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

Seeing that Wang Cuiping genuinely wanted to learn the craft, Chen Lanxiang put aside her usual perfunctory attitude and taught her earnestly.

Having previously taught He Yuzhu and Xu Damao, two teenagers, she had a good grasp of the art of teaching people how to do things. Teaching them step by step was much easier than the first time.

Wang Cuiping stayed in the courtyard for nearly two months, living a lively and bustling life, until Old Zhao quietly came to pick her up, at which point she had no choice but to pack her bags and leave.

During this time, she had become as close as family with the He family. Chen Lanxiang doted on her, He Yuzhu protected her, and even the old ladies in the courtyard often pulled her aside to talk. If it weren't for the important task she was carrying, she wouldn't want to leave this lively little courtyard for even a moment.

On the day she left, Wang Cuiping didn't disturb anyone. Before dawn, she packed her simple luggage and left only a handwritten letter on the kang (a heated brick bed).

The letter said that he had no choice but to leave this time, and that if he had the chance in the future, he would definitely come back to visit Chen Lanxiang and everyone in the courtyard. He also mentioned that he craved He Yuzhu's mutton noodles the most and hoped that he could have a bowl of them again when he came back next time.

After she left, the courtyard house seemed to have been reset, and life returned to normal. Neighbors went to work or chatted as usual, as if the cheerful and sweet-talking Wang Cuiping had never existed in the courtyard.

Before they knew it, it was mid-year, and Zhao Cuifeng went into labor, giving birth to a baby girl. Xu Fugui, who had a strong preference for sons, immediately wanted to name his granddaughter Xu Zhaodi. It was obvious to everyone that he hoped his next child would be a big, healthy grandson.

Upon hearing the name, Xu Damao immediately jumped up in protest, his face turning bright red. He grabbed Zhao Cuifeng's arm and cried, "No way! This name is awful! Besides, if you really bring home a little brother, all the good food and toys in the house will go to him, and I'll be relegated to the corner!"

Xu Fugui was exasperated by his son's antics and glared at him, cursing him a couple of times. But Xu Damao wouldn't budge, throwing a tantrum. Zhao Cuifeng also felt that the name "Zhaodi" was too jarring. The couple couldn't persuade him otherwise, so they changed the name to Xu Xiaohui. Only then did Xu Damao stop his tantrum and proudly sway the little girl in his arms.

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

In July 1947, He Yuzhu successfully graduated from junior high school.

When he took the entrance exam for junior high school, he had a smooth journey. After entering the school, He Daqing specially dug out a lot of rare items from a secret room in his house and used his connections to give gifts in order to make the matter go smoothly.

Nowadays, He Daqing no longer needs to rely on Xu Fugui for everything. He is diligent and efficient in preparing banquets outside, and his cooking skills are outstanding. Over time, he has made many connections, which makes things much easier for him.

On the day of the graduation exam, He Yuzhu wrote furiously, and his results were among the best, allowing him to smoothly obtain his junior high school graduation certificate.

In contrast, Xu Damao has only just entered the third grade of elementary school. Ever since He Yuzhu went to junior high school, the two have not been studying in the same school and can only meet during holidays.

Every time they met, He Yuzhu would bombard Xu Damao with questions about his academic performance, leaving Xu Damao scratching his head in frustration, stamping his feet in annoyance, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

At this time, He Yuzhu had long since shed his childishness, growing to 1.75 meters tall with broad shoulders, a straight back, and the heroic spirit of a young man in his eyes.

Anyone who saw him would not believe that he was only twelve years old. His facial features were gradually developing, and he had more defined and strong features.

The system panel quietly appeared in my mind—

[Host: He Yuzhu]

Age: 12

[Physical fitness: 14.5 (Due to the use of enhancement drugs, it far exceeds that of its peers, equivalent to the level of a strong adult male. The drugs do not affect the host's development. The maximum value is 30)]

Skills: Bajiquan (Max Level), Liuheqiang (Max Level), Pistol Shooting (Intermediate), Artillery (Advanced), Cooking (Advanced), Monkey Tongbeiquan (Advanced), Cherry Blossom Language (Beginner), English (Intermediate), Korean (Intermediate), Lockpicking (Advanced), Sniping (Advanced), Car Driving (Advanced), Motorcycle Driving (Advanced), Small Ship Driving (Advanced), Aircraft Piloting (Master), Tracking and Counter-tracking (Advanced), Motor Vehicle Repair (Beginner), Photography (Advanced)

[System space: 4,000 cubic meters (constant, space is indestructible and matter is immortal, cannot contain living things), 2,000 square meters of ecological space, 1 mu of fishpond]

Items: Several

[Check-in progress: Changed to monthly check-in.]

[Task: Not refreshed]

In the past two years, He Yuzhu used the abilities granted by the system to clean up the remaining spies and traitors in Beijing. Even the members of the Lixing Society were thrown into chaos and severely weakened by him.

Zhao Fengnian was in danger several times, and He Yuzhu secretly rescued him. These things were not aided by the system mission, but were all done by He Yuzhu voluntarily, and were done quietly without ever mentioning them to outsiders.

As the situation grew increasingly tense, the number of soldiers in Beijing increased dramatically, with armed soldiers visible everywhere on the streets and alleys. Food prices, meanwhile, skyrocketed, changing daily.

The secret room in the He family's house was packed full. Apart from keeping some silver dollars for emergencies, all the rest of the money had been exchanged by He Daqing for grain, cloth, and various scarce commodities, which were hidden away very carefully.

Even the old lady's secret room in the backyard was secretly expanded with He Yuzhu's help. Seeing this, Xu Fugui also dug a secret room in his own yard.

He had seen how wealthy families hid their grain and money, and although he didn't have that much money, grain was essential for survival, so it was always good to hide more.

After He Yuzhu graduated and stopped going to school, He Daqing became worried. He would squat in the yard every day, smoking his pipe and muttering, "This kid just lounges around at home all day. It's not a good solution. We can't let him sponge off us forever, can we?"

Jia Dongxu, who lives in the front yard, just graduated from elementary school this year. Old Jia gritted his teeth and spent a lot of money to ask Xu Fugui for help, sending his son to work as an apprentice in a factory. As for exactly how much money was spent, only Old Jia and Xu Fugui knew the truth.

Afterwards, Xu Fugui complained to He Daqing privately, pouting, "That old Jia guy is stingy to the bone. I'll never do anything for him again. It's a waste of effort!"

He Daqing took a puff of his pipe, glanced at him slowly, and said only one sentence: "You think his family is rich?"

Xu Fugui opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. He just squatted in the corner and remained silent.

When Jia Dongxu got a job, Jia Zhangshi was overjoyed. Every day, she would stand at the gate of the courtyard and boast to everyone she met, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Our Dongxu has become an apprentice in the factory! From now on, we'll have two people earning money in our family, and our lives will get better and better!"

The neighbors who knew her well couldn't help but grumble behind her back: "It's not like there are two people making money. Jia Dongxu's meager wages have all gone into your bottomless pit, Jia Zhangshi. It's not even enough to make a drop in the ocean!"

Madam Jia wanted to throw a lavish feast to show off, but the words were immediately rejected by Old Man Jia. The old man, his face dark with anger, scolded, "What feast?! Where would we get the spare money? Dongxu is an apprentice, earning only one and a half silver dollars a month, barely enough for his own food. This half-grown boy is eating his father out of house and home! He can't even feed himself, let alone throw a feast!"

Jia Laonian originally wanted to find a skilled and reputable master craftsman for his son, but Yi Zhonghai used some underhanded means behind the scenes, and all the masters in the factory avoided him like the plague. Not one of them was willing to take Jia Dongxu as an apprentice. In the end, only Yi Zhonghai was left, putting on a "reluctant" act.

Old Jia knew perfectly well that Yi Zhonghai was cunning and had no intention of letting his son become his apprentice. As a result, Jia Dongxu could only do odd jobs in the factory, moving things and tending the fire every day, without learning any real skills.

Meanwhile, the technician's family, who used to live in the front yard, all moved out of the courtyard one after another, and even Old Zhao, who used to come and pick up Wang Cuiping, disappeared.

