Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

There are not many days left until the Chinese New Year.

He Yuzhu's work at the company has finally come to a complete end.

He was finally able to relax completely, no longer needing to be busy at the factory every day.

That afternoon, sunlight streamed through the eaves of the courtyard house, casting dappled shadows.

He Yuzhu sat on a bench in his main room, watching the busy figures in the yard, and suddenly remembered the New Year's goods.

He turned to look at He Daqing sitting to the side and asked.

"Dad, how did you manage to prepare for the New Year while I was away?"

Upon hearing this, He Daqing, who had been expressionless, instantly perked up.

He suddenly sat up straight, a look of helplessness and感慨 on his face.

In previous years, he always bought New Year's goods on a small scale.

On weekdays, he relies on his cooking skills to scrape together some food for the family.

Back then, we didn't have a choice; we could only try to get whatever was available on the market.

However, nowadays, supplies on the market are becoming increasingly scarce.

Grain, oil, meat, and vegetables were all in short supply, and even with coupons, it was not always possible to buy what one wanted.

Even if he has the skills, it would be difficult for him to get anything decent.

He Daqing sighed, looked at his son, and his eyes were filled with doubt.

"What, what good stuff have you managed to get your hands on?"

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow, pondering in his mind, but first voiced his concerns.

"If we do this too much, won't the neighbors gossip about us behind our backs?"

Upon hearing this, He Daqing immediately rolled his eyes and said with certainty.

"Is that even a question? Most people can only afford to make one meal of meat dumplings for the New Year, while you're bringing home a whole bunch of good stuff. No wonder people are gossiping!"

He Yuzhu nodded, understanding in his heart, and then asked another question.

"So how did you do it before? How come no one gossiped about you?"

He Daqing smiled smugly and said slowly.

"I didn't move all my stuff home at once."

"Every year at the end of the year, when I prepare banquets for people, I will discuss with the host to try to use cured meats and dried goods that can be stored for a long time."

"Take only a little at a time, who can find fault with that? I earned all of this honestly and through my skills."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu understood the situation and asked another question.

"Oh, what about the raw meat? A whole head of raw meat, can you handle that?"

Upon hearing this, He Daqing immediately suppressed his smile, his expression turning serious as he pressed for an answer.

"How much raw meat? Don't you dare do anything reckless."

He Yuzhu spoke calmly, yet with a strong sense of confidence.

"A pig, a sheep, and dozens of kilograms of beef, as well as a lot of seafood and fresh vegetables."

Upon hearing this, He Daqing gasped sharply, his face filled with shock.

He stared intently at He Yuzhu, his eyes wide, his tone urgent and worried.

"Hey, Zhu Zi, we're a leader now, we can't make mistakes or do anything against the rules!"

He Yuzhu remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic, and responded in a deep voice.

"What mistake did I make? All these things were bought with my own money, and they came from a perfectly legitimate source."

He Daqing still looked unconvinced and frowned as he spoke.

"Do you have money? You've only been working for a few months, and you bought so much stuff last time. Where would you find the spare money to buy so many New Year's goods?"

He Yuzhu didn't want to explain the source of his money too much, so he waved his hand.

"Don't ask about that. I have my own way of handling the money. Let's talk about how to get these things home and take care of them."

After pondering for a moment, He Daqing, considering the interpersonal relationships within the courtyard, made a suggestion.

"How about we call Da Mao? He's always been the one to cover for me and keep it from the neighbors in the hospital."

"And what about those pigs and sheep? Can you bring them home separately? If you don't even bring a pig's head home, what will you say if the neighbors ask about the pig's head stewed at home?"

In fact, He Daqing's suggestion to ask Xu Damao to provide cover was actually a ploy to involve the Xu family in the operation.

The Xu family lived in the backyard of the courtyard house.

When the He family moved things home, they would inevitably have to pass by Xu's house; nothing could escape the Xu family's notice.

As long as Xu Damao gets involved, Xu Fugui won't be able to say much, even if he has his own thoughts.

Moreover, He Daqing was never stingy; whenever he got something good, he would share some of it with Xu Damao.

After listening to his father's words, He Yuzhu thought for a moment and then made a decision.

"Alright, I understand. You don't need to worry about this, I'll take care of it."

Seeing his son's confident demeanor, He Daqing gave him some instructions.

"Alright, you guys do what you want, but be careful and don't give anyone any leverage over you."

He Yuzhu responded, turned around and left the house, heading straight to find Xu Damao.

He hadn't contacted Xu Damao on his own initiative for a long time.

Xu Damao usually liked to bicker with him, but when He Yuzhu took the initiative to come to him, he was overjoyed.

He quickly stepped forward, a fawning smile plastered on his face, and asked politely.

"Brother Zhu, what do you want?"

He Yuzhu was too lazy to waste words with him and spoke directly.

"Come on, let's talk in my room."

