sinovels Chapter 1788 Zhao Youcai: A Father's Heart is Full of Pity
Chapter 1788 Zhao Youcai: A Father's Heart is Full of Pity
Chapter 1788 Zhao Youcai: A Father's Heart is Full of Pity...
While Han Shengli and Han Wenxue were tied to a tree and left to shiver in the cold wind, Zhao Youcai was humming a folk song tune and making dumplings at home.
You could tell that Zhao Youcai was genuinely happy. He made over two hundred large steamed dumplings for nearly thirty people, including those working in the fields and those going to school.
The dumpling filling was made by Zhao Youcai. When making the horse meat filling, he only added a little chopped green onion, so it could be considered all meat.
Zhao Youcai hurriedly wrapped the dumplings, quickly placing them into the pot. Four large pots, one inside and one outside, steamed a total of over two hundred and forty large steamed dumplings filled with horse meat.
When Wang Meilan and the others returned home from their lunch break, they were pleasantly surprised to see the steaming hot dumplings that had just come out of the pot.
"Come on, Uncle Zhao, brother," Zhao Youcai said to Old Master Zhao and Xing San, "Let's have a drink."
Dumplings and wine go hand in hand, the more you eat, the better. Men, women, and children gathered in the courtyard outside the Zhao family's house, eating large steamed dumplings with juicy fillings and meat and egg fillings, feeling some of the fatigue from the morning disappear.
After eating and drinking their fill, and cleaning up the cups, plates, bowls, and leftovers, Zhao Jun, Wang Meilan, and the others rested for a while before continuing to work in the fields.
Zhao Hong, Xiao Lingdang, and the other children went to school, leaving Zhao Youcai alone at home to pet lynxes, play with dogs, smoke, and drink tea.
At around 1:40 p.m., Zhao Youcai, who was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), had just started snoring when he was woken up by the barking of dogs outside.
Zhao Youcai sat up groggily and looked out the window, where he saw Gu Yang running and stumbling into the Zhao family compound.
Upon seeing that it was Gu Yang, Zhao Youcai quickly got up, slipped on his shoes, and went outside to greet him.
"Uncle Youcai." Gu Yang called out to Zhao Youcai upon seeing him, and then Zhao Youcai asked, "Is it all done?"
"All done." Gu Yang nodded emphatically and said, "Han Shengli has them tied it to the big tree."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Youcai's small eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately asked, "Did you beat him up?"
"He got beaten up." Gu Yang nodded again with a smile, saying, "He got a good beating, and knocked him down right away."
"Haha..." Zhao Youcai laughed loudly and said, "Kill this son of a bitch."
After saying that, Zhao Youcai smacked his lips and said, "I was damn well not there. I wish I had been there."
"Uncle," Gu Yang said with a smile, "Brother Jimin said that it's not appropriate for you to show your face in this matter."
"I know," Zhao Youcai replied. Then, he suddenly remembered something and asked Gu Yang, "Kid, have you eaten yet?"
"No, Uncle." Gu Yang said this somewhat embarrassedly, but he knew that his mother and sister-in-law wouldn't leave him any food. He had been running around in the mountains for most of the day, and his stomach was already growling. It would be difficult for him to hold out until dinner.
"You haven't eaten... what are you doing?" Zhao Youcai beckoned to Gu Yang, "Come inside with me, Uncle will steam some rice for you."
"Uncle, it's no trouble at all." Gu Yang tried to decline, but Zhao Youcai pulled him into the house.
After entering the house, Zhao Youcai asked Gu Yang to sit on a bench and rest. He then used tree branches to start a fire and heat oil, using the bear oil to fry the remaining twenty-odd dumplings for Gu Yang.
"Kid, you eat first, Uncle will make you some soup." Zhao Youcai picked out the first ten dumplings that came out of the pot, put them on a plate and handed them to Gu Yang. Then he went to get an egg to make Gu Yang an egg drop soup.
"Uncle," Gu Yang quickly interjected, "Don't bother, I have enough dumplings."