One day, He Daqing came home from work at the factory and immediately told Chen Lanxiang, "Old Zhao from the front yard, he's not working at the steel rolling mill anymore. He left quietly, and we don't know where he went."

Others assumed that Lao Zhao had simply moved to a different place to make a living, but He Yuzhu knew in his heart that Lao Zhao's identity had most likely been exposed, and in order to save his life, he had no choice but to flee Beijing overnight. Once he left, he might never see him again.

Freed from the constraints of schooling, He Daqing simply brought He Yuzhu to the steel rolling mill, hoping his son could work as an assistant and hone his culinary skills. However, he never expected that in just a few months, He Yuzhu would master all of his family's culinary skills. Except for the Tan family cuisine, which lacked expensive ingredients for practical demonstration, He Yuzhu had already thoroughly grasped the essence of the other dishes.

The following year, He Daqing looked at his son, who was idle at home all day, and finally asked, "Zhuzi, what kind of skill do you want to learn? Dad will arrange it for you."

While He Daqing was still pondering this, Xu Fugui also came to visit. He had now become a projectionist and was considered one of the few "cultured people" in the theater. As soon as he entered, he grabbed He Yuzhu's hand and said with a smile, "Zhuzi, I think you're clever. How about you come and learn to project movies with me? It's an easy and respectable job, much better than doing manual labor in the factory!"

Upon hearing this, He Daqing immediately took over the conversation, waving his hand in refusal: "No, no, the projectionist job is something Damao will naturally learn when he grows up. It's originally my apprentice's job, and I can't let the two brothers fight over the same job. Besides, Zhuzi hasn't mastered the cooking skills yet, so we can't give up halfway."

In truth, He Yuzhu himself had no desire to go to work early in the morning. In his previous life, he was bound by work his entire life, leaving him exhausted. Now, reborn, he was only twelve years old and had to become an apprentice in a factory. He refused without even thinking about it.

There's an old rule for learning to cook: three years of menial work, two years of full service. First, you have to serve your master by serving tea and water, chopping wood and tending the fire. Only after you've served enough years can you even touch the pot and pan. He Yuzhu wasn't short of gifts to show respect to his master, and he was willing to honor his teacher, but he really didn't want to waste his time on meaningless menial tasks.

After thinking it over, he told He Daqing all his thoughts.

After hearing this, He Daqing scratched the back of his head, looking troubled, and frowned, saying, "Your request is simply outrageous! How can you learn a trade without doing any work, expecting to learn real skills directly? If word gets out, people will think you don't want to put in any effort and just want to reap the benefits!"

What troubled He Daqing even more was something he found difficult to talk about.

He was quite well-known in Beijing's culinary scene, but he had cooked for Xiaozijia back in the day. Although it had been a long time, the owners of the larger restaurants in the city still remembered it clearly.

When he left Fengzeyuan, it wasn't that no restaurant offered him a high-paying job, but when he told them the truth, the owners immediately changed their expressions and avoided him like the plague, afraid of getting into trouble.

This is also why He Daqing didn't hesitate to become a cook at the steel rolling mill.

When he goes out to cook for ordinary people, some bold customers dare to invite him. Ordinary people don't understand the intricacies of the business and only recognize his culinary skills.

After much deliberation, He Daqing finally came up with a plan. He slapped his thigh and said to He Yuzhu, "I'm afraid there's no good place in Beijing where you can learn your skills. Why don't you go to Tianjin?"

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow, asking doubtfully, "Go to Tianjin? Is there a place in Tianjin that can teach me skills?"

"I have a senior apprentice at Huifanglou. He and I apprenticed to cook together back then. Later, he felt that the competition in Shandong cuisine was too fierce, so he switched to learning halal cuisine. His skills are quite solid. Whether you can learn the real skills depends on your own aptitude." He Daqing said this with a hint of frustration in his voice. He couldn't teach his son himself and could only entrust him to his senior apprentice. He couldn't help but feel bad.

"Halal food?" He Yuzhu pondered for a moment, then thought it was feasible. It would also be a good opportunity to broaden his horizons. So he nodded and replied, "Okay, let's go to Tianjin then."