Xu Damao nodded and bowed repeatedly in response.

"Okay, okay, I'll go with you right now."

The two walked quickly into the east wing of the He family's house, one after the other.

After closing the door and blocking the view from the courtyard, He Yuzhu explained in detail that he needed He Yuzhu's help to cover up the large amount of New Year's goods he was moving into his home.

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's eyes lit up instantly, and he began to make his own plans.

He quickly stepped forward and asked with a look of anticipation.

"Brother Zhu, could you also pick up some New Year's goods for my family while you're at it?"

He Yuzhu glanced at him, her tone slightly reproachful yet quite cheerful.

"Isn't that obvious? I'm asking you to help with the work, why would I let you work for free? You'll definitely get your share of the benefits."

Xu Damao was overjoyed and immediately said.

"Then I'll go back and ask my dad for some money. I can't let you spend all that money yourself."

He Yuzhu waved his hand, directly refusing.

"Okay, but you can keep the money yourself, you don't need to give it to me."

Xu Damao looked puzzled and quickly said.

"How can that be? You bought so much stuff, don't you think it costs money? How can I take it for free?"

He Yuzhu looked at him, then suddenly remembered something and asked.

"Just keep it. I heard you've been studying Russian lately, and you're working really hard at it?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao scratched his head sheepishly and chuckled.

"Hehe, you're really well-informed, Brother Zhu."

He Yuzhu said calmly.

"Consider these a reward. Feel free to look at any of the Russian books in my room. You have your own money; you can buy some study materials, won't you?"

Xu Damao was both surprised and delighted, and quickly bowed to express his gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Brother Zhu! You're such a kind person!"

Afterwards, the two huddled together and whispered about how to secretly move the items into the yard.

After discussing it for a long time, they finally decided to bring the items in from the east courtyard.

Xu Damao suggested that they find a ladder to climb over the wall and go in to receive the goods.

He Yuzhu shook his head and refused directly, his tone firm.

"No need. When I contact you, just wait to receive the goods."

As for what exactly to transport or how to transport it in, He Yuzhu didn't elaborate.

Xu Damao was sensible and didn't ask any further questions.

Anyway, once the goods are delivered back, he'll naturally know the benefits; there's no need to keep asking.

After reaching an agreement, He Yuzhu turned around and went to find He Daqing.

He asked his father for help in finding a set of butcher's tools.

Upon hearing this, He Daqing knew that his son wanted to dissect the whole pig and sheep himself.

He was still worried and quickly asked.

"Do you need any help? Can you do these things yourself? Don't hurt yourself."

He Yuzhu spoke confidently, patting his chest as he spoke.

"No need. When I was in Tianjin, I specifically learned the art of butchering. Not to mention butchering pigs and sheep, I can even butcher cattle without any problem."

He Daqing was relieved and quickly found his son a complete set of butcher tools.

Sharp boning knives, cleavers, hooks, and ropes are all available.

After getting the tools, He Yuzhu found a quiet moment when no one was around and quietly returned to his room.

He locked the door, held his breath, and from his personal space, he separated two whole pigs, two whole sheep, and a whole cow.

These meats are tender and fresh, without any added water, making them rare finds on the market.

Before we knew it, it was the night before the Lunar New Year.

The night was deep and quiet in the courtyard. Every household had turned off their lights, with only a few scattered lights dotting the night.

He Yuzhu pushed his family's old-fashioned bicycle, the back seat and handlebars were fully strapped together.

He carefully avoided passersby and went straight to Wang Hongxia's door.

He stopped his bicycle and gently knocked on the courtyard gate.

Soon, the courtyard gate was opened, and Zhao Fengnian poked his head out.

When he saw the bicycle piled high with all sorts of New Year's goods, he was startled and looked completely bewildered.

He stared wide-eyed at He Yuzhu and asked in a shocked tone.

"Zhu Zi, what are you doing? Why did you bring so much stuff?"

He Yuzhu smiled and said in a relaxed tone.

"The Lunar New Year is almost here, so I'm sending you some New Year's gifts in advance."

Looking at the mountain of things piled up in front of him, Zhao Fengnian said with a wry smile.

"This isn't a New Year's gift, it's like you're moving!"

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow and said, feigning displeasure.

"Hey Lao Zhao, are you just going to make me stand at the door forever?"

Zhao Fengnian then came to his senses, quickly turned to the side, and said reproachfully.

"You brat, you don't even call me 'uncle' anymore, you have no respect for elders."

Just then, Wang Hongxia's voice came from inside the courtyard, her tone tinged with doubt.

"Old Zhao, who's that outside? Why are they standing there for so long, not letting them in?"

Zhao Fengnian quickly called out into the courtyard.

"It's Zhu Zi."

Wang Hongxia's voice came again, tinged with reproach.

"Then why won't you let them in? Honestly, don't neglect the child."

Zhao Fengnian had no choice but to smile and reply quickly.

