Silly Zhu

Biodata

Background

He Yuzhu grew up in the Siheyuan with his younger sister, He Yushui, after their father He Daqing left for Bao City with Bai the Widow. He believed Yi Zhonghai had supported the siblings out of selflessness until Zhang Mazi disclosed in detention that He Daqing had allegedly sent Yi ten yuan every month for them, which Yi had withheld. The revelation shattered Silly Zhu's understanding of both men. 130 237

Known from childhood as the alley's habitual fighter, he repeatedly beat Xu Damao, Yan Jiecheng, Liu Guangtian, and other neighborhood youths. His reputation as the Siheyuan's “War God” rests on this long history of brawling. 13

Appearance

When attempting to court Ran Qiuye, Silly Zhu dressed conspicuously in Western-style trousers, a short tucked-in shirt, polished leather shoes, and heavily slicked middle-parted hair. 200

• Broadly built and physically strong enough to overpower or carry other adults. 319
• His awkwardly formal courting attire was described as making him look like a “traitorous scholar.” 200

Personality

Silly Zhu is impulsive, proud, and unusually quick to resort to fighting when insulted or jealous. He is accustomed to being feared rather than persuading others, and his poor temper repeatedly turns manageable conflicts into punishments, public disputes, or imprisonment. 13 237 319

He is also generous to a fault, especially toward Qin Huairu and the Jia family. Their approval makes him feel needed, leaving him vulnerable to manipulation; even when treated coldly, he repeatedly resumes providing food, money, or labor. 6 115 228 443

Later setbacks make him more reflective. He begins seeking advice, tries to maintain a bond with He Feibiao, searches for Bang Geng, and accepts work opportunities that could let him rebuild his life. 363 521 539 553

Abilities & Skills

Culinary Skill

Silly Zhu is a capable professional cook who became foreman of the Steel Rolling Mill kitchen early in his career. His cooking was good enough to make him confident in a contest with Lin Zhen, though Lin's dishes ultimately exposed the limits of his own technique. 10 362

• Ran the steel rolling mill's cafeteria kitchen and regularly prepared extra dishes to take home. 106 116
• Taught Bang Geng basic fighting rather than cooking, but was initially Ma Hua's kitchen master before Lin Zhen took Ma Hua as an apprentice. 9 13
• Recognized the extraordinary seasoning and technique in Lin Zhen's vinegar-and-lees fish, then bowed to Lin as master to learn the dish. 36
• Persistently attempted to learn additional techniques from Lin Zhen and Ma Hua, but was refused. 66
• Began working at Ba Cui Lou and was later offered the head-chef post at its planned Yangcheng branch. 432 553

Fighting Ability

His street-fighting experience makes him dangerous in direct confrontations and gives him a long-standing reputation in the courtyard. 13

• Beat Xu Damao and other local youths throughout childhood. 13
• Taught Bang Geng martial moves for a planned contest against Lin Zhen's sons. 13
• Knocked the stronger prison bully Liu Lao Er unconscious with a punch to the neck. 240
• Can be baited into fights easily; detention-center altercations extended his sentence by first a month and then a year. 237 240
• His aggression is checked by stronger or better-positioned opponents such as Lin Zhen. 319

Relationships

• Lin Zhen — Initially a cooking and fighting rival; Silly Zhu challenged him to spar after watching him scare off Xu Damao. He later bowed to Lin to learn cooking, repeatedly sought his advice, and eventually accepted Lin's offer to head Ba Cui Lou's Yangcheng branch. 13 36 363 553
• Qin Huairu — Longtime object of his devotion and recipient of his food and financial support. They later marry after spending a night together, but their relationship remains marked by manipulation, resentment, financial pressure, and Silly Zhu's lingering attachment to Liu Yuhua. 6 305 368 391
• Liu Yuhua — First wife and mother of He Feibiao. Silly Zhu initially accepts their marriage after Lin Zhen challenges his irresponsibility, but the relationship later ends; after prison, he remains fixated on reconciliation despite her polite distance. 130 191 302 521 522
• He Feibiao — His biological son with Liu Yuhua. Silly Zhu is devastated when Feibiao recognizes Lin Zhen as “Dad” and later tries unsuccessfully to repair their relationship. 225 302 521 522
• He Daqing — Biological father and fellow chef. Silly Zhu grows up believing he was abandoned, then learns that He Daqing had sent support money through Yi Zhonghai; after their reunion, He Daqing protects Feibiao from Silly Zhu's attempts at reconciliation. 237 521
• He Yushui — Younger sister. She remains involved in his affairs but resists his demands to intervene with Liu Yuhua and urges him to accept that Feibiao has emotionally given up on him. 310 522
• Yi Zhonghai — Former elder and father figure who seeks to bind Silly Zhu to Qin Huairu for old-age support. Silly Zhu's faith in him collapses after learning of the withheld remittances from He Daqing, and he refuses Yi's prison visit. 176 237 240
• Bang Geng — Qin Huairu's son and Silly Zhu's adopted son. Silly Zhu once trained him to fight, later searched Tianjin for him, and was left guilt-ridden after Bang Geng's death. 13 539 550
• Xu Damao — Lifelong rival. Silly Zhu regularly intimidates or fights him, while Xu Damao retaliates through anonymous reports and other schemes. 13 56
• Liu Guangtian — Courtyard rival and Liu Yuhua's persistent suitor. Silly Zhu repeatedly threatens or attacks him out of jealousy and resentment. 302 319

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Courtyard rival and cafeteria cook — Challenges Lin Zhen to a spar, then trains Bang Geng as a proxy competitor. His confidence as a cook suffers after seeing Lin Zhen's skill, leading him to bow as Lin's disciple to learn vinegar-and-lees fish. 13 36
• Pursuit of marriage — Fails to secure help courting Qin Jingru, meets Liu Liping through a blind date, then seeks an introduction to Ran Qiuye through Yan Bugui. His attempt to detach from Qin Huairu is short-lived despite briefly cutting off the Jia family's meals. 18 49 115 116
• Marriage to Liu Yuhua — Obtains a marriage certificate with Liu Yuhua and holds a wedding celebration after Lin Zhen forces him to acknowledge that the decision was his own. Their marriage later deteriorates into violent conflict. 128 130 191
• Detention and disillusionment — Enters detention hot-headed, is manipulated into fights, and receives sentence extensions. There he learns the truth about He Daqing's remittances and Yi Zhonghai's deception, prompting him to reject Yi's visit. 237 240
• Marriage to Qin Huairu and decline — After release, marries Qin Huairu out of guilt and pressure, receives probation work cleaning public restrooms, then loses his Steel Rolling Mill job after stealing food from a director's banquet. 305 319 362
• Struggle for independence — Refuses Qin Huairu's demand that he borrow money from Liu Yuhua at the cost of severing ties with He Feibiao. He seeks mediation and employment help while confronting the consequences of his reputation. 363 368 372
• Later work and family crises — Begins work at Ba Cui Lou, searches Tianjin for Bang Geng, and takes Qin Huairu to Tianjin after Bang Geng's death. 432 539 540 550
• New opportunity in Yangcheng — Accepts Lin Zhen's offer to become head chef of Ba Cui Lou's new Yangcheng branch, eager to leave the capital and prove himself through work. 553