Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 27 Exposes Interdisciplinary Studies

On May 21st, the cross-courtyard property was handed over.

He Yuzhu followed Yang Shilei through the main gate. The screen wall was newly built, made of polished blue bricks, with a brick-carved "Fu" (福, meaning good fortune) character embedded in the center. Beyond the screen wall were three south-facing rooms, with blue brick floors that were swept clean.

Entering through the wall gate leads to the inner courtyard. The ground is paved with city wall bricks, with two flower beds in the middle. One is planted with pomegranates, and the other with osmanthus. A row of holly bushes grows along the base of the courtyard wall; they were just planted, and the leaves are still wilted.

A water trough made of bluestone slabs was built against the east wall, with a faucet installed on top. Yangshi Lei turned it on, and water gushed out.

Roses and peonies were planted next to the sink, and they were in bud.

The main house has three rooms, plus a bathroom on the east side.

The kitchen is located at the far east end, the main hall in the middle, and the bedroom at the west end. The large stove in the kitchen occupies almost half of the room, with the flue running inside the wall. There are three burners, one large and two small.

Next to the stove was a large wooden cutting board, about half a foot thick. The kitchen connected to the adjacent bathroom, with the door on the side. The bathroom was divided into two rooms: an outer room with a ceramic squat toilet and an inner room with a large bathtub. The bathtub was made of brick, plastered with cement on the outside and tiled with white ceramic tiles on the inside.

Yangshi Lei turned on the tap, and tap water gushed into the bathtub.

The main room is furnished in the Ming style, with a long table against the wall, on which sits a blue-and-white porcelain vase. In front of the long table is an eight-immortal table, flanked by armchairs and several large stools. By the window is a chaise lounge made of woven rattan.

The bedroom has a four-poster bed, a wardrobe next to the bed with newly made brass fittings on the wardrobe doors, a desk and bookshelves by the window. Each room has electrical wiring and light bulbs.

Yang Shilei pulled the light cord, and the light bulb in the main room lit up, casting a warm yellow light on the rosewood furniture.

He Yuzhu followed him around the courtyard, quite satisfied, and took out a large yellow croaker from his pocket. Yang Shilei took it, weighed it in his hand, and put it in his pocket.

In the afternoon, He Yuzhu went to Fengzeyuan and the Military Control Commission to invite them to the courtyard for a housewarming party the following evening.

The next day, He Yuzhu set up his stall as usual. Four hundred boxed meals sold out in less than two hours. After packing up, Old Li helped unload the food, and He Yuzhu began preparing the ingredients.

In the evening, the guests arrived. Master Luo was wearing a blue jacket and carrying two bottles of wine.

Chen Xiangqian and the three soldiers had changed into civilian clothes. The group entered through the main gate of the courtyard, carrying new washbasins and new thermos flasks.

He Yuzhu ushered them into the inner courtyard. Master Luo walked around with his hands behind his back, a broad smile on his face. "Zhuzi, the new house is all built, now all that's missing is a new bride. Would you like me to introduce you to a beautiful wife?"

"Master, you must be joking. These days, men can only get married at 20. I'm still a long way from that. Why aren't my wife and brother here?"

Chef Luo lit a cigarette. "Manager Luan gave me half a day off, all because of your new dishes. Sundays are busy, we're short-staffed. Your wife is at home taking care of her daughter, she has a slight fever."

Old Li brewed tea for everyone, and after Zhu Zi introduced them, they all sat down to drink tea.

He Yuzhu came out of the moon gate, bumped into Yan Bugui, called out "Teacher Yan" and entered the middle courtyard.

Yan Bugui glanced through the moon gate. There was a pomegranate tree, a water tap, and the lights were still on in the courtyard.

In the backyard, Xu Damao was squatting on the ground playing marbles with Liu Guangtian.

"Da Mao".

Xu Damao looked up. "Brother Zhu?"

"Let's go eat."

Xu Damao happily stood up and followed He Yuzhu back. When they reached the courtyard, he asked, "Brother Zhu, you invited me to dinner, wasn't it at your house?"

He Yuzhu deliberately raised his voice, "We're going to the new house today for a housewarming party."

Madam Jia Zhang was sitting at the door of the west wing when she heard this. Tan Xiulan stopped picking vegetables.