"well!"

As he spoke, he opened the courtyard gate completely, letting He Yuzhu in.

He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle into the yard, and Wang Hongxia quickly came to greet him.

When she saw the bicycle covered with pork, lamb legs, chicken, duck, fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables, she was instantly stunned.

She covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief, and said.

"Hey, Pillar, what are you doing? How did you get so much stuff?"

He Yuzhu remained relaxed, smiling as he spoke.

"Giving New Year's gifts!"

Wang Hongxia frowned, her tone tinged with worry.

"Who gives such an expensive gift? Are you short of money? How much money did all these things cost?!"

He Yuzhu didn't seem to care at all and joked with a smile.

"These are three years' worth of New Year's gifts; can I give them all at once?"

Zhao Fengnian and Wang Hongxia exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and embarrassment in each other's eyes.

Wang Hongxia pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Zhu Zi, this gift is too extravagant; we can't accept it. Besides, are these things of yours legitimately sourced?"

He Yuzhu's expression turned serious, and his tone became sincere and resolute.

"Aunt Xia, don't worry, it was all bought with real money, the source is clean, don't you believe me!"

Just then, the voice of the old lady of the Wang family came from the main house, carrying a hint of kind doubt.

"Xiaoxia, Fengnian, who's here? What are you two whispering about outside?"

Wang Hongxia quickly called out towards the main house.

"Mom, it's Zhuzi."

Upon hearing this, the old lady of the Wang family immediately became warm and welcoming.

"This is a rare guest, Zhu Zi. Come in and talk to Grandma."

He Yuzhu replied with a smile.

"Okay!"

As he spoke, he casually handed the bicycle to Zhao Fengnian, took the net bag containing the apples off the handlebars, and strode towards the main house.

Zhao Fengnian and Wang Hongxia stood there, looked at each other, and had bitter smiles on their faces.

They knew in their hearts that this gift was too heavy, but they couldn't refuse He Yuzhu's kind intentions.

He Yuzhu walked into the main room and sat down with Old Mrs. Wang and Principal Wang on the kang (a heated brick bed), chatting and laughing about everyday things.

His tone was respectful and his words were polite, which made the old lady of the Wang family smile from ear to ear.

A short while later, Zhao Fengnian walked into the main house and looked at He Yuzhu.

"Zhu Zi, come out here for a second, I need to talk to you about something."

He Yuzhu stood up, followed Zhao Fengnian outside, and asked in confusion.

"What's wrong, Uncle Zhao?"

Zhao Fengnian looked embarrassed and said something.

"We don't have anyone in our family who knows how to prepare that pig's head you brought. What are we going to do with it?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu asked without hesitation.

"Do you have a big pot at home? A big pot for stewing pig's head?"

Zhao Fengnian nodded quickly.

"Yes, there is a large iron pot in the kitchen, which is enough."

He Yuzhu readily agreed.

"Then I'll help you clean it up, including the pig's trotters."

The conversation between the two was overheard by the old lady of the Wang family as she walked out of the main house.

The old lady originally thought He Yuzhu had only brought a bag of apples, but she didn't expect there to be so much meat as well.

She asked, her face full of surprise.

"Pillar, did you take something else?"

He Yuzhu smiled and said in a calm tone.

"I just got some meat. It's almost Chinese New Year, so I'm adding some New Year's goods for you."

Principal Wang also came out. Upon hearing this, his expression changed slightly, and he earnestly gave him some advice.

"Zhu Zi, you can't make mistakes! You can't take things you shouldn't!"

He Yuzhu looked at Principal Wang with a calm expression and spoke earnestly.

"Principal, I don't need your family to do anything for me. I just want to visit relatives and elders during the Chinese New Year."

"What, is it that you don't recognize me as your student, or that my Uncle Zhao and Aunt Xia don't recognize me as their nephew?"

Wang Hongxia quickly stepped forward, tugged at Principal Wang's arm, and said with a smile.

"Zhu Zi, don't listen to this old man's nonsense. He's just worried about you."

"You're sending so much stuff, isn't it enough for your own home?"

Grandma Wang quickly echoed, her face full of heartache.

"Yes, Zhuzi, don't just think about us, your own family also needs to celebrate the New Year."

He Yuzhu smiled and waved his hand, his tone resolute.

"Grandma Wang, I have all of these at home, there's plenty for everyone."

Only then did Mrs. Wang feel relieved and nodded repeatedly.

"That's good, that's good. You're such a thoughtful child."

Afterwards, He Yuzhu followed Zhao Fengnian into the kitchen to prepare the pig's head and trotters.

Grandma Wang was still worried, so she followed her into the kitchen.

She was startled again when she saw the pile of pork, lamb legs, chickens, ducks, and fresh seafood in the corner.

She quietly pulled Wang Hongxia aside, walked to a corner of the kitchen, and whispered something.

