"Qin Huairu, this isn't very decent of you. Over the past year, I’ve helped your family quite a bit, and everyone in this Siheyuan knows it."
"Let's lay it all out today. While I, He Yuzhu, may be a bit poor, I’m an upright man. I have two rooms and a monthly salary of 37.5 yuan—that’s not a bad situation, is it? Yet, because of you, even the matchmakers have stopped coming to my door!"
"From now on, let’s live our own lives. You need to take good care of your three children and stop running over to my place whenever I’m out!" In pursuit of his future happiness, He Yuzhu made his stance firmly and publicly.
Qin Huairu was suddenly panicked.
Shazhu was the pillar of her family; without his help, their lives would fall into dire straits.
Besides, at the Steel Mill, many had tried to take advantage of her, and it was always Shazhu who stepped in to shield her.
If Shazhu were to stop intervening, she couldn't even imagine the consequences.
As soon as He Yuzhu finished speaking, he gestured for Lou Xiaoe to follow him, completely disregarding the opinions of those around them.
Lou Xiaoe didn't care about the surrounding gazes and walked gracefully toward He Yuzhu’s room.
Upon entering, Lou Xiaoe immediately felt the unique atmosphere of He Yuzhu's home.
Most homes in the Siheyuan were cluttered and chaotic, but He Yuzhu's place was different—it was neat and refreshing.
A table sat in the main room, and against the front wall stood a long side table that spanned the entire length of the wall.
Instead of the typical festive paintings, a piece of brocade hung on the wall. Although it was a bit aged, it revealed the host’s elegant taste.
His bedroom surprised her even more. It contained only a wardrobe, a bookshelf, a desk, and two chairs, yet everything was arranged in perfect order. In this era, households with bookshelves were rare.
He Yuzhu was merely an ordinary cook, yet such an arrangement was truly impressive.
The originally bored Lou Xiaoe began to take an interest in him; he must be a man with a story to tell.
Soon, she spotted a flute and a harmonica on the table.
"He Yuzhu, you understand music, too? You're quite something!"
He Yuzhu smiled slightly. "I know a thing or two."
Lou Xiaoe picked up the flute to fiddle with it. "I play the harmonica, but I’ve never touched a flute."
"The flute is actually quite simple. If you like it, I can teach you."
Lou Xiaoe nodded without saying much. She had come solely to appease her parents; she expected to have no further interaction with anyone in this courtyard.
Lou Xiaoe played the flute idly, humming a tune under her breath.
Since arriving in this world, aside from the revolutionary songs on the radio, He Yuzhu hadn't heard anyone sing so naturally. He listened carefully for a moment and recognized it as "Let Us Paddle Together."
*Let us paddle together,*
*The boat pushes aside the waves,*
*The water reflects the White Pagoda,*
*Surrounded by green trees and red walls.*
*The boat rocks gently on the water.*
Lou Xiaoe’s voice was beautiful, and her sense of rhythm was excellent; she had clearly received professional training. To see such a natural beauty singing softly was mesmerizing. Even He Yuzhu, who had seen countless women, couldn't help but be moved.
He gazed at Lou Xiaoe for a long while, then took out the harmonica he carried with him and began to play along with her singing.
Lou Xiaoe was equally astonished. He Yuzhu’s performance exceeded her expectations. She turned to look at him. She hadn't looked closely before, but now she noticed that his profile was sharply defined and very attractive. Immersed in the music, he exuded an indescribable charm, which was incredibly appealing to a woman of culture and artistic appreciation like Lou Xiaoe.
Soon, He Yuzhu finished the piece.
Lou Xiaoe asked curiously, "Do you know any other songs?"
In the past, the Lou family often purchased records from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and abroad, but in recent years, those channels had been cut off, and she could only listen to the same old songs repeatedly.
He Yuzhu thought for a moment and then played Teresa Teng’s "Sweet Honey." It wasn't the right time or place for other types of music; Lou Xiaoe might not appreciate them.
The rhythm of "Sweet Honey" was lively, and the melody was sweet.
Lou Xiaoe closed her eyes, quietly enjoying the music. Her long lashes fluttered slightly, reflecting the sunlight from the window like the wings of a butterfly about to take flight.
When the song ended, Lou Xiaoe asked, "He Yuzhu, can you sing this?"
"Of course!"
Thanks to the help of the System, He Yuzhu had mastered various skills, including music and painting, though he rarely used them in daily life, so his skill level wasn't yet top-tier. Even so, his musical attainment far surpassed the average person, and coupled with this classic song ahead of its time, Lou Xiaoe was deeply intoxicated.
*Sweet honey, your smile is sweet honey.*
*It seems I have seen you somewhere in my memory.*
*Your smile makes me feel so familiar, yet I cannot recall where.*
*Ah, perhaps in a dream.*
...
He Yuzhu imitated the version of "Sweet Honey" once covered by Leon Lai; his singing voice was as gentle and affectionate as flowing water, intoxicating to all who heard it. The lyrics, in particular, were incredibly infectious.
What was even more remarkable was that the lyrics were perfectly suited for a man and a woman in love. In this relatively private space, everything felt especially significant.
Waves of emotion stirred within Lou Xiaoe, and her cheeks flushed slightly. This boy was truly an extraordinary talent! A strong desire to explore further surged in her heart, and she couldn't help but want to know more about He Yuzhu.
