Siheyuan: Tanjia Cuisine He Daqing, destroying Yi Zhonghai

His grandmother passed away when he was 18, and He Daqing lived alone from then on. He had no relatives or friends, and his only company was this ancient courtyard and his old yellow dog, named Da Huang.

The early morning in the courtyard is often He Daqing's favorite time. At dawn, the mist is everywhere, and every brick and tile and every tree in the courtyard seem to be covered with a thin layer of white gauze. He Daqing will practice boxing in the yard, which is his regular activity every day. The slow movements of Tai Chi are perfectly matched with the quiet atmosphere of the courtyard. Every movement of his is steady and powerful, as if he is talking to time and fighting against the years.

After boxing, He Daqing would sit for a while under the old tree in the courtyard. This old locust tree was his favorite tree to climb when he was a child. It has a thick trunk and lush leaves. Now it has become an indispensable part of the courtyard. He lit a cigarette and took a deep breath. The smoke swirled and rose in the morning light, carrying a hint of bitterness and memories. Dahuang would lie quietly at his feet, as if he was also enjoying this moment of peace.

He Daqing's daily life is simple and regular. He works in an antique shop. The owner, Lao Liu, is an old man with a strange personality, but he trusts He Daqing very much. Lao Liu's antique shop is located in an alley near the courtyard. It is a small but charming shop with a variety of antique ornaments, which seem to take people through time and back to the distant past.

Most of the customers in the store are collectors who are interested in antiques, or scholars who like old objects. He Daqing doesn't say much, but just does his job silently. He has a pair of sharp eyes and can find the truly valuable treasures from the piles of old objects. This ability is highly valued by Lao Liu, and therefore, He Daqing has an important position in the store.

One day, a strange woman walked into the antique shop. She was wearing a simple and elegant cheongsam, with delicate features, but a hint of melancholy. Her arrival disrupted He Daqing's peaceful life. The woman claimed to be Liu Xu, and came to find a jade pendant passed down from her family. Her voice was soft, but firm. He Daqing looked at her, and a wave of emotion rose in his heart.

Liu Xu's jade pendant was the only relic left to her by her mother, but it was lost in an accident. She traveled to many places and heard that this antique shop might have the clues she was looking for, so she came here. He Daqing listened to her story carefully, took note of it in his heart, and decided to help her keep an eye out. This is a journey of searching across time, and He Daqing, in this journey, seems to have found the long-lost emotions.

As time went by, Liu Xu would often come to the antique shop and chat with He Daqing. Her story gradually unfolded, and He Daqing learned that her mother was an outstanding painter who was displaced by war and eventually settled in this city. Liu Xu lived with her mother since she was a child, but lost her in an accident. The jade pendant was the only thought her mother left her.

He Daqing was deeply moved by Liu Xu's story, and he began to look for the jade pendant more carefully. While searching for antiques, he found an old notebook that contained a lot of information about the jade pendant. The owner of the notebook was Lao Liu, who was also a collector and had a deep understanding of the origins of antiques. He Daqing carefully flipped through it, trying to find clues.

During this time, the relationship between He Daqing and Liu Xu also quietly changed. From the initial polite greetings, the two gradually became close. Liu Xu sometimes brought some snacks and tasted them with He Daqing in the store; sometimes the two would walk in the courtyard of the quadrangle and chat about each other's past. The tranquility of the quadrangle and the weight of time seemed to witness the changes in the two people's emotions.

On a bright and cool autumn day, He Daqing finally found the jade pendant among a pile of junk. It was a flawless jade pendant with exquisite carvings, and it was exactly what Liu Xu's mother had left behind. He Daqing held the jade pendant in his hands, and he was so excited that he couldn't wait to tell Liu Xu the good news.

After hearing this, Liu Xu burst into tears of joy. She took the jade pendant and held it tightly in her palm, as if her mother had returned to her. He Daqing looked at her, and an indescribable emotion surged in his heart. This was not just a jade pendant, but also a reunion of the past years and the return of family affection.

After that, Liu Xu and He Daqing became closer. She would often come to the courtyard and take care of the flowers and plants in the courtyard with He Daqing. Da Huang also gradually accepted Liu Xu and often followed her, wagging his tail affectionately. With their joint efforts, the courtyard became more lively, as if it had returned to its former prosperous days.

However, life is never always smooth. One rainy night, the roof of the courtyard was eroded by wind and rain and leaked. He Daqing climbed up to the roof to repair it overnight despite his fatigue. Liu Xu was not to be outdone and went up to help with tools. The two busy figures in the rain seemed like a pair of soldiers fighting side by side, tacitly and strongly.

After a night of hard work, the roof was finally repaired. The two were soaked, but their hearts were full of satisfaction. At that moment, He Daqing suddenly realized that Liu Xu was not just a passer-by looking for a jade pendant, she had become an indispensable part of his life. He looked at her with tenderness in his eyes, and Liu Xu returned a gentle smile.

Winter has come to the courtyard, and Beijing's winter is cold and long. The trees in the courtyard are bare, with only a few dead leaves swaying in the cold wind. He Daqing and Liu Xu snuggled together, sitting around the stove, the warm fire reflected on their faces, looking particularly warm. Da Huang curled up at their feet, snoring softly, and everything seemed so peaceful and beautiful.

In this winter, He Daqing expressed his feelings to Liu Xu. He told her that he was deeply moved by her story from the first time she walked into the antique shop, and as time went by, he found that he could no longer leave her. He hoped that Liu Xu could stay and live with him in this courtyard, spending every spring, summer, autumn and winter together.

Liu Xu's eyes sparkled with tears after hearing this. She nodded, held He Daqing's hand tightly, and said that she had long been deeply attached to this courtyard, and she had a special affection for him. The two of them embraced each other affectionately by the fire, as if at that moment, all the past had turned into smoke, and everything in the future seemed so beautiful.

The days passed slowly in peace. The courtyard was still the same ancient courtyard, but because of the presence of He Daqing and Liu Xu, it became full of vitality and warmth.