Chapter 13

Wait for He Yushui and Wang Tingting to return from school, He Yuzhu's master's wife Li Lanying had already prepared the meal. After the four finished eating, Wang Tingting took He Yushui to play in her room, while He Yuzhu and Li Lanying sat in the living room chatting, waiting for master Wang Youde to get off work.

Around seven in the evening, Wang Youde returned home. Before he even entered the door, He Yuzhu hurried over, took off Wang Youde's shoulder bag and placed it on the clothes rack. As the head chef of Emei Restaurant, Wang Youde still had certain privileges; after stir-frying a few specialty dishes around seven, he could get off work. Seeing He Yuzhu pouring water for him again, Wang Youde said, "Don't busy yourself, Zhuzi, come sit here—we two old men need to talk."

After He Yuzhu placed Wang Youde's teacup on the table, he said to Wang Youde, "Master, I still haven't told Yushui about this; I was waiting for you to come back to tell her. Also, I want Yushui to stay with you for a few more days; I'm afraid this child won't adapt quickly."

"All right, Zhuzi, even if you didn't say it, I think the same way. This He Daqing, why is he so unwilling to listen to advice? Don't blame your master for not telling you beforehand, Zhuzi; it's really because your father forbade speaking, and also because you're too young, afraid you'll do something rash." Wang Youde said resentfully.

"How could it be, Master? Although my father is gone, I went to see him yesterday, and we talked well. My father promised to send 15 yuan each month for me and Yushui. My father also has his difficulties, so I won't mention it, Master." After He Yuzhu took out a cigarette and lit it for Wang Youde, he added.

"By the way, Master, although my father is gone, the families in our Courtyard House aren't exactly pushovers. I'm afraid we'll be bullied later. I want you to bring a few of my senior brothers to my place tomorrow for a meal, and meanwhile let the people in the courtyard know about my father's passing. After all, this can't be kept secret. With you and my senior brothers backing us, I think those few in the courtyard won't dare mess with us anymore."

After Wang Youde readily agreed, he said, "Fine, I'll contact your senior brothers tomorrow morning, Zhuzi. You're now the head of the household, so from now on you must think carefully before making any decisions."

"I know, Master, I'll definitely pay attention from now on. Although my father is gone, I still have you, Master, so I'll treat you and my master's wife as my own parents from now on. I also have an idea, Master: I want our two families to become even closer through marriage."

Upon hearing this, Wang Youde quickly waved his hands and said, "Zhuzi, Zhuzi, listen to me—Tingting is only fourteen, not even...."

He Yuzhu instantly felt many unknown animals running in his mind, and he hurriedly said, "Master, what are you thinking? I want Yushui to acknowledge you and the master's wife as her godfather and godmother; that way I think she'll feel a bit better in her heart. What do you think?"

Wang Youde gave an embarrassed chuckle twice and said, "What's wrong with that? Your master's wife has always treated Yushui as her own daughter. Fine, go call Yushui out; let's tell her tonight, because the longer we wait, the more it will hurt this child."

After He Yuzhu called the two out from Wang Tingting's room, he said to He Yushui, "Yushui, do you like Uncle Wang and Aunt Li?"

"I like them, I especially like Uncle Wang and Aunt Li; I want to live at their house every day," He Yushui said happily.

"So, starting today, will you acknowledge Uncle Wang and Aunt Li as your godfather and godmother?" After saying this, He Yuzhu looked at He Yushui, but as soon as the words left his mouth, He Yushui's eyes instantly filled with tears and she burst into tears.

He Yuzhu hurriedly asked what was wrong with Yushui, and Wang Youde and his wife also showed concern, but when Yushui said just one sentence, He Yuzhu couldn't hold back his tears: "Brother, does that mean I'll have a mother too?"

Li Lanying hurriedly embraced He Yushui to comfort her, saying, "Don't cry, Yushui; from now on I am your real mother. If you have anything, tell Mom. Tingting is your real sister."

He Yushui cried while holding Li Lanying for a while before He Yuzhu pulled her to kowtow to Wang Youde and his wife to acknowledge the parent-child relationship.

After He Yushui's emotions steadied a bit, He Yuzhu looked at her and said, "Yushui, you weren't wondering what I was up to yesterday, were you? I'll tell you now, but after I do, you don't need to be afraid—you still have your brother, your sister, and your godfather and godmother, okay?"

He Yushui nodded and said, "Mm, brother, go ahead—I'm not scared because I have a godfather and mother." It's unclear whether it's because she grew up without a mother, but from now on He Yushui calls Wang Youde "godfather" and Li Lanying "mom," or perhaps she never added the "god" prefix to "mother."

Upon hearing He Yushui say that, He Yuzhu took her hand and said, "Yushui, yesterday I went to Preserve City to look for our father. Our father and that Aunt Bai went to live in Preserve City and never returned to Old Beijing. Yushui, don't resent our father; he also has his difficulties. There are some things I can't tell you now; I'll tell you when you're older."

After saying that, He Yuzhu saw He Yushui's expression hadn't changed much and added, "Don't worry, Yushui; you now have a godfather and godmother, plus me and your sister Tingting. We won't let you suffer any injustice. Moreover, our father sends you 15 yuan every month; that money is all yours—I'll give it all to you, okay?"

He Yushui fell silent for a moment, then said, "Brother, I'm nine years old; after the New Year I'll be ten. I'm not a little kid anymore. Brother, I'm not scared; I have a mother, so I'm not afraid. You don't need to worry about me." He Yushui's words were quite unexpected to He Yuzhu, perhaps because we had found her a godfather and godmother, which eased things a bit. Actually, this turned out even better—he really feared that Yushui would kick up a fuss about looking for He Daqing, which would have gotten him into trouble.

"Yushui, from now on I and your godfather will be your real parents; rest assured, Yushui, your godmother will definitely not let you suffer any injustice," Li Lanying said heartbrokenly.

Seeing Yushui like that, He Yuzhu's mind was completely at ease. He instructed Yushui to stay at Wang Youde's place for a few days, then had Wang Tingting take her back to her room.

After He Yuzhu saw the matter settled, he bade farewell to Wang Youde and his wife, then leisurely returned alone to the Courtyard House. He greeted the three senior elders who always stand guard at the gate of the Courtyard House, then hurried back to his own room to light the stove.

He hadn't moved the stove in his room for a day and a night. When he came back this afternoon, the sun was shining and it didn't feel too cold, but as soon as he entered the house at night, He Yuzhu felt it was colder than outside, so he hurried to get a piece of honeycomb coal to exchange at the neighboring Yi Zhonghai's house.

After lighting the stove, He Yuzhu instantly felt as warm as a spring breeze; he felt capable again, his whole body brimming with energy. He took the radio from the wardrobe, then took out the newly bought diode soldering iron and welded it on. With a heart full of excitement, He Yuzhu gently turned on the radio—one second, two seconds, ten seconds—still no sound?

He Yuzhu opened the back cover, slapped his forehead—damn, he'd forgotten to install the batteries again.

He Yuzhu gently turned on the radio, a electric current sound came from inside, He Yuzhu slapped his thigh and said, "Hey, it works, buddy—I'm a genius." He Yuzhu slowly tuned the dial, and a familiar song came out of the radio: "The East Is Red, the sun rises~~~~~"