"Will that work?" Zhao Youcai, who had returned with eggs, said to Gu Yang while ladling water into the pot, "This is your first time coming to my house, and the first time you've ever had a meal with me, so I have to make arrangements for you. I wasn't prepared, otherwise I would have prepared eight dishes for you."
What Zhao Youcai said was not a lie; it was the local way of treating guests, and it was also what he truly felt.
He ladled water into the pot, then turned around, took four steps, and slumped down to open the cellar door inside the house.
Zhao Youcai went down into the cellar and brought back a can of luncheon meat and a can of fish. He said to Gu Yang, "Kid, eat slowly. Uncle will cut the canned food for you."
At this moment, Gu Yang's mouth was already stuffed full of dumplings. The freshly fried dumplings were very hot, especially the ones Zhao Youcai made, which had soup mixed into the filling. As soon as you bit into a hot dumpling, a burst of hot soup would gush out, and Gu Yang, who was hissing from the heat, said to Zhao Youcai, "Uncle, stop working."
"Eat slowly." Seeing how hot Gu Yang's food was, Zhao Youcai said, "I'll pour you some wine later."
As he spoke, Zhao Youcai put down the canned food and hurriedly went to get the wine barrel.
When guests arrive, wine is served. However, this was not because Zhao Youcai was neglecting his guests, but because he was alone and Gu Yang was in a hurry to talk, which made Zhao Youcai flustered and unable to finish preparing the wine.
With half a plate of leftover fried peanuts, some chopped luncheon meat, some canned fish, and a freshly made egg drop soup, Zhao Youcai managed to put together four dishes for Gu Yang.
After the small bottle of liquor was poured, Zhao Youcai, though not drinking, sat down to drink with Gu Yang.
"Uncle, your dumplings smell so good." Gu Yang took another bite of a dumpling as he spoke. As he bit through the dumpling skin, oil flowed down from both sides of the dumpling, onto the rim of the bowl, and even outside the bowl.
Seeing this, Gu Yang quickly put the half-eaten dumpling into the bowl, then picked up the bowl and licked the oil off the rim with his tongue.
Zhao Youcai didn't think anything of Gu Yang's behavior. He had also come from a poor background. When he was a child, the flatbread and cornbread his family ate were made of pure cornmeal and were crumbly. If any bits of dry food fell on the kang (a heated brick bed), his grandparents would pick them up with their fingers and put them in their mouths.
Looking at Gu Yang wolfing down his food, Zhao Youcai couldn't help but think of his own children who struggled to eat.
Over the past year, Zhao's family has been eating better and better, with meat at every meal, which has spoiled the children.
Now, Zhao Hong, Zhao Na, Li Xiaoqiao, Wang Tian, Wang Xue, and Lin Xiaobao, these six children, are tired of eating home-style dishes such as chicken stew with mushrooms, stewed goose in an iron pot, braised pork ribs, and pork with vermicelli.
Just yesterday, Zhao Youcai made braised horse meat, stir-fried horse meat, and braised horse ribs, but the children didn't eat a single bite. They only stared at the sweet and sour pork made with horse meat.
Zhao Youcai couldn't say anything about other people's children, especially since these families were eating at his house. So Zhao Youcai only said a few words to Zhao Hong and Zhao Na after all the diners had left.
Even so, Wang Meilan and Zhao Jun still protected him and wouldn't let him say anything.
Just then, Gu Yang picked up his bowl and put dumplings in his mouth. As he raised his arm, Zhao Youcai noticed that the sleeve of the boy's elbow was torn.
This kid is neglected at home and doesn't have a formal job. He earns money by running around in the mountains, collecting wild vegetables, and weaving baskets and hampers.
Even so, he still has to pay for his family's food every month.
Gu Yang was exceptionally honest; he devoured all the food, soup, and dumplings on the table. Seeing this, Zhao Youcai quickly asked, "Kid, I have some frozen dumplings at home. Shall I cook you another plate?"
"No need... uh! Uncle, no need." Gu Yang burped, then smiled somewhat embarrassedly at Zhao Youcai.
