[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji":3,"chapter-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-28":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Siheyuan: Food, Love, and Family in 1960s Beijing",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2314078,4526,"Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Eight: Becoming a Disciple","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>Seeing Dong Wenxue smile politely, Sister Xie joked again: “You need to improve your education too—Dong Chuzhang’s sister-in-law Han is the director of the Capital Steel School; you must seize the chance to communicate more, aim for a college diploma—Dong Chuzhang is expert at nurturing talent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue finally couldn’t hold back his laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, you—your tongue never lets anyone off the hook! Our Han Laoshi keeps wondering why you never visit her; just wait till you meet her next—see how she’ll deal with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xie laughed and said: “Han Dajie wouldn’t bother with me—she always lets me have my way. I just don’t go when you two chat about flowery poetry and romantic nonsense—I don’t understand it. How’s Li Xuewu’s writing? Go study at Han Laoshi’s place—she’s a famous talented woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu, quick-witted and inspired, replied: “That’d be wonderful—I was a cultural elite during my service, my articles appeared on military newspapers several times, though my prose is weak—I always struggle to convey emotion properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue, cigarette pinched between his left fingers, waved his right hand: “Just summarize briefly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu discussed several key literary insights and points of confusion with Dong Wenxue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue answered Li Xuewu’s questions easily—he was a seasoned writer with many manuscripts behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged ideas at length; Sister Xie did not interrupt, listening quietly beside them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Xuewu’s uncommon insight and profound remarks—many terms he’d never heard before—Dong Wenxue grew genuinely interested, wrote down his address, and invited him to visit his home this Sunday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu thanked him earnestly: “Then I’ll be taking the liberty—I’ve finally met two masters; I must seize this chance. If both Master Dong and Master Han teach me, won’t my literary cultivation be like attending university?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue burst into laughter: “You’ve caught yourself a conscript—but first, you must pass Han Laoshi’s test.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, factory workers generally had low cultural levels; many loved literature, but very few possessed the true literacy to write well. Dong Wenxue rarely encountered colleagues with literary depth, so he took a strong liking to Li Xuewu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xie smiled: “Today I brought you a new recruit—never expected I’d bring you a student. Xuewu, from now on, you must call Director Dong ‘Master.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newly hired, Li Xuewu knew every superior’s closeness came with a threshold. Dong Wenxue, with his high cultural refinement and refined demeanor—looking no older than thirty—was Deputy Director of the Security Department; his family must have deep connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those from such families were especially careful about their circles—they didn’t pull just anyone close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he valued and reached out to me, I must offer something in return—likely my ability and future potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu treasured this opportunity—it would be his first vital connection in the rolling mill factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t fear being used—fear being worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if you’re not outstanding, connections are worthless—they aren’t sought after, they’re attracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only equal exchange yields proper assistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this sounds cold, it’s the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone like Dong Wenxue, ability is the gate; lack of ability is the barrier. Many people spend their lives stumbling—mostly because they lack ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Dong Wenxue smile at him silently, clearly waiting for his response,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu seized the moment, stood up, and called out: “Master, I entrust myself entirely to your guidance from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue laughed heartily and waved him back to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At work, mind your image—don’t call me Master in public, use my title. Only call me Master privately. You must come this weekend—let your Shima see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu gladly agreed, turning to Sister Xie: “Thank you, Sister, for introducing me to such a master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xie patted Li Xuewu’s shoulder: “It’s your own merit that caught Director Dong’s eye—don’t thank me. Masters produce outstanding disciples—looks like our factory’s cultural scene is about to reach a new peak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue laughed and nodded at Sister Xie: “Sister Xie is our factory’s all-knowing one—keep her close. Her home isn’t far from ours—we’re on the same street.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added to Sister Xie: “Let’s all get together this weekend—I haven’t sat with Old Ren in ages. My old Han is already planning to draft you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xie replied: “I’m usually busy, but this weekend’s clearly a master-apprentice banquet—I’ll bring the whole family to join the celebration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled: “The master-apprentice banquet should be my responsibility—I’ll arrive early Sunday and prepare the food and ingredients—we’ll eat something fresh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xie said: “Then I’m looking forward to it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the two laugh, Dong Wenxue turned to Li Xuewu: “Back to work—any difficulties at home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xie added: “Speak up if you have problems—we’re not strangers. I meant to ask earlier, but now that Director Dong’s your master, it’s his duty to help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled apologetically: “Master, my family lives in a large sihe courtyard in the factory worker housing area near Nanyanggu Lane—most residents are from our factory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue said: “I know that area—we’ve coordinated with the street committee; every year they recommend workers to us, and we assign housing to our staff through them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said: “Yes, my family has nine people—my grandmother, my maternal grandfather, my parents, my older brother and sister-in-law, my younger brother and sister—we’re all crammed into the side rooms of the front courtyard. It’s impossible to live like this. Can our factory assign me a separate house? I need to register as an independent household—I’m sleeping on the eight-legged table every night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Wenxue nodded slowly: “This must be resolved. Xuewu has earned merit—he’s currently a security officer in the cadre post. His living conditions are deplorable—he should be prioritized.”\u003C\u002Fp>",943,"2026-06-20T13:46:54.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","156fc3d77cc57432c7c8626727f1517e3694d9f25e8570d62f490bb39c3ee42d","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-29","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-27",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]