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

Yuan Taihong picked up his chopsticks and immediately took a bite of the stir-fried pork.

Huifanglou specializes in halal cuisine, and dishes like twice-cooked pork, a typical Sichuan dish, are rarely seen on ordinary days.

He wanted to see just how skilled Li Baoguo, the head chef of Hongbinlou, really was.

The slices of meat were stir-fried until they curled up slightly, forming a beautiful "lamp-shaped nest" pattern. They were glossy and reddish-brown, but not greasy at all.

Just by looking at the presentation, Yuan Taihong nodded in approval.

He picked up a piece and slowly put it in his mouth.

It's savory with a hint of sweetness, and the spiciness is very mild, clearly made to cater to his preference for milder flavors. The fatty parts are fragrant but not greasy, and the lean parts are tender but not dry. The richness of the fermented bean paste and the fresh aroma of the garlic sprouts blend together. With each bite, your mouth is filled with the aroma of meat, and the flavor lingers on your tongue even after you swallow.

Yuan Taihong closed his eyes and pondered for a few seconds, then opened them and uttered only one word heavily:

"fragrant!"

That one word is more meaningful than any praise.

Li Baoguo's anxiety eased slightly, and he quickly smiled as he poured wine for Yuan Taihong: "I'm glad you're satisfied, Senior Brother!"

Yuan Taihong didn't stand on ceremony and tried Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao Chicken, and Boiled Sliced ​​Pork in succession.

Every dish was flawless in terms of cooking time, knife skills, and seasoning.

It's spicy and flavorful without being overpowering, and the aroma and taste are infused without overpowering the main ingredients. It's clearly the work of a seasoned Sichuan chef who has been immersed in the cuisine for many years.

Yuan Taihong put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and felt the aroma of the wine go down his throat, making him feel completely comfortable.

Looking at Li Baoguo's expectant and restless expression, he deliberately spoke slowly:

"Your Sichuan cuisine skills are among the best in Tianjin."

As he spoke, he gave a thumbs-up.

Li Baoguo immediately beamed with joy: "Senior brother, you flatter me too much!"

Yuan Taihong put down his wine glass, his tone becoming more serious: "If Zhuzi wants to learn Sichuan cuisine from you, I have no objection. Originally, I wanted to keep him by my side for a while longer, but—"

"Senior brother! Don't leave me hanging!" Li Baoguo slapped his thigh anxiously. "Your hesitation is making my heart leap out of my chest!"

Yuan Taihong was amused by his appearance and burst into laughter: "What's your hurry? Let me finish what I have to say."

"Alright, alright, you go ahead, I won't interrupt!" Li Baoguo immediately sat up straight, looking like he was all ears.

Yuan Taihong pointed to the dishes on the table and sighed, "However, that kid Zhu learns things too quickly. I'm worried—is what you have enough for him to learn?"

Li Baoguo was taken aback, then patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, senior brother. I know at least fifty or sixty Sichuan dishes and home-style dishes. Isn't that enough for a kid like him to learn?"

Yuan Taihong shook his head, his expression complex: "Sigh, I've suffered because of my lack of knowledge in this life!"

"Ignorant?" Li Baoguo was confused. "What makes you say that?"

"I've never seen such a talented chef!" Yuan Taihong picked up his wine glass, downed half of it in one gulp, his tone a mix of pride and frustration. "My skills have long been exhausted by Zhu Zi. Not just halal cuisine, but all the Shandong and Anhui cuisines I learned in my early years, I've taught him."

Li Baoguo was stunned: "Then why are you still holding onto him?"

Yuan Taihong glanced at him: "You have a close relationship with He Daqing, do you really know how old Zhuzi is?"

Li Baoguo scratched his head: "Judging by his height, he must be about fifteen or sixteen, right? He's as strong as a young man."

Yuan Taihong chuckled and uttered a number that sent a chill down Li Baoguo's spine:

"Bullshit! That kid is only thirteen this year."

"Ten...thirteen?!"

Li Baoguo jumped up from his chair, his eyes wide as saucers, his voice trembling, "Really?! What did this kid eat to grow so tall and so capable?"

