Chapter 292: A Reminder to Sha Zhu

The lingering echo of the whole courtyard assembly, like spider silk woven in a corner, seemed invisible yet always managed to stick to something. The low pressure in the Central Courtyard's Sa Zhu Family had persisted for days, so even He Yushui moved in and out gingerly, fearing to touch any of the brother‑and‑sister‑in‑law's sensitive nerves.

Ma Dongmei leaned against the kang, watching Sha Zhu clumsily change a diaper for the wailing He Xiaonian; his movements were still rough, and the anger in her heart was like unburnt firewood in the stove, occasionally puffing out a choking green smoke. She couldn't help but compare with the Xi Kua Yuan: "Look at Li Ping'an, how efficiently he tends to his child! Lin Xueqing's complexion—red here, white there! And look at you…"

Sha Zhu kept his head down, silent, his cheeks grinding with a squeak. He felt aggrieved! Thirty yuan—that could buy a lot of meat! And Xu Damao, who'd lost two front teeth, had been seen around the courtyard these days; his gaze was so shady it seemed to squeeze out water. He knew the matter wasn't over. What could he do? Beat him again? The compensation would exceed thirty.

In the back courtyard, Xu Damao truly was like a lurking poisonous insect. He applied herbal paste to his mouth, his words leaked wind, and he spent most of his time at home with a sullen face; occasionally he went out to empty the spittoon, and when his gaze flicked toward the Central Courtyard, it was cold yet tinged with a hint of mad calculation.

Wang Cuihua finally calmed down, but each night after blowing out the lamp she whispered into Xu Damao's ear: "We can't let this loss go free! We need a way to make Sha Zhu take a big hit!"

In the Xi Kua Yuan, Li Ping'an watched this subtle turbulence with his eyes. He could have stayed out of it, closed the door and lived his own small life. Yet when the night grew deep and quiet, he looked at his baby daughter babbling in his arms, and his thoughts drifted back to over a decade ago.

In 1941, he first arrived in Beiping, unfamiliar with the place, and searching for his lost sister Li Pingle was like finding a needle in the ocean. He Daqing, who was then a master chef at Fengze Garden, pitied him, helped him secure the dreaded "good citizen certificate," and introduced him to pulling a Rickshaw, so at least he had something to eat.

Li Ping'an has always remembered that timely kindness. After He Daqing fled with the White Widow, that gratitude naturally fell onto the unrestrained Sha Zhu.

Now Sha Zhu has a family and children, yet remains reckless and impulsive, causing this trouble. Li Ping'an feels that, both emotionally and logically, he should give the kid a hand. At least, remind him a few words so he knows the weight of his actions.

That day after work, Li Ping'an deliberately detoured to the market stall, and thanks to his covert "trade good for a turn" use of spatial supplies, he always managed to obtain some hard‑to‑find, in‑demand goods. He carried a strip of Pork Belly with fat and lean interlaced, two lively jumping carp, and a small packet of exceptionally fine dried mushrooms back to the Siheyuan.

He didn't go straight home, but first knocked on the door of the Central Courtyard's Sa Zhu Family.

The one who opened the door was He Yushui, who, upon seeing Li Ping'an, was a bit surprised: "Brother Ping'an?"

"Yushui, is your brother at home?" Li Ping'an asked gently.

Sha Zhu was being scolded by Ma Dongmei inside, his head a mess of complaints. Hearing the commotion, he felt like a savior had arrived and hurried out: "Ping'an? Come in quickly!" He glanced at what Li Ping'an was carrying, his eyes lit up, "Yo, this… what's this?"

Li Ping'an smiled: "Nothing special, just some food. Xueqing's milk is abundant, but she can't eat that much. Thinking of your many family members, and Ma Dongmei also needs nutrition, come over tonight to eat together; the two of us can have a couple of glasses."

Sha Zhu was startled, and his heart instantly warmed. In this courtyard, aside from Yi Zhonghai, who would normally want to get tangled with his family's trouble? Especially since he had just finished a fight with Xu Damao, everyone was keeping their distance. Li Ping'an's gesture was undeniably a huge face‑saving for him.

"This… how can I accept this…" Sha Zhu rubbed his hands, feeling embarrassed.

"Zhuzi, don't be formal." Li Ping'an said earnestly, "Back then Uncle He helped me; I've always remembered that. Now you're a father too, we should interact more."

Those words struck Sha Zhu's heart. He's a rough sort, but values loyalty; hearing Li Ping'an mention his father made his eyes a bit watery. "Alright! Brother Ping'an, then I won't be formal with you! Tonight I'll show a skill, and we'll have a good drink!"

