Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

In the kitchen, the previously oppressive atmosphere was broken by a series of rapid and rhythmic sounds.

"Tap tap tap... Crack crack crack..."

The sound of the cleaver striking the cutting board was initially a bit rough, but it quickly became smooth and fast, leaving only a blur.

He Yuzhu stood in front of the table, his eyes frighteningly focused, as if he were holding not a kitchen knife, but a peerless divine weapon.

Memories of her past life as a five-star chef flooded her mind like a burst dam, instantly imprinting themselves onto her slightly immature hands.

With a nimble twist of the wrist, the round potatoes instantly transformed into a mountain of fine strands, each strand as thin as a hair and as uniform in thickness as if measured with a ruler.

The large cabbage next to him also fell victim to his knife; the sliced ​​leaves were as thin as cicada wings, and with the light shining through the window, one could almost see the view across the street.

He Daqing, who was busy fanning the flames by the stove, was quite taken aback by the pace.

He stopped what he was doing, wiped the black ash off his hands, and came closer with a look of surprise on his face.

"Pillar?"

He Daqing stared at his son's hands, which seemed to have magic power, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"Your hand speed... when did you secretly practice that? How come Dad didn't hear a thing?"

He Yuzhu didn't even look up, his hands moving without slowing down, and replied indifferently.

"Since I've got nothing better to do, I might as well think about it."

"Thinking about it?" He Daqing chuckled and flicked his son's forehead.

"You usually complain about washing dishes, how can you have the time to think about this? Did the sun rise in the west?"

"Dad, people always change." He Yuzhu's lips curled into a smile.

"I just can't figure it out, can I share some of the burden with you?"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

He Daqing grinned from ear to ear and patted his thigh.

"Good lad, you've got my style from back in the day! Looks like my skills have a successor!"

Before long, the rich and mellow aroma of chicken soup wafted from the He family's kitchen, spreading throughout the entire courtyard on the wind.

That enticing aroma, on this cold winter day, is simply the ultimate test for a hungry soul.

The men, having finished work, hunched their shoulders, wrapped their thin cotton-padded coats tightly, and hurried home, drawn by the aroma of the food.

The door to the Jia family's house creaked open, and Old Man Jia dragged his weary body inside.

Before he could even catch his breath, Jia Zhangshi's sharp and sarcastic voice exploded out:

"You rascal! You finally decided to come back?"

"Smell it! Smell it carefully! Isn't that chicken stewed by the He family?"

"The aroma wafted all the way to our kang (heated brick bed)! And look at what you bought! It's worse than pig feed!"

As Jia Zhangshi cursed, she pointed at the bowl of dark, salted vegetable soup on the table, spitting as she spoke.

"Dongxu is at the age where he's growing, eating this won't help him grow at all! You hurry up and go to the He family, even if you have to swallow your pride, you have to get Dongxu a bowl of chicken soup! It's a lifesaver!"

Old Jia took off his cotton-padded coat and hung it on the wall, then sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) expressionlessly.

He pulled a hard cornbread bun from his pocket and said coldly, "Go ahead and take it. I don't have the face to do that. Why should your child eat something that someone else is giving birth to?"

"You good-for-nothing Jia Laonian!"

Jia Zhangshi was so angry that she jumped up and down, pointing her finger at her husband's nose and cursing.

"You're not going, huh? Fine! You're not eating this cornbread tonight either! Get out of my sight!"

"Why shouldn't I eat?" Old Jia took a big bite of the cornbread, chewing it with a loud crunch.

"This is money I earned through hard work points, what's it to you? Dongxu, come here! Dad saved a big one for you!"

"Oh! Father!"

Although Jia Dongxu was afraid of his mother, he craved cornbread even more.

Hearing his father call, he darted to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) like a startled rabbit, grabbed a cornbread and stuffed it into his mouth, afraid that if he was a moment too late, it would be gone.

Seeing this scene, Madam Jia was so angry that her face turned ashen and her chest heaved violently, but she was powerless to do anything about the father and son.

He could only stand by and watch helplessly, his heart seething with hatred for the He family.

Zhongyuan, Yi Zhonghai's house.

