Courtyard house: Just the right amount of pressure, leaving you bewildered but not brain-damaged.

He Yushui didn't really believe it.

But since things had come to this point, and Gao Xiaosheng had already taken the water for her, it would seem a bit impolite to insist any further.

Seeing the little girl dawdling and taking one step forward and half a step back, Gao Xiaosheng couldn't stand it anymore.

He went straight to He Yushui and used both hands to untie the red ropes from her two braids at the same time.

"Hurry up and wash, don't dawdle."

He Yushui looked aggrieved, her little head turning left and right, watching helplessly as her braids fell apart, feeling extremely upset.

Her female classmates used to always laugh at her for her ugly braids, but in the last ten days or so, she finally got to hold her head high.

Now, it's all over.

The little girl silently lowered her head, buried her face in the basin of water, and mechanically splashed water on her head with her hands, her mind filled with images of being ridiculed by her classmates over the past three years.

It's hard for a child like her, whose mother died early and whose father ran away and took on shady dealings, not to be ostracized.

Regardless of their family background, the other female students always wore clean clothes, their braids were neat and orderly, and the ends of their braids were tied into pretty bows with red ribbons.

If you don't know how to wash clothes quickly and easily, you can spend more time and still get them clean.

Braiding hair is different; it's a tradition passed down between mothers and daughters.

Generally, before starting school, mothers braid their daughters' hair every day and teach them techniques. By the time they are seven or eight years old, they can try to do it themselves. Even if they are clumsy, ten-year-old girls can braid decent braids on their own.

But no one teaches me how to use water.

She had considered cutting her hair short to avoid being laughed at by her classmates, but her brother, He Yuzhu, firmly disagreed because he neither knew how nor wanted to cut his sister's hair every month.

As for going to the barbershop, that's too extravagant. It costs 4000 yuan each time, enough to buy several bowls of noodles with soybean paste at a restaurant.

"Oh dear, the water's splashing outside! Are you washing your hair or the floor? Put your hands down and don't move around."

Despite his complaints, Gao Xiaosheng's actions betrayed his words. He stood beside He Yushui and personally washed her hair.

"Is it too hard? Tell me if it hurts."

"Tsk tsk, there's oil floating in the water."

"Close your eyes, I'm going to lather up with soap."

Gao Xiaosheng lathered He Yushui's head with a thick layer of soap bubbles, rubbing it incessantly with both hands. The rubbing seemed rough, but the pressure was actually just right, and he even used some acupressure massage techniques from modern hair salons.

Don't ask him how he knows these things; he has amnesia. Anyway, he knows exactly where to press with his fingertips as soon as he starts using them.

"Wrap your hair in a towel and I'll go change the water."

Gao Xiaosheng carried the washbasin out the door, leaving He Yushui looking completely bewildered.

Who is she? Where is she? What happened?

Just now... was it Brother Sheng who washed her hair?

How can it feel so comfortable?

There was no sharp fingernail scratching her scalp, no pain from her hair being torn, only the pressure of a few fingers. Far from hurting, it was so comfortable that her eyelids felt heavy, and she almost fell asleep, just a little bit!

He Yushui was like a puppet, letting Gao Xiaosheng do as he pleased, until she washed the soap residue off her hair and sat down in a chair, only then did she fully come to her senses.

"Brother Sheng, I'll wipe it myself."

He Yushui's face was redder than a monkey's bottom. She felt embarrassed again. How could she let Gao Xiaosheng help her dry her hair? Even a three-year-old could do that by himself.

"Okay, after you're done wiping, go stand outside. It dries quickly in the sun, and you can't braid your hair if it's damp."

"Remember to wipe it for a while longer."

Gao Xiaosheng sat down on another chair, picked up his teacup, took a big gulp of water, and rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

Now that he has coal briquettes, a wok, oil, salt, and seasonings, should he go to the grain store or vegetable market to buy some things and cook for himself tonight?

Will I get an upset stomach if I cook something myself?

Or... go to a small restaurant at lunchtime and try their dumplings to see if they suit your taste.

This is such a difficult decision!

In principle, he shouldn't have trusted his own cooking skills. What if he ate something bad and it affected his work the next day?

