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

The world has finally become a little more stable, and the streets and alleys of Beijing are less filled with the sounds of gunfire. But He Daqing's heart is heavy, even more so than being stuffed in a steamer during the hottest days of summer.

Who is he? He is the famous chef who once cooked for the Commander of the Little Life. His Shandong cuisine skills are well-known in the catering circle of Beijing. The owner of Fengzeyuan Restaurant also appreciates his skills and treats him well.

But now, with the situation changed, Fengzeyuan had no choice but to dismiss him in order to avoid suspicion.

The shopkeeper was kind and paid him all his wages in full, but holding the heavy silver coins, He Daqing felt no joy at all—losing his job was more painful than having his own flesh cut off.

The city of Beijing was still in chaos. Street vendors were hunched over doing business, and pedestrians walked close to the walls, their eyes full of vigilance.

In the He family's courtyard, the old lady sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), gently comforting He Daqing, who was frowning with worry, while she twirled her Buddhist prayer beads.

"Da Qing, don't be so stubborn. With your cooking skills, how could anyone starve to death? Once things are completely stable outside, you can always go out and take on catering jobs. Which family can do without a chef like you for weddings and funerals?"

Chen Lanxiang, who was standing to the side, also put down her needlework, handed a cup of hot tea to He Daqing, and then advised, "Mother is right. Your skills are a golden rice bowl. Even if you lose your job at Fengzeyuan, you can find a better place. There's no need to worry like this."

He Daqing took the teacup, his fingertips clenching so tightly they turned white. He sighed heavily, his brows furrowing into a knot: "What do you know? I'm not worried about not finding work, I'm afraid... afraid the Bald Gang will cause me trouble!"

As soon as he said that, the old lady and Chen Lanxiang's expressions changed. They looked at each other and fell silent.

Having cooked for the commander of the small-time army is an indelible stain on his reputation. Now that the regime has changed, if someone seizes on this matter and doesn't let it go, not only will he not be able to eat, but his whole family will suffer as well.

Fortunately, this anxiety didn't last long, and things took a turn for the better.

Xu Fugui from the steel rolling mill rushed over, shouting as soon as he entered the He family's courtyard, "Brother He, Brother He! I heard you came out of Fengzeyuan?"

He Daqing was squatting in the yard smoking in silence when he looked up and saw Xu Fugui. He put down his pipe and stood up: "Brother Fugui, you're quick to get the news. You've lost your job."

Xu Fugui slapped his thigh, his face beaming with joy: "It's just as well that it was lost! I have some good news for you. The steel rolling mill has been returned to its rightful owner, Boss Lou. It was originally the Lou family's private property, but it was forcibly seized by some scoundrel. Now it's back in its rightful place! The factory canteen is short of a head chef, and I think your skills are perfect for the job. Would you like to come?"

He Daqing's eyes lit up instantly, and without thinking, he readily agreed: "Go! I'll go!"

He was calculating in his mind. In this day and age, working in a factory meant having a powerful backer, which was a hundred times safer than being out in the open. Even if someone wanted to cause him trouble, they would have to think twice because of the steel mill and Boss Lou.

The next day, He Daqing accompanied Xu Fugui to the steel rolling mill for a tasting. The kitchen counters were gleaming, and all sorts of ingredients were neatly arranged. He Daqing rolled up his sleeves, tossed the wok, stir-fried, and seasoned with practiced ease. In less than half an hour, several delicious and visually appealing dishes were on the table. Boss Lou took a bite, nodded repeatedly in praise, and immediately decided, "Master He, stay! The factory's kitchen is yours!"

He Daqing finally felt relieved after successfully starting his job, but after less than half a month, he started to feel unhappy again.

The wages at the steel rolling mill were 30% less than when he worked at Fengzeyuan, so he was short of money and life was naturally not comfortable.

That evening, He Daqing was on his way home from get off work when he passed by the canteen's storeroom. Seeing the storeroom piled high with flour, pork, and vegetables, his eyes lit up, and an idea instantly took hold. The canteen had no shortage of ingredients; he couldn't figure out the supply channels, but spending a little money to get one of the factory workers to bring some out wouldn't be difficult at all.

We have to find a way to make up for the shortfall in wages!

After much deliberation, he set his sights on his son, He Yuzhu.

After dinner, the family sat around the table. He Daqing cleared his throat, looked at He Yuzhu who was fiddling with a wooden knife, and said, "Yuzhu, Dad wants to discuss something with you."