"You should ask him what he ate to have such a brilliant mind!" Yuan Taihong took another sip, his tone full of wistfulness.

Li Baoguo quickly poured himself a full glass and drank it down in one gulp, his mind buzzing.

Thirteen years old...

When he was thirteen, he was still tending the fire and preparing vegetables in the kitchen, not even touching the edge of the pot.

"Right, how come I've never heard He Daqing mention this before?" Li Baoguo was still in a daze.

"Nonsense!" Yuan Taihong rolled his eyes at him. "How many years have you been in Tianjin? Back then, Zhu Zi was still running around in open-crotch pants. What good is there for He Daqing to tell you?"

"Yes, yes, my brain just didn't quite process that." Li Baoguo sat down awkwardly, then quickly refilled Yuan Taihong's cup. "Senior brother, another one!"

Let's have a drink!

The two wine glasses clinked together, splashing wine everywhere.

After a glass of wine, Li Baoguo returned to the main topic, cautiously asking, "So, senior brother, when do you plan to hold a graduation banquet for Zhuzi?"

Yuan Taihong put down his wine glass and said slowly, "Originally, I planned to wait until Zhu Zi's skills were truly on par with mine, or even surpassed mine, before I would hold a grand graduation banquet for him."

Li Baoguo's face immediately showed disappointment: "That's a long way off! In our line of work, there's a difference of more than ten years between 'learning' and 'mastering'!"

"Hey! Don't interrupt me!" Yuan Taihong glared at him. "I meant 'originally'!"

Li Baoguo immediately shut up and gestured for him to continue: "Please continue, please continue."

Yuan Taihong then slowly said, "You know Chef Bai and Chef Ma from Huifang Restaurant, right?"

"Yes, I know them. They're both well-known figures in Tianjin. What's up?"

"Those two are even more anxious than you," Yuan Taihong chuckled. "They keep urging me to release the pillar and graduate as soon as possible."

Li Baoguo's eyes lit up immediately: "So... I'm not the first one who's eyeing your disciple? Then, senior brother, you've agreed?"

"Not yet." Yuan Taihong shook his head. "However, I genuinely approve of Zhu Zi learning Sichuan cuisine from you."

"Oh? What do you mean by that, Senior Brother?"

"After Zhu Zi, he will most likely return to Beijing." Yuan Taihong said seriously, "There are many talented people and restaurants there. Halal food has a small audience, but Sichuan cuisine is different. People from both the north and south eat it, and it is suitable for all ages."

"Senior brother is absolutely right!" Li Baoguo quickly echoed.

"The key isn't the cuisine, it's the person." Yuan Taihong looked at him. "I acknowledge your skills. I trust Zhuzi to learn from you; it won't bury his talent. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't agree no matter what."

Upon hearing this, Li Baoguo was so moved that he stood up abruptly, picked up the wine pot, and was about to pour himself a drink: "Senior brother! I toast you! I, Li Baoguo, will remember this kindness!"

"Sit down, you're a grown man." Yuan Taihong waved his hand. "I'll accept this drink."

"Of course! Of course! Senior brother, please eat more!"

Li Baoguo was incredibly enthusiastic, constantly serving food to Yuan Taihong.

The two hit it off immediately, chatting about everything from the intricacies of different cuisines to the rules of the kitchen, and then about how to prepare for the apprenticeship banquet.

Yuan Taihong originally planned to keep it simple: hold the event at Huifanglou Restaurant, with five or six tables, invite a few close colleagues and elders, and just go through the motions.

But upon hearing this, Li Baoguo immediately shook his head: "No, no, absolutely not!"

"Why not?" Yuan Taihong asked, puzzled.

"Who is Zhu Zi? A born culinary prodigy!" Li Baoguo exclaimed excitedly. "His graduation banquet will be his first appearance in the Tianjin culinary world! It has to be a grand and prestigious affair! I'll invite many senior figures in the industry, managers and head chefs from major restaurants, so everyone can get to know Zhu Zi!"

