Siheyuan: Fighting against Japanese Aggression in Beijing

"Brother, I want the room near the kitchen. It's just right for me." After Xu Damao left, Li Qinghe ran out excitedly and said.

"Okay, you don't have to report to me. You can take the room you like. Even if my sister wants the moon in the sky, I will pick it for you. By the way, see if there is anything you are missing. We will go out in the afternoon and I will buy it all for you." Li Kangri asked.

"Brother, there are no pots and pans in the kitchen. These must be purchased. As for my room, just buy a wardrobe."

"Haha, I'm rich. I can buy you a dressing table and everything else. Chen Shimei also gave me several bicycle tickets. I'll buy you one when you go to work in a few days."

"Brother, you should save some money. If you spend it all, what if you need money for something in the future?" Li Qinghe said.

"Hey, brother, I make over 50 yuan a month, and you will have a salary in the future, don't worry, you can go to Chen Shimei if something happens! Haha, by the way, do you want to go see him?" Li Kangri asked.

"Me! I won't go! He hasn't even seen me!" Li Qinghe said.

"Okay, you decide. If you want to go, we'll go together. I'll also ask him to find a job for you! Don't you want to learn cooking? Then ask him to find a good master to teach you the craft."

"Okay, I can go and take a look, but I won't call him dad. I can't say that. Is that okay?" Li Qinghe looked at Li Kangri and asked.

"It's just a small matter, so don't shout. Let me tell you a secret, I won't shout either, haha!" Li Kangri said with a smile.

While the brother and sister were chatting, Xu Damao walked in and asked, "Brother, can we go now? I'm afraid it will be dark when I get back!"

"Okay, let's go now."

……

Soon they arrived at the Trust Store. Looking at the dazzling array of old furniture inside, Li Kangri didn't know what was good and what was bad. In his previous life, he only knew that rosewood ones seemed to be the best.

So, hoping to find a bargain, he asked an elderly master, "Master, do you have any furniture made of red sandalwood here? For example, sofas, chairs, tables, wardrobes, and dressing tables."

The old master used to be a furniture maker and was very knowledgeable about wood. He said, "Young man, you know what you are talking about! Yes, we have them all, but the price is a little higher than the ordinary ones, but not much. I'll find them for you right away."

After a while, the master and a few people picked and chose, and then carried out a pile of furniture, "Young man, there are three tables here, a little less chairs, eight in total, two dressing tables, and only one wardrobe, do you think it's okay?"

"No problem, I want them all. Any other wooden ones are fine too. Make me two more wardrobes! And find me a wooden bench, two short ones."

"okay!"

After the master found all the furniture that Li Kangri needed, he calculated the bill and it came to sixty-one dollars and eighty-two cents.

Without hesitation, under Qinghe's distressed gaze, Li Kangri paid the money directly, then made an appointment to deliver the furniture the next day and left the trust store.

Then they went to the supply and marketing cooperative again. After Li Kangri bought all the household items, he said, "Qinghe, let's come again tomorrow and buy you some clothes and shoes."

"Brother, no, it's too much money. Our family can't spend that much in two years. I have several pieces of clothes, and my mother made several pairs of shoes for me!" Li Qinghe refused.

"You stingy guy, okay, I'll buy it for you myself when the time comes, just look at how distressed you are!"

"Brother, I cut two pounds of meat. What else do you want to order?" Xu Damao walked over and said.

"It's okay. It's good to have meat to eat these days." Li Kangri said.

"No, that won't do. It's too little. Well, I have another chicken at home, so I'll kill it today," Xu Damao said generously.

"Haha, I'm sorry to waste your money by calling you Brother Xu again!" Li Kangri said politely.

"Don't be so formal with your brother, let's go!"

Soon, the three of them returned to the courtyard. When they arrived at the courtyard, the coffin in the middle courtyard had already been carried away, and only some neighbors were left, cleaning up the tables and so on.

After returning home, Li Kangri went back to his room, closed the door, took out the things he had collected from the Map of Mountains and Rivers and the State, and placed them on the table.

Then he opened the door and called out, "Qinghe, come here. There are quilts and bedding here. Take them back to your room. Also, put these pots and pans in order."

"Here I am!" Li Qinghe put down what he was holding and ran out in a hurry. After entering the room and seeing the things, he said, "Brother, where did this thing come from? Why is it all green?"

"I got it from Chen Shimei. I put it in my closet when I got back."

"That's great. Everything looks new. I'll go clean up. You wait for dinner! I'll cook a few more dishes for you today." After saying that, Li Qinghe went to work in a hurry.

When it was getting dark, Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e entered Li Kangri's home.

"Brother, your sister-in-law and I are here. How is it? Is the meal ready?" Xu Damao said.

"The only thing missing is the chicken you just delivered. It should be ready by now. You guys sit down first, I'll go take a look." Li Kangri said.

After saying that, Li Kangri went to the kitchen. Sure enough, when Li Kangri went in, Qinghe had already finished the last dish.

"Brother, bring it over! The chicken soup will take a while, we can drink it after we finish eating. I fried the big plate chicken you taught me!" Qinghe said with a smile.

"It smells good. It seems my sister is born to be a cook."

"Haha, that's right. My dream since childhood is to cook the most delicious dishes in the world for my mother." Li Qinghe said conceitedly.

"Okay, my sister is filial."

After a while, the brother and sister brought the dishes over, cleaned up a bit, and started eating.

"Hi, sister, this chicken is good! It tastes so good, better than the one made by Shazhu. Ezi, you should try it, it's so delicious!" Xu Damao said.

"Really?" Lou Xiao'e also picked up a potato with chopsticks and started eating. After tasting it, Lou Xiao'e asked, "Qinghe sister, what is the name of this dish? Even the potatoes are so delicious!"

"Sister Xiao'e, this is called Dapanji. My brother taught me how to make it." Li Qinghe said proudly.

"What about this? I haven't seen it before." Lou Xiao'e asked.

"This is a big stew from my hometown. I know how to make many more, but unfortunately I don't have the ingredients. I'll make it for you when I have the chance." Li Qinghe said.

"Qinghe, can I learn to cook from you in the future? Your cooking is so delicious!" Lou Xiao'e asked with a blushing face.

"Sure! Anyway, our two families are so close, and I don't know anyone here. You can come over and keep me company. Is that okay, brother?" Li Qinghe turned around and asked.

"Sure! You can do whatever you want. Sister Xiao'e is also a warm-hearted person. But you are not allowed to contact other people in the courtyard. Just be polite when you meet them." Li Kangri said.

"Why?"

"I'll tell you about this later. Eat your food!"

So the four of them quickly started eating the food.