"Xiaoxia, all these things must have cost a lot of money and tickets."

"Zhu Zi has only been working for a short time, how could he have such great abilities? When he leaves, you must give him the money."

Wang Hongxia nodded gently, her tone tinged with emotion.

"I know, Mom. I was just talking about this with Fengnian."

"But Zhu Zi really solved a big problem for our family. Meat is so hard to buy this year. We'll have a lot of guests coming over for the New Year, and I'm really worried about it."

Grandma Wang looked at He Yuzhu, who was busy in the kitchen, and said with a face full of satisfaction.

"Zhu Zi is a kind and loyal boy. He remembers our family's kindness. You must keep a close eye on him and protect the He family from now on!"

Wang Hongxia nodded emphatically, her tone firm.

"I know, Mom!"

He Yuzhu moved swiftly and skillfully in the kitchen, starting the fire, blanching the fish, and removing the fishy smell—his movements were fluid and efficient.

In no time, the pig's head and trotters were cleaned thoroughly and put into a large pot to simmer.

The aroma from the pot gradually filled the room, filling it with the scent of meat.

After packing up, He Yuzhu said goodbye to everyone and prepared to leave.

Wang Hongxia grabbed him, holding a thick wad of cash in her hand, and stuffed it into his pocket without saying a word.

He Yuzhu was prepared, clutching his pockets tightly, and turned to push his bicycle out.

Zhao Fengnian and Wang Hongxia, a married couple, pulled and tugged at each other, determined to give the money to He Yuzhu.

But He Yuzhu was strong and fast, and the couple couldn't stop him at all.

In the end, He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle and ran quickly out of the courtyard gate, successfully "escaping".

Watching He Yuzhu's departing figure, Wang Hongxia felt helpless but warm inside.

Zhao Fengnian looked at his wife and said in a solemn tone.

"Hongxia, from now on, please keep an eye on Zhuzi's family and take good care of them."

"The kind of bullying that happened to their family before must not happen again."

Wang Hongxia looked at her husband, then suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

"You probably don't know this, but Zhu Zi's mother is now the 'big boss' in charge of the courtyard!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Fengnian looked surprised and asked in confusion.

"Oh? As far as I know, most of the people in charge of this facility are men; there are very few women, right?"

Wang Hongxia smiled and said.

"I only recently finalized this plan. If this method works and is effective, I plan to modify other courtyards as well."

"The men are all at work during the day, so if something happens in the compound, nobody knows. The neighborhood committee has to hold meetings at night, which is such a waste of time."

Zhao Fengnian's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.

"That's right. If you achieve good results, I'll have other sub-district offices in the district go there to learn from your experience."

Wang Hongxia rolled her eyes at him and teased him with a smile.

"Oh, my dear district chief, so now you're thinking of learning from us?"

Zhao Fengnian laughed and said.

"It happened before. When Zhu Zi gave his report, wasn't your subdistrict office outstanding enough? It was famous throughout the district."

Wang Hongxia smiled proudly and said.

"Hmph, that's why this pillar is a treasure, a rare talent."

Zhao Fengnian sighed, his tone tinged with regret.

"It's a pity they don't come to work in our district, otherwise they could be a great help to us."

Wang Hongxia shook her head, her tone firm.

"Isn't it better now? I think the work he does now allows him to better realize his own value and make greater contributions to the country."

Zhao Fengnian deeply agreed, nodded, and sighed.

"Yeah, that kid. How come I didn't notice him when I lived in a courtyard house? I was too late and couldn't win him over sooner."

Upon hearing this, Wang Hongxia couldn't help but scold him playfully.

"What? How old were they back then? You expect them to be doing clandestine work with you at such a young age?"

Zhao Fengnian stroked his chin, his expression mysterious, and murmured something.

"It's hard to say, it's hard to say."

Wang Hongxia frowned and asked in confusion.

"Why is it hard to say? What do you mean by that?"

Zhao Fengnian looked around to make sure no one was there before lowering his voice and speaking.

"There's something that happened many years ago, don't you find it strange?"

Wang Hongxia's heart skipped a beat, and she pressed for an answer.

"You mean? The time we were made things difficult for each other back then?"

Zhao Fengnian nodded slightly, his tone solemn.

"right."

Wang Hongxia's expression changed slightly, and she said.

"But we didn't see anyone rescuing them at all, and besides, don't you find the voice strange?"

Zhao Fengnian said in a deep voice.

"What was that sound? I was too nervous at the time and didn't pay much attention."

Wang Hongxia took a deep breath and said.

"The voice of the person who saved us is somewhat similar to Zhu Zi's voice now."

Zhao Fengnian's eyes narrowed, and he spoke.

"You mean, really? How old was Zhu Zi back then? He was just a kid."

Wang Hongxia shook her head, her tone resolute.

"Whether it is true or not, Zhuzi is a good kid and a good comrade. If he doesn't mention it, we'll pretend we don't know and keep it firmly in our hearts."

