Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

Time passed quickly, and after dinner, He Lai and Yu Shui said goodbye to Mr. Zhou and his family.

Before leaving, Mr. Zhou gave He Lai his major general's coat and told He Lai that he didn't need to go to the train station to see him off tomorrow, and that he would write to him after he settled down in the south.

……

But the next morning, He Lai was still standing in the corner of the train station early. He had no choice but to see them off.

He Lai even specially asked someone to bring a lot of supplements to Mr. Zhou and his friends, all of which were Ganoderma lucidum, ginseng, and deer antlers, which were precious medicinal materials that replenish qi and blood.

Old Master Zhou looked at the things in the bag and didn't say anything. After all, the person who delivered the things said a word and left in a hurry without giving him a chance to speak. It was impossible for him to return the things to He Lai now.

Mr. Zhou could only let his guards take it first.

When it was almost time to board the train, Ke'er pulled Grandma Zhou's hand and said, "Grandma, I think I saw Brother Lai just now, behind that wall."

Old Mrs. Zhou looked in the direction that Ke'er's little hand was pointing, but did not see He Lai. She just touched Ke'er's little head.

"Yeah, grandma saw it too."

"Grandma, why did Brother Lai hide and not come out to see us?"

Old Mrs. Zhou didn't answer, but just looked at the wall with a smile.

He Lai came out from behind the wall just when the train was about to start.

He Lai stood there quietly, watching the train slowly leave the platform. He felt a little heavy-hearted, and followed the train with his eyes until it disappeared into the distance.

He knew that this separation might mean that they wouldn't see each other again for a long time, and there would be no one standing behind him silently to support him.

Although Mr. Xu and his men are still there, they are not from the same system as He Lai and cannot be too involved in the affairs of the steel mill.

But he also understood that this was the choice of Mr. Zhou's family. They had their own lives and future, and he couldn't force them to stay.

He Lai took a deep breath, turned around and left the train station.

……

Back in the steel mill, He Lai was bored and teased the golden eagles flying in the space. He would hit them from time to time, making them fly around in the air. It was very relaxing to play with them.

After a while, Liu Mu came over.

"Brother Liu, what's wrong? Is there something wrong?" He Lai asked.

"It's okay. Can't you come over to see you, the big section chief?" Liu Mu rolled his eyes at He Lai and sat down by himself.

"What's wrong, Brother Liu? Who made you angry again?" He Lai said with a smile.

"It's because you're not going to the Canton Fair this time that Director Li is going to let me go there and ask me to come and learn from you."

Yanagi said truthfully.

"Well, it's a good thing, Brother Liu. Why do you keep resisting going on business trips? Others are eager to go, but you keep making excuses."

He Lai said with a smile.

"What's good about that? I just want to stay at home with my wife and kids. I don't want to go to Guangcheng. I'll be there for half a month. I..."

Liu Mu didn't say that he didn't want to go. After all, it was a decision made by the factory director and others, so he couldn't refuse.

"Okay, Brother Liu, it's good to go there. All the canteens will treat you to meals, and you don't have to spend any money. If the things sell well, Director Li will give you some receipts so that you can buy things back."

He Lai said.

"I...I just don't really want to go far away."

"Okay, sister-in-law, there's nothing to worry about. After you leave, I'll send two fat wild rabbits over. I guarantee they'll be so full of food that you'll forget about it!"

"Kao, you won't give it to me now, at least I can have a bite."

"You, you're going to Guangcheng to eat seafood soon, and you still can't forget this little thing!"

“Is there any seafood in Guangcheng?”

"no!"

"...

When I went to the third cafeteria to eat, I met Qin Huairu's elder brother, who was talking to Yu Shui.

Seeing He coming over, he immediately stopped talking.

"Aren't you sister-in-law Huairu's brother? Is there anything wrong?" He Lai asked curiously.

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Qin Huairu's elder brother Qin Huaimin immediately waved his hand and said.

"Brother Come here, my sister-in-law's brother wants to borrow some food coupons. Our family is having a hard time making ends meet." Yu Shui said.

"Oh, so that's the case. Then I'll lend you ten kilograms. Is that enough?" Upon hearing this, He Lai took out ten kilograms of food coupons and gave them to him.

He Lai thought about it and it made sense. Qin Huaimin's wife and children all had rural household registration, so it was normal that the family did not have enough food coupons.

"Enough, thank you, thank you." Qin Huaimin immediately reached out and took it with a smile.

After they separated, He Lai asked Yu Shui, "Why did he ask you to borrow money? Didn't Sister Huai Ru give it to him?"

"Brother, I don't have any extra food coupons to lend him. They are all children and need to eat fine grains. Every month, I will borrow some from me."

Rain said truthfully.

"Ah? Why don't I know this?" He Lai was speechless for a moment.

"Brother Lai, you are out all day, and the only food we have at home is the fine grain you bring back. My mother and I have basically no place to use our food coupons, and most of them have been lent to those in the courtyard who are short of food."

Rain explained with a smile.

"Uh...Is that so? Then you guys better take it easy and don't let them develop the habit of borrowing things endlessly."

He Lai was in a daze for a moment before he reacted. Yes, his mother and himself basically ate the food in his space, so the food coupons were naturally saved. Food coupons in that era had to be used within one year, and they could not be used after the time limit, so Wu Juan often distributed food coupons to those who were short of food at home.

"Don't worry, brother Lai, mom knows what's going on. Let's go eat." Yu Shui said with a smile.

While eating, He Lai looked at the dishes on the table and was a little confused. Why did they become vegetables and pork? Where were his yellow croaker and beef?

"Dad, what's going on? Where's my yellow croaker? Where's my beef?" He Lai asked He Daqing.

"Ah... um... maybe I've finished eating. Your father comes over every night these days, and I ate a little with him."

He Daqing said with a guilty conscience.

"Dad, don't lie to me. I have counted the things I gave you and how much you and my dad can eat. In the past, I could eat them for four or five days, but now, only three days have passed and you tell me that it's gone. What's going on?

If you do this, I will go to Brother Zhuzi's place."

He Lai joked.

"Oh, no, no, no, I really ate it with your father. If you don't believe me, go ask your father. He eats dinner at my place now." He Daqing explained hurriedly.

"Yushui, our father is not honest. I, as his son-in-law, can't stand it anymore."

He Lai and Yu Shui said.

"Dad, why are you like this? Did you give it to that girl called Dongmei?"

Yu Shui was also unhappy. After all, he didn't get to eat the food, and it was eaten by outsiders.

"Oh, I did give you a little. I'll pay more attention next time. I'll pay more attention next time."

He Daqing had no choice but to accept it.

"Considering Dad's current situation, I think I'll give it to him once a day from now on. Dad, you can let Monkey come to me to get things from now on."

He Lai said with a smile.

"Okay, Dad got it."

He Daqing didn't expect that Gu Dongmei was so bold. She took more and more. It was only the fourth day and the food was gone. It seemed that he had to make some arrangements.

After all, there are more than one widow in the steel mill. If He Daqing wants her, there are still many people who want to follow him.