After reporting the check-in information for Shen Weimin and his three companions to the neighborhood office and picking up this month's ration tickets, He Liping "escorted" his restless younger cousin back to the courtyard house.
By now, even the young couple, He Xiaotong and He Jianmin, who had been there earlier, had left the courtyard house. It was, just as he'd expected, the perfect time for a one-on-one talk.
Given the sweltering heat and the fact that it was noon, the two of them had no intention of going back to cook. Instead, they had picked up lunch and a jug of draft beer on the way.
Since they hadn't originally planned to return to the courtyard house first, they had to pay a deposit for the aluminum lunch boxes and the beer jug they brought back.
In the main hall of the central building.
Shen Weimin poured a bowl of beer for He Liping, then one for himself. Before He Liping could speak, he raised his bowl. "Bottoms up?"
"Alright."
