Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

Pork skin and vermicelli soup, stir-fried with lard and seasoned with plenty of salt, is a dish that will taste delicious no matter where it's from or what it's famous for.

Not to mention these little guys who are severely lacking in oil and fat, they are eating steamed buns and drinking soup. Just looking at the smiles on their faces, you can tell that they are having a really satisfying meal.

He Daqing enjoyed watching it and worked even harder.

While eating with Tian Zao, He Yuzhu didn't forget to tell her what to do: "You and Dayong go sell steamed buns. Leave Hu Zi, Mei He, and the dumplings at home to help my dad take care of my sister. If business is good today, you'll probably have to make more this afternoon."

Tian Zao, being thoughtful, said, "They are all men, so it might be inconvenient for them to take care of the younger sister. If it's Mei He's older sister... sigh, never mind, I'll go to my house and find Uncle Gui's Lanzi. She doesn't have much to do during the day, so I'll ask her to come over and help take care of the younger sister."

He Yuzhu did not refuse: "That's fine, but Lanzi is different from you. She came to help watch the rain, so we should give her a thank you gift."

Tian Zao habitually took on all the responsibilities: "You don't need to worry about that, I'll arrange it."

Seeing that Tian Zao was confident in resolving these matters, He Yuzhu was also happy to relax: "Okay, but let me make one thing clear beforehand. The world is in chaos now. We sell steamed buns to make a living. If we encounter thugs or hooligans, don't fight back. It's okay to give up the steamed buns, but let's not risk our lives."

Hearing He Yuzhu's words, Tian Zao felt a warm glow in her heart. Apart from her neighbors and her own brother, this was the first person who valued their lives so much.

"And my dad, he cares a lot about his reputation. After you sell the goods, give the money to him, and if you guys say some nice things to him, you won't have to worry about food, clothing, or other necessities from now on."

"Alright!"

Hearing He Yuzhu's words, Tian Zao laughed along, her little tiger teeth sparkling, and her long braid at the back making her look especially cute: "Brother Zhu, is he really your biological father? Is it appropriate to trick him like this?"

Looking at Tian Zao, who was acting innocent despite getting a good deal, He Yuzhu said irritably, "If I don't cheat your father, you'll go hungry. Tian Zao is a chivalrous woman, but I, a dignified seven-foot man, would do such a thing?"

With all aspects taken into account, this deal is bound to be good.

After dinner, the children scrambled to wash the dishes. Tian Zao gathered the friends who were going out to sell steamed buns together. They carried baskets or small drawers borrowed from their neighbors, all covered with new white cotton quilts—clearly, they had put thought into it. "The price of the steamed buns is two copper coins each. Each of you take twenty, and Dayong and Shunzi take forty. After you've sold them all, give the money to Manager He. Remember, these steamed buns are for us to sell, not for us to eat. If anyone steals any, don't say you're Tian Zao's brother!"

well said!

He Daqing reached out to applaud, having long heard of Tian Zao's reputation, and after meeting her today, he was certain she was a heroine among women.

I wonder which lucky young man will marry this heroine.

He Daqing glanced at He Yuzhu... He decided to forget about his own son; he was too dim-witted and didn't deserve Zao'er...

At this moment, He Daqing desperately wished that Tian Zao was his biological son.

After explaining the matter, Tian Zao came to He Daqing's side: "Manager He, do you think what I said is acceptable? Why don't you say a few words to us, otherwise we won't feel at ease."

She remembered what He Yuzhu had said: "We have to elevate 'Manager He'; the higher we elevate him, the happier he will be."

Tian Zao addressed He Daqing as "Manager He" repeatedly, which made He Daqing's face glow and his back straighten up. However, when asked to say a few words, he really couldn't utter a single sentence.

After stammering for a while, he finally managed to say, "We can make more buns if we run out, but please don't argue with others over just two buns. If you leave your buns behind, come find Uncle, and Uncle will stand up for you!"

To put it bluntly, it's about making them value their lives.

While speaking, He Daqing used He Yuzhu as an example: "Look at this silly boy, he got into a fight with a thug over a basket of steamed buns. Now I don't call him my son anymore, I just call him 'Silly Zhu'!"

"..."

He Yuzhu was both amused and exasperated. It seemed that his father was determined to spread the name "Silly Zhu."

Tian Zao, standing next to He Yuzhu, stared at him intently, as if he had discovered a new continent.

This doesn't seem like a silly boy.

Foolish Pillar?

Hehe...it sounds pretty good!

After distributing the steamed buns, He Daqing had to go to buy more goods. Although he left a few children to take care of He Yushui, he entrusted He Yushui to Wang Xiulan for help just to be on the safe side.

He Daqing was also a gossipy and funny person. Seeing Yi Zhonghai's appearance, he guessed what he was thinking. He guessed but didn't say anything. He said whatever Yi Zhonghai didn't want to hear: "Zhonghai, although Yushui is my daughter, I've been troubling my sister-in-law to take care of her. Why don't we let her become your godparents when she grows up?"

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed.

He wanted a son, not a daughter!

"Brother Daqing, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn't it only right that neighbors help take care of things?"

Wang Xiulan picked up Yushui, glanced at Huzi, Meihe, and the others outside through the glass, and asked He Daqing, "Brother Daqing, what's wrong with these kids?"

"They are all Zhu Zi's younger brothers. You two know Tian Zao from Suoyi Hutong, right? These are all orphans from Beiping City, or children whose families have no one to take care of them. I don't know how Zhu Zi got in touch with them, so he asked them to help sell steamed buns and also take care of Yu Shui."

He Daqing said exactly what Wang Xiulan and Yi Zhonghai wanted to know, but he liked to play dumb, and he was a master at it. He kept asking Yi Zhonghai, "Zhonghai, how about letting Yushui become your godparent?"

Yi Zhonghai was an honest man, and he looked helplessly at He Daqing: "Brother, you're just teasing me. Is this how godparents are recognized? Brother, you know what we both want."

"Ha ha……"

Seeing Yi Zhonghai's straightforwardness, He Daqing laughed heartily, seemingly enjoying teasing him: "How about it? The kids outside are all quite nice, how about we adopt a godson? And Yushui as our goddaughter while we're at it?"

"..."

Yi Zhonghai was exasperated. Was he really going to have a falling out with his godfather today?

Who forces someone to adopt a goddaughter?

Even an honest person can bite when cornered: "Why don't you just have Zhu Zi call us godfather and godmother? When you recognize godparents, you have to act like godparents. We know Zhu Zi inside and out. As long as you agree, we'll accept them!"

Recognizing godparents is not something that can be done casually by calling them "godfather" or "godmother." It involves a responsibility. When children are young, godparents are treated the same as biological parents. They should provide them with lucky money, new clothes, and new shoes for the New Year, and they should also provide gifts for their weddings.

Correspondingly, when the godparents get old, the godson who has been adopted will have to take care of them in their old age and see them off when they die.

This is why Yi Zhonghai is so determined to find someone to take care of him in the No. 95 courtyard; he is worried about encountering an ungrateful person who would make all his efforts go to waste.