Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

"You kid!" He Yuzhu laughed and joked, "Of the four of you brothers, you and Hutou are the most cunning. Although your eldest brother is not cunning, he is too arrogant. It's okay in the countryside, but it's easy to suffer in the city." Then he asked, "How are your uncle and Dongzi now?!"

Lu Taihe said: "My uncle seems to have a girlfriend. Dongzi doesn't have one yet."

He Yuzhu said, "When your eldest brother gets married, you should move there too! Give the house you live in now to your uncle and Dongzi. They are both not young anymore, and it's time for them to find a partner."

Lu Taihe said: "Brother Zhuzi, why are you worrying so much?!"

He Yuzhu said, "I brought you from the countryside to the city. I have to be responsible for you. I can't help you with small things, but I can still help you with big things." Then he asked, "When are you going to find a partner?!"

Lu Taihe said: "Brother Zhuzi, I'm still young! No rush. Let's talk about it in two years."

He Yuzhu smiled and said nothing more, speeding up the cooking. After working for more than an hour, He Yuzhu had just finished cooking when Huang Ying and He Yushui came back. He Yuzhu and Lu Taihe brought the food to the table, asked everyone to sit down, took out a bottle of wine and three bottles of soda, and said, "The three of us will have a drink with grandpa. Wife, you, Yushui, and grandma, have some soda."

Lu Shunyi said, "Zhu Zi, let's not drink today. We'll drink again tomorrow when Tai Shan brings his girlfriend over."

He Yuzhu said, "Grandpa, we have wine at home. Let's drink it today and continue drinking tomorrow." After that, He Yuzhu unscrewed the bottle cap with swift movements and poured the wine directly.

He Yushui took out a bottle opener with a smile, and while opening the lid of the soda bottle, he said, "Brother Taishan, you are really capable. You found a partner so quickly. Where is the girl from?!"

Lu Taishan replied: "My girlfriend is Liang Qiuyu, she graduated from high school and works as a warehouse keeper in a component factory. Her father is the workshop director of the component factory and her mother is a member of the factory union. She also has two older brothers who are in the army. She also has a younger sister and two younger brothers who are all studying now."

He Yuzhu continued, "I have inquired about it. Taishan's wife has a good reputation in the factory. His family is also very easy-going. They are very popular in the factory and among the neighbors. It is quite suitable for Taishan to marry such a wife."

Lu Shunyi said: "Taishan, I forgot to ask you just now, have you called your parents?!"

Lu Taihe glanced at Lu Taishan and said, "Grandpa, my brother didn't beat her. He said he would bring her here for you two to review. If you agree, my brother will go to the girl's house next Sunday. He will bring my sister-in-law back to her hometown the next week."

Cui Juan said, "Taishan, it's good that you have this intention. Go call your father now and ask him and your mother to come over early tomorrow morning."

"This..." Lu Taishan hesitated. He Yuzhu urged, "Why are you still sitting there? Go! The tobacco and sundries store at the entrance of the alley can make a call."

"Hey! I'll go right away!" After saying that, Lu Taishan immediately stood up and ran out.

After Lu Taishan left, Lu Shunyi said, "Zhu Zi, Taishan is sometimes not very sensible. I am here to say hello to you."

He Yuzhu said, "Grandpa, you are being too polite. We are all family. Don't I know Taishan?! I won't bother with him."

Lu Taihe looked at He Yushui and asked, "Sister Yushui, you will take the college entrance examination next year. Which university do you plan to apply to?!"

He Yushui replied: "I haven't thought about it yet."

He Yuzhu said: "Yushui, I'm not saying anything bad to you. You should set a goal now."

Huang Ying glared at He Yuzhu and Lu Taihe and said, "You guys! You only know how to bully our Yushui." Then Huang Ying looked at He Yushui and said, "Yushui, don't listen to them. Apply to any university you want. If you can't get in this year, try again next year. Even if you can't get in, it doesn't matter. Find your brother and arrange an easier job for you. Anyway, your brother doesn't have anything else, but he still has a job. If it doesn't work out, you can work as a clerk in our institute."

"My sister-in-law is still good to me!" He Yushui agreed with a smile, looking at He Yuzhu with a provocative look. He Yuzhu chuckled and said, "Okay! I won't put any pressure on you. You can do whatever you want. At worst, I will support you."

Lu Taihe said: "Yushui, we will go to Tianjin to deliver the goods the day after tomorrow. I will bring back whatever you want."

He Yushui replied: "I don't know what's there."

He Yuzhu said: "How many days will you be gone?!"

Lu Taihe replied: "It takes four days to go back and forth. But according to past experience, it will take at most three days to return."

He Yuzhu took out fifty yuan and a stack of Tianjin local food coupons and meat coupons from his pocket and said, "Tianjin Goubuli steamed buns, fried dough twists, sesame cakes, fried cakes, beef rings, whatever is delicious, bring me some. Don't be reluctant to spend money. If it's not enough, you can use it first, and I'll make up for it when I come back." After that, He Yuzhu stood up and walked into the kitchen. Not long after, He Yuzhu came out with a backpack.

Lu Taihe asked: "Brother Zhuzi, what's in this?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "Lunch box! I asked you to buy something, but I didn't give you anything to put in it. How can you bring it back?" He Yuzhu suddenly thought of something and took out another two hundred yuan from his pocket, saying, "I almost forgot. Tianjin is close to the port. If it's convenient for you, go see if there's any seafood for sale. If there is, buy some back."

"Oh!" Lu Taihe responded, took the money and ticket, and asked, "Brother Zhuzi, I'm not familiar with seafood, how do I know whether it's good or bad?!"

He Yuzhu said: "As long as the food is not smelly, it's fine. I will teach you how to distinguish good seafood from bad ones when I have the chance in the future."

Lu Shunyi asked: "Zhu Zi, there won't be any mistakes if we do this, right?!"

Without waiting for He Yuzhu to speak, Lu Taihe said, "Grandpa, don't worry! It's not a mistake. This is the hidden benefit of our drivers."

He Yuzhu asked: "When are you leaving?!"

Lu Taihe replied, "We will leave around 10 o'clock the day after tomorrow. The specific time depends on when the warehouse has finished loading the goods." Then he asked, "What's the matter?!"

He Yuzhu said, "The day after tomorrow when I go to work I will go say hello to Deputy Director Li and ask him to write you a letter of introduction just in case."

Huang Ying suddenly asked, "Taihe, are you guys coming back to load the cargo?!"

Lu Taihe replied: "No."

Huang Ying thought for a moment and said, "Well, I'll go to the office and ask tomorrow morning. I'll give you a reply at noon."

"Hey!" Lu Taihe responded, and just as he was about to say something, Lu Taishan walked in from outside. Lu Shunyi asked, "Did you make the call?!"

Lu Taishan replied, "It's done. Tomorrow morning, my father, mother and two younger brothers will come over."

He Yuzhu said, "Now that the call has been made, don't just stand there! Eat! Otherwise the food will get cold."

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Eat! Eat!" Lu Shunyi echoed, picked up a piece of meat and put it in his wife's bowl, picked up another piece of meat and put it in He Yushui's bowl, and said: "Yushui, you should eat more! Studying requires nutrition, eat more!"

"Thank you, Grandpa! You eat too!" After saying that, He Yushui picked up a piece of meat and put it into Lu Shunyi's bowl. Then she smiled at Lu Shunyi and started eating the food in big mouthfuls.