Courtyard House: Ten-year-old Master Zhu reorganizes the entire courtyard

He Yuzhu stood on the hillside.

A cold wind blew by.

The crumpled paper in his hand was like a red-hot branding iron.

He thought for three seconds.

He didn't burn it.

He quickly memorized the names and addresses on the list.

His brain, enhanced by the system, gave him the ability to remember everything he saw.

Then, he found a sheltered crevice in a rock and lit the paper ball with a match.

The flames rose and quickly burned the paper to ashes.

He crushed the ashes with his feet and mixed them into the snow.

The evidence has disappeared.

But the information remained in his mind.

Project "Spark".

Gather at Xishan.

He doesn't plan to tell Lin Wanqiu this information for the time being.

This is not a lack of trust.

Rather, he needs his own leverage.

A bargaining chip to protect one's family in times of chaos.

He returned to the dilapidated temple.

He told his parents about some of the things he had seen and heard in the city that he could share.

For example, during student protests, fake police officers made arrests.

He Daqing was terrified.

"I can't stand staying in Beiping any longer," he sighed.

The family fell silent.

We have the money for now.

The medicine is also available.

But they are like rootless duckweed, not knowing where they will be tomorrow.

They'll just sit around and eat their savings away.

This is the biggest problem.

In the evening, I drank some thin porridge.

He Daqing suddenly spoke.

"Zhu Zi, I want to... I want to go out and find some work."

He Yuzhu looked up at him.

"All I've ever done in my life is cook," He Daqing said, a little embarrassed. "I can't let you go out and risk your life every day. I'm thinking of going to the nearby towns to see if any small restaurants are hiring kitchen helpers. Every little bit helps, at least it can supplement the family income."

Chen Lanxiang wanted to object.

He Yuzhu nodded.

"Okay," he said.

He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang were both stunned.

"However, there are a few conditions." He Yuzhu looked at He Daqing. "First, you must use an alias and cannot say your name is He Daqing. Second, go to a small place, the more inconspicuous the better. Third, only cook home-style dishes and cannot reveal your skills at Fengzeyuan."

He Daqing asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"Skills are for survival, not for showing off," He Yuzhu said. "Your skills are too good, which is both a blessing and a curse in a small town. It will bring trouble."

He Daqing seemed to understand but not quite.

But he nodded anyway.

"Okay, Dad will listen to you."

This matter reminded He Yuzhu of someone.

Xu Fugui.

Xu Fugui left him a message last time at the ghost market.

Now it comes in handy.

He needed a safe channel to gather information.

The next day, he made up an excuse and went to the vicinity of the ghost market again.

He didn't go into the ghost market.

He placed a stone at the crossroads where he had parted ways with Xu Fugui last time.

A simple "ten".

This was the secret code he and Xu Fugui had agreed upon.

If he needs to contact Xu Fugui, he should leave a mark here.

Xu Fugui would come to visit every three days.

He Yuzhu waited for two days.

On the third night, Xu Fugui arrived.

He saw He Yuzhu and his face lit up with surprise.

"Zhu Zi! You're alright, that's great!"

"Uncle Xu, I need your help." He Yuzhu got straight to the point.

He told him about his idea of ​​finding his father a job as a kitchen helper.

"...In a small town, in a small restaurant, the owner has to be honest."

Xu Fugui patted his chest confidently.

"Leave this to me!" he said. "There's a place called Taiping Town in the western suburbs, not far from here. There's a restaurant there called 'Liu's Restaurant.' The owner is an honest, chubby guy, but his cooking skills aren't great, and he's looking to hire a chef. I'll go ask him for you tomorrow."

Xu Fugui is very efficient.

The next day, he brought back the news.

It became.

He Daqing, using the alias "Master He," went to Liu's Restaurant.

He listened to his son's words and only revealed 30% of his strength.

I stir-fried cabbage with pork, a simple home-style dish.

Just this one dish.

The restaurant owner, Fatty Liu, was eating so much that he almost cried.

"Master! You're the culinary genius I've been searching for!"

Fatty Liu made the decision on the spot.

The wages are very high.

He Daqing settled down in Taiping Town.

He leaves early and returns late every day.

Although I was tired, I felt much more energetic.

Being able to support his family with his skills allowed him to regain his dignity as a man.

The restaurant's business has visibly improved.

Fatty Liu's mouth is always smiling from ear to ear.

"Master He, you're truly my lucky charm!"

He Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief as he watched all this unfold.

The family's financial problems have been temporarily resolved.

But the good times didn't last long.

Two weeks later, trouble came.

That night, the restaurant was about to close.

Suddenly, seven or eight men barged in.

They were all burly and thick-waisted, with menacing faces.

The leader was a one-eyed man.

He has a scar on his face that runs from his forehead to his chin.

Everyone in town knows him.

Master Hong, the local tyrant of Taiping Town.

They made a living by lending money at exorbitant interest rates and running casinos.

He kept a group of thugs under his command, and they were ruthless.

When Fatty Liu saw Master Hong, his legs went weak.

"Mr. Hong... what brings you here?"

Master Hong ignored him.

He kicked a table aside and sat down with an air of authority.

"Bring out that new Chef He," Master Hong said in a hoarse voice. "I heard he's a master cook. Make me a few dishes to try. If they're good, there'll be a reward. If not..."

He didn't go on.

But his henchman slammed a dagger into the table with a loud clang.

Fatty Liu was so frightened that he scrambled into the kitchen.

"Master He...Master Hong...Master Hong specifically requested that you cook..."

He Daqing was in the kitchen when he heard the commotion outside.

He felt a sense of panic.

But he dared not not do it.

He forced himself to remain calm and prepared four dishes.

One dish of braised sea cucumber with scallions, one dish of chicken slices with egg white, one dish of Mapo tofu, and one dish of boiled cabbage in clear broth.

He had already tried his best to restrain himself from serving these dishes.

But the skills of the head chef at Fengzeyuan are still there.

The dishes were served.

Master Hong picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the chicken slices with egg white.

His eyes lit up.

I took another bite of sea cucumber.

He stopped chewing.

He tasted all four dishes.

Then, he put down his chopsticks.

"good!"

He shouted.

"Damn it, I've never had such authentic food in Beijing!"

He stood up and walked to the kitchen door.

"Master He, right? Come out."

He Daqing wiped his hands and walked out cautiously.

"Master Hong... Master Hong."

Master Hong looked him up and down.

"Your cooking is pretty good," he said. "Don't stay in this shabby little restaurant anymore. From now on, work for me."

He Daqing was taken aback.

"What?"

"From now on, you'll be my personal cook, Master Hong's personal chef." Master Hong patted his shoulder with considerable force. "You'll cook exclusively for me and my brothers. As for the money, whatever Fatty Liu gives you, I'll give you three times that."

Fatty Liu stood to the side, his face pale, not daring to utter a single word.

He Daqing panicked.

Working as a cook for thugs and hooligans?

He did not want.

"Master Hong... I... I'm doing quite well here..." he stammered, "I need to... think about it..."

Master Hong's face instantly darkened.

A fierce glint flashed in his single eye.

"consider?"

He gave a cold laugh.

"Okay. I'll give you a day to think about it."

He turned and walked to the door.

Then he turned around and pointed at He Daqing.

"I'll come to hear your answer at this time tomorrow. If I'm not satisfied with your answer..."

He pointed to the dagger that was still dangling on the table.

"Use these hands of yours to cook me one last dish."

After saying that, he led his men away.

The restaurant was deathly silent.

He Daqing's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

He looked at his hands, the very hands that could create unparalleled delicacies.

Now, these very hands have brought him a deadly fate.