Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 104 Father and Son Set a Trap
"What's there to say? This is a good thing for them, it doesn't affect our family at all!"

“That’s not what I’m asking. What I want to ask is whether you can also work in the government office in the future!” He Daqing said.

“Me? What would I do inside?” He Yuzhu pointed at himself.

"What? Now that we're officials, who would dare mess with us? Who would dare look down on your father and say we're just cooks who serve others!"

"Then why don't you go by yourself? I'll have my Aunt Wang introduce you to someone tomorrow. You can cook at the Military Control Commission, and see who dares to say anything to you then," He Yuzhu suggested.

"Bullshit, I'm not a chef even if I go to cook. Besides, would I dare to go? What if they bring up the past? I'd be in deep trouble, and you and your children would be implicated too," He Daqing said irritably.

"Your dad's right, we're not going to walk into the line of fire!"

“I’m still too young, no one can hire me. The new government doesn’t allow child labor.”

"How about Dad changes your household registration?"

"Dad, please spare me. Do you think I eat too much? You can't save up the little money you earn?"

"Nonsense, your father is hoping you'll amount to something." He Daqing has saved a lot of money over the years. He Yuzhu has been arranging all sorts of things for the family, and besides what they eat, he's been doing a lot of trading.

When He Yuzhu returned, he didn't ask if there was anything left, because it seemed that the food at home was all fresh, which meant that He Daqing had found a new way in this regard.

"If you don't need the money, then wait two years. You just can't stand to see me idle, can you?"

"Qinxing, Qinxing, what are you doing idly? How about your father helps you with the banquet?"

“Would anyone dare to hire someone like me?” He Yuzhu pointed to his face.

"How about I get you a fake beard or something?" He Daqing suggested after thinking for a moment.

"Go away, go away, is that all you want your son to do?" Chen Lanxiang said, displeased.

"I'm just worried he won't be ambitious enough!" He Daqing said with a worried expression.

"If he's not ambitious, how could his skills be better than yours? If he's not ambitious, how did he even graduate from high school? If he's not ambitious, how could our family have lived so comfortably these past few years? I don't know what you're thinking."

Chen Lanxiang fired off a barrage of questions, leaving He Daqing speechless. He then took out a cigarette and lit it.

He took a couple of puffs before saying, "My dear wife, I'm actually afraid. I'm afraid that one day I won't be able to stay in this city anymore, and Zhuzi will be able to support you and your children."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Chen Lanxiang scolded.

“I’m not talking nonsense. I really have a premonition. It seems like I’ve been wronged by some villains all these years. Even for such a trivial matter, I’ve been gossiped about several times. Our family has spent a lot of money. If it weren’t for Boss Lou protecting me, I would have lost my job.”

Why didn't you tell me?

“What good would it do to say that? It would only make my family worry.”

"So what did you say today?"

"I was just thinking that since Cuiping got into the Military Control Commission, I was wondering if I could get Zhuzi in too, so he could keep the scoundrels around me in check!"

"Dad, are you sure someone is behind this?" He Yuzhu immediately thought of Yi Zhonghai and asked.

"I'm not sure, but I've been going through a lot of trouble these past few years because of that little thing of cooking for the Japanese. If no one was involved, who would keep bringing it up?"

"Have you offended anyone?" He Yuzhu asked, leading the question.

"I haven't offended anyone. I went back to ask Fengzeyuan, but they didn't know either. They also suffered some losses; a lot of their chefs left."

"Didn't you ever consider whether someone close to you did it?"

"Beside me? Who?" He Daqing looked around nervously.

"This is our home," Chen Lanxiang said irritably. "What are you looking at?"

"Yes, yes, this has been a bit... a bit of a problem these past few years."

"The wind howls and the cranes cry."

"That's the word."

"Ah, once bitten, twice shy!" He Yuzhu sighed.

"You're the one who got bitten by a snake, why are you afraid of a well rope?" He Daqing retorted stubbornly.

"Alright, keep an eye on the people around you about this. Don't overthink it; it's definitely not true!"

"The people around me, fine, I got it. Just don't let me find out who it is, or I'll tear them to pieces!" He Daqing said through gritted teeth.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai in the east wing involuntarily shivered, tightened his clothes, and muttered, "This stove is burning brightly, why is it suddenly so cold!"

After chatting for a while, He Yuzhu went back to the side room. He was thinking about how to deal with Yi Zhonghai, beat him up, and break his arms and legs. It wouldn't be enough to vent his anger. It seems he needs to investigate what Yi Zhonghai has been doing these past few years. His family seems to be doing quite well these days. He must have met some people and found new connections.

In the following days, He Yuzhu and others would wait for Yi Zhonghai after the steel rolling mill closed, just to see where he would go.

