Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

In two more days, the first batch of harvest in the space will be ripe: a mu of corn will yield a stable 700 jin, and a mu of potatoes will yield at least 1,000 jin.

I need to hurry to the black market to exchange some cash. Corn costs one cent and potatoes eight cents. Sounds cheap? Actually, it's a total rip-off! They even deduct two cents from the food coupons, under the pretense that "you can't eat that much."

The market was already cool, but there were still quite a few people, craning their necks to wait in front of the meat stalls.

After wandering around, I found an old lady squatting in a corner selling chickens. She said her daughter-in-law was seriously ill, and two chickens would cost fifteen yuan, plus two jin of meat coupons.

They talked themselves hoarse, but they still couldn't scrape together enough money for the meat ration coupons. In the end, they had to add an extra dollar to get the deal done.

I was chased by people wearing red armbands as soon as I stepped out of the alley. I had to turn into the alley and wander around for a while before I could shake them off.

A reader might ask: Why did Xu Damao only ask Sha Zhu to pay five yuan? Isn't the old hen valuable?

First, a chicken in the compound, no matter how fat it was, would only weigh around five pounds after slaughter—back then, there was no such thing as force-feeding it.

Secondly, the chicken died and was compensated at the market price. It was also decided by three old men in person. Who would dare to ask for ten yuan?

Ten yuan could buy a hundred catties of corn, enough to feed an adult and a child for a month; if they drank thin porridge, they could barely last a month and a half—but back then, who had enough to eat every day?

Carrying the chicken back to the courtyard house, I took it to the backyard and washed it thoroughly.

Just as I dried my hands, I saw Qin Huairu standing at the door, waiting meekly with her head bowed.

"Brother Shazhu... could you give me a ride to the factory? It's too far, and my ankles are all swollen." Her voice was as soft as a freshly steamed red bean bun.

Well, I have to let the rain carry my bicycle tomorrow, otherwise I can't avoid this mess.

Coincidentally, Yi Zhonghai also came out pushing his cart at that moment.

"Uncle, I have to go to the morning market first, so I'll probably be late getting to the factory. Sister-in-law Jia's foot isn't feeling well, could you lend her a hand?"

Not long after, Jia Zhangshi went out to buy groceries with a basket in her hand. When she looked up, she saw Qin Huairu sitting on the back of Yi Zhonghai's seat, her arms gently wrapped around his waist and back. Their shadows were stretched long and thin by the morning light, sticking to the blue brick wall and swaying.

"That slut has only been widowed for a few days, and she's already gone mad! When she comes back today, I'm going to tear her face to shreds!" Madam Jia was burning with rage.

Once inside the canteen, the day's work began.

At noon, steam rose from the stove.

"Ma Hua, the chef's hands are so weak, he can't even hold the knife steady!" He Yuzhu grabbed two bricks. "Here, hold them horizontally and toss them up and down! Chopping vegetables, tossing the wok, flipping the pan—after a whole day of this, you're exhausted? Give it a rest!"

"Understood, Master!"

"Practice for half an hour first, then you can start cutting!"

Seeing his apprentice's arms trembling and sweat dripping onto the ground, He Yuzhu felt at ease—in this day and age, people are still willing to put in the effort for their craft.

What if we do it later? If you raise your voice, your apprentice will turn around and leave, making you lose face on the spot.

After sweeping the floor and tidying up in the evening, everything was ready.

"MCA, aren't you going home yet? Still practicing?"

"Master, you go first, I'll just stretch my wrist a little longer!"

As soon as I stepped out of the factory gate and back into the courtyard house, a commotion erupted outside.

"Second Uncle! Third Uncle! You must help this poor old woman!" Jia Zhangshi wailed, slapping her thigh.

He Yuzhu strolled out slowly, picked up a cup of tea, and prepared to eat melon seeds and watch the show.

Qin Huairu stood to the side, her eyes red-rimmed: "That's not true! You're slandering me and ruining my reputation!"

