Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

Unlike the bustling kitchen of the steel mill, Yi Zhonghai's home was dead silent. After returning from the steel mill, Auntie didn't want to do anything. She just lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling with lifeless eyes. Qin Huairu, who had been secretly observing Auntie, didn't hear any movement from Yi Zhonghai's home after making lunch. She was worried that Auntie would die at home and the house would not be in their hands in the future. So Qin Huairu let Banggeng eat first, and she took a steamed bun and went out.

It was unknown whether this was a habit developed by the residents of this courtyard under Yi Zhonghai's teachings, or whether they were simply ill-mannered. Qin Huairu walked to the door of Yi Zhonghai's house and pushed it open. Seeing the old lady lying motionless on the bed, Qin Huairu's heart immediately hung in the air. She quickly ran to the bedside and shouted, "Old lady! Old lady!"

Hearing the call, the aunt came back to her senses, looked at Qin Huairu, sat up and asked: "Huairu, what's the matter?!"

Qin Huairu said, "I saw that there was no movement at your house, so I came to check." Then she asked, "Are you okay?!"

The lady sighed and replied, "It's okay! What could possibly happen to me?!"

Qin Huairu said, "You must be hungry! This steamed bread has just been taken out of the pot and is still hot. Eat it while it's hot!" After that, Qin Huairu stuffed the steamed bread in her hand into the aunt's hand, and then said, "I'm relieved that you're okay! Banggeng is home alone, I'll go back first." After that, Qin Huairu turned around and walked out the door.

However, Auntie didn't see that when Qin Huairu turned around, a strong murderous aura flashed across her eyes. At this time, Qin Huairu already had a plan in her mind. No matter what the outcome of Yi Zhonghai was, Auntie would definitely divorce him this time. At that time, she would recognize Auntie as her godmother. After a while, after getting all the money in Auntie's hands, she would find a way to make Auntie "die of illness", and then Auntie's money and house would be hers.

Actually, Auntie just thought a lot while lying in bed. It is said that good news does not travel far, but bad news travels far and wide. On the way back just now, Auntie listened to the neighbors' discussions and recalled every detail of her life with Yi Zhonghai. Auntie suddenly felt that she did not understand Yi Zhonghai. Or she and Yi Zhonghai were the most familiar strangers. Yi Zhonghai was unreliable now, and she had no children. Moreover, there were basically no good people living in this courtyard, and there were many families who wanted to eat up their family. The deaf old lady in the backyard could hardly protect herself, let alone protect her. After all, Auntie could only rely on her own family.

After eating a steamed bun, the aunt regained some strength. She opened the cabinet and took out a yellowed book. She found an address with blurred handwriting, took some money and went out.

Time passed little by little, and in the blink of an eye it was 4:30 in the afternoon. Gao Yao walked into the canteen kitchen and said, "Zhu Zi, the guests are here!"

He Yuzhu said, "Director, the dishes are ready. Now that the guests are here, let's serve them!"

Gao Yao was slightly stunned. He did not expect He Yuzhu to be so agile. After coming to his senses, Gao Yao said, "Since the dishes are ready, let's serve them!"

"Hey!" Sister Bai, who stayed to help, heard the director's words, took two people and brought the prepared dishes to the small restaurant in the back.

He Yuzhu took out four small aluminum lunch boxes and handed them to Gao Yao, and winked at him. Gao Yao took the lunch boxes with a smile and said, "You kid, I really don't know what to say to you!"

He Yuzhu said: "If you don't know how to say it, then don't say it."

"Okay, I won't be polite!" Gao Yao took the lunch box and left. After Gao Yao left, the other people in the cafeteria also went off work, leaving only the people on duty with He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu lifted the lid of the large teacup on the table behind him and said, "Lao Yang, you guys divide these dishes. After ten or twenty minutes, go and ask if they want more dishes. If not, I will go off work first."

Master Yang asked, "Zhu Zi, you really don't want to take some of these delicious dishes back home?!"

He Yuzhu shook his head and said nothing more. He walked to the side, took out a cigarette box from his pocket, put a cigarette in his mouth, then took out a lighter and lit the cigarette.

Master Yang and several kitchen helpers were sharing the dishes while remembering He Yuzhu's kindness. In those days, supplies were scarce and tickets were needed to buy everything. Meat tickets were only for half a pound per person per month. But it was useless even if you had a ticket. You might not be able to buy it. In the past, all the fat in the kitchen was taken back by He Yuzhu. Everyone was angry but dared not say anything. Now He Yuzhu took out the fat that belonged to him and shared it with everyone. The people in the kitchen would not say a bad word about He Yuzhu, but would miss He Yuzhu even more. To put it bluntly, in the past, when He Yuzhu fought with the workers, the people in the kitchen would only watch the fun. Now, not only will they not watch the fun, they will also help He Yuzhu. This is the difference.

After more than ten minutes, Secretary Gao ran out of the small restaurant, saw He Yuzhu and said, "Master He, Hao Shuji wants you to come over."

"Okay!" He Yuzhu responded, threw the cigarette butt in his hand to the ground, stepped on it, and then followed Secretary Gao to the small restaurant at the back.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!" Secretary Gao knocked on the door of the small restaurant. Hao Shuji heard the knock and shouted, "Come in!"

Secretary Gao pushed the door open and walked into the small restaurant and said, "Shuji, Master He is here!"

He Yuzhu followed him into the small restaurant and greeted him with a smile: "Hao Shuji, you're looking for me?!" Then he asked: "Are you not satisfied with the food?!"

Hao Shuji laughed, pointed at the plate on the table, and said, "If you are not satisfied, can you eat it so cleanly?!"

The old man with glasses sitting next to him said, "Master He, I asked your Hao Shuji to call you over here. I wonder if you are interested in working somewhere else?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "My dear leader, I'm sorry! The leaders of the steel mill treat me well, and I'm used to the working environment here, so I won't change places. If you want to eat my food, just tell Hao Shuji in advance." After that, He Yuzhu looked at Hao Shuji and said, "Hao Shuji, there's nothing else. I'll go out first. If you want more food, just tell me."

Hao Shuji winked at his secretary and said with a smile, "Master He, thank you for your hard work!"

"It's my duty!" He Yuzhu replied and followed Secretary Gao out of the small restaurant.

After leaving the small restaurant, Secretary Gao grabbed He Yuzhu, took out a watch ticket from his pocket and stuffed it into He Yuzhu's hand, saying, "Master He, the leader is very satisfied with your performance today. I hope you can keep it up. It's getting late, you should go back early!"

"Hey!" He Yuzhu responded, and watched Secretary Gao return to the small restaurant. He breathed a sigh of relief and muttered to himself, "These leaders are nothing. They want to eat delicious food, but they also want to save face. Since they are the superiors, they won't just give the order?! And they gave me a life-threatening question. Isn't this deliberately making things difficult for me?!" Then He Yuzhu glanced at the ticket in his hand and muttered, "This book machine is really smart."

He Yuzhu returned to the kitchen and said, "Don't stay here anymore, pack up and go back!"

Master Yang asked: "Zhu Zi, what does the leader want you to do?!"

He Yuzhu didn't expect that a grown man like Master Yang would be so gossipy. He looked at Master Yang with his head tilted and said, "What else could it be?! The leaders are eating well, so they want to ask me if I am willing to work there. I have worked in the factory for so many years, and everyone treats me well. I have gotten used to it. How can I change places?! I replied about changing units, and Hao Shuji was so happy that he rewarded me with a watch ticket."