Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

The weather was very good today, the sun warmed the dry and cold earth. He Lai took Xiao Yushui to the small yard to exercise, like doing gymnastics.

Just when He Lai and Xiao Yushui were studying, Xu Damao came.

"Brother Damao, is there something wrong?"

"Hey, I came here to see you guys studying."

"You want to take me fishing?"

"Hey, you know all this? Actually, it's Uncle Zhang who wants to see you, and your things are all with him." Xu Damao scratched his head.

"Okay, then Yu Shui and I will get ready."

"Okay, Brother Damao will wait for you."

……

When I arrived at Shichahai, I found that there were indeed not many people there during work hours.

After looking for a while, they actually saw Mr. Zhou and Mr. Xu, and the three of them hurried forward.

He Lai and Xiao Yushui whispered a few words, and then they each blindfolded the two old men.

"Guess who we are?" He Lai deliberately lowered his voice.

"Stop making trouble, little Lai, we haven't seen each other for such a long time. Just play the same trick on me." Old Master Zhou saw through the situation immediately and pulled Xiao Yushui over from behind.

Old Master Xu also pulled He Lai over.

"I haven't seen you guys come fishing for a long time. Why are you here today?" asked Grandpa Zhou.

"Um, um, Grandpa Zhou's fish float went down..." He Lai didn't want to lie, nor did he want to talk about his own business. He just saw the fish caught, so he quickly changed the subject.

When Mr. Zhou heard that there was fish, he stopped asking questions.

After a while, Xu Damao finished making the nest. He Lai took Xiao Yushui hand in hand and walked on the grass to Uncle Zhang's place.

I saw Uncle Zhang cleaning up the hooks, so I went up to him to say hello and help him.

"Grandpa Zhang, I'm busy! Xiao Laizi is here to help you."

He Lai and Xiao Yushui squatted beside and started fiddling with the hook.

"Now that you're here, it's okay as long as you recover from your illness. You should be studying at such a young age. It's unnecessary to do so much." Uncle Zhang also sighed, thinking about what he should have advised at that time.

He Lai was also embarrassed, thinking that he was sick from exhaustion. He could only bow his head and admit it.

"Xiao Laizi, I'll take your things, and I'll give you a share of the profits with other fishermen. The old men are all thinking about you, a little kid, so don't refuse. This is the decision made after discussion among the old men." Uncle Zhang finished speaking in one breath.

He Lai was also confused. After thinking for a while, he agreed: "Grandpa Zhang, please donate this money for me to those in need."

Uncle Zhang looked at He Lai and saw that he was not joking, so he said, "Okay, when the time comes, I will donate it to the Military Control Committee in Nanluoguxiang on your side."

"It's up to you." He Lai said without hesitation.

After finishing, Grandpa Zhang stood up unsteadily and tapped his waist. "I'm old, old. I really can't do it in a few years."

He went to the thatched hut, took out the plaster, put it on, and sat on the doorstep.

"Xiao Laizi, take your time. The old man wants to see what kind of person Xiao Laizi will become in the future." Uncle Zhang said to He Lai.

He Lai also smiled, sat with Uncle Zhang for a while and then went back.

When he came back, he saw that the three people looked at each other strangely. He Lai knew that Xu Damao was selling him out, but after thinking about it, he didn't care.

When Mr. Zhou saw He Lai and the other two coming, he pulled He Lai over, and Mr. Xu also took Xiao Yushui with him. They didn't fish anymore.

Just quietly looking at the river.

……

He Lai finally couldn't stand it anymore. "Oh, it's just a disease! I'm fine now, right? Don't be silent all the time, Grandpa Zhou, Grandpa Xu."

"You, why do you worry so much at such a young age? I, an old man, am not as busy as you!" Old Man Zhou scolded.

"You're not as busy as I am. The other adults are at work, and you're fishing here." He Lai retorted with a pout.

"Hey, you naughty monkey, you dare to make up stories about your grandfather, I will spank you."

He Lai immediately escaped from Mr. Zhou's arms and ran away with Xiao Yushui.

He Lai took Xiao Yushui to pick up stones and taught him how to skip stones, which was He Lai’s favorite when he was a child.

"Rainwater, do what Brother Lai did, half-side down, hold the stone between your index finger and thumb, and throw it out."

As a result, He Lai's stone fell directly into the water, which caused three "cut" sounds, making He Lai very embarrassed.

Xiao Yushui imitated He Lai and threw it out, splashing a few water drops.

"The master can't do it, but the apprentice can. How strange." Old Master Xu suddenly spoke.

He Lai's face turned red, and he quickly found a good stone and threw it. It was really disrespectful, just two splashes.

"That's all!" Old Master Zhou also joined in the ridicule.

"You can do it, come on!"

"I'll do it! You naughty boy, let me show you what this old man is capable of!" Old Master Zhou stood up and started playing.

Everyone came out to play. Water skipping is fun only when there is a competition.

He Lai also used his increasingly familiar hand feel to draw a continuous water float, and saw the stone sliding on the water.

He Lai looked at everyone proudly and said to Xiao Yushui: "It seems that my brother didn't lie to you. Brother Lai is quite good at this."

"Brother Lai is the best." Xiao Yushui said with admiration on her face.

The "cut" sound was heard again, and the three of them didn't throw away and continued fishing.

He Lai lay on the grass with a little rain on his face, looking at the blue sky.

The sky is like a mirror, reflecting the sun's rays and the scenery of the earth. The blue sky and the white clouds complement each other, forming a beautiful picture that makes people feel relaxed and happy.

Think about the sky of the old city in the future, with dust and smog! It's too difficult.

Soon it was noon, and He Lai was ready to go back. He didn't want to eat steamed buns by the river anymore.

Mr. Zhou also gave He Lai a smile. He told He Lai that if he needed to find him in the future, he should go to Director Wang of the Military Control Commission and tell him his name, Zhou Fenghua, and she would know where I was.

He Lai thanked him and waved goodbye.

Xu Damao took the two little ones back home.

……

"He Lai, can you do it? If not, let my mother do it." Seeing He Lai trying to pour hot oil on the fish, Xu Damao was a little panicked.

"Don't worry, I think that's how Brother Zhuzi did it." He Lai looked confident.

……

"This fish doesn't seem to be steamed yet."

"Who steamed the fish!" Xiao Yushui and Xu Damao looked at He Lai speechlessly.

"Hey, hey, why don't you just steam it again?" He Lai hurriedly took the plate and left.

Xu Damao also left the He family. He should go home to eat, otherwise he would starve to death.

"Yushui, let's fill our stomachs with the steamed buns first, they will be cooked soon." The two of them sat by the stove and watched the flames burn.

"Come on, brother, it's a little bland."

"Then I'll go get some soy sauce and pour it on."

"Yeah, not bad. Let's try the rainwater again."

"Come on, brother, I'm full of steamed buns!"

"Then I'll eat it myself. Yushui, you're so unlucky. This is your first time grilling fish with your brother."