He paused, then quickly added, "Don't worry, senior brother, I'll cover all the expenses and hire the people. I definitely won't cause you any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Taihong was not angry at all; instead, he grinned from ear to ear: "Trouble? I'm overjoyed! You've made me and Huifanglou proud! I'll thank you profusely!"

The two drank more and more happily, and their conversation became increasingly congenial.

One jar of ten-year-old Fenjiu was emptied, and another jar was added.

They drank until both of them were reeking of alcohol and slurring their words, before finally ending the party.

When the manager of Hongbinlou saw Li Baoguo and Yuan Taihong so drunk, he dared not neglect them and immediately ordered the waiter, "Quickly! Find two of the safest rickshaws and make sure they get these two masters home safely! Drive slowly on the road, and make sure they don't fall!"

The waiter readily agreed, personally helped the two into the carriage, and repeatedly instructed the driver before running back to report.

Li Baoguo is the pillar of Hongbinlou Restaurant. If something were to happen to him on the road, the restaurant's business would be affected.

At this moment, He Yuzhu, whose future had been secretly "arranged" by his two masters, was completely unaware of this.

He had just returned home when he entered the door and was immediately clung to by his little girl, Xiaoman.

Over the past few days, Xiaoman has become increasingly dependent on him. Whenever He Yuzhu comes back, she follows him around like a little tail, serving him tea and water, handing him towels to wipe his hands, being incredibly well-behaved.

He Yuzhu was already bored that evening, and when she pestered him, he couldn't help but pull out a first-grade elementary school textbook from his static space and slam it on the table: "Come here, Brother Zhu will teach you to read."

Xiaoman was initially timid, but her eyes lit up as soon as she saw the textbook with words and pictures.

From a young age, she envied those children who could carry schoolbags to school, but her family was poor and they couldn't even get enough to eat, so she dared not even think about reading and learning to read.

But she was sensible, and even though she longed to go to school, she didn't dare to mention it.

Now that she has enough to eat, a warm bed to sleep in, and doesn't have to live in fear or be beaten or scolded, she already feels like she's in heaven.

Being able to learn to read with Brother Zhu is already an immense blessing for her.

He Yuzhu held the textbook and taught stroke by stroke.

Xiaoman studied very diligently, her little brows furrowed slightly, her little mouth silently repeating the words, imitating each stroke on the paper.

Under the light, the little girl's profile was quiet and focused, which softened He Yuzhu's heart.

He truly treated this child like his own sister.

The busiest time in Huifanglou's kitchen passed by noon on the second day, and they took a short break.

The men sat drinking water and smoking, while the chefs leaned against the wall, closing their eyes to rest.

He Yuzhu had just finished wiping the stove when Yuan Taihong called out to him, "Zhuzi, come with me to the rest room."

"Yes, Master."

He Yuzhu put down the rag and followed Yuan Taihong into the quiet rest room at the back.

As soon as he entered, Yuan Taihong closed the door and gestured for him to sit down.

He Yuzhu sat down properly and asked, "Master, did you need something from me?"

Looking at his most prized and worry-free apprentice, Yuan Taihong felt both reluctant to part with him and gratified. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke:

"Zhu Zi, your Uncle Li came to see me last night."

"Uncle-Master Li?" He Yuzhu was taken aback. "You mean Master Li Baoguo from Hongbinlou?"

"Yes." Yuan Taihong nodded. "He came for you."

He Yuzhu was even more confused: "Attack me?"

"He tasted your cooking and was impressed by your talent. He wants to take you on as his apprentice and teach you Sichuan cuisine," Yuan Taihong said frankly.

He Yuzhu narrowed his eyes slightly.

Sichuan cuisine…

He knew better than anyone that Sichuan cuisine had a wide audience, strong flavors, and quick preparation, and would remain one of the most popular cuisines for decades to come.

Even in the original story, he later learned a lot of Sichuan cuisine skills.

But now the world has been turned upside down by him, and who knows how much of the so-called "plot" is left?

In his mind, this was no longer a story world, but a real, living world.

Wang Cuiping, Shen Juxian, and others are all vividly present before my eyes. I don't know how many more people and things I will encounter in the future.

Learning another skill opens up more career paths.

