Chapter 218 Playing

"Xiaoman, Zhiyi, good morning!" He plopped down in the dining chair, still feeling lazy from just waking up.

Nan Zhiyi got up to bring him breakfast, and Gu Yan took it with a grin: "While my brother is away, I can also enjoy being served by Zhiyi."

Nan Zhiyi rolled her eyes at him, annoyed: "Don't talk nonsense. Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"I've had enough sleep, any more and I'll collapse," Gu Yan mumbled, biting into a dumpling, his eyes fixed on Xiao Man, who was clumsily eating with a spoon.

"Hey, Uncle, can you take Xiaoman out to play later?"

He's still the same as always, loves excitement, and can't stay still. He used to often take Nan Zhiyi and Zhou Anping out to have fun.

Nan Zhiyi wiped Xiaoman's mouth with a handkerchief: "Why don't you take Wenjing out for a walk and see the excitement of the Spring Festival in Beijing? It's cold outside, so Xiaoman can just stay home and play."

After Xiaoman finished the last bite, she twisted her body to get down.

Nan Zhiyi picked him up and told him that he could only play in the living room.

Gu Yan was still a little unwilling, "I came in a hurry and didn't bring anything for you and Xiaoman. I felt bad about it. I just wanted to take him out to play and buy him some toys."

“Gu Yan,” Nan Zhiyi looked at him, her tone becoming serious, “really, you don’t need to. We have everything we need at home now, and Xiaoman has plenty of toys. Don’t always be so extravagant and waste money; I’ll really get angry.”

Gu Yan raised his eyebrows, as if he had discovered something new and interesting. He looked Nan Zhiyi up and down and smiled teasingly: "Oh ho, our Zhiyi has learned to be thrifty now? Before, she was the type who wouldn't give up until she got her hands on any new and interesting thing she set her sights on."

Nan Zhiyi was a little embarrassed by his teasing: "That's ancient history. Anyway, you're not allowed to buy it for us, just buy something Wenjing likes."

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you, I won't buy it."

After finishing his meal, Gu Yan walked over to Xiao Man and gestured to show his height. "Let me see how tall Xiao Man is now. When spring comes, I'll send you some new clothes from the south. The clothes there are nice and the fabric is soft. There are clothes for children and clothes for adults."

He shrugged. "Forget about Fifth Brother. He'd never finish wearing his uniform in his lifetime, and...tsk tsk, he wears the same thing every day, it's not stylish at all." He secretly rejoiced that he hadn't joined the army.

Nan Zhiyi chuckled at his antics: "You're just talking nonsense. Go change your clothes and take Wenjing out for a walk. Stop being so cheeky."

Gu Yan walked towards the room. "Okay, Wenjing, how about I take you to Wangfujing later? It's lively there."

Ruan Wenjing put down her spoon, smiled, and her eyes brightened: "Okay, I'll follow Brother Yan's arrangements."

After Gu Yan left the living room.

Nan Zhiyi turned to Ruan Wenjing and said, "Wenjing, you can stay as long as you want. If you want to try some restaurants outside at noon, like Quanjude, or if there's anywhere you want to go, let Gu Yan take you."

She remembered that some large state-owned restaurants would also be open during the Spring Festival, and Gu Yan always managed to find a place.

“Okay.” Ruan Wenjing nodded.

After Gu Yan finished washing up and changed into a wool coat, he waved to Ruan Wenjing with a flourish, "Let's go, Wenjing."

Ruan Wenjing nodded slightly to Nan Zhiyi and followed Gu Yan out.

Nan Zhiyi stood at the door, watching the two walk out of the courtyard one after the other.

Gu Yan took long strides, while Ruan Wenjing followed half a step behind, their figures quickly disappearing at the entrance of the alley.

She then turned around and went back into the house to continue taking care of Xiaoman.

As expected, Gu Yan and Ruan Wenjing did not return at lunchtime.

It wasn't until dusk, when the sky began to darken, that any noise came from outside the courtyard gate.

Gu Yan arrived before he did, striding in with his things in hand, his voice booming: "Xiaoman! Zhiyi! Look what delicious food I brought back for you!"

Nan Zhiyi was in the study upstairs with T Xiaoman when she heard the noise and came downstairs.

Gu Yan placed several oil paper packages on the dining table, and Ruan Wenjing followed behind him, her cheeks slightly red from the cold wind.

"You're back? Did you have fun?"

Nan Zhiyi asked with a smile, and went over to look at the oil paper package. There was a shiny roast duck and several other paper packages that smelled like Beijing-style snacks such as donkey rolls and aiwowo.

She was somewhat surprised, "You really went to Quanjude? And you even bought some pastries..."

Gu Yan had already squatted down and took out a brightly colored chubby clay figurine of Ah Fu and a sugar painting figurine from another bag, waving them in front of Xiao Man, which amused Xiao Man so much that she reached out her little hand to grab them.

"The capital is really different, it has such a strong festive atmosphere!" Gu Yan said to Xiaoman without looking up.

Ruan Wenjing put down her small bag and continued the conversation: "Sister-in-law, we went to Zhongshan Park this morning. There was an ice lantern exhibition there. We also walked along Chang'an Avenue and saw Tiananmen Square. In the afternoon, we went to Wangfujing. The department store was so crowded and had so many things. This Beijing is really different from what I imagined."

She omitted the story of how Gu Yan wanted to buy her a wool coat but she firmly stopped him, and only mentioned some interesting things she had seen: "I also saw someone selling sugar paintings. Gu Yan insisted that Xiaoman would definitely like them, so he bought one. As a result, he carried it all the way and it almost melted."

Nan Zhiyi could picture Gu Yan carrying a sugar painting through the streets and alleys, and couldn't help but laugh: "That's just how he is, he does whatever comes to mind. Are you freezing? Quickly drink some hot water to warm up."

As she spoke, she brought over some hot tea and placed it on the coffee table, inviting Ruan Wenjing to sit down and rest for a while.

Gu Yan stuffed the sugar painting into Xiaoman's hand, walked to the sofa and sat down: "How about it, didn't I tell you it was lively outside? It's a pity Xiaoman couldn't go."

Nan Zhiyi handed them hot tea: "Alright, you must be tired after playing all day. Are you hungry? Sister Zhang is already cooking, it will be ready soon."

Gu Yan took a sip of hot tea and let out a comfortable sigh: "Ah, I'm actually a bit hungry. The wind in the capital is much stronger than in the south; it chills you to the bone."

He looked around. "My brother hasn't gotten off work yet?"

Nan Zhiyi said, "It should be soon. You play with Xiaoman for a while first."

She picked up the oil paper package from the dining table and went into the kitchen.

Seeing the roast duck in her hand, Sister Zhang said, "Shall we cut half of it for dinner and have it with a side dish?"

Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. The wrap has gotten cold, so I need to heat it up."

Sister Zhang quickly sliced ​​and arranged the roast duck on a plate. Nan Zhiyi watched as she rewrapped it and placed it in the natural freezer on the kitchen window.

After she finished cooking dinner and left, Nan Zhiyi specially took it out for her to take home, saying, "It won't be fresh if you leave it until tomorrow. If you don't mind that it's only half, you can take it home."

Only then did Sister Zhang take the oil paper package, put it into her handbag, and leave with a smile.

Nan Zhiyi stood at the gate of the courtyard and looked into the distance. After a while, she saw Gu Xiao's figure.

"Why are you dressed so scantily and standing in the wind?"

He saw her from afar, unbuttoned his coat, and quickly walked over to wrap her up inside. "Silly wife, come inside."