Siheyuan: If you ruin the reputation of the whole courtyard, I will move out

“This is just a choice when you’re hungry. If you simmer it slowly all night, bringing out the deep flavor over a low fire, and then add a few drops of Moutai to enhance it, that’s a unique art.” He Yuzhu talked eloquently, as if bringing himself into a wonderful culinary dream.

After hearing this, Zhang Yu's Adam's apple slid slightly: "Actually, there is something I've always wanted to tell you..." After saying this, he put down his chopsticks with a serious face.

Seeing Zhang Yu's solemn look, He Yuzhu was slightly surprised, but did not refuse immediately: "Just tell me anything, there is no need to hide anything between us."

“Can you teach me how to cook?”

He Yuzhu was confused: "Isn't your job as a driver pretty good? And your income is higher than that of a chef, right?"

In the face of doubts, Zhang Yu smiled with persistence: "I am just obsessed with food, and I spend almost most of my salary to satisfy my appetite. In today's life, it is beyond my ability to often go to high-end restaurants. I think cooking by myself can deeply experience the joy of food."

He Yuzhu teased: "You are treated much better than me as the chief chef. If you want to taste delicious food, you can eat for free at my place anytime."

"I have to be willing to do this..." Zhang Yu's words were full of sincere emotions.

"Cooking is not an impulsive act. Every industry has its own rules. We cannot break the rules at will, but if we guide them in a different way, it is not a bad idea." He Yuzhu is a little sticking to his principles.

"Zhang Yu has a special relationship with us, so why not learn some cooking?" He Yushui skillfully brought the discussion back to a point that was both principled and in line with their wishes.

He Yuzhu responded immediately: "There is nothing wrong with teaching cooking. The key is to ensure that he adheres to the basic principles and find innovative ways to make the teaching process lively and varied."

Zhang Yu was eagerly waiting: "Are there any new methods?" He was full of curiosity about He Yuzhu's new ideas.

He Yuzhu laughed and answered: "When my father taught me how to cook, there was no red tape and he passed it on to me directly." This reveals their family's unique way of inheriting cooking, abandoning the cumbersome customs of ordinary apprenticeship.

After hearing this, He Yushui smiled and said in a joking tone: "Brother, are you thinking about adopting Zhang Yu as your son?" There was a hint of mischief in his words.

He Yuzhu was teased and smiled bitterly, saying: "Who would want their child to have a godparent? That's nonsense." This answer was full of self-mockery.

In response to his sister's confused look, He Yuzhu raised his glass and drank: "My father taught me cooking earlier. Because of our deep blood ties, our family is close. If Zhang Yu can truly integrate into our He family, it is natural for him to learn cooking." These words reveal his understanding of family, tradition and relationship transmission.

Even though he didn't fully comprehend the deep meaning, He Yushui felt a little touched. Zhang Yu also understood the specialness in He Yuzhu's heart.

He Yuzhu found that his sister did not fully understand his thoughts, so he told her frankly: "If Zhang Yu becomes the future son-in-law of our He family, then he will be like a family member." His words were full of deep emotion.

After listening to him, He Yushui's cheeks flushed slightly. After all, she was not yet eighteen years old, and her brother's direct talk about such family matters made her a little embarrassed. Although the words were simple, the topic did bring her a subtle sense of embarrassment.

"Brother, you are talking nonsense!" He Yushui lowered her head and secretly observed Zhang Yu. She noticed that he was smiling, which made her face even redder. "Everyone knows that men should get married at the age of 20. You are almost 18 years old. What is there to be shy about?"

He Yuzhu replied nonchalantly: "How can I treat Zhang Yu as an outsider? We grew up together, we understand each other very well and have a deep relationship. I believe in him."

As the conversation deepened, He Yushui's anxiety grew. She lowered her head and dared not look at him directly. Her fingers were unconsciously entangled together. The scene that emerged in her mind was that quiet and warm little world. However, these conversations made her feel complicated and tangled.

Noticing his sister's silence, He Yuzhu lost no time in turning to Zhang Yu and asked, "Yuzi, I want to ask you clearly what your impression of my sister is. If you agree, we can pick an auspicious date after the New Year, and I will be responsible for planning the wedding banquet. Let our family's craftsmanship be your wedding gift." The question was straightforward.

After hearing what He Yuzhu said, Zhang Yu thought to himself: "I thought he would treat me as a close friend, but I didn't expect that he would consider letting me marry into his family." However, he remained calm on the surface and did not respond.

