Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

The banquet at Huifanglou had just ended, and the noise hadn't completely subsided when the manager, Bai Jingming, became so sullen that it looked like water could drip from his face.

He stood under the eaves, watching He Yuzhu surrounded by the crowd, and a surge of anger rose within him. He had only gleaned the unspoken message from the banquet earlier—that He Yuzhu wanted to reapply to a master—that this kid was determined to leave Huifanglou.

Bai Jingming knew very well that He Yuzhu's culinary skills were now so outstanding that he was a key figure at Huifanglou.

He had originally planned to promote He Yuzhu to the head chef position after a while, so that he could uphold the reputation of Huifanglou. Now, before he could even get comfortable with him, he was about to be poached by someone else. No wonder he was unhappy.

But with a room full of guests and senior colleagues, he, as the manager, couldn't very well stop people from becoming his apprentices in front of everyone.

Bai Jingming could only suppress his anger, secretly making up his mind: after the show, he would do everything he could to keep He Yuzhu here, and the amount of his wages was negotiable.

Most of the guests at the banquet looked shocked.

Everyone knows that He Yuzhu became Yuan Taihong's apprentice, and from then until today's graduation banquet, it has been less than three months.

It's already unheard of in Tianjin's culinary industry to complete an apprenticeship in three months, but now, having just finished his apprenticeship, he's already taken on a new master and been booked up in advance. This speed is simply unheard of.

The guests whispered amongst themselves, their discussions lively. "He's a culinary genius, mastering the craft in just three months!" "He's already being fought over by another master right after graduating; He Yuzhu is destined for greatness." "Yuan Taihong's apprentice is being taught way too fast."

Among the crowd, only a few people were truly happy from the bottom of their hearts—most of them were friends and colleagues whom Li Baoguo had specially invited.

They watched as He Yuzhu was pulled to Li Baoguo's side, and they were all happy for Li Baoguo. With such a talented apprentice, Li Baoguo's Sichuan cuisine skills would surely have a successor.

After the last group of guests left, Huifanglou finally quieted down.

Bai Jingming grabbed Yuan Taihong, who was about to leave, his face grim and his tone tinged with dissatisfaction.

"Chef Yuan, this is not a fair thing to do!" Bai Jingming lowered his voice, his tone laced with anger. "Why didn't you inform me beforehand about such a big matter as Zhu Zi taking on another apprentice? Isn't this a slap in the face to Huifanglou?"

Yuan Taihong looked troubled, rubbing his hands together as he said, "Shopkeeper, I... I just placed the order not long ago, I was planning to tell you later..."

"Alright, I won't beat around the bush with you." Bai Jingming waved his hand, interrupting him. "Li Baoguo is your junior brother. It's a matter of passing on skills among fellow disciples, so I won't say much. I'll just ask you one question—Zhuzi, can he stay at Huifanglou? As long as he's willing to stay, his wages and kitchen allowance will all be negotiable. I will definitely treat him well!"

Yuan Taihong hesitated for a moment: "Manager, I need to ask Zhu Zi himself about this. He's learning Sichuan cuisine from my junior apprentice while also working at Huifanglou. I'm worried that his health won't be able to handle it, and that traveling back and forth between the two places is too tiring."

Bai Jingming raised an eyebrow: "Don't you need to ask your junior brother Li Baoguo first?"

"He got such a great deal, getting a good apprentice for free, he definitely won't say anything." Yuan Taihong shook his head, looking very confident.

"Okay, then go and sound out Zhu Zi's opinion for me." Bai Jingming breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll handle the wages, benefits, and kitchen allowance. You just need to ask him if he's willing to stay."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

"I'll go back to my office and wait for your message." "Don't worry, I'll go find Zhu Zi right now!"

Bai Jingming turned and hurried upstairs, while Yuan Taihong walked quickly towards the backyard.

At this moment, He Yuzhu was being led by Li Baoguo to meet the senior figures in Tianjin's culinary industry one by one. Li Baoguo's face was full of pride as he introduced He Yuzhu to everyone he met as his newly accepted apprentice, his tone brimming with arrogance.

Yuan Taihong stood not far away and waited patiently for a quarter of an hour until Li Baoguo and He Yuzhu finally had some free time before he quickly walked over.

"Baoguo, Zhuzi, there's something I need to discuss with you two."

