing. He has stored so much food without us noticing." Wu Juan said with a smile while eating rice.

"Mom, don't worry and eat. There is plenty of food. I have hidden it all. It will definitely be enough for the next few years."

He Lai said.

"Okay, it's good to have a good son. He won't have to worry about food and drink! There will be meat, vegetables, and white rice!"

Wu Juan sighed.

"Mom, it's almost done. Where's Dad? Is he on duty again?" He Lai suddenly remembered that He Zhan had not come back yet.

"He must be a good person and is on duty for others. Let him be. At least he has a sweet potato to eat." Wu Juan has gotten used to He Zhan being away from home most of the time.

As they were talking, footsteps were heard outside. He Lai turned around and saw that it was his father He Zhan.

"Dad, come and eat. It's almost cold. I'll get you some dishes and chopsticks."

He said this and went to the kitchen to get him a pair of bowls and chopsticks.

"Well, it's better here with my son. There's also rice to eat." He Zhan took a bowl of rice and said with a smile.

"What's wrong? I treated you unfairly! Then you should always come to Xiao Laizi's place to eat from now on!"

Wu Juan rolled her eyes at He Zhan and said.

"Uh, how could that be! I was just saying it casually." He Zhan quickly made amends.

"By the way, Xiao Laizi, do you have anything to do this weekend? Please help Dad."

He Zhan said after taking a bite of meat.

"Ah? Dad, what do you want to do? And you want my help?" He Lai asked in confusion.

"Your two golden eagles are good at hunting, right? Our security department wants to go hunting in the mountains this weekend, and we want you to bring your golden eagles with you."

He Zhan said.

"You can't go. You just let Xiao Laizi go on adventures every day. What's wrong? Are there not enough rabbits for you to eat?"

Wu Juan objected before He Lai could speak.

"Juanzi, it's okay. We are in large numbers and we all have guns! Xiaolaizi can just stay outside the mountains to pick up the golden eagles and make sure they don't fly back."

He Zhan explained.

When Wu Juan heard that they didn't want to go into the mountains, she thought it was fine, since He Lai often went to the suburbs anyway.

"Okay, but I can't guarantee that the golden eagle can lead you to find prey."

He Lai didn't refuse. After all, it was deep in the mountains and anything could happen.

In this way, the father and son decided to go hunting in the mountains this weekend.