After the song, He Yuzhu asked Lou Xiaoe to read for a while, while he went to prepare lunch. Before he began, he poured her a glass of water in his own enamel mug.
Lou Xiaoe had a touch of mysophobia, a common trait in wealthy families; she usually wouldn't drink from someone else’s cup. Yet today, she didn't seem to notice. She took the mug from He Yuzhu, said thank you, and took a casual sip.
Once Lou Xiaoe was settled, He Yuzhu turned to the stove to start cooking. Most families still used honeycomb briquettes, which often filled the rooms with a heavy, smoky smell. He Yuzhu hadn't skimped on this; after crossing over, he had switched to higher-quality briquettes that produced less smoke and were safer for indoor use.
Since his Culinary Arts skill had risen to the "Gold Beginner" level, He Yuzhu had been suppressing his abilities, performing only at a "Silver Advanced" level each time he cooked. Today, he decided to make an exception for Lou Xiaoe and try utilizing his Gold Beginner techniques.
During the process, he used the excuse of fetching ingredients to retrieve several items and seasonings from a mysterious space.
Lou Xiaoe grew bored of reading and walked over to watch He Yuzhu cook. She soon noticed that the He Yuzhu who was usually boisterous and carefree became a completely different person the moment he picked up a harmonica or entered the kitchen.
How to describe it? After a moment of thought, Lou Xiaoe felt that "pious" was the most accurate word for his state.
Holding an ordinary kitchen knife, the playful expression on He Yuzhu's face vanished, replaced by an expression of total concentration. Under his control, the knife chopped ingredients rapidly, and the sound of the blade hitting the cutting board was rhythmic and melodic.
Every dish, every seasoning, seemed to have been planned in his mind long ago. Whether he reached for ingredients or spices, he never had to look back; they were always at his fingertips, and he never made a mistake. The entire process was incredibly fluid, with almost no pauses.
Lou Xiaoe shook her head. No wonder people say cooking is an art; when any profession is pushed to its limit, it radiates an artistic aura.
The Gold Beginner level of culinary skill was reflected not only in the quality of the dishes but also in the incredible speed of preparation. Eight dishes, each rich in color, aroma, and taste, were washed, chopped, stir-fried, and boiled in just one hour.
The first cold dish left Lou Xiaoe marveling. It was beautifully arranged, with mashed potatoes forming two flower petals in the center, a "Double Happiness" character fashioned from golden pastries, and the surrounding area decorated with cucumber cups, tomato flowers, preserved egg slices, ham, and shrimp crackers in a symmetrical pattern.
Lou Xiaoe had seen her fair share of the world, but even when she lived abroad, she had never seen such exquisite presentation.
The dishes that followed—tofu with green onions, cauliflower with dried shrimp, stir-fried Moo Shu pork, tomato-sauce pork slices, and scallion-seared lamb—were equally impressive. The final two dishes exceeded her expectations: boiled fish and, surprisingly, roast duck.
Lou Xiaoe’s family frequently ate Quanjude roast duck, although they had cut back on luxury in the last two years to avoid attracting attention, so she wasn't easily impressed by the ingredients alone. She paid more attention to the dish itself. Clearly, the roast duck He Yuzhu made by hand was even more refined than Quanjude’s; she just wondered how it tasted.
Once the meal was ready, Lou Xiaoe helped bring the dishes out to the courtyard. He Yuzhu then made a loud announcement to everyone.
Although no one had been waiting in the yard, they had all been secretly wondering if he could really pull off eight dishes. Many had assumed He Yuzhu would just use tricks to make up the numbers, but when he actually brought out eight dishes, everyone was stunned. Both adults and children couldn't help but swallow their saliva.
"Shazhu, how much did all this food cost you?"
"I reckon at least twenty yuan!"
"Twenty yuan? You think money grows on trees? At least fifty, minimum!"
Third Uncle waved his hand. "You people are too inexperienced. I once went to a big restaurant in Beijing with the principal; I’ve seen such dishes before. Do you know how much a meal like that cost?"
Third Uncle glared at everyone around him. "Over five hundred!"
"What?" Everyone, young and old, widened their eyes in shock. Eating a meal for over five hundred yuan was simply unbelievable.
"Of course, this table of Shazhu’s surely isn't five hundred—there are only eight dishes—but I’d guess around two hundred."
"My god, that’s enough to feed my family for a year!"
"If I had that kind of money, I’d rather buy a bicycle; that would be much more respectable!"
"My eldest son is getting married, and the girl's side wants a watch, heard they cost a hundred and fifty yuan each. Isn't that ridiculous? Can you eat a watch?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion; some were filled with emotion, others complained—a complex mix of feelings.
Lou Xiaoe smiled slightly. She didn't know the exact cost of the dishes He Yuzhu had made, but if they were sold, they would be worth at least a thousand yuan. She viewed He Yuzhu in a new light now—not because he didn't seem to lack money, but because he seemed utterly indifferent to it.
This attitude wasn't the reckless spending of a spoiled rich kid. Looking at his home, it was simple and plain, devoid of any luxury.
When He Yuzhu saw that everyone had seen enough, he turned to Xu Damao standing on the side. "Damao, I’ve served up these eight dishes. That counts, right?"
"Of course it counts!"