To his disappointment, Yi Zhonghai obediently went home, and He Yuzhu also stayed up late at night, listening to see if anyone next door was going out, but there was still no sound.

He gave up for the time being, guessing that it was because Beijing had just been liberated and the group that Yi Zhonghai had associated with had now quieted down.

Every time he went out, Chen Lanxiang would definitely ask him questions. He Yuzhu quietly told her that he was going to look for the ways he used to buy things and see if he could reconnect with them.

Chen Lanxiang knew she couldn't keep an eye on her son, so she could only remind him to be careful and stay away from the new government if they clashed, so he wouldn't get caught in the crossfire.

After giving her son instructions, she also had to cover for him, because the old lady and Wang Cuiping had also asked Zhuzi where he had been, and that he went out every afternoon.

Her excuse was that He Daqing had helped find a few small banquets for He Yuzhu to prepare, and Wang Cuiping had even asked if she needed any help.

Chen Lanxiang naturally said no, but she told He Yuzhu that she wanted to bring something back, otherwise it would be inappropriate for the cook to go out empty-handed to prepare the feast.

After saying that, they offered him money, which He Yuzhu accepted without refusing.

Then He Yuzhu started bringing things home, such as half a chicken, a piece of meat, two lunch boxes, several kilograms of rice, and several kilograms of flour.

Chen Lanxiang assumed he bought it outside and didn't ask, since these things are indeed available outside now.

After He Yuzhu stopped following Yi Zhonghai, he pulled his father, He Daqing, aside and asked, "Dad, do you want the watch and the rickshaw?"

"What? You managed to get your hands on this? You've made contact with those people?"

Chen Lanxiang didn't hide this from He Daqing, so the first thing he thought of was that He Yuzhu had found someone.

"Hmm, it's not new, it's leftovers from those people who ran away before. Do you want it?"

"Yes, why not? What's the price?" These days, ordinary families can't afford new ones; they're all imported goods, and there are also secondhand ones from pawnshops.

"A watch costs 50 silver dollars, and a bicycle costs 80 silver dollars!"

"I'll discuss it with your mother. He manages all the money." He Daqing was tempted. The cheapest new watch started at one hundred, and the rickshaw was even more expensive.

“Okay, then you can discuss it with my mother. By the way, our family is rich, right?” He Yuzhu said.

"Don't worry about that, just have someone keep the things," He Daqing said generously.

"to make!"

"Go back to sleep!"

"it is good!"

Why did He Yuzhu bring this up? It's bait. You can't guard against a thief for a thousand days. Yi Zhonghai isn't moving, so let's make him move.

He also discovered that the current Yi Zhonghai was different from the one he saw in the previous life's story. The upright old man in the TV series seemed to have nothing left but the obsession with retirement.

But Yi Zhonghai still has a middle parting, a bald chin, and a gloomy expression. In particular, most people don't dare to look him in the eye.

Others might not know, but he did because he lived next door to Yi Zhonghai. He Yuzhu had heard a lot about what was going on at Yi's house. This guy was torturing Li Guihua in all sorts of ways. He guessed that if it weren't for Li Guihua cooking and cleaning, he would have killed her long ago.

As for why He Daqing agreed so readily, it was partly for the sake of face, and partly because he harbored the same thoughts as his son. "You've been nagging me, haven't you? I'm doing better and better now, aren't you angry? If you get too angry, won't you slip up? I'll catch you red-handed and see if you die."

The next day, He Daqing went to work, and Chen Lanxiang secretly gave He Yuzhu four small yellow croakers. The exchange rate between small yellow croakers and silver dollars had been fluctuating between 1:40 and 1:30. It wasn't the highest point yet, but it could still be exchanged for 37 or 8 dollars.

This is considered a surplus of a few extra dollars.

"Mom, you agreed to buy it?" He Yuzhu asked instead of taking the small yellow croaker.

"This money was earned by your father, so let him spend it as he pleases."

"This isn't just a dollar or two, it's four small yellow croakers!" He Yuzhu exclaimed, slightly exaggeratedly.

"Money is meant to be spent, so let him have his way."

"Don't regret buying it, because you can't return it."

"Go on, Zhuzi. It's not easy for our family to save up this money. You'd better take this money carefully." Chen Lanxiang forced the small yellow croaker into He Yuzhu's hands and said through gritted teeth.

"Mother, don't worry, this is gold, how could I possibly lose it?"

"Alright, when can we get it back? Do you need your dad to pick it up?"

"After work, I'll wait for him at the factory gate and have him bring it back."

"Okay, as long as you know what's going on."

He Yuzhu took the gold bars and went out. Xiaoman and Xu Damao, who came looking for him, found no one there and started questioning He Yushui.

