1952: Walking through Nantongluo Alley

Sha Zhu hummed a little tune as he walked into the courtyard. As soon as he entered, he heard Qin Huairu complaining to Bang Geng about the lack of food at home. Sha Zhu's heart skipped a beat, thinking that it must be hard for this orphan and his widowed mother. He glanced at the meat and vegetables he had just bought and said loudly, "Hey, Sister Qin, I bought too much meat today. It's going to go bad if I keep it. If you don't mind, you can have some." A glint of surprise flashed in Qin Huairu's eyes, and she hurriedly thanked him. Bang Geng, however, muttered quietly, "Who cares about his things?" Sha Zhu pretended not to hear.

At this time, Third Uncle Yan Bugui came over, staring at the remaining food in Sha Zhu's hand, and joked: "Sha Zhu, you are really generous, why don't you bring me some food?" Sha Zhu rolled his eyes at him and said, "Third Uncle, when have you ever been short of food? It's not like Sister Qin's family is in trouble." Then he walked back to his house. Behind him, he heard Third Uncle's dissatisfied muttering. Sha Zhu went into the house, and while packing up his things, he thought about how to help Qin Huairu's family again. After all, the people in this compound can live comfortably because they take care of each other.

Sha Zhu was thinking when he suddenly had an idea. He decided that every day when he eats, he would send some food to Qin Huairu's house on the pretext that he couldn't finish it. At noon the next day, Sha Zhu prepared the meal, put out a big bowl of braised pork and some rice, and walked towards Qin Huairu's house. Qin Huairu was grateful to see Sha Zhu coming again. Bang Geng didn't say anything this time, but kept staring at the bowl of braised pork. Sha Zhu smiled and said, "Sister Qin, take it quickly, the meat is stewed very deliciously today." After Qin Huairu took the bowl, Sha Zhu turned around and prepared to go back to the house. At this moment, Xu Damao walked in and saw this scene and said sarcastically: "Hey, Sha Zhu, you are really attentive. Do you have any ideas?" Sha Zhu glared at him, "What ideas can I have? We are all from the same courtyard and we are just helping each other." Xu Damao curled his lips, "Huh, who would believe that." Sha Zhu was too lazy to pay attention to him and went straight back to his room. He thought that as long as he behaved uprightly and was not afraid of other people's gossip, he had to continue to take care of Qin Huairu's family.

A few days later, rumors spread like wildfire throughout the compound, circling the astonishing news that Sha Zhu was about to marry Qin Huairu. Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu felt a mixture of anger and amusement, a mixture of laughter and tears. He wondered, "I only occasionally look after Qin Huairu's family, how could this be so exaggerated?" However, faced with these absurd rumors, Sha Zhu chose not to waste time explaining or clarifying them.

Meanwhile, Qin Huairu's situation was completely different. When she heard these rumors, her heart was filled with ripples. Although she knew Sha Zhu was kind and helpful, with such rumors spreading, she couldn't help but have some wild thoughts.

On this day, as usual, Sha Zhu came to Qin Huairu's house with a lunch box to deliver food. Qin Huairu looked at Sha Zhu with a red face. After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered up the courage to say, "Zhu Zi, those rumors outside are not good for your reputation! Otherwise... you should stop delivering food to us in the future." After hearing this, Sha Zhu just scratched his head in a simple and honest manner, and then replied nonchalantly, "Sister Qin, don't worry! I have nothing to fear from my own shadow. I don't care what others say. As long as it can make your family's life a little easier, this little thing is nothing!"

Who could have imagined that the situation would escalate into something more serious? Soon after, the factory leader summoned Sha Zhu to his office for a briefing. It turned out that someone had somehow leaked the story to the factory, making it known to everyone. The leader earnestly warned Sha Zhu to be mindful of his image and influence, as such matters of love and affection were a sensitive topic in that era. Although Sha Zhu felt helpless, deep down he was unwilling to give up on helping Qin Huairu's family.

