Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

After hanging up the phone, Wang Qiang felt a little emotional. He knew that no matter where he went, friends were his most valuable asset. And He Yuzhu was the most important of his assets.

Wang Qiang opened his eyes, the sun shone through the gap in the curtains onto the bed, he stretched himself and felt relaxed. It had been a while since he returned to the courtyard, and life had gradually returned to normal. Today, he planned to go to the market to buy some delicious food and visit He Yuzhu.

After getting up, Wang Qiang simply washed up and changed into clean clothes. He decided to buy some of He Yuzhu's favorite food. After all, this old friend had always cared for him, so he should show his appreciation.

"Let's go to the market today to see if there are any fresh seafood and vegetables." Wang Qiang thought about what to buy. He liked this fulfilling feeling. With a goal and action, his mood became brighter.

Wang Qiang walked out of the courtyard, and the morning breeze blowing in his face refreshed him. He walked quickly to the market, which was not far from the courtyard, and it took only ten minutes to walk there. Along the way, he thought about his experience of working outside these years and the deep friendship between him and He Yuzhu.

The market was bustling with people, shouting and hawking. Wang Qiang squeezed into the crowd and began to carefully select. He walked to a seafood stall and saw fresh shrimps and crabs. He thought to himself, "Yuzhu likes seafood the most. I will buy some shrimps and crabs today and cook him a delicious meal."

"Boss, how much are these shrimps and crabs?" Wang Qiang asked.

"Shrimp is 25 yuan per pound, and crabs are 40 yuan." The boss replied enthusiastically.

"Give me two pounds of shrimp and two crabs." Wang Qiang said readily.

The boss quickly weighed the food, and Wang Qiang paid the bill. He also bought some fresh vegetables and fruits from other stalls, and finally bought a bottle of good wine. He thought to himself: "I will have a good drink with Yuzhu tonight and talk about our experiences over the years."

It was already noon when he returned to the courtyard. Wang Qiang carried large and small bags of food and walked to the door of He Yuzhu's house and knocked gently.

"Yuzhu, it's me, Wang Qiang!" he shouted.

The door opened quickly, and He Yuzhu saw Wang Qiang with a surprised smile on his face: "Wang Qiang, you're here! Come in quickly, why did you bring so many things?"

"I'll make you a delicious meal today to show my appreciation." Wang Qiang said with a smile and walked into the house carrying the food.

He Yuzhu looked at the seafood and vegetables that Wang Qiang brought and said with emotion: "You are so polite. There is no need for us to be so formal with each other."

"How can this be considered as being polite? You've always been so good to me, so I should do my part." Wang Qiang said as he began to get busy. He was washing and cutting vegetables in the kitchen, while He Yuzhu was helping him. The two of them worked well together, and the kitchen was soon filled with fragrance.

"You have a really good skill. When did you learn it?" He Yuzhu asked curiously.

"When I was in the south, I learned some cooking in my free time. I didn't expect it would come in handy now." Wang Qiang replied with a smile.

"It seems like you've had a good life in recent years." He Yuzhu sighed.

"It's OK. Although it's busy, I've learned a lot." Wang Qiang said as he worked, "But what I miss most are the days in our courtyard."

"Yes, although life in a courtyard house is simple, it is also the most real and warm." He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

The food was ready soon, and Wang Qiang served it on the table. Looking at the delicious dishes, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He poured two glasses of wine and handed them to He Yuzhu.

"Come on, let's drink to our friendship!" Wang Qiang raised his glass and said sincerely.

"Cheers!" He Yuzhu also raised his glass. They both drank it in one gulp, with satisfied smiles on their faces.

During the meal, the two talked a lot, talking about work, life, and the little things in the past. Wang Qiang was full of gratitude, and he knew that no matter where he went, He Yuzhu's friendship would always be his most precious wealth.

"You know, sometimes I really miss those carefree days." Wang Qiang said with emotion.

"Who says it's not true? Life is always full of changes, but we have to learn to adapt," said He Yuzhu.

"Yes, no matter what the future holds, I hope we can maintain this pure friendship." Wang Qiang nodded in agreement.

"Of course, friends should support and care about each other." He Yuzhu said with a smile.

After dinner, the two sat in the yard for a while and talked about many things. Wang Qiang felt very relaxed, because he knew that with a friend like He Yuzhu, he could face any difficulties calmly.

"Yuzhui, thank you so much for your help and care for me over the years." Wang Qiang said sincerely.

"What are you talking about? We are friends. There is no need to say thank you to friends." He Yuzhu patted Wang Qiang on the shoulder. "If you have any problems in the future, just come to me and we will face it together."

Wang Qiang nodded, his heart filled with emotion and warmth. He knew that this friendship would always accompany him and become the most solid support in his life.

One day, the sun was shining brightly, and Wang Qiang was sitting leisurely in the courtyard basking in the sun. He was in a particularly good mood, and the time he spent with He Yuzhu yesterday was still lingering in his mind. Just as he was enjoying the rare tranquility, there was a sudden noise in the courtyard.

"Wang Qiang, come out!" Qin Huairu stood in the middle of the yard and shouted angrily.

Wang Qiang frowned, stood up and walked towards Qin Huairu. He felt a little uneasy, wondering what he had done to make her so angry. "What's wrong, Sister Qin? Is there something wrong?" He asked in a calm tone.

"You still ask me what's wrong? Look at the pile of garbage in front of your house. Did you throw it there randomly?" Qin Huairu pointed angrily at the pile of garbage in front of Wang Qiang's house, her voice full of accusations.

Wang Qiang was stunned for a moment, then said, "Impossible, I have always paid attention to hygiene and would never litter."

"Then tell me, who does this belong to? Is it mine?" Qin Huairu was so angry that her face turned red, and she was obviously very dissatisfied with Wang Qiang's answer.

Wang Qiang walked over and took a closer look, and found that the garbage was indeed some household waste, but he was sure that he didn't throw it away. He felt a little aggrieved and explained: "Sister Qin, this is really not thrown by me. Maybe someone accidentally threw it at my doorstep."

"Don't quibble. Your house is the only one in the entire courtyard that has garbage in front of it. Who else could it be?" Qin Huairu continued to accuse him.

At this time, He Yuzhu heard the noise and came out. Seeing Qin Huairu arguing with Wang Qiang, he immediately stepped forward and asked, "What's going on? What happened?"