Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

The afterglow of that night seemed to still linger in the air. The next day, feeling refreshed, Yang Wei hopped on his bicycle and headed straight for the factory.

As the car pulled up to the factory gate, a figure made him pause: Qin Huairu. This woman had almost faded from his memory lately, but now she stood quietly by the shed, her hands clasped in front of her, head bowed, waiting for him. Seeing him, a smile immediately bloomed on her face: "Yang Wei, I've been waiting for you!"

Yang Wei frowned. What was this woman up to now? He thought she'd quiet down after his marriage, but it seemed she hadn't given up. He hadn't even settled the score with her for gossiping about him having a girlfriend behind his back, yet she was still spreading rumors. "What is it?" he asked, his tone turning cold.

"Um, I need your help with something." Qin Huairu nodded, pretending not to notice his coldness, and continued to put on that pitiful look. "Go ahead."

"Actually, it's nothing serious, it's just..."

"Don't say anything unless it's important. I have to go to work. I'm leaving now." Yang Wei turned to leave.

Qin Huairu was stunned. This wasn't how the script was supposed to go! She was already looking so pitiful, shouldn't he have softened and asked her something? Was this man heartless? Or had her charm failed her? She was wondering why, just yesterday, Deputy Factory Director Li had said he would help her if she agreed to his request, but why didn't it work on Yang Wei?

Seeing Yang Wei walking further and further away, she panicked and hurriedly chased after him, blocking his way: "Yang Wei, wait! I really need to talk to you!"

Yang Wei was getting annoyed by her constant pestering. To be honest, he wasn't entirely without pity for Qin Huairu. A widow, three children, and a difficult mother-in-law—she had it tough enough. But "every pitiful person has their hateful side," and she'd been eyeing him ever since Sha Zhu got married, even sabotaging his plans behind his back. If it weren't for Ran Qiuye's trust in him, and the near-disaster caused by Lou Xiao'e, he would have already dealt with her decisively. Originally, he'd adopted a "if you don't bother me, I won't bother you" attitude, but now…

"Qin Huairu, what exactly do you want?" he said coldly. "I'm married. You're not afraid of misunderstandings, but I'm afraid my wife will!"

These words made Qin Huairu's face turn pale. She also had self-respect. If she hadn't been driven to the brink by life, how could she have ended up like this? But every time it was mealtime, when her three children smelled the aroma of meat from the neighbor's house and cried out longingly, "Mom, I want to eat meat," she felt weak all over. With a monthly salary of twenty yuan, after buying cornmeal, where would she get the money left to buy meat? She could only grit her teeth and endure it.

"Yang Wei, you've misunderstood!" Her voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes. "The cafeteria needs to hire two more employees. I know about your family's situation, and I'm begging you to help me get in. I'll do anything to repay you, please?"

Yang Wei was surprised; he hadn't heard about the cafeteria expanding its enrollment. But thinking about it, it made sense. Qin Huairu was preoccupied with making money and getting food, and the cafeteria was the most convenient option for her, which was why she came to him for help.

He sighed. If things could be peaceful, it wouldn't hurt to lend a hand. "I don't know the details yet, you go to work first. If I can help, I will."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu beamed with joy and left, expressing her deepest gratitude.

Yang Wei shook his head as he watched her retreating figure: "This world is truly the best and the worst. It's so hard to be alive!"

Young people are full of energy and don't mind sleeping in cold pits. Although Yang Wei didn't have a habit of deliberately exercising, years of working at the canteen stove, tossing woks, stir-frying, carrying grain and vegetables, had long since made him physically strong. In addition, with the enhancements secretly given by the system, he was currently at the peak of his physical condition. If it weren't for Lou Xiao'e, he could really have stayed with her until dawn.

Finally, looking at Lou Xiao'e nestled in his arms like a lazy little kitten, Yang Wei's lips curled into a smile. In just four months in this world, not only had he settled down and started a family, but he'd also found a girl he truly loved, and she treated him genuinely well. For many, this was an immense blessing. The loneliness of his previous solitary existence contrasted sharply with the warmth of having someone to comfort him in bed—the difference was so sweet it made one's heart flutter.

A smile spread across Yang Wei's face as he slowly closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

The next day, she had to get up and go to work. These days, there's no such thing as a wedding leave; once you're married, you have to dutifully work fourteen shifts. Yang Wei's movement roused Lou Xiao'e, and he quickly and gently coaxed her, "Wife, sleep a little longer. I'll go cook, and I'll call you when it's ready." Before leaving, he gave her a peck on the cheek. Lou Xiao'e mumbled "Okay," turned over, and drifted back to sleep. Although she was tired last night, she understood that this was how things should be between husband and wife. Remembering the things her mother had told her before their marriage, her cheeks flushed again.

