Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 119

"Hey, your handwriting is pretty good, it's even legible."

He Yuzhu said with some dissatisfaction, "What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'still watchable'?"

"You think your handwriting is that good? It's nowhere near as good as the old men who write couplets outside."

"I'm still getting used to it. I'll practice a bit and write better than him."

"You're kidding, I don't believe you."

"Let's see next year." He Yuzhu only wanted to change Shuchun's profession to calligraphy on a whim, and also to have Yushui start practicing calligraphy, focusing on cultivating this younger sister.

At He Yushui's age, it would be good if she could go to university when she grows up. Even if she doesn't get in, there are various vocational schools where she can learn a skill.

He Yuzhu asked, "What do you want to say?"

"I'd forgotten about it if you hadn't asked. I wanted to discuss it with you. What do you think?"

Xu Huizhen said, "You know that my father and my brother both work in the distillery."

"Yes, are you thinking of opening a tavern in the capital?"

"It's not about opening a tavern, it's about brewing wine and opening a distillery."

"Brewing wine?" He Yuzhu was very surprised.

"Yes, my dad saw that the warehouse in the back building was idle, so he started thinking about it."

In the past, the back rooms of large families' courtyard houses were usually used as kitchens and warehouses. He Yuzhu also always used the back rooms as warehouses for storing grain.

Xu Huizhen's father had worked in the distillery his whole life. These past two days, apart from being taken out by his daughter to travel around Beijing, he also saw that a lot of space in the back building was being wasted, which made him feel a little heartbroken.

Although neither party explicitly stated it, they were all aware of Xu Huizhen and He Yuzhu's relationship. He Yuzhu was quite satisfied with their interactions over the past two days.

Although he has no parents, He Yuzhu has cooking skills far surpassing those of ordinary chefs, and also owns a three-courtyard shop. Such a son-in-law is truly hard to find even with a lantern.

So I was a little uneasy. My family background was ordinary, with no money or power, so I just wanted to help my daughter as much as possible.

It's better to do what you know than what you don't, and besides, he only knows how to brew wine. So Xu Huizhen's father thought for half the night about building a small winery in the back building to brew wine.

Of course, this should be registered in the daughter's name, so that Xu Huizhen can receive a generous dowry when she gets married in the future.

"You mean you want to use the back room to brew wine? Is that feasible?" He Yuzhu asked.

Xu Huizhen said, "It's possible. Didn't I say before that less than three catties of grain can brew one catty of wine?"

He Yuzhu then remembered that when the tavern was first opened, the protagonist was also envious of the high profits from brewing. After all, sorghum only cost three cents a pound, which means that the material cost of one pound of sorghum liquor was only one cent. With other costs added, it was estimated that it would not exceed one and a half cents.

It's important to know that aged grains (2-3 years old) are better for brewing, as they are cheaper than new grains.

However, the wholesale price of sorghum liquor from the distillery is only around 4 cents, which shows how much profit the distillery makes.

As an old man who had spent his whole life brewing wine in a distillery, Xu Huizhen's father was well aware of the industry's exorbitant profits. Before, without connections, he could only brew some wine at home for his own consumption. But if he brewed too much and tried to sell it outside, he would definitely be suppressed by the distillery owner.

This isn't the first time they've done something like this.

Xu Huizhen's small tavern has now opened up new avenues, selling several hundred kilograms of liquor every month. In addition, there is still space available to build a small distillery, allowing her to produce and sell her own liquor.

Xu Huizhen told her father what he was thinking and asked, "Brother Zhu, what do you think?"

He Yuzhu asked, "Then will you stay here from now on, Grandpa?"

"No, it was my brother who stayed behind. He's a skilled worker, so brewing wine won't be a problem for him."

"Is just the back building enough? Is there enough space?"

“There’s enough space. It’s just that my brother wants to stay here. If you have any objections, then we can rent a room outside.”

"I have no objection, there are plenty of other rooms anyway."

It was all a joke. Liu Hui stayed to brew wine, which He Yuzhu welcomed. Although the project belonged to Xu Huizhen's family, it was a good thing that they could make money. At least their dowry would be more generous in the future.

Xu Huizhen asked happily, "So you've agreed?"

Chapter 100 Huizhen Wants to Arrange a Marriage? Encountering Enemy Agents Again

"Yes, that's a good thing. The cost of selling wine will be lower in the future, and you can earn more money."

The two people's money was kept separate, since they were still two families.

Xu Huizhen said happily, "Thank you, Brother Zhuzi, you're so kind."

"Silly girl," He Yuzhu said, "you were just complaining about how bad my handwriting is."

"It was ugly to begin with."

Xu Huizhen was prepared. As she spoke, she began to back away and then ran out, giving He Yuzhu no time to react.

However, the distillery project won't start until after the New Year, as it's freezing cold right now and the New Year is still approaching.

Xu Huizhen's parents only stayed for two days before returning home with Xu Hui, who had loaded the truck with New Year's goods. However, Xu Huizhi was left behind to continue enjoying herself.

Soon it was the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the most important day for He Yuzhu, even more important than the Lunar New Year.

This is not only the Little New Year, but also the day for "worshipping the Kitchen God".

The Kitchen God is the god who oversees good and evil in the human world. He has a kind, benevolent, and smiling face and never glares at people.

