Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

Halfway through the meal, He Lin suddenly asked, "Dad, do you think Xiaoqing and I can go out for further studies?!"

"Sure!" He Yuzhu agreed and asked, "Where do you want to go for further studies?!"

He Lin replied: "I haven't thought about it yet."

He Yuzhu said: "As long as you want to learn, Dad will satisfy you even if it means selling everything he has. What's more, our family is well-off! There is no need to sell everything he has. If you want to go abroad, you must learn foreign languages ​​well."

Lou Xiao'e said, "You want to study abroad, I can help you."

He Yuzhu was slightly stunned. He didn't expect Lou Xiao'e to say such a thing. Lou Xiao'e noticed the strange look He Yuzhu gave her and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?! Is there something wrong with my face?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "Your face is fine. But Lou Xiaoe, I always feel that you have some impure intentions."

He Qing added: "Dad, it's the good fortune of our He family's ancestors that Aunt Lou likes you! If Aunt Lou can be our mother, we would be willing!" After saying that, He Qing winked at the three people beside her, and then looked at He Yuzhu and Lou Xiao'e with anticipation.

Lou Xiao'e was embarrassed. Even He Yuzhu, who usually prided himself on being thick-skinned, blushed. He Yuzhu coughed twice, adjusted his mood, and asked, "You are such a good girl! You have even learned how to use moral blackmail. Who did you learn this from?! I will definitely go to your school and ask your teacher about this some other day."

Although He Yuzhu adopted a free-range approach to the four children, he was still very strict in the general direction. The four children were usually playful with He Yuzhu, but when He Yuzhu got serious, the four children were still very scared.

Lou Xiao'e noticed that the atmosphere was a little off, and hurriedly tried to smooth things over, saying, "He Yuzhu, why are you being so mean to these kids?!"

He Yuzhu hurriedly defended himself, "I wasn't mean to them. You heard what He Qing just said?!"

Lou Xiao'e said, "He Yuzhu, you still have your wife in your heart and don't want to look for another one. But you also have to consider your children. Except for He Bing, ask the other three if they still have an impression of their mother?!"

He Yuzhu was speechless. Not long after He Lin and the other two were born, Huang Ying went on a mission. A few years after returning, her old injury relapsed and she died. She didn't spend much time with the children. The four of them could be said to have been raised by their grandmother.

He Yuzhu picked up the wine glass, drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, and said: "I am too selfish. I didn't consider your feelings. I am full! You guys take your time to eat!" After that, He Yuzhu left the table. After He Yuzhu left, He Qing knew that she had just said the wrong thing, and she stuck out her tongue unconsciously. He Bing sighed, looked at Lou Xiaoe, and said: "Aunt Lou, my father is like this, stubborn. Don't take it to heart."

Lou Xiao'e said, "I know your father's temper better than you do."

To be honest, Lou Xiao'e didn't have any thoughts about He Yuzhu. But at the dinner table, He Qing brought up the subject, and Lou Xiao'e suddenly felt that He Yuzhu was a pretty good man. It would be a good choice for her to marry him.

He Bing asked: "Auntie Lou, where do you live now?!"

Lou Xiaoe replied, "Sijiucheng Hotel." Then she asked, "What's the matter?!"

He Bing said, "Auntie Lou, the house next to ours is empty. How about you come live in our house?!"

Lou Xiao'e looked upstairs and said, "No need. I'll be back to Hong Kong Island in a few days."

He Lin asked, "Auntie Lou, you're back in Hong Kong Island, will you come again?!"

Lou Xiao'e replied, "Come on! I will live in Sijiu City from now on. When I am settled, you can come to my house to play. Although I don't have your father's cooking skills, my aunt is pretty good at cooking. I will ask her to make delicious food for you."

After lunch, He Bing and his three brothers and sisters sent Lou Xiao'e back to Sijiucheng Hotel. When the four siblings returned home, He Yuzhu was already sitting downstairs. He Bing and the other three looked at each other, and finally the four of them walked in front of He Yuzhu together.

He Yuzhu looked at He Bing and the other three and asked, "Are you back?!"

He Bing said with a playful smile: "Dad, you don't send people off. We, the younger generation, can only do it for you." Then he asked: "Dad, what are you thinking?!"

"That's right!" He Yong echoed, saying, "Dad, we've been gone for so many years. We've grown up, and sooner or later we'll have to live our own lives. You can't stay single forever, can you?!"

"That's right!" He Qing agreed, looking like she was just hoping for a turmoil in the world, and said, "Auntie Lou has a good temper! She's pretty and capable. Dad, if you can marry Auntie Lou, you can expect to enjoy a happy life!"

He Yuzhu tilted his head and looked at the four children and asked, "Do you really want me to find another wife?!"

He Bing said, "Dad, I'm the eldest in the family. I see more than my brothers and sisters. Our family can live well without Mom. Without you, this family will fall apart sooner or later. Although Mom is good to us, she has too many things on her shoulders. So many that she cares about those things far more than us. Dad, since Mom has been gone for so long, you should let it go. Just let yourself go, is that okay?"

He Yuzhu sighed deeply and agreed: "Okay! I'll help you find another mother!"

"That's great!" He Qing jumped up first, waving her fists and saying, "Dad! Work harder and marry Aunt Lou home! Let Aunt Lou be our mother!"

"That's right!" He Lin echoed, and together with He Qing, they hugged He Yuzhu's arms on the left and right, and said coquettishly: "Dad, Aunt Lou will be returning to Hong Kong Island soon. During this time, you should spend more time with her. Strengthen your relationship!"

Meanwhile, Lou Xiao'e finished her shower, lay down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling. Not long after, Lou Xiao'e fell asleep. She slept until four o'clock in the afternoon. Just as Lou Xiao'e woke up, there was a knock on the door. Lou Xiao'e hurriedly sat up from the bed and asked, "Who is it?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "Me! He Yuzhu!"

"Why is he here?!" Lou Xiao'e muttered, and replied, "Wait a moment, I'll come and open the door right away." After that, Lou Xiao'e climbed out of the bed, put on her nightgown, walked to the door, opened it, let He Yuzhu in, and asked while closing the door, "Why are you here?!"

He Yuzhu said, "You don't know. Those four guys scolded me when they got back. They said I didn't care about you as a friend. They didn't let you stay at home, but let you stay in a hotel. Anyway, I was in a difficult position today. So, I was afraid that you were hungry, so I specially made some dishes that you used to like and sent them to you."

Lou Xiao'e walked to He Yuzhu's side, looked at the opened lunch box, and asked with a smile: "Do you remember what I used to eat?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "I remember! Of course I remember! How could I forget?!" Then He Yuzhu handed a pair of chopsticks to Lou Xiaoe and said, "Try it! Is it to your taste?!"

"Then I'd better try it carefully! If it doesn't taste good, I will throw out both me and these lunch boxes." After saying that, Lou Xiao'e sat down, picked up a piece of oxtail and put it into her mouth.