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

Chapter 40 The Lunch Box Ends

The last day of 53. It was cold, and the wind stung my face.

He Yuzhu set up his stall as usual. He rode his tricycle to Qianmen Railway Station, with Old Li riding his phoenix-head bicycle behind him.

The folding table was set up, the steamer was opened, and the plump, steaming buns were steaming hot. The boxed lunches were taken out from under the quilt and neatly arranged, and everyone gathered around.

A regular customer took the boxed lunch and broke apart his chopsticks. "Master He, is this really the last day? You're not coming tomorrow?"

He Yuzhu collected and gave change without stopping. "I'm not coming anymore. Today is the last day."

A customer stopped eating. "Huh? Why did you stop?"

Several people squatting nearby, eating, also looked up. Old Zhao, who was pedaling his tricycle, placed his lunchbox on his lap. "Master He, we've been eating this lunch for almost two years. If you quit, what will we eat for lunch?"

He Yuzhu smiled. "Sorry everyone. I have to go to work now."

Old Zhao congratulated him, chewed on his braised pork, and fell silent. Those who arrived late gathered around the tricycle; it was said that on the last day, some people bought two extra boxes, saying they would save them for dinner.

In less than an hour, all four hundred portions were sold out.

He packed up the stall. He folded up the tables and chairs, tied them up, stacked the steamers, and loaded them onto the cart. He got on the cart, and Old Li followed.

He Yuzhu glanced back at the train station, looked for a few seconds, then turned around, pedaled away.

That evening, in the main room of the courtyard. Four dishes were laid out: braised pork belly, steamed yellow croaker, stir-fried mutton with scallions, and fried peanuts. Old Li sat opposite him, chopsticks in hand, but didn't touch them.

"Uncle Li, eat."

Old Li picked up a piece of braised pork and chewed it. He put down his chopsticks and looked at He Yuzhu. "Yuzhu, you're really quitting being a cook?"

He Yuzhu lit a cigarette. "I quit. Serving people is too tiring, and I'm tired of it."

Old Li smiled and shook his head.

He Yuzhu flicked the cigarette ash into the ashtray. "Uncle Li, take a few days off. Come work with me at the Dongcheng District Cooperative in a few days. You'll work in the kitchen doing the dry cleaning and chopping, and I'll be the purchasing agent."

Old Li's chopsticks froze in mid-air. "A purchasing agent? Zhu Zi, with your skills, you're a purchasing agent?"

"A different way of life. Purchasing staff have freedom; they don't have to go to work every day."

He Yuzhu took a drag of his cigarette, the smoke slowly dissipating in the lamplight. "I also hunt. I go into the mountains to hunt some game, collect some furs and game from hunters, and that's enough to get by."

Old Li picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said nothing.

He Yuzhu handed him a cigarette and lit it for him with a match. "Uncle Li, I've got everything planned out. I'll go hunting in the mountains first, load up a tricycle, and deliver it to the East District Cooperative. I'll make a request to them: I'll be the purchasing agent, and you'll work in the kitchen. I guarantee it'll work out."

Old Li took a drag of his cigarette and lowered his head.

He Yuzhu continued, "You can live in the main house in the middle courtyard, free of charge. You're only fifty-three, you have a house and a job. Marry a widow from the countryside who doesn't have children, and you'll be set for life." He paused, "Uncle Li, don't blush. Just tell me if it's okay or not."

Old Li's face was flushed. He held a cigarette between his fingers, the ash long and untouched. He opened his mouth several times before finally speaking. "Zhu Zi, you've thought so much about me. Uncle Li hasn't been able to help you much; I feel ashamed."

He Yuzhu didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

Old Li stubbed out his cigarette and looked up. "Are you sure you can manage going hunting alone in the mountains? Why don't I come with you?"

"No need." He Yuzhu flicked his cigarette ash. "Uncle Li, don't worry. I've been practicing martial arts every night for the past few years. If I encounter a wild boar, I can cut it down with one stroke."

He sat up straight and said seriously, "You don't need to feel guilty. Since I started working as a purchasing agent, I'm usually not home. Please take good care of the rainwater for me; this is the only thing I can ask of you."

Old Li picked up his glass and downed it in one gulp. "Alright. Leave it to me."

