After walking around the rooms, Zhang Guoqing discovered that Mrs. Cheng must have had them carefully cleaned before. Apart from a layer of fresh dust, even the utility room was very clean.

Although the courtyard was small, it had everything it needed. The main room and the two wing rooms all had kangs, and the south room, which served as a living room and study, was also furnished with simple furniture.

On the left side of the courtyard stood a tall jujube tree, beneath which lay the entrance to the cellar. In the center of the courtyard stood a pomegranate tree laden with fruit. Ping An, looking up, was circling the pomegranate tree.

A popular saying in old Beijing goes, "Ceiling, fish tank, pomegranate tree." This describes the unique summer landscape of Beijing's courtyard houses. In the past, pomegranate trees, symbolizing fertility, were often used to decorate courtyards, with fish tanks interspersed among them.

In the height of summer, with the high canopy to shield us from the scorching sun, it is a delight to stroll leisurely among the pomegranate trees and fish tanks.

Now that the ceiling is gone, the remaining fish tank has been put to other uses. Pomegranate trees and other fruit trees remain in all three courtyards of the family home. Zhang Guoqing suspects that with fewer seasonal fruits, people are willing to keep some to satisfy their cravings.

"Dad, this is available too."

Zhang Guoqing smiled knowingly and said, "When the fruits are ripe in a while, Grandma Wu and the others in the big courtyard will send them over. I'll bring you here to pick them then."

Ping'an smiled brightly upon hearing this, and ran towards the jujube tree happily. He saw the half-green and half-red fruits dotted on the branches, bending the twigs, and his face was full of joy.

"Dad, can we pick dates now?"

"The red circles appear in July, and the stems fall in August. Don't rush to pick the dates now; you have to wait a little longer. Be careful of the jujube stings."

Ping An nodded happily. He would definitely come back soon. He wasn't worried about his friends stealing his jujube. When he came in, he noticed that almost every house had a jujube tree.

People passing through the alley can see it from outside the courtyard wall, and some of the trees even extend outside the courtyard. His family's tree is still good, knowing how to grow inside and not let outsiders take away the good water.

Zhang Guoqing smiled. He would let his son have as much fun as possible, climbing walls and trees, playing football in Zao Hutong, and so on. These would become fond memories when they got old.

"Dad, what should we do next?"

"Go back. We'll come back when your mother comes back."

Ping An rushed towards him and was held in his arms. He looked up and asked with a smile, "Dad, can you still take me out to play today?"

Zhang Guoqing looked at him with amusement. What a good question, so tactful, even as a father, he couldn't bear it. He walked out, smiling, "Sure! You pick the place."

"I know my dad is the best."

Zhang Guoqing closed the door and patted his butt. "Stop sweet-talking your dad. Tell me, where do you want to go today? If it's far, then it won't work."

"Can't we go to the countryside?" Ping'an looked at his father disappointedly and poked him, "Let's go hunting when Mom comes back. Grandma Chen said I've lost weight."

Zhang Guoqing laughed happily. This little brat, still skinny? He really wants to practice.

"dad?"

"Okay, as long as your mother agrees, we can go anywhere."

"You are very insincere."

An old man with white hair and high spirits came out from the yard next door, looked at the father and son curiously, listened to the child's childish words, and laughed happily.

Zhang Guoqing stopped and put down the Ping An. "Hello, old man. Son, say hello to great-grandfather."

"Hello, great grandfather."

The old man replied cheerfully, "Okay, little one too. You're moving in soon, right? Do you need any help? I have a big family, so just give me a shout if you need anything."

Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head. "Thank you very much, old man. The child's mother is on a business trip, so we have to wait a little longer. Where are you going?"

"Just wandering around for no reason. Are you guys leaving?"

Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded.

"Then we have to leave quickly. It will get even hotter if we delay, and the children will suffer."

Zhang Guoqing picked up Ping An again. After the father and son said goodbye to him, they could still hear the old man warmly inviting them to visit his home next time. Oh, this old man is really enthusiastic.

When they got home, the father and son were already sweating profusely. They grabbed a change of clothes and took a shower before they breathed a sigh of relief.

Aunt Chen saw them return to the living room and brought over two bowls of mung bean soup. "Drink it first to cool down. As soon as you left this morning, Dayi and the others came looking for you and asked you to come back and contact them."

"Dad, you're so busy."

Aunt Chen laughed. "You're not bad either. Shuanzi and the others in front came looking for you just now. Isn't it time for you to get together?"

Zhang Guoqing followed up with a joke: "Son, do you want daddy to sponsor your baijiu this time?"

Ping An chuckled and said, "I wasn't drunk last time, I fell asleep."

"Whose turn is it this time?"

"Fat Ya's house. But she was beaten by her mother and told to wait a little longer. Now her mother doesn't give her pocket money. She won't be afraid when her grandma comes back."

Talking about the gathering of these children, it was full of surprises and excitement.

Starting with plain water, they finally saved enough money to drink the soda they had been longing for. The little ones were overjoyed. A month or two later, they planned to get together again on a weekend and once again pooled their money, one or five cents each. Afterwards, they calculated that they only had a little over twenty cents. What should they do?

The children sat together, discussed it, and voted unanimously to buy a 20-cent bottle of Beibingyang, the orange-flavored soda, so that everyone could try it and use the remaining money to buy popsicles.

That was a good idea. That day, several children gathered at Grandpa Mo's house. His six-year-old great-granddaughter was a bold and adventurous girl. Seeing that one bottle of soda wasn't enough for them, Mo Xiaobei slipped into the study while the family was away and stole an opened bottle of baijiu.

Following her suggestion, the children grabbed a small bucket. They immediately poured everything from soda and popsicles to liquor into it. Not only that, a chubby five or six-year-old girl ran home, stole her mother's bottle of honey, and poured it in too, asking everyone to keep it a secret.

The children were overjoyed. Well, they could drink too. They were adults now. These little kids, always dreaming of growing up, each had a cup. Even though it was a little spicy, the cool, sweet taste enticed them.

This time they were really drunk. Except for Ping'an who drank a small cup and no one else, almost a pound of white wine was drunk by six or seven children.

When Mrs. Mo brought the aunt back to buy the things on the supply book, she came back to see five or six children with red faces sleeping soundly in the living room, and two little ones singing and dancing around the sheets.

As soon as Mrs. Mo smelled the alcohol, she knew what was going on. She laughed out loud and quickly called the old ladies from the neighborhood to come over and watch the fun.

After this incident, the little ones haven't been together for a long time. It's been a long summer vacation, and it seems they're ready to get together again. Zhang Guoqing is actually quite envious of these children's mischief.

This is what a wonderful childhood should be like. These embarrassing moments will become the most beautiful memories between them as they grow up.