Courtyard House: New Life, New Silly Zhu

Chapter 118

On December 10, 1956, He Yuzhu woke up in the morning to find that it had started snowing.

In the dead of winter, He Yuzhu originally wanted to sleep a little longer, but Yang Lifang, as a saleswoman at the supply and marketing cooperative, was very busy in the winter and started work earlier than in the summer, so He Yuzhu got up with her.

"Brother Zhu, the water pipes outside are frozen." Yang Lifang's voice came from outside. He Yuzhu put on his clothes and came out as well.

Outside, everything was white, and a layer of silver sand had accumulated in the yard.

"The water pipes are frozen. I'll go get the kettle to pour some water on them. There's still a little water in the kettle, so you can use it to wash up before going to work."

After He Yuzhu finished speaking, he picked up the kettle on the stove, went outside, and poured the hot water onto the water pipe.

It's fine when it doesn't snow in the dead of winter, but once it snows, the water pipes freeze and become unusable unless you pour hot water to thaw them.

After pouring hot water on it for a while, the blockage was cleared, and He Yuzhu immediately took the kettle to fill it with water.

Back inside, Yang Lifang was changing the coal briquettes in the stove, while He Yuzhu placed the kettle aside.

"Xiaofang, it's so cold outside, let's not eat breakfast at home. I'll go out and buy some food, and we won't cook at home," He Yuzhu suggested.

Yang Lifang glanced at the time, nodded, and said, "Okay, be careful on the road, and bring a jar to buy some soy milk and steamed buns. I'll wake Yushui up now."

He Yuzhu nodded, went to the kitchen, took out a ceramic jar, and then went to the street.

"Grandpa, two fried dough sticks, three meat buns, and a full glass of soy milk." He handed the jar to the old man who frys the dough sticks, while he himself stood aside and waited.

The experienced chef worked quickly and skillfully, flipping the fried dough sticks over in the oil with chopsticks before starting to pack them into buns.

The master craftsman opened a wooden bucket lid, scooped a bowl of soy milk with a wooden spoon, poured it into a jar, and then closed the lid.

"Here you go, young man, be careful, it's hot." The old man handed the jar to He Yuzhu. "Thank you, sir!" He Yuzhu said, then turned and went home.

When He Yushui got home, she was already up and brushing her teeth. When she saw her brother come back, she quickened her pace.

Yang Lifang took out the bowl and placed it on the table. He Yuzhu poured the soy milk into the bowl.

"Drink it while it's hot. It's the middle of winter, a bowl of hot food is just what you need." He Yuzhu sat down at the table and started eating.

Soy milk comes in both sweet and savory varieties, but they only serve the savory kind, so there's no debate about whether it's sweet or savory.

After breakfast, the family prepared to go out, but they needed to take precautions, otherwise it would be easy to catch a cold this season.

In this day and age, catching a cold is no small matter; if you're not careful, you might get pneumonia and die.

"Rain, put this hat on." Yang Lifang took out a knitted hat and put it on Rain's head.

It's just a regular wool hat, but it's brightly colored and looks great when worn in the rain.

Wearing a thick cotton coat, a scarf around the neck, and gloves on, you finally have to keep out the rain before going out.

After Yu Shui went out, the couple also started to get dressed, but He Yuzhu was wearing a Lei Feng hat, the kind with ear flaps on both sides.

He Yuzhu can't ride a bicycle without this hat. As for why he rides a bicycle in the rain, it's because bicycles don't slip easily when it's snowing, but they do slip easily when the snow melts.

When they left, the other people in the courtyard were already getting up one after another, but the couple had already gone to work.

First, take Yang Lifang to the supply and marketing cooperative, and then turn around and head to the steel rolling mill.

Upon arriving at the third canteen, the door was completely blocked by a quilt, preventing the cold air from getting in.

After lifting the quilt and going inside, he took off his Lei Feng hat and patted off the falling snowflakes.

If these snowflakes aren't brushed off, they'll easily melt into water when exposed to heat.

Then he took off the gloves hanging around his neck and put them together with his hat on the cabinet by the entrance. He then shook off the snowflakes, took off his cotton coat and hung it on the rack, and then began to work.

This is where the advantages of working in a steel rolling mill become apparent. The mill has a network of pipes that extend in all directions, and there are even heating pipes in the canteen, so the temperature inside the canteen is not low.

He Yuzhu didn't ask what vegetables were in the warehouse today. In the winter in the north, the vegetables available are mainly radishes and potatoes.

If you want other vegetables, they have to be transported from the south. But obviously, this is not something the cafeteria can provide.

One advantage of radishes is that they help with digestion, so the cafeteria often makes radish soup.

Cut the radish into chunks, put them in a bowl, pour salt on them to draw out the water, then take them out and drain them.

As for why they don't peel them, it's just that sometimes the cafeteria doesn't even peel potatoes, let alone radishes.

While we were busy, the cafeteria manager walked in.

"The director is here. What instructions do you have?" He Yuzhu asked with a smile, his hands still moving.

The cafeteria manager didn't waste any words: "Zhu Zi, there will be special meals for dinner."

"Okay, no problem." He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

As for what the standards were, He Yuzhu didn't ask; as long as he wouldn't be shortchanged, that was fine.

Of course, the main thing is that there are only these things in the small warehouse. There are no purchasing staff or anything like that. Otherwise, He Yuzhu would definitely have a purchasing staff buy some good things.

By the time He Yuzhu finished preparing the special meal, it was already dark, and the snowflakes outside were falling heavier and heavier.

Even in the darkness of night, the snowflakes remain crystal clear, dancing in the air.

The only eyesore was the steel rolling mill's chimney, billowing thick smoke that resembled a black dragon coiling in the air.

However, in this era, the concept of pollution is largely absent, and people actually appreciate this scene, seeing it as a symbol of progress and prosperity.

After leaving the steel rolling mill, He Yuzhu walked home through the snowflakes.

When He Yuzhu arrived home, he was soaked to the bone. He went inside and quickly changed his clothes.

"Brother Zhu, have some hot water first, it'll warm you up." Yang Lifang brought over some hot water.

He Yuzhu took the hot water, drank a sip, and sat down by the stove to exhale.

"It's still warmer at home," He Yuzhu sighed.

Yang Lifang sighed, "Brother Zhu, how about we cancel the overtime tonight? It's too cold, don't catch a cold."

"It's okay, you'll get used to it. Besides, it's not like I'm getting nothing in return," He Yuzhu said, taking out his lunchbox.

When Yang Lifang saw the lunchbox, she felt sorry for He Yuzhu. She should take care of her own man.

"Xiaofang, don't overthink it. We're just ordinary workers. In the end, your husband is just a worker with good cooking skills. Being able to have lunch boxes is already much better than most people," He Yuzhu comforted Yang Lifang.

He Yuzhu knew his wife's personality well; she was kind-hearted and soft-hearted, and easily overthinks things.

But he had no choice; in this factory with nearly 10,000 employees, he was just a skilled cook.

Despite how well Li Huaide treated him, he only benefited from Li Huaide's love of food.

Otherwise, just look at how Yang treats him. They both eat the same food he cooks, but their attitudes are worlds apart.

These leaders only need to tell the canteen manager if they want food, and he has to make it; they never care how late they have to work overtime.

If he has no value in front of the factory leaders, then there is nothing worth talking to him about.

Therefore, he sees things clearly, and he will do whatever you want him to do. He never refuses, and he will take advantage of any opportunity without hesitation.

Since the factory is the worker's home, he will treat the factory as his own home, just like some workers will make small things to take home.