Chapter 62: Asking for Help Isn't Easy

In Beiping in November 1945, the wind was cold, and He Yuzhu's heart was colder still.

The small shred of belief he had just built up in his heart—that one didn't need to use lethal methods to solve problems—began to waver again today.

He realized that this world had not changed at all; it was just that a group of bad people from within the country had replaced the group of bad people from the East.

If he had no money, Jin Hai certainly wouldn't pay him any mind, and Dayingzi wouldn't even let him through the front gate. A society like this had no hope.

As he thought, he arrived at the front door of He Ji Restaurant and pushed it open.

Chen Daya was sitting on a stool behind the counter, sobbing with her shoulders heaving.

Shen Guizhi was comforting her in a low voice, her palm gently patting her back.

When the two saw He Yuzhu enter, Chen Daya immediately stood up and rushed over, her cold fingers gripping his wrist tightly: "My father... how is my father?"

"He... has been locked up in Jingshi Prison. He is fine for now," He Yuzhu replied in a low voice, his tone somewhat hoarse.

Chen Daya's eyes were red, and the cuffs of her cotton-padded jacket were darkened by tears. "Can he be saved?"

"Don't worry, it's nothing major! Who do you think I am? I am the Great Sage Equaling Heaven; there is nothing that cannot be done when it comes to me!" He Yuzhu squeezed her trembling hand, his tone firm.

"Tell me exactly what happened," Chen Daya said.

"This afternoon, I first went to the Bureau of Property Recovery and met a section chief. He pinned a 'collaborator' label on Siqiang—to put it plainly, it was a frame-up. They want to use the opportunity of taking over Japanese puppet assets to line their own pockets."

"This, how is this any different from the little devils!" Shen Guizhi sighed.

"Sister Daya, I went to see the Prison Warden of Jingshi Prison afterward. I've already made arrangements, and he will look after Siqiang."

"How can these people be so wicked! My father never offended him! Why do they want to put my father to death?" Chen Daya's voice was choked with sobs. "What should we do now?"

"It's easy to handle! The Bald Party is different from the little devils. The little devils wanted both money and lives, but they mainly want money; lives are secondary. As long as we spend money, I'm not afraid we won't be able to save him," He Yuzhu said with a composed tone. "Tomorrow morning, I will go find the commissioner in charge of this matter."

Only then did Chen Daya slowly loosen her grip and wipe her face with her sleeve.

After closing up, He Yuzhu didn't let Chen Daya return to Shichahai alone, but instead brought her back to the Siheyuan.

The courtyard was much livelier today than on usual days; warm yellow light shone through the windows, accompanied by laughter and chatter.

Upon asking, he learned that the Rolling Mill had resumed work and was hiring a large number of people.

He Yuzhu thought to himself: If he hadn't transmigrated here, He Daqing would likely be among this wave of people entering the factory to work.

Yi Zhonghai caught sight of He Daqing and greeted him with a smile: "Daqing, we can finally go to work tomorrow! I've been so idle these days that I've felt completely restless!"

"Congratulations, Lao Yi," He Daqing replied, though there was no joy on his face.

"Why do you look so unhappy?" Yi Zhonghai sensed something was off.

"The owner of my restaurant has been arrested," He Daqing sighed.

"Just find someone to grease the wheels and it'll be fine. Isn't that saying popular now—'houses, cars, gold, banknotes, and women'? Once those officials take the goods, they'll naturally be easier to talk to," Yi Zhonghai said, lowering his voice.

"Uncle Yi really knows the affairs of the world without stepping out of his door!" He Yuzhu gave a thumbs up.

"Keeping up with the situation is never wrong," Yi Zhonghai gave a simple, honest smile.

Chen Daya pulled He Yuzhu to a corner of the courtyard, took a small cloth bag from her bosom, and stuffed it into his hand: "Zhuzi, I have twenty Big Ocean here. Take it to make arrangements, hurry."

"Sister Daya, don't worry about the money. Money is the thing I lack the least right now; what I lack is connections."

"Are you telling the truth? Then why didn't you give the money to your father?"

"If my father had money, he'd move into the Qingyin Small Class to live!"

"How can you talk about your father like that?" Chen Daya chided him.

"You don't know, a few days ago, when he called his two junior fellow apprentices over, that was exactly what they were talking about."

"Do you really have money? Don't lie to me," Chen Daya asked, still uneasy.

"In June, I raided a nest of little devils and got over ten thousand Big Ocean. Your father knows," He Yuzhu said in a low voice.

Only then did Chen Daya let out a long sigh of relief, and her hanging heart finally settled back into place.

The next morning, He Yuzhu decided to go find Shen Shichang.

The Shen Residence was located in a spacious hutong off Fuyou Street, with high blue-brick walls and several guards patrolling in front of the gate.

