Siheyuan: I am different He Yuzhu

After 50 years, the southern provinces of Longguo were liberated one after another. Beiping began to slowly regain the prosperity of its thousand-year-old capital. After three years of apprenticeship, He Yuzhu finally started to officially cook after the 3th year.

Although Wu Baotian always asked He Yuzhu to stand beside him and explain the cooking techniques and details every time he cooked in the past year, He Yuzhu had never cooked it himself. Today, He Yuzhu will start cooking his first dish in Fengze Garden since he became an apprentice, fried fish and celery.

He Yuzhu first removed the scales, gills and internal organs of the grass carp, and used a flat knife to remove two pieces of fish meat from the tail along the spine of the fish. Then, with the skin side facing down, he used an oblique knife to make cuts every 0.36 cm, then used a straight knife to make cross patterns, and finally cut into 1.5 cm wide and 3 cm long oblique pieces and set them aside for later use.

Then He Yuzhu soaked the chicken breast in clean water for a while, then removed the white tendons and smashed it into fine paste with the back of a knife. After He Yuzhu chopped the prepared fat into fine paste, he put the fat paste and chicken paste in a bowl, added 250 ml of clear soup, egg white, cooking wine, MSG, wet starch, and salt in appropriate amounts, stirred in one direction to make chicken stuffing, and set aside for later use.

He Yuzhu then chopped the cooked ham, soaked mushrooms, celery greens, etc. into fine pieces, then put the ham, mushrooms, and celery greens into the bowl of chicken ingredients and mixed them evenly, then added the fish pieces and mixed well, and it became "Fish and Celery".

After the fish and celery are ready, He Yuzhu puts the clear soup, wet starch, cooking wine and salt into a bowl, mixes them evenly into juice and sets it aside for later use.

After He Yuzhu took the wok off the heat, he put cooked lard in the wok and heated it over medium heat until it was 60% hot. Then he put the fish and celery into the oil one by one. When they were cooked through, he took them out and put them aside to drain the oil. Then He Yuzhu put a little lard in another wok, heated it, put in chopped green onion, ginger and garlic, and when the aroma came out, he poured in the fish and celery, and then poured in the prepared starch sauce. Stir evenly and serve on a plate.

Although it was the first time for He Yuzhu to make fried fish and celery, He Yuzhu had simulated it in his mind more than once before. And every time Wu Baotian made it, He Yuzhu would observe carefully beside him, trying not to miss any details. He Yuzhu brought the plate of fried fish and celery to the master Wu Baotian next to him, handed him a pair of chopsticks, and looked at him with hopeful eyes.

As soon as He Yuzhu started cooking, Wu Baotian stood beside He Yuzhu and watched his every move. Although He Yuzhu's movements were a little immature, he basically grasped each step well. Considering that this was He Yuzhu's first time cooking, it was not just acceptable, it was actually quite amazing.

Wu Baotian took the chopsticks handed over by He Yuzhu, picked up a piece of fish, put it in his mouth and tasted it carefully. The fish was tender and smooth, with a faint fragrance of celery. He Yuzhu mastered the core fragrant taste of this dish for the first time. Wu Baotian couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If he hadn't watched this child grow up day by day, he really suspected that this was not the first time he made this fried fish and celery dish, but that he was an old chef who had been doing it for a long time. His son Youren's first time cooking this dish was not as good as He Yuzhu's. But at that time, Youren had been cooking for more than half a year, not his first time. It could only be that He Yuzhu was too talented, and it was purely a gift from his ancestors.

Although Wu Baotian was amazed by He Yuzhu's cooking skills, there was no joy on his face. Instead, he looked at He Yuzhu with an expressionless face.

"Go and call your senior brother Youren over."

He Yuzhu walked to the kitchen next door, walked to his senior brother Wu Youren, and said to Wu Youren: "Senior brother, the master wants you to come over."

Wu Youren put down the vegetable cutting work in his hands and followed He Yuzhu to the kitchen where Wu Baotian was.

"Dad, what's the matter that you asked Zhuzi to call me over?"

"How about trying this fried fish and celery?" Wu Baotian handed Wu Youren a pair of new chopsticks. Wu Youren took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish, first took a look at the fish meat, which was just the right size and thickness, and evenly coated with chopped celery and chopped mushrooms. Then he put the fish meat into his mouth and tasted it.

