Siheyuan: From Being Called Shazhu

Just one or two days after the Little New Year, news began to spread in the streets that He Yuzhu had prevented his father from remarrying.

"Have you heard about it? Chef He from Maoer Hutong in front, his son won't let him remarry, so Chef He is now unable to return home."

"Oh my god, is this true? Isn't his son the administrator here? He looks quite reliable, but how could he do such a thing?"

"Hey, hey, hey, I know about this, too. I heard that it's been a month, and He Daqing only came home once two days ago during the Little New Year. But the next day, he was out again and couldn't go home."

"That's not right. Let me tell you, this young boy is usually very serious, but after all, he hasn't grown any hair yet. How can he understand the hardship of an old man?"

"That's right. He's just an orphan. How can he understand the relationship between men and women? Oh, by the way, Chef He's first wife has been gone for three years."

"Don't tell me, if you count the days, it's almost been three years."

"Wow, Chef He is really kind. He waited for three years before looking for her. His son can't explain it."

"That's why it's not easy for Chef He to be both a father and a mother every day. He finally waited until his son became an adult and started working. He wanted to find another person who would understand him, but his son disagreed."

"Yes, if someone like this happens to a family, it will be very difficult for that family."

But these words didn't even reach Master Sun's ears, and the "rumors" that spread out later had a different meaning.

"Hey, have you heard about this? Chef He from Maoer Hutong in the back, his son won't let him remarry, so Chef He is now unable to return home."

"You don't know this, right? It's not that Zhuzi doesn't want his father to remarry, it's that Zhuzi doesn't want his father to find a widow with several young men."

"Oh, there is such a thing?"

"Then take a look. It's for sure. Let me tell you, Zhuzi told his father that if you want to find a child, then fine. With our family conditions, you can find a girl who has never given birth, or even a virgin girl in the countryside. Why do you have to find someone who has given birth to several children? But his father disagreed and decided on this one."

"Hiss... This He Daqing doesn't know what's good for him."

"That's exactly what you said. You see, what Zhuzi said is not wrong. With his family's financial situation, Zhuzi is now working and can support the family. Besides, his father earns a lot of money every month. Why can't he find anyone he wants? Why does he have to find a widow with several children?"

"Of course. Also, I heard from the people in their courtyard that Zhuzi was afraid that after his father found this widow and married her, the widow's sons would bully He Yushui. Zhuzi did this for his sister. How come his father is not as sensible as his children?"

"That's right. There's an old saying that goes, if there's a stepmother, there must be a stepfather. After all, those sons of the widow have nothing to do with He Daqing. If they really want to bully He Yushui after they get married, Zhuzi is just his brother, and he can't beat them."

"That's true. Zhuzi is right. If you want to find a daughter, you have to find one who has not given birth or an older girl. Even if you have a child in the future, it will still be the same father and mother, so they are at least somewhat related."

"You said that Zhuzi was not doing this for himself, but for his sister. Besides, Zhuzi didn't say that he wouldn't let his father look for another one. How can Zhuzi's father not know what's good for him?"

"That's right. I don't know what He Daqing was thinking. Alas, such a good pair of children are wasted."

Just like that, as the New Year approached, all units began to close for the holidays.

The sound was getting louder and louder.

In fact, they are beginning to unify.

The saying that "He Yuzhu is ignorant" has completely disappeared.

Yes, the only thing left is "Zhu Zi is great, but He Daqing is a bit ungrateful."

In fact, the topic has gradually deviated to "How pretty must the White Widow be to make He Daqing so obsessed with her."

This left He Yuzhu stunned.

If all of these were directed and acted by He Daqing himself, then He Yuzhu would have to express his admiration.

In fact, it's not just He Yuzhu who has to express his admiration.

Even the crisis public relations managers of later celebrities would give He Daqing a beating if they saw this.

But He Yuzhu was a little unsure whether this was the direction of "public opinion" directed and acted by He Daqing himself.

Another possibility is that he has been visiting and comforting people all day long these days with the staff sent by the "Anti-American Association" and the "Charity Association", etc., thus changing the "public opinion".

Anyway, no matter what, the 51st year has finally come.

Chinese New Year, it’s about the same.

It was just that this time He Daqing took He Yushui for a good stroll around the market.

But, it was just a good stroll through the market.

Starting from the afternoon of the first day of the new year, He Daqing changed again.

I come back every morning and stay at home for the whole morning, cursing.

Then, after lunch, no one left and didn’t come back in the evening.

With the start of the factory on the sixth day of the New Year, He Daqing decided not to come back.

This also made the rumor that "He Daqing may have been confused by a vixen and no longer knew what was good for him" spread more widely in the streets.

The fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Rain Water.

(Another saying is that the 51th day of the first lunar month in 2 was the Rain Water day. Here, we just count the 3th day of the first lunar month as the positive day based on the saying that the Rain Water day usually lasts - days.)

Because it was little He Yushui's birthday, He Yuzhu took He Yushui home early after get off work.

He Yuzhu was not surprised at all when he saw He Daqing cooking.

According to the plan, tomorrow, which is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, is the day of the official "breakup".

"Oh~~~"

He Yuzhu sighed, and felt a little reluctant when he saw He Yushui who was acting coquettishly with He Daqing.

"You idiot, don't you see I have no time to spare? Hurry up and cook the food."

He Daqing's "harsh reprimand" echoed throughout the yard.

At night, I coaxed He Yushui to sleep.

The father and son started drinking again with a table full of dishes prepared for He Yushui's birthday.

It can be considered as celebrating the Lantern Festival in advance.

All night long, the father and son kept their voices low, talking and laughing, recounting the past bit by bit, and no one mentioned the separation.

This drinking lasted all night.

Although it was still dark outside, the yard was filled with the sounds of cooking and the hustle and bustle of life from people who had to go to work.

He Daqing glanced reluctantly at He Yushui who was sleeping on the bed.

"Okay, I won't drink anymore. Let's clean up."

As he said this, he patted He Yuzhu's shoulder.

"Zhu Zi, take good care of your sister. After I go there and settle down, I will send letters and money to your master every month. Because I have to hide it from your master, so, if I don't write to you, you don't have to pick on me."

"father...."

He Yuzhu was stopped by He Daqing's hand, which was still on his shoulder, before he could finish his words.

"Okay, Zhuzi, don't go out, just stay in the house."

After saying that, He Daqing stood up.

He walked to the door, opened it, and started shouting with one foot inside and one foot outside.

"You idiot, it's so late and you haven't cooked for me yet, do you want to starve me to death? Normally at Xiaobai's place, I would have been served food at this time."

With He Daqing's shout, the noisy sounds in the yard that had been there early in the morning suddenly disappeared.

Yes, but only He Daqing's "self-acting and self-talk" is left.

"You idiot, your mother has been gone for three years, why don't you let me find another one?"

"Hey, what do you mean I can't just find a widow with a few children? He Yuzhu, I said, I don't want anyone else but her."

"Okay, okay, you idiot, I still have to fight with you."

"Okay, He Yuzhu, I'm putting this down. I'd rather not have you two than live with Xiaobai."

After shouting for a while, He Daqing took a last reluctant look at He Yushui, who was half awake on the bed, and also took a last look at He Yuzhu.

He made up his mind, slammed the door, and walked away with a grim face.

This woke He Yushui up immediately.

“Dad…Dad…”

He Yushui jumped off the bed with her short legs, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and wanted to go find He Daqing.

He Yuzhu hugged He Yushui in his arms.

Coaxing He Yu Shui in a soft voice.

"Be good, little Yushui. Daddy is just going out to work to earn money. Daddy will use the money he earns to buy delicious food for you, right?"

"No, you're lying. Dad is gone. We don't need rain water anymore."

He Yuzhu patted the back of He Yushui who was struggling in his arms, and kept repeating, "Dad is just going out to make money, it doesn't mean he doesn't want little Yushui anymore."

At this moment, He Yuzhu didn't know what was wrong. He thought of his father in the future who should have been enjoying his life but passed away early. He never enjoyed any happiness in his life. It was all because of his hard work for He Yuzhu.

At this moment, He Yuzhu, who had clearly prepared himself mentally, could no longer hold it in.

Tears flowed down my face.

The brother and sister just talked about their own things and cried for a while.

Instead, He Yushui stopped crying first.

"Brother, didn't you say that Dad just went out to make money? It's okay, be good, and when Dad comes back and buys me something delicious, I'll give you half."

He Yuzhu had almost finished crying.

But he was completely broken down by He Yushui's "sensible" words.

“Wow”… Uh… There was no “wow”, He Yuzhu just started crying again.

This is just great.

Now it was He Yushui who started to coax He Yuzhu.

Waiting for the release to be almost done.

He Yuzhu wiped away his tears and touched He Yushui's little head.

"Xiao Yushui, you must be hungry. I'll cook for you right away."

As he spoke, He Yuzhu let go of the hand that was around He Yushui and stood up.

He was just about to get up and go to the kitchen to make some breakfast for He Yushui, but seeing He Yushui's hand tightly holding onto the corner of his clothes, He Yuzhu bent down and picked He Yushui up.

"Come on, Xiao Yushui, I'll take you to cook."

"Ah."

He Yushui nodded heavily.