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

In this battle between master and apprentice, Yuan Taihong ultimately came out on top.

The reason for this was simply that he was closest to He Yuzhu by kinship—He Yuzhu was the son of his fellow disciple He Daqing, who had traveled a long distance to come to him with a letter from home.

If this child were to become the disciple of someone else, Yuan Taihong's reputation in Tianjin would be utterly ruined, and he would never be able to hold his head up again.

Chef Bai and Chef Ma argued heatedly, but in the end, they couldn't overcome the real bond between their master and disciple. They could only suppress their resentment and watch helplessly as Yuan Taihong took He Yuzhu, a once-in-a-century talent, under his wing.

The two often grumbled in private, cursing Yuan Taihong for taking advantage of their kinship, but they could only accept the outcome.

On the day the dust settled, He Yuzhu performed the three kowtows and nine bows ceremony in the kitchen of Huifanglou. He served tea, presented his formal apprenticeship certificate, and performed the grand ceremony of the master's sect. He did everything meticulously.

Yuan Taihong even held a grand apprenticeship banquet, specially inviting prominent culinary colleagues from Tianjin, both to announce the acceptance of his apprentices and to give himself a grand show.

At the apprenticeship banquet, glasses clinked and various culinary veterans gathered together. Yuan Taihong was in high spirits and introduced He Yuzhu to each of them.

After several rounds of drinks, He Yuzhu, following proper etiquette, personally cooked a Shandong cuisine masterpiece—braised sea cucumber with scallions, braised pork intestines, and braised fish slices. The three dishes were served with bright red colors and a fragrant aroma. They were tender, flavorful, and fresh without any fishy taste, instantly stunning everyone present.

Several master chefs specializing in Shandong cuisine at the table had their eyes light up after tasting the food. Their gazes toward He Yuzhu were full of appreciation for his talent and excitement, as if they wished they could snatch him away and recruit him to their own service on the spot.

However, this was Yuan Taihong's apprenticeship banquet, and even though everyone was itching to become his apprentice, they had to suppress their desires and could not spoil the host's fun. They could only praise He Yuzhu for his extraordinary talent and promising future.

After the apprenticeship ceremony, He Yuzhu also made adjustments to the stove in the back kitchen, moving it directly next to Yuan Taihong's main stove, becoming his personal disciple who would accompany him day and night.

Yuan Taihong's signature dishes are braised ox tongue tail and braised beef strips, both of which are hearty dishes in halal cuisine, requiring precise control of heat and knife skills. However, he did not teach the special skills right away, but instead started with the most basic halal cooking techniques, such as making broth, cutting meat, and spice ratios, laying a solid foundation step by step.

It would have been better if he hadn't taught him at all; the teaching left Yuan Taihong speechless with astonishment.

He only needs to demonstrate once for ordinary halal home-style dishes, such as stir-fried shredded pork with vinegar, stir-fried tripe with coriander, and braised beef, and He Yuzhu can replicate seven or eight tenths of the essence of the dish.

If it's a slightly more complicated dish, you can learn it pretty well after three tries at most, and even make slight adjustments to the details, making the taste even more layered than your master's.

From initial astonishment to disbelief, and finally to numb acceptance, Yuan Taihong was completely captivated by his apprentice's talent.

From then on, he would boast to everyone he met, pulling his colleagues aside to brag about how he had taken on a divine apprentice who learned quickly and had high comprehension. This made Chef Bai and Chef Ma grit their teeth in envy, so jealous that they couldn't even eat, but they were helpless.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, He Yuzhu has been in Tianjin for two months.

During this time, he wrote a letter to his family in Beijing, letting them know he was safe and sound, and also making a special effort to remind them.

Do not keep any paper money in circulation. Quickly exchange it for gold and silver dollars. Only hard currency held in your hands can retain its value.

Not long after the letter was sent back, a reply arrived—not just one letter, but a thick stack of them.

With her father He Daqing's instructions, her mother Chen Lanxiang's concern, her grandmother's nagging, and even a letter from her mortal enemy Xu Damao, she even had her younger sister He Yushui's letter written by Xu Damao.

He Yuzhu sat on a small stool in the dormitory, holding a stack of letters from home, reading them carefully word by word for nearly an hour.

The letter contained no grand principles, only the concern and longing of his family. His grandmother kept reminding him to wear more clothes, his parents urged him to study his craft well, Yu Shui said that everything was fine at home and that he shouldn't worry, and even Xu Damao's letter carried a hint of awkward concern.

After reading the letter, He Yuzhu felt a warm glow in his heart. The loneliness of being alone in a foreign land was instantly dispelled by this strong sense of family affection.

After work and on his days off, He Yuzhu never stayed idle in the dormitory. With a few silver dollars in his pocket, he would wander all over the streets and alleys of Tianjin.

