Chapter 28

He Yuzhu, Gao Yue, Jia Dongxu? Actually line 1: He Yuzhu rides bicycle to Huaxia University, enters classroom, doesn't see Gao Yue's figure, but He Yuzhu just sat down, Gao Yue came, Gao Yue sees He Yuzhu's little face... He Yuzhu asks "Xiao Yue, how are you? Face so red? Did you catch a cold?" So named: He Yuzhu, Gao Yue, Huaxia University.

Hearing He Yuzhu say that, Gao Yue's face flushed even more; she pinched his waist once without a word, opened her bag, pulled out the textbooks, and got ready for class.

He Yuzhu looked, and instantly realized what was happening—the girl was bashful; he chuckled hehe twice without speaking.

【4】

He Yuzhu, Gao Yue, Zhuzi (nickname for He Yuzhu? Actually Gao Yue says "Zhuzi, I have something to tell you". Zhuzi is a nickname for He Yuzhu, but it's a term of address, not a name? It's a nickname used as a name? The glossary includes Zhuzi as a named entity. So include Zhuzi.

"I haven't taken seriously the matter you entrusted to me, Xiao Yue—go ahead and speak, I'm listening," He Yuzhu said with a teasing smile.

"All right, you, He Yuzhu, you don't even call me 'sister' anymore, do you?" Having said that, Gao Yue pinched his waist once more.

"Ow, ow, quit pinching—if you pinch me again my dad will definitely come after you," He Yuzhu said, saying "ow" twice, but he didn't avoid Gao Yue.

"What does my pinching you have to do with your dad? By the way, have you been in touch with your dad lately?" Gao Yue asked, puzzled.

"Of course it's related to my dad—you pinched my waist, after all! My dad? I've been in touch, writing him every month. What's the rush, Xiao Yue? Are you that eager to meet your future father-in-law?" Having said that, He Yuzhu kept looking at Gao Yue and smiling.

"He Yuzhu, if you keep this up I'll ignore you," Gao Yue said, huffing, and strode forward.

"Xiao Yue, Xiao Yue, wait for me—ow, I was wrong," He Yuzhu said, dragging his bike and hurrying to catch up with Gao Yue.

"Call me 'Yue sister'," Gao Yue said irritably.

After He Yuzhu caught up with Gao Yue, he said, "Before you could call me 'Yue sister', but now our relationship isn't the same, is it? You can't call me 'Yue sister' anymore—by the way, what did you want to tell me just now?"

Gao Yue stopped and said, "I was so angry at you just now I forgot the important thing—our department has two spots next month for auditing students to become regulars; that is, you can pass the department's exam, and after passing you can become a proper university student, though you'd still have to start from freshman year. Your specialty I don't need to worry about—you'll definitely pass—but I think your other subjects are a bit lacking."

"There's still this good thing? Other subjects? Aren't you still here, Xiao Yue sister?" He Yuzhu said with a laugh.

"Yo, why are you calling me 'Xiao Yue sister' again? Just now you weren't calling me that," Gao Yue said, giving He Yuzhu a sideways glance.

He Yuzhu scratched his head and laughed, "Isn't it because I need you, Xiao Yue sister? By the way, you just asked about my dad—how is this related to my dad?"

"Because after the regularization exam, if your scores meet the standard, you need to pass a political review. I wanted you to ask your dad whether your family's political review would be problematic. Although this exam is organized by the department and other subjects aren't weighed that heavily, I'm telling you, Zhuzi, you can't afford to be careless. Starting tomorrow, I'll tutor you." Having said that, Gao Yue hugged her books and walked ahead.

"Political review? No problem, my family has been tenant farmers for three generations, so there shouldn't be an issue—I'll ask my dad later." Saying that, He Yuzhu caught up with Gao Yue and the two headed off toward the outside of the campus.

He Yuzhu still doubted the three-generation hired farmers of his family; after all, his family possessed the ancestral Tan family culinary skill, so he thought he ought to properly ask He Daqing about it.

The two left the school gate, found a small eatery and went in, ordered two dishes and ate their fill, then escorted Gao Yue to the dormitory; He Yuzhu hopped on his bicycle and rushed to Wang Youde's house.

Wang Youde was drinking alone at home when he saw He Yuzhu arrive; he grabbed He Yuzhu to drink together, and the two downed one jin of wine. Comrade He Yuzhu staggered back to the Courtyard House pushing his bicycle.

