Chapter 327: Calculations

He Yuzhu did not walk over to talk, but merely waved from afar.

Liu Rusi nodded slightly.

He Yuzhu quickly ducked into the car and remained silent the entire way.

Secretary Liu teased, "The way you look at that girl is quite unusual; do you have feelings for her?"

He Yuzhu shook his head.

Secretary Liu smiled knowingly: "If you like her, you have to take the initiative and go for it!"

He Yuzhu did not speak.

In the East Cross Courtyard, Zhang Shuying was leading He Yushui and the other children in rehearsing "Erlang Mountain."

The children's voices drifted clearly through the twilight; He Yuzhu paused to listen for a moment, always feeling that this heroic song did not quite suit the young girls' immature voices.

"Little He, you're back?" Zhang Shuying stopped playing and looked over with a smile, "We passed the preliminary round and will soon participate in the city competition; could you give us some suggestions?"

He Yuzhu waved his hand and said, "I don't really understand music, I just feel that although this song is very heroic, it doesn't seem very suitable for children."

"I understand, but I really can't think of a better song. Why don't you pick one? They've only just started practicing anyway."

He Yuzhu nodded and said, "Alright, I shall obey your command."

"What song?" Zhang Shuying asked curiously, her fingertips still lightly stroking the keys.

"'Let Us Paddle the Boat.'"

"I haven't heard of it, sing it for me."

He Yuzhu hummed softly: "Let us paddle the boat, the little boat pushes aside the waves..."

Before the song had even finished, Zhang Shuying's eyes were already shining, and her fingers involuntarily began to play on the keys: "Who wrote this piece? It's truly beautiful."

"I can't remember, it's as if it's been etched in my brain since I was a child." He Yuzhu smiled and reached out to ruffle He Yushui's hair as she leaned in.

"Brother, we want to sing this song, this one sounds good." He Yushui tugged at his sleeve.

"Can you write down the score?" Zhang Shuying requested.

"Sure." He Yuzhu took up a pen and wrote rapidly, soon handing over the completed sheet music.

Zhang Shuying played through the score once, then turned to ask the children: "Shall we sing this one for our next competition?"

"Yes!" the four little girls said in unison.

Slender fingers danced between the black and white keys, children's voices and piano music blended in the night, and the small courtyard rippled with laughter.

In stark contrast to the warmth here, the Liu household was filled with wailing.

During his lunch break, Liu Guangtian had gotten into a fight with another child and injured the other boy's lip. Unexpectedly, that child was the son of the local police station's deputy director; the parents didn't say much, but the teacher handling the matter was relentless, ultimately making Liu Haizhong pay for medical expenses and nutrition fees, totaling a full month of his salary.

Upon returning from school, Liu Haizhong grabbed a broom and went for Liu Guangtian's backside, the broom landing on flesh with a dull "thwack."

Liu Guangtian cried his heart out, and his wife not only didn't try to stop it, but added fuel to the fire from the side.

The entire Houyuan was immersed in the sound of crying.

The sounds from the two courtyards wove into a jarring symphony—it seems human joys and sorrows are not shared.

At eight in the evening, He Yuzhu walked Zhang Shuying home.

The evening breeze carried the biting chill of spring, the weeping willows by Shichahai had already sprouted tender buds, and the soft willow branches swayed gently in the night.

The two strolled across Yinding Bridge, the streetlights stretching their shadows long and thin.

"I love spring the most, it always gives people hope!" Zhang Shuying kicked a pebble by the roadside, watching it fall into the lake with a "plop," "Will you walk with me a bit longer?"

"Alright." He Yuzhu slowed his pace.

Anglers were scattered along the shore like stars in the sky, a breeze brushed over the lake surface, and the moonlight shattered into ten thousand silver scales on the ripples.

"Do you have something on your mind?" He Yuzhu noticed her slightly furrowed brows.

Zhang Shuying looked toward the distant lights with a bitter smile: "I want to go abroad to travel, but my family absolutely refuses."

"Is there a financial difficulty?" He Yuzhu slowed his pace even more.

She shook her head, her dark hair fluttering lightly in the wind: "Let's not talk about that. What have you been busy with lately?"