He Yuzhu led Xu Damao to the east side of the main hall in the front yard. The moon gate had been fitted with double wooden doors, made of old elm wood and painted a deep red. Two characters were engraved on the doors: "Zhiwei" (meaning "to know the taste").

He Yuzhu went in, leaving the door open, and began to show Xu Damao the courtyard.

Da Mao stared wide-eyed at the faucet, the electric light, the blue brick floor, the pomegranate tree, and the osmanthus tree. Light from the main room shone through the glass window into the courtyard.

Madam Jia followed from the middle courtyard, glanced at the door, and then closed it.

In the courtyard, dishes were served. Braised beef brisket, braised sea cucumber, Kung Pao chicken, Mapo tofu, sweet and sour carp, stir-fried crispy pork belly, braised lion's head meatballs, braised dried bean curd strips, and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish.

Master Luo picked up a lion's head meatball, chewed it twice, and nodded in approval. He then picked up a large bowl of braised shredded tofu, put down his chopsticks, and looked at He Yuzhu.

"Zhu Zi, who taught you Huaiyang cuisine?"

"I found a cookbook and figured it out myself."

Master Luo stared at him for a long while. "You've mastered Sichuan cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Tan family cuisine, and Huaiyang cuisine." He shook his head. "You're better than the Qing Dynasty, and even better than your master."

Chen Xiangqian picked up a piece of sweet and sour carp and nodded. Then he picked up a piece of stir-fried double crispy fish. He didn't say anything, his chopsticks never stopped moving.

He Yuzhu poured drinks for everyone, and Lao Li offered cigarettes to everyone, making the atmosphere lively.

After a few rounds of drinks, He Yuzhu spoke up again: "Uncle Chen, could you please add Uncle Li's name to the license plate registration? We're partners now, splitting the profits 30/70."

"Okay, leave it to me. It's legal and compliant, no problem."

This matter concerns the future classification of individuals in Beijing. With this issue resolved, He Yuzhu happily stood up to offer a toast, toasting everyone at the table, including Da Mao.

After the meal, the guests drank tea in the main room.

Xu Damao was studying the faucet in the yard, turning it on and off repeatedly.

Night fell. Electric lights shone from the courtyard, casting a warm yellow glow across the yard. The pomegranate tree cast its shadow on the blue brick ground, which swayed in the breeze.

In the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) in the east wing. The window was open, and he listened with his head tilted to the side as he listened to the news that Tan Xiulan had inquired about.

He estimated the way through the moon gate: inner courtyard, main house, side rooms, and south-facing rooms. How many rooms? He counted in his mind: twelve rooms, brick and wood structure, running water, and electric lights.

Is selling boxed lunches really that profitable?

He stood up and paced back and forth in the room. He ignored Tan Xiulan's questions, saying only, "I'm going to find the old lady." He pushed open the door and went out, heading towards the backyard.

In the backyard, a kerosene lamp was lit in the old deaf man's house. Yi Zhonghai knocked on the door and went in. He sat down opposite her, his face tilted to the side.

"Grandma, do you know how many rooms are in Sha Zhu's courtyard?"

The old deaf man overheard Jia Zhangshi talking about the encroachment on the side courtyard in the backyard before dinner, and he was also making plans in his mind. She slammed her new jujube wood cane down on the ground, saying, "Tell me your story."

"Twelve rooms." Yi Zhonghai stroked his crooked chin. "He's only been selling boxed lunches for a few months. Where did he get so much money?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Yi Zhonghai leaned closer. "There's something wrong with his business."

The old deaf man stared at him. Yi Zhonghai's crooked face was half-lit and half-shadowed under the kerosene lamp. "Instigate people to report. One person isn't enough, but more people will make a difference."

The old deaf man's eyes lit up. "Who will go and tell them?"

Yi Zhonghai stood up. "Let Xiulan go. She just needs to say a few words to those women, intentionally or unintentionally."

The deaf old man nodded.

He Yuzhu saw the guests off. When Master Luo left, he patted him on the shoulder and declined his apprentice's offer to take him home.

Chen Xiangqian said that next time a soldier gets married and holds a wedding banquet, he will definitely ask him to cook.

Xu Damao went out through the moon gate, took a few steps and looked back at the courtyard.

He Yuzhu closed the moon gate and bolted it. Standing in the courtyard, he muttered to himself, "This time I'll see who jumps out first, and then I'll decide how you all die."