Yi Zhonghai rubbed his frozen hands as he entered the house, plopped down at the dining table, and frowned slightly as he looked at the cornbread and pickled vegetables on the table.

I casually asked, "Has Old He's wife next door given birth yet? It's making quite a commotion."

"She gave birth, and it's a girl."

Li Guihua held the bowl, her tone revealing a regret that was hard to explain.

"What a pity, he's not a boy."

"Girl."

Yi Zhonghai's tone instantly turned indifferent. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of rice, and showed little interest.

"Girls are better, they're less of a worry."

"By the way, old man."

Li Guihua seemed to remember something, and put down her chopsticks to ask.

"Today, Old Xu's wife went to the factory to report that Old He's wife is having a difficult childbirth. Did you know about this? Why didn't you go and ask for help?"

Yi Zhonghai paused, his eyes flickered, and then he sighed.

"How could I dare to go? It's chaotic outside, and the restaurant is far away. What if something happens? What will our family do? Besides, it's He Daqing's business. His relatives will take care of it. Why should I go and get involved?"

"You..." Li Guihua felt a little uncomfortable looking at her husband's self-protective attitude.

"That's true, but we're still neighbors in the same courtyard. If it weren't for Zhu Zi's quick thinking today, we would have almost both died."

"If you don't want to go, fine, but at least go and see them tomorrow, so people don't talk behind your back."

"We'll see."

Yi Zhonghai gave a vague answer, lowered his head and continued eating, but was secretly making plans in his mind.

Now that He Daqing has given birth to a daughter, there's not much hope for her to rely on in her old age. Shouldn't the resources in this facility be redistributed?

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Xu Fugui's house was also rather strange.

As soon as Xu Fugui entered the room, he threw his hat on the table, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

"Zhao Cuifeng! Are you tired of living? The He family is having a baby, what are you doing getting involved? Is that any of your business?"

Zhao Cuifeng was sewing shoe soles when she heard this. She pouted in grievance and threw down her work.

"Honey, do you think I want to go? That deaf old woman in the backyard is blocking the door with her cane, yelling that if I don't go, she'll smash my skull. How dare I not go?"

"Alright, alright, you're out of luck."

Xu Fugui waved his hand impatiently.

"What did you give birth to?"

"She's still a girl."

Zhao Cuifeng pursed her lips, then lowered her voice and said mysteriously.

"But today's incident is really strange. You didn't see it, but He Yuzhu, who's usually so silly, reacted incredibly quickly today! He was calling for a doctor and directing people; he acted more like a manager than his father!"

"Oh?"

Xu Fugui raised an eyebrow, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and turned to look at Xu Damao, who was playing with a slingshot nearby.

"Da Mao, you're usually close to him, haven't you noticed anything strange about him?"

Xu Damao tucked the slingshot into his waistband, his face full of disdain.

"Dad, what could be wrong with him? He's just a big, dumb guy! He must have gotten lucky. I think he's just faking it, trying to impress the old lady."

"Don't be careless."

Xu Fugui squinted and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"In this world, you can't see into someone's heart. Da Mao, keep a close eye on him from now on. I have a feeling that this kid has suddenly become sensible; I wonder if he's up to something bad behind the scenes."

"Yes, Father. I'll keep an eye on him!"

Xu Damao patted his chest and made a promise, but in his heart he was secretly competing with him.

He Yuzhu, you idiot, you think you can turn things around?

Just you wait, I'll make you look foolish!

Inside the He family's house, the air was thick with heat.

Chen Lanxiang leaned against the headboard, her face pale, but her eyes were full of love.

She glanced at the earthenware pot on the table and said to He Daqing, "Husband, take that pot of chicken soup to the old lady in the backyard. If it weren't for her speaking up today, I probably wouldn't be alive."

"You're kind-hearted."

He Daqing smiled and agreed, picked up the small earthenware pot he had prepared, and specially selected a few pieces of tender chicken to put in, before turning around and walking towards the backyard.

"Clang clang."

Who is it?

The elderly deaf woman's strong voice came from inside the house.

"It's me, Da Qing. I've brought you chicken soup."

"Come in, the door isn't locked."

He Daqing pushed the door open and entered, then closed it behind him.