"Don't talk yet. Zhuzi, come over and try it. After Zhuzi has tasted it, you can tell me what's wrong with this dish."

He Yuzhu found a pair of chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish, and put it in his mouth to taste it. Wu Baotian saw that He Yuzhu had finished tasting and signaled Wu Youren that he could speak.

Wu Youren cleared his throat and said, "This dish of fried fish with celery looks like the fish is evenly sized and thick. It tastes fresh and smooth, and has a light celery fragrance. The only shortcoming is that it may be a little early. It would taste better if it were a little later. Dad, why did you call me over to cook this dish? Are you trying to test my cooking skills? But this doesn't taste like what you cook."

"Zhuzi, after listening to what your senior brother said, do you feel there are any shortcomings? Can you tell me about it?" Wu Baotian said to He Yuzhui.

"Master, I feel that the oil temperature was a little too low when frying the fish, so the fish meat tastes a little tender." He Yuzhu said and looked at his master Wu Baotian with anticipation.

After listening to He Yuzhu's words, Wu Baotian looked at his son and couldn't help but sigh inwardly that his eldest son was still a little bit inferior to He Yuzhu.

"This fried fish and celery dish was made by your junior brother Zhuzi. It was the first time your junior brother cooked it today. Zhuzi, the shortcomings of this dish are what your senior brother said and what you said. Please take note and pay more attention to it in the future."

After hearing what Wu Baotian said, Wu Youren looked at his father in surprise and pointed at He Yuzhu.

"Are you saying that this fried fish and celery dish was made by Zhuzi, or that it was made by him on his first time as the chef? He was able to make a dish of this level on his first time as the chef, you are not kidding me!"

"This is what your junior brother Zhuzi did. Look at yourself and work harder in the future. Otherwise, it won't be long before your junior brother surpasses you." Wu Baotian said to his son unhappily.

"Okay, go back to your work. Zhuzi, take this dish to the waiter and ask him to prepare it for serving."

After He Yuzhu served the dishes to the waiter, he returned to the kitchen and waited for instructions from his master Wu Baotian.

Wu Baotian looked at his apprentice who was taller than himself. Judging from his height, he couldn't mistake him for a 15-year-old child. According to this situation, he estimated that he would have nothing to teach him for two years at most. It would be a matter of time before his cooking skills surpassed his. Wu Baotian told He Yuzhu to busy himself and he would teach him when there was something.

Wu Baotian thought that he had to discuss it with his boss Luan Xuetang. Since He Yuzhu was already qualified to be a chef, he should be paid as a cook instead of a waiter.

After get off work in the afternoon, He Yuzhu went to his master Shang Zhirong's house. In the past three years, He Yuzhu learned the training methods of "Half-Step Collapse Fist", "Dantian Qi Strike", "Big Pole", three secret skills, as well as the special training method of "Three-Step Kung Fu" without stages, the mysterious techniques of various strength paths, and the unique Bagua training method.

After He Yuzhu arrived at Shang Zhirong's house, Shang Zhirong called He Yuzhu to her side and said, "Zhuzi, you have almost mastered what I have taught you for the past three years. Today I will teach you several kinds of stances, kung fu, and strength methods that will help you enter the advanced realm of Xingyiquan, as well as my unique hidden weapon "Iron Walnut" and my short self-defense weapon "Iron Chopsticks". When I teach you these techniques, remember not to use them to commit crimes or bully the weak. Although you are gifted, remember to guard against arrogance and impatience, study hard, and don't waste your time. In particular, you must practice the Bagua training method I taught you diligently. This method can be cultivated internally and practiced externally, and cultivation and practice combined will increase your power."

Then Shang Zhirong began to demonstrate in person, telling He Yuzhu the precautions and key points while demonstrating, and He Yuzhu stood aside and practiced. After Shang Zhirong finished the demonstration, she asked He Yuzhu to continue practicing, and Shang Zhirong stood aside and pointed out the shortcomings of his practice. After He Yuzhu practiced a few times, Shang Zhirong saw that He Yuzhu had no problems with his practice, so she asked He Yuzhu to take a break and practice again after returning home, without rushing.

