Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

"Comrade, are you sure you're not mistaken? I haven't taken a single day off this month!" Sha Zhu asked the accountant, his face flushed with embarrassment, holding his payslip.

The accountant didn't even look up, pointing to the side: "This is the attendance report submitted by Director Ma of the cafeteria. If you have any objections, go find your director."

Sha Zhu's heart skipped a beat; he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

Clutching the dozen or so yuan, he stormed angrily into the cafeteria manager's office.

Director Ma was sitting with his legs crossed, drinking tea and reading the newspaper. When he saw Sha Zhu come in, he didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

"Director Ma! What's going on with my salary? Why are you deducting half a month's salary from my paycheck!" Sha Zhu slammed his payslip on the table.

Director Ma slowly put down the newspaper, picked up his teacup and blew on the foam before saying unhurriedly, "Comrade He Yuzhu, watch your attitude. This is an office, not your kitchen."

"What attitude am I talking about? You deducted my salary for no reason and won't even let me ask?" Sha Zhu was so angry that his neck turned red.

"Without any reason?" Director Ma sneered. "Master Liu Cheng filed a formal complaint against you, saying that you left your post without permission during work hours, were uncooperative, had an extremely poor work attitude, and even made the workers toss the woks. I'm just acting according to the factory's rules and regulations. Deducting half a month's salary is already being lenient!"

"Liu Cheng? He's talking nonsense!" Sha Zhu exploded upon hearing this. "When did I ever leave my post without permission? He's just spouting lies!"

"Besides, what's a level 8 fitter doing watching our kitchen? Does he have nothing better to do?!"

Liu Cheng was one of only two grade eight fitters in the factory, with more seniority than Yi Zhonghai, and was a rising star in the factory. He had been temporarily transferred to the Northwest, which gave Yi Zhonghai the opportunity to lead two grade seven fitters to work on a temporary project for the factory, and they ultimately made a name for themselves.

If Liu Cheng and another level-eight worker had been in the factory at the time, Yi Zhonghai wouldn't have had a chance to show off.

Therefore, even Yi Zhonghai dared not act recklessly in front of Liu Cheng.

But that idiot Sha Zhu said that Liu Cheng's precious daughter was Zhu Bajie's second aunt—no wonder Liu Cheng messed with him!

This time, it was obvious that Liu Cheng had complained about him to Director Ma. Since Liu Cheng was an eighth-grade worker, Director Ma naturally had to give him face.

Liu Cheng said that Sha Zhu was slacking off, and that's exactly what he meant; there's no need to verify it!

Because Sha Zhu is usually late in the morning, he is in charge of the lunch pot meals and the small kitchens, so he doesn't need to be there for breakfast preparation. But even so, as a worker, you still have to go to work on time.

In the past, everyone turned a blind eye, but now that the eighth-grade worker wants to mess with Sha Zhu, everyone is turning a blind eye.

"You're just making baseless accusations? Master Liu has witnesses," Director Ma said with a forced smile. "He Yuzhu, I advise you to reflect on your own problems. If you have any complaints, you can go and report them to Factory Director Yang."

Director Ma was emboldened and fearless.

He knew that Sha Zhu had a good relationship with Director Yang, but Liu Cheng's backing was even stronger. He was a distant relative of Director Yang's wife, and he himself was also powerful—one of only two level-eight workers in the factory!

Do we even need to think about who we might offend or not?

Sha Zhu was trembling with rage, pointing his finger at Director Ma's nose: "You...you're all protecting each other! You're ganging up on people!"

In a fit of anger, he raised his hand to smash the thermos on the table.

"Silly Zhu! Don't be impulsive!"

Two cooks—Ma Hua and Fatty—rushed into the office and grabbed him tightly.

"Master, forget it, forget it, this isn't worth involving the director!"

"Yeah, we can't fight city hall!"

Sha Zhu was being held up by two men, his chest heaving violently, his eyes fixed on Director Ma as if he wanted to devour him alive.

He knew, of course, that Director Ma was deliberately making things difficult for him, and that Liu Cheng was behind it all.

But he had no choice.

He actually went to see Director Yang.

After listening to his complaints, Director Yang looked helpless and sighed.

"Silly Zhu, it's not that I don't want to help you. This Liu Cheng is the most senior level eight worker in the factory. He's holding a grudge against you now, what can I do? You just have to put up with it."

Factory Director Yang continued to persuade him: "Take my advice, tone it down a bit lately, and don't give anyone any leverage against you. Once Master Liu Cheng calms down, this matter will be over. You still need to reflect on your own work attitude."

"As long as you don't make any mistakes, what can he do to you?"

Sha Zhu walked out of Director Yang's office in a daze—his words were like listening to a lecture, but none of his problems were solved.

He had that dozen or so yuan in wages in his pocket, but it felt heavier than a stone.

He promised Qin Huairu that he would send her his salary this month.

But now...

How could he have the nerve to see her?

How can I tell her that I can't even keep my salary?

The setting sun cast a long shadow over him. Standing at the factory gate, watching the crowds coming and going, he began to doubt for the first time his once-proud culinary skills and status.

In this factory, he was just a cook; ultimately, he was a nobody with little influence.

If someone wants to control you, they have plenty of ways to do it.

He was seething with anger and resentment, with nowhere to vent it.

Finally, he clutched the dozen or so yuan in his pocket, turned around, and walked towards the supply and marketing cooperative.

He couldn't swallow this insult.

Since there's nowhere to reason with them, let's drink!

Buy the cheapest one!

Let's drink until we're completely drunk!

------------

Late at night, in the east courtyard.

Zhang Dabiao had just finished sketching the last storyboard for "Heroes and Daughters" and was preparing to pack up and go to sleep when someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Bang bang bang".

The voice wasn't loud, and it carried a hint of hesitation.

"Who?" Zhang Dabiao asked without looking up.

"I."

"who I am?"

"I am who I am."

Zhang Dabiao remained silent, and no one outside the door spoke either. After a long while, Sha Zhu's muffled voice finally came from outside the door: "It's me, Sha Zhu."

Zhang Dabiao raised an eyebrow, already realizing they were just teasing the fool.

Ever since Sha Zhu apologized to Xu Damao last time, the idiot has been like a wilted eggplant lately, keeping his head down whenever he sees someone in the yard, and we haven't heard his loud voice for several days.

There's nothing we can do about it; this guy is the type who feels guilty after doing something wrong, so he can't be a bad person.

"The gate wasn't locked, so come in by yourself."

The door was pushed open, and a strong smell of alcohol mixed with the cool night breeze rushed in.

Sha Zhu staggered in, carrying two empty bottles of loose liquor, his face flushed from drinking.

Without saying a word, he walked to the table, plopped down, and stared intently at the drawing on the table.

Zhang Dabiao glanced at him and continued to pack up his paintbrushes and paints.

"What happened now? Did someone cook you?"

Sha Zhu ignored his teasing, picked up the teacup on the table, poured himself a glass of cold water, and gulped it down.

The cool tea slid down his throat, seemingly making him a little more awake.

He raised his head and looked at Zhang Dabiao, his bloodshot eyes filled with confusion and pain.

"Da Biao, tell me... why is my life becoming more and more hopeless?"