"Little Rain, where's your brother?"

"I do not know!"

"Haven't you been home the whole time?"

"I...I just got up!" He Yushui said a little embarrassedly. This little girl loves to sleep and is the kind that you can't wake up.

"Lazybones!" Xiaoman, not getting an answer, poked He Yushui's head.

"I... I'm not like that, hmph, Sister Xiaoman is bad." He Yushui pouted and turned her head away.

"Okay, I'm naughty. I'll go tell Xiaohui about the comic book."

"No, no, I want to hear too." He Yushui hugged Xiaoman tightly.

"Then you have to promise Xiaoman that you'll tell me where your brother goes in the future."

"But I really don't know! He was already gone when I got up!"

I said "from now on!"

"Okay, okay!" He Yushui didn't care about the future; she just wanted to get through this so she could hear the story.

Xu Damao knew He Yushui too well and shook his head. He was planning to come earlier in the future, but relying on He Yushui was wishful thinking.

As for why not ask Chen Lanxiang, it's because you probably wouldn't get any information from her anyway.

He Yuzhu didn't come back for lunch either. The old lady and Wang Cuiping were used to it, but they were a little unaccustomed to not being able to eat He Yuzhu's cooking at noon. Chen Lanxiang's home-cooked dishes were okay, but they were still far inferior to top chefs like He Daqing and He Yuzhu.

At the very least, He Yushui is a bit picky about food, which led to Chen Lanxiang scolding her. This little girl seems to be spoiled and doesn't know how lucky she is.

He Yushui ate lunch with tears in her eyes, thinking that her father would definitely complain when he came home that night.

"Dad, over here, over here!"

He Daqing had just finished work and stepped out of the factory gate when he saw his son standing in the distance, waving and calling out to him.

"Why are you here?"

"The items have been purchased."

"You bought it, so why did you come all the way here to tell me?"

"It hasn't been sent back yet. Shouldn't you take it back with you? It's not appropriate for me to take it back."

"where?"

"Come with me!" He Yuzhu led He Daqing to a small grove of trees not far away.

As soon as He Daqing entered the woods, he saw a gleaming foreign car, and his eyes lit up immediately. The car was at least 80% new.

However, a rectangular box on the back seat puzzled him. Upon closer inspection, he found it to be a grandfather clock.

"I told you to buy a watch, why did you buy a clock?"

“My mom gave me a little too much money, so I bought one. Anyway, we need to keep track of time at home.”

Where's the watch?

“Here it is!” He Yuzhu pulled a watch out of his pocket; it had a leather strap and a silver-white face.

He Daqing looked at it under the light and saw that it was 90% new. Then he looked at the label and realized that he recognized the brand.

"Plum blossom?"

"Hmm, how is it?"

"Not bad, not bad, this watch looks almost brand new."

"Try wearing it."

"Okay, try it on." After putting it on, He Daqing kept raising his hand to look at it.

"Alright, Dad, go back and look at it slowly. It's time to go home and cook."

"Let's go, let's go." He Daqing was eager to go back and show off.

Once they were out of the grove, He Daqing was a bit lost. He'd never ridden a bicycle before; did he have to push it back?

"Dad, you can't ride a bike? Then why did you agree to buy it for me?"

“If you can’t ride, you can’t buy it. I’ll still look good pushing it around,” He Daqing retorted stubbornly.

"Then you hold onto that clock, and I'll take you back."

"You can ride, so don't make your dad fall again."

"I've studied in Tianjin, hurry up, it's getting dark, if we get back late my mother will worry." He Yuzhu parked the car, grabbed the clock and stuffed it into He Daqing's arms, then got back on the car, supporting himself on one foot.

"Dad, come on up, what are you standing there for?"

"Oh, oh!" He Daqing knew from He Yuzhu's quick movements that he must have ridden it before.

He could only sit sideways while holding the clock, which made him a little embarrassed, so he raised the clock higher and used it to cover his face.

Along the way, all the workers pointed and whispered, this was a novelty, only the foremen in the factory had a few of them. Then they looked at the young man riding the bike, they didn't recognize him, but the person sitting behind him looked so familiar.

He Daqing kept urging He Yuzhu to hurry up. He Yuzhu was carrying someone, and the bicycle chain was almost sparking from his pedaling. When Lord He arrived at the gate of the compound, his buttocks were numb. He almost fell to the ground when he got off the bicycle.

"I told you to hurry up, couldn't you have chosen a better path?" He Daqing complained.

"Is there any good road near your factory gate?" He Yuzhu wasn't going to take the blame; he had already tried his best to find a good place to ride on that terrible road.

"Alright, let's go in now."

(End of this chapter)