He Yuzhu stopped what he was doing, looked up, and said, "Dad, what do you want to say?"

"We make steamed buns at home. You can take them to the street to sell every morning, and all the money you earn is yours. How about that?" He Daqing asked expectantly, thinking it was a perfect idea.

The words had barely left her lips when the old lady slammed her prayer beads on the table with a loud "bang," her face instantly darkening: "He Daqing! Have you lost your mind!"

Chen Lanxiang immediately chimed in, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction: "How much can you earn selling steamed buns? Look at the chaos outside! Those 'bald gang' people have done plenty of ransacking and robbing; their reputation isn't much better than ours! You're letting Zhuzi, a kid in his late teens, run around selling steamed buns all over the streets. What if something happens to him? How are my mother and I supposed to survive?"

"Exactly!" The old lady pointed angrily at He Daqing, "You only think about making money, why don't you think about the child's safety? I won't allow this idea, and neither will Lanxiang. You'd better give up on this idea as soon as possible!"

The mother and daughter, talking back and forth, completely suppressed He Daqing's ideas.

He Daqing opened his mouth, wanting to say a few more words, but seeing his mother and wife's ashen faces, he could only sigh dejectedly, swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue, and temporarily give up the idea.

Life went on uneventfully, and before we knew it, it was late August.

Early that morning, just as dawn was breaking and the morning mist hadn't yet dissipated, Xu Damao dashed into the He family's courtyard, his short legs kicking as he ran, calling out, "Brother Zhu! Brother Zhu!"

He Yuzhu was squatting in the yard brushing his teeth, his mouth full of white foam. Hearing the shout, he looked up and asked indistinctly, "Da Mao? What are you running around for so early in the morning? Are you in a hurry?"

Xu Damao ran up to him, panting heavily, his face full of excitement: "Brother Zhu, my dad's going to let me go to school! Didn't your master, my uncle, find you a school?"

He Yuzhu spat out the water from his mouth, picked up a towel to wipe his mouth, shook his head, and said in a flat tone, "No."

"No way?" Xu Damao's face fell instantly, and he stomped his feet in frustration. "You're going to go to school by myself? No way! What if I get bullied at school?"

He Yuzhu rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "You're already being kind by not bullying others! You've been training with me for a while now, and you've already mastered more than half of the basics. You've even learned a few practical fighting moves. Among kids your age, unless they're seriously training in martial arts, who can beat you?"

Xu Damao scratched the back of his head, chuckled, and said with a fawning expression, "I just wanted Brother Zhu to keep me company. With you here, I feel at ease."

"Come on," He Yuzhu saw through his little scheme. "I think you've gotten into trouble and want me to cover for you. Let me tell you, even if I go to school, I won't be in your class. I'm two years older than you!"

"You've never been to school either, so why can't you be in the same class?" Xu Damao tilted his head, looking puzzled.

"You'll find out when the time comes," He Yuzhu said mysteriously, refusing to elaborate.

Xu Damao persisted, grabbing He Yuzhu's arm and shaking it: "No way! Master didn't register you! I'm going to find Master's wife! I don't want to go to school alone!"

After saying that, he broke free from He Yuzhu's hand and dashed into the house, calling out, "Master's wife! Master's wife!"

Inside the house, Chen Lanxiang was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), coaxing He Yushui, an infant in her arms. The little girl was exquisitely beautiful, with big, round eyes, gnawing on her tiny fist—she was incredibly adorable. Hearing Xu Damao's shout, Chen Lanxiang quickly looked up: "Damao, slow down! Don't scare your little Yushui!"

"Oh!" Xu Damao immediately stopped and stood obediently in place, but his eyes were still darting around. "Master's wife, why isn't Brother Zhuzi going to school? I'm about to go to school!"

Chen Lanxiang paused, her hands still busy comforting the child. "Go to school? What kind of school?"

"My dad enrolled me in Jiaodaokou Elementary School, and I can start school next month!" Xu Damao puffed out his chest, looking proud. "Didn't Master enroll Brother Zhu?"

"The school has started recruiting students?" Chen Lanxiang's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked.

"Yes, yes, my dad has already registered me and completed all the procedures!" Xu Damao nodded vigorously.

Chen Lanxiang immediately called out towards the outside, her voice urgent: "Zhu Zi! Zhu Zi!"

