Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

In the younger sister's world, the older brother is the most amazing one.

But in the brother's world, the younger sister is the one who needs the most protection.

Tian Zhuang didn't object to Tian Zao dating boys. He believed that men should marry when they were of age and women should marry when they were of age, and as long as Tian Zao agreed, he, as her older brother, had no problem with it.

But this is contingent on Tian Zao agreeing.

If Tian Zao takes a liking to He Yuzhu, they can naturally be together.

Tian Zhuang had told himself this a long time ago, but when the day actually came, why did he feel so uncomfortable?

When Tian Zao heard Tian Zhuang inquiring about He Yuzhu, she didn't think much of it at first. But then she realized something was wrong and quickly realized, "Brother, what are you thinking? I won't get married until I avenge our parents! He Yuzhu... he can make money and he's smart, but he's timid. We're not suitable."

Tian Zao wanted to find someone bold enough to kill Han Qingkui.

Who is Han Qingkui?

The tyrant of Beiping!

In the 1920s, Beiping was a melting pot of all sorts of people. Later, the Green Gang from Tianjin gradually infiltrated Beiping. After the Japanese surrendered, four major factions had formed in the city.

Zhang Dequan from the East City, Fu Decheng from the West City, Sun Yongzhen from the South City, and Liu Xiangting from the North City—these four men committed heinous crimes and all had people killed on their behalf.

Sun Yongzhen and Liu Xiangting, in particular, were staunch traitors during the Japanese invasion. It's a pity that the Kuomintang colluded with them, which is truly hateful.

Han Qingkui did not belong to the Green Gang; he was a member of the Gelaohui (Pao Ge Hui). Although their strength could not compare with that of the Green Gang, they had gathered many fellow villagers and were fearless in their fighting, making them a target of fear by the four major powers.

Two of the eight major hutongs belonged to Han Qingkui, which shows how arrogant and domineering he was.

Back then, Tian Zao's father, Tian Qingchun, was a successful businessman who caught the eye of Han Qingkui. Han Qingkui colluded with a corrupt policeman to kill Tian Qingchun, and her mother contracted an illness as a result, dying of depression a few years later.

Tian Zao blamed Han Qingkui for the deaths of her parents and wanted to kill him to avenge them.

Hearing his sister say that, Tian Zhuang sighed helplessly, then tapped her on the forehead: "I'll take care of the revenge, don't think about it too much!"

Tian Zhuang also wanted to kill Han Qingkui to avenge his parents. With his abilities, killing Han Qingkui would be easy, but he had a sense of discipline. Even if Han Qingkui deserved to die, he had to be put on trial before he died!

That day is not far away!

For the next few days, He Yuzhu went to school early in the morning to help clean up the school cafeteria and didn't go home until dark every day.

Tian Zao kept his promise. In the following days, after selling food, he would take his underlings to collect broken bricks and tiles. To keep them clean, he would even water the broken bricks and tiles he collected from the garbage dump. After obtaining Zhang Tianyong's consent, He Yuzhu fulfilled Tian Zao's wish to visit the school. Unfortunately, No. 5 Middle School was an all-boys school and did not accept female students.

She wanted to go to school, so she had to go to the Bridgman Girls' School inside the Congregational Church compound in Dengshikou.

Wow... another excellent school with a century-long history, boasting countless famous figures.

With the help of Yutian Zao and the others, the road to the cafeteria was paved much faster, and the large open space in front of the dormitory and the cafeteria was also simply paved, so at least when it rains, you don't have to worry about stepping in mud anymore.

He Yuzhu also set up two simple tents on the stove so that they could still cook outside even when it rained.

He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu, who left early and returned late every day, and felt very helpless. He realized that He Yuzhu was busy going to school, spending money and gathering people, and had no interest in cooking.

Ever since He Yuzhu was called "Silly Zhu," He Yuzhu's mind has been elsewhere when it comes to cooking. But the tradition cannot be broken. Since He Yuzhu doesn't want to be a chef anymore, He Daqing has to find another apprentice.

But he hopes his son will inherit the business.

Since there was nothing to do that night, He Daqing told He Yuzhu about it to see what He Yuzhu thought.

"Isn't that simple?"

He Yuzhu slapped his thigh and said, "Why don't you find a wife and have another child? You can start raising him from a young age, right? But you have to be careful when choosing a wife, especially a widow with children. It would be troublesome if you raised an ungrateful child."

Yes, I'm talking about you, White Widow.

Although we've never met, that woman must be very shrewd; otherwise, how could an old hand like He Daqing have fallen for her tricks?

She helped raise the children outside, but in her old age, she sheepishly returned home to leech off her own son.

"roll!"

He Daqing cursed in annoyance.

Why does this kid keep trying to find me a wife?

Aren't you afraid that having a stepmother will be bad for He Yuzhu and He Yushui?

He Daqing's idea was to choose one from Tian Zao's group of friends, but they had to find someone with a special talent, which was too difficult to find.

"Isn't that simple?"

He Yuzhu explained the method used by chefs in later generations to select their last apprentices: "Why don't you take in all the kids who follow Tian Zao, teach them from the basics, and see who has talent, then take them in as your last apprentices?"

"Get lost!"

He Daqing rolled his eyes. "Teach so many apprentices? Do you even have the resources? You'd be lucky if you could feed ten or so people every day!"

He Yuzhu spread his hands: "That's alright. For apprentices without talent, as long as they learn the basics, the money they earn in the first three years after graduation will be yours, right? For apprentices with talent, once they graduate, we'll send them to the Eight Great Halls, and they can give you gifts on holidays and birthdays, right? You're the master, shouldn't you set the rules?"

He Daqing was furious: "Then what about the Eight Great Buildings? Dongxing Building has been shut down for ages."

"Isn't there also Cuihua Tower?"

"Bullshit! Cuihualou can be considered one of the Eight Great Restaurants?"

He Daqing felt that everything he had taught He Yuzhu before had gone to waste: "Picking up cigarette butts on the street—are you asking for a beating?"

He Yuzhu spread his hands, indicating that he was unable to help.

This won't work, that won't work, how can this be allowed?

Do whatever you want.

Ever since He Yuzhu changed, the father and son have been having all sorts of inappropriate conversations. He Yuzhu isn't afraid of He Daqing, who is used to being rough and unruly in the kitchen. The two of them can easily start arguing after just a few words.

There's no way to control them without being rough; otherwise, you can't keep those knife-wielding guys in the kitchen in check.

The conversation ended unhappily.

The next morning, He Yuzhu was busy with his own affairs, and He Daqing also began his new day's work.

My son is mentally challenged, so I need to win over my smart, virtuous, sensible, and capable daughter-in-law!

He Daqing was busy all day long, even busier than when he was the head chef at Fengzeyuan, but he was very satisfied to see that Tian Zao and he were getting closer and closer.

This family will fall apart if I don't have myself!

You little brat!

Silly column!

"Achoo!"

He Yuzhu, who was listening to Zhang Tianyong assign him tasks, sneezed and looked at Zhang Tianyong speechlessly: "Director Zhang, I'm cooking in the kitchen, and I'm also responsible for purchasing? Even the donkeys in the production team can't be used like this!"

"Also, didn't you and Teacher Lü say that I'm just a kitchen helper, and that I can attend classes in my spare time? With so much work assigned to me, how am I supposed to study?"