The next morning He Yuzhu as usual went to the Yagangchang cafeteria; around ten a. m., just as he was about to watch Xiao Zhang and the others stir-fry, he heard Jia Dongxu's voice from outside calling, 'He Yuzhu, Zhuzi, come out a moment—I have something to discuss with you.'

He Yuzhu thought, 'This bastard won't quit—daring to cause trouble in the cafeteria, does he want to die?' After giving Xiao Zhang and the others a brief instruction, he walked from the back kitchen to Jia Dongxu and said, 'What's up, Jia Dongxu—you still want another fight?'

Jia Dongxu hastily apologized, 'Zhuzi, Zhuzi, don't be angry with your brother; yesterday I was in the wrong—see, I treated you that day to make amends.' In fact Jia Dongxu hadn't wanted to come see He Yuzhu, but he dared not defy Yi Zhonghai, and since Yi Zhonghai had also persuaded him all night the previous evening, Jia Dongxu only then came today to see He Yuzhu.

Actually, Yi Zhonghai's idea was simple: he still didn't want to give up on He Yuzhu, and thought he could use this cooking opportunity to rekindle their feelings.

Suspicious of the unusual, He Yuzhu wanted to see what medicine Jia Dongxu was selling from his gourd, so he said, 'Don't, Brother Dongxu—just tell me what's up; there's no need for this.'

'Well then, Zhuzi, I won't stand on ceremony—I'd like to set up an initiation feast and ask you to take charge of the cooking, what do you think?' Having said that, Jia Dongxu looked at He Yuzhu.

Although He Yuzhu had originally intended to refuse, thinking of Grandma Rong he didn't want to sour relations at this point, so he agreed.

After obtaining He Yuzhu's assent, Jia Dongxu greeted him and left the cafeteria.

After Jia Dongxu left the cafeteria, He Yuzhu watched his retreating back and laughed, 'Little thief, just you wait—see how I mess with you this time.'

These past few days He Yuzhu had been tutoring Gao Yue in the afternoons; during that time he squeezed in a trip to the pharmacy to buy some croton seeds, and soon the day of Jia Dongxu's initiation feast arrived.

This time Jia Dongxu really went all out—there was no shortage of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, plus a large slab of pork that looked to be about four or five jin. He Yuzhu, adhering to the honorable chef's principle of not stealing and not accepting grain, heftily chopped off a big piece, saw it weighed about one jin, turned and stashed it beneath his bowl cabinet.

While stewing the sandpot chicken, He Yuzhu slipped in a few croton seeds, then fished them out before the pot was done; he didn't dare put in too much, just enough to give them a slight upset stomach so they'd think it was from too much grease—if he'd used more, it would be obvious it was his doing.

After the dishes were finished, He Yuzhu wrapped the remaining slab of pork in oil paper, put it in his bag, carried the food to the Jia Family residence, then shouldered the bag and headed to Wang Youde's house.

Originally Yi Zhonghai wanted He Yuzhu to stay and eat together, but He Yuzhu declined on the pretext that his master had summoned him; after all, He Yuzhu had just administered the drug, feeling a bit guilty like a thief, and besides, he really didn't want to sit down with Yi Zhonghai and the Jia Family.

At the thanksgiving feast, the Yi Family, the Jia Family, and the master chefs invited by Yi Zhonghai from the Yagangchang ate heartily; the meal didn't end until past two in the afternoon. During that time Jia Dongxu drank quite a lot of alcohol, and oddly enough, perhaps because He Yuzhu's braised pork was too fragrant, hardly anyone touched the sandpot chicken, leaving a full pot uneaten.

After Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai saw the two master chefs to the gate, Jia Dongxu said to Yi Zhonghai, 'Master, I've drunk too much—I can't go on, I need to go back and sleep.'

Yi Zhonghai glanced at Jia Dongxu, said 'Go on,' and returned to his own room.

Having drunk a considerable amount of alcohol, Jia Dongxu was thirsty; upon entering, he saw the sandpot chicken on the table, lifted the pot and gulped down a good deal, then after finishing he lay straight down on the bed and fell asleep.

Just about half an hour later, Jia Zhangshi had just finished tidying up when she heard a gurgling sound; she glanced at Jia Dongxu, and immediately there was a puffing noise as a foul smell spread through the room—yet Jia Dongxu still didn't wake.

Friendly reminder: the next chapter's text suggests readers avoid watching *V* while eating or in similar situations.