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

83

Jia Xudong poked his head out of the house and said, "Master, my mother is sleeping. I'll tell her when she wakes up."

"As long as you're home, I won't go in and bother you." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and turned to go back to his own home.

On the other side, Yan Bugui acted quickly, notifying the residents in the front yard from house to house.

When everyone saw that it was him who came to deliver the message, they were all taken aback, but they didn't ask any questions and nodded in agreement to wait at home.

He Yuzhu had just returned home with his younger sister in his arms, and before he could even put down his teacup, he heard a knock on the door.

He opened the door and saw Yi Zhonghai, and couldn't help but frown.

"Second Uncle, what happened?"

"You're back."

This afternoon I went to the subdistrict office to report to Director Wang about your father's trip to Baoding.

After learning about the situation, Director Wang said he would come to the hospital that evening to announce some important matters.

I'm calling specifically to let you know. Stay home after dinner and don't go out.

As Yi Zhonghai watched He Yuzhu blocking the doorway like a guardian deity, he couldn't help but wonder: What did this kid eat to grow up so tall and strong at only sixteen? He's like a pillar.

"Okay, I understand, thank you, Uncle." He Yuzhu nodded and said.

"Second Uncle, please go ahead with your work. I don't usually live here, and the house is a mess and needs some tidying up, so I won't keep you any longer," He Yuzhu said politely and courteously.

Yi Zhonghai immediately understood his meaning and nodded in response, "It's time to tidy it up properly. You go ahead and get busy, I'll head back now."

Once Yi Zhonghai's figure had disappeared into the distance, He Yuzhu immediately turned around and closed the door.

Looking at this home that was both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, he first tidied up the scattered clothes and put them into the closet, then his gaze fell on the bedding on the bed.

He suddenly remembered something important: he was nearly two meters tall, and the seven-foot quilts he had at home were clearly not long enough; they needed to be changed to eight feet. The most urgent thing was to make two new quilts.

Fortunately, his blessed land contained cotton grown over the past few years, weighing a full five or six hundred catties, and he could still harvest quite a lot every year, which was more than enough for his needs.

He Yuzhu carefully organized all the things left by his father, He Daqing, put them into a wooden box, and then stuffed the box under the bed.

Then he filled a basin with clean water, preparing to give the house a thorough cleaning.

When He Daqing lived here with his younger sister He Yushui, they lived a rather casual life and didn't pay much attention to hygiene, so the house was covered in dust.

Seeing her brother busy cleaning, Xiaoyushui also insisted on getting a broom to help. He Yuzhu couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he let her play with it as she pleased.

After a flurry of activity, the house was spotless and looked brand new, which made He Yuzhu feel much better.

"Rain, what would you like to eat tonight?" He Yuzhu asked.

"I want to eat candied hawthorns again!" Little Rain replied with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Candied hawthorns shouldn't be eaten as a main meal; eating too many can easily damage your teeth."

"How about we make porridge and have some pickled vegetables tonight?" He Yuzhu smiled and rubbed his little sister's head.

"Okay! I'll help you start the fire, big brother," Xiaoyushui readily agreed.

As He Yuzhu entered the kitchen, he was stunned when he lifted the lid of the rice container—it was completely empty, without a single grain of rice.

Only then did he realize that he had only taken flour and eggs from the blessed land at noon, and had forgotten to take rice.

"Rain, you wait in the kitchen. I'll go get some rice."