Chapter 105 How can it be the same?

"Are we still going now?" He Yuzhu reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of candy, and handed it to He Yushui.

"I'm not going, I'm not going! Give me candy, give me candy!" He Yushui reached out to grab it, but couldn't get it no matter what she did.

"Wah—" She had barely let out a cry when the candy was already firmly stuffed into her mouth.

"Alright, Zhu Zi, all you do is tease your sister. You can't stop for a single day," Chen Shuxiang scolded, feigning displeasure.

"Sweet." He Yushui smiled through her tears.

"Aren't you afraid of losing all your teeth from the sweetness?" Chen Shuxiang said irritably.

"Hehehe, Mom, candy, sweet." He Yushui laughed even harder.

Chen Shuxiang had no way to deal with her.

"Zhu Zi, take your sister out to play. I need to talk to your dad for a bit."

"it is good."

"Go find Huiqing, go find Huiqing to play!" As soon as she stepped out of the house, He Yushui pointed to the backyard and shouted.

He Yushui and Xu Huiqing, one who could speak fluently and the other who could express her meaning clearly, could still play together and chatter all day long, having a great time.

When looking after the two girls, Xu Damao alone is enough. If the two kids get naughty, giving them some snacks or candy will immediately make them behave.

After the siblings left, Chen Shuxiang finally spoke: "He Daqing, what were you thinking? Why did you have to send my son to Tianjin?"

"I really had no other choice!" He Daqing said with a helpless tone.

"Why is there no other way? You earn enough money for our whole family."

"So you really plan to have your son stay home all day, just taking care of us, young and old?"

"Is that not allowed? How old is Zhu Zi?"

"You weren't happy about him selling steamed buns before, and you're still not happy about him going out to learn a proper skill now. So what exactly do you want him to do?"

"He's only twelve years old, what can you expect him to do? What were you doing when you were twelve?"

"How can that be the same? When I was twelve, I was already helping my father—your father-in-law—organize banquets for people."

"If you're going to prepare a banquet, you should take him with you. You've been criticizing him for this and that for months, and now you want to send your son to Tianjin."

"Was it because I disliked him? Once I had an upset stomach, and your son grabbed a big wok and started cooking without saying a word. Guess what he said when it came time to pay the bill?"

"My son was there to save you the day, and you're still not happy about it?"

"But he's my son too! That brat said that we sent two head chefs, but we only got paid for one job. He said it would have been better to let him bring a kitchen helper—he doesn't even care about kitchen helper jobs."

"I don't think that's wrong either," Chen Shuxiang nodded in agreement.

"So you're blaming me now? Why don't you say it's because your son is too capable, and I can't teach him anymore? There's nowhere else in Beijing to learn. If I don't send him to Tianjin, where else can I send him? To Shanghai or Chongqing?"

"Fine, fine, you're always right. Are you really beyond teaching?"

"I really can't teach him anymore." Although He Daqing was unwilling to admit it, it was indeed the truth.

"It's only been a few months, and he's already mastered all your skills?"

"Apart from Tan Family Cuisine, he has indeed learned almost everything else. I was thinking that since he's going to Tianjin, which is by the sea, he might have a chance to practice Tan Family Cuisine skills. It would be a shame to let him lose them."

"Do we know anyone in Tianjin?"

"I have a senior classmate who studied Shandong cuisine with me. Later, he felt that there were too many people studying Shandong cuisine, so he went to Tianjin to study halal cuisine."

"Is this person reliable? Have I met him before?"

"We worshipped the same master, so there's a bond between us, and it shouldn't be a problem. You haven't met him, but he was the master my grandfather found for me before I met you."

"Oh... let me think about it some more, Zhu Zi is only twelve after all."

"Think about it. Your son is quite capable, but without a proper mentor, it will be difficult for him to make a name for himself in this industry."

"I understand. Did Zhu Zi himself... agree?"

"He agreed. He said he wanted to go out and see the world; he's never left Beijing before."

After He Yuzhu carried He Yushui back home,

Chen Shuxiang then had her son hand their daughter to He Daqing.

He then pulled He Yuzhu aside, preparing to question him in detail.

"Zhu Zi, are you really sure about this?"

"Mother, I've thought it through. It's just learning a trade; it doesn't matter where I learn it."

"But I just can't feel at ease. You've never left my side for more than ten years."

"I can protect myself," He Yuzhu immediately assured him.

"What can you protect? Those people outside are all armed with guns. What good are your meager martial arts skills?"

Looking at her son, who was now half a head taller than her, Chen Shuxiang's eyes involuntarily reddened.

"Mom, I've already graduated from middle school, so I'm practically an adult now, right?"

"What do you mean 'calculate'? You've only just turned twelve... Waaah..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Shuxiang's tears began to fall uncontrollably.

