Siheyuan: I am reborn as a good person He Yuzhu

26. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind, and he decided to try to seek external help to find a way to realize his ideal.

27. Then, He Yuzhu told his father that he would be away for a while to do this.

28. Watching his son's back gradually going away, He Daqing felt confused and worried. He didn't know what choice his son would make, and what impact it would have on the family.

29. He Yuzhu walked out of the room with determination. Although the future was bleak and full of uncertainty, he firmly believed that as long as he persevered, he would definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.

30. The final shot freezes on He Yuzhu’s back in the afterglow of the setting sun. His figure appears so lonely yet so tenacious in the twilight.

"This profession may not be as glorious as before, but the social recognition is still there." He Yuzhu said as he poured tea for He Daqing.

Taking the cup of hot drink, He Daqing immersed himself in reminiscing about the past, "I still remember that year, when your father stood at the gate of the steel mill with all his skills, every factory manager would call him 'Master'."

He Yuzhu smiled and nodded, "Yes. Our family's craftsmanship is not acquired overnight. I have been driving for so many years, and every transportation is completed safely and successfully."

"This is not an exaggeration." He Daqing had a satisfied smile on his face. "My skills, if viewed in a larger context, can indeed be considered an art. The boss of the steel mill was very respectful to me when he saw me."

He Yuzhu also laughed and continued, "So, Dad, your profession is the pride of our family. However, the times are advancing, and we should also keep pace with the times. If our family can have a college student or professor, it will be a great event that will bring honor to the family."

He Daqing listened to his son's words and fell into deep thought. "College student, professor..." He repeated the two words softly, as if he was imagining such a scene.

"That's right, Dad." He Yuzhu encouraged, "It doesn't matter if we can't become college students. We still have the craft you passed down. As long as you are willing, I can learn from you and pass on this craft well."

After a period of silence, He Daqing calmly raised his head and looked at He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, do you think there is really such a big difference between being a driver and being a college student?"

He Yuzhu looked at his father and answered sincerely: "Dad, times have changed and society has developed rapidly. The knowledge and skills that college students learn nowadays are unimaginable in the past. But this does not mean that your work is worthless. This craft is equally important to society."

He Daqing nodded, as if he understood something. "I see, Zhuzi..." He took a deep breath and said, "Then let's do as you say. Let's try this route first. If it doesn't work, we can always turn back."

He Yuzhu smiled, knowing that his father had made concessions in order to make his dream come true.

"Dad, then why don't we go talk to Mr. Lou?" He Yuzhu suggested.

He Daqing nodded in agreement and stood up. "Okay, it's settled. Let's go meet this Mr. Lou."

When the two left the house, He Yuzhu was in a mixed mood, full of expectation but also a little nervous. He knew in his heart that this was the first and most important step to change his fate. No matter what, he had to try his best.

Three days later, a farewell banquet was organized by He Dadan in a hotel. He invited the master Wang Furong and his wife and several senior brothers to reminisce about the friendship between teacher and student.

At the banquet, He Daqing raised his glass to express his respect to Wang Furong and apologized: "Master, the main purpose of inviting you here today is to apologize for Zhuzi. Zhuzi has been spoiled by me since he was a child and is ignorant. I may have offended you a while ago. I hope you can understand."

Wang Furong waved his hand to signal everyone to take a seat, and said gently: "You are too kind. In fact, Yuzhu is a very good child, smart and hardworking, and I believe he has a bright future."

He Daqing smiled to show his gratitude, then turned to Madam Wang and bowed. "Don't worry about it, Master's wife. I will ask him to apologize later."

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Wang Furong officially spoke: "I invited you all here today to tell you an important message. From now on, Yu Zhu will be officially graduated. Please feel free to eat the dishes he makes in the future. Our profession values ​​the inheritance of tradition the most. Only by learning from a master can we have the real formal path. Otherwise, we will only become outsiders and have no place to stand."

When He Yuzhu heard this, he immediately stood up and bowed three times respectfully to Wang Furong: "Thank you, Master!"

Wang Furong nodded slightly, and then said to the people present: "Yuzhu is not only smart, but will definitely be more promising than me in the future. I am old now, and my voice is not working anymore, so I can no longer run the kitchen like I used to. From now on, I will hand over this responsibility to him, and I believe he will satisfy me."

Everyone echoed and praised He Yuzhu.

