Lou Xiaoe went into the inner room and brought out a book, 《The Hunchback of Notre-Dame》, which was already somewhat worn.
“Here. When you return the book, please thank him for me,” Lou Xiaoe said.
“At the canteen that day, you mentioned so many writers. Have you really read the books those authors wrote?”
He Yuzhu said with a smile, “I’ve read a few. I just swallowed them whole, so I only understood them superficially. I don’t have many other hobbies. I simply like reading all kinds of miscellaneous books.”
Lou Xiaoe sat down, and the two began making casual conversation. Actually, it would be more accurate to say they were testing each other.
“Whose books have you read? Which one do you like best?” Lou Xiaoe asked.
“There are far too many. Let me think.” He Yuzhu pretended to ponder. “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, The Old Man and the Sea, War and Peace, Don Quixote…”
He had barely slept the entire previous night, racking his brains to remember as many writers and classics of world literature as possible for this visit.
When he rattled off that long string of book titles, Lou Xiaoe was left utterly dumbfounded!
This was 1961, after all. Most ordinary people had no access to these writers and books, yet He Yuzhu had actually recited them off the top of his head without stumbling once.
If he had not normally read thousands of books, how could he have possessed such breadth of reading and knowledge?
“As for my favorite, it has to be Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea,” He Yuzhu said with a smile.
“A man is not made for defeat. You can destroy him, but you cannot defeat him. That sentence is the motto of my life.”
It had to be said that He Yuzhu had taken his act as Grandfather to an utterly transcendent level this time!
Those words not only revealed his learning, but also fashioned him into an unyielding tough man!
Although Lou Xiaoe had received a good education and come from a privileged family, she had read only a small portion of the long list of books he had just mentioned.
Books like The Old Man and the Sea were absolutely impossible to find on the market at the time. Lou Xiaoe herself had only read it secretly in private.
In the early 1960s, many people hid novels away to read on their own, treating them as precious spiritual nourishment. Only their closest friends could exchange what they had.
Entertainment was truly scarce in those days. Having a novel to read was practically the greatest spiritual pleasure imaginable.
The two talked about everything under the sun. No matter which novel He Yuzhu discussed, he had remarkably unique insights into both its author and work.
In truth, this was merely knowledge accumulated before he crossed over, much like how most people have never read Romeo and Juliet yet still understand its central theme of love.
They talked for a full hour, and Lou Xiaoe had already become completely captivated. She was thoroughly conquered by the cultured chef before her!
He Yuzhu’s preparations had not been in vain. He had forcibly molded himself into a well-rounded in both civil and martial abilities, iron-tough man.
In the early 1960s, with far fewer material temptations, everyone was relatively simple and pure when it came to love.
Back then, regardless of whether one was a man or woman, personal charm was the key to the success or failure of a marriage. Although only 3,600 seconds had passed, Lou Xiaoe already had a prince charming in her heart.
“Look at me, I’ve been talking nonstop. It’s almost noon. I’ll head back first so I won’t delay your lunch.” He Yuzhu had already stood up and politely bid her farewell.
But Lou Xiaoe was currently in a starry-eyed state and simply could not bear to see He Yuzhu leave.
She therefore said, “My parents haven’t come back yet, and I can’t cook either. Stay and chat a little longer.”
He Yuzhu had already stood up and was about to leave when he stopped upon hearing this.
“If that’s the case, your uncle and aunt have to come back for lunch too, right? What time is it already? If they wait until they return to start cooking, they’ll starve. I’ll just do it.”
He Yuzhu’s actual profession was that of a chef. This was genuine knowledge and skill, unlike earlier, when he had relied on memorized book lists and reviews to bluff his way through.
As it happened, he had brought quite a bit of pork belly and eggs this time. He did not stand on ceremony. When he entered the kitchen and looked around, he found that in this era there was nothing but napa cabbage.
He Yuzhu found a Clay pot, cut the skin-on pork belly into mahjong-sized pieces, quickly caramelized some sugar, then placed the meat in the Clay pot to simmer over low heat.
He then beat the eggs, removed the bubbles with a bamboo steaming rack, and placed them in the steamer for later. After that, he went outside and took out a box of napa cabbage from beneath the quilt at the base of the wall.
“Did your uncle and aunt say they were coming back to eat? Around what time?” He Yuzhu asked.
“They said they would definitely be back before twelve. How could I let you cook? You’re a guest; it wouldn’t be right to trouble you,” Lou Xiaoe said somewhat awkwardly.
He Yuzhu looked up at the wall clock, then chatted with Lou Xiaoe for a while longer. When the time was about right, he finally began preparing the meal.
Although it was only an ordinary head of napa cabbage, even an ordinary vegetable could be transformed into an extraordinary flavor in the hands of a master chef.
He removed the roots from the tender inner leaves, sliced them further, wrapped them around the meat filling, and made individual vegetable-and-meat rolls, which he placed in the steamer.
He sliced the outer stalks into thin, diamond-shaped pieces, then stir-fried them with chilies and aged vinegar into vinegar-sautéed napa cabbage.
Before long, vinegar-sautéed napa cabbage, jade-green meat rolls, steamed egg custard, and Clay pot red-braised pork were all served.
“I’m sorry. I was short on time today, and the stove here wasn’t easy to use, so the dishes are not quite up to standard,” He Yuzhu said apologetically.
After saying that, he glanced at the second-grade flour buns on the table and said with some regret, “The staple food is the only thing that falls short. Red-braised pork should be served with steamed white rice.”
“Perhaps another day. I’ll bring some rice and white flour over. I’ll be heading back first.” After saying that, He Yuzhu turned to leave.
But how could Lou Xiaoe let He Yuzhu leave immediately after cooking, especially when he had brought all these ingredients himself?
“Stay and eat before you go. Also, can I borrow those novels you mentioned? If possible, we could take turns reading them…”
He Yuzhu’s heart surged with wild joy. The young woman was creating an opportunity for them to meet again. Clearly, she was interested in him!
“I know plenty of people at my factory. I guarantee I can borrow several books for you and bring them over in a couple of days.”
Watching He Yuzhu’s retreating figure, Lou Xiaoe unexpectedly felt a trace of disappointment. In all these years, this was the first time she had ever fallen for a man.
As she was thinking about it, she saw her parents pass by He Yuzhu, and the two sides came face-to-face at the courtyard gate.
“Mom, Dad, you’re back! Come inside quickly. The meal is ready.” Lou Xiaoe happily went over to greet them.
Lou Xiaoe’s parents could hardly believe their ears. Their daughter was wonderful in every way, but she had the temper of a young miss and could truly be described as someone who had never lifted a finger around the house.
They had hurried back from their errands today, afraid that Lou Xiaoe would go hungry at home. They never expected her to have prepared the meal.
Just then, the aroma of the three-layered pork belly braised in the Clay pot wafted out, leaving Lou Xiaoe’s parents even more astonished.
“You cooked the meal? Then where did this meat come from?” Lou Xiaoe’s father asked.
“Don’t worry about that yet. First, let me tell you about someone. His name is He Yuzhu!” Lou Xiaoe said happily.