"Mother, with my skills, I might be able to come back safely in a year or two."

He Yuzhu stepped forward, gently hugged his mother, and softly comforted her.

"I'm just so worried about you... Waaah..."

Chen Shuxiang was still unable to calm down, and she choked up as she repeatedly spoke.

"But I can't just stay home all day without going out. If this keeps up, when will it ever end?"

He Yuzhu finally couldn't help but retort.

"It's not like we can't afford to raise you. Why should you have to go out and work so hard at such a young age?"

Chen Shuxiang raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of stubbornness and persistence.

"But I can't rely on my father to support me for the rest of my life. I have to go out and earn some money and save up some savings of my own."

He Yuzhu spoke earnestly, enunciating each word clearly.

"What, you're already planning to save money to get married, you half-grown kid?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shuxiang couldn't help but burst into laughter through her tears and started teasing her son.

"No, no, that's not true! I'm still young, really still young!"

He Yuzhu's face instantly turned red, and he hurriedly waved his hands to explain.

"Then when you're away from home, you must promise your mother that you will take good care of yourself and never cause trouble."

Chen Shuxiang suppressed her smile and solemnly gave him repeated instructions.

"The outside world is chaotic, unlike the peaceful and stable home."

"Of course, I've lived in Beijing for so long, when have I ever caused trouble for my family?"

He Yuzhu nodded quickly and made several promises to his mother.

It took He Yuzhu a lot of talking and effort to finally calm his depressed mother down.

Immediately afterwards, he was called to his father's side by his father, He Daqing.

He Daqing was planning to buy another batch of daily necessities for the family before his son set off on his long journey.

No one can say for sure how long he will be gone after going to Tianjin.

Hearing his father's idea, He Yuzhu agreed without hesitation.

The next day, after He Daqing finished preparing the banquet for Boss Lou's guests,

He made a point of finding time to meet with Boss Lou alone and ask him for help.

He wanted to ask Boss Lou for help in getting He Yuzhu a pass and a travel permit.

If it's convenient, it would be best if you could also help me buy a train ticket to Tianjin.

He also proactively promised Boss Lou that if he ever cooked for the Lou family again, he would not be charged a penny.

For Boss Lou, these were nothing more than trivial matters, requiring only a little effort.

Why not take this opportunity to do He Daqing a favor, so that he will work even harder at the factory in the future?

After a moment's thought, Boss Lou readily agreed.

After receiving an affirmative reply from Boss Lou, He Daqing happily rushed home.

Chen Shuxiang had gone to tell the old lady early in the morning that He Yuzhu was about to leave on a long journey.

She was really unsure of herself and wanted to hear the opinion of the knowledgeable old lady so that she could make a decision for herself.

After hearing the whole story, the old lady only gave her one sentence in a calm tone.

"If a fledgling eagle does not experience the trials and tribulations of wind and rain, it will never be able to spread its wings and soar high in the sky."

Chen Shuxiang carefully considered the words and instantly understood the old lady's unspoken meaning.

She was well aware that her son was actually quite capable.

Otherwise, how did all those items of dubious origin end up being bought one by one?

Could it really be all thanks to a connection with an obstetrician? That might fool others, but it won't fool her at all.

But when she thought about the complexities of human nature and the dangers of the world outside, she still couldn't put her mind at ease.

"Weren't you about the same age as Zhu Zi back then, and sent to Beijing to make a living?"

Seeing that Chen Shuxiang still looked worried, the old lady couldn't help but add another sentence.

"How can they be the same?"

Chen Shuxiang gently shook her head, her tone filled with lingering worry.

"Didn't the Qing Dynasty say that his senior brother was in Tianjin?"

The old lady spoke slowly, offering a gentle reminder.

"I've never even seen what his senior brother looks like, and I've never heard him mention such a person before."

Chen Shuxiang sighed helplessly and told the old lady the truth.

"By the way, isn't that girl from the Wang family also in Tianjin? Do you have her address?"

The old lady suddenly remembered something and asked about it.

"No, even Zhao Yonghe, who lives in the outer courtyard, has long since disappeared and cannot be found at all."

Chen Shuxiang gently shook her head, her tone tinged with disappointment.

"well……"

Upon hearing this, the old lady couldn't help but sigh deeply.

She knew in her heart that Wang Qiuping might not actually be married.

Zhao Yonghe is most likely from that side, otherwise he wouldn't have suddenly disappeared for no reason.

The old lady was far from optimistic about Wang Qiuping's situation in Tianjin, and her heart was filled with worry.

"So... are we really going to send Zhu Zi to Tianjin?"

Chen Shuxiang hesitated for a moment, then asked again.

"Let him go. While things are still relatively peaceful outside, it's a good opportunity for him to go out and explore and gain experience."

The old lady spoke firmly and without room for argument.