Zhao Fengnian nodded emphatically.

"it is good."

At this moment, Wang Hongxia became even more determined to protect the He family, so that He Yuzhu could work outside with peace of mind and without any worries.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Fengnian then revealed another piece of news that shocked Wang Hongxia.

He lowered his voice and spoke in a deep tone.

"I think it's not a coincidence that Cuiping returned to Beijing."

Wang Hongxia looked utterly astonished and said in disbelief.

"Really? I asked Cuiping, and she said she ran into Zhuzi by chance, which is why she came back."

Zhao Feng chuckled and said.

"Do you think she'll tell you the whole truth? There are some things she won't easily reveal."

Wang Hongxia pondered for a moment and then nodded.

"Too."

Zhao Fengnian gave his instructions.

"Don't ask anymore. Asking too much is bad for everyone."

Wang Hongxia responded.

"I know, but what about that encounter on the train? Was that also deliberately arranged?"

Zhao Fengnian shook his head and said.

"That was really a coincidence; I talked to He Daqing about it."

"He originally wanted Zhuzi to learn cooking from him, but Zhuzi learned too quickly and he had no one left to teach. That's when he remembered that he had a senior apprentice in Tianjin."

"The time Zhu Zi goes to Tianjin is always decided on the spot; it's impossible to arrange it in advance."

Wang Hongxia breathed a sigh of relief and said.

"That's good. Otherwise, this kid would be a bit too scary. He's too cunning."

Zhao Fengnian glared at her and scolded her softly.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Zhu Zi is a good kid, a good comrade. From now on, when you go out, watch your mouth and don't say anything careless."

Wang Hongxia stuck out her tongue and replied with a smile.

"Yes, my District Chief Zhao."

Zhao Fengnian looked out the window, his eyes deep, and murmured something.

"But I always have a feeling that this kid will do something earth-shattering in the future, and I don't know if I can help him weather the storm."

Wang Hongxia's heart tightened, and she quickly asked.

"What's the big deal? Do you know something?"

Zhao Fengnian shook his head and said.

"I don't know, it's just my intuition, it's very strong."

Wang Hongxia suggested.

"Should we find an opportunity to have a proper talk with Zhu Zi?"

Zhao Fengnian thought for a moment and then said.

"Let's wait a bit longer; it's not the right time yet."

Wang Hongxia looked at the bubbling pig's head in the pot and said.

"Alright, I need to go check the pot so it doesn't burn. You can go back inside."

Zhao Fengnian smiled and said.

"Let's go together. The things Zhuzi makes smell so delicious, they make my mouth water."

Wang Hongxia rolled her eyes at him and teased him.

"I think you're just waiting to be the first to take a bite, you greedy little thing."

Zhao Fengnian chuckled and said no more, then followed Wang Hongxia to stand guard by the kitchen.

After leaving the Wang family, He Yuzhu carefully pushed his bicycle back to the courtyard house.

He parked his bicycle in front of his house, made sure no one was watching in the yard, and then quickly walked to the east wing.

He raised his hand and took out three bulging burlap sacks from his spatial storage, gently placing them on the ground.

Then he turned around and quickly went back to the backyard.

When he reached Xu Damao's door, he lowered his voice and called out softly.

"Da Mao, are you asleep?"

Soon, Xu Damao's door was opened.

Xu Damao, wearing a thick cotton-padded coat and cotton shoes, ran out sleepily.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, he immediately perked up and hurriedly asked.

"No, Brother Zhu, what's up? Why are you calling me so late?"

He Yuzhu walked to his side, lowered his voice, and said urgently.

"The goods have arrived. Come with me to bring them back."

Xu Damao instantly snapped out of it, his face showing excitement, and he quickly lowered his voice.

"Where are you? Do you need to bring your bicycle?"

He Yuzhu said softly.

"It's right in the east courtyard, no need to ride a bike."

Xu Damao looked surprised and said in a low voice.

"Hey, Brother Zhu, why didn't you tell me? I could have prepared in advance."

He Yuzhu waved his hand and said.

"What are you saying? Everything's back. Hurry up and put your clothes and shoes on properly."

Xu Damao nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, I'll be right there."

He quickly turned around and went back into the house, tied his cotton-padded coat tighter, put on his cotton-padded shoes, grabbed a flashlight, and hurried after him.

The two tiptoed, heads down, and quickly made their way to the east courtyard.

Xu Damao turned on his flashlight, the beam shining on the three large sacks on the ground.

His face was full of doubt, and his heart was filled with shock.

How did they manage to get these sacks into the east wing?

He clearly climbed over the wall to get in, but he didn't hear a single sound from inside the house.

He stepped forward, grabbed the nearest burlap sack, and lifted it up with all his might.

The sack didn't budge, almost making him stumble.

Xu Damao looked bewildered and asked, panting heavily.

