Liu Xing'an's courtyard house was bought by Qin He, and she still remembered the address.
Qin He drove for more than forty minutes and stopped in an old residential area in the center of Qingcheng.
This area was mostly filled with small city attractions. It wasn't the peak tourist season, so there weren't many people.
Qin He got out of the car and walked into a hutong.
The courtyard gate was open. As soon as she stepped inside, her view opened up.
"So bright and airy. A courtyard like this really makes one feel comfortable," Qin He praised.
In the courtyard, two movers were walking out. Liu Xing'an saw them off and smiled when he saw Qin He.
"You came quite quickly."
Qin He chuckled, "Master, I think you can not only install grape trellises here but also add a few tubs to grow water lilies."
"Alright, don't just stand in the courtyard. Come inside and talk," Liu Xing'an waved his hand and turned to walk into the house first.
With his back to her, his hands clasped behind his back, he looked quite fitting for the old house.
Inside the house, Madam Liu was sitting on a wooden sofa in the living room, sewing something. When she saw Qin He enter, she immediately beckoned with a smile.
"He'er, come sit here."
As Qin He approached, she noticed that Madam Liu was sewing a pair of tiger-head shoes.
Traditional tiger-head shoes had vibrant, contrasting colors. Madam Liu held a silk thread, working on the tiger's whiskers.
"These are so beautiful," Qin He exclaimed involuntarily.
Madam Liu smiled, "They're for the baby in your belly."
"I know, Teacher's wife, you spoil me the most," Qin He drawled playfully.
Madam Liu was delighted, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
Liu Xing'an put on a look of disdain, but his brows were also relaxed.
"Moving here is actually much more comfortable than I imagined when I first saw the photos of the house."
Madam Liu sighed, "He'er, I've only been here for a few hours, and it already feels so much like home."
Qin He's eyes twinkled, "Then why don't you and Master settle down here permanently? Our Qingcheng is a blessed place. It's not too hot in the summer, and not too cold in the winter. If Teacher's wife gets tired of the city, we can still go to the mountainside for a vacation and soak in hot springs, what do you think?"
Madam Liu pursed her lips and smiled, "Your Master had already said that you were planning this when you helped him look for a house."
"Teacher's wife, you agree?"
Madam Liu nodded, "If you want to stay, then stay. We don't have many children anyway. I was worried about my trees when I thought about returning to Country L. Now that your Master says he can move them over for me, then of course I'll stay."
Qin He was overjoyed.
She, with her visibly pregnant belly, had been going to the United Department in the West District every day, worried that by the time she gave birth, the projects in the West District would be almost completed.
If Master and Teacher's wife then went to Country L, she wouldn't be able to find anyone to teach her and would have to decipher everything from books herself.
Now, it was perfect. Liu Xing'an had decided to stay, and she would have plenty of time to seek his guidance in the future.
Liu Xing'an and Qin He chatted with Madam Liu for a while.
After a pot of tea was finished, Liu Xing'an went into the inner room and changed into a worn-out outfit.
He rolled up his sleeves, "Disciple, come, today Master will teach you a big project!"
Madam Liu frowned, "Don't tire her out!"
"It's fine, I'll just have her watch,"
Qin He excitedly followed him.
In a corner of the courtyard, a pile of raw lumber was stacked.
Liu Xing'an brought out cutting and polishing machines from the corner and placed them in the courtyard. He then directly picked up a piece of lumber.
Qin He wanted to step forward and help, but Liu Xing'an stopped her.
"This isn't heavy at all. I've carried much heavier things when I was younger!"
"Master, be careful not to strain your back!"
Qin He watched for a while, then went back into the house to fetch two small stools, one tall and one short.
She sat aside, watching Liu Xing'an cut the lumber, carve mortise and tenon joints, and finally polish it smooth.
"Master, what are you making this large piece for? Isn't it for the grape trellis?" Qin He asked curiously.
The mortise and tenon joints this time were very simple, and the diameter of the raw wood was considerable.
Liu Xing'an found her noisy and simply ignored her.
Qin He rested her chin in her hands, watching as Liu Xing'an quickly assembled a swing in the courtyard over the course of the morning.
"This swing, unless the wood rots over time from being exposed to water, it will absolutely never break!" Liu Xing'an said proudly.
Qin He got on the swing to test it.
At this moment, Madam Liu also came out of the house, "Xing'an, He'er, what do you want for lunch?"
Liu Xing'an waved his hand, "A bowl of noodles will do."
After finishing the swing, he started working on the grape trellis again.
This time, Liu Xing'an was much more meticulous, choosing thinner wood and leaving natural bumps and textures.
Just as he had finished sanding two pieces of wood, Madam Liu's noodles were ready.
The master and disciple went inside to eat noodles. Qin He's noodles were topped with a thick fried egg.
After lunch, Ming Yuzhu called, asking why Qin He had gone out again.
In the end, Madam Liu took the phone and chatted for a while. Ming Yuzhu was satisfied and told Qin He to play until evening before returning home.
Qin He, having finally had a full day of fun, filled the Liu family's new courtyard house with laughter and joy.
At six o'clock in the afternoon.
It was the end of the workday at Lu Corporation. Lu Mingxi walked out of the company.
With his hands in his pockets, he stood in front of the company building and looked up at the sky.
Lu Mingxi's assistant followed closely behind, "Mr. Lu, the old house called again, saying that if you don't return soon, they'll come to the company to find you."
Lu Mingxi let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Don't worry, they won't come. They'll just secretly mobilize the old guard of the company to oppose me!"
Lu Corporation had, after all, grown under the care of his parents.
Lu Mingxi sighed softly. He had been back from Jiangcheng for some time now, and it was indeed time for him to return home and see them.
An hour later.
In the Lu family's old residence, Father Lu and Mother Lu were sitting on the sofa.
After Lu Mingxi entered, he greeted them coldly, "Dad, Mom, you wanted to see me."
Father Lu's eyes were filled with anger, "You still know you have parents? You've been back from Jiangcheng for so long, and I haven't seen you at all!"
Mother Lu, standing beside him, looked at Lu Mingxi and spoke sternly.
"It's one thing that you don't come home, but I heard you even went to the Qin family? What were you doing there?"
Lu Mingxi waited for a long time, but since his parents didn't invite him to sit down, he sat down on his own opposite them.
"Qin Yun and I are best friends. Have you two forgotten? Back then, you were the ones who set us up, saying that Qin Yun and I should be brothers, and that the Qin family was powerful and could help our company."
Lu Mingxi let out a cold laugh, "The deal in Jiangcheng was given up by the Qin Corporation. Dad, Mom, if you truly despise Qin He, you might as well despise the Qin family's money too."