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

Chapter 33 Reminds the Lou Family

Rainy Day has been in school for over ten days. She's in second grade at Hongxing Elementary School, and He Yuzhu helped her advance a grade. With his tutoring, she has no problem at all.

He Yuzhu assigned the task of collecting and delivering rainwater to Xu Damao, and let the kid eat dinner in the courtyard every day.

On Sunday afternoon, He Yuzhu was busy in the east wing of the courtyard. The earthen kiln was burning brightly, the embers licking the kiln walls, and the kiln chamber glowed red-hot. The basins placed beside the warm kiln were rising quickly.

Rainwater squatted by the kiln, chin resting on his knees, arms wrapped around his legs. "Brother, what's this?"

"Pizza. A food eaten by foreigners."

Having never seen rain before, his eyes followed He Yuzhu's hand.

Once the dough has risen, roll it out into two round discs and prick them all over with a fork. Spread tomato sauce, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and top one with ham and mushrooms, and the other with bacon.

Rain sniffed, "It smells so good."

He Yuzhu pulled her back to keep her from getting burned by the kiln fire.

The pizza came out of the oven, the cheese golden brown, the edges slightly charred, and a few small bubbles. He Yuzhu cut it into triangular pieces, put them in a cardboard box, lined the bottom with parchment paper, and tied a red ribbon into a bow.

The rain watched longingly.

He Yuzhu handed her a piece of cheese with ham. She took it and took a bite. Long strands of cheese stretched out and hung on her chin. She reached out to pull them, and the strands stretched longer and longer, making her chuckle to herself.

He Yuzhu took a handkerchief to wipe her chin, but it stuck back on as soon as he finished.

He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle out of the main gate of the courtyard, the back seat laden with rainwater. Two cardboard boxes hung from the handlebars, swaying back and forth.

The autumn wind is getting cool, and the locust tree leaves in the alley are scattered all over the ground, making a rustling sound as they are rolled over by car wheels.

Rain wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his back. "Brother, ride slower."

Upon arriving at the Lou residence, Zhao Shufen opened the door. Her apron was covered in flour, which she wiped with her hands. "Zhu Zi's here! Oh, and there's rainwater too!"

Rain called out to Aunt Xu. Zhao Shufen smiled and patted her head.

In the living room, Tan Yali came downstairs. She was wearing a dark green cheongsam with a cardigan over it, and her hair was styled in a bun.

He Yuzhu placed the cardboard box on the coffee table and opened one of the boxes. "Pizza. This one is ham and mushroom, and this one is bacon."

Tanya bent down to look at it, broke off a piece of cured meat to taste, chewed it a couple of times, and nodded. "This tastes good."

Lou Xiao'e ran downstairs, wearing a checkered skirt, white socks, and black leather shoes. One of her braids had come undone, and Tan Yali beckoned her over to re-braid it for her.

She fidgeted impatiently, tied her hair up, ran to the coffee table, saw the pizza, and reached out to grab it.

He Yuzhu pulled Yushui to the front. Yushui hid behind his legs, revealing half her face. "Xiao'e, this is my sister, He Yushui." He then looked down at Yushui and said, "This is Lou Xiao'e, call her Sister Xiao'e."

Rainwater emerged from behind He Yuzhu's legs, clutching the hem of his clothes with both hands, and timidly called out, "Sister Xiao'e."

Lou Xiao'e chewed on her pizza, her cheeks bulging, looking up and down at the raindrops. "How old are you?"

Eight years old.

"I'm eleven. Call me 'sister,' and I'll show you around." With that, she grabbed Yushui's hand and ran upstairs. "Come on, let me show you my dolls! I have seven dolls!"

The two girls ran upstairs.

Lou Xiao'e's voice came from upstairs: "This doll is named Mary, this one is Lucy, this one in the red dress is Anna, and this one..."

Tanya shook her head with a smile. "Xiao'e, at least she has someone to keep her company now."

He Yuzhu sat down on the sofa. Zhao Shufen brought over a cup of tea, a white porcelain cup, the tea leaves slowly unfurling in the hot water.

He picked it up and took a sip; it was jasmine tea, and it smelled wonderful.

Lou Bancheng came out of the study, saw He Yuzhu, and nodded. "Zhuzi is here."

He Yuzhu put down his teacup and stood up. "Uncle Lou, I have something to tell you."

Lou Bancheng glanced at him, then turned and walked towards the study. "Come in and talk."

The study was small, with two walls lined with books. There were thread-bound ancient books, Western-style books, and a few English books, the gold lettering on the spines worn white.