A humming tune drifted from the kitchen in the early morning as Yang Wei quickly prepared breakfast. After calling Lou Xiao'e to get up and eat, he went to help the old lady wash up. The warm days for the family of three officially began from that day.

After tidying up, Yang Wei said to the grandmother and granddaughter, "Grandma, wife, I'm going to work. If you don't want to bother cooking, just buy something ready-made. Here's the money and food coupons. I'll cook when I get back tonight, so be good and wait for me at home." Lou Xiao'e took the money and coupons and nodded, "Be careful at work, I'll take care of things at home."

Yang Wei hopped on his bicycle and pedaled toward the factory. Along the way, acquaintances would greet him with smiles: "Yang Wei, how's your wedding day?" "Having a wife makes all the difference!" he would reply to each one. As he entered the canteen, his subordinates would surround him to offer their congratulations: "Happy wedding, Master Su!" "Congratulations, Brother Su!" He would take out the remaining wedding candies and share them with everyone: "Let's share in the joy!" After a few lively words, they would start working.

Life settled into a routine, but Yang Wei felt content. He prepared meals according to plan each day, and he didn't have to fetch lunch himself; he just lived like this day after day. A week passed, and the two had gotten used to the rhythm of their newlywed life, without missing their nightly "must-do." Thanks to this nourishment, Lou Xiao'e gradually transformed from a girlish innocence into the radiance of a young woman. Yang Wei had tasted the pleasure, but unlike Sha Zhu, he didn't recklessly ruin his body; he tried different ways to nourish himself every day. Unfortunately, a week later, Lou Xiao'e started her period, so he had to temporarily put aside his desires and conserve his energy for the next time.

After the midday banquet concluded, Director Wang found Yang Wei in a private room and asked, "How are things going with your marriage?" He only sat down to speak after seeing off the guests.

"Thanks to the factory director, it's all good." Yang Wei smiled. "I didn't have a chance to thank you and the leaders for coming to the wedding, but I've always remembered it." The two were already familiar with each other, so they didn't hold back as much when they spoke. In addition, because of Lou Xiao'e's father's connection, Factory Director Wang treated him even more politely: "We're all family in the factory, no need to thank me."

"Your skills have helped the factory attract a lot of customers; we should be thanking you," Factory Manager Wang waved his hand, bringing the topic back to reality.

"Don't say that," Director Wang waved his hand, his smile revealing his sincerity. "You have a discerning eye. Without your promotion, how could I have become the head chef of the canteen? Besides, without your introduction, how could I have met Xiao'e? In the end, you are our matchmaker."

Yang Wei spoke sincerely. Indeed, if it weren't for Director Wang's introduction, how could he have gotten to know Lou Xiao'e so quickly? Not to mention, he had won over the Lou family of three with his culinary skills. He truly remembered this kindness, without a trace of politeness.

Factory Director Wang could tell he was sincere, so he nodded, his expression gradually darkening: "Master Su, I called you here for the same old reason. But this time, the guest's identity is special, so there's no refusing. You have to show off all your skills, don't hold back. I'll go with you later, remember: only bring your skills, do more and say less, preferably nothing at all. Don't divulge a single word of what you see or hear without permission."

"Can you do it?"

Seeing Director Wang's serious expression, Yang Wei was secretly delighted. The big boss he had been waiting for was finally going to show up!

"You can rest assured," he patted his chest. "Don't you know my character? I guarantee I'll complete the task, I won't hold back, and I won't bring shame to the factory!"

Factory Director Wang smiled and said, "Okay, I trust you to get things done." He added, "The factory has decided that your salary will be raised to level five starting next month, fifty-one yuan per month." With that, he turned and left, not giving Yang Wei a chance to be polite.

Yang Wei knew perfectly well what meeting the high-ranking official meant. Lou Xiao'e's family connections were key to the trip to Hong Kong, and this high-ranking official… those who knew, knew. These days, having such a connection was more valuable than anything else. Food is the most important thing for people, and a reliable cook is a necessity for leaders. To do a good job, one must first eat well.

"Finally, I've been waiting for this." He hummed a little tune as he left the private room, his steps light as he returned to the cafeteria. As for a raise? In his opinion, it was insignificant. Once his relationship with the big boss was stable, whether he would keep his job was another matter entirely.

The kitchen staff had long noticed his close relationship with Factory Director Wang, and now that he was back, even the usually nitpicky Sha Zhu came over: "Brother Su, what can I do for you?"

Yang Wei took a sip of tea from his enamel mug: "No entertaining duties tonight. The factory manager said there's going to be a major sanitation inspection, so everyone should clean up inside and out this afternoon. Sha Zhu, you lead Uncle Xu in the work."

