Chapter 40: Yushui Acknowledges Kin

"How come you're back so late?" He Yuzhu had just gotten home when Yuli asked concernedly.

"I was late because I played chess with the leader, are you hungry? I'll cook for you. The leader's wife brought back a piece of lamb today, I'll make scallion‑fried lamb for you." He Yuzhu pulled a piece of lamb from his satchel.

"Brother, make it tender," He Yushui said, moving closer.

"Sure, by the way, Yushui, I have something to tell you. The leader's wife invited you to her place next Sunday—will you go?" He Yuzhu asked He Yushui.

"Sister‑in‑law, do you think I should go?" He Yushui didn't know whether she should go, so she could only ask Yuli.

"Since they invited you, go have a look, but don't be mischievous, you must know the etiquette—officials have plenty of rules, you can't ask too many questions or touch things randomly." Yuli reminded her.

"Mm, I got it." He Yushui was actually quite sensible; even if Yuli didn't say it, she already knew those rules.

In the blink of an eye it was Sunday again; early that morning Wu Mishu came to the Siheyuan.

"Comrade, who are you looking for?" Yan Butgui saw Wu Mishu and asked cautiously.

"Sir, I'm looking for He Yuzhu; he lives in this Siheyuan, right?"

"Yes, and you are?"

"I'm the leader's secretary, I've come to ask Master He to cook for the leader," Wu Mishu said with a smile.

"Oh, he lives in the middle courtyard; I'll take you there." Yan Butgui became enthusiastic as soon as he heard Wu Mishu was the leader's secretary.

"Okay, thank you, sir."

"You're welcome."

"Zhuzi, someone's looking for you," Yan Butgui called out as he brought Wu Mishu to He Yuzhu's door.

"Brother Wu, why did you come in person?" He Yuzhu stepped out and saw it was Wu Mishu.

"The lady sent me to pick you and Yushui up," Wu Mishu said with a smile.

"All right, Yushui, ready?" He Yuzhu shouted inside.

"Coming." He Yushui ran out. Yuli had dressed her up nicely that morning and tied two little braids.

"Brother Wu, let's go then."

"Sure."

"Third Uncle, thank you," He Yuzhu thanked Yan Butgui again.

"You're welcome, you're welcome," Yan Butgui hurriedly said.

Watching Wu Mishu take the He siblings onto the jeep, Yan Butgui's face was full of envy.

"The He family is going to prosper," Yan Butgui muttered.

"What are you muttering about?" Third Aunt looked at Yan Butgui standing at the gate, staring blankly toward the alley, and asked curiously.

"Hey, old lady, guess what I just saw?"

"How would I know when you saw it?"

"Just now a man claiming to be the leader's secretary came looking for Shuzhu, saying he was to pick Shuzhu up to cook for the leader, and he also took Yushui along," Yan Butgui said.

"Shuzhu often goes out to cook for people, doesn't he? What's so strange about that?" Third Aunt looked at Yan Butgui, puzzled.

"You're foolish—if it were just cooking, would Shuzhu bring Yushui along?" Yan Butgui said.

"Indeed," Third Aunt also realized.

"Besides, I heard Shuzhu call the secretary 'Brother Wu'—do you think their relationship could be that simple?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Third Aunt was most annoyed by Yan Butgui's manner.

"The He family will prosper in the future—with the Li Brothers backing them at the Siheyuan and the Yagangchang, and now a leader has appeared, you say they won't fall behind; let Jiedi and Yushui play together more often." Yan Jiedi is Yan Butgui's little daughter, about four or five years old.

"You don't let the kids play with Yushui, do you?" Third Aunt frowned.

"How can you be so stupid? Times change—you still can't see the situation clearly," Yan Butgui said, vexed.

He Yuzhu and his sister followed Wu Mishu to the leader's residence; hearing the car engine, the leader's wife had already come to the door.

"Auntie, why did you come out yourself?" He Yuzhu said after getting out of the car and approaching the leader's wife.

"I came to pick up Yushui," the leader's wife said with a smile.

"Hello, Auntie," He Yushui greeted politely.

"Hello, you're really pretty." After saying that, the leader's wife took Yushui's hand and led her inside, paying no mind to He Yuzhu at the door.

"Zhuzi has arrived." He Yuzhu followed the leader's wife inside.

"Hello, Leader." He Yuzhu greeted the leader.

"You kid, still being so polite with me," the leader said with a laugh.

"Yushui, come on, I'll take you to find something tasty," the leader's wife said, pulling Yushui out of the living room.

"Zhuzi, play another game of chess with me."

"Sure."

After playing two games of chess with the leader, He Yuzhu got up to cook.

I don't know how the leader's wife coaxed Yushui, but at dinner they got along like mother and daughter, the leader's wife constantly serving her vegetables. Yushui naturally had a sweet mouth, calling "Auntie" with every bite, which made the leader's wife delighted, unable to stop smiling.

"Zhuzi, I want to discuss something with you," the leader's wife suddenly said.

"Please go ahead."

"I want to take Yushui as my adopted daughter—what do you think?" the leader's wife said,

He Yuzhu hadn't expected the leader's wife to say that; he didn't know what to do and could only look at the leader.

"This is between them; don't look at me. Actually I also quite like that girl Yushui—haven't you noticed that since she came in, my old partner has been grinning nonstop? I haven't seen him this happy in a long time," the leader said with a laugh.

"Auntie, I have no objection—as long as Yushui agrees," He Yuzhu said, also at a loss for words.

"Yushui, I want to take you as my adopted daughter—are you willing?" the leader's wife asked, smiling at He Yushui.

"Foster mother," He Yushui said, promptly kneeling before the leader's wife and calling sweetly.

"Hey, get up, get up," the leader's wife said, wiping her eyes as she eagerly pulled Yushui up.

"Yushui, the godmother has already acknowledged, shouldn't you also acknowledge me as your godfather?" the Big Leader looked at He Yushui, smiling, said.

"Godfather" He Yushui, without another word, went straight to the Big Leader and knelt down.

"Good, good, good." the Big Leader, happy, only knew to say okay.

He Yuzhu never expected that a simple meal he cooked would turn into a recognition banquet.

"Zhuzi, I know you feel embarrassed to call us, we're still the same as before, call us however you should, Yushui is our goddaughter." the Big Leader also saw He Yuzhu's awkwardness.

"That works" He Yuzhu could only agree like that.

"Godmother, what is that big horn?" after the meal, He Yushui pointed at the phonograph and asked the Leader's Wife.

"This is called a phonograph, the music it plays is wonderful, I'll play it for you to hear." the Leader's Wife finished speaking, then turned on the phonograph, specially placed a record on top.

"Really wonderful" listening to the beautiful music from the phonograph, He Yushui excitedly said.

"Nice, when you go back just take it back" the Leader's Wife generously said.

"Aunt, I can't bear to part with it" He Yuzhu hurriedly refused.

"This is a gift I'm giving my goddaughter, it's none of your business, don't interfere" the Leader's Wife said to He Yuzhu.

"Right, this is a gift we're giving Yushui, it's not for you, why are you being polite?" the Big Leader also said from the side.

"Alright" He Yuzhu resignedly said.

Until it was getting dark, He Yuzhu and his sibling only left the Leader's Wife's home reluctantly; needless to say, the one who gained the most was obviously Yushui, not only did she get a phonograph, she also brought two big packs of various snacks.