Chapter 4: Willow Catkins and Leaves

  As soon as I pushed open the door, the opposite door also opened, and a slender figure walked out.

  "Really?"

  Zhou Yi nodded. The family opposite had just moved in, and it seemed there was no male owner, only a young woman with a two or three year old child. Moreover, the woman was extremely young and beautiful, if not for the child, perhaps nine out of ten people would think she was unmarried.

  It's common to see people living door-to-door in the city for years without knowing their neighbor's surname, let alone a young and beautiful woman. She was probably either a young widow or newly divorced, and even if they didn't bother each other, rumors would still spread. So although Zhou Yi had met her a few times, they only exchanged pleasantries like "hello", "how are you", "have you eaten", "going out?" and other meaningless phrases.

  "Alright, going out?"

  The pretty female neighbor was struggling to drag a sack out of the door, while a small figure slipped out from under her arm and ran in front of Zhou Yi, tilting his head to look at him: "Uncle!"

  This is a very cute little girl, with big eyes and white skin, and those crescent-shaped eyes spinning around, as if hiding countless mischievous ideas.

  "Uh, baby is fine."

  Originally, Zhou Yi was going to just say hello and leave, but now he felt a bit embarrassed, and his heart actually liked this girl, so he affectionately rubbed her little head and chuckled: "How come you're bringing a kid out, and carrying so many things? It looks pretty heavy..."

  The woman saw Zhou Yi ask her, and she raised her head, slightly blushing as she said: "It's getting late, I need to pack up my stall..."

  "Out of the way?" Zhou Xing was taken aback, sizing up this beautiful female neighbor from head to toe. They had been neighbors for quite some time now, but this was still the first time they had gazed at each other for such a long time.

  A head of disheveled black long hair, slightly moving red lips, a small goose egg face, slender and fragrant shoulders... The one-piece dress on her body is a bit old, but wearing it on her, it's as if she has surpassed all the big stars and famous models.

  Born with beauty, it's hard to give up...

  Zhou Yi looked a bit dazed, of course he was not as infatuated as Xiao Hua, but seeing such a beautiful woman in such circumstances, he couldn't help feeling a sense of injustice for her.

  "Are you going to sell at the flea market?"

  Zhou Yi quickly discovered his own loss of composure, hastily withdrew his gaze and changed the subject. Judging from her equipment and the time she left, it's likely that she's going to that place with a probability of 80 or 90%.

  "Yes, yes, Little Auntie takes Yezi to the flea market every day. There are many delicious things there..."

  When Zhou Yi asked, the girl replied happily. In her eyes, the flea market was the best place, with lotus seed porridge, fragrant roasted meat skewers and sweet and cool stir-fried ice...

  "Auntie?" Zhou Yi was taken aback once again.

  "This is my sister's child..." As she spoke, the woman's eyes reddened and her head involuntarily lowered.

  "Oh..."

  Looking at the other person's expression, it was clear that there was some unspoken sorrow. Zhou Yi naturally didn't want to engage in shallow conversation, nor did he want to abruptly leave, so he pointed to the large bag and laughed: "Hehe, you're alone with a child, how can you manage to move such heavy things? I'm heading downstairs anyway, let me help you carry it down."

  "How can I possibly..."

  The woman blinked, somewhat moved but also a little shy. This fleeting expression led Zhou Yi to make a kind guess - she was still a maiden and her face was quite thin.

  "What's there to be embarrassed about? We're neighbors, helping each other out is nothing. Isn't it said that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors? Right, my name is Zhou Yi."

  The old man said with a smile, and at the same time stretched out his hand to take over the pocket. Seeing that he was holding it in his hand as light as nothing, as if there was no weight at all, Xiaoye suddenly became excited, clapping her small hands and saying: "Uncle is a strong man, great! It's really good to have Uncle's help, from now on Auntie won't have to work so hard."

  "Leaf, don't talk nonsense..."

  The young girl's face turned red and she explained in a somewhat embarrassed tone: "Children don't understand things, please don't mind."

  "Hehe... Look what you said, Yezi is being considerate of you, how could she not understand? " Zhou Yi smiled and shook his head, saying: "Let's go."

  "My name is Liu Xue..."

  The girl picked up Yezi and followed Zhou Yi for a few steps before suddenly speaking in a low voice.

  "Willow catkins... what a great name, it sounds really nice." Zhou Yi casually complimented, and for the time being couldn't think of anything more suitable to say.

  Originally, in front of a pretty girl, any man would get excited and try to make conversation, find opportunities to joke around; however, in front of Xiao Yezi, Zhou Yi obviously couldn't get excited, and even felt that saying those joking words in front of such a girl was simply humiliating for men, not even Zhu Xiaohua could bear to do it.

  Willow catkins held onto the leaves, walking behind Zhou Yi with her head down, not saying a word. Little Yezi, however, wouldn't stop for a moment, occasionally asking Zhou Yi some sharp and strange questions that even made people blush, intentionally or unintentionally leading him to her little aunt's one mu three fen land.

  What can be said about this, except to lament that the children of today are unbearable? This little devil looks like he's not even three years old yet, and when he grows up, won't he drive a group of young girls crazy?

  In the midst of the rustling of small leaves, it was easy to walk down to the floor. The willow catkins seemed to have finally escaped, quickly putting down this little monster, and snatching the pocket from Zhou Yi's hand, her face red with embarrassment: "I can put it on the electric car myself, thank you, Brother Zhou..."

  "These days aren't easy to get through..."

  Looking at the slender figure of Liu Xue on the electric tricycle and the little leaf still waving at him, Zhou Yi suddenly had some tender thoughts, but soon he laughed and shook his head. How could he have such thoughts about a strange girl? What face would he have to scold Zhu Xiaohua in the future?

  This is too melodramatic, it's not your style, bro.

  After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Yi walked to the public phone in the residential area. As soon as he dialed the number, his father scolded him severely: "Xiao Yi, do you want to kill your old man?! Xiaohua told me that this time she finally managed to introduce you to a university lecturer position, but you messed it up again!"

  "Dad, listen to me..."

  "I won't listen! Didn't Xiaohua invite you to dinner tonight? Get over there immediately, from now on when I'm not in the country, you'll have to listen to Xiaohua!"

  Zhu Xiaohua!

  Zhou Yi gritted his teeth, "You little scamp! You've even gone to France to tattle? Alright, when I see 'Flower', if I don't make you pay off your debts of romance, I'll change my name to Zhu Da Hua!"

  "Huā duǒ" is actually Zhu Xiaohua's wife, Zhu Qian. However, the brothers never called her "sister-in-law", instead using this unconventional way to address her.

  However, the old man was still jumping with rage on the other side of Europe, and Zhou Yi had to coax him, so he repeatedly promised that he would have dinner with Comrade Xiaohua tonight, and only then did the old man's anger subside.

  He hung up the public phone and immediately picked up his mobile phone to dial: "Well, Zhu Xiaohua, you're really something! Aren't you afraid that international calls are expensive?"

  "Third brother, don't get me wrong, it wasn't the old man who called to ask, I just accidentally let it slip out. What kind of person do you think Zhu Xiaohua is? Can she betray her brothers?"

  The fat boy seems to be in a pitiful state.

  "Alright, you're still short of selling? Wait for me, I'll be right there."

  I Ching scolds with his mouth, but in his heart he is still warm, no matter whether the fat man has a bad taste or not, after all, he is concerned about his own affairs, this friend, did not make a mistake.