Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

"Hmph." The old woman slammed her cane on the ground with a heavy thud, making the earthenware pot on the kang table shake. "One by one, when it comes to the crucial moment, none of them can be relied on. Not a single one of them is capable."

She briefly recounted how Xu's daughter-in-law went to the factory to find someone, and how Yi Zhonghai and others passed the buck to each other. When she got excited, she paused with her cane, making the window paper rattle.

Upon hearing this, He Daqing's face darkened instantly, his eyes turned as cold as ice in the twelfth lunar month, and his teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound. But in the end, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and didn't utter another word of complaint.

"Da Qing," the old lady said, observing his expression and softening her tone. She earnestly advised, "Just keep this to yourself and don't spread it around, lest it damage the harmony between neighbors."

"Besides, Shuxiang is perfectly safe and sound; both mother and child are alright, aren't they?"

"..." He Daqing was silent for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he slowly nodded. "I will listen to you, I won't tell anyone, and I won't cause any trouble."

"That's right." The old lady's tone softened, and a hint of relief appeared on her face. "We're neighbors, we see each other all the time, it's not good for anyone if things get awkward."

"But today, it's all thanks to my eldest grandson, Zhuzi." The old lady changed the subject, tapping the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) lightly with her cane. "If it weren't for his quick thinking, running off to fetch a doctor..."

"Yes, thanks to Zhuzi," He Daqing echoed, then paused and asked tentatively, a hint of confusion in his eyes, "Grandma, don't you think... Zhuzi seems to have suddenly become more clever?"

Upon hearing this, the old lady couldn't help but laugh out loud, her wrinkles smoothing out and her expression full of doting affection. "Now that you mention it, it really does seem to make sense."

"He used to be a quiet person, unable to utter a word for ages, but now he's become a loudmouth, very talkative."

"Do you think... this is normal?" He Daqing was still a little uneasy and couldn't help but ask, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the earthenware pot.

"Bang!" The cane struck He Daqing's arm with just the right amount of force, enough to bring him back to his senses without causing injury.

"Ouch! Why did you hit me, old lady?" He Daqing cried out softly in pain, clutching his arm with a wronged look on his face, like a big dog that had been scolded.

"That's exactly what I meant by hitting you!" The old lady's eyes widened, her tone tinged with reproach. "What are you thinking? My grandson has become clever; isn't that a good thing?"

"Go back now and take good care of your wife. Don't let your mind wander here."

"Sigh..." He Daqing didn't dare to ask any more questions, and quickly agreed, rubbing his arm as he stood up.

"This chicken soup smells so good." The old lady looked at the earthenware pot, nodded in satisfaction, and her nose twitched slightly.

"That's right." He Daqing rubbed his arm where he'd been hit, grinning proudly. "My skills are among the best in Beijing, absolutely top-notch!"

"Alright, you're getting all worked up just from a compliment. Don't get carried away." The old lady waved her hand and urged, "Go back quickly. Don't send any more in the future; save them all for your daughter-in-law and children to nourish their bodies."

"Grandma, I won't go hungry if I skip a meal, so don't worry about me."

"Alright, enjoy your meal. I won't disturb your rest any longer."

He Daqing left the house with a cheerful smile. Before leaving, he looked back at the earthenware pot on the kang table to make sure the lid was on before carefully closing the gate and locking it with a click.

As the footsteps outside the door gradually faded into the distance and the crunching sound of their footsteps on the snow grew fainter, the old lady slowly withdrew her gaze and picked up her prayer beads again.

She slowly scooped up a spoonful of hot chicken soup and put it in her mouth. The warm broth touched her tongue, and she closed her eyes contentedly, savoring it as she murmured to herself:

"This impulsive nature... he's not even as considerate and sensible as my grandson."

"I don't know how Shuxiang could have fallen for him back then, she really has no taste."

He Daqing turned around and went back into his house, closing the door behind him to shut out the cold air from outside, making the room warm and cozy.

Two plates of home-style dishes were already laid out on the kang table, still steaming hot. The aroma of vinegar from the hot and sour shredded potatoes mingled with the sweet and sour flavor of the stir-fried cabbage, filling the room.

One dish is hot and sour shredded potatoes, the shredded potatoes are cut as thin as hair, and red chili peppers are sprinkled on top, glistening with oil; the other dish is stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, the cabbage stalks are stir-fried until soft but not mushy, and are coated with a bright vinegar sauce, making them look fresh and tempting.

He Daqing pointed at the two dishes, his eyes wide with surprise, and asked, "Did you cook this?"

"Yes." He Yuzhu poked his head out from the kitchen, grinning with a simple, honest smile. His apron was still covered in flour. "How's my stir-fry?"

"It looks... quite decent, it's starting to look promising." He Daqing couldn't help but exclaim, putting down the earthenware pot and taking a closer look. "The heat is just right, and the saltiness is just right too."

"What do you mean by that?" Chen Shuxiang immediately stood up from the kang (a heated brick bed) to protect her son, her voice tinged with urgency. She reached out and patted He Yuzhu's head. "Am I not even allowed to learn to cook and make some progress?"

"Yes, of course!" He Daqing quickly replied, tugging at his wife's sleeve, afraid of upsetting her. "It's just... I didn't teach him at all, how could he know?"

"I think he figured it out on his own, he's self-taught." He Yuzhu scratched his head and showed that honest smile again, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. "I usually watch my mother cook and secretly learned a little bit, I didn't expect to be so successful on my first try."

That smile suddenly evoked an indescribable sense of familiarity in He Daqing's heart.

Looking at him, who resembled a clever little fox with a cunning streak, he felt a chill run down his spine for no reason.

He hurriedly shook his head, trying to shake the strange thought out of his mind, and moved to sit down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

I reached out and grabbed the chopsticks on the table, intending to have a good taste of my son's cooking.

Hey, this time we'll have to really take a good look and see just how capable my little guy really is.

He picked up a piece of shredded potato with his chopsticks, slowly put it into his mouth, and chewed it carefully.

The crisp, clear sound of creaking echoed distinctly in the quiet room.

Crisp! His eyes suddenly lit up like two little lamps, and his face spread with undisguised surprise.

He picked up another piece of shredded potato with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth again.

Crunch, crunch... The crisp texture hits your tongue, and the taste is absolutely authentic.

"Okay, Zhu Zi!" He stared at his son, looking him up and down, a hint of disbelief still lingering in his eyes.

Did you really learn it by yourself? You didn't learn it from anyone else at all.

"Yes." He Yuzhu nodded vigorously, his expression as serious as if he were making a vow.

Dad, try this cabbage again, it tastes pretty good too.

Following his son's advice, He Daqing picked up a cabbage leaf and put it in his mouth.