Chapter 32: with translation of chapter title

He Yuzhu and Yang Fen returned to the Siheyuan together, and this time what surprised you was that you didn't even see the door god Yan Butgui.

"Looking at your expressions, you must have succeeded," Li Qiang said with a smile as he saw He Yuzhu and Yang Fen walk in smiling.

"Succeeded," He Yuzhu said, a little embarrassed.

"That's a good thing; what's there to be embarrassed about?"

"Nothing," He Yuzhu said, indeed a little embarrassed.

"Then tonight you and Yushui can eat at my place; today I'll give you a proper celebration."

"Okay, I even brought back the remaining half of a roast duck," He Yuzhu said, shaking the roast duck in his hand.

"Then tonight we have one more dish to go with drink," Li Bin said from the side.

"It's not just half; Zhuzhu packed a whole one and brought it back for me," Yang Fen also shook the roast duck in her hand.

"You little brat, aren't you overdoing it? Why bring so much back?" Li Bin complained a bit.

"This half is for Yushui; the one your sister-in-law has is just for you to try," He Yuzhu explained.

"Then let's eat them together tonight," Yang Fen handed the roast duck in her hand to Li Qiang.

"Okay, then I'll add two more hearty dishes," Li Qiang said after taking the roast duck.

That evening the three families ate a congratulatory feast together in a lively atmosphere.

"Yushui, how's school?" Li Qiang suddenly asked.

"Pretty good, what's up, Brother Qiangzi?" He Yushui raised her head, looking at Li Qiang, puzzled.

"I mean your academic performance," Li Qiang added.

"Not bad; I always rank in the top three of the class," He Yushui said proudly.

"So what do you want to do in the future?"

"I want to go to college."

"Qiangzi, Yushui is only in third grade; isn't it a bit early to talk about this?" Li Bin asked Li Qiang with a smile.

"Yushui, don't even talk about college; just getting into high school I'll reward you with a bicycle," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"Deal, no going back on it," He Yushui said solemnly.

"Whoever goes back on their word is a puppy," He Yuzhu also said, unusually serious.

"Bin brother, Qiang brother, prove it to me; my brother said if I get into high school he'll reward me with a bicycle."

"Okay. If you really can get into high school, your brother won't reward me—I will," Li Qiang said with a smile. "We men of the 49th City seal our words with a spit and a nail; we definitely keep our promises," He Yuzhu patted his chest to guarantee.

"Zhuzhu, haven't you noticed yet? Qiangzi treats Yushui like his own sister; even as a child he longed for a sister. But my parents died early, otherwise they'd surely have given him a sister," Li Bin said with a sigh.

"Brother Qiangzi, from now on you are my real brother," He Yushui said with tears in her eyes; their brothers' situation is similar to Li Bin's brothers'. Their mother also died when they were young, and they have a good-for-nothing father who ran off with a widow.

"Bin brother, Qiang brother, if you don't despise us, let's become sworn siblings; our two families are alike—both lack parents," He Yuzhu said, looking hopefully at the Li Qiang brothers.

"What's wrong with that? Although we have no ceremony, over these years we've gotten along like real brothers," Li Bin said.

"I have no objections," Li Qiang said, truly indifferent; he just didn't want He Yuzhu to be schemed into having no heirs by Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huiru. More importantly, in the original story after Jia Dongxu died, Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huiru schemed against the simpleton Zhu, making him forget he still had a sister; each time he brought some dishes back from the cafeteria, Qin Huiru would take them away, and he borrowed a lot of money. As a result, his wages were eventually collected by Qin Huiru on his behalf, and the only one who suffered was He Yushui. Since He Yuzhu started being eyed, he forgot Yushui, to the point that Yushui became as thin as a bamboo pole from long-term malnutrition, while He Yuzhu fed the Jia family white and fat, the only one he shortchanged being Yushui. This is also why Yushui, after starting work, prefers to stay in the dormitory rather than come back to the Siheyuan, and even after marriage she hardly ever returns.

Finally, even if He Yushui knew Qin Huiru had gone to Hong Kong, she still didn't tell He Yuzhu; perhaps there was also a thought of revenge in her. Since you, He Yuzhu, are rushing to give someone a green hat, she'll just let you have it. Actually, He Yuzhu doesn't even think: even Dorgon couldn't handle a widow with a child, and you, a little cook, want to handle a widow with three kids and a mother-in-law; if you don't cut off the line, who will?

Okay, from today on you two are my and Yushui's real brothers; tomorrow I'll go prepare two dishes, we'll have a good meal, and that will count as my sworn-sibling feast," He Yuzhu said solemnly.

"Zhuzhu, as long as you have this intention, it's enough; no need to be so wasteful," Li Bin said.

"Bin brother, since ancient times sworn siblings require a feast, and our two families have hardly any relatives. I won't set up a feast; instead we'll just have a reunion meal together at our homes, the three families."

"All right," Li Bin said, knowing He Yuzhu's nature—once he makes up his mind, not even nine oxen can pull him back.

The next afternoon He Yuzhu took leave and first went to his master Ma Hongtao's home.

"Zhuzhu, how did you come?" Ma Hongtao usually comes back in the afternoon to rest a while.

"Master, I have something I want to tell you."

"What is it? Say it."

"Li Bin's sister-in-law introduced me to a match; yesterday the meeting went well," He Yuzhu said, a little embarrassed.

"That's good. Bring the girl over someday for a meal at home," Ma Hongtao said happily.

"No problem, Master; what I want to talk to you about isn't this."

"If there's anything else, just say it directly. How have you become so hesitant, kid?"

"I and Yushui want to become sworn siblings with the Li brothers; these years they've helped me a lot."

"You two can work it out yourselves; I have no objection. I've seen all you've said; these brothers really are good to you."

"Tonight I'll invite them to eat at my house; it will be both a reunion meal and a sworn-sibling feast. Our two families have no elders, so I'd like you to come and serve as a witness." In the old days, becoming sworn siblings was a very solemn affair, requiring a witness.

"Okay, I happen to be off today; I'll come over tonight to be your witness," Ma Hongtao said without refusing. Life for the Siheyuan siblings isn't easy either; he's always worried they'll be bullied. Now that they can become sworn siblings with the Li brothers, anyone who wants to bully them will have to think twice.

People back then had a weak sense of law; anyone with three sons could bully you to death. Now that He Yuzhu has become sworn siblings with the Li brothers, others probably won't dare to bully them lightly, after all three brothers aren't easy to bully, and also Li Qiang is still the Section Chief of Security at Yagangchang; even if someone at Yagangchang wanted to bully He Yuzhu, out of respect for Li Qiang's face they wouldn't dare do so lightly.

"Okay, I'll go back and prepare first; tonight you just come with your master's wife," He Yuzhu said happily.

"Okay, I'll go with your master's wife tonight."