Chapter Forty-Nine: Fair Trade

"Look, I've already brought the pork over here. You surely don't expect me to haul it back, do you?"

He Yuzhu let out a helpless sigh. Looking at the Third Master's expression, he was caught between anger and amusement.

He firmed up his resolve once more and decided to talk some sense into the Third Master. "Third Master, you're really putting me in a tight spot here. Though I suppose it's not entirely out of the question."

Upon hearing this, the Third Master felt a surge of joy, much like a parched land receiving a long-awaited rain. Just as he was about to accept, He Yuzhu changed the subject. "You'll have to give me a little bit for my trouble. Fifty cents, neither more nor less. How does that sound?"

As soon as those words left his mouth, the Third Master's expression shifted as unpredictably as the weather in June. One moment it was clear skies, and the next, it was overcast with dark clouds.

"Bah! He Yuzhu, have you gone completely blind with greed? We're neighbors, and you want to charge me just for a little help? Is that any way to behave?"

Hearing this, He Yuzhu chuckled to himself, thinking that the Third Master certainly knew how to throw his weight around.

"Very well, Third Master. Since that's how you feel, let's just drop the whole thing. I'm a man who believes in fair trade and treats the old and young with equal honesty."

With that, He Yuzhu snatched the pork off the chopping board, shoved it into the Third Master's arms, and pushed and prodded him right out the door.

The Third Master felt utterly aggrieved. With a belly full of frustration and nowhere to vent it, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and trudge back to his own room.

No sooner had he stepped inside and barely warmed his seat than the Third Master stood up in a huff, determined to seek justice.

"Fathers and elders of the courtyard, come out and listen! I have a serious matter that I need to air out in front of everyone!"

He Yuzhu was not one to be outdone. He dug an old megaphone out of his cupboard and began shouting at the top of his lungs toward the entire courtyard.

This booming voice not only startled the Third Master but also roused everyone living in the courtyard.

"Oh dear, Yuzhu, what kind of play are you putting on? I was having such a good afternoon nap, and you've gone and woken me up," complained the First Master, rubbing his eyes with a displeased look on his face.

He Yuzhu felt a wave of helplessness, thinking, *You old codger were sleeping comfortably, yet here I was mincing meat for your household, so how did I end up in the wrong?* Nonetheless, he forced a smile on his face. "First Master, don't be upset. I have a legitimate matter to address."

The courtyard instantly grew lively as people gathered around, chattering and discussing the commotion all at once.

"Yuzhu, are you itching for trouble again? You just can't live a peaceful life without stirring something up, can you?" Xu Damao said with a gloating smile, managing to squeeze himself further into the crowd.

Qin Huairu, being observant, glanced at He Yuzhu before turning to explain to the others, "Everyone, don't jump to conclusions. Yuzhu must have his reasons. Let's hear what he has to say first."

"Banggen's mother, your words really grate on my nerves! Who does He Yuzhu think he is? If he has something to tell everyone and wants to hold a courtyard meeting, he at least needs to follow proper etiquette! Shouting into a megaphone like this—what kind of behavior is that? This courtyard isn't a vegetable market where just anyone can come and holler as they please!" Mrs. Jia loved stirring up trouble, and the moment she heard this, she flew into a rage.

Her outburst was like tossing a stone into a vat of boiling oil, instantly setting the crowd off.

"Indeed! Just look at He Yuzhu, he's getting completely out of hand lately. We three masters are respectable figures of standing in this courtyard, yet he doesn't show us an ounce of respect. If word of this gets out, where are we supposed to put our faces?" The Second Master stepped forward as well, crossing his arms with an air of absolute authority.

"Old Liu, you've spoken right from the bottom of my heart. This He Yuzhu is acting more preposterous by the day. I actually went over to him earlier, hoping he'd help me fry some meatballs, and guess what? He started bargaining with me, demanding a labor fee! Have you ever heard of such a thing? Helping each other out among neighbors is only natural—how could he possibly behave like this?"

Before the Third Master could finish, his voice was drowned out by He Yuzhu's booming amplification.

Standing right in the middle of the courtyard with the megaphone, He Yuzhu cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Fellow villagers, I'm sorry to trouble you all to gather here, but I have an important announcement to make." Standing clear and resolute in the center of the courtyard, He Yuzhu continued, "From now on, I, He Yuzhu, will no longer offer my services for free as I used to. Anyone who wants my help with cooking will have to pay for it. That is only fair and reasonable."

He paused, swept his gaze across the surroundings, and added, "Of course, for those I've already helped previously, and those whose meat is already halfway minced, I won't fuss over it. Consider it my good deed for the day, a favor free of charge."

These words dropped into the calm lake of the courtyard like a boulder, instantly stirring up layer upon layer of ripples.

The residents of the courtyard began to chatter endlessly, their voices rising and falling in a lively din.

"Oh my goodness, what is He Yuzhu up to now? How has he the nerve to ask us for money? If he wants to make a living, he should find a proper way to do it!"

"Exactly, this is completely unfair! Why should some people get things for free while others have to pay? This is utter nonsense!"

"Actually, I don't think we can entirely blame He Yuzhu," a more rational voice chimed in. "There are simply too many people in this courtyard asking him for favors. How could one person possibly handle all of it? When you think about it, this is probably the only solution he could come up with."

"Hmph, the moment you opened your mouth, I knew He Yuzhu must have already finished helping your family out, which is why you're standing here talking nonsense."

Having said his piece, He Yuzhu paid zero attention to the reactions of the people around him.

He turned and walked back into his room, fetched the bowl of finely minced pork, and placed it securely on the doorstep outside.

Then, with a heavy "clang," he shut his door behind him, locking out all the noise and clamor from the outside world.

Deaf Old Lady was all alone, with neither children nor grandchildren; the First Master and his wife were also childless; and then there were the two He siblings, with neither parent by their side.

On this New Year's Eve, three distinct households with different family names had gathered together simply to share in the warmth and festivity.

Bursts of laughter and chatter drifted continually from the room where Deaf Old Lady stayed.

The four of them were seated together, happily engrossed in a game of mahjong.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu was working away by himself in the kitchen, preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

It wasn't that the others purposely left all the work to He Yuzhu; rather, his culinary skills were simply too exceptional, and everyone naturally preferred the dishes he made.

Right at this moment, He Yuzhu was bustling about the kitchen in full swing, pots and pans clattering away, brimming with the lively warmth of home.