Zhao Youcai didn't say anything, but gave Gu Yang a kind smile, then raised his hand and gently patted Gu Yang's shoulder twice to comfort and encourage him.
"Uncle, you sit down, I'll clean up." Gu Yang said, getting up and quickly picking up the bowls and chopsticks on the table. He carried them to the stove and put them in a basin. Then he scooped water from the basin, rolled up his sleeves, and began to wash the bowls and chopsticks.
Zhao Youcai glanced at Gu Yangfei's frayed trouser legs and old rubber shoes, but didn't say much. He simply got up and walked silently into the inner room.
After washing the dishes, Gu Yang neatly stacked them and put them in the Zhao family's dish rack. Once he was done, he turned and walked to the east side of the corridor, calling out towards the inner room, "Uncle, I'm done cleaning up for you, I'm going back now!"
"Wait a minute!" Zhao Youcai hurriedly called out to Gu Yang. Then he came out of the east room, clutching a neatly folded set of forestry work clothes in his hand.
“Here you go, kid.” Zhao Youcai handed the work clothes in his hand to Gu Yang and said, “I’ve only worn these clothes twice. If you don’t mind, you can take them back and wear them.”
These days, wearing other people's old clothes is perfectly normal, so how could Gu Yang possibly mind?
Gu Yang didn't immediately take the clothes, but instead asked Zhao Youcai, "Uncle, if you give me these work clothes, what are you going to wear?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Youcai smiled and glanced at Gu Yang, saying, "Kid, you don't need to worry about me anymore. Take it back and wear it."
Only then did Gu Yang realize that the man in front of him was not just a cook at the forest farm; his son-in-law was the logistics team leader, so getting him a couple of sets of work clothes would be a piece of cake.
"Thank you, Uncle." Gu Yang took the work clothes and thanked Zhao Youcai. Zhao Youcai pointed outside and said, "Come on, kid, come with me to the warehouse. I'll find you a pair of shoes."
Zhao Youcai took out a pair of yellow rubber shoes from the front yard storeroom and gave them to Gu Yang. These shoes were the ones he usually wore for work, but they were about 70-80% new.
Gu Yang happily accepted the clothes, carrying them in one hand and his shoes in the other. He smiled and thanked Zhao Youcai, saying, "Uncle Xie, I'm off now."
Zhao Youcai didn't say anything, but raised his hand to stop Gu Yang. Then he took out twenty yuan from his pocket and was about to hand it to Gu Yang.
Seeing this, Gu Yang quickly backed away and refused, saying, "Uncle, I can't take your money."
As he said this, Gu Yang said sincerely, "If it weren't for your brother Jun that day, I would have been kicked by Black Bear."
"What kind of talk is that?" Zhao Youcai laughed. "They all live in the same village. If he saw you were in danger, would he not save you?"
As he spoke, Zhao Youcai tried to stuff more money into Gu Yang's pocket.
"No, it's Uncle Cai." Gu Yang had both hands occupied and couldn't stop Zhao Youcai, so he dodged back and said, "My brother Jun and I, along with Uncle Liu Hanshan, were rescued. Uncle Liu's family bought you cigarettes, but I didn't buy you anything. How could I possibly take your money?"
Hearing Gu Yang's words, Zhao Youcai couldn't help but have a new opinion of him; this kid was actually grateful.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Zhao Youcai's mind. He immediately asked Gu Yang, "Kid, what kind of work are you doing now?"
"Uncle, what kind of work can I do?" Gu Yang said with a wry smile. "When I have nothing to do, I go up the mountain, cut some tree branches, peel some bark, weave a mud basket or a hamper, and then sell it to the forest farm for two or two and a half cents."
Also, if someone has a wedding or funeral, I'll go over and help out, and afterwards they'll give me a dollar or two as a tip.
After hearing this, Zhao Youcai couldn't help but curl his lip and say, "You're a grown man, and you can't even do this? How are you going to support your family if you do this kind of work?"
"Uncle, there's nothing I can do about it," Gu Yang said with a bitter expression. "You know my family's situation. If my dad were still alive, he could at least find me a job. But my dad is gone, and my mom doesn't care about me either."