The two clinked glasses again. The liquor went down their throats, hot and spicy. A wind picked up outside the window, making the tree branches sway and their shadows flicker on the windowpane.

On the third day, He Yuzhu went to the Lou mansion. Lou Bancheng was in his study, a cigar between his fingers.

He Yuzhu pulled a drawing from his pocket and placed it on the desk. It depicted a large machete, arrowheads, a detachable Xingyi spear, and several large animal traps with chains. The drawing was done in pencil, with clean lines and clearly marked dimensions; it was a design he had developed over the past two days.

Lou Bancheng picked up the blueprints and looked at them, his eyes narrowing. "Zhu Zi, why are you drawing this?"

"hunt."

Lou Bancheng looked up at him.

He Yuzhu sat down. "Uncle Lou, I'm going into the mountains to hunt. I'll take a taxi to deliver the game to the Dongcheng District cooperative and get a job as a purchasing agent."

Lou Bancheng's cigar hovered in mid-air. "You told me you were going to work at the cooperative. I always thought you were going to be a cook. With your skills, you've learned all kinds of cuisines, even Western food. If that doesn't work, you could be a translator. Anyway, you speak English and Russian, and the country is in dire need of these kinds of people."

He Yuzhu smiled. "Uncle Lou, I don't want to serve people anymore. Purchasing staff are free, no need to go to work on time. I've practiced martial arts for so many years, but there's nowhere to use them. Hunting is perfect. I also want to try the life of hot-blooded combat, drinking and eating meat to my heart's content."

Lou Bancheng looked at him, tapping his fingers on the drawing. "You admire the heroes in novels?"

He Yuzhu didn't respond, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Lou Bancheng took a puff of his cigar, the smoke slowly dissipating in the study. He picked up the phone and shook it twice. "Hello, Lao Zhou? I have a blueprint here. Take it to the workshop and have them make it according to it. Yes, as soon as possible. Charge the normal price; don't take advantage of the government." He hung up the phone and looked at He Yuzhu. "Zhuzi, pick it up in three days. Be careful."

He Yuzhu stood up. "Thank you, Uncle Lou."

The people in the courtyard noticed that Zhu Zi hadn't set up his stall for two days. Jia Zhangshi was the first to get restless and ran to the door of the main house in the middle courtyard. The door was open, and Old Li was tidying up his things. The steamer was wiped clean and stacked in the corner, and the folding tables and chairs were leaning against the wall.

"Old Li, why aren't you setting up your stall anymore?"

Old Li straightened his back. "I'm quitting the boxed lunch business."

Jia Zhangshi's eyes widened. "You're quitting? What about the license?"

Old Li glanced at her. "We'll be going back to work in a few days; the license plate will be cancelled."

Jia Zhangshi's mouth was open, and she couldn't close it for a long time. When the news reached the backyard in the evening, Liu Haizhong was squatting at the door smoking. When he heard that He Yuzhu had quit, the cigarette almost fell out of his mouth.

When the news reached the front yard, Yan Bugui carried the flowers into the house, and Yang Ruihua also helped carry them. The two looked at each other but did not say anything.

Yan Bugui closed the door tightly and sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Yang Ruihua coaxed Yan Jiedi to sleep.

"Old Yan, that license plate from the He family..."

Yan Bugui took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on. "What a pity. You know, it's such a profitable business, why didn't Sha Zhu do it?"

Yang Ruihua leaned forward. "Do you think Sha Zhu has made enough money? He wants to find a proper job and get married in a few years."

Yan Bugui didn't reply, but tapped his fingers on his knee.

In the west wing, Madam Jia kept the door tightly closed. Jia Dongxu sat on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), while Qin Huairu held a stick.

"Dongxu, we need to get that house in the courtyard of Shazhu."

Jia Dongxu looked up. "Mom, do we have that much money?"

Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around. "Borrow from your master. Old Yi worked in the self-help group after he got out; he has money."

Qin Huairu whispered, "Mother, can we borrow Master Yi?"

Madam Jia glared at her. "You have to lend it to him, whether you want to or not. He's his apprentice; if he doesn't help, who will?"

The courtyard fell silent. Lights shone from the windows of each house, casting a dim, yellowish glow. The wind howled as it rushed in from the alleyway.

The lights were still on in the main room of the courtyard, and Old Li was still tidying up.