Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

He Daqing was listening with great interest when He Yuzhu suddenly called on him, startling him: "How do you perform a talent show by cooking?"

"You can just stir-fry it with your mouth."

Amidst everyone's puzzled gazes, He Yuzhu said, "How do you stir-fry a dish to make it delicious, fragrant, and flavorful? Describe it to us. You've been cooking at Fengzeyuan for so many years, yet you've never tasted any of their delicacies."

At first, He Daqing couldn't speak, but after He Yuzhu's guidance, He Daqing was able to directly recite a section about braised sea cucumber with scallions.

When things got lively, he casually mentioned the glorious story of the chef from Fengzeyuan who would rather stick his hand into the oil pan than tell the Japanese how to make the dish... This won him enthusiastic applause from everyone present. Then everyone started to condemn the Japanese for their evil deeds, and He Yuzhu felt so angry that he wanted to chop the Japanese up with a cleaver.

Fighting the Japanese invaders is a timeless principle that should never be outdated!

……

The cultural performance that was supposed to be a pleasant New Year's Eve evening turned into He Daqing's talent show in the second half, lasting until late at night, when everyone was enjoying the delicious Tongtian shark fin soup before going to sleep.

What does Tongtian shark fin taste like, that it can be called Tongtian?

He Yuzhu didn't think there was anything special about the food in the old restaurant. It was just food, after all. He was just eating pre-cooked food, and it was fine as long as it filled his stomach.

But you have to be able to eat it; the original braised version that Tian Gangdan eats is out of the question.

It was very late at night, and He Daqing insisted on going home. He Yuzhu had no choice but to follow him. Tian Zao and the others also went home together. This suited He Yuzhu's wishes perfectly. He couldn't have too much contact with others. If Zhang Yifu and the others found out what he had done, they might have other ideas.

He returned home safely after a harrowing journey, but couldn't fall asleep in bed.

Today is Chinese New Year, tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year... On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the advance troops will enter the city, and then on February 3rd, they will officially enter the city.

I have been in Beiping for almost a year now.

Thinking about the savings he had accumulated over the past year, He Yuzhu was quite satisfied.

It's not about becoming extremely wealthy or powerful, but rather about laying a solid foundation for myself thirty years from now.

Most importantly, he became a figure like Meng Chang in the hearts of the neighbors in No. 95 Courtyard, Qingyun Hutong, and Suoyi Hutong.

If he can help even an old shrew like Jia Zhangshi, he'll definitely help others too.

If it were He Yuzhu in the future, he wouldn't care about reputation; he'd prefer to secure his gains. This kind of thinking might work eighty years from now, but it won't work now.

In an era before the rule of law was fully developed, rule by man was the mainstream; in an age before the widespread application of laws, a good reputation was equivalent to having the upper hand from the very beginning.

"Good person" is not a derogatory term.

For example, Jia Zhangshi in Qingyun Hutong could be summed up in two words: disgusting!

They're never satisfied with taking advantage of others; they're also adept at throwing tantrums and making a scene.

But Madam Jia was just an ordinary person, and she had her weaknesses. Jia Dongxu was her weakness. For her son, she was willing to do anything.

He Yuzhu wondered if Jia Zhangshi would continue to obey him if he firmly held onto Jia Dongxu's lead.

Given her personality, she probably won't be very obedient.

But given her personality... she'll probably cause quite a few troubles.

Thinking back to when the local thug Wen Chaolei came to cause trouble, Jia Dongxu rushed up to help but was knocked to the ground, and Jia Zhangshi rushed up without hesitation... And then there was this time at the Fifth Middle School flag-raising ceremony, when Jia Zhangshi believed that Jia Dongxu and He Yuzhu had a brighter future, she was willing to die rather than stand in front of He Yuzhu...

He Yuzhu felt that as long as Jia Dongxu remained on the same page as him, he would have grasped Jia Zhangshi's lifeline.

But Jia Dongxu will die!

In the original story, Jia Dongxu died because he took his father Jia Gui's place and went to work at the steel mill (later the rolling mill).

Jia Dongxu will die, and He Yuzhu thinks of the future courtyard thief... He will also be Jia Zhangshi's lifeline.

However, He Yuzhu would not stand idly by if he could help Jia Dongxu.

Jia Zhangshi does indeed like to take advantage of others and is also good at throwing tantrums and acting like a rogue... Her ultimate skill, the "Soul Summoning Technique," hasn't been used yet, but if we can grasp her weakness, can we turn her into a spearhead in our hands?

And then there's Yi Zhonghai... Yi Zhonghai has now temporarily fulfilled his wish, adopting Jiaozi as his son, and also has a sensible goddaughter and godson. His life seems to be complete.

As for what will happen in the future... He Yuzhu is not worried. If Jiaozi doesn't behave like a human being, Tian Zao will teach him how to behave.

Yi Zhonghai will also become one of his top generals!

A morally superior person and an ingrate old ingrate—will these two sharp swords become his protective charm?

In the past thirty years, He Yuzhu has never thought of leaving No. 95 Courtyard, because he is too familiar with this courtyard. In a familiar environment, He Yuzhu is more likely to develop in a low-key manner. If he were to move to an unfamiliar environment, He Yuzhu would worry that other variables would occur.

If He Yuzhu were to continue living in Qingyun Hutong, in the No. 95 courtyard, he would need weapons to protect himself.

In the next thirty years, there will be too many monsters and freaks in No. 95 Courtyard.

The deaf old lady hasn't appeared yet, and Yan Bugui hasn't come either... As for the others, He Yuzhu isn't sure how many households will remain ten years from now.

However, given the current situation, He Yuzhu only felt safe after having control over Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai.

One is a messenger of souls, and the other is a celestial deity of morality.

Can we control them?

He Yuzhu couldn't guarantee anything; people's hearts are unpredictable, and people can change.

"Let's take it one step at a time. If they don't obey, we'll find an opportunity to beat them to a pulp!"

He Yuzhu, who had already lightly gilded his staff, felt that it was already lethal. He didn't know how it would deal with others, but he was sure it could easily defeat Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai.

The plan for Courtyard No. 95 was just like that, with Jia Zhangshi as the spear and Yi Zhonghai as the shield.

What should I do in the future?

What path should we choose?

After thinking about it, He Yuzhu felt that it was more suitable for him to pursue a career as a journalist.

This is his old profession.

But it can't just be a journalist; it needs to develop in multiple ways... It adopts a chronological approach to develop documentary literature.

As for the online novels in He Yuzhu's mind and some novels he read in later years... it's useless to bring them up now, and might even get him labeled.

We can only wait!

He Yuzhu sighed helplessly, realizing that he still knew too little about this era.

I should read more books and newspapers in the future. Surely those banned words on the Internet in the future can't be banned now, right?

He Yuzhu recalled that the history textbook described the literary and artistic workers of this era as a free-flowing and diverse group of ideas.

Journalists...are they also considered cultural workers?

At least that's how He Yuzhu understands it.

I still have to study...

He Yuzhu sighed deeply and then drifted off to sleep.

The next day, the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone was celebrating. However, no one had a good time, as soaring prices made it impossible for them to even buy all the necessities for the New Year.

Forget about new clothes, being able to eat is already a blessing.