These days, she watched He Yuzhu practice boxing and learning to read at home every day. She had long wanted to send her child to school to study and learn, but she hadn't received any news about enrollment. Now that Xu Damao had already enrolled, she naturally couldn't let her son fall behind.

"Coming, coming!" He Yuzhu responded, spitting out the last mouthful of water from rinsing his mouth, wiping his face with a towel, and quickly running into the house.

Chen Lanxiang took her son's hand, looking at him tenderly: "Zhuzi, do you want to go to school?"

He Yuzhu's eyes widened instantly, her face showing just the right amount of anticipation and surprise, her tone tinged with trepidation: "Mother, I...can I go?"

"Look at what you're saying!" Chen Lanxiang slapped his hand, feigning displeasure. "Da Mao can go, why can't you? Does our family lack your tuition fees? As long as you want to study, your mother will sell everything we own to support you!"

"Then I'll go!" He Yuzhu nodded immediately, her little face full of determination, then frowned, "But I don't want to be in the same class as Da Mao, I think I'm better than him."

"Oh, you think you're so great?" Chen Lanxiang was amused by her son's appearance and reached out to tap his forehead. "You've only learned to read for a few days, and you dare to say you're better than Da Mao?"

"That's for sure!" He Yuzhu tilted his head back, looking unconvinced. "I supervised and taught him to read, so I'm sure I learned better than him!"

"Alright, alright, stop bragging." Chen Lanxiang shook her head with a smile. "You don't even know if you can get into school yet, and you already want to study in a higher grade? When your dad comes back, let him go to the school and find out if you can go directly to a higher grade."

"Oh..." He Yuzhu immediately lowered his head, looking dejected, but inwardly he was overjoyed—all of this was within his expectations.

Seeing this, Xu Damao immediately patted his chest and stepped forward, saying, "Master's wife, Master's wife! I'll go home and talk to my dad, and ask him to help ask! My dad has some influence in Beijing, he can definitely do it!"

He trusted his father, Xu Damao, from the bottom of his heart, believing that there was nothing his father couldn't do.

Chen Lanxiang nodded with a smile: "Alright, when your master comes back, let him have a good talk with your father. Thank you for your father's help."

Just then, He Yushui, still in her swaddling clothes, suddenly started babbling. She kicked her little arms and legs, her round eyes staring intently at He Yuzhu, and her little hands kept reaching out to him, as if she wanted him to hold her.

Chen Lanxiang kissed her daughter's cheek and said with feigned jealousy, "You little rascal, you're always clinging to your brother, you're not even close to your mother anymore."

He Yushui couldn't understand what the adults were saying. She kept stretching out her little hands and kicking her little legs, as if she wouldn't give up until He Yuzhu picked her up.

Helpless, Chen Lanxiang gently handed her daughter to He Yuzhu: "Hurry up, hold her, your sister recognizes you."

He Yuzhu carefully took his little sister, a tiny, soft bundle that felt warm and cozy in his arms. As soon as he held her securely, He Yushui immediately giggled, her little hands clutching He Yuzhu's clothes, rubbing against him—she was incredibly adorable.

"She calls him brother!" Xu Damao leaned over and stared at He Yushui, his eyes practically glued to her.

He Yuzhu rolled her eyes at him: "She was just laughing. She can't even speak properly yet, what does she know?"

"Hehe," Xu Damao scratched his head, looking curious, "When will Raindrop Sister be able to truly call me 'brother'?"

Chen Lanxiang straightened the bedding in her arms and replied with a smile, "You'll be able to call out when your mother gives birth to a little brother or sister."

"Oh, that's still a long way off!" Xu Damao's face showed a hint of disappointment, but only for a moment. He turned around and joined He Yuzhu in teasing He Yushui. Seeing the little girl laughing loudly, he also became happy.

Chen Lanxiang felt a warm feeling in her heart as she watched the two children playing. Then, remembering her schooling, she got up and walked to the backyard.

Xu Damao ran out to play, and Zhao Cuifeng in the backyard was definitely worried about him. She took the opportunity to ask Xu Damao about the details of his schooling. Xu Damao only said that he could go to school, but he didn't explain any details. She had to find out more.

At noon, Zhao Cuifeng from the backyard brought several neighboring aunties over for lunch, and the He family's courtyard suddenly became lively.

Lunch was prepared by He Yuzhu, and the dishes contained a lot of meat, filling the whole yard with their aroma.

