Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

It's crisp and refreshing upon first bite, with a subtle sweetness and just the right amount of vinegar.

It brings out the freshness and vibrancy of the cabbage without overpowering its original flavor.

This skill… He smacked his lips, his face filled with astonishment.

"It's almost as good as the second chef's skills at Fengzeyuan Restaurant."

"You really didn't learn from anyone and figured it all out on your own?"

"My son is much more capable than you, what are you still not convinced about?" Chen Shuxiang defended her son, her tone full of protectiveness.

Her eyes widened, and her voice betrayed a barely suppressed displeasure.

"Our son was a great hero today, are you deliberately trying to pick a fight?"

"How could I dare!" He Daqing scratched the back of his head, gave an embarrassed smile, and dared not say another word.

He grabbed a cornbread bun, buried his head, and started shoveling food into his mouth.

"Zhu Zi, eat quickly, don't mind him." Chen Shuxiang turned to her son and gave him a loving smile.

"Yes," He Yuzhu obediently replied, and quickly put another piece of food on his mother's plate.

"Mom, you should eat something too, don't go hungry."

"I just had some chicken soup, so I'm not hungry," Chen Shuxiang said gently.

"You still need to eat some cabbage, it's light and nourishing."

He Yuzhu carefully scooped half a bowl of cabbage into a small bowl.

Then he placed a soft, small steamed bun made from two kinds of dough on the table and handed it to his mother.

"Don't touch the spicy one, it's bad for your health."

"My son really knows how to care for his mother." Chen Shuxiang took the bowl, her heart filled with sweetness.

She glanced at He Daqing again, her eyes filled with resentment.

He Daqing quickly sped up his eating, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

At this time, speaking less is the smartest approach.

He Yuzhu was secretly overjoyed.

He finally figured out the real reason why He Daqing later ran off with that young widow—

This man is a typical henpecked husband.

Once you run into a formidable "shrew," there's really nothing you can do.

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

Unfortunately, this scene happened to fall into He Daqing's eyes.

You little rascal, what mischief are you up to?

He Daqing glared at him fiercely, secretly calculating:

Just you wait, I'll find a chance to teach you a lesson sooner or later.

He Yuzhu pretended not to notice anything.

He kept his head down, diligently picking at the rice in his bowl.

He Yushui's dinner was a bowl of millet porridge that had been simmered until it was thick with rice oil.

After drinking only half a bowl, the little girl fell into a deep sleep again.

He Daqing simmered the remaining porridge on the stove.

I thought that if the child got hungry in the middle of the night, I could feed him a few more warm bites.

The night passed uneventfully, without any further disturbances.

The first thing He Yuzhu did after opening his eyes the next morning was—

It involves checking the system's check-in status.

He steadied himself and immersed his consciousness into the system space.

[Check-in successful]

[Received: 5 crucian carp, 2 pairs of pig trotters, 5 catties of soybeans]

He Yuzhu was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Is this system worried that the little girl won't have enough milk?

They just give me things that promote lactation.

But these things... he can't openly take them out right now.

Well, it seems I still need to find a chance to go out today.

After getting up and washing up.

He Daqing shouted at the top of his lungs in the kitchen:

"Pillar! Hurry up! Breakfast's getting cold!"

"Why!"

Breakfast was simple: a bowl of cornmeal porridge, along with cornbread and pickled vegetable dumplings.

Chen Shuxiang drank chicken soup with cornbread.

He Yuzhu deliberately left it untouched last night, saving it all for his mother.

He Daqing secretly wondered to himself.

Why has my son suddenly stopped being greedy?

He couldn't resist adding a compliment: "Zhu Zi has really improved this time!"

After finishing breakfast, He Daqing went out.

Before leaving, he specifically instructed, "Take good care of your mother and sister at home."

He Yuzhu rolled her eyes at him.

This father is so irresponsible.

He's only ten years old!

The snow outside was frighteningly thick, already above ankle level.

He Yuzhu picked up a shovel and started shoveling the snow at the doorway.

He had no intention of foolishly helping the Jia and Yi families shovel snow.

I just did a little more work—

Clear a path from the front door of the house to the main gate.

Then he ran to the backyard and cleared a path for the deaf old lady to walk on.

The old lady had planned to go and see Chen Shuxiang that morning.

But the snow was so slippery it felt like it was coated with oil, and with her bound feet, she dared not take a step.

Hearing a noise in the yard, he pushed open the door and looked outside.

He Yuzhu was seen shoveling snow with great speed and dexterity.

The old lady leaned against the door, watching him with a smile.

After He Yuzhu finished shoveling the snow, she waved to him:

"Grandson, come help your grandma to see your mother."

"Please wait a moment, madam, I'll put the shovel back."

"Oh, Grandma is just waiting for her eldest grandson."

He Yuzhu ran back to the Intermediate People's Court and put his tools away.

The old lady turned and went into the house.

When he came out again, he had something carefully wrapped in oil paper in his hand.

He Yuzhu returned to her side and gently took her arm.

"Zhu Zi, where's your father?"

"He left early this morning, I don't know where he went."

"Why are you going out in this freezing weather? Aren't you still on vacation at Fengzeyuan?"

"It shouldn't be Fengzeyuan, their holiday isn't over yet."

"Sigh... It's so chaotic outside, and it's snowing heavily..."

He Yuzhu didn't respond to that, but steadily helped her walk towards the front yard.

We arrived at the entrance of the He family compound.

Hearing the door open, Chen Shuxiang looked up and quickly stood up.

"Grandma! Why did you come all the way here yourself?"

"I was worried, so I came to check on you."

The old lady sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). "Besides," she said, "it's stuffy to be alone in the room."

"Zhu'er, quickly pour a bowl of hot water for the old lady."

"Why."

He Yuzhu helped the old lady onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and then turned to walk towards the kitchen.

After looking around, I realized that there wasn't even a thermos in the house.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself:

Why doesn't the system give you a thermos for checking in?

It's so difficult to even get a sip of hot water.

Fortunately, there was still warm water in the pot.

He filled two bowls, thought for a moment, and then...

He opened the drawer of the chest of drawers, rummaged through it, and found a packet of brown sugar.

I scooped a spoonful into each bowl of water.

Serve it on the kang table.

The old lady immediately began to complain upon seeing the brown sugar water:

"My dear grandson! What are you going to do with such precious stuff, give an old woman like me to drink?"

"Grandma, it's alright."

Chen Shuxiang smiled and smoothed things over, "It's so cold outside, you should drink this to warm yourself up. Zhu'er is just being filial."

He Yuzhu scratched his head and gave a simple, honest smile.

The old lady stretched out her finger and gently tapped his forehead:

"You mustn't do that again."

As she spoke, she opened the oil paper package. "Here, your wife brought you some pastries from Daoxiangcun."

Inside were a few pieces of mung bean cake and a few jujube flower pastries.

He Yuzhu first handed a piece of mung bean cake to the old lady:

"Madam, please try some first."