At night, the Xi Kua Yuan filled with an inviting aroma of food. Unlike the often‑present, restless smoky scent from the Central Courtyard's Sa Zhu Family, this fragrance was rich and warm. The stove fire blazed brightly, Lin Xueqing sat propped on the bed, cradling the sweet‑sleeping Xiao Nuanqing in her arms, her face bearing a tranquil smile.

On the table were four dishes and a soup: Red Braised Pork, glossy and tempting; dried mushrooms stewed with chicken, fragrant; steamed carp, tender and tasty; plus Vinegar Stir-fried Cabbage and an egg soup. Not overly lavish, but for the first month of 1963 it was already a very respectable host dish.

Li Ping'an and Sha Zhu sat opposite each other for a small drink. The liquor was bulk‑bought sorghum wine that Li Ping'an had sourced from the space, with a rich, strong flavor.

After a few cups, Sha Zhu's mouth opened, and the pent‑up grievances and anger of several days spilled out like beans: "Brother Ping'an, don't you think Xu Damao's grandson deserves a beating? His mouth should be sewn shut! Knocking out two of his teeth would be nothing to me!"

Li Ping'an filled his cup, his tone even: "Zhuzi, hitting someone is satisfying. But then what? Paying thirty yuan and the knot in your heart is undone? Xu Damao is vengeful; if you offend him to death, how many traps could he set behind your back? Have you thought about that?"

Sha Zhu stiffened his neck: "I'm afraid of him? What could he do to me?"

"A bright spear is easy to dodge; a hidden arrow is hard to guard." Li Ping'an set his cup down, his gaze steady as he looked at him, "You're no longer alone. You have a wife and two sons. You're the pillar of the household. If you fall, what will they do? Ma Dongmei is still in confinement, angry with you every day—can she rest properly? Will the milk be good? Will the children be safe?"

A string of questions hammered at Sha Zhu's heart like a small hammer. He opened his mouth to retort, but found no argument. He looked toward the inner room, where Ma Dongmei was leaning to feed the child, her complexion still a bit gaunt. Thinking of his two hungry sons, a pressure he'd never felt before weighed heavily upon him.

Li Ping'an saw his expression relax and continued: "In our courtyard, the First Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder watch, but when real trouble comes, how much can we rely on them? One must depend on oneself and learn to swallow a moment's anger. I'm not saying you should become a turtle, but you must weigh the pros and cons. For a single argument, folding yourself in and making the family live in fear isn't worth it."

Sha Zhu kept his head down, took a sip of the fiery liquor that burned down his throat, yet it cleared his muddled mind a bit. He mulled over Li Ping'an's words, recalled the First Elder's favoritism, the Second Elder's bureaucratic tone, the Third Elder's scheming at the assembly, and compared them with Li Ping'an's heartfelt speech, instantly understanding the closeness and distance of relationships.

"Brother Ping'an, you're right." Sha Zhu let out a heavy sigh, a hint of frustration on his face, "I was too impulsive… it's just… sometimes the anger rises and I can't hold it back…"

"Even if you can't hold it, you must." Li Ping'an's tone grew firmer, "Think of Uncle He; back then at Fengze Garden, he'd seen every sort of person. If you were as quick‑tempered as you are, could you get by? Zhuzi, you have a skill; you'll never go hungry wherever you go. Focus on honing your craft and caring for your family—that's better than anything. Competing with someone like Xu Damao only drags you down."

Those words hit like a revelation, making Sha Zhu shudder. He recalled his father He Daqing, also a reckless man, but when outside he never stood his ground when smoothness was needed. He wondered why he'd been… He looked up at Li Ping'an, his gaze now clearer and more grateful than before.

"Brother, I understand." Sha Zhu nodded firmly, "From now on I'll try… try to change this nasty habit."

The meal left Sha Zhu's emotions roiling. When he left the Xi Kua Yuan, he still carried a small jar of carp soup that Li Ping'an had forced into his hands for Ma Dongmei's nursing. Walking through the chilly courtyard, hearing the soft click of the Xi Kua Yuan's door latch behind him, and recalling his own home's continued chaos, Sha Zhu for the first time deeply realized the importance of a man's steady responsibility.

He glanced back at the pitch‑black window of Xu Damao's house, snorted coldly, "Grandson, you wait for me! I won't fight you directly, but I'll battle you with scheming! Let's see who kills whom!"

Inside the Xi Kua Yuan, Li Ping'an cleared the dishes and whispered to Lin Xueqing, "What can be done has been done; whether he takes it in is up to him."

Lin Xueqing nodded gently, "I hope Zhuzi can understand your good intentions."

Outside, the moonlight was crisp. The Siheyuan's night seemed quieter than usual. Yet everyone knew that beneath this calm, the seed of change had been sown, waiting for time to sprout.

Xu Damao's resentment lay dormant, Sha Zhu's recklessness was being trimmed, and Li Ping'an continued, in his own way, to guard his own warmth while quietly influencing those around him.