Siheyuan: Revenge of the Stupid Pillar

Uncle Fu took down a wooden box from upstairs and handed it to He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu took the wooden box and felt it was quite heavy. When he opened it, he saw that it was full of golden gold.

He Yuzhu took a quick look and saw about fifty gold bars, all of which were large yellow croakers.

Gold bars during the Republic of China period were divided into "big yellow croaker" and "small yellow croaker". The "big yellow croaker" was 312.5 grams, and the "small yellow croaker" was 31.25 grams.

Fifty large yellow croakers are grams, 500 grams is one catty, and fifty large yellow croakers are about 31 catties. How can it not be heavy?

After He Yuzhu was shocked, he immediately closed the wooden box and handed it to Uncle Fu, saying seriously:

"Uncle Fu, this is too expensive. I can't accept it."

"Besides, my monthly salary is as high as 150 yuan, so I have no shortage of money at all."

Uncle Fu didn't take it, but smiled and said, "No matter how valuable it is, it was given to you by the young lady. What the young lady gives you is yours. What are you asking of me?"

He Yuzhu said without hesitation: "Please help me return it to your lady."

Uncle Fu smiled bitterly and said, "You don't even know the young lady's current address, how can an old man like me know it?"

He Yuzhu continued, "Then wait until Xiao'e comes back and then return it to her!"

Uncle Fu shook his head and said, "Miss, now that she's gone, I don't know when she'll be back. Maybe she'll never come back."

"Even if she can come back, it will definitely be many years later. By then I will probably be dead. So if you really want to return the young lady, you should do it yourself when the time comes!"

He Yuzhu felt that what Uncle Fu said made sense and nodded in agreement:

"Okay, I'll return it to her personally when Xiao'e comes back."

"By the way, why didn't Xiao'e and the others take these furniture with them when they left? I see that many of the chairs are made of huanghuali wood, and there are also these blue and white porcelain ornaments. Several pieces are from the official kilns during the Qianlong period and are worth a lot of money."

Uncle Fu said helplessly, "The reason why the master didn't move the furniture out of the house is probably because he still has some thoughts and hopes to come back in his lifetime."

"Another reason is that the master and his family left in such a hurry that they only took the most valuable things with them. The furniture and other things were too big for them to carry."

He Yuzhu suddenly understood, but said solemnly:

"Uncle Fu, the situation is tense right now. Someone might come here to confiscate our property in a few days. We can't leave these things here. We have to find a place to hide them."

"The master and the others are gone, will anyone come to confiscate our property?"

Uncle Fu looked at He Yuzhu with suspicion, obviously a little unconvinced.

He Yuzhu explained, "Because I'm the deputy director of the logistics department of the steel mill, and I'm also a third-level cook, I often cook for some high-ranking officials, so I've heard and seen a lot. Recently, many capitalists have not only been arrested, but their homes have also been searched."

"Even those capitalists who fled could not escape the fate of having their properties confiscated."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu became anxious and said in a trembling voice:

"What should I do? The master asked me to look after the house while he was away. If this place is really raided, how will I explain it to the master?"

He Yuzhu was silent for a moment, then said, "Uncle Fu, if you have an empty house, you can move these furniture into your empty house and hide them."

Uncle Fu shook his head and said, "My whole family is crammed into three rooms. There's no empty room at all."

He Yuzhu said solemnly, "I do have an empty courtyard. If you trust me, you can move these furniture to my empty courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu was overjoyed and said, "You can trust me, you can trust me. If the young lady trusts you, why can't I trust you?"

He Yuzhu said in a deep voice: "There is no time to lose, let's pack up now and move when it gets dark."

"Also, take a notebook and write down the things you are going to move as proof."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu was extremely satisfied and said, "I'll do as you say."

After the two of them agreed, they started to get busy.

Uncle Fu first found a few large boxes and began to put porcelain into them.

"Uncle Fu, there's no need to put that vase in there. It's a fake."

"Zhu Zi, you also know how to appraise treasures."

"I understand a little, I understand a little!"

There were so many valuable things in the Lou Mansion that the two of them kept packing them, and before they knew it, it was noon.

"Uncle Fu, are there any vegetables at home? Can we clean up after lunch?"

"There are still vegetables at home. I will go cook now."

"I'll go, after all, I'm the chef, and cooking is my job."

"Zhu Zi, you are a guest, how can I ask you to cook?"

"Uncle Fu, you're being so polite. Besides, you're the elder and I'm the younger, so I should be the one cooking."

After He Yuzhu finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the kitchen without giving Uncle Fu another chance to refuse.

Seeing this, Uncle Fu didn't insist anymore and continued packing his things.

In less than half an hour, He Yuzhu had prepared the meal.

A dish of stir-fried bacon with green peppers, a dish of spicy and sour shredded potatoes, and a dish of seaweed and egg soup.

"Zhu Zi, I now believe that you are a third-level cook. Your cooking skills are amazing."

"Uncle Fu, you're too kind!"

"Uncle Fu, you should know my father. He is also a cook. He used to come to Xiao'e's house to cook."

"Zhu Zi, your father couldn't be He Daqing, could he? I think you look a bit like him."

"Uncle Fu, you have good eyesight. I am He Daqing's son."

"Oh my! So you are the descendant of an old friend?"

"I used to have a good relationship with your father, but I haven't seen him for over ten years. Where does he work now?"

"Don't mention it. He ran away from home when I was thirteen and went to Baoding with a widow."

"What? How could He Daqing be so confused?"

"Lust makes one lose their mind!"

"Zhu Zi, I remember your mother died young, and He Daqing ran away from home. How did you get through all these years?"

He Yuzhu sighed and briefly recounted what happened after He Daqing left.

Uncle Fu's eyes turned red as he heard this, and he sighed endlessly:

"Zhu Zi, you've suffered so much over the years. You're such a miserable child. Your father is such a jerk."

He Yuzhu smiled calmly: "It's nothing. Suffering has tempered my will and made me grow. Otherwise, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today."

Uncle Fu agreed, "Zhu Zi, with your open-minded attitude, you will achieve greater success in the future."

He Yuzhu said modestly: "Uncle Fu, you are so kind!"

Uncle Fu sighed and said, "Don't be arrogant when you win, and don't be discouraged when you lose. I really have high hopes for you, but it's a pity that you and the young lady are not destined to be together."

He Yuzhu said with a sad expression: "I just hate that fate has played such a trick on me that Xiao'e and I can't be together as lovers."

Uncle Fu comforted him, "Zhu Zi, you don't have to be too disappointed. Maybe in two years, the young lady will come back."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu said nothing more and just shook his head bitterly.

He knew that Lou Xiao'e would be gone for at least ten years, and he couldn't wait for her that long. In order to get custody of his two sons, he had to find a woman to marry as soon as possible.

He and Lou Xiao'e had a shallow bond and could never become a family.