Chapter 2

There wasn't much going on in the cafeteria; He Yuzhu and Ma Hua exchanged a few words telling each other to practice their skills well, then he slipped out when he got the chance.

Yesterday his head was pounding and he hadn't tidied up the house properly; today, when he goes back, he plans to take stock of his belongings and properly plan his future.

If this broken system keeps acting up, he can't keep idling away all the time.

Just as he reached the gate of the courtyard house, a middle‑aged or elderly man wearing glasses—thin and weak, eyes blinking rapidly—was tending the flowers by the gate. Seeing He Yuzhu return, the man's small eyes fixed on his lunchbox.

"Silly Zhu, what tasty dish are you carrying? Let's have a drink together tonight, old man." This was the Third Grand Uncle who never gets enough of taking advantage.

"Hey, your watered‑down liquor—better keep it for yourself." He Yuzhu wasn't polite at all: "At your age, couldn't you show a little decency? If I hear you call me 'stupid' again, I won't be polite."

Third Grand Uncle obviously didn't take it seriously; he just said it offhand, knowing he wouldn't get that thing anyway. As for the name, everyone's been calling him that for years, so they're used to it.

If we don't give them a lesson, they won't repent.

Qin Huiru, as expected, was washing clothes in the central courtyard. Although she was a bit angry at noon, she didn't take it too seriously, thinking maybe some leader was inspecting the cafeteria.

She was still thinking that when He Yuzhu comes back in the evening she'll give him a good scolding; she's been nice to him these days, yet he dared to speak to her like that.

But seeing He Yuzhu walk home step by step with his lunchbox, her heart grew heavier. When he was about to reach home, she rushed over in quick steps.

"Zhuzi, what delicious food did you bring?" Qin Huiru smiled like a neighborly older sister. "Bargeng keeps mentioning you, saying your cooking is the best."

"It's delicious—then tomorrow buy an extra portion at the cafeteria." He Yuzhu laughed. "If it's not enough, just buy two more; the cafeteria food is never lacking."

Qin Huiru's face darkened as if rain were coming. She pointed at He Yuzhu and asked, "Why won't you give me face? You spoke so harshly at noon—do you think it's easy to bully a widow like me?"

From now on, don't call her "Qin Sister," and don't ask her to tidy up the house.

"It's your first day eating in the cafeteria; other cooks scold even more harshly." He Yuzhu said indifferently.

With a bang he shut the door, and He Yuzhu returned home alone to enjoy the delicious stir‑fried eggplant with meat slices.

Qin Huiru helplessly returned home and began preparing dinner.

"What are we having for dinner tonight? Is there any meat? I've been starving these past two days." Jia Zhangshi returned home and started nagging, "What did Silly Zhu bring today?"

Qin Huiru told Jia Zhangshi what had happened, and this instantly made Jia Zhangshi fly into a rage: "Is Silly Zhu brain‑damaged? He's trying to eat himself to death; eating that dish would be a waste."

She paced around the house twice, then, with her plump figure, went to Eldest Grand Uncle's house. In this courtyard there are certainly people who can discipline Silly Zhu; not giving him anything today can't be let slide.

Eldest Grand Uncle heard Jia Zhangshi's exaggerated report with some disbelief; there wasn't even a hint of it, so how could they suddenly fall out? Could it be…? No, that shouldn't be.

"Zhuzi, what delicious food did you bring?" Qin Huairu showed a neighborly big-sister smile, "Bang Geng keeps mentioning you, saying your cooking is the best."

He didn't even have time to eat; he hurried out with Jia Zhangshi. Halfway there he patted her hand and said, "Old sister‑in‑law, I'll go myself; you go home and wait for news."

He Yuzhu finished two steamed buns and a lunchbox of vegetables down to the last bite, and was slowly savoring it when Eldest Grand Uncle pushed the door in, sighed, and said, "Zhuzi, why aren't you sending anything to the Jia family? Their life is tough."

"Is that so? What does that have to do with me?"

"It's your first day eating in the cafeteria, other cooks scold even more harshly." He Yuzhu said indifferently.

"Then tomorrow I might scatter some insecticide; such a cold‑blooded creature should stay far away, otherwise one day it could bite me to death." He Yuzhu got up and poured himself a cup of water.

"How can you say that? Your Qin Sister has helped a lot."

"Help me or help you?" He Yuzhu gave Eldest Grand Uncle a meaningful glance. "Yesterday I suffered such a serious injury, and not even anyone came to look at me."

Eldest Grand Uncle was about to say something, but He Yuzhu directly asked him how he got injured.

"Well, I think your mind isn't quite clear; from now on you can't keep acting recklessly." Eldest Grand Uncle hadn't finished speaking when he briskly walked away.

Even Eldest Grand Uncle keeps his own injury a secret—just who dealt such a heavy blow? After a day's thought, he's roughly recalled what happened.

How come this particular memory is problematic?

While He Yuzhu was deep in thought, his door was pushed open again, and an old man wearing a black Zhongshan suit with two pens stuck in his pocket entered.

"Zhuzi, I've been waiting for you at the street office all day today—why haven't you come to pick up the paperwork?" The old man placed a file folder on the table. "You've completed the inheritance of Old Warm's little grocery shop; you and your spouse shouldn't quarrel anymore—at your age, it's time to get a wife."

He Yuzhu stared at the man, dumbfounded.

They're all neighbors……

That tomorrow I'll have to sprinkle some insecticide; such cold-blooded creatures must stay far away, otherwise one day they could bite me to death. He Yuzhu stood up and poured himself a cup of water.

How can you say that? Your Qin sister has helped a lot.

Help me or help you, huh? He Yuzhu gave Yi Daye a meaningful look, "Yesterday I suffered such a serious injury, and not even anyone came over to take a look."

Yi Daye still wanted to say something, but He Yuzhu directly asked him how he got injured.

Well, I think your mind isn't quite clear yet; from now on you can't keep acting like this. Yi Daye hadn't finished speaking when he left with a vigorous stride.

Even Yi Daye was secretive about his own injury—just who dealt him such a heavy blow? After a day's thought, he had roughly recalled what happened before.

How come this segment of memory is having problems?

While He Yuzhu was deep in thought, his door was pushed open again, and an old man in a black Zhongshan suit with two pens stuck in it entered.

Zhuzi, I've been waiting for you at the street all day; why haven't you come over to get the paperwork? The old man placed a file folder on the table, "The matter of you inheriting Old Wen's little grocery shop has been settled; you two shouldn't quarrel anymore—at your age, you should have a wife."

He Yuzhu stared at this person, dumbfounded.