Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

Yu Shui was so excited about taking a train for the first time that he couldn't sleep well and kept staring at the scenery outside the window.

"Yushui, stop looking. It will be dark soon. We can reach Guangcheng after two nights of sleep." He Lai reminded.

"Brother Lai, I can't sleep. The scenery outside is so beautiful. I'll look at it for a while before I go to sleep." Yu Shui said with a smile.

Seeing this, He Lai also let the rain go. The scenery outside the window kept receding, and the mountains and rivers passed by her quickly. The rain was so happy.

He Lai was lying on the berth, resting with his eyes closed. Because of the rain, He Lai could not enter the space again.

He Lai sometimes wondered whether he should just tell Yu Shui that he had space, otherwise it would be too inconvenient.

But He Lai was still a little worried. What if the rain could not be accepted, or it was accidentally leaked out? What should he do then? Should he live in anonymity for the rest of his life?

So after thinking it over again, I decided to keep it a secret from Yu Shui and wait until I’m older.

This time when going to Guangcheng, He Lai plans to take Yu Shui with him to Gangcheng so that she can be mentally prepared.

He Lai thought about taking her to Hong Kong to live for a while during the Cultural Revolution. After all, that period was the darkest time in China. The country was closed and the movement was underway, and nothing that they thought was bad could be tolerated.

He Lai was not sure if he could deal with all of this. After all, people at that time would not reason with you. They did whatever they wanted.

Moreover, He Lai's case would not stand up to scrutiny. He often sold pork in large quantities. As long as someone reported it, it would be exposed. Although they were all wild boars, the number was too large and the money earned was too much. At that time, this was a crime!

After thinking about these things, He Lai opened his eyes and found that Yu Shui was still looking out the window.

He Lai shook his head, stood up and walked over, then picked her up from behind.

"Ah...Brother Lai, what are you doing!" Yu Shui exclaimed.

"Don't look at it, it's pitch black, there's nothing to see, go to sleep or I'll spank you!"

He Lai patted her butt and said.

"Oh, if you don't want to look at it, then don't look at it!" Yu Shui pouted and replied.

Yu Shui lay on the berth, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. There was nothing he could do as the bed was a little small, just enough for one person.

After a while, Yu Shui said, "Brother Lai, are you asleep?"

"Ah."

"Come on, I can't sleep!"

"If you can't sleep, count the dumplings!"

“Why do we have to count dumplings?”

"Because 'sleep' and 'dumplings' sound the same!"

"Oh, that's right, come on, you're really smart. I'll count then."

"Ok!"

"A dumpling."

“Two dumplings.”

“Three dumplings.”

……

"Forty-four dumplings! Wait..."

He Lai sat up, unable to bear it any longer, so he turned on the light and glared at the rain.

"Brother Lai, I think I'm a little hungry!" Yu Shui said mischievously.

"I'll make you hungry, I'll make you hungry!..." He Lai turned over Yu Shui's butt and gently spanked her a dozen times.

There was no other choice, so He Lai finally went out and got some food for Yu Shui. Of course, the food was made by He Lai in the space. It was late at night, so He Lai didn't want to bother the small restaurant on the train.

Yu Shui asked while eating: "Brother Lai, where did you get the fried meat? It tastes so good. How come it seems like my father's secret ingredient was added?"

"Well, your brother gave it to me. I added it in on purpose. Eat it quickly!" He said.

After a while, He Lai stood up, opened the door, looked on both sides of the carriage, and when he found that there was no one, he closed the door.

"Brother Lai, what's wrong? Is anyone coming?" Yu Shui asked curiously.

"No one, I'll just take a look, Yu Shui, I want to tell you something."

He Lai thought about it and said.

"What's the matter?" Yu Shui asked puzzledly.

"Brother Lai wants to take you to a place when he goes to Guangcheng this time?" He Lai said.

"Where?" Yu Shui put down his chopsticks and continued to ask.

"You have to stay calm and don't speak too loudly. I'm afraid someone might hear you."

