Siheyuan: Walking the Path of Qin Huairu

The table was filled with rich, red sauces, delicacies from land and sea, which made the leaders eat so much that they couldn't stop. The director of the Commercial Bureau said, "Director Li, the chefs in your steel mill are not bad! They are not inferior to the chefs in Fengzeyuan!"

Director Li took the opportunity to brag: "Our Master He's ancestors were imperial chefs. Although he is young, he has been practicing cooking with his father since he was a child. His father is proficient in Tan family cuisine. When you need Master He in the future, come to me."

The director of the Commerce Bureau laughed and said, "Okay! I'll remember what you said."

Director Yang was not willing to be left behind, so he asked his secretary to go to the kitchen and call He Yuzhu over. He introduced him to everyone, saying, "This is Chef He Yuzhu. These dishes are all made by him, and he also made the winter vegetables. I'll bring some back to you leaders later. If you have any problems at home, just let me know!"

He Yuzhu also laughed and said, "That's right. I don't have any other specialties, I just like to study cooking. If you have any questions, just tell me, I guarantee you will be satisfied."

The atmosphere at the table was full of enthusiasm and chatter, and everything was self-evident.

Nowadays, the system is dead, but people are alive, and the implementation is flexible. The money is not put into personal pockets. It is all for national construction, so it is not impossible to approve more grain.

Care is mutual. If you take care of me, I will take care of you. If you give me a favor, I will give you a favor in return. We all understand this principle.

The days in winter are very short. When Xu Huizhen and her companions got off the train, it was already dark. The night was like a painting, swallowing up all the colors in the endless night.

Xu Huizhen said, "Auntie Han, you haven't cooked at home for several days. Let's go to my house for dinner first, and then go home. I called in advance, and I think Yingzi has prepared dinner for us."

Han Qingqiu was not polite. As soon as he entered the house, little Xu Jingli rushed over like a small cannonball. Xu Huizhen handed Kunkun to He Yuzhu, bent down and picked up Lier, and said, "Lier, have you missed your mother these days?"

Li'er tilted his head and said in a baby voice, "I think about it. I think about it, I think about it!" After that, he kissed his mother on the face twice.

Han Qingqiu took out a small handbag with a unique shape from her bag. She bought it in Yushui County and gave it to Li'er, saying, "Li'er, look, this is a gift that grandma bought for you. Do you like it?"

Li'er took the small handbag, looked at it from left to right, and liked it very much.

Yingzi brought out the food and said, "Aunt Han, Sister Huizhen, you two should eat something hot to warm yourself up. Brother-in-law knew you were coming back, so he brought you some delicious food from the factory."

He Yuzhu knew that Xu Huizhen didn't like him bringing lunch boxes home from the cafeteria, so he laughed and said, "Ma Hua, it's all Ma Hua. He heard that you were coming back today, and there happened to be a reception at the factory at noon, so he packed two lunch boxes for me. He said it was for his master's wife to welcome her home."

What is the purpose of an apprentice? To take the blame at this time.

Xu Huizhen didn't say anything, washed her hands, and sat down to eat. Han Qingqiu looked at the food in the lunch box and asked, "Your factory is entertaining guests today, the dishes are good!"

He Yuzhu: "We are inviting the leaders of the Commerce Bureau to dinner. We hope that the Commerce Bureau will approve more food for us."

After dinner, she sent Han Qingqiu away and coaxed Kunkun to sleep. Xu Huizhen sighed, "It's still good to be at home!" Since marrying Zhuzi, the two have hardly ever quarreled or had a fight. He Yuzhu obeyed her in everything and was loved by everyone. Xu Huizhen was very satisfied.

A short separation is better than a new marriage. After some tenderness, the two fell asleep.

In the following days, the couple were busy preparing for the coming 1959. Xu Huizhen, through her brother, bought 4 tons of grain from Northeast China in the name of the winery, including soybeans, sorghum, corn, and rice. They didn't mind anything as long as it was edible. They stored it in the winery's warehouse.

Xu Huizhen's brother heard that food would be in short supply in the next three years, so he originally bought some food to make brewing dogs, and also stored some of it. It's always a good idea to be prepared.

He Yuzhu went to Northeast China. Director Li's father-in-law bought a batch of grain in Northeast China through his connections. Director Li asked He Yuzhu to drive a truck to transport the grain. He Yuzhu said, "Director, shouldn't this job be assigned to the Purchasing Department or the Security Department? Why was it assigned to me?"

Director Li said, "Didn't you come up with the idea? If you don't go, who will? I don't feel comfortable with others going. My father-in-law has prepared some gifts, you can deliver them."

He Yuzhu reluctantly nodded in agreement. Director Li reminded him, "Are you stupid? Follow the convoy and bring some things back to your home."

He Yuzhu: "Come on, I am a brick of the revolution, I will move wherever I am needed. But, Director, what you said reminds me. My wife has a cousin who drives a car for the Commercial Bureau. One time they went to Inner Mongolia to work, and guess what, they brought back a whole sheep. This is a typical case of stealing, don't you think?"

Director Li: "So I asked you to lead the team. There are wild ginseng, mushrooms, and wild animals in the Northeast. You are the deputy director of the canteen, so you can do whatever you want. For safety reasons, I will ask you all to bring guns."

When Xu Huizhen heard that He Yuzhu was going on a business trip to the Northeast, she took out a pistol from her space and asked him to take it with him. She also found him a military coat and a cotton hat, and told him, "The weather in the Northeast is cold, so you must wear more clothes."

He Yuzhu laughed, it felt so good to be cared for by his wife, his heart was warm.

Xu Huizhen also brought him some extra money, so that he could buy something suitable. The Northeast was a really good place in those days. It was vast, sparsely populated, and rich in resources. As long as you were diligent, you would at least have enough food. Working for half a year and hibernating for half a year was very comfortable.

After completing all the preparations, He Yuzhu led the convoy to the Northeast.

When He Yuzhu was not at home, Xu Huizhen rarely went back to Nanluoguxiang. She used this time to pick out the smaller and less eye-catching fruits in the space and asked Cai Quanwu to sell them for money. It was not a good idea to keep them in the space all the time, and they took up space. She had to make room for food.

It was Saturday, and He Yushui was coming back from school, so she had to go back to the courtyard to pick up Yushui. She rode her bicycle and just as she got out of the alley, she ran into Niu Ye, a regular customer of the tavern.

Xu Huizhen didn't go to the tavern often recently, so she hadn't seen Niu Ye for a while. Xu Huizhen got out of the car politely. Niu Ye smiled and said, "Huizhen, you are a very busy person now, and it's difficult to see you. Where are you going?"

Xu Huizhen replied with a smile: "I'm just busy. If you have anything to say, just let your second son tell me."

Niu Ye looked around and saw that there was no one around. He asked in a low voice, "I've heard a lot of rumors recently, saying that the next two years will be bad. I don't know if it's true or not."

Xu Huizhen said: "It is better to believe it than not to believe it. Store more food. Trust me, it is not wrong."

Niu Ye: “I understand.”

Xu Huizhen did not forget to remind him: "Don't spread what I said just now. Just keep it in your heart. I won't admit it even if you say it." After that, she rode away on her bicycle.

Niu Ye stood there, thinking for a while. After returning home, he called the children together and said, "I will give each of you 50 yuan, and you all have to find a way to exchange it for food. You can go to the pigeon market or exchange it for food coupons with others. In short, we have to save some food at home."