Seeing Zhang Yu's silence, He Yushui looked pale, anxious and a little angry. Qin Huairu subconsciously broke the deadlock: "Hey, don't be like this, the atmosphere is wrong, why are you so serious?" She immediately felt the strangeness in the air as soon as she entered the room.

When he saw Qin Huairu appear, He Yuzhu's tense face relaxed, as if to ease the atmosphere, and asked, "Why did you suddenly come to visit? Is it because of the braised pork?"

Hearing this, Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Shazhu's cooking is so appetizing, how can a foodie like me resist it." Her words cleverly eased the tension just now.

This episode made He Yuzhu feel awkward, but he also realized that it was not appropriate to directly reject Zhang Yu's proposal. Zhang Yu was also surprised by Qin Huairu's direct attitude and began to figure out the deeper meaning behind her words and actions.

"The delicious smell of this pork belly is simply tempting. My children are almost crying because of their greed. They haven't tasted meat for several months. Can you be kind enough to let them have some meat?" Qin Huairu looked at Zhang Yu sincerely, hoping to touch his sympathy.

"Really? I still remember that Brother He gave you two big boxes of rice and vegetables yesterday. There was meat in them. How come the children haven't eaten meat for so long?" Zhang Yu asked with a smile, his eyes revealing confusion and puzzlement. After all, the actual situation was not exactly as he imagined.

Qin Huairu was stunned for a moment. She was so used to the meticulous care of her elder brother He Yuzhu that she ignored the incident that happened in the morning. At that time, Zhang Yu was actually present.

Zhang Yu's words left He Yuzhu speechless, and he couldn't continue with the rebuttal he was preparing to say at this juncture.

Facing these, He Yushui's face became paler. In the past, when he went home, He Yuzhu carefully cooked many delicacies, but most of them were sent to Qin Huairu first, making her accept the silent grievance in her heart.

At this moment, with Zhang Yu's protection, He Yushui felt like she had a protective brother. Qin Huairu asked for help again, her voice was sad and beautiful: "Dear sister Yuzhu, our children are really starving. You three can't finish all this meat. Can you please help me?"

"Haha, you said your children are hungry? Are you kidding?" Zhang Yu suddenly laughed, "Your family only eats the dumplings made by big brother Zhuzi every day, and your complexion is rosier and healthier than all the children in my courtyard. Who would believe you when you said you were starving?"

"Besides, you look so wealthy. I'm afraid no one can compare to you except the eldest master!" After drinking a glass of wine, Zhang Yu pointed at Qin Huairu in a slightly tipsy state and said, "Look at yourself. Do you look like you have suffered any disaster?"

Qin Huairu was filled with shame. She had not expected Zhang Yu to be so ruthless. "I am a widow. Raising three children is a huge pressure. That ruthless Zhang Jia is even more of a headache. Our family's livelihood depends on that meager income. If it weren't for Brother Zhuzi's frequent support, we would have almost collapsed." Although her words were full of indignation, her expression revealed helplessness and sadness, with tears in her eyes.

He Yuzhu was heartbroken when he saw this scene, and his heartache was beyond words: "Ayu, how could you treat Sister Qin so cruelly? She has been scared by you!" He stood up and wanted to comfort Qin Huairu, but Zhang Yu suddenly chuckled.

"Nowadays, hard times can be seen everywhere." As he got more drunk, his tone became high: "For example, Uncle San and his family of seven are struggling to survive on the meager salary of an elementary school teacher. Their eldest son still hasn't found a stable job, but they still persevere."

Turning back to look at Qin Huairu, Zhang Yu said, "Everyone in the neighborhood knows that there is an assessment of the poverty line every year, and each household can apply for assistance with a subsidy of about fifty yuan. Only families that do not meet this threshold can truly receive relief."

"Sister Qin, have you applied too?" Zhang Yu asked back, which left Qin Huairu speechless.

She did try, but because Zhang Jiashi, the second wife of the Zhang family, failed to live up to her expectations and lost her job, their family lost the right to receive financial assistance. This decision became known to the neighbors, and few people were willing to lend a hand anymore, because they felt that the Zhang family had brought this upon themselves.

He Yuzhu, who was well aware of the situation, expressed deep sympathy for Qin Huairu and was heartbroken for the family difficulties she was facing.