After discussing it, the father and son went home and told Chen Lanxiang. Chen Lanxiang's eyes immediately welled up with tears, and she held onto He Yuzhu's arm tightly, unwilling to let go: "Can't you just stay at home? Why did you have to go on such a long trip? Tianjin is a long way away, and you're only twelve years old. How can your mother leave you here!"

Two-year-old He Yushui clung tightly to He Yuzhu's leg, tears streaming down her face, and sobbed, "Brother, Yushui doesn't want you to leave. If you leave, who will cook delicious food for Yushui? Who will play with Yushui?"

Seeing this, He Yuzhu squatted down, gently picked up the soft little girl with one hand, pinched her chubby little face with his fingertips, and patted her bulging little belly, teasing her with a smile: "You little glutton, it's not that you're reluctant to part with your brother, it's that you're afraid that if I leave, no one will buy you candy or make you delicious food, right?"

He Yushui's face instantly turned bright red. She turned her head to the side and said angrily, "Hmph, I'm not playing with my brother anymore!"

"Okay, but don't come back begging me." He Yuzhu teased her on purpose.

He Yushui bit her little finger, tilted her head and thought for a long time, then muttered softly, "Then I'll go find Brother Da Mao to play."

"Hahaha, then go find him and see if he'll give you candy." He Yuzhu laughed heartily at his sister's teasing.

"Then put me down! I need to find Brother Da Mao!" He Yushui stretched out her small hand and pushed hard against He Yuzhu's chest.

He Yuzhu smiled, took a piece of milk candy from his pocket, and waved it in front of her: "Are you still going to find Brother Da Mao now?"

"I'm not going! I'm not going! Brother, give me some candy! Give it to me now!" He Yushui immediately forgot her angry words and reached out her little hand to grab it, but He Yuzhu was too fast and she couldn't catch it no matter what she did.

The little girl pouted in distress and was about to cry when He Yuzhu gently stuffed the milk candy into her mouth.

"Sweet!" He Yushui instantly stopped crying and started laughing, her little cheeks puffing out as she sucked on the candy.

"You're just spoiling her. She'll ruin her teeth with sweetness sooner or later!" Chen Lanxiang watched from the side, both angry and amused, and glared at He Yuzhu with a displeased look.

"Hehehe, Mom, candy, sweet!" He Yushui hugged He Yuzhu's neck, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

Chen Lanxiang shook her head helplessly as she watched the brother and sister playing around. Then, she stopped smiling and said to He Yuzhu, "Zhuzi, take your sister to play in the yard. Your father and I have something important to discuss."

"Okay." He Yuzhu picked up He Yushui and turned to leave the house.

"Go find Xiaohui, go find Xiaohui to play!" As soon as she stepped out the door, He Yushui pointed her little finger toward the backyard and called out in her childish voice.

He Yushui and Xu Xiaohui were about the same age. One had just learned to speak, while the other was gradually becoming more fluent. The two little girls would chatter away together and always managed to play together. Usually, Xu Damao would watch over them and give them a snack or a piece of candy, and even the most boisterous little ones would immediately quiet down.

After He Yuzhu carried his younger sister away, Chen Lanxiang immediately grabbed He Daqing, her face darkening, and questioned, "He Daqing, what are you thinking? Our Zhuzi is only twelve years old, how can you bear to send him to Tianjin? It's so far away, he doesn't know anyone there, what if something happens to him!"

He Daqing sighed, his face full of helplessness, and said, "I had no choice! Do you think I'd be willing to let my son go to such a faraway place?"

"How could it be out of necessity? The money you earn at the factory is enough for our family to live comfortably. Zhu Zi can stay at home; I'll support him!" Chen Lanxiang's voice rose a few decibels, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"Can you really let him stay at home his whole life, cooking for us young and old every day? He's a boy; he needs to learn a skill to support himself. He can't rely on his parents forever, can he?"

He Daqing also got anxious and raised his voice to refute.

"He was only twelve years old! What were you doing when you were twelve?" Chen Lanxiang asked, her eyes red with tears.

"How can that be the same? When I was twelve, I went out with your father-in-law, that is, my father, to prepare banquets for people! I started learning skills at a very young age!" He Daqing said, sticking out his neck.

