Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

After school in the evening, Yu Shui spoke to Zhang Da Biao alone: ​​"Da Biao, this is what my dad asked me to give you. Thank you for taking care of me."

Zhang Dabiao opened it and saw 200 yuan, which he considered a thank-you fee for taking care of He Yushui recently.

This is acceptable; it makes up for some of the losses, since this little girl has eaten quite a few of my good things.

Is there also a "Sichuan Cuisine Recipe Book"?

Zhang Dabiao was stunned for a long time, and then he used this thing to thank me?

I have over ten gigabytes of PDFs on my computer containing home-style dishes from the eight major Chinese cuisines and popular online cuisines!

Does anyone want the recipe?

If you said it was "Tan Family Cuisine," I might be a little interested, but only a little. I don't want to be a chef anyway.

I want to order takeout!

But these days, if a chef is willing to give a handwritten recipe as a thank-you gift, it's considered thoughtful.

They figured that He Daqing still had some leverage that the old deaf man and Yi Zhonghai had over him, so they had no choice but to leave.

Zhang Dabiao didn't ask any more questions; it was none of my business.

According to fanfiction authors, it's either a pretext for cooking for the White Dog, or a honey trap set by the White Widow; refusing would be considered a crime of hooliganism or rape. However, the severity of these issues and how to resolve them have absolutely nothing to do with Zhang Dabiao.

Finally, he inexplicably received 200, bringing Zhang Dabiao's total assets to 1100. It seems like he has enough money to build a house.

But after looking at the recipe in my hand...

"Rain, do you know how to do all of these?"

He Yushui shook her head: "My father's school has a rule that cooking skills are passed down to men, not women."

"So my dad only taught me a few basic home-style dishes; he didn't teach me any of the Sichuan dishes."

[What the hell does this mean? Why are you giving it to me if it's a tradition passed down only to sons?]

"Giving me this... wouldn't that count as the leakage of our sect's secret manual? If I learn it, what if your dad's fellow disciples come after me with knives?"

Zhang Dabiao needed to find out more details.

But these words made He Yushui laugh: "It's alright, this isn't the way it is now. It's just that some old chefs still stick to those old feudal practices. The fact that my dad brought out this recipe proves that he's come to his senses."

"Besides, my dad isn't exactly a true inheritor of Sichuan cuisine. There are plenty of people who know how to cook Sichuan food. This is just my dad's handwritten notes, so no one will care."

"Whether or not to teach or pass on the knowledge depends on the master's personal decision."

"After all, the industry rules are still there: three years of apprenticeship and two years of service. Many industries still follow this rule."

Zhang Dabiao scratched his head: "Do you want to learn how to do that rainwater?"

"what?"

"If you want to learn this recipe, I'll give it to you." Zhang Dabiao could see that Yu Shui longed for the recipe, so he simply shoved it into her hand.

"Can--"

"There's no 'but' or 'no,' this recipe is mine now, I can give it to whomever I want."

"Once you've learned it, then teach Qin Jingru some of it. Her skills are too advanced."

"You guys cook, I'll just eat. I'm too lazy to learn how to cook."

"Perfect!"

With that, Zhang Dabiao ran off like a little puppy. Why bother with all that effort?

He Yushui stood there stunned for a long time, holding the recipe, watching Zhang Dabiao walk away with a nonchalant air, seemingly lost in thought.

Sha Zhu also came to find Zhang Dabiao.

"Zhang Dabiao, did my dad give you his Sichuan cuisine notes?"

"none of your business?"

"What?! My dad gave you these notes, which means he's going to take you on as his apprentice. I'll be your senior from now on! Can't you show me some respect?"

"What's it to me?"

"How can this not be your business? Why don't I invite my advisor over and let him judge this! This is tantamount to betraying your master and ancestors! It's outrageous!"

"What's it to him?"

These three sentences made Sha Zhu so angry that he was instantly enraged!

