Siheyuan: A journey of mountains and rivers

"He Yuzhu, why is your meal so salty today?" Xu Damao came over with a bowl of food, frowning, "How do you do your job as a chef? Is this edible?"

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly: "Xu Damao, you are so picky, why don't you try cooking yourself?"

This was a bit harsh, but He Yuzhu knew that Xu Damao was deliberately picking a fight. On weekdays, everyone in the courtyard knew that Xu Damao had a strange personality, and He Yuzhu didn't want to argue with him. However, Xu Damao seemed particularly annoyed today. He put the bowl heavily on the table and raised his voice by several decibels: "Who do you think you are? With your cooking skills, you dare to belittle yourself?"

He Yuzhu put down the shovel in his hand and turned around: "Xu Damao, if you have anything to say, let's talk it over. Don't get angry."

But Xu Damao was obviously unwilling to give up, he took a step forward and punched He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu did not expect him to do this, and had no time to react, so he was hit hard and felt dizzy.

The people in the yard immediately gathered around, and some tried to pull the two apart, but Xu Damao seemed to have lost his mind and continued to swing his fists. He Yuzhu gritted his teeth, a nameless anger burning in his heart, raised his hand to block Xu Damao's attack, but did not fight back.

"Xu Damao, are you crazy?" People in the yard accused Xu Damao of taking action.

Xu Damao panted and glared at He Yuzhu, his eyes full of anger and dissatisfaction: "He Yuzhu, don't think you are great just because everyone praises your craftsmanship! I tell you, this is not a place for you alone!"

He Yuzhu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, feeling helpless and aggrieved. He knew that Xu Damao had always been dissatisfied with him, but he didn't understand why he was just an ordinary chef and had such resentment.

Neighbors tried to persuade him, and Xu Damao finally calmed down. He looked at He Yuzhu fiercely, turned around and left, leaving only his back and silence.

That night, He Yuzhu returned to his hut and sat by the bed, unable to calm down for a long time. Although he was injured, the pain in his body was far less than the loss in his heart. This courtyard was his whole life, but here, he felt isolated and misunderstood.

He Yuzhu's thoughts went back to the time he spent with Lou Xiao'e, and those warm memories flashed through his mind like a movie. He remembered Lou Xiao'e's words of encouragement and her recognition of his craftsmanship, and he couldn't help but feel sad. Perhaps in this world, the only person who truly understood him was Lou Xiao'e.

"Why is it always like this?" He Yuzhu whispered to himself, his eyes fixed on the night sky outside the window, "I just want to live my life well."

In the next few days, He Yuzhu continued to work as usual, but he felt like a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. Although his neighbors comforted him and told him not to take it to heart, He Yuzhu knew that this invisible barrier already existed between him and Xu Damao.

He Yuzhu did not tell anyone about the conflict, he just endured it silently in his heart. He knew his position in the courtyard and how he should face these unpredictable challenges. He continued to devote his energy to work and cooking, hoping to prove his worth with his actions.

One day, He Yuzhu was busy in the factory cafeteria when he heard someone talking about Xu Damao. He couldn't help but prick up his ears and heard someone say that Xu Damao had recently encountered trouble at work and seemed to have been criticized by his superiors. He Yuzhu then realized that Xu Damao's behavior that night might not be entirely directed at him, but rather venting his frustration at work on him.

This thought helped He Yuzhu dissipate a lot of resentment. He realized that everyone has their own difficulties, and Xu Damao is no exception. Although there were misunderstandings and conflicts between them, He Yuzhu decided not to care about the past. He believed that as long as they tolerated and understood each other, any conflict could be resolved.

In the days that followed, He Yuzhu tried hard to find a balance between work and life. He focused more on improving his cooking skills, not only to gain recognition from others, but also to realize his own value. He began to try new dishes and learn new cooking techniques, and every improvement made him feel extremely satisfied.

Slowly, life in the courtyard returned to peace. Although Xu Damao was still a little distant from He Yuzhu, he no longer targeted him like before. He Yuzhu knew that this was life, full of ups and downs, but it was these little things that made his life more complete.

He Yuzhu's attitude towards Xu Damao gradually became peaceful. He realized that many conflicts were caused by lack of communication. Although he was still unhappy, He Yuzhu decided to find an opportunity to talk to Xu Damao. He understood that living in the same courtyard, everyone would see each other every day. If they kept holding grudges against each other, it would not be good for anyone.

One autumn afternoon, He Yuzhu was cleaning the yard when he saw Xu Damao sitting on a bench in the corner of the yard, looking a little tired. He hesitated for a moment and walked over with the teapot.

"Da Mao, would you like some tea?" He Yuzhu walked forward and asked in a calm voice.

Xu Damao raised his head, a little surprised, but still took the teacup and nodded: "Thank you."

"How have you been recently?" He Yuzhu sat next to Xu Damao, poured himself a cup of tea, and tried to start a friendly conversation.

Xu Damao sighed softly: "What else can I do? Isn't this how life goes on?"

The two were silent for a moment. The wind in the yard blew gently, bringing a hint of coolness. He Yuzhu looked at Xu Damao and finally mustered up the courage to say, "Damo, I've always wanted to tell you about what happened that day. We shouldn't have done that."

Xu Damao frowned and looked into the distance: "He Yuzhu, you know what? I always thought you were doing well, everyone liked you, but I always felt like an outsider."

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Xu Damao to think this way. He couldn't help but feel a little sorry. Although he had never thought of being an enemy of Xu Damao, it was obvious that he had never understood the other party's feelings.

"I have always regarded the courtyard as my home," He Yuzhu said slowly, "but I also know that sometimes I am too immersed in my own world and ignore the people and things around me."

Xu Damao smiled bitterly: "You have your passion, and I am just living my life. I was impulsive that night, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, let the past be the past." He Yuzhu said with a smile, "We are all working hard to live, and some misunderstandings and conflicts are inevitable."