Li Baoguo and He Yuzhu turned around simultaneously and respectfully greeted each other: "Senior Brother!" "Master!"

Yuan Taihong cleared his throat and recounted in detail how Manager Bai had come to visit earlier, hoping that He Yuzhu would continue to stay at Huifanglou.

Upon hearing this, Li Baoguo immediately shook his head, his tone resolute: "Senior brother, this won't work! You know, for us chefs, learning a craft requires daily practice and cooking. I'm teaching him Sichuan cuisine, which emphasizes high heat and plenty of oil, and quick stir-frying. He can't learn that at Huifanglou. His skills will become rusty in just a few days. How can that be acceptable?"

Yuan Taihong frowned: "Can't I just come over in the morning to cook for half a day, and then go to Hongbinlou to practice in the afternoon?"

"You'll have to ask Zhu Zi," Li Baoguo said, looking at He Yuzhu. "It depends on whether he can handle it and whether he has enough energy."

Yuan Taihong then looked at He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, what do you say?"

He Yuzhu bowed slightly, his tone sincere yet firm: "Master, whether I'm at Huifanglou or not doesn't really affect them much. Logically speaking, I should stay and serve you after being taken care of by you for so long. But as you know, I can't stay in Tianjin forever. Once I've mastered my skills, I'll have to go back to Beijing sooner or later. My family is waiting for me."

He paused, then continued, "Besides, I learned all my skills from you. If I went back to Huifanglou and became the head chef, wouldn't that be competing with you for work? Huifanglou's business is only so big. Will you let me cook your signature dishes, or not? If I do, people will say I'm stealing my master's job; if I don't, what's the point of me staying at Huifanglou?"

These words were so straightforward and honest that Yuan Taihong was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond.

He knew exactly what was going on. Huifanglou already had enough chefs; Manager Bai's insistence on keeping He Yuzhu was simply because he saw him as a rare talent and wanted to secure him early. But Yuan Taihong was only in his early forties, in his prime, with elderly parents and young children to support. If he were to hand over the signature dishes to his apprentice, his own income would inevitably decrease significantly. Privately, the master and apprentice could discuss this, but the gossip of outsiders couldn't be silenced.

Li Baoguo spoke up from the side, his tone somewhat blunt: "Senior brother, what Zhu Zi said makes sense. Unless Zhu Zi can create a few new signature dishes, forcing him to stay at Huifanglou will only be a hindrance. Don't blame me for being blunt, but Huifanglou's space is still a bit too small to contain a thoroughbred like Zhu Zi."

Yuan Taihong sighed and waved his hand: "Alright, stop talking. Do you think I don't understand the ins and outs here? Zhu Zi has to go and explain this to Manager Bai himself. Be tactful and don't hurt the harmony."

"Understood, Master." He Yuzhu nodded. "I told Manager Bai that I'm too busy learning my skills here and can't manage it all. Also, I might have to go back to Beijing around the end of the year."

"Are you really planning to go back to Beijing?" Li Baoguo looked at him abruptly, his tone tinged with surprise.

"Yes, I'm planning to." He Yuzhu said seriously, "These days the world is not peaceful, and the situation can change in an instant. I've been away from home for so long, and I'm really worried about my family."

Upon hearing this, Li Baoguo immediately frowned: "Then you absolutely cannot stay at Huifanglou! You've only just learned the basics from me. I was planning to have you learn all the essence of Sichuan cuisine at Hongbinlou. If you get distracted like this, when will you ever graduate?"

Seeing this, Yuan Taihong said, "In that case, Zhuzi, come with me to Manager Bai's place and we'll talk things out. Baoguo, you wait here for a moment."

"Alright, you can go ahead."

The master and apprentice walked one after the other toward Manager Bai's office.

In the office, Bai Jingming was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. As soon as he saw the two of them come in, he immediately went to greet them.

He Yuzhu spoke respectfully and humbly, explaining in a roundabout way why he couldn't stay: the main reason was that he was busy learning his craft and had limited energy. He had to practice Sichuan cuisine every day, and he simply couldn't manage everything at Huifanglou. In addition, he would have to return to Beijing sooner or later, and he couldn't delay Huifanglou's arrangements.

Yuan Taihong also spoke up to smooth things over.

After listening, Bai Jingming felt regretful and reluctant, but he also knew that forcing things wouldn't work, so he didn't make things too difficult for him and just sighed deeply.