"Alas!" Hearing Gu Yang's words, Zhao Youcai sighed heavily and said, "The hearts of fathers and mothers are truly pitiful."
After expressing his feelings, Zhao Youcai continued, "A father is the pillar of the family. If a family doesn't have a father, the child will suffer."
If others heard Zhao Youcai say this, they might disagree with him, but Gu Yang nodded repeatedly after hearing it.
Seeing that Gu Yang agreed with his point of view, Zhao Youcai then revealed his earlier thought, saying, "Gu boy, how about this? You become my apprentice and come up the mountain with me."
"Disciple...disciple?" Gu Yang stared at Zhao Youcai in shock, unable to believe his ears for a moment.
The younger generation in Yong'an Forest Area all take Zhao Jun as their role model and want to go up the mountain to hunt and make money.
But hunting is not so easy. Putting aside the hunting rifles and dogs, you need someone to guide and teach you, right?
Although Zhao Youcai's reputation in the Yong'an forest area is not as good as Zhao Jun's, and there was a "scandal" last year, he is, after all, the father of Fuhu Jiang, and he still has some prestige.
"Hmm!" Zhao Youcai nodded and said to Gu Yang, "I think you're a pretty honest kid. When you went up the mountain with Liu Hanshan and encountered the bear, you didn't say you'd abandon him and run away on your own."
Anyway, I'll go hunting in the mountains in the fall. If you want to come with me, you can do the dirty and hard work. And I won't shortchange you; if we have a good catch, I'll at least give you ten or twenty pounds of meat. If it's a good time, I'll give you even more. Is that alright with you?"
Hearing Zhao Youcai's words, Gu Yang was so excited that tears almost welled up in his eyes. He immediately declared, "Uncle, as long as you can take me under your wing, I'll listen to whatever you say."
“Then you’ll be my apprentice from now on.” Zhao Youcai’s casual remark drew a strong reaction from Gu Yang. He threw his clothes, pants, and shoes on the ground and then knelt down in front of Zhao Youcai with a thud.
"Master!" Gu Yang shouted, then kowtowed three times to the ground.
"Oh dear!" Zhao Youcai quickly stepped forward to help Gu Yang up.
At the same time, Zhao Youcai recalled that he had previously intended to take Li Baoyu and Xie Chen Li Ruhai as his disciples, but the three of them had ignored him.
Thinking about those three rascals and then looking at Gu Yang's reaction, Zhao Youcai suddenly realized that it wasn't that he lacked appeal, but rather that he hadn't chosen the right person.
Thinking of this, Zhao Youcai picked up the clothes and pants, dusted them off, and handed them back to Gu Yang, saying, "Take good care of them, eldest disciple. Your master will be looking for you to come up the mountain in a while."
"Yes, Master." Gu Yang nodded emphatically, took the work clothes and yellow rubber shoes Zhao Youcai had given him, and walked home happily.
At this moment, Gu Yang had already begun to fantasize in his mind about becoming a master craftsman, as famous as Zhao Jun in the mountains, gaining both fame and fortune, and marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman.
After seeing Gu Yang off, Zhao Youcai walked back with a smug look on his face. Today was a happy day for Zhao Youcai. He had avenged Black Tiger, dealt with his old rival Han Shengli, and gained a new disciple, adding another powerful member to his Zhao Family Hunting Gang.
Just as Zhao Youcai started humming a folk song again, Pang Zhendong rushed into Han Shengli's house in a panic. As soon as he entered the yard, he shouted, "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, something's happened!"
Upon hearing this, Li Meijuan, who was tending to his chicks, hurriedly asked Pang Zhendong, "What's wrong?"
Pang Zhendong replied, "My brother Shengli and my brother Wenxue were arrested by the forest rangers."
"What the heck?" Li Meijuan wasn't sure if Pang Zhendong had misspoke or if she had misheard. Forest rangers arresting people? This was the first time she'd ever heard of such a thing.
(End of this chapter)