Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

Chapter 299 Farewell to the Leader

He Yuzhu walked out of Li Guangquan's office and saw Director Yang sweeping the floor diligently. He Yuzhu looked around and made sure no one was paying attention. He put his hands in his trouser pockets and walked to Director Yang's side with a nonchalant look. He whistled twice in a pretentious manner, looked around, and said, "The big leader will leave Sijiucheng the day after tomorrow. I will go to make him a farewell meal tomorrow. Is there anything you want me to say?!"

Director Yang was stunned. He had never expected He Yuzhu to say this. Director Yang hesitated for a few seconds and said, "Tell him to take care of his health."

"Well! I'll pass on the message." After saying that, He Yuzhu took out a small glass bottle from his pocket and put it into Director Yang's pocket. Then he turned to the side, took out an oil-paper bag from his pocket and put it into Director Yang's other pocket. He pretended to be a fierce man and said, "Don't be lazy! Work hard!"

"I know! I know!" Director Yang echoed twice in a very cooperative manner. After He Yuzhu left, he suddenly felt a warm feeling in his heart. Although he was down and out now, at least there were still people who cared about him. Director Yang suddenly felt that this was enough.

He Yuzhu returned to the kitchen and started to get busy. At twelve o'clock noon, Secretary Song appeared in the kitchen and saw He Yuzhu sitting beside him and said, "Master He, Director Li asked you to add two more dishes."

He Yuzhu was slightly stunned and asked, "So many dishes are not enough?!"

Secretary Song showed an embarrassed expression on his face and said, "Master He, who told you that the dishes you cook are delicious?!"

He Yuzhu sighed and asked, "Did Director Li order the food?!"

Secretary Song smiled and replied, "Not really. You can do whatever you want!"

He Yuzhu smiled and picked up the two lunch boxes that had just been placed on the table, handed them to Secretary Song, and said, "Don't just sit there. Go eat first. I'll have someone bring the dishes over when they're done cooking."

"Okay! Thank you, Master He!" After saying that, Secretary Song ran to the side with the lunch box, found a place to sit down, opened the lunch box, and began to eat slowly.

A little after 1 p.m., after the leaders had finished their meal and left, Li Guangquan appeared in front of He Yuzhu and asked, "Master He, are you free tomorrow at noon?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "Director, I am not free tomorrow at noon. I have already made an appointment with a leader."

Li Guangquan knew that He Yuzhu often cooked for some leaders, so he asked curiously, "Which leader?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "They live in the compound over at Gongzhufen."

Over at Gongzhufen is the military compound. Even if Li Huaide is tough, he can't be tougher than those people. Li Guangquan sighed and said, "That's such a pity."

He Yuzhu said, "Director, it's not that I don't agree, but I made an appointment with someone during the Chinese New Year. I can't break my promise, right?!"

Li Guangquan said, "I understand. I'll go tell Director Li right away."

After Li Guangquan left, Sister Huang walked up to He Yuzhu and asked, "Master He, can you take me with you when you are a private chef tomorrow?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "Sister Huang, I really can't take you with me tomorrow. Next time I work as a private chef, I will tell you in advance."

It was almost time to get off work, but He Yuzhu hadn't received the overtime notice yet. He knew that Li Huaide would not be having dinner tonight. When the time came, He Yuzhu changed his clothes and left. Halfway through riding his bike, He Yuzhu met Xu Damao. Xu Damao looked at He Yuzhu and asked, "You got off work really early today?!"

Xu Damao said: "You are still different?!"

He Yuzhu asked: "I heard that you asked Uncle San to help you find a house?!"

Xu Damao replied, "That's true." Then he asked, "Why? Are you jealous?!"

He Yuzhu said hurriedly: "I'm not jealous of you!"

Xu Damao smiled and said, "It's useless even if you are jealous."

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "Xu Damao, you are like the roast duck from Quanjude."

Xu Damao was stunned for a moment and asked, "What do you mean?!"

He Yuzhu smiled and joked, "A roasted duck has a hard mouth." After that, He Yuzhu rode his bicycle past Xu Damao.

Xu Damao looked at He Yuzhu's back, pondered what He Yuzhu had just said, and suddenly reacted and said, "This idiot. How dare you laugh at me?!"

The moon set and the sun rose, and it was the next morning in a blink of an eye. Early in the morning, He Yuzhu said goodbye to his wife and family and rode out on his bicycle. Just like before, He Yuzhu arrived at the gate of the compound. After checking and registering, He Yuzhu entered the gate.

When He Yuzhu arrived at the door of the small building where the senior leader lived, Sister Qiao was already waiting at the door. He Yuzhu got off his bicycle and greeted her with a smile: "Sister Qiao, why are you at the door?! Are you waiting for me?!"

Sister Qiao replied, "You are the only one who will come to my house now. If I don't wait for you, who else can I wait for?! My husband Wang has been waiting for you for a long time."

He Yuzhu parked his bike, took the food and things he brought, and followed Sister Qiao in. The big boss heard the noise and stood up. Seeing He Yuzhu carrying things and following his wife in from outside, he smiled and said, "Zhuzi, you really came?!"

He Yuzhu said, "I am a man from the city. When we men from the city speak, we stick to our guns. I promised to come to see you two off, so I will definitely come." He Yuzhu then handed a cloth bag in front of the big boss and said, "This contains all kinds of hot sauces that I made."

The big boss took the bag and said, "I like this. I won't be polite then."

"As long as you like it!" He Yuzhu echoed, and then said: "Write to me after you finish eating. I will send it to you."

"That's good!" After that, the big boss sighed unconsciously and said, "Zhu Zi, thank you!"

He Yuzhu said, "Do we need to be so polite to each other? Please sit down for a while. I'll go cook. If you have anything to say, we can talk about it later when we eat."

When He Yuzhu entered the kitchen, the leader sighed unconsciously. Sister Qiao couldn't help but ask, "Old Wang, why are you sighing for no reason?!"

The big boss said: "The loyal ones are usually butchers, and the unfaithful ones are usually scholars. The pleasure places are full of loyal ladies, and the demons and monsters are in the temple. Wife, don't you think these two sentences are particularly relevant now?!"

Sister Qiao comforted her, "You! Don't be so sentimental."

The big boss said, "What's the point of being sentimental?! It's the end of the half now, I'm lucky enough to stay out of it!"

Although there weren't many dishes cooked today, and they weren't fancy dishes, He Yuzhu used his cooking skills to the fullest. Not long after, bursts of fragrance came out of the kitchen. Attracted by the fragrance, the leader unconsciously walked to the kitchen door and asked, "Zhuzi, what delicious food are you cooking today?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "Today I will cook a few dishes that you usually like to eat. I used to cook them in a reserved way. I was afraid of getting myself into trouble, so I didn't show my true skills. Now you are about to leave the city. I am not afraid of trouble. I will let you and elder sister have a good meal today."

The big boss laughed and joked, "Good for your brother He Yuzhu! It turns out that you have been fooling me all along!"