Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! May the moon be full and families be reunited!
Delivered at dawn! Thank you Xia for the tip!
Zhang Shouyi looked at Zhang Hongmei calmly, noticing her serious expression.
"Okay, I understand. I'll be more careful in the future."
Zhang Shouyi's own room had ordinary red pine furniture. The whole set looked very comfortable, except for the bed, which Zhang Hongmei found unsatisfactory; it was flat, probably because he just laid a mattress on it and slept there.
The desk is huge, and it also has a half-wall bookcase, a standing wardrobe, a round table, four stools, and that's it.
"Brother Zhang, your room is really simple."
"Is it easy? I'm used to it. Come on, let's go see my dad's room."
"Brother Zhang, did I prepare this for you in Shuren Hutong as well?"
"The room is small, just a bed, a desk and a wardrobe are enough."
"Whatever you like." (This refers to living in a dormitory.)
Zhang Hongmei's master bedroom was the main room, and all three rooms belonged to her. Zhang Shouyi lived in the wing room on the left, and Zhang Xingguo lived in the wing room on the right.
The room was just as simple; the father and son had identical beds, both made of simple wooden boards. Zhang Hongmei felt a pain in her back just looking at them.
It was almost identical to Zhang Shouyi's room, except the desk was smaller and there was an additional solid wood bench.
"I know how to prepare furniture for you now, this is too easy."
"Hongmei, have you prepared a room for Liu Jingze?"
"Yes, we've prepared. He'll be coming every Saturday and Sunday."
"Oh, let's go check out the guest rooms. Should we reserve one for him too?"
How many guest rooms are there?
"The layout of the third courtyard is the same as that of the second courtyard. It also has three main rooms and two side rooms. However, I left a storeroom at the rear of the third courtyard."
"It's alright, everyone I let stay at night is someone I can trust."
All five rooms are renovated? And the furniture is complete?
"Yes, it's no different from the ones my father and I have, except the furniture is made of willow wood."
"Then there's no need to reserve a room for him. Any room will do. Xiao Shun, your secretary, bodyguards, and the like also need a place to stay."
"They were all in the side rooms of the first courtyard, which also had five rooms."
“Okay, if everyone moves in, it won’t feel empty.”
"Hehe, there are only gatherings like this during the Spring Festival. You'll definitely be going back to Liujiatun for the New Year."
"Yes, the first place that comes to mind when I think of the word 'home' is Liujiatun."
Xiao Li is back, and he's waiting for the two of them up ahead.
"I will arrange for professionals to come and maintain this garden in the spring."
"Okay, but we can't grow vegetables anymore."
"If you want to grow vegetables, then you don't need to grow flowers and plants."
"How about we plant flowers in the small garden in the first and second courtyards, and vegetables in the second and third courtyards?"
"You can arrange it however you like."
"By the way, Brother Zhang, if you need money, just take all the silver. I have no use for it."
"Hehe, that's yours."
"I'll share half with you; we found it together."
"You really want to share half with me?"
"Of course, I should have given you half anyway. The decorations, ancient books and paintings you have at home can't be bought here, so I'm giving you my share of the money as well."
"Fine, I'll find a chance to come and get rid of her." Zhang Shouyi felt quite uncomfortable. This girl had always wanted to draw a clear line between them, and she made it very clear that she treated him no differently than anyone else. He was truly powerless.
"Brother Zhang, let's go check out the gatehouse in front."
The two returned to the entrance from the covered walkway. "Brother Zhang, could this be considered a four-courtyard house?"
“Large three-courtyard houses, small four-courtyard houses, not counting the gatehouse.”
"I love this covered walkway the most, but where should we burn the earthenware radiator?"
"The heating system in the dining room of the first courtyard is for cooking and heating in the kitchen. The second courtyard, where you live, has a tea room behind the main house. It provides heating for the bedrooms and study. The third courtyard doesn't have that system."
"I really didn't notice there was a covered room behind the study, and your rooms don't have underfloor heating?"
"No, we don't need it."
"It would be great if we could put up a heated kang (traditional Chinese bed)."
“Building a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) is also an option, but it requires burning a lot of coal. Although earthen kangs (a type of heated floor) also burn coal, they are still a minority. If all the houses were to be heated, I suspect you would find it dirty.”
"The countryside is still the best."
"Hehe, each has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the two rooms at the entrance is a tea room, and the other is a reception room."
"Brother Zhang, you're so busy, yet you still have time to design the courtyard. That's amazing."
"These are all minor matters. I even prepared a chess table in the reception room; would you like to play a game with me?"
"Great! I've made progress. Brother Jingze even said he'd help me find a mentor."
"I'll know after the next two games. I want to see how good he is. Liu Jingze's teacher is someone I know."
"The world is too small."
Xiao Li brought over the tea tray; the tea was ready.
"Xiao Li, go fill the hot water bottle."
The two set up their chess pieces and began their fierce battle. Zhang Hongmei, with a hot water bottle on her lap, persevered for a quarter of an hour before being defeated.
"Not bad, you've improved a lot. I reckon if Liu Jingze took you there, he might actually accept you as a disciple."
"Hehe, give it a try. Although it's just a hobby, it's also a skill."
"Yes, it's always good to have more skills. If you want to learn something else, I'll help you."
"This chess game is fine. I'll learn Go later if I have the chance."
"You don't like musical instruments?"
"I don't like it, I'm clumsy with my hands."
Zhang Hongmei checked the time; it was already 4:30.
Zhang Shouyi stood up and said, "Hongmei, we're leaving. Lock up your bedroom, study, the storeroom in the third courtyard, and the storeroom in the back."
"Okay!" Zhang Hongmei locked the door, and of course, the lock on the main door was changed as well.
He handed Zhang Shouyi one key, keeping two for himself. However, Zhang Shouyi did not accept them!
"Brother Zhang, shall we go straight to the restaurant?"
"Go back to your house and see if Liu Jingze is back yet. Let's have dinner together."
"Okay, let's go take a look."
Liu Jingze had been there for half an hour. Actually, he was worried that Zhang Hongmei would be lonely at home, so he rushed back.
"Jingze, you're back? That's great! Brother Zhang invited us to have dinner together."
The two men shook hands and greeted each other. Liu Jingze looked helplessly at Zhang Hongmei, that girl.
The three of them got into the car and went to the roast duck restaurant.
"Brother Zhang, will Uncle Zhang go?"
"I reckon it'll be tough. The war is intense right now, and they sometimes hold meetings for a whole day and night. We don't need to worry about them. It would be great if they could come, but if they don't, we'll just eat by ourselves."
The car drove smoothly and arrived at the restaurant in twenty minutes. It was almost 5:30, and there were already more people eating.
The hotel manager personally came out to greet them and led the four into a private room.
When Zhang Shouyi and his group arrived, the manager didn't even need to order food. He simply asked how the duck carcass should be prepared before going to make it.
Xiao Li got up to refill the tea for the three people, but seeing that Zhang Hongmei hadn't drunk any, he went out and got a pot of plain water.
Liu Jingze: "Hongmei, I saw when I got home that you bought a bicycle. Did you go to the building today?"
"Yes, I went. I even bought some appliances."
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