"Alright, alright, everyone has their own ambitions, I won't stop you." Bai Jingming waved his hand. "You're a good cook and a reliable person, you're sure to have a bright future."

He immediately had someone settle all of He Yuzhu's wages and cooking fees for this period of time, and handed them to He Yuzhu without missing a penny. He also specially instructed, "Zhuzi, come back and visit often when you have time. The door of Huifanglou is always open for you. If you are ever tired or annoyed, come back anytime to lend a hand. You are always welcome."

"Thank you for your kindness, Manager Bai. I'll remember it." He Yuzhu accepted the money with both hands and thanked him sincerely.

Leaving Manager Bai's office, the three of them walked out of Huifanglou together. Li Baoguo was already waiting at the door. As soon as he saw He Yuzhu, he smiled and said, "Zhuzi, come on, I'll take you to Hongbinlou to familiarize yourself with the place. From now on, you'll learn your craft from me at Hongbinlou."

Yuan Taihong patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder: "Study hard under your master's guidance, don't let him down. I'm going home now."

"Take care, Master."

He Yuzhu followed Li Baoguo all the way to Hongbinlou.

Hongbinlou specializes in authentic Sichuan cuisine from Tianjin, with its kitchen filled with the sizzling heat of woks, and its cooking techniques even more intense than those at Huifanglou. Li Baoguo first tested He Yuzhu's knife skills, cooking techniques, and seasoning on the spot, and was even more satisfied to see that he had a solid foundation and understood things quickly.

Afterwards, Li Baoguo took He Yuzhu to see the manager of Hongbinlou Restaurant and arranged a seat for He Yuzhu at the third stove.

He Yuzhu knew that Hongbinlou mainly served Sichuan cuisine, and his expertise in Shandong and halal cuisine wouldn't be of much use there. Starting from the third stove was perfectly reasonable. He wasn't the kind of person who coveted temporary status and money. If he really cared about wages and benefits today, he wouldn't have flatly refused Huifanglou's offer to stay.

Li Baoguo, fearing he might feel uncomfortable, specially comforted him: "Zhuzi, there are rules in our industry. If I promote you to the second kitchen all at once, the senior chefs in the back kitchen will inevitably gossip. You should practice well in the third kitchen first. Once you have mastered the Sichuan cuisine skills and can handle all the dishes in the second kitchen, I will promote you to the second kitchen immediately, and no one will be able to say a word against it."

"Don't worry, Master, I understand." He Yuzhu nodded with a smile, looking completely at ease. "I'm here to learn the craft, not to compete for a position. It doesn't matter where I start."

Li Baoguo nodded in satisfaction: "Good, having this intention is better than anything else."

The next morning, He Yuzhu arrived at Hongbinlou Restaurant on time to report for work, officially beginning his journey of learning Sichuan cuisine.

A few days later, Li Baoguo specially held a grand apprenticeship banquet for He Yuzhu. This banquet was much more extravagant than the one Yuan Taihong had held, and all the guests were prominent figures in Tianjin's culinary world. Many people came to support Li Baoguo because of his reputation, and the banquet was exceptionally lively.

After the apprenticeship banquet, He Yuzhu devoted himself to the kitchen of Hongbinlou Restaurant, working hard from dawn till dusk to practice his Sichuan cuisine skills.

Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

That noon, the kitchen of Hongbinlou was bustling with activity, with iron ladles clattering and flames roaring. He Yuzhu stood at the third stove, holding an iron wok steadily in one hand and quickly stirring it with the other, his movements fluid and graceful, exuding the full aroma of a wok.

Suddenly, Zhao Xiaonian, the waiter, rushed to the kitchen, dodging left and right to avoid the waiters serving dishes, and went straight to He Yuzhu's side.

Zhao Xiaonian is a native of Tianjin. He is only sixteen years old this year. He is sweet-talking, hardworking, quick-witted, and has seen all kinds of people. His eyesight is better than that of an adult.

At first, he heard that a genius chef had come to the kitchen and mastered the skills in just three months. He was incredibly curious and went to the kitchen every day just to watch He Yuzhu cook. After spending more time with him, he found that He Yuzhu was honest, unpretentious, and willing to teach him. Before long, the two became good brothers.

