The Courtyard House: The story begins with He Yuzhu beating up the White Widow.

He Daqing's face turned even uglier. He had planned everything so meticulously, yet he had overlooked this point.

He Yuzhu continued, "Dad, even if you don't come back with us, give me the recipe later and write me a house transfer certificate. I'll transfer the house to my and Yushui's names when we get back. That way, you won't listen to Widow Bai's pillow talk and impulsively give the house to her."

He Daqing thought for a moment and nodded silently.

He Yushui suddenly asked, "Dad, are you really not coming back with us?!"

He Daqing replied, "Dad's work is here. I can't go back with you. If you miss me in the future, you can write to me. Or you can come to see me during your holidays. I can go back to see Yushui when I'm off work."

"Knock! Knock! Knock!" Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and a waiter came in carrying a tray. He placed the dishes on the table and said, "Your order is complete! Enjoy!"

After the waiter left, He Yuzhu asked, "Dad, why haven't I heard Mom mention anything about my maternal grandfather's family?!"

He Daqing replied, "What's there to say?! Your maternal grandparents both died at the hands of the Japanese devils. Your mother and her brother. Your mother also had an older brother."

"My mother has an older brother?!" He Yuzhu was stunned, then asked, "What about my maternal uncle?!"

He Daqing replied, "Your uncle was a platoon leader in the 39th Army's Big Sword Unit. After the 39th Army withdrew, there was no further news of him."

He Yuzhu then asked, "What's my uncle's name?!"

He Daqing replied, "Zhang Dabiao."

"Pfft!" He Yuzhu couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of water, and asked again, "What's your name?!"

"Zhang Dabiao!" He Daqing repeated the name nonchalantly, then asked, "What's wrong?!"

"It's nothing!" He Yuzhu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then asked, "Father, where are the things my mother left behind?!"

He Daqing replied, "Originally, I wanted to bring it with me. But then I thought about it and was afraid it would fall into the hands of Widow Bai, so I didn't. There's a wooden box under the bed in the main room, and there are two movable bricks under the box. The things are under the bricks. You and Yushui can each have half of what's inside."

He Yuzhu asked, "Where should I send you letters from now on?!"

He Daqing said, "I work in the canteen of Baocheng Textile Factory No. 3. I'll give you the address in a bit. You can send your letters there from now on."

He Yuzhu continued, "Yushui and I found Widow Bai's house before dawn today. I beat up Widow Bai and her two sons."

"So be it! They deserved to be beaten." He Daqing chimed in, urging, "Eat! The donkey meat won't taste good if it gets cold!"

"Dad, you eat too!" He Yushui picked up a piece of donkey ribs and put it into He Daqing's bowl.

"Okay! Dad, eat!" He Daqing picked up a piece of donkey pie and put it in his mouth.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, He Daqing happily downed his last glass of wine and asked, "Zhuzi, when are you planning to go back?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "Dad, that depends on you. We'll stay as long as you want us to."

He Daqing noticed that He Yushui was looking at him. He Daqing thought for a moment and said, "You two can stay here tonight. I'll ask for leave from the factory tomorrow, and then I'll take you around Baocheng for a day. I'll see you off at the train station tonight."

"Yes!" He Yuzhu responded, looked at He Yushui, and said, "Yushui, Dad still has work. We can't delay Dad's work. I'll send you to school to learn to write later. If you miss Dad, write him a letter. If that's not possible, I'll bring you to see Dad when I have time."

He Daqing continued, "Dad has a vacation and will go back to see you."

"Okay!" He Yushui nodded obediently, reluctantly agreeing, "Alright!"

After finishing their meal, He Daqing paid the bill and led He Yuzhu and his sister out of the restaurant.

About fifteen minutes later, Widow Bai saw He Daqing approaching her with He Yuzhu and his sister. Startled, she quickly regained her composure, tears streaming down her face, and rushed to He Daqing, hugging his legs and sobbing, "Daqing! Why did you take so long to come back?!"

"Alright! Stop wailing! I know everything! Let's go inside and talk!" With that, He Daqing pulled the widow up and carried her home.

Upon entering, He Daqing asked, "Where are Da Niu and Er Niu?!"

The white widow answered while wiping away her tears, "They went out to play. They haven't come back yet."

He Daqing said, "I won't hold the past against you. But if you keep anything from me in the future, don't blame me for not treating you to a meal!" After saying that, He Daqing told his siblings to wait, then went into the inner room, took out a cloth bag, and came out saying, "Zhuzi, this is our family's recipe book. I'll pass it on to you today."

He Yuzhu took the cloth bag and said, "Don't worry about the things; leave them with me!"

He Daqing then said to Widow Bai, "Little Bai, I'll see them off now. They'll be back later!"

The white widow asked with some worry, "Da Qing, you're not going back to Beijing with them, are you?!"

"What are you thinking?! I promised to come to Baocheng with you and live a good life, and I won't go back on my word. Don't worry! I'll be back soon!" With that, He Daqing led He Yuzhu and his sister out the door.

He Daqing didn't take He Yuzhu and He Yushui to the guesthouse they had stayed at before, but instead went to a guesthouse not far from the White Widow's house. He Daqing booked a single room for the siblings and gave He Yuzhu twenty yuan so they could manage on their own that night. After settling the siblings in, He Daqing left the guesthouse.

After He Daqing left, He Yushui sighed and said, "Brother, it seems our father has really changed. Brother, from now on I'll have to rely on you. You won't abandon me like Father did, will you?!"

He Yuzhu chuckled and gently pinched He Yushui's nose, teasingly saying, "What are you thinking with that little head of yours?! How could your brother possibly abandon you?! Unless you push me onto someone else later."

He Yushui quickly said, "Brother, I won't push you to someone else. Yushui and brother are the best of friends!"

He Yuzhu picked up He Yushui and said, "Let's go! Let's go back to our room first."

Worried that He Daqing might run away, Widow Bai finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him return. Gone was her previous arrogance; she became cautious and timid. He Daqing noticed something was amiss with Widow Bai, but he didn't take it to heart.

After sitting down, He Daqing looked heartbroken and said, "Xiaobai, I, He Daqing, believe I've never done anything to wrong you! How could you conspire with others to scheme against me?!"