"Alright, Su-ge!" Silly Zhu patted his chest, "I guarantee it'll be so shiny you can see your reflection!"

The kitchen immediately sprang into action. Although oil and fat were scarce these days, the kitchen was still filled with the smell of cooking, and over time the walls and stoves were covered in grease. Everyone carried ladders and hot water, wiping and scrubbing, making for a lively scene.

When Yang Wei got home that evening, Lou Xiao'e was in the kitchen, wearing an apron and preparing ingredients. He parked his bicycle, tiptoed behind her, put his arm around her waist, and pecked her on the cheek: "Honey, did you miss me?"

Lou Xiao'e's body stiffened abruptly, then went limp, her ear tips turning red: "Oh dear, how embarrassing! It would be so shameful if someone saw us!"

"If I hug my own wife, who dares to gossip?" Yang Wei deliberately raised his voice, smugly. "Who else is to interfere in my affairs?"

"Keep your voice down!" Lou Xiao'e pinched his arm anxiously. "Are you afraid the neighbors won't hear you?"

Yang Wei chuckled, turned her around, and pulled her into his arms, rubbing his chin against the top of her head: "What are you afraid of? I love my wife, it's perfectly aboveboard!"

Lou Xiao'e wasn't nearly as thick-skinned as Yang Wei. Seeing him yelling, she immediately blushed and stomped her foot, "Hehe, I won't say anymore! Move aside, leave it to my man, he'll cook you something delicious!"

Yang Wei washed his hands, then turned around and asked Lou Xiao'e to tie an apron before he went into the kitchen to work. Lou Xiao'e didn't move, but leaned against the door frame and watched intently, her eyes wide, memorizing his chopping techniques and the force he used to stir-fry, looking as serious as if she were learning some important skill.

"Wife, come inside, the cooking fumes are choking!" Yang Wei noticed she was still standing and straightened up to call out.

"It's okay, I'm not afraid." Lou Xiao'e shook her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingertips. "Besides, I also want to learn to cook from you. I can't rely on you for everything in the future, can I? You're tired from work, and I want you to be able to have something hot to eat when you come home."

Yang Wei felt a surge of warmth in his heart, like a small stove burning inside: "Wife, you're so good to me." He smiled and leaned closer, "Come on, let me smell your fragrance!"

Lou Xiao'e, embarrassed, pushed him away: "Stop fooling around, hurry up and cook!"

There was a lively commotion in the kitchen, and soon the dishes were on the table. The three of them sat down to eat, and the old lady ate with gusto, praising how delicious it was. After cleaning up, Yang Wei chatted with the old lady for a while before getting up and saying, "I'm going to my master's place tonight. You don't need to wait for me; get some rest."

"Then be careful on the road." Lou Xiao'e handed her a coat.

"Okay," Yang Wei replied, turning and leaving the room.

Today is Tuesday, and as usual, I have to go to Grandpa Guan's for class. Ever since Ran Qiuye left, Yang Wei hasn't stepped into the library. Sitting there, his mind is filled with her image, making him feel suffocated. "I wonder how that girl is doing at university?" He sighed, kicking at a pebble on the road. "These days, without cell phones, you can only contact her by public phone or by letter. It's so troublesome." Then he thought, "Oh well, I'll write her a letter tomorrow and ask. Consider it a love letter; it'll be something to remember her by later."

Lost in thought, we arrived at Old Man Guan's residence at Zhengyangmen. Pushing open the door, we found the old man curled up on the kang (a heated brick bed). His kang was different from others; it wasn't the large, horizontal kang commonly seen in Northeast China, but a narrow, vertical one, which looked like a shrunken version of a traditional earthen kang.

"Master, have you eaten?" Yang Wei asked with a smile as he approached.

"You little rascal, I thought you wouldn't come on time anymore after you got married!" Old Master Guan glanced at him sideways, but there was a hint of laughter in his tone. "I didn't expect you to be so capable, willing to let your wife come and keep this old man company."

"How could I dare?" Yang Wei pulled out a bottle of Moutai from behind his back. "You are my master. A teacher for a day is a father for life. How could I forget the agreed-upon date? Look what this is?"

That was a special-supply Moutai he'd "borrowed" from his father-in-law, Boss Lou—a 58 Golden Wheel brand, 55% ABV, soy sauce-flavored. Old Master Guan's nose twitched, and his eyes lit up: "58 Golden Wheel Moutai? Impressive! Where did you get it?"

He sat up straight, snatched the bottle, and examined it closely, tracing the label with his fingers as if it were a rare treasure.

"Hehe, it's from my father-in-law. I know you like to drink it, so I'm giving it to you as a special gift!" Yang Wei said matter-of-factly, taking advantage of the situation.

"No doubt about it!" Old Master Guan hugged the wine to his chest, pointed to the Erguotou on the table, "This hasn't been opened yet, drink this first, that Erguotou is freshly opened."

Yang Wei smiled helplessly. Whether it was Moutai or Erguotou, it was all his "contribution." So now he can't even have a sip of Moutai. This old man is really good at scheming.

There was no other way, so in the end I just ate some peanuts, drank Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), and listened to the old man's story. The liquor burned my throat and warmed it, and the old man's voice, full of life and warmth, was even more reassuring than Moutai.

Yang Wei was still pondering the earlier exclamation. Back in the cafeteria, he glanced at the day's production plan and immediately instructed the kitchen staff to get to work. He poured himself a cup of hot water, about to sit down and moisten his throat, when the cafeteria manager pushed open the door and entered.

"Director!" someone greeted first, followed by Sha Zhu's signature overly familiar tone, "Oh, Director, you're a rare guest. Coming to the cafeteria so early, what can I do for you?" Sha Zhu was always this enthusiastic with everyone. Acquaintances found it friendly, but strangers always felt that he was looking for trouble.

"I'm looking for Master Su," the director gestured to the crowd, his gaze falling on Yang Wei.

"Master Su, could you please come out for a moment? I need to discuss something." "Coming, please!" Yang Wei replied, already having a pretty good idea of ​​what it was about—it must be about adding more staff to the canteen. It seemed Qin Huairu was well-informed, knowing about it even before him. She probably had some connections with the deputy factory director. Could it be that she really made some kind of deal with someone? He pondered to himself as he walked out.

"Director, what do you need me for?" Yang Wei asked directly after leaving the room.

"Master Su, it's like this," the director said politely, "The factory leaders have decided in a meeting that, due to production needs, we'll be adding two more employees to your canteen. If you have any suitable candidates, please recommend them; otherwise, we'll arrange it directly." Although the canteen's head chef usually has the right to make recommendations, sometimes the factory can simply reject all recommendations with a "decision after review." But Yang Wei is different; everyone knows he has a close relationship with the factory director, and the director doesn't dare to underestimate him.

"Adding manpower is a good thing!" Yang Wei said happily without mentioning the candidates. "When the factory has a large production run in the future, the pressure will be much less. Otherwise, I'll always be worried about not being able to complete the task and delaying production, which would be a huge mistake."

The director smiled upon hearing this: "Regarding the selection, I personally don't have any particular preferences, but there's something I'd like to mention. You know Qin Huairu from the courtyard house; her family situation is quite difficult. Do you think we could consider letting her work in the cafeteria? It would be a way to help out. Of course, this is just a suggestion; the final decision rests with you. For the other spot, I'll need your help in choosing a suitable candidate to boost the cafeteria's resources."

Yang Wei's words were impeccable, and the director's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Master Su is kind! Okay, I'll report what you said to the factory manager. If it's true, we workers are all one family, we can't ignore it. You go ahead and do your work." The director was actually scheming; he originally had two slots available for relatives, but out of respect for Yang Wei, he was afraid of gossip if he used only his own people, so he took the initiative to discuss it. Seeing that Yang Wei neither forced anyone into his position nor gave him back the other slot, he was naturally extremely satisfied.

Yang Wei returned to the cafeteria and continued working. Everyone performed their duties, and the morning passed smoothly. When he left work in the afternoon, he bumped into Qin Huairu. He stopped his car and said, "Qin Huairu, the cafeteria manager came by and said he wants to add more staff. I told him about your family situation. As for the result, we have to wait for the higher-ups to decide."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's tears streamed down her face: "Really? Yang Wei, thank you so much... I... Waaah..."

Yang Wei was speechless. Why was she crying? It was as if he had bullied her. "Alright, stop crying, I'm leaving now!" He got on his bicycle and went straight back to the courtyard house.

That evening, under Yang Wei's guidance, Lou Xiao'e made a simple dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes. It was a very basic home-style dish, but it looked and tasted quite good, presentable enough to serve to relatives and friends. Although it couldn't compare to Yang Wei's cooking skills, it was by no means a disaster; it was quite delicious.

"Grandma, is Xiao'e's cooking delicious?" Yang Wei asked the old lady with a smile during the meal.

The old lady chewed on the egg and nodded vigorously, "Delicious! Even better than what you make!" This was clearly flattery; it would be hard to find a better cook than Yang Wei in all of Beijing. The old lady was obviously just indulging in praise because she liked Yang Wei. However, Lou Xiao'e was still overjoyed to receive praise for the first time in her cooking.

After dinner, Yang Wei lay on the bed, flipping through the book he borrowed from the old man, casually grinding for skill points and experience. Lou Xiao'e accompanied the old lady for a stroll in the courtyard to aid digestion. The day passed in this simple yet comforting atmosphere of everyday life.