The deaf old woman was sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), covered with a thick quilt.

"Oh, Qing, what are you doing here instead of serving your wife at the front? What are you doing here with this old woman?"

Although the old lady was hard of hearing, her eyesight was incredibly sharp.

"Didn't Lanxiang specifically instruct you to do this?"

He Daqing placed the earthenware pot on the kang table, his face beaming with a simple and honest smile.

"We're so grateful to have you here today; it'll help you recover and nourish your body."

"This child is just too honest."

The old lady spoke politely, but her eyes were fixed on the earthenware pot. "She just gave birth and needs to replenish her energy even more."

He Daqing rubbed his hands together, hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help asking.

"Grandma, who exactly went to the factory to inform me today? I really need to thank them properly."

The old lady paused for a moment as she picked up the earthenware pot, then snorted coldly and slammed the pot down on the table.

"What are you thanking me for? What can those people in that courtyard do besides watch the show? They're all as cunning as monkeys, afraid of getting involved in any trouble. If I hadn't sent Xu's daughter-in-law, you'd be back to collect your wife's corpse by now!"

He Daqing's face darkened instantly, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

He understood what the old lady meant: none of those neighbors who usually treated each other like brothers had offered a helping hand in this critical moment!

"The Qing Dynasty."

The old lady took a sip of chicken soup, smacked her lips, looked at He Daqing's gloomy face, and said earnestly.

"You have to slowly figure out what people are thinking. Just keep this in mind and don't make a fuss. Making a fuss won't help and will only hurt the relationship."

"I understand, ma'am."

He Daqing took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.

"By the way, don't you think... Zhu Zi seems a little different today?"

"no the same?"

The old lady paused for a moment, then smiled, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.

"You noticed too? This kid really showed off today! He was so talkative, he even fooled the doctor. He used to be so quiet, but today he's finally got it!"

"He's finally figured it out..."

He Daqing scratched his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"But I always feel like he's become a little unfamiliar. That look in his eyes is really scary."

"Snapped!"

With a sharp crack, the old lady's cane struck He Daqing's arm heavily.

"Ouch!"

He Daqing grimaced in pain.

"Grandma, why did you hit me?"

"I'm beating you because you have no conscience!" the old woman glared at her.

"You're not happy that your son has become smarter? Do you want him to be a simpleton and get bullied for the rest of his life? Go back and serve your wife! Stop thinking nonsense here!"

"Yes, yes, I'll leave, I'll leave right now."

He Daqing rubbed his arm, looking both amused and exasperated, and walked out. At the door, he turned back and added a sentence.

"Grandma, if this soup isn't enough, please call me again."

"Alright, alright, let's go."

The old lady waved her hand after He Daqing left.

She picked up the earthenware pot, looked at the golden chicken soup, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

"The He family is probably about to undergo a major upheaval."

When He Daqing returned home, his eyes were immediately drawn to the two dishes on the table as soon as he entered.

A plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes, bright red and tempting, sprinkled with chopped green onions.

A plate of stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, glistening and translucent, looks incredibly appetizing.

"This...you cooked this?"

He Daqing pointed at the dishes, his eyes wide with disbelief.

His knife skills and control of the heat are almost as good as those of a professional chef!

"Well, I've got nothing better to do, so I thought I'd show off my skills."

He Yuzhu chuckled, revealing a set of big white teeth, looking incredibly honest and simple.

"Want to show off your skills?"

He Daqing picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of shredded potato, and put it in his mouth.

It's crisp and refreshing on the palate, with a pleasantly sour and spicy flavor. The cooking time is just right, and there's absolutely no raw or astringent taste.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He Daqing said "good" three times in a row and excitedly patted the table.

"Zhu Zi, your skills are absolutely amazing! Even your father never taught you. How did you learn to cook like this?"

"Just watch you do it, and you'll get the hang of it after you see it a few times."

He Yuzhu still wore that harmless smile.

But for some reason, seeing his son's smile made He Daqing feel uneasy.

Behind that smile, there seemed to be a cunning little fox, looking at him with a mocking gaze.

"This kid..."

He Daqing shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and started eating heartily.

"Never mind, let's eat! This is my son's cooking, it smells delicious!"