Courtyard House: Passing through the Silly Pillar, Activating the Blessed Cave Heaven

56

He was carrying a thermos to pour out water for washing his feet when Wu Xiangxiu pushed open the door and walked in, carrying bedding.

He Yuzhu quickly put down the thermos: "Sister Xiangxiu, our blankets are thick enough, we're not cold."

"I'm not adding blankets for you." Wu Xiangxiu spread the bedding in the middle of the kang. "Mother was afraid that the children's crying at night would disturb your rest, so she asked my brother to sleep in this room."

"Go wash your feet, you've been working late into the night, you should rest."

He Yuzhu picked up the thermos again, poured water to wash his feet, and amidst the splashing water, Wu Xiangxiu quietly closed the door.

When he returned after emptying the foot bath water, he moved his bedding closer to the wall—a spot that originally belonged to Wu Youyi, a senior high school student.

That child is currently living at school to prepare for the exam. Even if he doesn't get into university, with his knowledge, he can still find a good job.

His master had told him long ago that he shouldn't learn to be a cook.

He Yuzhu lay in bed, contemplating the days to come.

It's already March, and in three more months, the new Dragon Kingdom will complete the complete liberation of everything except the plateau, Taiwan, and the islands along the southeast coast.

Although the situation in the north has stabilized, the fighting on the front lines has not ended, and supplies in the market remain scarce.

He figured he should take this opportunity to release more of the goods stored in the blessed land into the market.

After the Korean War begins in the second half of the year, I will anonymously donate another sum of money—both to do my part for the country and to consider my own safety.

The next morning, He Yuzhu got out of bed quietly and glanced at the Wu Youren brothers who were still fast asleep.

When Wu Youren came over last night, he was actually already awake, but it was late and inconvenient for him to get up and exchange pleasantries.

The morning mist in the courtyard had not yet dissipated. As usual, he first practiced the Eight Pieces of Brocade, then Xingyi Quan, and finally did half an hour of horse stance—a habit he had never broken since becoming a disciple.

After breakfast, He Yuzhu went to Qudeng Hutong alone.

In the blessed land, he collected forty-two eggs and brought out two plump hens.

The eggs weighed a total of five and a half pounds, and the two hens weighed six pounds four ounces and six pounds eight ounces respectively.

He carried a bamboo basket and a hen, and hurried back to the Wu family home.

"Sister Xiangxiu," he handed the things in his hand to Wu Xiangxiu, who was hanging clothes to dry, "This is something Master asked someone to get for you, to help you recover after childbirth. Remember to return this basket to me later."

"I still have work to do at Fengzeyuan, so I'll be going now."

Arriving at the kitchen of Fengzeyuan, He Yuzhu approached Wu Baotian and said, "Master, my friend brought over two hens, each weighing over six jin. They cost 12,000 yuan each, and the eggs cost 26,000 yuan, which just covers the 50,000 yuan you gave me."

"This price is quite reasonable," Wu Baotian said while tossing the wok. "A hen of this quality would cost at least 15,000 yuan on the market."

"I told him it was what you wanted, but he insisted on only taking the cost price."

"By the way, senior brother, have you chosen a name for the baby yet?"

"According to the family's generational naming system, the old man has already decided on the name: Wu Jiarui."

On the day of the full moon celebration, five square tables were set up in the Wu family's courtyard.

The woman's relatives occupied two tables, the Wu family father and son each hosted a table of friends, and the remaining table was reserved for their own family—relatives from Wu Baotian's hometown in Shandong. Nowadays, in Beijing, only a few old friends from the catering industry remain.

Because of the need to entertain guests, the responsibility of cooking fell on He Yuzhu's shoulders.