However, the origin of the Kitchen God is not easy to investigate. As for the day of the Kitchen God Festival, the popular date now is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, but in the Song Dynasty it was the 24th.

Fan Shih-hu's "Preface to the Rural Ballads of the Twelfth Lunar Month" says: "On the night of the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, we worship the Kitchen God."

The Dream of Splendor states: "On the night of December 24th, the year ends. People in the capital smear wine lees on the stove door at night, which is called 'Drunken Fate.'"

I just don't know when it was changed to the 23rd.

Two days ago, He Yuzhu bought a copy of "The Kitchen God's Scripture" at a secondhand bookstore. It says: "The Kitchen God left behind a scripture to be read to good men and women. I am Zhang Ziguo, and the Jade Emperor appointed me to be in charge of the kitchen. I come to the human world to investigate good and evil, and I will clear up any wrongdoings before I have done anything."

Judging from that, the Kitchen God is not only definitely surnamed Zhang, but is also the Jade Emperor's head chef. You know, according to folklore, the Jade Emperor's surname is Zhang.

Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God is a signal that the Spring Festival is approaching. People in Beijing also call it the Little New Year. After this day, shop assistants from various shops go out to collect debts.

Many people naturally evade their debts, only stopping when the Kitchen God is welcomed on New Year's Eve. Hence the sayings "deadly Guandong candy" and "life-saving dumplings".

Even if we don't get the money back in the next few days, we won't keep asking for it. There's no rule about going to collect the debt on New Year's Eve. We'll make sure the other party gets to eat dumplings for the New Year.

The ritual for offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God was very simple. After a busy day, we ate dinner early in the evening. He Yuzhu said, "I'm going to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God later. You all go to the front to help. Don't come into the kitchen in the back."

“Brother, I want to see it,” He Yushui said.

He Yuzhu said, "Little girls shouldn't watch this."

"But..."

Xu Huizhen quickly took He Yushui's little hand and said, "How about I take you to buy candied hawthorns?"

"Okay, I'll buy a big skewer."

After she finished speaking, He Yushui turned her head to look at He Yuzhu's expression.

Recently, He Yushui has been eating a lot of sugar, and He Yuzhu is worried that she will get cavities, so he limits her sugar intake.

"Okay, you can only buy one skewer."

Because the men of the family usually preside over the Kitchen God Festival, and women are absolutely not allowed to participate, there is a saying that "men do not offer sacrifices to the moon, and women do not worship the Kitchen God."

The time for offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God is usually around the first watch of the night, which is between 7:00 and 9:00 pm. He Yuzhu brought the offerings to the kitchen.

First, remove the offerings from the altar of the Kitchen God and stuff them all into the stove, then put new offerings on top.

There are specific customs involved. The offerings include: Guandong sugar, sugar melon, and southern sugar. Additionally, a bowl of cold water and a dish of hay are prepared for the horse ridden by the Kitchen God.

After offering incense, He Yuzhu wished: "Say good things, and say less bad things."

Such a simple prayer suffices. Then, smear a piece of candy on the mouth of the Kitchen God's image to seal his mouth, preventing him from reporting any evil deeds committed by the household.

Even the couplets on either side of the Kitchen God read: "Speak good words in Heaven, and bring good fortune back to the palace."

Once the incense has burned out, the decorative items, along with the money, food, and fodder, are burned together, and cold water is poured on the ground. This completes the ceremony.

This is the ritual of offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God. Every ordinary family does this. Although He Yuzhu knew it was feudal superstition, he followed suit because it was the prevailing custom.

Otherwise, it would seem out of place.

After the Little New Year, the festive atmosphere in Beijing is getting stronger and stronger, with stilt walkers and lion dancers everywhere.

Storytelling, drums, sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument), shadow puppetry, octagonal drums, folk songs, "Shi Bu Xian" (a type of folk opera), lotus flower ballads, shadow puppetry—you can hear the sounds of playing instruments and singing everywhere you go. Temple fairs are even more lively.

He Yuzhu took Xu Huizhen and Yushui out for fun twice when he had some free time, but he was mostly busy with the business in the shop.

The month-long Lunar New Year holiday before and after the New Year is equivalent to three to five months' worth of revenue in a normal month, so He Yuzhu is very busy.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Liu Hui went into the city again to take Xu Huizhen and her sister home for the New Year. He Yuzhu asked his teacher's wife to come and help, keeping watch for the last two days.

On New Year's Eve, in addition to making dumplings and staying up late, people also invite the Kitchen God back after he has been sent away.

In addition to the Kitchen God, He Yuzhu's shop also enshrines the God of Wealth. Every day, they burn incense, and on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, they burn tall incense, order three cups of wine, and sometimes offer a dish of food.

These are just some leftovers from cooking each day. In ordinary households, they usually include things like dried tofu and peanuts—just a token amount is enough.

Last year's image of the Kitchen God has been burned away. A new image of the Kitchen God is then pasted up, offerings are made, and incense is lit. In this way, the Kitchen God is invited back.

After worshipping the God of Wealth and inviting the Kitchen God, the next step is to offer sacrifices to the ancestors.

He Daqing left in a hurry and didn't take the ancestral tablets with him. Although he didn't worship his ancestors in the old house in the courtyard, the courtyard was bought by He Yuzhu and became the He family's residence.

An altar was set up in the main room, and eight dishes were offered. Incense was lit, and He Yuzhu led He Yushui to kowtow three times.