The Courtyard House: He Yuzhu, Who Defied Fate

After watching Qin Huairu leave, Jia Zhangshi said to Yi Zhonghai:

"Uncle, there's nothing we can do about it. Adults can bear it, but the problem is with the children. They're at the age when they're growing."

"We need to get something good to eat!"

Yi Zhonghai has no children, so he's naturally not interested in this, but as an old man, he certainly can't say no.

Yi Zhonghai said helplessly:

"I also want to cook something delicious to help everyone recover, but where can I find good food right now?"

You heard what Xu Damao said, too. If there had been any food outside, so many people wouldn't have starved to death!

Xu Damao said:

"Yes, I heard about it. In Pangjiazhuang, nine strong young men went hunting in the mountains so that the children could have some meat, but none of them came back."

When everyone went up the mountain, all they found were skeletons that had been gnawed on by animals.

The meat has all been eaten up. Now, not only are people hungry, but even the wild animals in the mountains are hungry.

You want something better to eat? We're already lucky we're not starving!

Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, everyone fell silent. Everyone knew that Xu Damao, as a projectionist, had traveled all over the country and knew more than they did.

Madam Jia had no idea that what the outsiders saw was like this.

Then Jia Zhangshi said to Xu Damao:

"Xu Damao, what should we do? Is this all we can do?"

Xu Damao nodded:

"Then what do you want to do? Don't even mention the kids in our compound, go out and take a look."

There are more and more children's corpses lying in the streets who have starved to death.

"We're lucky if we have anything to keep us alive!"

Hearing Xu Damao's words, Jia Zhangshi stopped making a fuss and then said:

"If He Daqing were in our compound, that would be great. He's the cook at the steel mill; the food would definitely be delicious!"

Yi Zhonghai said:

"Forget it, don't even think about it. What's wrong with a cook? Without ingredients, what can even the best cook make?"

Our steel rolling mill is in the same boat now; the canteen is also short of food, and even cornbread is being rationed.

They wouldn't let us take more than our share, and the soup was about the same as ours.

Not a speck of oil.

Liu Haizhong said:

"He just brought back some things, probably the same as what we eat, but I've been keeping an eye on He Daqing for a long time."

He never takes anything from the kitchen; either he doesn't like it, or he wouldn't need it!

Yi Zhonghai said:

"I bet he has a way of getting food. Look at us, everyone looks pale and sickly."

Then look at He Daqing, his young wife, and his daughter.

"Which one isn't clever? They probably have other ways to get food!"

Liu Haizhong said:

"Old Yi, why don't you go and ask?"

Yi Zhonghai said helplessly:

"When asked, He Daqing denied it, saying there was nothing to eat and that his current state was normal."

They even said that cooks wouldn't go hungry during a famine, but they just wouldn't talk to me about it or help me.

What can I do? If I manage to get it to He Yuzhu, it'll just cause more problems!

Yi Zhonghai is now afraid of He Yuzhu. People who have gone to university are different; they always have a set of sophisticated ideas.

Everyone in the compound listened to his own version of events, but it wasn't the same when it came to He Yuzhu.

If He Yuzhu were to find fault with me, he could put me in a hopeless situation.

So Yi Zhonghai has become smarter now, ever since He Yuzhu came up with an idea.

Yi Zhonghai knew that he should never provoke He Yuzhu again in his life, otherwise his retirement plans would be completely ruined.

So when Yi Zhonghai heard Liu Haizhong's words, he lied and refused.

However, Yi Zhonghai thought of Liu Haizhong's character and then said:

"Old Liu, you are the second oldest in our compound, and He Yuzhu and He Daqing both came when your eldest son got married."

And they're all giving you face. If it doesn't work, go and discuss it with them!

When Liu Haizhong heard Yi Zhonghai's words, he never imagined that this was a trap that Yi Zhonghai had set for him.

Thinking that Yi Zhonghai had backed down and was flattering him, Liu Haizhong patted his chest and said:

"No problem, I'll go talk to He Daqing tomorrow!"

Looking at Liu Haizhong's appearance, Yi Zhonghai looked down on him, thinking he was just a moron.

However, Yi Zhonghai still smiled and said:

"Second Uncle is Second Uncle. Look at his awareness and his ability."

Look at this network of connections! Even though I'm the eldest uncle, I still can't compare to the second eldest!

The others aren't fools; Liu Haizhong is working for the benefit of everyone.

Everyone complimented Liu Haizhong:

"Yes, Uncle Er has a wide network of connections!"

"That's right, Second Uncle is really enlightened!"

"Yes, Second Uncle's abilities are top-notch!"

……

Hearing everyone's compliments, Liu Haizhong was completely flustered and then said:

"Don't worry, I will definitely work hard to make sure everyone has a good meal!"

Although Liu Haizhong was reckless, he wasn't stupid; he could still manage to get a good meal if he put in the effort.

It's impossible to eat delicious food every day.

Everyone knows that at this time, it's impossible to eat delicious food every meal.

So no one pushed their luck; they were just glad they got to eat at all.

He Yuzhu was unaware that the entire courtyard was now eyeing his home again.

However, if He Yuzhu knew, he would really laugh. What are these people thinking?

How could anyone believe that their father and they themselves would help these beasts?

The next day, He Yuzhu didn't rest and drove directly to his workplace.

Upon arriving at his workplace, He Yuzhu was heading to where he was to arrange his work for the Seventh Bureau.

You should know that this place is extremely remote, it's practically the outskirts of the capital.

Decades from now, this place will still be nice, but not now.

Just as He Yuzhu was considering where to go, Gu Zhiqi arrived and said:

"Zhu Zi, is the medicine ready for me?"

He Yuzhu was taken aback, then said:

"It's not that easy. It takes me time to find the herbs!"

Hearing He Yuzhu's words, Gu Zhiqi nodded:

"Okay, if you have any trouble getting the herbs, just tell me and I'll help you!"

Hearing Gu Zhi Qiu's words, He Yu Zhu nodded:

"Okay, if I can't find it, I'll tell you!"

Gu Zhi Qiu nodded. He Yu Zhu knew he still needed to check on these herbs, but he didn't know if he could find them.

If we can find it ourselves, that would be best. If we can't, then we'll have to let Gu Zhi Qiu find it.

Actually, He Yuzhu had forgotten about it these past two days, but he planned to go to the pharmacy after get off work to take a look.

Then He Yuzhu started reading books on antique appraisal.

Just then, Tang Jianjun and Yu Qingyao arrived, looked at He Yuzhu, and said to him:

"Chief Engineer He, we both have a question we'd like to ask!"

He Yuzhu nodded: