Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Sha Zhu got a good beating, but apart from a slightly swollen face, he was mostly fine. Li Tielong and He Daqing didn't go for the kill; a beating was enough.

Because Fengzeyuan closes late, it was past 8 o'clock when I got back to the compound.

At this time, many people gathered in the Central Courtyard. It was April, and the weather in Beijing was still quite cool.

There wasn't much to do in the evening, so we gathered in the central courtyard to chat and pass the time. There was a pole in the central courtyard with a light bulb installed on it.

Sha Zhu pushed the cart into the courtyard, trying to hide it, since he had injuries on his face and was afraid of being discovered by his neighbors.

But how could it not be discovered, with so many people around?

Yan Bugui, with his sharp eyes, noticed the injury on Sha Zhu's face, and teased him:

"Hey Zhuzi, why is your face so swollen? Who did you spar with?"

Upon hearing this, the neighbors all started teasing him.

Sha Zhu is quite combative; it's normal for him to have an injury every now and then, and the neighbors are used to it.

When Sha Zhu realized that his neighbors had seen through him, he simply stopped pretending, parked his car, and started arguing with Yan Bugui.

Smiling, he cupped his hands in greeting to Yan Bugui and said:

"Professor Yan, you are a cultured person, I have a question to ask you!"

The phrase "Teacher Yan" pleased Yan Bugui greatly, and he smiled and said:

"Just tell me."

Having succeeded in his scheme, Sha Zhu immediately spoke:

"Teacher Yan, which is more expensive, chicken or beef?"

Yan Bugui blurted out without thinking:

"Is that even a question? Of course it's the cow!"

Sha Zhu: "No, chickens are expensive."

"Why?" Yan Bugui asked subconsciously.

Sha Zhu chuckled and held up one finger: "A drop in the ocean!"

Yan Bugui was taken aback, then grinned:

"Hey, you idiot Zhu, trying to play games with me using idioms? What kind of education do you have to show off your limited skills in front of me?"

"Then let me ask you, where's the chicken?"

Sha Zhu made an eight gesture with his fingers again:

"Eight cents."

Yan Bugui was puzzled, as were the other neighbors sitting there.

Yan Bugui asked directly:

"Why is it just a trifle?"

"Hahahaha..." After getting the answer he wanted, Shazhu immediately burst out laughing.

The neighbors who realized what had happened couldn't stop laughing.

Yan Bugui regretted it as soon as he said those three words; damn it, he'd been tricked by Sha Zhu.

But I wasn't angry. It was just a joke between neighbors. If you take it seriously, then you're too petty.

"You little rascal, you're really something, making fun of me," Yan Bugui said with a laugh.

Sha Zhu cupped his hands in greeting to Yan Bugui and said with a smile:

"Teacher Yan, you flatter me! You flatter me!"

"That silly Zhu, he's quick with his knife and has a sharp tongue."

"I have to meet with Lao Jia, no matter what. I have so much to say to him."

"I just took a nap, and Lao Jia is gone. I'm so upset..."

Jia Zhangshi muttered to herself.

The family of three was also in the crowd.

Old Jia's incident is over, but Jia Zhangshi hasn't gotten over the hurdle in her heart.

I've complained a lot at home about how Sha Zhu went through with the surgery too quickly that afternoon.

Jia Dongxu and Tong Jie were standing nearby, and they heard everything Jia Zhangshi had just said.

Both of them turned pale upon hearing this. "My mother has been setting up memorial tablets and burning incense quite often lately."

Sometimes he would mutter to himself in the middle of the night.

Keep in mind that this is the middle of the night; those who didn't hear it can simply ignore it.

But the couple and his mother were only separated by a wall, and sometimes his mother's voice was quite loud, which was very frightening.

Jia Dongxu himself was fine, but he felt sorry for his wife, so he whispered:

"Mom, please stop talking. The comrades from the Military Control Commission said that it's feudal superstition."

"And stop muttering about my dad in the middle of the night, you're scaring your son and daughter-in-law to death!"

"Stop tormenting my dad, let him live a good life down there."

Madam Jia was somewhat displeased with her son's words:

"Don't you miss your dad?"

"Can't I even let him know you're getting married?"

Jia Dongxu has a slight toothache.

"It's not that it's impossible, but it's fine to offer incense to my dad during holidays, but please don't do it at other times, it's kind of scary."

Madam Jia was even more displeased when she saw that her son was about to argue with her.

"Fine, you unfilial son! Your father treated you so well when he was alive, and now you're upset just because I mention him a few times?"

"Yes, now that you're married, you think you're all grown up?"

"Your mother is all alone. My husband is dead. What's wrong with me missing him?"

Jia Dongxu was speechless, but he had to stop this. His mother kept bringing up his deceased father every now and then. What kind of behavior was this?

So he changed his wording:

"Mom, I've heard that living people often talk badly about the dead."

"You invited my father to my wedding, and although the process wasn't great, at least he came, which fulfilled your wish."

"Now you keep bringing him up every day, but my father has people looking after him down there, so he can't possibly come up here every day to respond to your calls."

"When my dad is on vacation and has some free time."

"What if my dad knew you really wanted him to come up and take you away? Would you be happy about that?"

"Would you like to go down and keep my dad company?"

Tong Jie stared wide-eyed in surprise as she listened to her husband's words.

That's a wonderful saying!

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi shuddered, and goosebumps rose all over her body.

How could she possibly go down to keep Old Jia company? She hasn't lived enough yet.

Jia Zhangshi waved her hand in a panic:

"No, no, no, Dongxu, don't talk nonsense. I still have to take care of my grandson. Your father can just live a good life down there!"

"Tomorrow I'll buy some paper effigies to burn for your father, so I can rest assured that someone will take care of him..."

Jia Dongxu nodded:

"Okay, just don't burn it at home. It'll be bad if the neighbors see it."

"I'll listen to you..." Madam Jia replied, still shaken.

Jia Dongxu didn't want to argue with his mother anymore, so he called his wife Tong Jie to go back to the house.

Instead of wasting time on this, he should have a good, in-depth conversation with his wife and help her carry on the Jia family line as soon as possible.

Seeing this, Jia Zhangshi didn't say anything; she knew what her son was up to.

She tries to go inside later, waiting until the two of them have finished their business before going back.

Although there are two rooms, the soundproofing is poor.

Madam Jia was still very understanding of her son and daughter-in-law.

Tong Jie is indeed a country girl; she's very good at housework.

During the day, she would wipe the doors and windows of the house until they shone brightly.

The pots, pans, and dishes were arranged neatly.

There wasn't a single dirty garment in the house.

Her cooking skills far surpass those of Jia Zhangshi.

Tong Jie is never idle all day long; she always manages to find something to do.

She's been married into the family for several days now, and the neighbors have praised her countless times.

Madam Jia had nothing to complain about; her daughter-in-law did a better job than she did!

Moreover, she had more free time, so she had more time to sew shoe soles.

This is a skill that can actually make money and supplement the family income.

She never intended for her daughter-in-law to go to work.

Old ideas are still prevalent, with some believing that women are not suited to appear in public.

None of the women in the compound have jobs; they all stay at home taking care of the elderly and children.

Laundry and cooking keep me very busy all day!

This is the typical household life where the woman stays at home and the man works outside; it's the norm in almost every family.