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

Chapter 77 The Birth of Little Dang

Yan Bugui became completely obedient. Twenty days later, he went to work, limping. The joint venture store assigned him to be a cleaner, but his wages weren't reduced.

Now, when he comes back from going out every day, he doesn't speak to people, keeps his head down, and limps.

Yang Ruihua also started making matchboxes with the children, and reminded Jie Kuang and Jie Di every day to go home after school and not to run around.

Now that the two children are able to eat their fill, the expenses for the family of four have decreased.

At the end of January 1958, He Yuzhu returned from Yantai. The trip took almost half a month, during which he collected more than ten tons of apples from Yantai, as well as a batch of peanut oil and dried sweet potatoes.

On the day the railcar arrived, Li Huaide sent two trucks to wait at the freight station. He Yuzhu smuggled a ton of pork in, letting the steel mill workers load the pork and apples onto the trucks themselves. He returned to the supply and marketing cooperative, gave the railcar receipt to Director Zhou, and that concluded his mission.

A few days later, Li Huaide arrived, bringing two packs of white-label Zhonghua cigarettes and a case of Moutai liquor. He Yuzhu took the cigarettes and liquor, looked at them, and then led Li Huaide into the courtyard.

"Brother Li, have a few drinks before you leave."

Li Huaide rubbed his hands together. The eight-immortal table in the main room was already set out, with four cold dishes served first. "Brother He, are you going to cook yourself? We're in for a treat today."

He Yuzhu, wearing an apron, poked his head out of the kitchen, spatula still in his hand. "Today we're having one dish from each of the eight major cuisines. You sit and have some tea while you wait."

One dish after another was served. Twice-cooked pork, braised sea cucumber with scallions, poached chicken, braised crab meat lion's head meatballs, Longjing shrimp, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Dong'an chicken, and stinky mandarin fish—eight dishes that filled the eight-immortal table to the brim. The last dish, braised sea cucumber, was served. The sea cucumber was a foot long, black and glossy, and the broth was ladled from a large vat in the space, so thick that it clung to the spoon.

Li Huaide held his chopsticks in his hand and sat at the table for a long time without moving.

"Eat up, Brother Li."

Li Huaide finished chewing a spoonful of Longjing shrimp, then scooped up a spoonful of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and drank it down. He put down the bowl and let out a long sigh. "Brother He, you used to say you knew other cuisines, and I thought you were just bragging. Today I've truly seen it for myself. I've had this giant sea cucumber at the Beijing Hotel, but it's not as good as yours."

"The head chef at the Beijing Hotel is a descendant of the Tan family cuisine; I just figured this out myself."

"You call that just wild speculation? I've only ever heard of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, never seen it. Just the smell alone is incredible. Zhu Zi, who did you learn this skill from?"

"My master taught me Sichuan cuisine, my family's Shandong cuisine, and Tan family cuisine. The rest I just figured out by flipping through cookbooks. Brother Li, don't rush to praise me, we still have two guests."

He Yuzhu walked to the moon gate and waved to the outside.

Xu Fugui and Xu Damao entered. Xu Fugui walked in first, wearing a clean Zhongshan suit. Xu Damao followed behind, dressed in new clothes.

Li Huaide stood up, and He Yuzhu introduced Xu Fugui first, "Brother Li, this is my Uncle Xu, Xu Fugui, the projectionist at your factory. That's his son, Xu Damao, who is my childhood friend."

Xu Fugui stepped forward and shook Li Huaide's hand. "Director Li, I've often heard Zhu Zi mention you. The canteen is managed very well, and the vehicle dispatching and the night shift meal allowance in the workshop were all sorted out after you took office. The workers in the factory all praise you as a good leader."

Li Huaide simply nodded at Xu Fugui's flattery; this man certainly knew how to talk, and he seemed to have seen what he had done.

Xu Damao bowed respectfully and poured Li Huaide a full glass of wine. "Uncle Li, I'm graduating this summer and would like to work at a steel rolling mill. Please take care of me."