These days, He Daqing works as a head chef in the steel mill's canteen, and he can often bring back some meat and noodles, so the family's meals are naturally much better than before.

Yi Zhonghai also sat at the table, eating his meal slowly and deliberately, but his eyes kept glancing at He Daqing, his heart filled with resentment.

Others may not know, but he knew perfectly well that He Daqing's loss of his job at Fengzeyuan was entirely his doing.

He had long disliked He Daqing and secretly had someone report Fengzeyuan, saying that there was a chef in the restaurant who had cooked for Xiao Rizi. In order to protect itself, Fengzeyuan had no choice but to dismiss a group of people, and He Daqing was the first to be affected.

The manager of Fengzeyuan thought it was a competitor trying to sabotage business out of jealousy, and the matter was eventually dropped. But who would have thought that He Daqing would turn around and go to work at the steel rolling mill, becoming the head chef and thriving there. His coworkers treated him with great respect, and he also had a good relationship with Xu Fugui.

Xu Fugui was Boss Lou's right-hand man, always following Boss Lou around. No matter how cunning Yi Zhonghai was, he wouldn't dare to provoke him easily.

But he was not about to give up so easily.

Behind the scenes, they resorted to dirty tricks, hiring some thugs to deal with He Daqing. However, they ended up getting beaten up by He Daqing and ended up paying a large sum of money for medical expenses.

When his adoptive father, Wei Yidao, found out about this, he gave him a severe dressing-down.

Last time he caused trouble for Zhao Fengnian, he suffered a great loss. This time, he went and provoked He Daqing, only to provoke tough guys he couldn't afford to mess with. All the money he lost was Wei Yidao's hard-earned money. Wei Yidao wanted to adopt a son to take care of him in his old age, not a troublemaker to squander his family's wealth.

That evening, Yi Zhonghai went to Wei Yidao's residence. As soon as he entered, Wei Yidao berated him harshly.

Wei Yidao sat in his armchair, gripping his cane, trembling with rage: "Yi Zhonghai! Can't you shut up for once? Who is He Daqing? How dare you mess with him? Let me tell you, if you keep causing trouble like this, forget about supporting me in my old age, you'll drag me down with you and kill me! I can't handle this mess you've made!"

Yi Zhonghai lowered his head and respectfully replied, "I understand, Godfather. I won't do it again next time."

But in his heart, he cursed Wei Yidao a thousand times: "Old man, all those people you know are useless. Don't even think about getting revenge for me in this lifetime! You just wait, one day I'll kill you and take over your family fortune!"

Wei Yidao, oblivious to the sinister glint in his eyes, took a breath and asked again, "How's business lately?"

Yi Zhonghai suppressed his hatred and replied calmly, "It's alright, nothing went wrong."

"That's good. Be careful, these days things are tense, don't give anyone a handle to use against you!" Wei Yidao warned.

"Yes, Godfather, I remember." Yi Zhonghai bowed and replied, but a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

Before surrendering to the authorities, Yi Zhonghai had never done anything substantial, merely running errands and delivering messages to earn a meager living. Now that the situation had changed, his ambitions were slowly emerging, but due to insufficient strength, he could only suppress them for the time being.

On the He family's side, after finishing his meal, He Daqing sat in the courtyard smoking. Watching He Yuzhu playfully holding He Yushui, his worries lessened a bit.

Although the wages were a bit low, and although there was a worry in my heart about being troubled by others, at least the family was safe and sound, the son was sensible, and the daughter was lovely, so there was still hope for the future.

When Chen Lanxiang returned from the backyard, she told He Daqing about the schooling matters she had inquired about with Zhao Cuifeng, and instructed him: "When you have time tomorrow, go to the school with Xu Damao's father to ask if Zhuzi can enroll. It would be best if he could go directly to the third grade, and not be in the same class as Damao, so that the two children don't get into trouble together."

He Daqing nodded and tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe: "Don't worry, I'll go first thing tomorrow morning. Zhuzi is a smart kid who learns to read quickly, so he'll definitely be able to keep up with the older students. We can't let him suffer."

Xu Damao, standing nearby, was still pestering He Yuzhu, chattering about school: "Brother Zhu, when we all go to school, I'll let you play with my slingshot, and you can teach me even more powerful punches, okay?"

He Yuzhu hugged his younger sister and patted her head with a smile: "Okay, as long as you study hard and don't cause trouble, I'll teach you everything."