Siheyuan: Starting with one acre and three fen of land

After the New Year, in the Zhang family’s house in the backyard, Zhang Baishu stopped questioning He Yuzhu.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip, closed his eyes and thought for a while, then opened his eyes and looked at He Yuzhu.

"Zhu Zi, you have almost memorized the properties, flavors and effects of these medicines."

When He Yuzhu heard Zhang Baishu's affirmation, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"If you can approve of it, old man, then my efforts have not been in vain."

Zhang Baishu was satisfied with him and stroked his beard: "Haha! Zhuzi, do you not have to go to the kitchen of Fengze Garden now?"

He Yuzhu replied respectfully: "Yes, old man. I asked for my resignation years ago, so I don't have to go now."

"Well, I want to arrange for you to go to the medicine shop to learn. It's not enough to just read the book about these herbs. You have to go and identify them yourself."

He Yuzhu was quite surprised when he heard Zhang Baishu's proposal. He asked him, "Old man, can we squeeze someone into this medicine shop temporarily?"

Zhang Baishu saw He Yuzhu's surprised face and said with a smile: "Haha! Zhuzi, you just need to be prepared for this."

Seeing that Zhang Baishu was confident, He Yuzhu thought that there was a high chance that this would succeed.

"That's fine, old man. I'll wait for your notice."

Zhang Baishu nodded and pointed to the bookshelf: "Go to the bookshelf and take out the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine and the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Classic, and then go back and read!"

"Ah?" He Yuzhu was surprised when he heard this, "You want this too?"

"Of course, you should memorize the contents first, and we will talk about how to use them later."

"Oh! All right!" He Yuzhu could only honestly find the two books from the bookshelf, "Grandpa, I'll go back first."

"Got it, go back!"

A few days later at noon, He Yuzhu brought a bowl of lunch to Zhang Baishu.

Zhang Baishu said to He Yuzhu who was setting the table, "Zhuzi, it's settled. You come with me tomorrow morning."

"Grandpa, it's ready so soon?" He Yuzhu quickened his movements and turned to look at Zhang Baishu, "Where is the location?"

Zhang Baishu sat on the chair and nodded with a smile: "You will know when the time comes."

"Okay! I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow morning. After you finish eating, we'll rest for a while before setting off."

The next morning, He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle and walked out of the yard with Zhang Baishu.

"Old man, I have called a rickshaw in advance and it is waiting outside."

"Zhu Zi, you are very considerate. My old bones really can't walk too far."

While they were talking, they came to the outside of the yard. After Zhang Baishu sat in the bike, He Yuzhu also got on his bicycle and prepared to set off.

"Grandpa, you walk in front and I'll follow on my bike."

When he arrived at the entrance of the alley, he met several families with their children. He Yuzhu glanced at them quickly and continued on his bike.

He Yuzhu followed the rickshaw on his bike, looking at the familiar route, wondering, isn't this heading to Beixinqiao?

As the rickshaw moved forward, it finally stopped in front of a familiar pharmacy.

"Fuck! Sanyuantang!?" He Yuzhu stopped the car with a look of surprise.

Zhang Baishu got out of the car and waved to He Yuzhu while standing on the steps.

He Yuzhu quickly locked the car and walked forward.

"Zhu Zi, come in with me!"

He Yuzhu looked at Zhang Baishu with a bitter face: "Grandpa, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Are you surprised? Haha!" Zhang Baishu took the lead and walked inside.

Sun Yongyao glanced at the door and saw Zhang Baishu walking in. His eyes lit up and he quickly came out from behind the counter and walked towards the door.

"Mr. Zhang, how are you?" Sun Yongyao stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Baishu.

Zhang Baishu stroked his beard and replied with a smile: "It's you, Xiao Sun! I haven't seen you for many years."

Sun Yongyao stood up and replied respectfully, "Yes! It has been ten years. Old man, please follow me. My uncle has been waiting for you for a long time."

