Siheyuan, my new life

After once again using his spiritual sense to check on the situations of the action team members who were carrying out surveillance missions, he discovered that everyone was strictly following the training requirements and performing their duties meticulously. Zhou Huang was sitting cross-legged in the void, and after sensing his master's spiritual sense, he nodded slightly.

With Zhou Huang around, Lin Yu could return to the paradise with peace of mind.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Lunar New Year's Eve, the courtyard at No. 98 Nanluoguxiang was very lively.

Just at eight o'clock in the morning, He Daqing came here with his son He Yuzhu and daughter He Yushui.

Although he had stopped to look at this newly built courtyard house when passing by on the street during the day, He Daqing couldn't help but be surprised when he walked into the yard.

You have to know that in order to be a good cook, you must first have a keen sense of smell and taste, as well as an extraordinary eye. Choosing the right ingredients is very important for a top chef. Otherwise, if you provide a bunch of rotten fish and shrimp, even a state banquet chef will not be able to make impeccable delicacies with such things.

Before liberation, He Daqing often went in and out of the residences of some dignitaries and cooked Tan family dishes for them. He was considered knowledgeable and experienced through what he had seen and heard. He has always been very confident in his eyesight. Yesterday morning, when he and his son passed by on their way to work, they stopped and looked at the exterior of this courtyard house from afar out of curiosity. After entering the courtyard today, He Daqing was more shocked.

Although this courtyard looks like just ordinary blue bricks, blue tiles and white lime walls on the surface, a closer look reveals its extraordinary features. All the blue bricks and blue tiles seem to be made from the same mold. Even with his extraordinary eyesight, he can't see any difference at all. Each layer of blue bricks is absolutely a straight line, and each brick seam is absolutely exactly the same.

There was almost no difference in the smooth green stone slabs under his feet. He Daqing could say without exaggeration that even the mansions of Beile and Beizi that he had visited before, which were originally built under the supervision of the Imperial Household Department of the Qing Dynasty, were not as good as the current level in terms of materials and craftsmanship.

Although there are some descendants of those craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department still engaged in the construction industry in the capital, He Daqing has never heard of any company that can achieve such a high level of skill, let alone build such a solemn and elegant three-in-one courtyard house on a pile of ruins in such a short time.

When the construction here just started, many people nearby wanted to take a look at the construction site out of curiosity. Of course, there were some people who had their own agenda and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make some money. Unfortunately, the construction site was surrounded by high mats on all sides, and soon the staff of the street office sent a notice to every courtyard and tenement nearby that the house under construction was that of Director Lin, reminding certain people not to make trouble for themselves.

Those guys who were calculating immediately put their thoughts aside. Come on, they are not so ignorant as to take advantage of a deputy secretary and deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau? I am afraid they are out of their minds.

Today, Sun Yong was in charge of welcoming guests. Seeing He Daqing staring at the courtyard in front of him in a daze, he smiled and said, "Director He, the secretary is waiting for you in the living room of the main house."

He Daqing came back to his senses and said with a smile: "Assistant Sun, I won't bother Secretary Lin anymore. Please take me to the kitchen. I guess some ingredients need to be processed in advance."

Sun Yong was not overly polite. Knowing that He Daqing would be busy for a while today, he led the way with a smile. He Daqing pulled his son who was looking around, and followed behind holding Xiao Yushui's hand.

When He Daqing walked into the kitchen, he was stunned again. In the kitchen, which was more than 30 square meters, there was no traditional stove. Instead, everything was powered by gas. Three gas stoves were arranged in sequence. Near the corner of the wall were a white vegetable sink and hand sink. What puzzled He Daqing was that there were two faucets side by side.

The kitchen floor is still paved with green stone strips, the walls are covered with milky white tiles, and against the wall is a row of tall cabinets. If I am not mistaken, these cabinets are all made of nanmu wood.

He Daqing gently placed the kitchen utensils in his hand on the chopping board and looked at the various ingredients spread out on the ground. The large porcelain bowls were filled with chicken, duck, and meat. What surprised He Daqing most was that there were actually two full porcelain bowls of large prawns as long as a palm and large crabs as big as a bowl, and these shrimps and crabs were still alive.

There are also pots of various seafood such as sea cucumbers, abalone, scallops, yellow croaker, sea bass, etc.

He Daqing swallowed his saliva and looked at Sun Yong beside him: "Assistant Sun, did Secretary Lin say how many tables will be arranged for lunch today?"

Sun Yong smiled bitterly and shook his head: "To be honest, the secretary himself doesn't know how many customers there will be. Director He, just try to make as many as possible. I don't think there will be a shortage."

He Daqing nodded: "Then I will cook it according to these ingredients. Anyway, the weather is cold now. If there is too much, it will freeze directly if left outside. Just heat it up when you eat it."

Sun Yong smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Director He." He then took out two boxes of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket and placed them beside him. He then said to Xiao Yushui with a smile, "You are Xiao Yushui, right? You are so pretty. By the way, Xiao Linzhou is in the living room. Come with uncle to play with him. He has a lot of delicious food and fun things over there, okay?"

Xiao Yushui looked up at her father and saw He Daqing nodding at her, so she nodded softly.

Sun Yong led Xiao Yushui out of the kitchen and walked towards the living room of the main house.

He Daqing glanced at his son who was still looking around, and said with a smile: "Okay, stop looking around. We have been busy for a while today. Come on, let's deal with the sea cucumbers first."

He Yuzhu agreed and took out his apron from the bag that He Daqing had been carrying. He put it on and started working quickly.

At this time, Zhou Xiu and Huang Ying walked into the kitchen carrying tea sets.

He Daqing quickly smiled and said, "Secretary Zhou and Section Chief Huang, don't worry about us."

Zhou Xiu gently placed the teapot in her hand on the cupboard next to her. Seeing He Yuzhu picking up sea cucumbers, she smiled and said, "Zhuzi, the blue faucet in the sink is for cold water, and the red faucet is for hot water. Don't freeze your hands in such cold weather."

He turned to He Daqing and said, "Old He, Huang Ying and I will come over to help you two."

He Daqing waved his hands repeatedly: "Secretary Zhou, no need, we two can handle it, you should go over and entertain the guests."

Zhou Xiu smiled and said, "Forget it. It's not good to let you two do all the work. We have nothing to do there either. Okay, you can tell Chef He what to do."