"Then why didn't you bring Zhu Zi with you when you were preparing the banquet? You always complained about him, and now that you can't teach him anymore, you want to send him all the way to Tianjin. What are you up to!" Chen Lanxiang became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's not that I dislike him, it's that I can't teach him anymore!" He Daqing stamped his feet anxiously as he recounted the past.

"The other day I had diarrhea and couldn't get out of bed, and your son just grabbed a big wok and cooked all the dishes for the banquet! When it came time to pay the bill, do you know what that brat said?"

"My son saved the day for you, and you're still not happy?" Chen Lanxiang said defiantly.

"I'm happy that my son is capable, but he said that we sent two head chefs, but the host only paid one person. He said it would have been better if he had brought a kitchen helper, and he wouldn't even consider the kitchen helper job!"

He Daqing said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Tell me, how am I supposed to teach him this skill? The restaurants in Beijing won't take him in because of what happened back then. If I don't send him to Tianjin, where else can I send him? To Shanghai or Chongqing?"

Chen Lanxiang was speechless. After a long silence, she asked softly, "Are you really unable to teach him?"

"Absolutely true!" He Daqing nodded emphatically. Although he was unwilling to admit it, it was the truth. "Except for the Tan Family Cuisine, which lacks ingredients, he has learned all the skills I have! I thought that Tianjin is by the sea and has a wide variety of ingredients, so he could practice the Tan Family Cuisine. It would be a pity to lose such a good skill."

"Do we know anyone in Tianjin? I've never heard you mention that before?" Chen Lanxiang was still worried.

"He's my sworn brother, a fellow apprentice. He learned Shandong cuisine from my master back then, and he's very reliable. You haven't met him; he was the master my father found for me before I met you," He Daqing explained.

Chen Lanxiang rubbed her temples and said slowly, "Let me think about it. After all, the pillar is too small."

"Think about it carefully. Zhu Zi is very skilled, but without a proper teacher, he won't be able to make it in the culinary world. People will say he's an amateur." He Daqing pressed on while the iron was hot.

"I understand. Zhu Zi agreed on his own?" Chen Lanxiang asked, looking up.

"He agreed. He said he's never left Beijing in his life and wants to go out and broaden his horizons," He Daqing replied.

Not long after, He Yuzhu carried the tired He Yushui back to the house. Chen Lanxiang immediately asked He Daqing to take the little girl over, and then she pulled He Yuzhu to sit on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and asked him questions in detail.

"Zhu Zi, are you really sure you want to go to Tianjin?" Chen Lanxiang held her son's hand tightly, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Looking at his mother's reddened eyes, He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart and said softly, "Mother, I've made up my mind. Learning skills doesn't depend on where you are. It's the same no matter where you learn. It's a good thing for me to go out and explore."

"But I'm just worried. You've never left my side in all your life. There's war and chaos outside, and there are gunmen everywhere. How can you, a child, manage?" Chen Lanxiang's tears finally fell, wetting her clothes.

"Mom, I can protect myself, don't worry." He Yuzhu immediately straightened his back and made a serious promise.

"Nonsense! What use are those few martial arts skills in the face of real guns and bullets?" Chen Lanxiang looked at her son, who was more than half a head taller than her, feeling both proud and heartbroken, and tears streamed down her face.

"Mom, I've already graduated from junior high school, so I'm practically an adult now. I can take care of myself," He Yuzhu patiently comforted her.

"What kind of adult are you! You're only twelve years old!" Chen Lanxiang couldn't help but burst into tears.

He Yuzhu stepped forward, gently hugged his mother, and patted her back, saying, "Mom, I'll be back in half a year. I'll come home as soon as I've learned my skills. It'll be quick."

"It's not that I don't want you to learn skills, it's that I'm worried about your safety!" Chen Lanxiang leaned against her son's chest, sobbing.

"I can't just stay at home all day, wasting my time, can I? I have to save some money so I can take care of you and Dad in the future," He Yuzhu said softly.

Chen Lanxiang burst into laughter through her tears and gently nudged him: "You little brat, already thinking about saving money to get married?"

"No, no! I'm still young, I don't want to get married!" He Yuzhu quickly waved his hand, his ears turning slightly red.

