Siheyuan: Tanjia Cuisine He Daqing, destroying Yi Zhonghai

This contradictory feeling made He Daqing a little difficult to adapt. He understood that Sha Zhu had grown into an excellent chef and no longer needed his detailed guidance as in the past. But at the same time, he also felt that he was gradually losing something important, as if a part of him was slowly fading away with the passage of time.

He Daqing's sleep has become increasingly unstable recently. He always wakes up easily at night and often tosses and turns and cannot fall asleep. His stomach is also gradually not as good as before. He often feels a little uncomfortable in the middle of the night, which forces him to get up, go to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of warm water, and then take some stomach medicine. He remembers that when he was young, he had a very good appetite and could eat anything no matter how spicy or greasy the food was. But now, after dinner, he always feels bloating and soreness.

The courtyard was quiet at night, even the chirping of insects seemed sparse. He Daqing sat on a wooden chair in the kitchen, holding a teacup and sighing slightly. He was aware of the changes in his body. He had been busy with the restaurant's affairs over the years, focusing on work and neglecting his health. It was only recently that these minor ailments began to frequently come to him, forcing him to face the fact that he was getting older.

"Alas, when you get old, you can't avoid these things." He smiled bitterly in his heart. Thinking of not adding more trouble to Sha Zhu, he decided not to tell him these things for the time being. Sha Zhu has been busy enough recently. The restaurant's business is booming, and more and more customers come here. Sha Zhu is busy in the kitchen almost every day. He Daqing didn't want his apprentice to be distracted by his own affairs. He thought it was just a common problem for the elderly and it would pass if he endured it.

However, as time went by, Sha Zhu finally noticed something was wrong with He Daqing. That night, Sha Zhu had just finished cleaning the kitchen and was about to go back to his room to rest when he suddenly heard a slight noise coming from the kitchen. He walked over and saw He Daqing sitting alone at the table, holding a glass of water in his hand, his face a little pale.

"Master, why haven't you slept yet?" Sha Zhu asked with concern.

He Daqing looked up and saw Sha Zhu, and forced a smile, "Nothing, my stomach feels a little uncomfortable, get up and drink some water."

After hearing this, Sha Zhu felt his heart tighten. He knew that He Daqing was always careful about his diet and never ate anything indiscriminately, but recently he seemed to have heard him mention stomach discomfort more and more often. Thinking of this, Sha Zhu couldn't help but blame himself, thinking that he had ignored his master's physical condition.

"Master, have you had a poor appetite recently? How about I accompany you to see a doctor tomorrow?" Sha Zhu suggested with concern.

He Daqing waved his hand and said in a relaxed tone: "Don't bother, it's an old problem, it's nothing serious. I had a good appetite when I was young, now I can just consider it as paying back the debt."

After hearing what his master said, Sha Zhu felt a little uncomfortable. He had followed He Daqing since he was a child, and he knew that his master was always a tough person who never wanted others to worry about him. But now, when Sha Zhu looked at He Daqing, he was full of worries. He knew very well that his master was old and his health was naturally not as good as before. Many minor problems that he had not paid attention to before might slowly accumulate into big problems.

"Master, don't be so stubborn. Your health is important. I will accompany you tomorrow. Don't worry, I can handle the restaurant's affairs. There will be no delay." There was a hint of persistence in Sha Zhu's tone.

Seeing his disciple so persistent, He Daqing felt a little warm in his heart. He understood Sha Zhu's good intentions, and thinking of his disciple's worry, He Daqing finally stopped refusing and nodded, "Okay, let's go and take a look, but I'm really fine, don't be too nervous."

The next morning, Sha Zhu accompanied He Daqing to a nearby hospital. After a careful examination, the doctor confirmed that it was just a common problem for the elderly, prescribed some medicine, and told He Daqing to pay more attention to his diet, eat less spicy and greasy food, and eat more light and easily digestible food. He Daqing nodded repeatedly and felt a little relieved, but Sha Zhu silently took note of the doctor's words and made up his mind to take good care of his master's diet.

After returning to the restaurant, Sha Zhu specifically told the kitchen staff that when preparing meals for He Daqing in the future, they must make them light and easy to digest. He Daqing was touched to see Sha Zhu's concern, but also a little embarrassed. He patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Sha Zhu, don't treat me as a patient. I'm not that delicate."

Sha Zhu smiled, but his heart was more determined to take good care of He Daqing. Since then, Sha Zhu always took time out of his busy schedule to pay attention to the master's diet and daily life. He would personally check every meal to ensure that the master ate healthy and nutritious food.

However, despite Sha Zhu's efforts, He Daqing still felt depressed. He knew that Sha Zhu was doing this for his own good, but the feeling of being taken care of made him feel lost. Once upon a time, he was the one who was in charge of the kitchen, but now, he could only accept the care of his apprentice, as if he had completely lost the control he once had.

"What's wrong with me? Why do I always feel unhappy?" He Daqing often asked himself this question at night. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew that he was getting older, and this inevitable feeling of aging made him feel powerless. This feeling was like an invisible wall, pulling him further and further away from Sha Zhu.

One night, after Sha Zhu finished his work in the kitchen, he saw He Daqing sitting on the old chair in the backyard again, holding a cup of warm water in his hand, his eyes wandering. Sha Zhu walked over and asked softly, "Master, are you worried about something?"

He Daqing was silent for a moment, and finally sighed, "Shazhu, do you still remember how it felt when I taught you? At that time, I always felt that I could still do a lot, teaching you, helping you, and watching you improve little by little. That was my happiest time. But now, I find that I can't keep up with your pace anymore. You have become independent, and I... can only sit here and think about the past."

When Sha Zhu heard this, he felt very sad. He understood how his master felt. This feeling of being marginalized by life was undoubtedly painful, especially for someone who was once so proud and capable. Sha Zhu squatted down, held He Daqing's hand, and said seriously: "Master, you will always be the person I respect the most. Without you, I would not be where I am today. I hope you can always be by my side, not because I need your care, but because I want to go on with you."