"Brother Zhu, what's in here? It's so heavy! I can't even lift it."

He Yuzhu glanced at it and said with a smile.

"You really know how to pick. In your sack, there's a carcass and a half of pork, almost two hundred pounds."

Xu Damao suddenly realized and patted his chest as he spoke.

"No wonder I couldn't lift it; it turns out there's so much meat on it."

He Yuzhu casually picked up another, smaller burlap sack and handed it to him.

"Take this, it's vegetables, much lighter."

Xu Damao quickly took it, but still felt it was a bit heavy, and said apologetically.

"I'll help you carry the pork; I'm having trouble carrying this by myself."

He Yuzhu glanced at him helplessly and said.

"Come on, stop dawdling."

As soon as he finished speaking, He Yuzhu bent down, picked up a heavy sack in each hand, and strode towards the backyard.

Xu Damao stood there, completely numb and utterly stunned.

That one and a half slices of pork weighed nearly two hundred pounds, and the other sack also weighed about one hundred pounds.

Brother Zhu was carrying one in each hand and walking around effortlessly.

Is the gap between him and Brother Zhu really that big?

Xu Damao felt both admiration and envy, so he quickly picked up the sack of vegetables and hurried after him.

The two of them moved everything quietly to the cellar in the backyard.

The fresh vegetables were covered with several straw sacks to prevent them from freezing.

Raw meat is not afraid of freezing and can be placed anywhere.

Xu Damao swallowed hard as he looked at the cellar full of good stuff, then turned to He Yuzhu.

"Aren't we going to untie this meat tonight? Just leave it there?"

He Yuzhu looked up at the sky; it was already late at night, and said.

"Don't you even look at the time? It's the middle of the night, making too much noise."

"Come help me out first thing tomorrow morning. We'll do it in the backyard; there are too many people and too many eyes in the middle yard, so we'll be easily spotted."

Xu Damao nodded quickly.

"Okay, I'll come first thing tomorrow morning, and I won't delay anything."

After discussing it, the two quietly went back to their rooms to sleep.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Xu Damao dressed neatly and arrived early at the backyard to find He Yuzhu.

As soon as he saw He Yuzhu, he asked with a look of anticipation.

"Brother Zhu, where's the pig's head? I want to eat pig's head meat."

He Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh when he saw how greedy he looked.

"What's wrong? Are you craving it?"

Xu Damao scratched his head sheepishly and said.

"Pig's head meat is the best; it's delicious whether braised or mixed."

He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"So you're craving braised pig's head, huh? Just wait, I'll get you some in a couple of days, plenty of it."

Xu Damao replied with a happy expression.

"Oh, that's great, thank you, Brother Zhu."

Afterwards, the two got busy in the backyard.

They moved a large table over and erected a thick wooden stake against the wall, nailing sturdy iron hooks onto it.

With everything prepared, the young maids in the courtyard also gathered around.

Xiaoman, He Yushui, Xu Xiaohui, and Wang Siyu, four little girls, chattered excitedly around the area.

They weren't there to help at all; they were just bored and came to watch the show.

Even the old lady in the courtyard had a chair brought over and sat at the back gate.

She watched the two boys bustling around in the yard with a kind and happy expression, her heart filled with joy.

He Yuzhu stood in front of the table, picked up a butcher's knife, and began to butcher the pork and mutton.

His movements were fluid and graceful, and his knife skills were precise and swift.

Deboning, peeling, and cutting into pieces—every movement was swift and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

The four little girls standing nearby watched intently, occasionally letting out exclamations of amazement.

"Wow, Brother Zhu is amazing!"

"That swordsmanship is too skilled!"

The old lady looked at He Yuzhu's actions with a face full of satisfaction and said.

"Zhu Zi, you learned your skills in Tianjin, right?"

He Yuzhu kept working with his hands and replied with a smile.

"Yes, madam. I originally studied how to butcher oxen, but the principles are similar for pigs and sheep. Once you understand one, you can understand all of them."

The old lady nodded and praised.

"Not bad, not bad. You haven't lost your skills over the years. Having a skill to rely on is better than anything else."

He Yushui stood to the side, her eyes shining, and said while pulling on He Yuzhu's arm.

"Brother, your skills are even better than the butcher at the market!"

"Why don't we sell pork too? That way we can have pork to eat every day."

Xiaoman stood to the side, reached out and poked He Yushui's head, and said reproachfully.

"You brat, all you know is eating. How can Brother Zhu's job compare to selling pork? Don't talk nonsense."

He Yushui stuck out her tongue, her eyes darting around as she looked at Xu Damao.

"Brother Da Mao, why don't you learn to sell pork?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's expression changed, and he hurriedly waved his hand, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

"No, I can't do that. I can help your brother out, but I can't sell pork."

In his eyes, selling pork was a lowly profession, too undignified for him to do.

He Yushui said with a smile.