The bustling Quanyechang, the cosmopolitan Xiaobailou, the aroma of pastries from Shibajie, and the international architecture of Minyuan Street—this area of ​​former British concession houses, arranged in a well-organized manner, was known as an international architectural expo. The blue bricks, red tiles, and carved columns dazzled him.

As for the system in his mind, there was only one long-term mission left hanging at the moment. After arriving in Tianjin, he was busy with trivial matters and didn't have time to specifically look for mission objectives. Besides, the system rewards were mediocre, so he didn't pay any attention to them.

None of the tasks related to the Kuomintang have been updated. If it weren't for the fact that the long-term task notification was still there, he would have suspected that the system had completely stopped working.

In the past two months, He Yuzhu also quietly did something big – he purchased a large quantity of slaughtered beef and mutton.

He first found out the address of Huifanglou's meat supplier and went there alone, but the slaughterhouse only recognized long-term regular customers and completely ignored him, a stranger.

With no other option, He Yuzhu took the cigarettes, alcohol, and snacks to the shop's purchasing manager. After some arranging, the purchasing manager personally led him to the slaughterhouse and opened the door for him.

From then on, He Yuzhu began a frenzy of purchasing.

Over two months, he bought over a hundred cattle and nearly three hundred sheep. The slaughtered meat, bones, and offal were all stored in his static space, forming a real small mountain of meat.

Because he paid with silver dollars and small yellow croakers, real hard currency, the slaughterhouse owner was happy to make this big money and specifically instructed his subordinates to keep quiet and never go to Huifanglou to talk about it, so no one knew about this private transaction.

It's a pity that Huifanglou is a proper halal restaurant that never touches pork and has no pork supply channels. Otherwise, He Yuzhu would definitely have made another big pork purchase and filled the space to the brim.

One day in early May, business at Huifanglou slowed down, and He Yuzhu had a rare day of leisure.

He thought of Tianjin, a coastal city, where seafood is abundant, fresh, and plump. He could go to the seaside to find some fresh ingredients, look for rare seafood, and practice his skills in Tan family cuisine.

Tan family cuisine is known for its expertise in seafood cooking, and if they can find the best seafood, it will be a perfect opportunity to hone their skills.

He Yuzhu changed into a light, coarse cloth outfit, tucked his trousers into his pants, went out and turned into an empty alley. With a thought, he released a gleaming bicycle from the still space.

In those days, bicycles were a rarity. Although there were people riding bicycles on the street, no one had ever seen him buy one. He could only take it out and ride it secretly to avoid attracting criticism.

I hopped on the bicycle, pedaled, and the wheels rolled toward the eastern seaside.

We sped along, leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind, replaced by the whistling wind and the faint smell of the sea.

After riding for about half an hour, the view suddenly opened up before us, revealing an endless sea. Waves crashed against the beach, making a splashing sound. The salty sea breeze swept over us, making us feel refreshed and instantly wiping away the fatigue from the kitchen over the past few days.

But these days, there are no people relaxing and enjoying themselves at the beach; everyone is struggling to make ends meet.

Only a few small fishing boats swayed in the wind on the sea. The fishermen went out early and returned late, and took the fish and shrimp they caught to the fish market to sell as soon as possible. The seaside was empty, and you couldn't even find half a fresh fish.

He Yuzhu enjoyed the sea breeze for a while, then stopped an old fisherman who was returning with his nets and politely asked for directions.

The old fisherman, speaking with a strong Tianjin accent, pointed into the distance: "Young man, to buy seafood, you have to go to the Tanggu Fish Market. It's about five or six li to the east!"

He Yuzhu thanked him, got on his bicycle, and continued eastward.

Five or six miles away, we arrived in no time. From afar, we could see the fish market bustling with people, the shouts, the haggling, and the fishy smell of shrimp all mixed together, creating a lively and bustling scene.

He Yuzhu gripped the brakes and slowly stopped at the entrance of the fish market. He had just propped up his bicycle and hadn't even had time to look around when a small figure suddenly bumped into his leg!

"Bang!"

The force wasn't great, but it made him stagger.

The person who hit the child was about seven or eight years old. He was filthy, with messy hair plastered to his scalp, his face covered in mud, and he smelled strongly of fish and the salty stench of the sea.

The child was carrying a worn-out bamboo basket on his back. The moment he bumped into He Yuzhu, the basket fell over, and half a basket of lively crabs and a few fresh fish splashed all over He Yuzhu's clean clothes.

Crabs crawled around with their pincers outstretched, their bodies covered in fish scales, instantly turning my newly changed shorts into a filthy mess.

"You think you can just run away after hitting someone?"

He Yuzhu reacted quickly, grabbing the child's thin arm. The child tried to turn and run away after hitting someone, but He Yuzhu held him firmly in his hand, unable to move.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

The child struggled desperately, his small body twisting like an eel, but his strength was pitifully weak.

"You got my clothes dirty and didn't even apologize before running away? Whose child is this, so unruly!" He Yuzhu frowned, his tone stern.