"Okay then, let's go! Don't keep Chengde waiting too long."

"Uncle Sun, hello!" He Yuzhu interrupted and said hello.

Sun Yongyao nodded to He Yuzhu, and extended his hand to invite Zhang Baishu to go first.

When they arrived at the inner room, He Yuzhu bowed and left with Sun Yongyao.

Zhang Baishu was in the inner room drinking tea with the shopkeeper Sun Chengde, chatting about the past and occasionally exchanging their medical skills and insights.

He Yuzhu waited outside for less than two cups of tea before he saw Shopkeeper Sun escorting Zhang Baishu out of the inner room.

"Chengde, please stay. I have Zhuzi to take care of you. Don't worry."

Shopkeeper Sun still sent Zhang Baishu to the rickshaw before returning to the pharmacy.

They drove all the way back to the alley and arrived at the gate of the courtyard, and Zhang Baishu got out of the car.

"Grandpa, it turns out you are so familiar with them!" He Yuzhu said as he walked into the courtyard with Zhang Baishu.

"We have some connections here in the past, and this time I'm going to Chengde mainly to reminisce about the past." Zhang Baishu was very satisfied with this trip and his face was full of smiles.

While they were talking, the two stepped into the central courtyard, and He Yuzhu inadvertently glanced at the west wing.

"what!"

Zhang Baishu heard He Yuzhu's surprised voice: "What's wrong? Zhuzi."

"It's nothing. It seems like there are new residents in our yard." He Yuzhu said, pointing to the west wing.

"Oh!" Zhang Baishu glanced towards the west wing when he heard that.

He Yuzhu arrived in front of his house and leaned his bicycle against the wall: "Grandpa, I'll take you home."

Passing by the east wing of the backyard, He Yuzhu heard voices coming from inside the house.

He couldn't help but turn his head and look towards the door of the wing room, wondering if Liu Haizhong's family had come?

As night fell, a kerosene lamp was lit in the living room, and the three members of the He family were having dinner.

"Dad, Mr. Zhang has arranged something for me. I have to go to Beixinqiao Pharmacy recently."

He Daqing put down the wine glass in his hand and looked at He Yuzhu: "Oh, I'll arrange a time for you to go?"

"It's not a strict requirement. Just wait a few days and it will be fine."

He Daqing waved his hand and picked up the wine glass again: "Got it, I will ask the Li family in the front yard to help take care of the rain during this period."

He Yuzhu thought of the tenants who moved in today and asked, "Dad, there are new tenants in our yard today. Do you know the situation?"

He Daqing raised his eyebrows and swallowed the food in his mouth: "It should be someone who was recently recruited by the factory and assigned to our hospital. I am not sure who he is.

Why are you asking this? We all live in the same courtyard, so we will get to know each other better in the future."

"Ah, yes, yes!"

After dinner, He Daqing sat in a chair, dozing off to sober up. He Yuzhu was clearing away the dishes and bowls on the table.

"Brother Daqing, are you in there?"

He Daqing was awakened by a shout from outside the house. He cleared his throat and shouted, "I'm here, come in!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yi Zhonghai pushed the door and walked in, followed by two strangers.

He Daqing stood up and frowned as he looked at Yi Zhonghai: "Brother, who are these two?"

Yi Zhonghai introduced sideways: "These two are new residents in our courtyard.

This is Peng Dagang, who works in the same workshop as me. The other one is Ma Chuang, who is also a new worker in the factory.

After listening to Yi Zhonghai's introduction, He Daqing bowed and introduced himself: "Oh, hello! I'm He Daqing, and I cook in the factory cafeteria."

"Master He, you are so polite! You are so famous!"

"Yes! We have heard of your name a long time ago!"

After shaking hands with them, He Daqing burst into laughter when he heard their compliments: "It's all because of your flattery! Haha!"

He Yuzhu looked at the people who were greeting each other and wondered why he didn't see anyone from the east wing of the backyard, and he didn't know if it was Liu Haizhong.