Chapter 20: Flawed Identity

To let He Yushui feel his brother's deep affection, and also to make up for failing her in his past life, this thought was at work.

Shazhu completely ignored Yushui's desire not to have extra lessons and to play instead, using a bowl of egg soup plus dinner dumplings at Liu Bi Ju as payment, and settled the matter of Yan Fugui tutoring Yushui.

School was off on Sunday.

Yan Fugui tutored Yushui in his siheyuan.

From Monday to Friday, Yushui attended school during the day and, in the evenings, found time to receive Yan Fugui's tutoring.

Shazhu did the math.

A week has seven days.

Aside from attending school, Yushui had no choice but to take the tutoring.

As her brother.

That's how much he cares for his sister!

If Yushui found out, she would surely be moved to tears.

The confident Shazhu.

He left Yan Fugui's house with a satisfied stride.

Watching Shazhu's retreating back.

Third Aunt sighed.

"Old Yan, this Shazhu kid has changed a lot."

Yan Fugui nodded.

That's true.

At that time, He Daqing gave off an impression of being unscrupulous; He Daqing ran off with a widow, and Shazhu, whether speaking or handling affairs, was flawless.

Getting close to someone like that.

It's not a bad thing.

……

The middle courtyard.

Shazhu's home.

Shazhu, returning from Yan Fugui's house.

Everyone was startled.

He nervously rubbed his eyes, realizing he hadn't misseen; the hypocrite Daqing was already squatting at home like a door god.

"Elder Yi, do you have something?"

Those six words broke Yi Zhonghai's defenses.

He felt a myriad of emotions.

There's something!

Don't you know what mistake you've made!

There's more.

It's a big matter.

"Shazhu, did you bring egg soup to Third Master?"

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's tone of questioning.

Shazhu then understood the whole story: the hypocrite was jealous, seeing that he had given egg soup to both Xu Daming and Yan Fugui, yet ignored Yi Zhonghai and Long Laotaitai, leaving him feeling unbalanced.

"I wasn't planning to have Third Master tutor Yushui in his spare time; I just sent over a bowl of egg soup."

Yushui's face instantly clouded over.

Tutoring.

You actually had Yan Fugui tutor me.

"I don't want to."

This was Yushui's final stubbornness.

"What you say doesn't count; what I say does. Study well with Third Master, and strive to produce a college graduate for our old He family—understand?"

Yushui angrily turned her head away.

"This girl, she's overjoyed."

Yushui was confused.

Your eyes must be faulty.

Am I happy?

I'm clearly not happy.

"Brother, our teacher said we can't engage in profiteering."

To avoid tutoring.

Yushui brought up the idea of profiteering.

"We're not profiteering either!" Shazhu, meeting Yushui's hopeful gaze, said, "Third Master tutors you for free; when we eat at home, Third Master just happens to have a bite."

Yi Zhonghai is indeed many years older than Yushui.

He understood everything that Yushui couldn't figure out.

This is still profiteering!

It's merely a different way of saying it.

"Shazhu, let me tell you about the old lady: from now on, when you make egg soup or any other rare delicacy, make a little extra and send it to the old lady in Hou Yuan; she lives alone, she's old, and we neighbors ought to help each other—distant relatives aren't as good as nearby neighbors."

"Elder Yi, you've hit the nail on the head—I think the same. Alright, you take care. From now on, if I make this rare delicacy, I'll definitely send some to the old lady."

Shazhu readily agreed.

That's just the upper lip touching the lower lip.

As for what counts as a rare delicacy, that's entirely under Shazhu's control; Shazhu says what is rare, and that is what is rare.

Conversely.

It's just ordinary food, like braised pork, fish-flavored shredded pork, steamed carp, etc., very commonplace; there's no possibility of sending it to the old lady.

If Shazhu eats dragon liver and phoenix gallbladder, he must definitely send some to Long Laotaitai.

Basically, saying it is equivalent to saying nothing.

The result is still that nothing is sent.

Once the purpose is achieved, that's enough.

There's no need to stubbornly argue with Yi Zhonghai; besides offending people, there's nothing else.

One must come secretly.

In a few days I'll move away; go there to find me.

That can be considered numbing Yi Zhonghai.

"Zhuzi, the eldest aunt will go cut meat in a moment; at noon make a meat dish for the old lady so she can taste your cooking; if she really enjoys it, your apprentice recommendation might be advanced."

Yi Zhonghai is casually issuing empty checks.

He also just doesn't know anything about Shazhu.

Yi Zhonghai is meddling.

The matter of recommending an apprentice will definitely be delayed until next year; whether Shazhu's meal is good or bad, it won't help his prospects at all.

Shazhu, who understands this, will not foolishly confront Yi Zhonghai head-on, nor will he argue with him.

"Eldest uncle, rest assured, I'm good at cooking."

"Then the eldest uncle left first."

"Take care."

Shazhu laughed as he saw Yi Zhonghai out the door, turned to He Yushui and gave a reminder, then strode out of the siheyuan.

Go find the street director.

Move.

No longer playing with these people from the siheyuan.

"Director Wang."

"He Yuzhu!" Director Wang saw Shazhu, a hint of worry flickered across his face, "I happen to have something to ask you."

"What a coincidence, I also have something to ask you; you go first."

"Come with me to the office to talk."

Director Wang summoned Shazhu to his office, and taking advantage of the empty moment, he sighed.

"Shazhu, Old Ma from the recycling station replied; according to reason, with your elementary education, entering the recycling station is a sure thing."

Shazhu's heart.

It rose to his throat.

This has already been made clear by reason.

The matter of him going to work at the recycling station changed; otherwise Director Wang wouldn't have such a bitter expression.

"Director Wang, just tell me what happened; I'm young, I can hold out, I can't build the motherland in the city, but farming in the countryside can also contribute to the motherland; you speak."

The result doesn't matter.

First express this attitude.

"I didn't expect the recycling station's review to be so strict; during the puppet regime, your father worked several years making food in a restaurant run by the puppet regime."

Shazhu was truly helpless.

During the time the puppet regime occupied the capital.

Many famous restaurants in the capital were seized by the puppet regime.

For the lake mouth.

Those cooks and waiters who worked in fear for several years.

"The old man has no choice either; if he doesn't work to earn money, I and Yushui will starve; we can't just sew our mouths shut, can we?"

"Shazhu, what are you complaining about?" Director Wang glared at Shazhu, "The organization won't kill everyone with one blow; you can't go to the recycling station, but the scrap yard is still an option."