After leaving the office, Sha Zhu returned to the courtyard with a heavy heart. Looking at the neighbors who were pointing and whispering, he took a deep breath and then loudly announced in front of everyone, "Dear neighbors, I, Sha Zhu, am solemnly stating this! The reason I often look after Sister Qin's family is purely because I see that they are having a really hard time, so I want to help them. I have absolutely no other messed-up intentions! Please stop making random guesses!" After saying this, Sha Zhu turned and left, leaving behind a group of people who were still whispering and discussing.

However, with Sha Zhu's occasional help, Qin Huairu's family's life gradually improved. Gone were the days of living hand to mouth, unable to make ends meet. Meat occasionally appeared on the table, and the children's faces began to smile more often. Bang Geng witnessed all these changes and took them to heart. The boy who had once been indifferent and even hostile to Sha Zhu was now slowly changing his attitude. Whenever they met Sha Zhu on the street, he no longer turned away as he used to, but would stop and greet him with a smile.

Seeing Qin Huairu and her family living better and better, Sha Zhu was overjoyed. Although there were rumors from time to time about him being too close to a widow as a bachelor, Sha Zhu never cared about them. He thought to himself, "As long as Qin Huairu and her son can live a comfortable life, what does it matter if people say a few things?"

However, as time went on, the rumors about him and Qin Huairu at the factory didn't subside, but instead intensified. Faced with mounting public pressure, Sha Zhu was forced to rethink his approach to helping Qin Huairu's family. After careful consideration, Sha Zhu finally came up with a new idea - he would secretly teach Bang Geng some cooking skills. This way, not only would Bang Geng master a skill that would support his family, but it would also fundamentally improve Qin Huairu's family's diet.

When Sha Zhu brought this idea to Bang Geng, he was initially reluctant. After all, for someone as playful as him, spending hours in the kitchen every day learning to cook wasn't exactly a pleasant experience. However, when Bang Geng saw his mother, Qin Huairu, increasingly busy and exhausted, and the eager eyes of his younger siblings, he gritted his teeth and agreed. And so, under Sha Zhu's careful guidance, Bang Geng began to seriously learn various culinary techniques...

Qin Huairu saw it all, her mind as clear as a mirror, clearly perceiving Sha Zhu's kindness and the earnest intentions behind his efforts. Finally, one day, Qin Huairu mustered the courage to find Sha Zhu. She gazed at this honest man with a sincere gaze and whispered, "Zhuzi, you've given so much to our family over such a long time. I... I don't know how to repay you for your kindness."

Hearing this, Sha Zhu's plain face revealed a simple smile. He scratched his head and replied somewhat embarrassedly, "Sister Qin, please don't be polite with me! We are all neighbors living in the same yard. Isn't it normal to help each other? Besides, who made us destined to meet?"

Time flew by, and under Sha Zhu's careful guidance and care, Bang Geng's cooking skills improved day by day. Now, he could occasionally prepare a decent meal that was both delicious and beautiful. Meanwhile, those at the factory who had been gossiping about Sha Zhu's frequent meals at Qin Huairu's house gradually quieted down their baseless gossip after seeing that Sha Zhu had stopped visiting the Qins as often.

However, even though Sha Zhu no longer brought hot meals to Qin Huairu's family as often as before, his care for them never diminished. Every now and then, he would still quietly bring some daily necessities or fresh ingredients to the Qin family's door, gently knock on the door, and hand them to Qin Huairu with a smile.

As the days passed, the people of the compound witnessed Sha Zhu's unwavering perseverance and the changes that took place in Qin Huairu's family. Initially, some might have doubted or misunderstood Sha Zhu's actions, but over time, they gradually came to understand and accept his good deeds. Instead of gossiping about him behind his back as they had before, they now viewed his actions with appreciation and admiration.

In this silent yet unwavering mutual support, the relationship between Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu's families grew closer and more harmonious. The once slum filled with gossip gradually became a warm and supportive family thanks to Sha Zhu's selfless dedication and sincere treatment.