"Brother Zhu! Brother Zhu!" Zhao Xiaonian whispered anxiously, leaning close to He Yuzhu's ear, "Something's happened! A few people are coming from ahead, something's not right!"

He Yuzhu's hands didn't stop moving; he tossed the food in the wok and plated it in one smooth motion. Without looking up, he asked, "Brother Xiaonian, what brings you to the kitchen? Isn't it busy up front? What do you need me for?"

"I was just greeting customers at the front," Zhao Xiaonian said, lowering his voice and glancing warily around. "There was a group of people holding a portrait, asking each of our staff if they'd seen the person in the picture. I secretly glanced at it, and the portrait looked about 70-80% like you!"

He Yuzhu paused slightly in his stir-frying, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but his expression remained calm: "How many people? What are they dressed like?"

"Three," Zhao Xiaonian recalled carefully. "They were dressed like guards from a wealthy family, but I didn't think so. Those people had a menacing aura about them; they weren't ordinary thugs, but the kind who had seen blood and were truly ruthless. They looked like people not to be trifled with!"

These days, waiters travel all over the country; what kind of people haven't they seen? They can tell at a glance whether someone is a good person or not.

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat; he had already roughly guessed where they came from.

It must be Ma Gang's gang. That day at the fish market, he taught Ma Gang a lesson he shouldn't have. Ma Gang kept claiming his father was the township head and had connections in both government and the underworld. How could Ma Gang let this go after suffering such a huge loss? He must have sent people everywhere to seek revenge.

As for why he came to the restaurant, He Yuzhu knew perfectly well that day he rode his bicycle to the fish market and inquired about aquatic products. Since people in the Tanggu area couldn't find him, they naturally assumed he was a purchasing agent or cook for a restaurant or inn in the city.

They dared not enter wealthy households or government offices, but restaurants and eateries were the easiest places for them to investigate.

"Brother Xiao Nian, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?" He Yuzhu asked in a low voice.

"Most likely!" Zhao Xiaonian nodded vigorously. "Brother Zhu, did you run into some tough guys outside? These people don't look like good people!"

"No, I don't think so." He Yuzhu lied casually. "I go straight home after work every day, it's just a routine between two points, and I never cause trouble."

"Should I go tell your master?" Zhao Xiaonian said anxiously. "Master Li knows a lot of influential people in Tianjin. If he intervenes, he can handle anything!"

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and shook his head: "Not for now. Brother Xiao Nian, go back to the front and keep an eye on things for me. Let me know as soon as they're ready to pay and leave."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaonian's eyes widened in alarm: "What? You want to go out and fight them yourself? Are you out of your mind? Those guys look like desperados!"

"I won't fight them." He Yuzhu smiled faintly, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes. "I just want to follow them and see where they come from and where they live. I know what's going on, and I'll be careful."

"No, no, it's too dangerous!" Zhao Xiaonian shook his head repeatedly. "It's safest to tell your master. If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to Master Li?"

"Alright then." He Yuzhu feigned compromise. "You go ahead and keep an eye on things for me. I'll go tell Master right away, okay?"

"That's more like it!" Zhao Xiaonian breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll go back to the front now!"

"Hey, don't go!" He Yuzhu grabbed him and pointed to the freshly cooked dishes on the stove. "Serve the dishes to the guests first. Why are you running around?"

Zhao Xiaonian glared at him, then picked up the plate with an annoyance: "You brat, all you do is order me around!"

"Hehe, thanks, Brother Xiaonian. I'll treat you to a good meal another day, lots of meat and fish!"

"I take that seriously!" Zhao Xiaonian cautioned. "Remember, don't be reckless! Tianjin is a place teeming with all sorts of cunning and wicked people. Getting caught up in it wouldn't be worth it!"

"Okay, don't worry."

Zhao Xiaonian hurriedly ran back to the front hall with the dishes in his arms.

He Yuzhu wiped his hands and did indeed walk in Li Baoguo's direction, but he didn't mention that someone was causing him trouble. He just casually made up an excuse, saying that he had to go out to take care of some small business later and asked for half an hour off.

Li Baoguo knew his apprentice all too well—he was decisive, meticulous, and wouldn't reveal anything he didn't want to say, no matter how much you pressed him. He assumed the young man had some private matters to attend to, gave a casual reply, and didn't ask any further questions.

He Yuzhu returned to his stove and continued cooking calmly, as if nothing had happened.