"Then when you go out, you must promise your mother three things: take good care of yourself, and don't cause trouble. The outside world is not like home; no one will indulge you." Chen Lanxiang wiped away her tears and solemnly instructed her.

"Mother, I promise I will. I haven't caused any trouble in Beijing." He Yuzhu replied with a smile.

After finally appeasing Chen Lanxiang, He Daqing called He Yuzhu aside and said he wanted to get another batch of supplies before he left and hide them in a secret room. No one knew how long he would be gone to Tianjin, so it was always good to have more supplies.

He Yuzhu agreed without hesitation, and thanks to the convenience of the system space, the procurement process went smoothly.

The next day, after He Daqing finished preparing a banquet for the factory boss, he specifically sought out the boss alone and said with a smile, "Boss, I would like to ask you for a favor. Could you get my son a pass and a travel permit, and also help me buy a train ticket to Tianjin? From now on, I will cook for the Lou family for free."

This was a small matter, nothing more than a favor to the boss. It would not only do He Daqing a favor, but also motivate him to work harder at the factory. The boss readily agreed.

Having received an affirmative reply, He Daqing happily returned to the courtyard house and immediately shared the good news with Chen Lanxiang upon entering.

The next morning, Chen Lanxiang was still uneasy. Filled with anxiety, she went to the backyard to find the old lady. The old lady had lived in the yard her whole life and was very knowledgeable. Chen Lanxiang wanted to ask the old lady's opinion on whether or not He Yuzhu should be allowed to leave for Tianjin.

The old lady sat in a wicker chair, basking in the sun. After listening to Chen Lanxiang's words, she slowly said, "A fledgling eagle can never soar to the heavens without experiencing wind and rain. When children grow up, they always have to go out and explore."

Chen Lanxiang instantly understood what the old lady meant. She also knew that her son's abilities far exceeded those of ordinary people, and the continuous supply of resources in the family could not have been obtained simply because of her relationship as an obstetrician. But a mother's love was ultimately too strong to bear and she couldn't let go.

Seeing her worried expression, the old lady added, "Weren't you about the same age as Zhuzi when you were sent to Beijing? The child's abilities are greater than you think."

Chen Lanxiang gave a wry smile: "How can that be the same? Back then, I was a girl and only wanted stability, while Zhuzi was a boy, and it was too dangerous outside."

"Didn't Daqing say that his senior brother is waiting for him in Tianjin? Having someone to look after him is better than being all alone," the old lady advised.

"I've never even seen what his senior brother looks like, and I've never heard Da Qing mention him before, so I'm really not sure what to expect," Chen Lanxiang said worriedly.

The old lady suddenly remembered something and asked, "Didn't the girl from the Wang family go to Tianjin? Do you have her address? Let Zhuzi go look for her; that way, we can keep an eye on things."

Chen Lanxiang shook her head and sighed, "There's no address, and even Zhao Fengnian, who was supposed to contact her, has disappeared. We can't find her at all."

Upon hearing this, the old lady sighed softly. She had a feeling that Wang Cuiping's so-called marriage was probably just an excuse. Zhao Fengnian had a special status and had now disappeared. Wang Cuiping's situation in Tianjin was probably not optimistic.

After a moment of silence, the old lady looked at Chen Lanxiang and said firmly, "Let Zhuzi go. While things are still relatively peaceful outside, it's better for him to go out and learn some skills than to stay cooped up in the courtyard."

Chen Lanxiang took a deep breath, her reluctance gradually turning into determination, and nodded: "I understand, Grandma, I'll listen to you and let Zhuzi go and try."

Having made up her mind, Chen Lanxiang went back to her room and began packing He Yuzhu's luggage. Cotton-padded clothes, cloth shoes, dry food, money—she packed everything carefully, wishing she could cram the entire house into the bundle.

He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart as he watched his mother's busy figure. He knew that this trip to Tianjin was a new beginning and the first step for him to truly establish himself in this era.

Life in the courtyard house continued as usual, but everyone had an extra concern in their hearts.

When Xu Damao heard that He Yuzhu was going to Tianjin, he ran over, grabbed his hand, and said reluctantly, "Zhuzi, you must come back soon. I'm not used to not having anyone to argue with or ask me about my studies!"