"Innocence? Bah!" Madam Jia slammed down on the ground, slapping her legs and pounding her chest. "I saw him pedaling the bicycle with my own eyes, and you were holding him around the waist! And you call that innocence?"

"Wei Guo has only been gone a few days, and this orphan and widow are already being bullied and humiliated! How are we supposed to survive?"

The Jia family immediately burst into tears: the adults sobbed, the children screamed, and the cries made the second uncle's temples throb.

Banggeng rushed over and hugged his grandmother's leg: "Grandma, don't cry, I'll listen to you every day from now on!"

Liu Haizhong's face darkened, and his voice pierced the noise: "Get up! Speak properly! What kind of behavior is this, throwing a tantrum like this!"

With a flick of his official authority, even the rats hiding in the cracks of the wall fell silent.

Jia Zhangshi shuddered and was truly stunned.

The old man waved his hand: "It's only natural for neighbors to lend a hand. Besides, I heard that Huairu's ankle was swollen like a steamed bun back then, who wouldn't lend a hand when they saw it?"

Madam Jia slapped her thigh: "So swollen she can't walk? If my son hadn't given up his spot, she'd still be hoeing the fields in the countryside! She took someone else's secure job, but instead of raising the children and managing the household, she's acting like a vixen, flirting with everyone, she's utterly unreliable!"

Qin Huairu lowered her head, her voice soft but clear: "Mom, it's really not like that... I've been busy taking care of three children these past few years, and my legs get weak from standing for too long. I can't keep up with the pace at the factory yet."

As soon as the noise subsided, the second uncle, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, strolled out the door, while the third uncle, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, also walked away leisurely.

Seeing that the excitement had subsided, He Yuzhu glanced at the courtyard gate, turned around and went back into the house, closing the door behind him.

The entrance to the courtyard house

"Excuse me, does Master He Yuzhu live here?" A clear yet slightly shy female voice drifted over.

The third uncle poked his head out: "Silly Zhu? Isn't that He Yuzhu who's always holding a wok?"

"Yes, that's him! Which room does he live in?" the woman answered crisply.

Lou Xiao'e: "Master He, are you home?"

She had just gotten the house number from the third uncle and followed the blue brick wall to find her way here.

In the original story, after Lou Xiao'e married into the Xu family, she became increasingly narrow-minded, suspicious as a sieve, prone to turning on people at the drop of a hat, and her words were sharp and cutting.

Ultimately, the root of the problem lies with Xu Damao.

He was immoral and reeked of alcohol, and had no children for many years. A girl from a scholarly family was forced into this state.

But now, Lou Xiao'e's life trajectory has quietly veered off course, leading her down this path. Therefore, we must not let her slide further down that dark and narrow alley.

During their several meetings and conversations, Lou Xiao'e found He Yuzhu to be quite special:

Unlike ordinary young men who blush and stutter when they see a girl;

Unlike those smooth-talking blind date partners who start rubbing against your arm after only a few sentences, making you feel disgusted from the bottom of your heart.

The moment the door was opened a crack, He Yuzhu froze—

Lou Xiao'e stood outside the door, dressed in a plain blue cloth shirt, her hair loosely tied with a thin rope, her eyebrows and eyes bright, her smile reserved, just like a white swan that had wandered into the alley.

These days, which girl would dare to go to a young man's door alone? That would be incredibly bold!

He Yuzhu grinned: "Silly goose, eyeing the stuff on my stove again?"

Lou Xiao'e's eyes curved into crescents: "You stingy little devil! Silly Zhu, I'm here today to deliver a message from my dad—we'd like you to come to our house the day after tomorrow to cook and show off your skills!"

He Yuzhu immediately stood at attention and gave a clumsy salute: "Yes, sir! Any further instructions are welcome!"

Lou Xiao'e waved her hand with a smile: "That's all, I'm leaving now. Don't forget to come on time the day after tomorrow."

