Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

Cheng Shuhai's swift and decisive actions quickly yielded remarkable results.

Thanks to the diligent work of Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai, the two "bosses," the environment and public security of the entire Nanluoguxiang area underwent a dramatic transformation in just one month.

The ground is clean, the clutter has disappeared, and there are fewer arguments between neighbors. Most importantly, those idle, unidentified outsiders have almost vanished.

The residents have personally experienced these changes and have all praised the newly appointed Director Cheng.

"Director Cheng really knows how to handle things! Look how bright and spacious this courtyard is now!"

"Absolutely! Before, it was always unsafe at night when it was pitch black. Now it's much better, with Master Yi guarding the door every day, he's more effective than a door god!"

Cheng Shuhai was not surprised by this result.

He knew that the way to manage was simply to "use both kindness and severity".

He held Yi Zhonghai's lifeline in his hands; this was his "power."

At the same time, he didn't go too far. While appointing Yi Zhonghai to be in charge of the registration work, he also gave Yi Zhonghai a nominal position as "supervisor of the hospital's mutual aid fund".

This position has no real power, but it sounds very respectable.

Every month, Yan Bugui would hand over the collected mutual aid funds to Yi Zhonghai for review and signature before depositing them into the bank. This made Yi Zhonghai feel that he had regained a little bit of the dignity of being the "manager".

His initial fear of Cheng Shuhai gradually transformed into a complex feeling of "returning home," mixed with awe and gratitude.

Thus, all the unstable factors within the compound were resolved and brought under Cheng Shuhai's control through various means.

The entire No. 95 courtyard truly entered the "Cheng Shuhai era," a time of solid unity.

At the end of the year, at the subdistrict office's annual summary meeting, the Nanluoguxiang area, which Cheng Shuhai was in charge of, was rated as an "Outstanding Area of ​​the Year".

Unsurprisingly, he was once again elected as the "Outstanding Neighborhood Committee Director of the Year" and received a substantial bonus and various vouchers as rewards.

On stage, Deputy Director Wang specifically praised him, calling him "a model of grassroots cadres and a close friend of the people."

Cheng Shuhai established himself firmly at the grassroots level.

Time slips away quietly amidst the calm and busyness.

Before we knew it, it was early winter of 1953.

Cheng Shuhai's career also entered a period of rapid and stable development.

The restaurant's business has soared ahead of the competition thanks to the advantage of "special supply".

The cannery's export orders kept coming in one after another, keeping Qin Huairu extremely busy.

Chen Xueru's silk shop, thanks to the prestigious title of "National Model Family," has become the top choice for young women and wives in Beijing when it comes to buying fabrics.

Everything was thriving.

Cheng Shuhai even began planning to use his position as the director of the neighborhood committee and the resources at his disposal to build a larger-scale commercial complex in Nanluoguxiang.

However, just as he was preparing to make his mark.

A new, massive crisis, capable of altering the entire landscape, is quietly approaching.

That afternoon, Director Li from the logistics department of the steel rolling mill hurriedly came to our door.

As soon as he entered the room, without even having a sip of water, he grabbed Cheng Shuhai, lowered his voice, and said something earth-shattering.

"Book Sea, something terrible has happened!"

"What's wrong, Brother Li? You seem to be in a great hurry." Cheng Shuhai poured him a glass of water.

Director Li took the water glass, drank it all in one gulp, and then said in an extremely serious tone:

"I just got back from a meeting in the city. At the meeting, an important message was conveyed."

"The higher authorities have decided that, starting next year, a 'unified purchase and distribution' policy will be implemented nationwide!"

"Unified purchase and distribution?"

Cheng Shuhai's heart skipped a beat.

As a time traveler, he knew better than anyone what those four words meant.

This means that starting next year, all major agricultural products such as grain, cotton, and oilseeds will be purchased and sold by the state in a unified manner.

The free market will be completely abolished.

All daily necessities had to be purchased from the state's supply and marketing cooperatives using ration coupons and certificates.

For ordinary people, this may simply be a change in lifestyle.

But for him, Cheng Shuhai, it was fatal!

What is the secret to his restaurant's enduring success?

It all comes down to the endless supply of top-quality ingredients from this era within the blessed land!

Once the unified purchase and sales system is implemented, all ingredients must be purchased from channels designated by the state, and the quantity is limited.

The top-quality ingredients produced in his space, which couldn't be exposed to the light of day, no longer had a legal source!

He can't exactly explain to people that Australian lobsters can grow in his backyard, or that Kobe beef can be raised there, can he?

Once investigated, his biggest secret—the Blessed Land Space—may be exposed.

The consequences would be unimaginable.

His restaurants, the very foundation of his entire business empire, will crumble before this policy!

Director Li, seeing Cheng Shuhai's suddenly serious expression, assumed he was worried about the restaurant's business.

"Shuhai, don't worry too much," he comforted her. "With your relationship with the higher-ups, getting you more procurement quotas will be a piece of cake."

Director Li's words, instead of comforting Cheng Shuhai, made him even more vigilant.

Do you get the quotas by relying on personal connections and relationships?

This is precisely the most dangerous and unreliable aspect.

Today, with the leader in charge, you can get targets.

Tomorrow, the boss is transferred and replaced by a new person. What will you do if the new person doesn't recognize you?

Entrusting one's life and fortune to the kindness of others is something Cheng Shuhai finds most unacceptable.

We must find a solution that will solve the problem once and for all.

A way to "legalize" the ingredients in his space!

Cheng Shuhai's mind began to work at lightning speed.

Centralized purchase and sales...national channels...procurement quotas...special supply...

and many more!

Special offer!

Cheng Shuhai's eyes suddenly lit up.

He's got it!

He came up with a plan that was practically perfect!

He looked at the monthly report of the North China Food Processing Plant on the table, which Qin Huairu had just delivered, and a brilliant idea suddenly took shape in his mind.

One plan that would allow him to turn this deadly crisis into an unprecedented opportunity!

He wanted to create the perfect "white glove" for himself!

Cheng Shuhai's plan was simple yet bold.

What he wanted to utilize was the "North China Food Processing Plant" that he co-founded with Lou Bancheng.

This factory was a joint public-private enterprise, and it also undertook a national-level export project to the Soviet Union.

Its identity is impeccable and legitimate.

Cheng Shuhai's plan consists of three steps.

His first step was to secretly "sell" the top-quality ingredients produced in the blessed land, such as rice, pork, and various rare aquatic products, to the North China Food Processing Plant under the guise of "local specialties specially purchased from remote mountainous areas."

In this way, these ingredients gained their first legal status—raw materials for the factory.