A green-shaded desk lamp sat on the mahogany desk, its edges slightly yellowed from the heat. A cigar sat in the ashtray, its ash still glowing. The room reeked of cigars, mingled with the smell of old books.

Lou Bancheng sat down in the leather chair and pointed to the chair opposite him.

He Yuzhu sat down. Lou Bancheng picked up a cigar and took a puff; the smoke slowly dissipated in the lamplight.

"What is it?"

"Uncle Lou, you need to make plans for Lou's Steel Plant as soon as possible."

Lou Bancheng frowned, his brows furrowing deeply. "What are your plans?"

"Public-private partnership".

The study fell silent.

Lou Bancheng's hand holding the cigar froze in mid-air, the red glow of the cigarette butt remaining still.

He Yuzhu continued, "Private enterprises cannot control heavy industry forever. The wind is about to change. I predict that next year, or at the latest by the end of the year, there will be a major move from above. At that time, it won't be a question of whether you want to form a joint venture, but rather that you must."

Lou Bancheng didn't reply. He slowly put the cigar down and placed it on the edge of the ashtray.

"If we had started the joint venture earlier, you could have remained a director, received dividends, and most importantly, become a role model, so no one would have dared to touch you. If you stay in Beijing and don't make plans early, you'll have plenty of trouble later."

Lou Bancheng stared at He Yuzhu for a long time. A cigar was held between his fingers, the ash long and thin. The light from the table lamp shone on his face, making the three vertical lines on his forehead look like they were carved with a knife.

"Pillar. Where did you get all this information?"

He Yuzhu looked into his eyes. "Uncle Lou, don't ask. I've worked with quite a few people using this skill."

Lou Bancheng stubbed out the cigar in the ashtray, pressing it twice. The cigarette butt deflated, and the last wisp of smoke dissipated.

He leaned back in his leather chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest, "Let me think."

He Yuzhu stood up and walked to the door. He glanced back. Lou Bancheng sat behind his desk, his hands on the armrests, his eyes fixed on the desk lamp.

He Yuzhu left the study. In the living room, Tan Yali was wiping Lou Xiao'e's mouth with a handkerchief. Lou Xiao'e had cheese stuck to her chin, and Tan Yali laughed as she wiped it.

Rain stood beside her, holding a doll with blue eyes, blonde hair, and wearing a plaid skirt. Her own hair was also loose, and Tanya beckoned her over so she could re-tie it.

The raindrops stood obediently, without moving.

"Brother, Sister Xiao'e gave me a doll!"

He Yuzhu squatted down and looked at the baby in Yushui's arms. "Did you thank Sister Xiao'e?"

"Thanks!"

Tan Yali tied Yu Shui's braids and patted her head. "Alright. Come visit often, Xiao'e gets bored all alone."

The raindrops nodded vigorously.

He Yuzhu said goodbye to Tan Yali. Tan Yali asked Zhao Shufen to wrap two pieces of butter tightly in oil paper and tie them with straw rope. "Take them back for Yushui to eat. The child is too thin and needs to eat more."

He Yuzhu declined for a moment, then accepted. He pushed his bicycle out of the iron gate, Yushui climbed onto the back seat, clutching a doll in her arms. The bicycle wheels had only gone a few steps when footsteps came from behind.

"Brother He!"

He Yuzhu gripped the brakes and looked back. Lou Xiao'e ran out of the iron gate, her two braids swinging back and forth, and ran to the bicycle, looking up at him. Her face was flushed from running, and her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat.

"My mom wants you to go back and get the liquor. It's Lai Mao liquor, in a jar, she forgot to give it to you."

He Yuzhu smiled. "Leave it there, I'll take it next time."

Lou Xiao'e paused for a moment, then smiled. Her eyes were round and bright, and her lips were rosy. The autumn wind blew up the stray hairs on her forehead, and she reached out to brush them aside, revealing her smooth forehead.

He Yuzhu looked at her and said, "You can't escape me in this lifetime."

Yu Shui, holding the baby, waved goodbye to Lou Xiao'e. "Goodbye, Sister Xiao'e!"

Goodbye, rain!

He Yuzhu stepped onto the bicycle, the wheels rolling over fallen leaves on the ground.

Rain was in the back seat, holding a doll and humming a tune that was completely off-key.

"Brother, Sister Xiao'e said I can come again next week."

"OK."

"Brother, Sister Xiao'e said your pizza is especially delicious."

"Um."

"Brother, Sister Xiao'e said..."

"Shut your mouth."

Rain chuckled, resting her head on his back. The doll's golden hair brushed against her little face.