About half an hour later, Zhao Xiaonian rushed to the kitchen again, looking nervous.

"Brother Zhu, those people are leaving! They're already settling accounts!"

He Yuzhu immediately put down the iron ladle in his hand and said in a deep voice, "Go and tell the front that I'm not taking any new orders at this stove for the time being. I'm going out for a bit."

Zhao Xiaonian grabbed him, her voice urgent: "You really told Master? Don't lie to me!"

"I told you, it's such a small matter, no need to trouble him." He Yuzhu replied casually.

"Why won't you listen to reason!" Zhao Xiaonian stamped his foot in frustration. "Can't we call the police? Can't the police handle them?"

He Yuzhu sneered, "Brother Xiao Nian, they dare to come to Hongbinlou openly with a portrait, looking for someone. Do you think they're afraid of the police?"

Zhao Xiaonian choked and couldn't speak.

"What if they make a move? Those guys might all be carrying weapons!" Zhao Xiaonian gestured with a gun, his face pale. "That could be deadly!"

"I'll just follow them from a distance, not getting close, to see where they go, find out what's going on, and then tell Master when I get back, is that alright?" He Yuzhu reassured him gently.

Zhao Xiaonian gritted his teeth, but finally relented: "Then you must be careful! If you don't return within an hour, I'll immediately go find Master Li and have him lead men to look for you!"

"Okay, I'll do as you say." He Yuzhu nodded. "Come out with me and help me identify which people they are."

"Walk!"

The two men, one in front of the other, discreetly peered out from the food delivery area. Zhao Xiaonian raised an eyebrow and subtly gave He Yuzhu a wink, gesturing to the three figures who had just walked out the door.

He Yuzhu silently made a mental note of it and turned to walk towards the back door.

As soon as he stepped out of the back door of Hongbinlou, he immediately went to a secluded corner. With a thought, he took out a set of old clothes, a hat, and a mask that he had prepared in advance from his personal space. After a simple disguise, he instantly transformed from a smart and efficient cook into an ordinary passerby.

After getting ready, he quickly walked around to the main entrance of Hongbinlou Restaurant, pretending to be casually strolling around, and quietly followed the three people from a distance.

The three men walked arrogantly down the street, never expecting that they would be targeted by a cook.

He Yuzhu kept his breath calm, walked slowly, and always maintained a distance of more than ten steps, so as not to lose track of them or attract attention.

After walking for about ten minutes, the group turned into a quiet and secluded alley. He Yuzhu stopped at the entrance of the alley and watched from afar as the three people walked straight into a secluded courtyard.

He crouched in a secluded spot at the entrance of the alley, observing quietly.

Within half an hour, three more groups of people entered the courtyard, some with four or five people, others alone, totaling about ten people.

Each of them had a cold and hard expression and a steady gait; they were clearly not ordinary thugs.

It was broad daylight, and with so many people around, it was clearly not the time to make a move. He Yuzhu memorized the location of the courtyard and the surrounding environment, and without lingering any longer, he got up and circled around several side paths to make sure no one was following him before slowly returning to Hongbinlou.

Back in the kitchen, Zhao Xiaonian immediately ran over and looked him up and down. Seeing that he was unharmed, she breathed a long sigh of relief, a look of relief on her face.

He Yuzhu smiled at him, said nothing more, and turned back to continue working at the stove.

Zhao Xiaonian opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his words and silently returned to the front hall.

The kitchen was busy until the lunch service ended, and the staff finally quieted down and gathered to eat. Zhao Xiaonian, holding his rice bowl, leaned close to He Yuzhu and asked in a low voice, "Brother Zhu, how did it go? Who are those people? Did you lose them or find them?"

He Yuzhu took a bite of rice and said casually, "I followed them for a while, but then there were too many people, so I lost them and couldn't find the way out."

Zhao Xiaonian said with a worried look, "Why don't you tell Master Li the truth? If they come looking for you, you won't be able to handle it alone."

"Let's wait a bit longer," He Yuzhu said calmly. "You know how badly poster designers are these days; nine times out of ten, they don't look right. What if they didn't even hire me? Wouldn't that be a complete blunder?"

Zhao Xiaonian thought about it and agreed, then pursed his lips: "That's right! None of those reward notices posted outside the police station look like the real person; they're a total scam."

"That makes sense." He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.