After all, a child who grew up eating food from many different families has absolutely no cooking experience and is a complete kitchen novice.

But my mind is still filled with images of watching cooking in my past life. Each home-style stir-fry is delicious and visually appealing, and all kinds of seafood are mouthwatering.

Besides, in this day and age, who has any decent people who eat out every day?

Even if your wallet can handle it, you'll still be gossiped about behind your back by all the neighbors in the alley.

More than ten minutes passed, and He Yushui's hair was completely dry, while Gao Xiaosheng remained motionless, propping his chin up with a blank stare, hesitating between cooking and eating out.

Should I risk being a guinea pig, or go to my own restaurant and let others talk?

"Brother Sheng."

"Brother Sheng?"

He Yushui's voice interrupted Gao Xiaosheng's thoughts.

"Hmm? Your hair is dry? Sit down, I'll braid it for you."

"Brother Sheng, what were you thinking about just now? Your brows were furrowed so tightly, did you run into some trouble?"

He Yushui obediently sat close to the back of the chair.

"I'm figuring out how to solve the problem of food in the future. Eating out every day is not a good idea, and I can't cook."

Gao Xiaosheng picked up a wooden comb and focused on arranging He Yushui's long hair that fell to her armpits, and casually said.

"Brother Sheng, what did you say? You can't cook?"

He Yushui was so surprised that she almost stood up, but Gao Xiaosheng pressed her shoulder down so she could sit back down.

Although they had only known each other for a few hours, in He Yushui's mind, Gao Xiaosheng was practically omnipotent.

He was skilled at both writing and fighting, including braiding dough twists and taking down bandits with a gun.

They can even come up with ingenious plans to deal with the bad guys in the courtyard.

This tall, handsome soldier, who is both literate and skilled in martial arts, can't even cook?

"Is there anything strange about it? When I was a child, I ate food from many different families. After I joined the army, I ate from communal kitchens. I've hardly ever been inside a kitchen."

"Okay, find the mirror and take a look. If it's not good, I'll redo it. It's been too long since I've woven anything, and my skills are a bit rusty."

"So fast?" He Yushui hurriedly got up and swung her braid in front of her.

Surprisingly neat, it was just as good as Qin Huairu's.

"Brother Sheng, how do you know how to braid hair? Did someone teach you before? Who have you braided hair for?"

The little girl was admiring herself in a tiny mirror, then turned around and bombarded him with three questions.

"When I was in the village, I often helped little girls with knitting. I couldn't just eat everyone's food for free."

"Not only do I braid their hair, but I also stand up for them if they are bullied by children from other villages."

Gao Xiaosheng's story has been slightly embellished. He was indeed the king of the village kids, but he also did his share of things like pulling girls' braids and making them cry.

Half an hour later, He Yushui grabbed Gao Xiaosheng's wrist and walked into a vegetable market.

She is a person who always repays kindness. Gao Xiaosheng has been so good to her, she must repay him handsomely, starting with this dinner tonight.

"Rain, are you sure you can cook? You didn't just see your brother cook and think you can, did you?"

If He Yushui hadn't insisted on showing off his skills, Gao Xiaosheng really wouldn't have agreed.

If he had to be a guinea pig, he would rather cook for himself, produce, consume, and even harm himself.

"Oh dear, I really did it."

"My dad said that girls must know how to cook, otherwise their husband's family will look down on them after they get married."

"When he was still alive, he taught me how to cook. I can cook most common home-style dishes, but they're not as good as my brother's."

Gao Xiaosheng was relieved. Having practical experience was good, it was better than him being a theorist.

A short while later, the two returned to the yard with ten pounds of rice, one pound of eggs, a bunch of chives, a small piece of pork, and a few cucumbers.

Gao Xiaosheng originally wanted to help He Yushui, but the little girl pushed him all the way from the kitchen to the living room, telling him to rest and just wait to eat what was ready.

Do you really need help with simple dishes like stir-fried scrambled eggs with chives and stir-fried pork with cucumber slices? That would be underestimating this "second-generation chef".

A few minutes later, Gao Xiaosheng, who was smoking and drinking water, witnessed a wonderful "talent war".

(Brothers, don't just read silently, leave a comment and give some feedback. At least let me know where I'm lacking, and maybe I can improve later.)