Siheyuan: Fighting against Japanese Aggression in Beijing

In the yard, Sha Zhu was cleaning the cabbages while asking, "Xu Damao, why do you call Xiao Li Master? This is not like you. Calling someone younger than you Master, aren't you afraid of being embarrassed?"

"Hey, Shazhu, don't provoke me. So what if I yell at you? People can teach me martial arts. Just wait and see! Sooner or later, I will beat you to the ground and you will call me grandpa. Do you believe it?" Xu Damao said proudly.

"Just you, hahaha..." Sha Zhu laughed, "Xu Damao, I'm not looking down on you, but even if you practice for your whole life you still have to crawl under my feet and call me grandpa, so you'd better not have such beautiful dreams."

"Shazhu, I won't argue with you. Just wait and see, that day will come sooner or later. You have seen my master's methods. Your foot must be uncomfortable! Does it still hurt?" As he said that, Xu Damao poked Shazhu in the waist.

"Oh, Xu Damao, are you looking for death? It hurts so much." Sha Zhu cursed while holding his waist.

"Hahaha, just look! Just tell me whether you are convinced or not? Is my master's kick powerful?" Xu Damao said proudly.

"I won't argue with you! Let me ask you, how old is your master's sister?" Sha Zhu asked casually.

Hearing Sha Zhu's question, no matter how casual Sha Zhu was, the shrewd Xu Damao understood, "This rotten cook has taken a fancy to my master's aunt! Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself to see what kind of person you are? Even pigs won't pay attention to you, let alone a girl as beautiful as my master's aunt. But I still have to test her carefully." Xu Damao thought.

"My master's aunt! She is one year younger than my master and nineteen this year. What's up? Do you have any ideas?" Xu Damao said in a mean way.

"No, I'm just curious. I heard that she was learning cooking at Hongbinlou? You know I also learned cooking there before, so I'm mainly interested in this." Sha Zhu pretended.

"Yes, I learned cooking at Hongbinlou, and my master's cooking skills, hehe, you haven't tasted it, but I think the taste is much better than yours." Xu Damao boasted.

"Xu Damao, that's not how you brag. I can't say anything else, but when it comes to cooking, at least in our Nanluoguxiang area, I'm second to none and no one dares to claim to be first." Sha Zhu said proudly.

"Silly Zhu, your cooking skills are only good enough to fool the factory leaders. I can't say anything else, but my master's aunt's big plate of chicken is absolutely amazing. It's just that there is no chicken today. If there was chicken, I would ask my master's aunt to show you her cooking skills." Xu Damao recalled.

Hearing Xu Damao's words, Sha Zhu was very happy. Didn't he come here to find an opportunity to contact Li Qinghe? If he got a chicken himself and used it as an excuse to see how she did it, wouldn't it be possible...

Thinking of this, Sha Zhu immediately said, "Xu Damao, don't brag. It's just a chicken. I can afford it. I'll go buy it later and ask your aunt to cook it for me to try, okay?"

"Haha, there's nothing wrong with that. But the meal is probably ready now, how about in the afternoon?" Xu Damao said with a smile. When he heard that Sha Zhu wanted to buy a chicken, he was so happy that it would be nice to be able to get a chicken from Sha Zhu.

"It's settled then. I'll go buy it later." Sha Zhu said happily.

Soon, when lunch was ready, Sha Zhu and Xu Damao had cleaned the cabbages and stacked them neatly against the south wall.

After doing all this, Xu Damao brought Sha Zhu into the house.

At this time, the three were also waiting for them. Seeing Sha Zhu who was a little embarrassed, Li Kangri said, "Sha Zhu, don't be embarrassed. Sit down and eat something. You've worked hard today."

"Is this convenient?" Sha Zhu asked politely, and then glanced at Qing He again.

"It's not inconvenient at all. Just do your part. My Li family never employs people for nothing. Sit down!" Li Kangri said calmly.

"Okay! Thank you then!"

So the five of them started eating.

"Well, the stir-fried cabbage is pretty good, but the shredded potatoes are a little off. It would be better if some vinegar was added." Sha Zhu, who was eating the food, suddenly changed the topic.

"Is that so? I usually don't add too much vinegar. Is there any reason for that?" Qing He asked immediately. She knew that Sha Zhu was a chef, so she asked this.

"Haha," Sha Zhu laughed, "First of all, this vinegar can soften the starch in the potatoes, making the potato shreds more delicate and the taste smoother. Secondly, vinegar can remove some of the alkali in the potatoes, making them more delicious." Sha Zhu explained.

"That makes sense. I'll try it next time." Qinghe said happily.

"Don't do it next time! Fry one in the afternoon and ask my master to give you some pointers. I don't believe what you, a crappy cook, say. By the way, master, Shazhu said he would buy a chicken in the afternoon and asked you to make a big plate of chicken for him to try. I said it was delicious, but he refused to believe it. Do you think it's okay?" Xu Damao looked at Qinghe and said.

"Brother! Is it okay?" Li Qinghe asked.

"Okay, if you want, then you can. I have no objection." Li Kangri said casually.

"Okay, I'll go buy it this afternoon. By the way, I'll show you my skills too, so that Xu Damao's grandson won't be dissatisfied." Sha Zhu glanced at Xu Damao and said.

"Shazhu, are you learning Sichuan cuisine? Do you know how to cook all Sichuan dishes?" Li Kangri asked suddenly. Just now, he had an idea. He wanted to take this opportunity to let Qinghe learn Shazhu's cooking skills.

"I learned Sichuan cuisine and the family cuisine of the Tan family. As long as you can name it, there is nothing I can't cook." Sha Zhu said proudly.

"Is that so? Don't brag. I know a lot of Sichuan dishes! Don't say you can't cook what I point out." Li Kangri provoked.

Seeing that Li Kangri dared to doubt him, Sha Zhu immediately became anxious. He could doubt him for anything except his cooking skills, so he immediately said, "You tell me, if you can tell me that I can't cook it, I'll let you do whatever you want, but let's make it clear in advance that it's limited to Sichuan cuisine."

Seeing Sha Zhu coming to the rescue, Li Kangri said with a smile, "Okay, we still have some meat at home, and we can use half of the chicken you bought. How about we make twice-cooked pork and Kung Pao chicken today?"

"No problem, just wait and see, I guarantee you'll be looking for the next meal after this one!" Sha Zhu said proudly.

"Then Chef He, I'll be waiting for your delicious food!"

They chatted idly like this and soon finished their lunch. After lunch, Sha Zhu left happily and said he would come back in the afternoon.

After Sha Zhu left, Xu Damao followed Li Kangri to the bedroom and asked, "Master, what did that look in your eyes mean this morning? Are you trying to plot against Sha Zhu?"

"No! Why should I plot against him? He is a pauper now, what is there to plot against? I just want to try his craft and see if I can ask your master to learn some of his craft." Li Kangri said.

"Hehe, Master, you are plotting against Sha Zhu's cooking skills for Master Aunt! But Master, I think Sha Zhu seems to have some feelings for Master Aunt. He was asking me about Master Aunt a while ago!" Xu Damao said mysteriously.

"I've seen that a long time ago, but my Qinghe is not worthy of him. Let's not talk about anything else. Just look at how anxious he looks, as if he's about to be buried in the ground." Li Kangri said with disdain.

"Puchi!" Xu Damao could not help laughing, "Master, you are more mean than me, hahaha, you will be buried soon, Shazhu will be buried soon." Xu Damao laughed.

"Okay, don't provoke him during this period of time. Cooperate with your master to learn cooking." Li Kangri reminded.

"Okay! Then Master, you take a rest! I need to go take a shower. I'm all sweaty after running all morning!"

……