"There are 3,600 large alleys, and as many small alleys as there are hairs on a cow."

This is not just talk. In addition to being crowded, the ancient city also has the most alleys.

There are really alleys connected to alleys, alleys within alleys, and alleys stacked on alleys. Some places seem to have roads, but in fact they are blocked. Strangers can easily walk into a "dead end".

To use Zhou Jiao's literary expression.

Those alleys are long and winding, and no one knows where the next fork is. It is just like a person’s life, where will be the next exit and where will it be the next beginning?

Of course, in Zhang Guoqing's view, a hutong is just a hutong. How can it be compared with the ever-changing world of life? With frequent visits, familiarity is achieved, and everything becomes familiar to you.

Not to mention that if you take the wrong path, you can just talk to an old resident in the narrow and intricate alleys, and he or she will kindly give you directions.

The only regret is that the familiar alley names, which have a lot of historical origins and cultural atmosphere, have changed and become completely unfamiliar.

Just like the original Beibingmasi Hutong, Qinlao Hutong, Pichai Hutong... they were all changed to a lot of names like Hongqi and Dongfang.

However, there are also good sides. For example, the indecent names such as Fenchang Hutong and Gouweiba Hutong have finally been changed at one time.

Zhang Guoqing didn't know what other people thought, but he felt that Li Qinglin must be very happy. Imagine that someone you know asks you where your home is?

That Northeastern man, with his artistic talents, must have been gritting his teeth internally. Unfortunately, life is often not as you wish, so how can you get everything you want?

The young couple was unwilling to accept the gift from their parents. Of course, Zhang Guoqing guessed in his heart that the couple was reluctant to give up the benefits they deserved.

So, while I enjoyed the housing benefits, I also had a regret. With more than a dozen households living in a large compound, it was bustling, but if it weren't for the name of a hutong, getting along with the neighbors would probably be a hassle.

Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao walked through alleys and narrow lanes along the way. It was almost half an hour later when they arrived at Li Qinglin's house. They were sweating even in the cold weather.

This is also because the distance from the restaurant is not far, otherwise Zhang Guoqing would have been able to use some twisted logic to persuade his wife not to come to this slum.

If he wants to persuade someone, it's just like a thief never leaves empty-handed. In the end, no matter how twisted his theory is, people will find that there is no reason to refute it if they think about it carefully.

The two outermost rooms in the west wing of the compound were the homes of Li Qinglin and Hu Xiaohui. It was said that this was a good place allocated in advance to give priority to Hu Xiaohui.

It’s still some time before the winter vacation, but there are so many children of all ages playing and running around in the yard. The parents coming in and out don’t seem to care at all.

This childhood was really relaxing and comfortable, I could play however I wanted...

Zhang Guoqing's appearance in military uniform made everyone in the yard pause for a moment, especially the children, whose eyes were sparkling as they stared at him in admiration.

Zhang Guoqing, who was protecting his wife and reminding her to be careful of the icy and slippery road, looked up at them, nodded and greeted them, then walked towards the west side of the yard.

After the snow, the places where people walk are like

"I'm looking for the young couple in the west room."

"Needless to say, there's no one in this courtyard who's a military family member."

"Brother, I want to be a soldier in the future."

"Wait until you stop wetting the bed..."

Zhang Guoqing and the couple ignored the noisy discussions behind them. After passing the moon gate, the sharp-eyed Zhang Guoqing was the first to notice Li Qinglin bending over and holding a coal briquette.

"Linzi..."

The familiar sound made Li Qinglin turn around quickly, and with a snap, a piece of coal was destroyed.

"Xiaowu..."

Soon, the buddies were hugging each other warmly and grinning.

Seeing this scene, Zhou Jiao curled her lips speechlessly. She left the two silly people behind, pushed open the door and went in.

Normally, they'd either go to their workplace to chat or visit the compound to reminisce about the past. Zhou Jiao, unlike Zhang Guoqing, who occasionally visited, had never been to the house, except for a visit when the young couple got married. But that didn't stop her from memorizing the layout.

Sure enough, apart from the missing large wedding characters on the windows and furniture, the interior was exactly as I remembered it. It was still a living room and dining room, with the right room connected as a bedroom.

"Jiaojiao, come by yourself, Xiaohui will be back soon."

Zhou Jiao didn't bother to be polite with them as they just came in. She found a chair and sat down first. "Didn't you go shopping for food today?"

"I went there. I lined up in the early morning and didn't come back until around noon. Xiaohui accompanied me to buy food and then went to see her mother. She will be back soon."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at him sideways and asked, "Why didn't you accompany her?" He was really stupid. He didn't even know how to accompany his wife to his mother-in-law's place to win her favor!

"Her mother has work today."

Zhang Guoqing was too lazy to argue with someone with low emotional intelligence, so he poured a cup of hot water for his wife to warm her hands.

"Are you going back this year?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head. "I definitely can't do it at the end of the year. I can't schedule any vacation time. How about you?"

"We might not leave until the 26th of the lunar year. Xiaohui wants Jiaojiao to go back with her. If you don't have time, your wife won't have any vacation either, right?"

Could Zhang Guoqing say he was worried? "My husband and I have already discussed it. We'll swap shifts with our colleagues to see if we can make it to the third day of the Lunar New Year."

Li Qinglin also knew about the Zhang family's married aunts returning to their natal families for a reunion on the third day of the first lunar month. However, he hadn't been in the capital for nothing these past few years. During the first lunar month, his mother-in-law and the Bai family had a lot of social engagements. As the only son-in-law of the Zhou family, could he and his wife really go back?

Zhou Jiao was more suitable to explain this. She smiled and said, "We are different from the Bai family. We don't have many relatives. Besides some family gatherings, my mother also has to lead the group to the grassroots level."

As for her father, Zhou Xiaozheng, his daily schedule was no longer suitable for public disclosure. This year, he would probably be attending celebrations, visiting the grassroots, or just keeping to himself.

The couple planned to return to their hometown, perhaps to avoid the visitors during the Lunar New Year. It was better to have fewer people to deal with at this critical time.

"So, we can still meet in our hometown during the first month of the lunar year. It's just right for us to go back first, go to the provincial capital to pay New Year's greetings on the second day of the lunar year, and then pick up your family and take them back."

"We'll talk about it later. It's still early now. Who knows if something unexpected will happen and he won't be able to leave," Zhang Guoqing said quickly. If he didn't say this, Li Qinglin and Zhang Yuntao would mention it in a letter, and his parents would probably get the letter. If he didn't go back, wouldn't they be disappointed?

Besides, if he really went back during the Lunar New Year, he didn't plan to take his three sons with him. He also planned to go with his little girl and spend some quality time alone together.

"Tsk, what do you mean early? My wife has already started packing." Li Qinglin glanced at him with disdain and let the matter go. He would meet him when he got back anyway.

He pointed to the next door and lowered his voice, "Did you notice? There's no one next door."