"Master, I have something on my mind for a long time. It's rare that you are in a good mood today. Can you tell me about it?" He Yuzhu asked his master while squatting in a horse stance.

"What could have puzzled you for so long?" Shang Zhirong looked at He Yuzhu curiously.

"Nothing else. I just read in a storybook before that many sects have their own secret recipes. Either you need to follow the secret recipe to practice your kung fu well, or your kung fu will be greatly enhanced after taking it. Does our sect have such a secret recipe? If so, please give me one. Don't be reluctant. I am your first disciple."

He Yuzhu said to his master Zhirong mischievously that He Yuzhu had always been curious about whether there was such a secret recipe. After all, he had read about it in more than one novel in his previous life, especially the Shaolin Temple's Dahuandan in Grandpa Jin's novel, which could not only bring the dead back to life, but also increase one's internal strength by sixty years.

"You, stop reading novels and books. If there really was such a thing, Master would have eaten it long ago, and it would be your turn to eat it. I don't have the secret recipe that you mentioned to increase your Kung Fu. At least I haven't heard my father say there is such a thing. But the secret recipes you mentioned that can only be used to practice Kung Fu well do exist."

When He Yuzhu heard that it was true, he immediately walked up to his master with excitement.

"Master, is there anything in our sect that you can't pass on to me?"

Shang Zhirong was annoyed by He Yuzhu's playful look, so she picked up a stick and hit He Yuzhu lightly.

"What's so valuable about that thing? If you want it, I'll give you a copy. The secret recipes you mentioned are mainly used for practicing external hard skills. It's difficult for boxers to practice high-level hard skills without medicine, and it's difficult to protect against old age and pain without medicine. Boxers must know how to use medicine, and those who practice fighting must strive to maintain health. It's better to pass on ten arts than one recipe. Don't pass on to those who have no virtue and no skills. For example, Eagle Claw Kung Fu and Iron Sand Palm Kung Fu are extremely harmful to the body when practicing. After practicing, you must wipe your hands with wine soaked in special secret recipes. Otherwise, if you force yourself to practice when you are old, you will suffer from pain at the least, and become disabled at the worst. Our Xingyiquan is an internal martial art, and we don't need these medicinal wines. The effect of these medicinal wines is to strengthen muscles and bones, and promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis."

"It is said that the poor are good at literature and the rich are good at martial arts. In fact, it is because after practicing martial arts, one's appetite will become larger. Ordinary people have difficulty eating enough after practicing martial arts, so how can they learn martial arts that allow them to eat more? Only wealthy families can have enough food to support martial artists. You should know how much you eat now. It is because your master is a cook and has no shortage of food. Otherwise, you would not be able to eat enough. If you continue to force yourself to practice, you will become useless sooner or later. Zhuzi, remember that if you want to master kung fu, in addition to talent, you can only practice persistently. There is no shortcut."

"Okay, Master. I'll remember this and surpass you sooner rather than later." He Yuzhui immediately turned into a playful smile after answering seriously.

When He Yuzhu left his master Shang Zhirong's house, he took with him the recipe for medicinal wine that Shang Zhirong had copied for him. He Yuzhu put the recipe in his pocket very preciously, fearing that he would lose it.

When He Yuzhu returned to Wu Baotian's home, he couldn't wait to take out the secret recipe and read it. He saw the following words written on the paper:

Rhyme: Caochuanwu and Datuolanghua, Datura, Arisaema and Snow Mountain Artemisia, a thousand pounds of strength depends on Strychnos nux vomica, Hard Bone Vine and Iron Arhat, Wudang's orthodox Iron Bone Powder, eight hundred sticks can be wiped out with one rub.

配方：生草乌18克、生川乌15克、闹羊花3克、洋金花9克、生南星6克、雪上一支蒿9克、千斤力9克、马钱子6克、硬骨藤9克、铁罗汉9克、铁骨散9克、八百棒3克、一摩消9克。

Preparation method: (1) Wine preparation method: Place the above 13 dried herbs into a large wine bottle, pour in 1 kg of white wine and soak. It can be used after seven days.

