Chapter 50: Chapter Fifty: Father-in-law and Son-in-law Meet

After afternoon classes, He Yuzhu and Gao Yue rode their bicycles to the vegetable market. He Yuzhu bought some vegetables and a black fish, then went to the seasoning shop to buy some seasonings. Both carried many items. After He Yuzhu secured the items on the two bicycles, they rode to the military compound. He Yuzhu had been to this compound in his previous life; back then he came to cook for a high-ranking official. This time he came to see his father-in-law.

One the way into the military compound, Gao Yue led He Yuzhu to a detached general's building. After entering, Gao Yue shouted, "Mom, guests have come, come down quickly!"

After He Yuzhu and Gao Yue placed the bought vegetables on the living room floor, Gao Yue ran to the kitchen to get a basin, leaving He Yuzhu alone standing in the living room holding the fish. At that moment, a woman who looked very much like Gao Yue came down from upstairs. Seeing He Yuzhu, she smiled and said, "You must be little He, right? Come sit down."

He Yuzhu saw Gao's mother come down, walked two steps forward and said, "Auntie, hello, I am He Yuzhu. I know you are from Mountain City, and I didn't bring you any gift. Coincidentally, I am a Sichuan chef, so I plan to make you a Sichuan meal."

Gao's mother heard He Yuzhu's words, smiled and said, "How thoughtful, little He. Why are you still holding the fish? Where is little Yue?"

Just then, Gao Yue came out of the kitchen holding a basin and said, "Mom, I went to the kitchen to get a basin." She took the fish from He Yuzhu's hands, put it in the basin, and carried the basin toward the kitchen.

He Yuzhu picked up the vegetables and seasonings from the living room and said, "Auntie, I'll put these things in the kitchen now." After saying that, He Yuzhu placed the items in the kitchen and went out with Gao Yue.

When they came out, Gao's mother placed a cup of water on the table and said, "Little He, please sit down." Her gaze toward He Yuzhu conveyed a sense of care.

Gao's mother had heard Gao Yue tell her many things about He Yuzhu recently, and seeing Gao Yue bring home the test paper and production manual, she felt both curious and sympathetic toward He Yuzhu. At a young age he had lost his mother, and now his father had gone to Baocheng with someone.

Gao's mother looked at He Yuzhu and said, "Little He, how have your studies been lately? I heard from Xiao Yue about your situation; you've done well, but you must not be arrogant. At your age, it's easy to aim too high, so you must hold fast to your original intention."

Upon hearing Gao's mother's words, He Yuzhu said, "Auntie, thank you for your concern. Rest assured, I won't. I understand that getting into university is not easy for me, so I cherish it."

After hearing He Yuzhu's words, Gao's mother nodded and chatted with him about family matters. Seeing that it was getting late, He Yuzhu said to Gao's mother, "Auntie, Uncle Gao will be back soon; I'll start preparing the meal now."

Gao's mother glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "Fine, Old Gao will be back soon; let Xiao Yue go help you."

He Yuzhu said, "No need, Auntie, I can handle it myself." After saying that, He Yuzhu rose and went to the kitchen. He first processed the fish, then sliced the fish meat into pieces, planning to make a boiled fish dish. At present, boiled fish did not exist; it only appeared in the 1970s-80s in his previous life.

While He Yuzhu was cooking, Gao Minghong returned home from work. Seeing Gao Minghong come home, Gao's mother said, "Little He is here, currently cooking in the kitchen."

Gao Minghong put his briefcase on the coat rack and said, "I know; I asked Xiao Yue to bring Little He here. What do you think of this Little He?"

Gao's mother handed Gao Minghong a cup of water and said, "Quite good, neither arrogant nor impatient, quite nice." Gao Minghong took the water, nodded, sat on the sofa, and began reading today's newspaper.

After He Yuzhu finished cooking all the dishes, he and Gao Yue placed the food on the table. Gao's mother walked into the dining room holding a bottle of liquor and said, "Little He, tonight you can have a drink with Old Gao. Xiao Yue, go call your father to come eat." Gao Yue responded and walked away.

He Yuzhu took the bottle of liquor from Gao's mother's hands and said, "Auntie, the dishes I made are those improved by my master, but this boiled fish is my own creation. Please try it later and tell me how it tastes."