He Daqing was very pleased to see this. He knew that today's apprenticeship banquet had achieved its purpose. From this moment on, He Yuzhu officially became Wang Furong's apprentice and received formal master-disciple training, which was of great significance to his future career in the culinary industry.

After the party, He Daqing called He Yuzhu aside and said, "Zhuzi, you handled it very well today. I have always believed that you are a promising young man. In the future, you must learn from the master and let our family cooking skills continue and develop."

He Yuzhu promised: "Don't worry, Dad, I will do my best. But I have something I want to discuss with you."

"What's the matter?" He Daqing asked.

"I want to go out more, see more and learn new things while I'm still young. I think if our restaurant is to continue to operate in the long run, we must continue to improve and innovate," He Yuzhu replied.

He Daqing frowned after hearing this: "You mean..."

"I would like to take this opportunity of the farewell banquet to ask my master: I hope to be allowed to go out for a few years to venture out. After accumulating a wealth of experience and knowledge, I will come back to take over the family restaurant." He Yuzhu further explained his plan.

He Daqing paused for a moment before saying, "You are right, but I need to remind you of one thing - our restaurant is the property left by your grandfather, and he hopes that you can continue this love. What if you lose your passion after wandering around?"

But this time, the son shook his head to show his determination, "Dad, don't worry. My passion for cooking will not disappear. I think this will be a process that makes me mature and calm, and deepens my understanding of the culinary art."

Seeing the sincerity of the young man in front of him, he couldn't help but be moved. He Daqing realized that his son was an idealistic and ambitious person, and what he needed was a bigger stage instead of just a small restaurant. He finally nodded and said, "Since you have decided, I will follow your idea, but you must remember that you must not stop loving cooking no matter how hard and difficult it is."

He Yuzhu nodded deeply and responded to his father solemnly.

The next morning, before dawn, he stood at the door of his master's house waiting for Wang Furong to go out for morning exercise. Soon he saw the master chef coming out of the courtyard gate and asked in surprise, "What are you doing here so early?"

Yu Zhu smiled and replied, "Isn't the master going to exercise in the morning? I want to come earlier to join us."

Hearing this, Master Wang couldn't help but laugh, "You are quite attentive."

The two left the courtyard together and went to a nearby park for morning exercises. After the morning exercises, Wang Furong asked He Yuzhu about the teacher appreciation banquet yesterday: "Yesterday your father mentioned that you wanted to go out and try new things, right?"

He Yuzhu nodded and replied, "Yes, Master. You heard what I said to you. I want to go out and learn some new things while I am still young."

Wang Furong looked at him and nodded seriously to show his understanding and support: "I understand your idea. Young people should indeed go out more to broaden their horizons and experience. But I want to remind you that no matter what difficulties you encounter outside, you must not give up your passion and pursuit of cooking."

He Yuzhu responded respectfully: "Master, don't worry, I will keep it in mind."

Wang Furong patted him on the shoulder and said expectantly, "Good boy, I believe you will find your own way in the outside world. I hope we can continue to exchange ideas when you come back.

In the early morning, in the courtyard of the He family, the sun shines down and the air is filled with the fragrance of grass. He Daqing sits on a rattan chair in deep thought, seemingly troubled by something. "Zhuzi, I have something to discuss with you." His father broke the silence. Zhuzi is the only son in the family. He stands with his hands in his pockets, looking a little rebellious. "What is it?" he asked casually.

The father took a puff of his pipe before saying, "I hope you will recognize Wang Furong and his wife as your godparents." The couple was well-known in the area for their superb cooking skills and they were also very close to my family. Zhuzi had been learning their craft for several years, but the sudden proposal still surprised him. "Why is that?" Zhuzi asked with a frown.

The father took a deep breath and slowly explained: "The masters are old and need more care. This is not only a responsibility but also a way to express filial piety."

Master Wang's wife's eyes sparkled, "This is great! It's a closer and more reliable relationship than the average apprenticeship!" Zhuzi was silent for a few seconds before nodding in agreement, "Okay, I'll follow Dad's instructions."

A simple ceremony of recognition was held in the courtyard. After the ceremony, Zhuzi felt a little uneasy, as if he felt that this was an involuntary choice; in his mind, the term "worshipping a godfather" carries a complex that is not recognized by modern society. Zhuzi told his father about his doubts: "I always feel that this matter is quite special."

He Dadan asked directly, "Why is it different?" Zhuzi expressed his opinion frankly, "Modern people don't seem to accept this very much. They always feel that this is like an alternative arrangement."