(2) Preparation of sesame oil: Soak the above 13 dried herbs in 500g of sesame oil for 24 hours. Pour the mixture into an iron pan and heat until the herbs are charred. Remove the residue and bottle for later use.

(3) Medicinal wine and medicated oil have the same usage, but medicated oil is easier to store and carry. Medicinal wine has a strong effect and can relieve pain quickly, while medicated oil has a mild effect and is non-irritating to damaged skin.

After reading the prescription, He Yuzhu felt that he would not be able to use it for the time being, so he folded the prescription, opened the cabinet on the kang where he kept his clothes, took out the small wooden box where he kept his valuables, and put the prescription in the small wooden box.

He Yuzhu was lying on the bed resting when he suddenly heard his sister-in-law Zhang Xiaoqiao's cry of pain coming from the opposite room. He Yuzhu immediately went out of the house, walked to the door of the east wing, knocked on the door, and stood outside.

"Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Zhu Zi, I think I'm about to give birth. Please go and call my mother-in-law for me."

He Yuzhu immediately ran to the main room and started shouting loudly before he reached the room.

"Master, Master's wife, my little sister-in-law is about to give birth, please come out quickly."

When Liu E Wu Xiangxiu heard He Yuzhu's shouting, she came out immediately. Her master Wu Baotian followed closely behind, wearing a cotton coat and putting it on as he walked.

"Your senior brother Youren happened to go to see a friend this afternoon."

Liu E walked into the east wing and pushed the door open to check on Zhang Xiaoqiao. He grabbed Xiaoqiao's hand and asked.

"Xiaoqiao, how do you feel?"

"Mom, my stomach hurts. I feel like I'm about to give birth. My water is about to break."

"Xiaoqiao, don't be afraid. Mom is an experienced person." Liu E looked at Zhang Xiaoqiao, who was sweating profusely. A woman's first child is at the greatest risk, so she immediately shouted to the outside of the door, "Zhu Zi, go borrow a cart from next door and wait to send your sister-in-law to Union Hospital. You, the head of the family, go get the money."

He Yuzhu immediately ran out of the yard and borrowed a cart from next door. After borrowing the cart, He Yuzhu parked the cart at the gate of the yard and hurried back to the yard.

"Master's Wife, I have borrowed the cart. What do you think we should do next?"

"Zhu Zi, you are young and energetic, please carry your sister-in-law to the cart with the quilt, Xiang Xiu, you stay at home and look after your sister."

Following the instructions of his master's wife Liu E, He Yuzhu reached under the quilt and used both arms to lift Zhang Xiaoqiao up through the quilt. Liu E held the quilt on the side. He Yuzhu carried Zhang Xiaoqiao out of the yard and gently placed her on the cart. At this time, Wu Baotian came over with the money.

He Yuzhu put the cart straps on his shoulders and held the handles of the cart with both hands.

"Master's wife, please sit on it quickly and support my petite sister-in-law."

He Yuzhu waited for his master's wife Liu E to sit down, then immediately pulled the cart to Union Hospital, with Wu Baotian following behind.

When they arrived at the Union Hospital, the nurse saw that Zhang Xiaoqiao was about to give birth, so she called He Yuzhu to help carry her to the bed, and then immediately sent her to the operating room. Master Wu Baotian went to pay the money and go through the hospitalization procedures, while He Yuzhu and his master's wife Liu E waited in front of the operating room door.

After a while, Wu Baotian paid the money and came to the operating room. "Zhu Zi, your master's wife and I can watch over here. Go find your senior brother and ask him to come quickly. Your senior brother is at Zhao Dagui's house in Shijia Hutong. Pull the cart back and return it to him. When you return the cart, give it to him together with the 10,000 yuan. Don't forget to say thank you."

Wu Baotian took money out of his pocket, counted out ten thousand yuan and handed it to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu took the money and put it in his pocket.

"Then Master, Master's Wife, I will leave first. You two stay here and watch."

He Yuzhu pulled the cart out of Union Hospital. He first returned to Meizhu Hutong to return the cart to his neighbor and gave him 1 yuan to express his gratitude. Then he immediately rushed to Shijia Hutong to find his senior brother Wu Youren. (Muzhu Hutong was renamed Meizhu Hutong in 47).