Siheyuan: Tanjia Cuisine He Daqing, destroying Yi Zhonghai

The two chatted for a while, and the topic gradually turned from daily life to their past. He Daqing was not good at speaking, but under the gentle gaze of Widow Bai, he actually talked about his experiences when he was young, from learning cooking to the hardships of opening a restaurant. Widow Bai listened quietly, nodding from time to time, with a look of understanding and pity in her eyes.

During the conversation, He Daqing suddenly realized that he had developed a deep attachment to this woman without realizing it. He was shocked and secretly reminded himself to restrain this feeling, but the more he restrained himself, the more he felt that he could not get rid of this bond.

Just when He Daqing was struggling with his emotions, Bai Guafu's words completely hit his heart.

"Master He, sometimes I really envy you. Although life is not easy, you at least have a goal and a skill. But I can only guard this yard and live the same life day after day." The White Widow said softly, with a deep loneliness in her eyes.

He Daqing felt a pang of pain after hearing this. He didn't know how to comfort this woman who seemed strong yet fragile to him. He just felt that he should do something, but he didn't know how to start.

After the conversation that day, He Daqing couldn't calm down for a long time. He realized that his feelings for the White Widow had gone beyond ordinary neighborly relations, but at the same time, he also understood that this kind of relationship had no future. The White Widow was a woman with unfortunate experiences, and he knew very well that he couldn't disturb her peaceful life because of his feelings.

As a result, He Daqing began to deliberately reduce his contact with the White Widow. He no longer frequently delivered medicine and food to her, but instead handed these tasks over to other neighbors. Every time he met the White Widow in the courtyard, he tried to keep his distance, just politely greeted her, and hurried away.

Widow Bai seemed to have noticed the change in He Daqing, but she did not ask about it, but just accepted it silently. The relationship between the two gradually became distant, returning to the initial strangeness and politeness.

Recalling this, He Daqing felt an indescribable sadness in his heart. He knew that his original decision was correct, but every time he thought of this past, he couldn't help but feel sad and regretful. The shadow of the White Widow still lingered in his memory, like a beautiful and distant dream, unforgettable.

"Master, the ginger soup is ready. Please drink some while it's hot." He Yuzhu walked over with a bowl of steaming ginger soup, interrupting He Daqing's memories.

He Daqing came back to his senses, smiled slightly, took the ginger soup, blew it gently, and drank it slowly. The warm ginger soup dispelled the coldness in his body and calmed his mind a little.

"Thank you, Xiao Zhuzi. I'm a little tired today. Let's go to bed early. There are still many things to do tomorrow." He Daqing put down the bowl and said softly, with a hint of fatigue in his tone.

He Yuzhu nodded and helped the master back to the room to rest. Although he was puzzled by the master's sudden silence, he did not dare to ask more questions. He just silently helped the master to spread the quilt, turned off the light, and then quietly retreated.

He Daqing lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts flooding in like a tide, and he couldn't calm down. He knew that today's accidental fall into the water was not just a simple accident, and there might be deeper concerns behind it. As he grew older, he became more and more sensitive to his physical condition, and the feeling of fatigue and powerlessness had appeared more than once. The aging of the body came faster than he thought, and today's accident was just a signal, a signal he had to face.

"Time is not forgiving." He Daqing sighed in his heart, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness. He realized that he was no longer the chef who could cook freely when he was young, and many small problems that he had not paid attention to before could become big troubles now. The slip at the river today was more like a warning, making him clearly realize that he must be more careful.

But things may not be that simple. He Daqing felt that this accident was not just due to aging. He recalled that when he fell into the water, his feet seemed to step on a piece of slippery stone, and his feet suddenly slipped, causing him to lose balance. But the stone did not seem to be on the path he usually walked. He frowned in confusion, trying to sort out his thoughts.

"Perhaps someone deliberately set up obstacles on this road?" This thought flashed through He Daqing's mind, but he immediately denied it. He was familiar with everyone in the courtyard. They had lived in harmony for many years and had never had any conflicts, let alone someone who would deliberately harm him.

But this question was like a thorn in He Daqing's heart. He tossed and turned, and the scene of that road emerged in his mind. He walked that road countless times on weekdays, and he knew the layout of the stones and grass by heart, but today the position of the stone seemed abrupt and unexpected.

He recalled the scene again: the path by the river was not wide, but it was always smooth, and he never slipped even on rainy days. But the stone today happened to appear right under his feet, catching him off guard.

"Could it be that someone accidentally moved the stone?" He Daqing thought of this possibility, but he still felt something was wrong. Logically, the position of the stone would not change for no reason unless someone did it deliberately.

All this made He Daqing alert. He knew that although there was no evidence that this was an intentional frame-up, he could not take it lightly. Although the courtyard was peaceful and tranquil, he had to be more careful to avoid similar accidents.

"Perhaps, I should pay more attention to the movements around me." He Daqing made a decision in his heart. He reminded himself that he must pay more attention to the changes around him in the future, especially some small details that are usually not noticeable. He can't let himself fall into such a dangerous situation again, especially when he is getting older and his health is not as good as before.

He Daqing thought of He Yuzhu again, and felt a little comforted by his apprentice's quick response and concern after he fell into the water. He knew that He Yuzhu had gradually grown into a young man he could rely on, but at the same time he was also worried that if he could not remain vigilant enough, He Yuzhu might face some pressure and danger that he should not bear.

At this time, the wind outside gradually stopped, and the courtyard was so quiet that only one or two night birds chirped occasionally. He Daqing felt a heavy fatigue surge in his heart. He knew he had to have a good rest, but the uneasiness in his heart could not be shaken off.