Seeing the table full of dishes, Gao's mother said to He Yuzhu, "How thoughtful," then greeted him to sit down. At that moment, Gao Yue and Gao Minghong entered the dining room. He Yuzhu hurriedly greeted, "Uncle Gao, hello, I am He Yuzhu."

Gao Minghong nodded and said, "Little He, please sit down." After saying that, he sat at the dining table. He Yuzhu waited until everyone was seated, then opened the liquor, poured a cup for Gao Minghong, poured another for himself, and said, "Uncle Gao, Auntie, you can call me Zhuzi. Please try these dishes and see if they suit your taste."

Gao Minghong said to He Yuzhu, "How thoughtful, Zhuzi," then picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of the boiled fish, ate it, and said, "Not bad, Zhuzi. I've never eaten this dish before."

He Yuzhu raised a glass to Gao Minghong and said, "Uncle Gao, this dish is my own creation based on the foundation of sliced boiled meat."

At that moment, Gao Yue said, "He Yuzhu, you're too biased. For tonight's meal, more than half of the dishes you didn't make for me."

Everyone laughed at Gao Yue's words. After the meal, He Yuzhu and Gao Minghong each had only one cup of liquor and did not drink much. They finished eating, went to the living room, sat down, drank a cup of water, and then Gao Minghong said to He Yuzhu, "Come with me to the study."

After saying that, he rose and led He Yuzhu upstairs to the study. Upon entering the study with Gao Minghong, He Yuzhu noticed the furnishings were simple: only a bookshelf and a table full of books. Gao Minghong pointed to the sofa in the corner and said, "Sit here; there's tea nearby, help yourself to whatever you'd like."

He Yuzhu took some tea leaves from the tea canister, brewed a cup for Gao Minghong, then brewed another for himself, and sat on the corner sofa.

Gao Minghong said, "I have three children: my eldest son is still in Korea, my second son is currently in the East Mountain Military District, and at home we only have this little daughter. I don't want Yueyue to suffer any injustice."

He Yuzhu said, "Uncle, please rest assured, I will not let Yueyue suffer any injustice." Gao Minghong nodded and then asked, "What is your relationship with Chen Yun?"

He Yuzhu thought of Professor Chen and said, "I previously worked on a project with Professor Chen, providing some suggestions. Professor Chen thought highly of me. What about it, Uncle Gao?"

Gao Minghong took a sip of tea and said, "That's no surprise then. This time you were recommended by Chen Yun for the mission; I initially thought you two had some connection."

Upon hearing that it was Chen Yun who recommended him, He Yuzhu said, "Uncle Gao, do you know where I am supposed to go this time?"

Gao Minghong glanced at He Yuzhu and said, "For now I can only tell you that you are heading north, and the duration will be quite long."

Upon hearing Gao Minghong's words, He Yuzhu reflected on the events that would occur over the next few years, feeling that nothing unrelated to Chen Yun would happen. After collecting his thoughts, he said to Gao Minghong, "Uncle Gao, please rest assured; this opportunity may be a chance for me. I will seize it, and since this mission is for the country, I feel obligated to contribute."

After hearing He Yuzhu's words, Gao Minghong nodded, took a dagger from the drawer, and said, "This dagger is one I seized on the battlefield back then, still stained with much blood. Now I give it to you—do you have the courage to wield it?"

He Yuzhu took the dagger from Gao Minghong's hand and said, "Is this the blood of the little Japanese on it, Uncle Gao?"

Gao Minghong said, "Exactly. Why are you afraid?"

He Yuzhu chuckled and said, "Uncle Gao, you're underestimating me. If the little Japanese really dare to come, I'll make them die again." After saying that, He Yuzhu drew the dagger, and a faint fishy odor came from it.

Gao Minghong walked over to He Yuzhu, patted him, and said, "This mission won't be too dangerous, but you still need to protect yourself."

After leaving Gao Yue's home, just before heading out, Gao's mother thrust a parcel into He Yuzhu's hands. He Yuzhu originally didn't want it, but Gao's mother insisted, so in the end He Yuzhu could only bring the parcel back to the Courtyard House.