Chapter 10: Return to Four Nine City

In the early morning, He Yuzhu rose and saw the house full of leftover dishes and rice, gave a wry smile; last night he had talked with He Daqing until past eleven, and they finished a bottle of Lotus White liquor. The present He Yuzhu is not yet the He Yuzhu who had undergone the baptism of war in his previous life; he is still an inexperienced, naive student who has never been in a drinking scene.

After getting up, He Yuzhu simply washed his face.

After coming downstairs and checking out of the room, He Yuzhu asked about the direction to the train station, then walked there on foot. Along the way he passed a shop selling huoshao. You think it's just an ordinary huoshao shop? No, you're wrong—since we're in Protected City, it must be a donkey meat huoshao shop. He Yuzhu had long heard that the donkey meat huoshao in Protected City is delicious, but he'd never had a chance to try it; now that he's here, how could he let the opportunity pass?

Entering the shop, He Yuzhu shouted at the boss, "Boss, first three donkey meat huoshao and a bowl of soup, then another ten donkey meat huoshao to go." Seeing a big customer, the boss hurriedly replied, "Sure thing, have a seat, it'll be ready soon." Why pack ten huoshao to go? Let me calculate for you: He Yushui, Wang Youde, and so on. When you make a trip, you've got to bring back some local specialties.

Soon, the three donkey meat huoshao and a bowl of soup arrived. The boss placed the huoshao on the table and said, "Eat these first; the other ten huoshao will be ready shortly." He Yuzhu responded, picked up a huoshao without minding the heat, and stuffed it into his mouth, thinking as he ate, "This donkey meat huoshao is off the charts—YYDS!"

After finishing his meal, He Yuzhu settled the bill, took the package, and headed for the train station. You wonder where the package came from? He asked the boss for it; otherwise, openly carrying ten donkey meat huoshao would attract resentment. For this reason, the boss even charged He Yuzhu an extra mao.

Arriving at the train station, after buying his ticket He Yuzhu turned to head toward the entrance when he heard someone calling him. Looking back, he saw the railway-cap-wearing Uncle Chen Weihai. He Yuzhu stopped, waited a moment for Old Chen, and said, "What a coincidence, Comrade Chen—you're also heading back to Four Nine City today."

"Indeed, it's not that yesterday, after failing to hand over Zhang Yan to the Protected City Military Control Committee, I and Xiao Liu didn't follow the train, letting two other local comrades from Protected City take charge of the convoy. The handover was completed last night, so I planned to return to Four Nine City today, which also gives me a little break."

"Oh, you and Comrade Xiao Liu have certainly rendered great service this time—what reward did you get? Tell me, I'm jealous too." He Yuzhu said with a laugh to Old Chen.

"Alright, you're testing me, right? Don't call me comrade; just call me Chen Uncle, and I'll call you Zhuzi. You said—if it weren't for Comrade Gao Yue, I wouldn't know which unit you're from, kid. You're impressive, so young and already a head chef. Rest assured, I won't forget you; when I go back I'll send the commendation letter and banner to your unit. Come on, let me let you bask in my glory today—come, follow me."

Saying that, Old Chen led He Yuzhu toward the staff passage, brought him aboard the train without asking which car he was in, and took him straight to the sleeper section, saying as they walked, "You, today you just need to be in the sleeper section—this is exactly the kind of person I'd bring; I wouldn't bring just anyone."

"Then thank you, Chen Uncle—ordinary people can't even get a sleeper berth." He Yuzhu said happily.

All went smoothly, and He Yuzhu quickly arrived at Four Nine City. Leaving the train station square, he headed straight for his master Wang Youde's home. Before even entering the door, he shouted, "Master's wife, come out and greet me—look what I've brought for you!"

Hearing He Yuzhu's voice, Li Lanying came out of the house and said to him, "You little brat, after making such a big deal you're still grinning, heartless—have you even seen your father yet?"

"I have seen him, and we've finished talking. From now on my father will send 15 yuan home each month." As he spoke, He Yuzhu pulled Li Lanying into the house, saying, "Look what I've brought back for you."

He Yuzhu opened the bundle, took out the donkey meat huoshao, and handed it to Li Lanying.

"You little troublemaker, always wasting money—sigh, how are you and Yushui supposed to get by? You're both still children, and He Daqing is just too harsh." Li Lanying said, then sighed.

"Master's wife, don't worry—my father's going to Protected City also has his difficulties, but rest assured, I'm now the head chef at Yagangchang; even if my father doesn't send money, I can support Yushui on my own, and besides, we still have you and the master—you couldn't let us starve." He Yuzhu said with a grin.

"You little brat, hurry up and wash your face, then go fetch Yushui back." Li Lanying slapped He Yuzhu and headed for the kitchen.

After washing his face, He Yuzhu headed toward Fragrant Rice Village; he didn't want Yushui to cry, and he was still thinking about the donkey roll and peach pastries he'd promised her.

After finishing his shopping, He Yuzhu arrived at the school gate; before he could wait a moment, school let out, and Yushui came out of school, saw what he was holding, and ran over, saying, "Older brother, you're back!"

"What, if I didn't buy anything I'd be 'later brother'?" He Yuzhu said, looking at Yushui with a smile.

"No way—you're always my older brother." Saying that, Yushui took the things and headed toward South Gong and Drum Lane.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu quickly grabbed Yushui's hand and said, "You'll be eating lunch and dinner at my master's place today; I brought donkey meat huoshao and left it at his home—how could you not want to eat it?"

"Really, older brother? Then tonight I can play with Sister Tingting too—let's hurry, brother; if we're late the donkey meat huoshao won't taste good." Yushui hurriedly pulled He Yuzhu toward Wang Youde's home.

Wang Youde has two children in total: his eldest son, Wang Zhenjiang, is 21 this year and has been serving in the military; his younger daughter, Wang Tingting, is 14 and just started junior high, and her school is very close to the one Yushui attends.

"This little girl—sigh, by evening I don't know if she'll still be this happy, but it should be fine; let Yushui stay at the master's place for a while, and once she gets used to it there'll be no problem." He Yuzhu thought.

Arriving at Master Wang Youde's home, Wang Tingting was already home. Seeing Wang Tingting, Yushui immediately let go of He Yuzhu's hand and ran toward her, saying, "Tingting sister, look what my older brother bought!"

Seeing He Yuzhu, Wang Tingting called out "Zhuzi brother!" and took Yushui into his room; what they went to do is unknown.

Soon Li Lanying brought out the food from the kitchen and said to He Yuzhu, "Go call them two to eat," then went back into the kitchen to fetch more dishes.

After they finished eating and Wang Tingting took Yushui to her room, He Yuzhu said to Li Lanying, "Master's wife, I'd like Yushui to stay at your place for a while; once her mood stabilizes after some time, I'll bring her back home—what do you think?"

"What's the problem, Zhuzi? Yushui is someone I've watched grow up; I've raised her like my own daughter. She's been motherless since childhood, and now—well, I won't say more." Li Lanying said, then sighed again.

"All right, Master's wife, tomorrow I have to go to work—let Tingting walk to school with Yushui after her classes; I'm going out for a bit, and this afternoon you should have Tingting take Yushui to school." He Yuzhu said, then prepared to go out.

Li Lanying stopped He Yuzhu and said, "Zhuzi, you've grown up too; although your father is gone, you should also find a wife. In the coming days I'll have someone introduce you to a few prospects for you to check out."

"All right, Master's wife, I'm going out to run some errands; we'll talk more when we come back tonight." Having said that, He Yuzhu headed toward the door.