"It's okay, you'll get the hang of it with practice, it's very simple."

Xu Damao looked miserable and begged for mercy repeatedly.

"No way, I don't want to be a butcher, please spare me."

Xu Xiaohui also joined in the fun, pulling on Xu Damao's arm and saying.

"Brother, brother, selling pork is great! Then our family will have meat to eat. You should learn from him."

Seeing Xu Damao's embarrassed look, He Yuzhu couldn't help but tease him.

"Hmm, I think that's a good idea, Damao. Why don't you go and learn it? You'll have a skill to support your family in the future."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao almost knelt down, his face full of pleading.

"Brother Zhu, please have pity on me and spare me! I really can't do this!"

He knew perfectly well that if He Yuzhu was determined to make him learn this trade, he would have nowhere to hide.

Seeing Xu Damao's disheveled and frightened appearance, Xiaoman couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Immediately afterwards, He Yushui, Xu Xiaohui, Wang Siyu, and the old lady all burst into laughter.

The entire backyard was instantly filled with laughter and joy, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Just then, a gentle female voice came from the moon gate.

"Hey, what's all this commotion? I could hear your laughter from far away."

Everyone turned to look and saw Chen Lanxiang standing at the moon gate, her face full of smiles.

He Yuzhu stopped what he was doing and said.

"It's nothing, we were just teasing Da Mao."

Chen Lanxiang walked into the backyard, glanced at the meat on the table, and asked.

"How much longer will it take you to finish this?"

He Yuzhu said.

"Almost there, Mother. What's wrong?"

Chen Lanxiang nodded and said.

"Yes, a butler has come to our house. Judging from his clothes and appearance, he seems to be from a wealthy family. He said he needs to see you."

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow and asked.

"The Lou family? The Lou family from the steel rolling mill?"

Chen Lanxiang responded.

"Yes, they are from the Lou family at the steel rolling mill."

He Yuzhu asked again.

"Didn't you say what it was about?"

Chen Lanxiang shook her head and said.

"They didn't say what it was about, but judging from the looks of it, they've come to ask you for a favor. It's probably something important, though, and they're being very polite."

He Yuzhu said calmly.

"Oh, please ask him to wait a moment, I'll be done right away."

Chen Lanxiang gave her instructions.

"Hurry up, don't keep them waiting too long."

He Yuzhu responded.

"it is good."

After saying that, Chen Lanxiang turned and went back to the Central Court.

He Yuzhu didn't delay any longer, picked up a knife, and processed the remaining meat as quickly as possible.

In no time, all the pork, mutton, and beef had been broken down.

He instructed Xu Damao to pack the prepared meat separately, and to store it later by category.

Then he turned around and quickly returned to the Central Court.

Upon arriving at the central courtyard, he did not go directly to the main house to meet the guests, but instead returned to his own room first.

He carefully washed the oil and blood off his hands, changed into clean and tidy clothes, and tidied his appearance.

After everything was tidied up, he stepped into his own main room.

Upon entering the main room, one sees a well-dressed, arrogant middle-aged man sitting at the table with He Daqing, drinking tea and chatting.

As soon as the middle-aged man saw He Yuzhu enter, he immediately stood up and forced a polite smile onto his face.

He nodded slightly to He Yuzhu and began to speak.

"You must be Section Chief He? Hello, I'm the housekeeper for Director Lou of the steel rolling mill. My surname is Wu."

These words sounded polite, but there was a hint of condescending arrogance in the tone.

Clearly, he considered himself a steward of a wealthy family, a person of superior status.

He Yuzhu remained indifferent, completely ignoring him, and looked at him calmly.

He doesn't rely on the steel mill for a living, nor does he depend on the Lou family for his livelihood, so naturally he doesn't need to curry favor with this Steward Wu.

Even if his father, He Daqing, was unhappy at the factory, he had the ability to help his father find a better job.

He Yuzhu asked in a flat tone, without any attempt to ingratiate himself.

"Is this Butler Wu? May I ask what brings you here so suddenly?"

Butler Wu was slightly taken aback by He Yuzhu's coldness.

He compared He Daqing's polite attitude with He Yuzhu's tough stance and instantly made a decision.

He knew that He Yuzhu was not someone who could be easily manipulated.

Having served on the battlefield, traveled abroad, and seen the world, and possessing considerable skills, the title of a steel mill director meant nothing to him.

Butler Wu toned down his arrogance somewhat, but still maintained his air of superiority as he spoke.

"Here's the thing, Section Chief He, my husband would like to invite you to Wu Yutai Tea House for tea and a detailed discussion."

He Yuzhu shook his head and refused outright, his tone indifferent.

"I don't drink tea. Butler Wu, if you have something to say, just say it directly. There's no need to beat around the bush."

Butler Wu was speechless, his face turning pale and then red, unsure how to respond.

Left with no other choice, he could only turn to He Daqing and look at him with pleading eyes.