If he hadn't been injured and unable to defeat Zhang Dabiao, he would have already made his move.

He now finally understood what Yang Ruihua, the former third aunt, felt when Zhang Dabiao confronted her like that.

I can't win an argument or a fight, it's so frustrating!

However, He Yushui eventually called him away because the notes were with her.

Sha Zhu can watch, but the ownership still belongs to Yu Shui, and Sha Zhu must teach Yu Shui and Qin Jingru.

Unwilling to teach?

Sure, turn around and leave. Goodbye.

This is He Daqing's improved version of Sichuan cuisine's secret recipe! So Sha Zhu was easily subdued.

------------

February 17, 1960, the 2st day of the first lunar month, Wednesday;

Suitable activities: visiting relatives and friends, traveling, moving, getting married or engaged, moving to a new house, breaking ground, praying for blessings, offering sacrifices, and construction.

Avoid: weddings, business openings, burials, and groundbreaking ceremonies.

This morning, before everyone went to work, they were just stepping out of their rooms to wash up.

The courtyard has been relatively quiet these past few days because Zhang Dabiao hasn't caused any trouble, Jia Zhangshi is still in labor camp and not in the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai has been lying around like a corpse, and Sha Zhu has also been severely punished.

So the courtyard has been a bit dull these past few days, especially with Xu Damao constantly urging Zhang Dabiao to "make trouble for Sha Zhu."

Zhang Dabiao looked at Xu Damao with disdain—[If you want to do something, do it yourself. I'm not involved.]

Xu Damao always jumped around, his goal clear and unambiguous: to scare Sha Zhu.

Why don't you just change your personality and stay with that silly Zhu for the rest of your life?

You two are the real love.

Early in the morning, Zhang Dabiao ate a simple bowl of noodles with a few slices of braised beef and two fried eggs, and then patted his stomach with satisfaction.

Recently, Director Wang has repeatedly emphasized to him not to "eat and drink excessively" and to "live a luxurious lifestyle," and to keep a low profile, so breakfast can only be simple.

It's okay, we can have a couple more bites when we get back to our "little nest". We're still growing, how can we do without protein?

Jia Dongxu had just come out when he saw Zhang Dabiao put down his large bowl and muttered, "What a jerk!"

They always eat right outside their house, and cooking is either done outside or in the backyard storage shed. Their meals are three to four times larger than others', and they always include meat and eggs.

Is this what they call being low-key?

What the hell is this if not morally corrupt?

Zhang Dabiao was stretching, so he didn't pay attention to what Jia Dongxu was complaining about.

Qin Huairu whispered to Jia Dongxu, "Dongxu, you'd better take a day off and go to the neighborhood office to ask."

"The house has been repaired, but it's been sitting there for several days and no one has moved in yet. I reckon it hasn't been allocated yet."

"I think the Yan family, the Liu family, and several other households in the courtyard are all eyeing that house."

"Our family is at the very front of the queue. If you don't go ask, what if someone cuts in line?"

Jia Dongxu replied impatiently, "Fine, fine, I'll go tell Sha Zhu and have him ask me for leave."

"Don't worry, I asked a few days ago. Our family is currently second in line. In any case, we still have to follow the rental queue list."

"I reckon it's our turn already; the rest of the neighborhood are dreaming if they want this house!"

"Not to mention that Master had already gone over to give instructions beforehand, so no one dared to cut in line."

"That house must belong to the Jia family! Don't worry, it won't run away."

If we don't consider the storyline of the courtyard house, the young couple was looking forward to their future house before leaving home. The woman even thoughtfully straightened the man's collar, and their young son was beaming with joy, saying, "Our family is going to have a big house to live in!" Even the little baby the woman was holding seemed to chuckle. It was indeed a heartwarming scene.

But—this is the Jia family!

The two talked for a long time, and when they turned around, they saw Zhang Dabiao staring at them blankly, which made Jia Dongxu feel a little uneasy.

"Zhang Dabiao, what are you looking at?!"