Chapter 34: Bang Geng Gets Caught Again

Picking up the kitchen knife with a *clack-clack* sound, he shredded over thirty large potatoes, and his mood finally improved a little.

Sour and spicy shredded potatoes, cabbage with pork and vermicelli, braised dried radish with small dried fish, tomato and egg soup, stir-fried pork blood with chives, and braised large bones were all brought out in pot after pot.

He Yuzhu did not choose to make those exquisite dishes, but instead started making large-batch meals.

With so many people eating, it was naturally impossible to make things too exquisite; that would tire him to death. Besides, large-batch cooking tests a chef's ability even more.

It is simple to cook a large pot of food, but it is somewhat difficult to get the color, aroma, and taste just right, after all, it is a full, large pot.

Finally, seeing that the pork and vermicelli was almost ready, He Yuzhu started steaming the unleavened flatbreads.

Once the flatbreads were steamed, He Yuzhu carried out a large basin, and a whole large pot of pork and vermicelli was ladled directly into two full, large basins.

"Eat, if you don't eat now, it'll get cold." Seeing everyone still waiting for him when he went out, He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart and smiled as he greeted them.

"Come, let's not wait any longer. Using tea in place of wine, I thank Master He for his craftsmanship." Wang Bujiang spoke first.

"Don't be in such a hurry to thank me, haha, it's not certain yet whether it tastes good or not." He Yuzhu smiled and sat down, with Wang Danyue right next to him.

"It's delicious, it must be delicious. My stomach started growling the moment I smelled it, haha." Wang Danyue stuck out her tongue, looking absolutely mouth-watering.

"Haha, come, let's begin."

"Mmm, so fragrant! It's much better than Master Liu's cooking; the food at noon yesterday was still undercooked." Another petite girl with braided pigtails eyes lit up, her mouth stuffed full.

"Just eat your food, don't air all our dirty laundry, you little brat." Wang Bujiang tapped the table, his face full of doting affection.

"Hmph."

"Eat, eat, eat, everyone eat while it's hot, we'll talk after we're done."

"Haha, how about it? I told you this kid is a treasure, I didn't lie to you, did I?" The Big Leader had not eaten He Yuzhu's cooking for the first time, so naturally, he would not be as anxious to eat as the others.

"Yes, yes, let's talk after eating, let's talk after eating." Wang Bujiang held a flatbread, eating it in big mouthfuls, while his mind began to scheme regarding He Yuzhu.

It was just heard that He Yuzhu was already a Deputy Director; if he were to be poached, he wondered what would be best to have him do?

While thinking, he glanced at Father Liang.

How about transferring him to Jingzhou and letting He Yuzhu take over his position as Director?

"Hey, how did you make this? Why is it so delicious? I can't even cook a bowl of noodles well." Wang Danyue gently nudged He Yuzhu with her arm, looking full of envy.

"Then I'll cook noodles for you when there's a chance." He Yuzhu lowered his head and whispered.

"Okay, okay, then thank you very much."

"Don't mention it, *cough cough*."

"You really are a good person."

"*Cough cough cough cough cough*."

"Did you choke? Quickly, drink some water."

After the meal, everyone rested for a while. Wang Bujiang did not mention the matter of keeping He Yuzhu, and The Big Leader also had other work. He Yuzhu carried his own knives, hailed a taxi, and headed home.

At the thought of Father Liang inviting him to be a guest at his home, He Yuzhu felt a headache coming on.

Returning to the Siheyuan, it was already past three o'clock. Seeing his door wide open, He Yuzhu was startled for a moment and patted his own head; he thought he had forgotten to lock the door.

Upon entering the room, the place was a mess. There were wine bottles and various food scraps on the table, all sorts of melon seed and peanut shells on the floor, and his clothes were thrown everywhere.

He Yuzhu put away his knives and turned to go to Qin Huairu's home.

"Open the door, open the door! Bang Geng, you get out here!"

"Uncle Shazhu, my brother is asleep." Xiao Dang opened the door, biting into a dry steamed bun as she spoke.