"Master He, what do you think about this..."

Seeing his son's firm attitude, He Daqing's resolve instantly hardened.

He was no longer as polite as before, and said in a calm tone.

"Zhu Zi, you handle this yourself. I'll listen to you."

Butler Wu was instantly caught in an awkward situation, unsure whether to sit or stand, his face filled with embarrassment.

Upon seeing this, He Yuzhu immediately ordered them to leave, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"If Butler Wu is not clear about the specifics, please leave first and come back after you have found out."

As he spoke, he raised his hand towards the door, gesturing for people to enter.

Butler Wu took two deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.

He knew he couldn't control He Yuzhu today, and staying any longer would only make him look foolish.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to He Yuzhu and said in a stiff tone.

"Then I, Wu, will take my leave!"

He Yuzhu said calmly.

"please!"

He Daqing was quite polite, and got up to see Butler Wu off a few steps.

After Butler Wu walked out of the central courtyard gate, He Daqing turned back and walked to He Yuzhu's side.

He looked at his son and said with some concern.

"Zhu Zi, aren't you deliberately offending people? The Lou family is no ordinary family."

He Yuzhu looked at his father, a cold smile playing on his lips, and asked in return.

"What's wrong, Father? Are you scared?"

He Daqing stiffened his neck and said stubbornly.

"What am I afraid of? I've seen it all in my life."

He Yuzhu said calmly.

"As long as you're not afraid, there's no need to worry about him."

He Daqing was still a little worried and asked.

"Are you sure everything's alright? You won't cause any trouble for our family, will you?"

He Yuzhu spoke with certainty and his eyes were resolute.

"What's the matter? He's here to ask me for a favor, and just because he sent a butler, I'm expected to obediently go with him?"

"This is no longer the era before liberation; it's no longer an era where capitalists call the shots."

Upon hearing this, He Daqing suddenly understood and nodded emphatically.

"That's right, this isn't like before liberation. We don't have to live at their mercy anymore."

He Yuzhu added.

"There's another reason: I don't want to get involved in anything the Lou family does."

He Daqing looked puzzled and asked.

"What news have you heard? Although it's now a joint public-private enterprise, Lou Zhenhua is still a director and the big boss of the steel rolling mill!"

He Yuzhu sneered and said.

"I know the Lou family of Bancheng, but would he dare to openly use that name himself? Times have changed."

Seeing his son's confident demeanor, He Daqing felt relieved.

"Alright, as long as you know what you're doing. Now that you're capable, I can't cover for your affairs anymore, and I don't need to."

The father and son chatted for a few more minutes, then turned around and went to the backyard again.

By this time, Xu Damao had already cleaned up all the meat and neatly stored it in the cellar.

He Yuzhu looked at the empty space in the backyard, making plans in his mind.

Since meat needs to be stored for a long time, and lard, pig's head, and stew are all prepared, cooking in the courtyard would be too noisy and easily discovered by the neighbors.

He immediately decided to build a new stove in the backyard specifically for processing these meats.

He shared this idea with He Daqing.

He Daqing nodded in agreement without even thinking.

The father and son immediately went back into the house, changed into their old work clothes, and got to work.

They moved bricks, mixed mud, built stoves, and erected sheds; the division of labor was clear, and their movements were swift.

When He Yuzhu was cleaning up the east wing, he had a lot of bricks left over, which came in handy.

Soil is readily available everywhere, and it's very convenient to dig it up in the garden of the east courtyard.

The shed in the backyard doesn't need to be too fancy. Just build a frame with bamboo poles and cover it with tarpaulin. It will be enough to keep out rain and snow.

The four little girls also followed behind, eagerly helping out.

They were busy handing out bricks, carrying yellow mud, and pulling out oilcloths, getting covered in dust and dirt, but smiling very happily.

The old lady sat at the door, watching the group of younger people working together, and her smile never faded.

This is what a family should be like: lively, harmonious, and happy.

After working for most of the day, a sturdy and durable stove was finally completed.

At noon, He Yuzhu looked at the group of girls who had helped and Xu Damao who had done the work, and decided to treat everyone to a good meal.

He went into the kitchen, took out fresh pork belly, and personally cooked an authentic Sichuan-style braised pork.

The meat chunks are stewed until tender and flavorful, with a bright red color and an enticing aroma that makes your mouth water.

Steamed, snow-white rice topped with a spoonful of rich braised pork broth, stirred well, is simply divine.

A group of children and Xu Damao ate ravenously, their bellies so full they could barely walk.

The old lady tasted a piece of braised pork and praised it highly.

The meat is stewed until tender and melts in your mouth, requiring little chewing, making it especially suitable for the elderly.

After dinner, the whole family sat in the main room, drinking tea and chatting, slowly digesting their food.

The courtyard was filled with a warm and harmonious atmosphere, exuding the festive spirit of the Chinese New Year.