He Lai reminded.

"Ah? Where is it? Is it dangerous? I promise not to speak loudly." Yu Shui said when she saw He Lai's expression was a little serious.

"You've heard of Hong Kong City, right? I want to take you there." He Lai said.

"What? Hong Kong City? Isn't that a place for foreigners? Can we go there? Why should we go there?"

When Yu Shui heard the word Gangcheng, he immediately asked three questions in a row!

"Well, this matter is a bit complicated. Anyway, I have to go over there for a few days to take care of some things. I don't want you to stay in Guangcheng, so I'll take you to Gangcheng to play for a few days."

He Lai explained.

"Oh, Brother Lai, is it something important? Can I know?" Yu Shui asked nervously.

"Of course you can understand that this matter is more important to me."

He Lai replied.

"Brother Lai, you haven't told me what it is yet?" Yu Shui asked curiously.

"Well, I have a small business in Hong Kong, and I need to go there to take care of it for a few days."

"Ah? Brother Lai, haven't you been in Sijiucheng City all the time? Were you doing business in Gangcheng during the Canton Fair?" Yu Shui asked in surprise.

"Well, almost. After I finish dealing with the Canton Fair, I usually go to Hong Kong City to handle some business matters there." He Lai said.

"So that's how it is... Then how long will I stay in Hong Kong with you?" Yu Shui asked worriedly.

"About a week, it won't be too long." He looked at the rain and comforted her, "Just think of it as a trip. Hong Kong is a good place. There are no restrictions there. You can experience a different city."

"Okay..." Yu Shui was still a little nervous. After all, she had never been to such a far place.

He Lai patted Yu Shui's head and said, "Don't worry, I'm here. When we get to Hong Kong City, I'll take you around and let you try the local delicacies."

Yu Shui nodded and forced a smile: "Okay, but brother Lai, you are really amazing. In just a few days, you can do business in Hong Kong City."

He Lai just smiled and said, "Well... Actually, it just happened. The business is managed by others for me. I just provide some funds and a general direction."

"Brother Lai, is our business big?"

"I think it's okay!"

"I heard that people in Hong Kong are very rich. Is that true?"

"How should I put it? Compared to us Chinese, they are definitely richer, but their prices are also higher than ours, so the lives of their lower-class people are actually not very good!" He Lai thought for a moment and replied.

"By the way, Brother Lai, do you know Lou Bancheng? Didn't he escape to Gangcheng?" Yu Shui became more and more curious.

"Yes, I know him. I also know that his family fled to Hong Kong City." He Lai nodded and replied.

"Ah, no wonder Lou Xiao'e was able to come into my technical department, it turned out that it was arranged by me!"

When Yu Shui heard what He Lai said, he suddenly understood.

"What are you thinking about in your little head! What do you mean I arranged it? Do you think I have the ability to arrange people to join the technical department?

"Lou Xiao'e was able to work at the steel mill because the Red Star Steel Mill was originally owned by Lou Bancheng. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the factory was taken away by the state, but Lou Bancheng still had shares in the steel mill. So Lou Xiao'e was brought into the factory by her father Lou Bancheng. Do you understand?"

He Lai patted Yu Shui's head and said.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. My dad used to go to his house and cook for him. Sometimes he would take me with him. The food there is so delicious! The house is so big, it feels bigger than our entire courtyard!"

At this time, Yu Shui also remembered that Lou Bancheng used to be the owner of a steel mill.

"Why do you want to eat? When we get to Gangcheng, you can eat as much as you want!" He Lai said with a smile.

"Really? Then I'll have to eat more." Yu Shui said happily.

"Okay, okay, don't tell anyone about this, okay?"

He Lai reminded.

"Can't mom tell me either?"

"No, I don't want my mother to worry. I will tell her when the time is right."

"Oh."

"Okay, go to sleep."

"Oh."

“No more counting dumplings!”

"Oh!"

"From now on, no talking!"

"Oh."

……