Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

"Grandma, you can open it after a week to see if there are any white mycelium or small mushrooms growing out. If there are, you can open it. If not, just keep it sealed."

"Okay, grandma, I'll remember it." Grandma He replied.

"Well, if mycelium or small mushrooms appear, remember to water them several times a day, in the morning, noon and evening. Try to water them gently, and don't water them directly on the small mushrooms, just water them on the soil.

Next time I will bring you a few spray bottles so that it will be convenient for you to use.

When the mushrooms come out, remember to let me know and I will come back."

He Lai continued to instruct.

"I know, I know. I'll ask Dahu to call you when the time comes. The bus is here. Go back quickly." When Mrs. He saw the bus coming, she handed the bag to He Lai.

He Lai got in the car and leaned out of the window, "Grandma, remember to call me."

……

Return to the courtyard.

He Lai had been running around for several days and was really tired, so he quickly lay down and took a nap.

In the dream, He Lai saw that he had grown a lot of mushrooms. He was happily stretching out his hands to pull the mushrooms, but he didn't know why he couldn't pull them out.

"Brother Lai, brother Lai, wake up quickly." The rain shook He Lai's shoulders and shouted.

He Lai slowly opened his eyes, and saw Yu Shui in front of him. He was grabbing Yu Shui's arm and pulling her into his arms.

He Lai instantly loosened his hands and got out of bed, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Yushui, when did you come back?" He Lai rubbed his eyes and asked.

"Chun'er and I went fishing for eels with Brother Huzi and the others. We came back not long ago. Come on, brother, what did you dream about? You are laughing so happily."

Yu Shui asked, pulling on the corner of He Lai's clothes.

"Well, come on, wash your face first and then I'll tell you."

He Lai went into the kitchen to wash his face, trying to get over what had just happened.

Before Yu Shui could speak, He Lai spoke first.

"Yushui, congratulations on your graduation from elementary school. Come on, brother will take you to a big dinner. How about it?"

"Okay, okay, I want to eat the pig's trotter soup and the lion's head."

When Yu Shui heard that He Lai was going to take her to eat delicious food, she immediately jumped up happily.

"Okay, wait for my brother, I'll go prepare something to bring back to the master."

After He finished speaking, he went into the kitchen and took out a bag from the space, which contained two badgers.

The things in the space can indeed stay fresh and won't spoil, which allows He Lai to store his prey as he pleases. The problem now is that it's too small.

Alas, desire is something that expands slowly.

"Yushui, let's go." He Lai came out carrying a bag.

"Brother, why haven't I seen this bag in the kitchen before?" Yu Shui asked with some regret.

"Hey, isn't this what Brother Lai just brought back from the countryside? Let's go, it will get dark soon and the chefs at Fengze Garden will be so busy that they won't have time to cook for us."

He Lai urged, pulling the rain out of the house and pushing the bicycle.

He Lai didn't want to argue with Yu Shui about this issue.

……

"Master, your disciple has brought Yu Shui to see you." He Lai took Yu Shui's hand and walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, here comes the busy man. How are the mushrooms? Do you want to give some to the master?"

Master Hu said with a smile.

"It should be ready in a few days. Master will definitely be needed by then. Master, here is what you want."

He Lai gave the bag of badger to Master Hu. Master Hu smiled as soon as he saw it. He thought that Xiao Laizi was reliable, so he gave the bag to his eldest apprentice and asked him to go and refine oil.

"Tell me, what do you want to eat today?" Master Hu obviously knew He Lai very well.

"Master, Yushui has just graduated from elementary school. I wanted to get her something delicious, so I came to you."

He Lai pinched Master Hu's shoulders and spoke as he did so.

"Oh, Xiao Yushui, you have graduated from elementary school. Well, if you want to eat anything, tell Uncle Shi and I will make it for you."

Master Hu scraped his nose from the rain.

"Uncle Master, I want to eat pig's trotter soup and lion's head." Yu Shui said happily.

"Okay, you guys go wait in the original box. Not many people eat in the afternoon. It should be empty."

After Master Hu finished speaking, he started to memorize the aprons.

"Thank you, Master." After expressing his gratitude, He Lai took Yu Shui to the private room.

"Yushui, if you have nothing to eat in the future, come here and tell me your brother's name, and I guarantee you'll get a meal!"

He Lai sat next to the rain and boasted.

Yu Shui hummed and happily cooperated with He Lai, which made He Lai feel very satisfied.

The dishes arrived soon, and Chef Hu thoughtfully added two of He Lai’s favorite dishes.

He Lai and Yu Shui were having a great time drinking soda and eating delicious food.

After a while, the manager came over.

He Lai was surprised. Could it be that he was asking for a new recipe again? Although he had given me one every now and then over the years, he was out of stock now.

"Uncle Cui, what do you want to talk to me about?" He Lai decided to speak first.

"Hey, kid, come to my office and chat. Let your girlfriend wait for you in the box. I'll give her a bottle of soda. How about that?"

Uncle Cui also said with a smile.

"Well, Uncle Cui is still polite to me. Yu Shui, please sit for a while. I want to talk to Uncle Cui about something and will be back soon." He Lai turned and said to Yu Shui.

Yu Shui nodded sensibly.

Manager's office

"Xiao Laizi, I won't beat around the bush with you. I heard that you have developed a method to grow mushrooms, is that true?" said the manager.

"Ha, Uncle Cui knows about it. He has developed it, but I haven't seen any results yet. It will probably take a few more days before I can see mushrooms."

He Lai also spoke the truth.

"Tell me the truth, can mushrooms be grown?" The manager wanted to confirm the news now.

"It shouldn't be a big problem. What's the matter, uncle? Do you want to plant it too?" He Lai asked puzzledly.

"Yes, mushrooms are a necessity in our restaurant. Although our restaurant is now a state-owned unit, we still have to make them well, right?"

The manager took a puff of his cigarette and said.

"Uncle Cui, are you looking for a method to grow mushrooms?" He Lai said directly.

"Yes, of course I can still give you some compensation on behalf of Fengze Garden. I won't let you hand it over for nothing."

"Uncle Cui, that's not what I meant. What I meant was that I can't hide this method. Don't blame me if you buy it for nothing."

He Lai felt that the country would definitely want to develop this kind of technology, and Fengzeyuan would definitely know about it by then.

"Well, it's okay, it's okay, you don't have to worry about anything else. I just want this formula now." When the manager saw that He Lai had this concern, he quickly made a promise.

"Okay then. I'll give you the notes when the time comes. The steps are all on them. You'll have to look at the things you need yourself, Uncle Cui. I won't explain them."

He Lai agreed.

"Okay, it's settled then." The manager was very happy when he saw it came true.

"Uncle Cui, I'm leaving now. Please give me a few more bottles of soda so I can take them home and drink some."

He Lai made a small request.

"It's no big deal, take as much as you can. Go ahead and tell the front desk that it was me who said so." The manager said generously.

"Thank you, Uncle Cui. I'm leaving now. Goodbye."

After saying that, He Lai ran to find Yu Shui. The two of them took a box of soda and left.

"Yushui, you have to sit in the front. You can't move. Brother's driving skills are not good enough."

He Lai tied the soda to the back seat and said to Yu Shui.

"Well, then come on, brother, ride slower." Yu Shui was a little worried.

He Lai quickly stepped onto the front bar, held the handlebars, and shook his head towards the rain.

"Rainwater, come up."

The rain soon sat diagonally on the front bumper, and because it was not wrapped in a cushion, it felt a little uncomfortable and twisted.

"Yushui, let's go. Just hold on for a while. Let's go."

He Lai kicked up.