"It's none of your business! I don't need your business!"

The child was anxious and scared, his voice trembling with tears, but the more he struggled, the tighter He Yuzhu held on.

His grip was strong, honed in the kitchen; it was as steady as an iron clamp. How could this little body possibly break free? The next second, the child burst into tears.

"Grandpa! I was wrong! I'm sorry! I'll wash your clothes! I'll clean them for you! Please let me go! Waaah..."

"Now you know how to talk properly? Why did you run away just now?" He Yuzhu's tone softened a bit, and he was about to let go of her hand.

But just as his fingers loosened, a group of burly men suddenly rushed out from the depths of the fish market, each one broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, exuding a menacing aura. The child trembled with fear, struggling even more violently, his little face filled with despair.

"Sir! Let me go! Please! They're here!"

"Hand over that child!" the burly man in the lead shouted in a rough voice, his steps quickening as he rushed forward in the blink of an eye.

He Yuzhu frowned, released his grip on the child's arm, turned to look at the trembling little one in his arms, and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know them? Why did they kidnap you?"

The child clung tightly to He Yuzhu's clothes, sobbing, "They're going to take me back...to be their young master's maid..."

"A maid?"

He Yuzhu was stunned on the spot, and looked down to examine the child in front of him carefully—a short-sleeved shirt covered in patches, short hair, dark skin, and streaks of mud on his face from the tears. He looked like a dirty little boy. How could he be a girl?

With looks like that, people are scrambling to take her as a maid? Are these people crazy?

Despite his inner turmoil, He Yuzhu didn't hesitate. He quickly positioned his bicycle horizontally in front of him, blocking the two sides, and calmly stared at the group of people rushing towards him, adopting a defensive stance.

"Men, hand this kid over to us, don't cause trouble for yourselves." Ma Wu, the leader, stared at He Yuzhu. Seeing his upright posture and steady strength, he knew he had been trained. He subconsciously became more polite.

"Grandpa! I won't go with them! I won't become a maid! The maids who were taken away before are all dead!" Taking advantage of He Yuzhu's dazed state, the little girl scrambled behind him, clinging tightly to his leg, her small body trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind.

"What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat!" Ma Wu's face darkened, and he shouted sternly. He then turned to He Yuzhu, "Men, this is a family matter of the Ma family. It's not something a stranger like you can interfere with. Hand over the person and get out of here, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

"Is what she said true? All the maids who were captured are dead?" He Yuzhu's tone was icy, and his eyes sharpened instantly.

Ma Wu's eyes darted around, avoiding direct eye contact, but he kept urging, "Mind your own business! Tanggu isn't a place where you can run wild!"

As the two sides reached a stalemate, the crowd at the fish market parted again, and several more people rushed over.

Leading the group was a young master, about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a silk robe and wearing a melon-shaped hat. He had an arrogant and domineering expression. He pushed through the crowd and rushed to the front, pointing at Ma Wu and yelling, "Ma Wu! What are you doing! Stop dawdling! Why don't you bring the person over here!"

"Young Master, you've arrived!" Ma Wu immediately put on a fawning smile and replied in a low voice, "The person across from us is not to be trifled with; he seems to be a martial arts expert..."

"So what if he's a martial arts expert?" Ma Gang, the young master of the Ma family, stiffened his neck, his face full of arrogance. "Once we're in Tanggu, I, Ma Gang, call the shots! Whoever he is, he has to obey me!"

He Yuzhu was amused by this arrogant tone and couldn't help but chuckle.

Whose spoiled brat is this? Ignorance is bliss. He dares to act arrogantly in this fish market just because his family has some influence.

"Are you laughing?" Ma Gang instantly bristled, pointing at He Yuzhu and cursing.

"Where did this old fool come from, thinking he's something special just because he rides a bicycle? Open your eyes and look around! I'm Ma Gang! The young master of the Ma family in Tanggu!"

His thick Tianjin accent instantly reminded He Yuzhu of the classic line from his past life, "Do you know who my dad is?" He felt both annoyed and amused, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Hahaha!"

The laughter was hearty and full of sarcasm, sounding particularly jarring in the bustling fish market.

The thugs, fishmongers, and the little girl hiding behind He Yuzhu were all baffled by his laughter, staring at him with wide eyes and blank expressions.

The little girl looked up with her dirty little face, her round eyes full of doubt, her little hands tightly gripping He Yuzhu's clothes, secretly wondering: This old man... could he have been scared silly by Young Master Ma?

The sea breeze, carrying the smell of fish, blew by. He Yuzhu stopped laughing, his eyes suddenly turning cold. He slowly took a step forward, standing in front of the trembling little girl, his gaze fixed on the arrogant and domineering Ma Gang. He spoke each word clearly and forcefully:

"Young Master Ma? I don't care who you are. I'm protecting this child today."

The air froze instantly, and the tense atmosphere exploded completely in the Tanggu fish market.