Chapter 44: A Seafood Feast

Chapter 44: Seafood Feast

The day after returning from Tianjin, once He Yuzhu had seen Yushui off to school, he spent the morning delivering the seafood, twisted dough sticks, and dried fruits he had brought back to his senior fellow apprentice, Peng Dahai, and the others.

That afternoon, He Yuzhu arrived at his master’s house with bags full of seafood and other specialties. As soon as he stepped through the door, he called out, "Master’s wife, please come out and give me a hand!"

His master’s wife, who was resting, emerged at the sound of his voice. She saw He Yuzhu holding several bags in his hands, with even more strapped to his bicycle. "Zhuzi, where have you been raiding? Why have you brought so much stuff?"

He Yuzhu quickly handed her the pastries, dried fruits, and preserved sweets. "I took Yushui to Tianjin while she was on break. These are the local specialties from there."

Looking at the mountain of treats, she said, "How much did you buy? This is far too much. We can't finish all this; take some back for Yushui."

"Don't worry, I’ve already set some aside for her at home," He Yuzhu replied. "You keep these for now. I still have seafood on my bike. I’m going to fetch Senior Sister, and we’ll have a seafood feast tonight." With that, he carried the seafood into the kitchen.

He Yuzhu then headed to the home of his senior sister, Fan Ting. Fan Ting had given birth to a boy that summer named Zhou Yuanchao, a name very much in tune with the spirit of the times.

When He Yuzhu knocked, Fan Ting opened the door. "Zhuzi? What brings you here?"

"I’m here to take you to Master’s place. I brought back a lot of specialties and seafood from Tianjin yesterday. We’re having a seafood feast tonight."

"Alright, come in and sit for a moment while I get ready," Fan Ting said, stepping aside to let him in.

Once inside, He Yuzhu didn't see his young nephew and asked, "Where’s little Yuanchao?"

"He’s in the bedroom," Fan Ting said, going in to bring the baby out. After gathering some baby supplies, she told He Yuzhu, "Let’s go."

He Yuzhu escorted Fan Ting to his master’s house on his bicycle. "Senior Sister, you go on in. I have to grab a few more things."

After watching her go inside with the baby, He Yuzhu cycled over to tell his brother-in-law, Zhou Jianye, to join them for dinner after work before returning to his master’s place.

Outside the master’s house, He Yuzhu took a barbecue grill he had commissioned from his hidden storage. Even though it was a seafood feast, he also produced five pounds each of lamb and beef, along with some fruit.

His master’s wife, holding little Yuanchao, saw the fresh influx of items. "Zhuzi, why are you bringing even more things?"

"I’m planning to do some grilling tonight," He Yuzhu explained, "so I brought some beef and lamb."

"You never stop fussing, do you?" she sighed.

"If a chef doesn't fuss over food and drink, what else is there to do?" He Yuzhu joked, placing the grill in the courtyard and taking the meat into the kitchen.

Fan Ting came in to help. "What can I do for you?"

"Help me scrub the scallops, crabs, oysters, and mantis shrimp," he replied, while he began slicing the meat and preparing garlic paste and barbecue seasonings.

Yushui and Xiaohu were picked up from school by Fan Ting, while Fan Yao returned with her friends. Seeing the grill and the array of seafood, they knew a feast was in store. They dropped their schoolbags and began hovering around the kitchen, getting in the way.

Fan Ting finally lost patience. "Go on, all three of you, go play somewhere else. Stop causing trouble here."

Unable to leave, the three of them stood by the kitchen door, watching longingly. He Yuzhu gave each of them a tiny crab. "Here, take these and go play. Be careful not to get pinched. If you keep causing trouble, you won't get any of the good food tonight."

By evening, Zhou Jianye had arrived. He walked in to see He Yuzhu putting charcoal into the grill, surrounded by seafood and meat skewers. "Oh, this is quite the spread tonight!"

"Brother-in-law, you're here! Come help me get the fire going," He Yuzhu called out.

Before long, his master and his second senior fellow apprentice arrived as well. Seeing the setup, the second fellow apprentice stepped in to take over the role of grill master.

He Yuzhu returned to the kitchen to take charge of the stove. Soon, a platter of steamed seafood and a platter of garlic-sauce seafood were ready. Fan Ting carried them out, and He Yuzhu followed with a plate of salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp. "Start eating! Fan Yao and the others are hungry."

Fan Ting, Yushui, and the others sat down, and once his master’s wife had lulled little Yuanchao to sleep, she joined her husband, Fan Dakang, at the table.

He Yuzhu checked the seafood congee on the stove, turning the heat down to a simmer so it would stay warm for later. "Brother-in-law, Brother, stop grilling for a bit and eat before it gets cold," he urged as he emerged from the kitchen.

The two men brought the grilled skewers, oysters, and scallops to the table. He Yuzhu poured warmed yellow rice wine for his master, his fellow apprentice, and Zhou Jianye.

After a round of drinks, everyone dove into the shrimp and crabs.

"These prawns are excellent," the second fellow apprentice remarked. "Fresh seafood is the best—it has such a natural, sweet flavor."

"That’s right," He Yuzhu agreed. "Seafood is meant to be eaten fresh."

"Little Ting, don't eat too many crabs; they are 'cold' in nature. Eat more shrimp," his master’s wife advised as she peeled mantis shrimp for Yushui and Xiaohu. Seeing Fan Ting eating crab, she couldn't help but remind her.

Fan Ting handed her half-eaten crab to her husband, Zhou Jianye, and turned her attention to the shrimp instead.

Before long, little Yuanchao began crying in the bedroom. Fan Ting put down her shrimp and hurried inside to soothe him.

Seeing that his master’s wife and the children had eaten their fill, He Yuzhu brought out a large bowl of seafood congee and ladled a portion for everyone. "Have some of this porridge; I put plenty of good things in it."

Soon, his master’s wife finished her meal and went inside to relieve Fan Ting, allowing her to come out and eat.

By the end of the meal, everyone had eaten their fill of seafood, while the beef and lamb remained largely untouched.