He Yuzhu stopped him: "It's almost time to light the lamps, have you eaten yet? If you don't mind, the food on the stove is just getting warm, why don't you just grab a bite?"

Lou Xiao'e didn't stand on ceremony at all: "Sure, why not take it?"

Serving others requires utmost effort.

The pork skin had been soaked for a while, and I threw it into the casserole along with the sausage heads and tender white cabbage hearts I had saved up a couple of days ago.

The small handful of star anise and a few peppercorns that he had secretly hidden in the canteen, as well as half a spoonful of soy sauce and a small piece of rock sugar that he had "borrowed" from the Lou family's kitchen, all came in handy at this moment.

These days, everything is rationed. Even ginger and garlic have to be bought in limited quantities, let alone these flavor-enhancing delicacies.

After the pig skin simmered for half an hour, its aroma, like silk threads, quietly drifted over the courtyard wall and into every window crack.

Lou Xiao'e stood by the stove, unconsciously closed her eyes, took a deep breath, her throat moved slightly, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up—but she suddenly froze.

He Yuzhu turned his head and was stunned:

After being single for so many years, a little swan suddenly flew in, and I even forgot to catch my breath.

Lou Xiao'e suddenly opened her eyes, her cheeks flushing slightly: "No...nothing! It's just...the aroma of your dish was so irresistible, I couldn't stop myself!"

He Yuzhu laughed heartily, "Then I'll stew it for you every day from now on, as much as you want!"

Lou Xiao'e was so tempted by the aroma that she blurted out, "It's so delicious! How about I give you more food coupons and money?"

When ordinary families visit relatives, they bring rice, flour, and oil with them. Who has any extra?

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "Tickets and money are out of the question."

He scratched the back of his head again: "If you don't mind the trouble, could you tidy up the house for me after you finish eating? My sister is studying at a classmate's house today and hasn't come back yet."

(Back then, review materials were precious, so several kids pooled their money to buy one book and took turns copying it.)

Lou Xiao'e readily agreed: "Sure!"

Faced with delicious food, she didn't even think twice before grabbing a broom and getting to work.

Although she came from a privileged background, her parents taught her from a young age to fold blankets, pick vegetables, wipe windows, and do all sorts of tidying and cleaning, and she was good at everything.

He Yuzhu added some water to the pot, sprinkled some chopped green onions, and drizzled a drop of sesame oil.

Once the fire in the stove is strong, steam rises again, filling the room with a warm, savory aroma of fat and sweetness.

Just then, Banggeng came again, carrying a chipped enamel bowl, his little hand still holding Xiaodang's.

Lou Xiao'e's eyelashes fluttered slightly: "These two children are...?"

He Yuzhu quickly picked up two pieces of food with his chopsticks and put them in the bowl. He only came back after seeing them out: "You debt-collecting ancestors."

Lou Xiao'e chuckled, "You owe them money?"

"His dad helped me out once in my younger days," He Yuzhu said, wiping his hands. "I'll send some over to the backyard now, and we can eat as soon as I get back. If you're hungry, start eating first, don't wait for me."

The proper way to treat guests is always for the host to follow the guest's lead.

Lou Xiao'e didn't touch her chopsticks; she just sat at the table and waited quietly.

The moment the pot lid was lifted, her heart felt as if it had been gently struck by the aroma.

As the soup was served, she scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth—her eyes widened suddenly.

My tongue seemed to be awakened, and every wrinkle danced!

The pork skin is soft but not mushy, elastic but not tough, fatty but not greasy, and has a savory flavor with a hint of sweetness. It's smooth, trembling, and feels like holding a mouthful of warm, moist clouds.

(She thought to herself: This taste is probably even more enticing than jelly.)

God has been kind to me—I actually got to enjoy this!

Asking Sha Zhu was the right thing to do, the right thing to do! Sha Zhu, Sha Zhu… she quietly repeated it twice in her heart.