He Yuzhu patted her head and walked inside. Seeing Bang Geng reeking of alcohol, He Yuzhu hauled him out directly.

A basin of cold water was poured over him, and Bang Geng slowly came to.

"Shazhu, what are you doing? Are you trying to freeze me to death?" Bang Geng shivered and kept cursing.

"*Slap! *" He Yuzhu landed a big slap on his face. Bang Geng was spun around in place by the blow and became completely sober.

"Did you trash my house!"

"Uh, huh? We just drank a little wine and ate a little food, is it really worth all this?" Bang Geng shivered impatiently and got up, intending to go back.

"Good, very good." He Yuzhu stopped talking nonsense; this child was completely beyond saving. He turned and went to the Public Security Station to report the case.

"Why is it you again... what happened this time?" Having met too many times in a short period, the comrades at the Public Security Station already recognized He Yuzhu.

"Reporting a case, my house was burglarized by Bang Geng. Not counting the food and drink, over 140 in cash is missing."

"Bang Geng? Him again? Let's go, Xiao Ma, come with me."

The comrades from the Public Security Station followed He Yuzhu out with swift and decisive action. They walked to Yushui's room, conducted what He Yuzhu considered an unprofessional evidence collection, and then went to bring out the drunken Bang Geng.

Seeing the familiar uniform of the Public Security Station, Bang Geng shivered and wet himself, his eyes welling with tears as he was on the verge of kneeling.

"Speak, was it you who did it, Jia Geng?!"

Sure enough, as soon as the comrade from the Public Security Station spoke, Jia Geng confessed everything like beans spilling from a bag.

But he refused to admit he stole the money, saying only that he drank He Yuzhu's wine and was willing to pay compensation.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, what do you think about this?"

"Bang Geng is still young, there is still room for improvement. Lock him up, he must be properly reformed." He Yuzhu looked at the teary-eyed Bang Geng, nodded, and then said words that made Bang Geng curse loudly.

"Shazhu, you bastard!"

"Uh, alright. However, stealing wine and food will only get him locked up for three days at most."

"It's fine, three days is three days. Who knows, maybe after catching those other boys, they'll be able to confess something else and he can be locked up for a few more days?"

Bang Geng was instantly dumbfounded. He didn't expect He Yuzhu to be so ruthless to him. Didn't he just eat some of his food? He used to eat it often before, and didn't you even praise me for stealing well? He Yuzhu, you Shazhu, your conscience is terribly rotten...

Bang Geng lowered his head obediently as he was taken away by the two men. As they walked along the road, Sheng Ge, who had come out to buy food, happened to see them from afar and was so frightened that he hid to the side.

"It's over, it's over, Jia Geng has been caught. What do we do?" As soon as he returned, Sheng Ge said to the three people under the bridge arch.

"Ah? Really?" Changfeng looked terrified; he didn't want to go back in there again.

"Nonsense, could Sheng Ge lie to you?" Jincheng slapped Changfeng's head hard in dissatisfaction.

"What should we do? How about we run?" Sheng Ge thought for a moment, his face full of hesitation.

"Huh? Sheng Ge, didn't we become sworn brothers? If we run just because Jia Geng got into trouble, wouldn't that be disloyal?" Jingong asked hesitantly.

"That's right, Sheng Ge, if others find out, what will they think of us?" Jincheng's words made Sheng Ge make up his mind.

"Right, then let's go avenge Jia Geng. Jia Geng is so loyal, he definitely won't sell us out, but we can't just ignore him!" Sheng Ge shook his head, his face full of loyalty.

If Jia Geng knew about this, he would probably laugh his head off.

Him, loyal?

"Jia Geng said that the person we took money from today is very good to him and likes his mother. He definitely hasn't finished work yet, so the one who caught Jia Geng must be his stingy uncle-in-law! Let's go find him!" Sheng Ge moved his clever little head and immediately had an idea.

"Good, let's go!"

The few of them ran quickly toward the Siheyuan and arrived at the Back Yard.