"I don't have an education, but this time I shot down a few enemy planes, so my superiors specially approved me to study at Huaqing University." As He Yuzhu spoke, he brushed aside a willow branch hanging in front of his forehead.

"Seeing you collect so many foreign books, your English must be very good, right?" Zhang Shuying tilted her head to look at him.

"I care about appearances the most; those books are mostly for show, I haven't flipped through many of them. Actually, I didn't even finish primary school!"

Zhang Shuying chuckled: "You, clearly talented yet insisting on hiding your light. How could someone who can think of such a song be simple?"

"That song really wasn't written by me. When I was a child, I often wandered around Tianqiao, listening to all kinds of ditties, and unknowingly I memorized many melodies..."

Zhang Shuying stopped walking and gazed at him earnestly: "A song like that could never have come from Tianqiao."

He Yuzhu didn't want to talk more on this topic and suddenly asked: "Among the four children, who has the most musical talent?"

"Yushui has the brightest tone, Xiaoqi has the best sense of rhythm. As for Xiaomi and Dahua... they're just there for practice." Shallow smile lines crinkled at the corners of Zhang Shuying's eyes.

"If your family encounters any difficulties, just say so. Although we haven't known each other long, I can see you treat the children with sincerity. While I don't have much ability, I do have some friends..."

Zhang Shuying tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and shook her head gently: "It's all just trivial household matters, no need to trouble yourself."

Without realizing it, the two had arrived in front of Liu Rusi's residence.

That vermilion-lacquered gate stood silently, the fist-sized copper nails casting a cold, hard light under the dim lamps, making He Yuzhu feel a chill run through his entire body.

He stared at the door for a long time, an unspeakable bitterness welling up in his heart—once upon a time, no matter where he returned from, he would always come here first, but now, even entering the door was no longer easy.

His pace suddenly quickened, as if he were fleeing from something.

Just at this moment, the gate creaked open, and Pingping was seeing a guest out.

He Yuzhu walked forward without looking back, so fast that Zhang Shuying had to jog to catch up.

She grabbed his wrist and asked: "Why are you walking so fast? Do you know the people in this house?"

He Yuzhu shook his head in silence.

Zhang Shuying couldn't help but chuckle: "You look like a grown man, but inside, there's actually a child living there."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

She took the opportunity to hook her arm into his: "In my eyes, you're just an awkward child! There must be someone you like living in there!"

He Yuzhu nodded.

"Always thinking about last year's crops in the field will delay this year's spring plowing." Zhang Shuying winked at him playfully.

Zhang Shuying brought He Yuzhu to the entrance of her home, grabbed his sleeve, and said: "Since you're already here, why not come in and sit for a while? My parents often hear me talk about you, and they've been wanting to meet our great hero."

"It's too late, wouldn't that be inappropriate?" He Yuzhu hesitated slightly.

"They really want to see you!" Zhang Shuying pulled him toward the courtyard.

"Dad, Mom, we have a guest!"

Father Zhang and Mother Zhang heard the voice and came out to greet them, looking at He Yuzhu with smiles on their faces.

He Yuzhu also sized the two of them up: Father Zhang was a thin, tall man with an oval face and regular features; one look and you could tell he was a southerner. Mother Zhang had delicate features and was not very tall, but she exuded an air of shrewdness. Zhang Shuying must be their biological daughter; judging by their appearances, she had inherited the best traits from both parents.

"Dad, Mom, this is Comrade He Yuzhu." Zhang Shuying introduced him softly.

He Yuzhu hurriedly bowed: "Hello, Uncle, Auntie."

Father Zhang grabbed his hand and said excitedly: "It truly brings honor to our humble home for Comrade He to visit!"

"You are too kind." He Yuzhu felt a bit embarrassed by this enthusiasm.

Mother Zhang personally poured tea for him, while Father Zhang asked concerned questions about He Yuzhu's work and living situation, already treating him like a prospective son-in-law.

By the time he said goodbye and left, He Yuzhu had been praised to the heavens and back, feeling as if he were walking on air.

Not long after He Yuzhu left, the atmosphere in the room changed instantly.

Father Zhang looked at Zhang Shuying coldly: "You suddenly brought him back; what exactly is your intention?"

Zhang Shuying said in an icy voice: "Isn't he the person you have been longing to see day and night? I've brought him back for you, so why aren't you making a move?"