Rebirth of Siheyuan: Starting from escaping famine in 42

Courtyard No. 95. The He family.

He Yuzhu's mother Zhang Lan was sitting at the door sewing the soles of her shoes. She watched her son run home in a hurry and frowned and said, "Zhuzi, why are you running so fast? Is there a dog chasing you or something?"

He Yuzhu went into the house and drank some cold boiled water. When he heard what his mother said, he immediately turned his back to her and rolled his eyes. He looked around the house and found that his father was not at home, so he asked, "Mom, where is my father? What is he doing?"

Zhang Lan lowered her head to sew the sole of her shoe, and without raising her head, she replied, "Your father went to Boss Lou's house to cook, and he wanted to ask you to go with him! But he couldn't find you."

As she spoke, Zhang Lan looked up at He Yuzhu and continued, "Zhuzi, it's so hot, where have you been?"

He Yuzhu heard this and knew that Boss Lou was in the steel mill not far from his home. He didn't care that he didn't go to his house to cook. He smiled and said to his mother, "Mom, I was at Qingshan's house next door this afternoon. I also ate half a watermelon at his house. The watermelon was really sweet. I don't know where Brother Qingfeng bought it."

When Zhang Lan heard what her son said, she smiled and shook her head. She didn't care much about her son going to his friend's house to play, as long as he didn't go out to play on the streets.

He said, "Zhu Zi, I didn't see you go to other people's homes to play, but don't go to the streets. If you get caught by the Japanese, it will be troublesome."

"I understand, mother." He Yuzhu finished drinking the water in the bowl and then said, "By the way, mother, I won't be eating dinner at home."

Before He Yuzhu finished speaking, Zhang Lan looked at He Yuzhu and asked, "If you're not eating at home, where are you going to eat?"

He Yuzhu explained, "Mom, I went to Brother Qingfeng's house to eat. I came back to tell you."

Zhang Lan thought about it and nodded in agreement, saying, "Okay, Zhuzi, you can go, but don't be so naive and act like you haven't eaten anything before." Then, she took out a cloth wallet from her trouser pocket, took out 10 French francs and handed it to He Yuzhu, then said, "Zhuzi, go buy a bottle of wine and take it with you."

He Yuzhu took the money, nodded and said with a silly smile: "I know, Mom, I'll go first then."

"Well, go early and come back early, don't be too late." Zhang Lan gave He Yuzhu another reminder before he left.

"I got it." He Yuzhu responded without turning his head, then trotted out of the yard.

 …

Li Qingfeng entered the kitchen, took out a cured rabbit from the hook on the beam, cleaned it, peeled off the black skin on the surface, chopped it into pieces, and made a spicy rabbit.

Then scoop two small bowls of rice into the pot, drain the rice, add an appropriate amount of water, and slowly cook the rice over medium heat.

I also fried some tomato and eggs and boiled 6 salted duck eggs.

Finally, add some cold shredded potatoes and it’s done.

Just as the meal was ready, He Yuzhu came into the yard carrying two bottles of Lianhuabai. When Li Qingshan saw them, he said, "I was wondering why Zhuzi bought wine."

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "My mother asked me to bring it."

Li Qingfeng brought all the food to the dining table. Hearing the noise in the yard, he knew that He Yuzhu had returned. He walked to the kitchen door and said to the two of them, "Zhuzi, Qingshan, both of you wash your hands. It's time to eat."

"I know, brother."

"Okay, Qingfeng brother."

The two responded, washed up, walked into the kitchen, saw the food on the table, and swallowed at the same time.

"Brother, is the food so good tonight?" As soon as Li Qingshan sat down, he picked up a piece of rabbit meat and chewed it twice. The spicy taste immediately filled his mouth. He said incoherently, "It's delicious."

"Qingshan, don't just focus on eating by yourself, serve Zhuzi a bowl of rice." Li Qingfeng glared at his brother, then said to He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, sit down and eat, don't be polite."

"Got it." Li Qingshan put down his chopsticks and served each of the three people a bowl of rice.

He Yuzhu nodded, looking at the food on the table, especially the big bowl of rabbit meat, his stomach rumbled, He Yuzhu's face turned red with shame, and he quickly put the wine in front of Li Qingfeng to cover up his embarrassment, and said: "Brother Qingfeng, you drink."

Li Qingfeng looked at the two bottles of Lianhua Bai in front of him, then looked up at He Yuzhu, and said with a smile: "Okay, let's drink some of the wine bought by Zhuzi today. Zhuzi, sit down and eat quickly."

As he said this, he stood up and took out a wine glass from the cupboard, returned to the dining table and sat down, opened a bottle of Lotus White, filled the glass with wine, took a sip, and picked up a bite of shredded potatoes.

It was amusing to watch He Yuzhu and his brother fighting over the meat.

After a while, Li Qingfeng saw that He Yuzhu and his brother had almost finished eating, so he poured them a bowl of water and asked He Yuzhu, "Zhuzi, your yard is a bit deserted! Who is there?"

He Yuzhu was eating rice and meat in his bowl. When he heard Li Qingfeng's question, he wanted to put down his bowl and chopsticks.

Li Qingfeng waved his hand and said to him, "Zhu Zi, you don't need to put down the bowl and chopsticks. Just talk while eating."

He Yuzhu nodded, took a sip of water, and then said, "Brother Qingfeng, the courtyard where my family lives belongs to Boss Lou from the steel mill. My father often cooks for Boss Lou, and they have a good relationship, so he spent money to buy two houses in the middle courtyard."

"There are six families living in the yard now! There are two families living in the backyard now."

"The family is a middle-aged woman who lives alone. I only know her last name is Long, but I don't know her name."

"The other couple both work for Boss Lou. The man is Xu Fugui, and he is Boss Lou's driver. I don't know the woman's name, but I know she works as a nanny. There are three of them in the family, and their son is Xu Damao, who is in school."

At this time, Li Qingshan was eating. Suddenly he heard Xu Damao's name and quickly interrupted, "Brother, I know this Xu Damao. He is one grade younger than me and has a long face, like a donkey's."

Li Qingfeng and He Yuzhu, who were standing next to them, also burst into laughter when they heard this.

He Yuzhu nodded and said in agreement: "Qingshan, you are right, doesn't Xu Damao have a donkey face?"

Li Qingfeng smiled for a while, drank some white wine, ate a piece of meat, and said to the two of them: "Qingshan, eat your meal."

"Zhu Zi, let's talk while we eat, don't worry about him."

He Yuzhu nodded, quickly ate two mouthfuls of rice and a few pieces of meat, drank a sip of water, and then continued: "There are three families in the Central Courtyard. You know my brother Qingfeng, so there is no need to say anything."

"The Zhongyuan family is a couple who have never had any children. The man works as a fitter in a steel mill. His name is Yi Zhonghai. I don't know the woman's name. She has been cleaning the house."

"The other family consists of three people. The man also works in the steel mill, but he is not a fitter, but an electrician. The woman, Zhang Xiaohua, has always been at home. They also have a son, Jia Dongxu, who is in middle school."

He Yuzhu finished the rice in the bowl and took a few bites of vegetables. Li Qingfeng then served He Yuzhu another bowl of rice.