As soon as he approached, he was stopped by a tall guard: "Kid, what are you doing?"

"I'm here to report someone to Mr. Shen."

"Reporting should be done at the office, how can you come running to his home?" The guard frowned.

"Big Brother, do me a favor, I just need to see Mr. Shen." He Yuzhu took out ten Big Ocean and handed them over.

The guard pushed the money away and shook his head: "Mr. Shen is busy with ten thousand things a day; he has no time to see a little brat like you."

He Yuzhu grew anxious: "If you won't let me in, I'll have to force my way through!"

"Hey! You brat, you don't shed tears until you see the coffin, do you?" The guard reached for his gun, but his hand grabbed empty air—the gun was already in He Yuzhu's hand before he knew it.

The guard stood stunned on the spot. He Yuzhu deftly removed the magazine and handed the gun back: "Offense taken, but I must see Mr. Shen. One of his section chiefs is corrupt and framing good people; I am here to report him!"

The guard was so angry his face turned blue: "You've got some nerve, kid! Do you believe I'll call a whole squad over and shoot you to pieces?"

He Yuzhu curled his lip: "Big Brother, I'm only lowering myself to beg you officials because I want my family to have a good life. Otherwise, you people..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the guard already understood his meaning and rolled his eyes: "I've seen arrogant people, but I've never seen anyone as arrogant as you."

Just then, a black sedan slowly pulled up. The rear window rolled down, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face.

He Yuzhu was stunned—it was the young lady he had seen at the shop yesterday! A flash of inspiration struck his mind: Could this be Shen Shichang's daughter, Liu Rusi, whose nickname was Xiao Si?

The characters from the TV series were actually somewhat different in appearance from reality. No wonder he hadn't recognized her yesterday!

"Zhuzi, is it?" Liu Rusi spoke, her voice cold and clear. "Are you looking for my father because of your master's business?"

"Sister Liu is wise! That Section Chief Zheng De pinned a collaborator label on my master and wants to execute him. Sister, I have money, will you help me?" He Yuzhu said hurriedly.

Liu Rusi smiled faintly: "It seems you've put in quite a bit of effort, even finding out my name. Get in the car, go to your shop, and make me a dish of Boiled Fish. If it's good, I'll consider it."

"Thank you, Sister Liu!" He Yuzhu nimbly climbed into the car.

The round-faced girl driving the car must be the bodyguard, Pingping.

When they arrived at the restaurant, the shop hadn't opened yet.

Two workers borrowed by He Daqing from Hongbin Building early in the morning were cleaning; seeing He Yuzhu bring someone in, they hurried over to greet him: "We aren't open for business yet."

"You two have misunderstood, I am the one in charge of the dining hall here. You were invited by my father, right?" He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes!" The two men quickly nodded and bowed.

He Yuzhu caught sight of Li Xiangxiu in the corner and called out: "Xiangxiu, help me look after these two sisters."

Li Xiangxiu nodded shyly and brought over some tea.

He Yuzhu then ducked into the kitchen, and seeing He Daqing and two junior fellow apprentices busy at work, he said: "Dad, I've found someone who can help Siqiang, she's here..."

"That's a good thing! Then why are you coming into the back kitchen?"

"I want to make a dish for her; if she's happy, this matter might just be settled... I'll have to trouble Dad and my junior uncles to help me with the prep work."

The three of them immediately put down their work and helped He Yuzhu fillet the fish, chop the green onions, and peel the garlic.

He Yuzhu decided to make a Boiled Fish and a Spicy Pot, and then have his father make a few of his signature Lu Cuisine dishes.

When the Boiled Fish was brought to the table, the red oil was boiling and the aroma was pungent.

As soon as Liu Rusi smelled the scent, she picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and couldn't stop.

He Yuzhu sat to the side and watched quietly.

Li Xiangxiu was secretly swallowing her saliva nearby; He Yuzhu saw it and whispered: "From now on, I'll give you a special privilege: you can take home the restaurant's leftovers every day. If there are no leftovers, I'll have the kitchen make a dish specifically for you."

Xiangxiu nodded repeatedly in gratitude.

Only after finishing her third bowl of rice did Liu Rusi look up with satisfaction; seeing Pingping eating like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, she smiled and asked Pingping: "Which dish do you like the most?"

"Nine-Turn Intestines!" Pingping said vaguely.

Liu Rusi glared at her, feeling it was a bit beneath her.

Pingping, however, didn't care at all; seeing that her young mistress had stopped eating, she scraped the remaining dishes into her own bowl and chewed heartily.

He Yuzhu took the opportunity to push five Small Yellow Fish and five hundred Big Ocean toward Liu Rusi.

Liu Rusi glanced at them and raised an eyebrow: "Your Siqiang, his family fortune isn't thin, is it?"