He Yuzhu continued, "Da Mao is quick-witted and efficient. Having him as your clerk would be a great help to Brother Li."

Li Huaide took a sip of Moutai and looked at Xu Damao. "How old are you?"

"eighteen."

"How are your grades at school?"

Xu Damao took a report card out of his pocket and handed it over. "Uncle Li, please take a look."

Li Huaide took it and glanced at it. "Okay, come find me at the factory after you graduate."

Xu Damao poured Li Huaide another cup of wine and stood aside. Li Huaide picked up a piece of sea cucumber, savored it, put down his chopsticks, leaned back in his chair, and the smile on his face turned somewhat bitter.

"Zhu Zi, my father-in-law now has mixed feelings of love and hate towards me."

"How so?"

"He loved the local specialties I sent him, saying that this son-in-law was actually quite useful. But when I asked for specially supplied cigarettes and alcohol, he started scolding me."

He Yuzhu raised his glass and clinked it against hers. "What did I say to you?"

"They say those old comrades are afraid of him now, and they all ask me to trade him local specialties. Thanks to you, I've met quite a few people." Li Huaide downed his wine in one gulp. "Zhuzi, let me have some Zhonghua cigarettes for now, I'll save them for you."

"Okay, Brother Li, please bear with me. Next time I go to Shanxi, I'll bring you some aged vinegar and walnuts."

Li Huaide waved his hand. "No, you should bring meat. The workers will complain if they don't get meat. Do you think I can shut them up with vinegar? I'll visit my elders more often during the New Year and get you a couple more. You'd better get me some big prawns."

He Yuzhu smiled. "No problem. I already prepared a New Year's gift for you. Take it with you after you finish your drink."

The Xu father and son were stunned. These were all high-ranking leaders. Looking at the food and drinks they had eaten and drunk that night, and the special-supply Zhonghua cigarettes they were smoking, Xu Damao looked at Brother Zhuzi and felt that he had only just met him today.

A few days later, the sound of a baby crying came from the west wing. Jia Dongxu ran out of the room and stood at the door, rubbing his hands on his trousers, his mouth grinning from ear to ear.

When Jia Zhangshi came out of the house, her face was long and drawn.

"Giving birth to a money-losing child, what's so funny?"

"Mother, your daughter is also a member of the Jia family!"

"If you like it, go inside and hug it yourself. I don't have time to serve you."

Jia Dongxu entered the room, took the baby from the midwife, looked down at the wrinkled little face, and chuckled. He now had a son and a daughter; he, Jia Dongxu, was a man with both.

Qin Huairu lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) inside the room, tilting her head to look at her husband, a slow smile appearing on her lips. Banggeng also ran in, circling Jia Dongxu's legs several times, tiptoeing and tugging at his father's arm. "Dad! Let me see! Let me see my sister!"

"Stop fooling around, you'll hurt your sister!"

Madam Jia threw back the curtain and went back into the room, the curtain swung heavily behind her.

Bang Gengchong made a face at her.

He Yuzhu heard a baby crying in the outer courtyard and glanced towards the middle courtyard. Little Dang was born; the operation was one step closer to completion.

In the backyard, Liu Haizhong remained the same, head down, working; if he couldn't speak, he'd write. Wang Caifeng had also let go; Liu Guangqi had been gone for so many years, life had to go on. She washed clothes, cooked, and sewed shoe soles every day, occasionally chatting with the women in the courtyard.

The old deaf man is still enduring it, squatting filthy at the street corner every day with a broken bowl in front of him. His hair is all matted together, and he's a bit confused, muttering incoherently.

Passersby would occasionally toss a penny or two into her bowl, and with her professional beggar look, she actually managed to get a few more coins than before.

He Yuzhu took a sip of tea from his teacup.

Jia Dongxu is still alive, Yan Bugui is lame, Liu Haizhong is mute, and the old deaf man lives like a mangy old dog.

No rush. He's waiting for supplies to become scarce, waiting for them to open the grain jars and find there's no food inside. What choices will these couples make when faced with starvation?