"But be careful when you go home tonight," Zhao Xiaonian warned worriedly. "Don't walk home by yourself. Take a rickshaw. It's not like you can't afford the fare. I know you've already received your share of the food allowance."

"I understand, thank you for thinking of me, Brother Xiaonian." He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart.

"We're all buddies, it's too formal to talk about these things." Zhao Xiaonian patted him on the shoulder. "Let's eat, let's eat, don't think about those worries."

After finishing work in the evening, under Zhao Xiaonian's personal supervision, He Yuzhu obediently hailed a rickshaw and returned home safely.

As soon as she entered, Xiaoman rushed over like a little bird.

"Brother Zhu, you're finally back!"

For over a month, Xiaoman has stayed at home and hardly ever went out. Before, living by the sea was tough, but she was free; now, living indoors feels like being locked in a cage. Only when He Yuzhu comes back does the house feel alive, and only then does she feel like it's a home.

He Yuzhu smiled and patted her head: "You must be bored at home, right?"

"Mmm!" Xiaoman nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "But I read the comic book you brought me, and it wasn't boring at all!"

He Yuzhu heated up the food he had packed from Hongbinlou Restaurant and then served the steamed buns made with two kinds of flour that Xiaoman had steamed.

These steamed buns were made by He Yuzhu, who taught her how to steam them step by step. When she first arrived, Xiaoman didn't know how to cook anything except porridge, cornbread, and pickled vegetables. He Yuzhu patiently taught her how to steam buns, make cold dishes, and stir-fry vegetables. The little girl learned quickly and can now cook everyday meals quite well.

At this time of year, some seasonal vegetables are already available in the market. Every morning, He Yuzhu goes out, pretending to go to the morning market, but actually he takes out fresh vegetables, grains, rice, flour, and oil from his own space. These things are fresher and taste better than those in the market, but Xiaoman, who grew up eating wild vegetables, can't tell the difference between good and bad. She just feels like she's dreaming, being able to eat her fill every day with Brother Zhu.

The two sat at a small table, eating quietly.

Xiaoman ate with relish, her little mouth bulging out.

After finishing her meal, Xiaoman obediently cleared away the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash the pots and pans.

After she finished tidying up, she immediately ran back into the house, sat down next to He Yuzhu, gently shook his arm with her little hand, and spoke in a soft and sweet voice with a hint of coquetry.

"Brother Zhu, can I ask you for a favor?"

He Yuzhu was already used to her like this, feeling both helpless and amused: "Just say what's wrong, don't shake me, or I'll fall apart."

Xiaoman giggled, tilting her little face up: "Then I'll tell you!"

"Speak."

"I've already finished reading that whole set of comic books from last time," Xiaoman said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Could you buy me a new set?"

She was too young to know how expensive a set of comic books was; it was equivalent to several days' wages for an average family.

He Yuzhu chuckled: "That's it?"

"And one more thing!" Xiaoman quickly added, her face slightly flushed with embarrassment. "I want to learn needlework so I can mend clothes for Brother Zhuzi in the future. Could you help me buy some scraps of fabric and a needle and thread?"

"Okay, I promise you everything." He Yuzhu nodded readily, then casually tested her, "By the way, did you remember all the words I taught you yesterday?"

Xiaoman immediately puffed out her little chest, looking proud: "I've remembered them all! I'm very smart!"

"Yes, yes, our Xiaoman is the smartest." He Yuzhu smiled and flattered her. He knew all too well that this little girl would keep getting you to agree if he didn't praise her a few times.

Speaking of which, after staying indoors for more than a month, Xiaoman's skin has become much fairer, and her previously messy short hair has grown longer. In a while, she'll be able to tie it into a small braid. Her eyebrows and eyes are becoming more and more defined, and she even looks somewhat like Shen Juxian, a female warrior in traditional opera, with delicate and lively features.

However, after getting to know He Yuzhu, this little girl became more and more clingy, following him around all day, calling him "Brother Zhu" all the time. She was no little maid; she was clearly a mischievous little devil.

Looking at Xiaoman's expectant face, He Yuzhu secretly made up his mind:

He had to deal with Ma Gang and his gang as soon as possible. Otherwise, not only would he be in danger, but the little girl beside him would also have to live in fear.

Some troubles can't be avoided. Since they've come knocking, let's resolve them once and for all.