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

86

He Yuzhu brought his younger sister, He Yushui, back home. The little girl tilted her head and asked, "Brother, Uncle Yi said Dad married a widow and went to Baoding with her. But didn't you say Dad was going on a long trip? Does he not want us anymore?"

"Silly girl, how could your father abandon you? Even if he doesn't want me, he definitely can't bear to part with our little Yushui." He Yuzhu rubbed his sister's hair. "Father did marry a new wife, but he really had something to do when he went out this time, so he asked me to come back and take care of you."

What's wrong? Doesn't Rain like being with her brother?

"I love it! My brother loves me even more than Dad!" He Yushui quickly tugged at He Yuzhu's sleeve, and seeing the slight sadness on her brother's face, she quickly added, "I love playing with my brother the most!"

A sly glint flashed in He Yuzhu's eyes: "Then it's settled. You'll stay with your brother until Dad comes back."

Once he's finished with his work, he'll definitely bring Yushui some candied hawthorns back.

"Brother..." He Yushui suddenly lowered her voice, "My classmates said that stepmothers are really fierce. They hit the children and don't feed them."

If Dad brings her back…

"With your brother here, what are you afraid of!" He Yuzhu deliberately put on a stern face. "If she dares to bully you, your brother will hang her on a tree and let her go hungry."

However, I heard that woman is extremely cruel to her own children, and she even steals candy from them...

Upon hearing this, He Yushui shrank back in fright, as if she could see the scene of being beaten by her stepmother and the image of herself clutching a candy wrapper and crying loudly.

"My stepmother is so fierce. It would be best if Dad stayed away for a while longer, so she wouldn't come back and steal my candy, and I wouldn't get beaten."

Brother, when you have time, please send a message to Dad and tell him not to rush home.

"The rain will follow its older brother; it will surely behave."

"Alright, if you ever miss Dad, just tell your brother. I'll write to him and ask him to bring your stepmother back to see you, okay?"

"I don't want to!" He Yushui waved her hand quickly upon hearing this. "It's good to be with my older brother. Please don't write to ask Dad to come back."

He Yuzhu secretly rejoiced as he watched his younger sister being intimidated by his few words.

The little girl is so easy to coax; a few words made up are enough to scare her away from He Daqing.

He stroked his chin smugly, feeling incredibly clever. If he had a feather fan in his hand, he would be a living Zhuge Liang.

Before bedtime, He Yuzhu washed his younger sister's face and asked, "Yushui, do you want to sleep by yourself tonight, or do you want to sleep with your brother?"

"I want to sleep with my older brother! Dad used to always hold me while I slept, and I'm scared to sleep alone," He Yushui said.

He Yuzhu told his younger sister the story of the Big Bad Wolf, tucked her in, and coaxed her to sleep.

Once He Yushui's breathing became even and steady, he tiptoed into the kitchen, started kneading dough, and prepared to steam buns for tomorrow morning.

He has an enormous appetite; he can eat three days' worth of food in one sitting, so you have to prepare plenty of food in advance.

He scooped out the yeast water that had been soaked in advance, mixed the dough according to the ratio of three parts wheat flour to one part cornmeal, and covered it to let the dough rise.

Looking at the food in the kitchen, He Yuzhu pondered how to improve the meals without attracting attention.