On this sunny day, the factory suddenly received exciting news—a grand cooking competition was about to be held! The news spread quickly throughout the factory, and everyone was eager to try, hoping to show off their culinary skills.

When our kind and honest Sha Zhu heard about this, he recommended Bang Geng to the organizers without hesitation. You know, although Bang Geng is young, he has gradually mastered many cooking skills under Sha Zhu's careful guidance.

When Bang Geng learned he'd been selected for this cooking competition, he felt both excited and nervous. After all, this was his first time competing in such a prestigious competition, and facing so many talented competitors was naturally stressful. However, just then, Sha Zhu approached him, gently patted his shoulder, and offered encouragement: "Don't be afraid, kid. Just follow my instructions. Believe in your abilities, and you'll be fine!" Hearing Sha Zhu's heartwarming words, Bang Geng's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and his gaze grew resolute.

Finally, the long-awaited day of the competition arrived. On the field, the competitors were eager to compete, brimming with confidence. Bang Geng took a deep breath, then calmly walked into the kitchen to begin preparing the ingredients. He expertly chopped the vegetables, stir-fried them, and seasoned them... Each movement seemed effortless and natural, as if he had memorized the steps by heart.

Time flies by, and with the final step complete, Banggeng's meticulously prepared dishes finally emerge fresh from the oven! The vibrant, fragrant, and delicious dishes, displayed on the plates, resemble exquisite works of art, making one's mouth water.

After tasting each dish, the judges beamed with satisfaction and gave high praise. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers, creating a lively atmosphere. Ultimately, after a fierce competition, Banggeng emerged victorious with its outstanding performance, securing a strong ranking and a generous prize.

Banggeng, clutching the heavy prize money, was overwhelmed with excitement. He rushed home, eager to share his joy with his mother, Qin Huairu. Upon entering, he excitedly exclaimed, "Mom, look! I won a prize! This money can buy lots of delicious food and fun things for my younger siblings!" He held the prize money high in the air, his face beaming with pride and happiness.

Qin Huairu's eyes welled up as she watched her excited son. She knew that without Sha Zhu's patient and meticulous guidance and encouragement, Bang Geng wouldn't have achieved such remarkable results. So, that evening, Qin Huairu took Bang Geng and the other children to Sha Zhu's home to express her gratitude.

Qin Huairu was filled with gratitude. She looked at Sha Zhu sincerely and said, "Zhu Zi, I really don't know how to thank you! If it weren't for your careful teaching and help, how could our Bang Geng grow up so quickly and take up the burden of the family? Now, he is not only serious and responsible at work, but also knows how to take care of his family. All this is thanks to you! Our whole family is full of endless gratitude to you from the bottom of our hearts." As she said that, her eyes could not help but moisten slightly.

After hearing this, Sha Zhu quickly waved his hands and smiled innocently: "Sister Qin, look at what you said! Banggeng is already very smart and hardworking. I just gave him a little advice, it's no big deal. Seeing him so successful now, I'm also very happy in my heart!"

At this time, the children standing aside gathered around and shouted in unison: "Uncle Shazhu, thank you! You are so kind to us!" They all raised their little faces, with sincere emotions in their eyes.

Hearing the children's innocent words, Sha Zhu felt a surge of warmth in his heart, tears welling up in his eyes. He had always silently dedicated himself to this family, never expecting anything in return. But at this moment, the children's words of gratitude made him feel deeply recognized and warmed. This feeling was like a ray of sunshine on a winter's day, illuminating his previously lonely heart and bringing him immense comfort.

From that day on, Sha Zhu's relationship with Qin Huairu's family grew ever closer. Whether caring for each other on a daily basis or working together to overcome difficulties, their bond grew deeper and stronger. This touching story quickly spread throughout the compound, becoming a beloved story. Influenced by this, the neighbors showed a greater understanding and tolerance for one another, and a harmonious and warm atmosphere permeated the entire compound.