Yuan Taihong looked at him in silence, then continued, "I, your master, have already promised him that you can graduate. But—I can't make that decision for you regarding finding another master. What are your own thoughts on this?"

He Yuzhu raised his head and calmly asked, "Master, is Uncle Li's specialty Sichuan cuisine?"

"Yes, authentic Sichuan cuisine, one of the best in Tianjin," Yuan Taihong affirmed. "Last night, I had him cook a special meal for me and tasted it myself. His skills are top-notch. Learn from him, and you won't waste your talent."

Without the slightest hesitation, He Yuzhu nodded directly: "I agree."

"You...you agreed?"

Yuan Taihong had prepared a whole host of persuasive words, such as learning a skill opens up more career paths, Sichuan cuisine will be very useful in the future, and Li Baoguo is a reliable person, etc., but He Yuzhu's words shut him all down.

Yuan Taihong was stunned for several seconds before he reacted, then laughed and scolded, "You little rascal, you agreed so readily? I thought I'd have to spend ages persuading you!"

He Yuzhu grinned: "If Master thinks it's good, then it must be good. Besides, learning another skill is always a good thing."

"Good! Good! Good!" Yuan Taihong said three times, feeling a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. "It's good that you agreed, otherwise I really wouldn't know how to explain it to your Uncle Li."

He Yuzhu stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said decisively, "Master, when is the graduation banquet? Tell me which dishes to serve, and I'll practice them beforehand so I won't embarrass you!"

Yuan Taihong waved his hand confidently: "No need to practice beforehand. Your master knows your skills better than anyone. When the time comes, just give it your all and cook a few dishes properly, that's better than anything else."

"Alright! I'll do whatever Master says!"

"There's one more thing," Yuan Taihong suddenly lowered his voice and instructed, "Keep this to yourself and don't tell anyone else. Especially not Chef Bai and Chef Ma. If they find out that I've already promised you to Li Baoguo, I'll never have a moment's peace."

He Yuzhu understood immediately: "Understood, Master, don't worry, I won't say anything nonsense."

"Okay, go out now, we still need to cook this afternoon."

"Yes, Master, you can rest."

He Yuzhu turned and left the lounge, gently closing the door behind him.

Sunlight fell on him; the boy's eyes were calm, yet they held a composure far beyond his years.

He knew that from the moment he agreed to become Li Baoguo's apprentice, his path in the Tianjin culinary world was about to change completely.

For the next week, He Yuzhu continued to work quietly in the kitchen as usual.

He was always calm and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient, as he cooked, practiced his knife skills, and studied the heat.

Yuan Taihong saw this and was satisfied.

Apart from Yuan Taihong and He Yuzhu, no one in the entire Huifanglou knew that a grand graduation banquet was being secretly prepared.

a.

He Yuzhu's graduation banquet officially began at Huifanglou Restaurant.

The news caused a stir throughout the entire Tianjin catering industry.

Li Baoguo kept his word and invited almost half of the managers, head chefs, and veterans of the restaurants in Tianjin.

Yuan Taihong's original plan of five or six tables was expanded to more than a dozen tables.

Huifanglou was packed with guests, and the place was bustling with noise.

All eyes were on the thirteen-year-old boy in the kitchen.

He Yuzhu remained calm and unhurried, rolled up his sleeves, lit the fire, put the stove on, heated the pot, and added the ingredients.

His movements were fluid and steady, unlike that of a teenager.

Halal cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Anhui cuisine...

He made the most of the skills that Yuan Taihong had taught him.

Every dish served drew praise.

"This dish is cooked to perfection!"

"The taste is authentic, even better than Master Yuan's!"

"Old Yuan, you've taken on a divine disciple!"

Yuan Taihong sat at the table, surrounded by people praising him, his face beaming with joy.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Li Baoguo suddenly stood up, picked up his wine glass, and spoke in a loud voice that echoed throughout the hall:

"Esteemed seniors and fellow practitioners, on this auspicious day of Zhu Zi's graduation from his apprenticeship, I, Li Baoguo, hereby declare—I hereby formally accept He Yuzhu as my personal disciple, to pass on my Sichuan culinary skills!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.