Chapter 9: Chapter Nine: The Secret That Cannot Be Spoken of in the Courtyard House

He Daqing didn't take He Yuzhu to a restaurant but bought some food and a bottle of lotus white liquor outside.

However, I must mention this lotus white liquor; it once appeared in an article describing the old Four Nine City, and regarding that description, the author wrote as follows:

In the summer heat, invite three or five friends, agree on a big wine vat, have two catties of lotus white liquor, then order two plates of crispy small carp and exploded mutton—what a taste!

Just hearing it makes one feel as if they're there, eager to pour two cups of lotus white liquor and taste its wonderful flavor.

The two of them opened a room at the guesthouse with He Yuzhu's letter of introduction; He Yuzhu was really hungry, he grabbed the just-laid-out thin pancake, wrapped it around donkey meat and took big bites, then put the pancake down, picked up the lotus white liquor and poured a cup for each of them, He Yuzhu, mouth full, mumbled 'Dad, I toast you,' then gulped down the cup in one go.

After He Yuzhu finished eating a pancake, he said to He Daqing, 'Dad, you don't know—I've eaten two fried dough sticks and a piece of peach pastry since this morning, I'm starving; you don't know, hey, I ate peach pastry on the train and choked because I had no water, I had to drink two bowls of cool water to get it down.'

After He Yuzhu said that, he saw He Daqing's eyes welling up with tears; in fact, that's exactly the result He Yuzhu wanted—what parent in the world doesn't truly feel sorry for their own child?

Of course, He Yuzhu did this also to lay groundwork for later questioning He Daqing, to make him speak the truth.

"Dad, actually I came to you with two things to ask; the first is about our Courtyard House—I always feel our Courtyard House is truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; can you tell me about it?" He Yuzhu, seeing that the indignation had been set up, said to He Daqing.

Actually He Yuzhu really wanted to say, 'Dad, I came from a later generation through time travel; the people of our Courtyard House almost killed me, almost caused our He family line to end, and you in your old age would also be driven out of the house by the White Widow—but He Yuzhu couldn't say that; even if he did, He Daqing might not believe him, and might even seize He Yuzhu and demand he return his son.'

He Daqing heard He Yuzhu's words, stared at him for a while, then said, 'Zhuzi, did you figure something out?'

"Dad, how could I? I just always feel uneasy; before, with you around I didn't have to think about these things, but now that you're gone I'm afraid I'll be sold off and still help others count their money."

He Daqing sighed and said, 'Zhuzi, you've grown up; Dad will tell you about these matters of our Courtyard House.'

He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu and said, 'Actually, in our Courtyard House there are three households you need to guard against: one is Old Lady Rong and the Xu family in the back courtyard, and another is Yi Zhonghai in the central courtyard.'

This Old Lady Rong used to be a concubine in a wealthy household; she gave birth to a son who followed a bald man to the crooked place, earlier I went to their mansion and worked in the kitchen, so I know that, and I've also seen her son, who looks especially like her.

This Yi Zhonghai is a distant nephew of Old Lady Rong; previously, this little rascal didn't do honest work, always running to the half-closed gate.

In the end he ruined himself, contracted a disease, had no choice, so he went to Old Lady Rong's mansion to beg her; at first Old Lady Rong didn't want to get involved.

But this Yi Zhonghai is also a tough guy; he stubbornly knelt outside Old Lady Rong's house for a whole night in heavy snow.

Old Lady Rong couldn't bear it and gave him some money to see a doctor.

In the end his life was saved, but he could never have children in this lifetime, which is why he and the old lady have been together for so many years without having kids.

He Yuzhu thought, 'You're not exactly good either~~'

Later Yi Zhonghai recovered from his illness, then, through Old Lady Rong, he asked Lou Dong to go to the Yagangchang; afterwards the Yagangchang assigned this room in the Courtyard House to Yi Zhonghai, just as the southern war broke out, and Old Lady Rong also came over; later I saw his son come to the Courtyard House to look for Old Lady Rong, after which I never saw him again—I guess he went to the crooked place.

As for the Xu family, they have nothing to do with those two; this person is just too vicious—remember to keep dealings with them to a minimum.

He Daqing finished speaking, looked at He Yuzhu, and continued, 'I know you want to ask me about the second matter; what is it? Anyway, I'll tell you.'

Actually, I came to Bao City all thanks to Old Lady Rong's favor!

"Old Lady Rong, I always thought it was Yi Zhonghai," He Yuzhu said in surprise; after saying that, he took another bite of the donkey-meat-wrapped pancake, putting on a look of a bystander.

"Yi Zhonghai, heh, without Old Lady Rong he's nothing—he isn't even worth a fart," He Daqing said contemptuously.

He Yuzhu thought inwardly, 'Don't embarrass yourself; you're already like this and still talking about others.'

"This white lotus is actually a trap set by Old Lady Rong; later she recognized me, had warned me once before, perhaps feeling uneasy she gave me this trap, sigh."

He Yuzhu thought inwardly, 'It's not that I can't control myself; otherwise how could they always get it right?'

After listening to He Daqing finish, He Yuzhu looked at him and said, 'Then you don't need to come to Bao City; just stay in the Four Nine City.'

"Zhuzi, you don't understand; people who come out of those big mansions are fierce—who knows if they have more tricks up their sleeve? I'm not afraid myself, but I'm worried something might happen to you two siblings; how would I explain it to your mother?"

He Yuzhu, hearing He Daqing say that, felt actually quite moved inside, and said to He Daqing, 'Dad, even if you don't give me money I can still take good care of Yu Shui, but seeing the White Widow in my heart makes me uncomfortable; actually this money is savings I've put aside for your old age.'

"You little rabbit bastard, still scheming against your old man—is your old man really that lacking in cunning?"

He Yuzhu thought inwardly, 'If it weren't for my past life, I would have believed you.'

He Yuzhu quickly said, 'Dad, I'm not doubting you; I just want to leave you a way out—I understand this matter, but what about Yu Shui? When she grows up she'll surely hate you to death.'

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, He Daqing's tears fell pattering; He Daqing felt sorry for his little cotton jacket—although sometimes it lets in wind, it's still his own child after all.

"Zhuzi, you must take good care of Yu Shui; absolutely don't let her down—if you hate someone, hate your dad for being incapable," He Daqing said, looking at He Yuzhu.

"Dad, rest assured, I will take good care of Yu Shui; I won't let anyone bully her, rest assured no one will!"

After saying that, the two clinked cups, talked about He Yuzhu and Yu Shui's childhood, and it wasn't until after eleven at night that He Daqing finally left.