Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

"Zhuzi, can you take your brother Dongxu with you to save money? Your brother Dongxu has a lame leg, and Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill has allowed your brother Dongxu to retire due to illness and receive full salary, but there is no room for advancement. With 37.5 yuan per month, what will he do in the future?" Jia Zhang cried and asked He Yuzhu for help.

He Yuzhu looked at Jia Zhang's pitiful appearance, and his heart softened. He finally agreed to her request. However, the third uncle Yan Bugui also came over. He hoped that He Yuzhu could take his two sons Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang with him. He Yuzhu hesitated for a moment and agreed to take only one.

Yan Bugui looked disappointed when he heard this. He tried to persuade He Yuzhu to change his mind, but He Yuzhu shook his head firmly. He explained that he could only take one person with him because he himself had a lot of things to deal with and could not take care of too many people.

Yan Bugui sighed helplessly, knowing that what He Yuzhu said was true. He turned around and looked at his two sons, his heart full of contradictions. He didn't know which son to let go with He Yuzhu, because he didn't want to disappoint any of his sons.

Finally, Yan Bugui decided to let Yan Jiefang go with He Yuzhu. He patted Yan Jiefang on the shoulder and encouraged him to behave well and not to cause trouble for He Yuzhu. Yan Jiefang nodded, his eyes flashing with excitement. He knew that this was a rare opportunity and he must cherish it. …

The afterglow of the setting sun slanted under the old locust tree, adding a touch of sadness to this quiet alley. Yan Jiekuang was alone, with heavy steps, as if every step was stepping on the tip of his heart. He clenched his hands tightly, his nails dug deep into his palms, but he didn't feel any pain, because his heart hurt more than his hands.

He came to the door of He Yuzhu's house, hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. He pushed the door open and walked in.

He Yuzhu was busy packing up in the house, and was a little surprised to see Yan Jiekuang come in. He put down his work, smiled and greeted him: "Hey, Jiekuang, why are you here? What's the matter?"

Yan Jiekuang did not answer, but just stood there blankly, staring at He Yuzhu. Suddenly, he seemed to have lost all his strength and fell to his knees on the ground.

"Brother Yuzhu, I beg you, please take me with you! I really can't stand it anymore. My dad is too partial to me. I can't even have a full meal at home." Yan Jiekuang's voice was tearful and his eyes were red, as if he had just cried.

He Yuzhu was stunned. He didn't expect Yan Jiekuang to be like this suddenly. He quickly stepped forward and wanted to help Yan Jiekuang up: "Jiekuang, what are you doing? Get up quickly, and talk it over."

But Yan Jiekuang knelt there stubbornly, refusing to get up. He raised his head, looked into He Yuzhu's eyes, and pleaded, "Brother Yuzhu, I know you are now transferred to the logistics procurement team. You only deliver supplies to the factory once a week. It's very leisurely. Please take me with you. I'll do anything as long as I can have enough food to eat."

He Yuzhu looked at Yan Jiekuang's desperate eyes, and a feeling of bitterness welled up in his heart. He remembered that when he was a child, he also suffered a lot because of his poor family background. He sighed, stretched out his hand, and gently patted Yan Jiekuang's shoulder: "Jiekuang, you get up first, let's have a good chat."

Yan Jiekuang looked at He Yuzhu gratefully and finally stood up. He Yuzhu pulled him to sit on a stool nearby and started chatting with him about family matters. He listened to Yan Jiekuang's story, understood his plight at home, and felt even more sympathetic towards the young man.

"Jie Kuang, don't worry, I will help you." He Yuzhu said after thinking for a moment, "Although my current job is very easy, it is not impossible to take you with me. But you must remember that no matter where you work, you must be down-to-earth and diligent. Only in this way can you win the respect and trust of others."

Yan Jiekuang listened quietly to every word He Yuzhu said, with an indescribable excitement and expectation in his heart. There was a spark of hope in his eyes, as if he saw the beautiful picture of life in the future slowly unfolding. He held He Yuzhu's hand tightly, so hard that one could almost feel the gratitude in his heart.

"Brother Yuzhu, thank you! Thank you so much!" Yan Jiekuang's voice trembled slightly, full of sincere emotion, "I will definitely work hard and will never let you down!" His eyes were firm and persistent, as if he had made up his mind to go all out.

He Yuzhu smiled and shook his head slightly, indicating that Yan Jiekuang didn't need to be so polite. He patted Yan Jiekuang on the shoulder and said earnestly: "Don't thank me, Jiekuang, as long as you are willing to work hard, you will definitely find your own way out. Well, let's stop here for today. Go back and prepare well, and come to see me tomorrow."

Yan Jiekuang nodded repeatedly, his face filled with an ecstatic smile. He turned and left He Yuzhu's house, his steps brisk and powerful, as if he was carrying the light of the whole world. He knew that his fate was about to usher in a major turning point, and all these changes came from He Yuzhu's endless kindness and selfless help.

On the way home, Yan Jiekuang was in a state of restlessness for a long time. He secretly made up his mind that no matter how great the difficulties and challenges were, he would move forward bravely and never disappoint He Yuzhu's expectations of him. He would prove his worth with practical actions and repay He Yuzhu's kindness with hard work.

Yan Jiekuang returned home in high spirits, dancing with joy and eager to share his experience with his family. He recounted his encounter with He Yuzhu with great excitement, his face filled with pride and joy. His parents sat by and listened quietly, tears glistening in their eyes, tears of relief and joy. They knew that their son had always longed for such an opportunity, and now that his dream had finally come true, how could they not be excited?

The next morning, Yan Jiekuang got up early, put on neat clothes, and went out in high spirits. He was full of expectations and walked briskly towards He Yuzhu's home. When he knocked on the door of He's house, He Yuzhu greeted him with a smile. Seeing Yan Jiekuang's positive attitude, He Yuzhu nodded with satisfaction.

From that day on, Yan Jiekuang began his arduous but fulfilling apprenticeship. He closely followed He Yuzhu's steps and humbly learned every skill. Whether it was cooking, knife skills or other skills, he went all out and did not dare to slack off. Every morning, he was the first to arrive at He's house to help prepare ingredients and tools; at night, he was the last to leave, carefully pondering the knowledge he had learned that day.

He Yuzhu was very strict with Yan Jiekuang, but at the same time he also gave him endless care and guidance. Whenever Yan Jiekuang encountered difficulties or made mistakes, He Yuzhu always pointed out the problems patiently and taught him how to improve. In this process, Yan Jiekuang not only learned a variety of practical skills, but more importantly, he developed a strong will and self-confidence.

After a period of hard work, Yan Jiekuang's progress is remarkable. His cooking skills are becoming more and more sophisticated, and the dishes he makes are delicious and fragrant; his knife skills are also becoming more and more sophisticated, and the plate decorations he makes are exquisite and beautiful. Under the guidance of He Yuzhu, Yan Jiekuang gradually showed his talent and potential.

At the same time, Yan Jiekuang's personality also changed. He became more cheerful and confident, and his relationships with people around him became more harmonious. Everyone praised the young apprentice and believed that he would achieve great things in the future.

Time flies, and Yan Jiekuang's growth makes everyone proud. He is grateful for the opportunities and guidance given by He Yuzhu, and is determined to repay this kindness with his own efforts. In the days to come, he will continue to move forward and pursue his own dreams.