Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

After a summer vacation, what the students miss most is the cafeteria at No. 5 Middle School.

Since Jia Zhangshi was able to return to work at No. 5 Middle School, her face has been beaming with smiles, and she also misses the food in the school cafeteria.

The food is plentiful and filling. Many students from less affluent families stuff themselves the afternoon before the weekend break so they don't have to eat at home on the weekend and can eat at school the next day.

The school is aware of the students' situation, so the meals on Saturday afternoon and Monday morning and noon are very plentiful and plentiful, with steamed buns and dumplings available in abundance to meet the students' needs.

The happiest people are the five old women in the kitchen. They can go to work, earn money to improve their family's life, and also eat three meals a day at the school. This is much better than them making cardboard boxes at home.

The first day was all meat, stir-fried green beans and eggplant, and egg drop soup with flour... Where can you find food like this?

He Yuzhu didn't go to the library on the first day; instead, he was busy in the cafeteria, cleaning up any messes to provide students with a clean and comfortable dining environment.

Actually, it's just that He Yuzhu himself has high standards. Even if the corners and crevices are a bit dirty, it won't affect the students much, but it will leave a good impression on Zhang Tianyong and the others.

Before the start of the semester, Lü Qinghuan went to Xishan and brought back the latest instructions. The students of No. 5 Middle School gathered together to listen to what Lü Qinghuan had to say.

When Zhang Tianyong heard Lü Qinghuan emphasize the importance of "preparing supplies" and providing necessary assistance to the people when needed, ensuring that the people of Beiping City would have enough to eat, he couldn't help but think of the "sealed meat" that He Yuzhu and He Daqing had stored in the basement.

Doesn't this mean they're really going to attack?

After the meeting ended, Zhang Tianyong stayed behind and told Lü Qinghuang about the 12,000 jin of pork stored in the basement. Lü Qinghuang's eyes widened upon hearing this: "So much stored?"

"Not only are there many, but the prices are also cheap."

Zhang Tianyong made an "eight" gesture. "It's 20% of the market price, but prices are getting more and more expensive now. Even if it's 20% cheaper, you can't buy it anymore. Besides, when making braised pork, we used one or two hundred catties of oil, plus labor costs, salt, and other cooking expenses, which weren't included in the price. We only charged the cost price."

He Daqing: Even at cost price, I'm still making a huge profit!

"Great, that's wonderful."

Lü Qinghuang was very happy, but then asked a question: "Why did Zhuzi think of stockpiling supplies at this time?"

"They are family chefs who have been trained for generations. They can walk through the vegetable markets and slaughterhouses of the capital with their eyes closed."

Zhang Tianyong didn't think much of it and said, "Moreover, Zhuzi hopes that after the New Year, we can change the flag in Beiping. The people of Beiping don't want to live another year of exploitation."

"Pillar...hey, you're spot on."

Lü Qinghuan knew more. "The calls for a strategic decisive battle are growing louder, and the higher-ups are discussing it. The Kuomintang is suffering repeated defeats and holding out in medium and large cities. Should we use a major campaign to drive the enemy out in one fell swoop?"

"real?"

"There are such voices, but it hasn't been formally discussed yet. Let's not talk about it for now. The closer we get to success, the more calm we need to be. The closer we are to success, the more careful we need to be. Don't fall before victory."

"yes!"

"Go ahead and get busy, but we can't let Zhu Zi do both the work and the labor; it's about the money..."

Lu Qinghuan was also troubled. Money should be spent wisely. Zhang Tianyong said, "Zhuzi said there's no need to rush about money. His family still has money. With prices soaring, I can apply for more money to balance the accounts... If it really is after the New Year, the school's food expenses will be more than enough."

"Really? That's good. We can't let Comrade Zhuzi's efforts go to waste."

……

"Is this a cold drink? A grape-flavored dessert?"

Lou Xiao'e enjoyed the cold drink her friend had given her, feeling wonderful: "Where did you buy it?"

The friend said, "It's a mobile stall called 'Tea and Delight' right outside the school gate. But Xiao'e, I'm afraid I can't go to school with you anymore. My parents are going to Hong Kong..."

"Ah, why?"

Lou Xiao'e was reluctant to see her friend leave, and the two of them cried together...

There were many similar cases, and many people began to sell their possessions and leave Beiping.

Old friends leave, and new friends appear. After Lou Xiao'e tried all the different flavors of cold drinks from Chayan Yuese, she became good friends with Tian Zao, the small shop owner of the mobile vendor.

However, Tian Zao was quite resistant to Lou Xiao'e calling her "boss," saying that she was not a boss at all.

Lou Xiao'e was very curious: "You're not the boss? Then who is the boss? Your boss is too stingy. If it were me, I would rent a shop to sell, which is much better than being a street vendor."

Tian Zao thought Lou Xiao'e's words made sense, but He Yuzhu wouldn't allow it, and she didn't know why.

After knowing each other for more than half a month, Tian Zao and Lou Xiao'e became close friends who could talk about anything. Tian Zao didn't envy Lou Xiao'e for being picked up and dropped off in a car all day, and Lou Xiao'e didn't look down on her for being an ordinary person. Over time, He Yuzhu's name started coming out of Tian Zao's mouth.

"What? You're saying the owner of the design firm 'Tea Talk and Pleasure' is He Yuzhu?"

Lou Xiao'e was stunned. She never imagined that the sycophant she had heard about from her father, Lou Bancheng, could make such delicious cold drinks.

Tian Zao was also surprised by Lou Xiao'e's reaction: "You know Zhu Zi?"

"I don't know him, but my dad does."

Lou Xiao'e did not hide her identity and said frankly, "My father is Lou Bancheng."

"Is your father Boss Lou?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Zao tried to return the money Lou Xiao'e had spent on cold drinks that day: "You should have said you were Boss Lou's daughter earlier, otherwise I wouldn't have accepted your money."

Why?

Lou Xiao'e couldn't understand why Tian Zao wouldn't even accept money when she heard her father's name.

Tian Zao explained seriously, "My group of brothers are all studying in the houses sponsored by Boss Lou. Moreover, Boss Lou gives them supplies every now and then. Zhu Zi said he is our benefactor. Since she is the daughter of our benefactor, she is also our benefactor, our little benefactor."

Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e understood.

My understanding of He Yuzhu has deepened, and I no longer think of He Yuzhu as just a sycophant.

At the very least, He Yuzhu knows how to be grateful. Over the years, the Lou family has helped countless ungrateful people.

Lou Xiao'e stuffed the money into Tian Zao's hand again: "It's alright, my dad is my dad, and I am me. We can't mix them up, otherwise I won't come to your store to buy drinks anymore."

"Well... okay."

Tian Zao reluctantly put the money away and thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Miss Lou."

Li Xiulan, who was standing nearby, also said, "Thank you, Miss Lou."

"Don't call me Miss, just call me Xiao'e."

Lou Xiao'e waved her hand, got into the car, rolled down the window, and said to the two of them, "I'll come visit you guys later."

"it is good."

Tian Zao waved his hand, watched Lou Xiao'e leave, and then continued doing business until he sold out of iced water before going home.