Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

The family went back inside to eat, while Blackie was still messing around with the neighbors nearby.

He was distracted throughout the meal.

Fortunately, Jiao Jiao's mood changed quickly and disappeared just as fast; a few cute words made them laugh.

When Li Jiuzhou took a shower and was about to go inside to sleep, he saw his master leaning against the door frame, giving him a peace sign and a crooked smile before going inside.

Li Jiuzhou almost had his brain shut down after being suddenly attacked by his master.

He thought to himself, "Old Deng, you're from another time too?"

After shaking his throbbing head, Li Jiuzhou went into the house, lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed), and closed his eyes.

Seeing this, the second brother, Shanhe, also lay down and went to sleep.

Li Jiuzhou wasn't asleep; he was wondering what his master had meant.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind: Isn't this the signature move of Patriarch Bodhi?

Although the postures are different, the meaning is the same.

The master gave a peace sign, which basically meant they should meet at 2 a.m.

As for what they were going to do together, Li Jiuzhou had a good idea. He grinned and started tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

When the time was almost up, Li Jiuzhou cautiously left the room and happened to see his master also coming out.

After exchanging a smile, the two walked toward the well.

Without saying much, the master and apprentice worked together to retrieve the contents of the well.

The two hid beside the well, and Li Jiuzhou untied the rope and slowly opened the cloth bag.

When opened, it was a dazzling golden color.

Both master and apprentice looked surprised; there were a full sixteen pieces of this large yellow croaker.

A small dish of 30 cards, each costing 100 US dollars.

There were also a dozen or so loose change.

"Master, we're rich, we're rich, hehehe..." Li Jiuzhou chuckled foolishly while touching the big yellow croaker.

Li Tielong also had a smile on his face. He had that much money too, and he was happy to see his apprentice happy.

However, he quickly turned grim and whispered a reprimand to Li Jiuzhou:

"Jiuzhou, don't do this kind of thing again. It's so chaotic outside. What will happen to your younger siblings if the investigation finds out about you? What will happen to your master and me?"

"You already have a job. If you study cooking properly, you'll do well in the future. This kind of windfall is too risky."

Upon hearing this, Li Jiuzhou took a deep breath and nodded, saying:

"Master, I understand. This is a one-time exception. I've been poor before, so I have to take this gamble."

"Now that you're there to back up my apprentice, I don't need to do this kind of thing anymore."

"Hey, you little rascal..." Li Tielong smiled helplessly.

"I don't want these things. I'll keep them for you, Master. You don't need them right now."

"Don't rush to refuse, I'm not short of money."

Just as Li Jiuzhou was about to refuse, his master glared at him fiercely.

"Well... alright then..." Li Jiuzhou had no choice but to agree.

He was helpless even with such a good master.

It's definitely true that your master is well-off, so Li Jiuzhou doesn't need to worry too much.

"Go back and rest, you have to work tomorrow," Li Tielong instructed before taking his cloth bag and returning to his room.

Li Tielong also quietly returned to the house and saw that his second brother was sleeping soundly, even drooling.

Li Jiuzhou was still a little excited after lying down.

I farmed the jungle and got fed a lot.

He was considering whether to sell the courtyard; he was sure he had enough money.

But can he protect a courtyard house?

I doubt we can hold out. I'll discuss it with my mentor and see what the best course of action is.

Although I'm currently living and eating at my master's house, I still feel a bit uncomfortable not having my own home.

It splashes everywhere as if it has no roots.

The next day, after eating the breakfast prepared by his teacher's wife, Li Jiuzhou strolled leisurely towards Fengzeyuan.

The streets were bustling as usual. It's just a black man dying, what's the big deal?

Just because someone died, does that mean they'll stop doing business and stop living?

No, business will continue.

Beiping is a small city, so any commotion is known throughout the city.

As soon as Li Jiuzhou arrived at Fengzeyuan, he was bombarded with questions.

Li Jiuzhou wasn't stupid. When asked, he said that he and his master had just arrived home when they heard gunshots, and then the black-skinned man searched the place.

He Yuzhu's tendency to gossip really came into play at this point.

He said indignantly:

"I can accept it if these sons of bitches, black-skinned bastards, commit murder and search the local residents."

"They even found my house! I live in Nanluoguxiang, which is about two miles from the scene of the crime."

"Every household was in complete disarray due to the disturbance."

"That aunt from the Jia family in our Intermediate Court, she couldn't bear to part with a few silver dollars, and good heavens, she got a real beating from Blackie, tsk tsk tsk..."

When talking about the Jia family, He Yuzhu clearly felt a sense of schadenfreude.

Li Jiuzhou laughed upon hearing this. He could only imagine the scene, but it was a pity he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

Who else could it be but Jia Dongxu's family?

After getting to know Sha Zhu, he also introduced him to a few of the neighbors in the courtyard.

Even if He Yuzhu didn't say it, Li Jiuzhou would know who lived in their courtyard.

Li Jiuzhou was still pondering the problem when his sleeve was gently tugged.

Turning around, he saw it was He Yuzhu and asked:

"What's wrong, Pillar?"

He Yuzhu chuckled:

"Senior brother, come to my courtyard for a while after work at noon. I can take my sister home for lunch."

"Let's borrow Mr. Guo's bicycle for a ride later. I can ride, and I'll give you a ride."

"Sure, it'll be good to go take a look." Li Jiuzhou agreed immediately.

After finishing my work at noon, I have two hours to rest, which is plenty of time.

"Then it's settled!" He Yuzhu shouted excitedly.

Li Jiuzhou shook his head, looking helpless.

After finishing work at noon, He Yuzhu rushed off to borrow a bicycle from Mr. Guo.

They borrowed it easily, and He Yuzhu pedaled his bicycle with Li Jiuzhou on the back.

It took less than half an hour, about 20 minutes, to get to Nanluoguxiang.

"Senior brother, isn't this gate in the courtyard impressive?" He Yuzhu said smugly, pointing to the gate.

Li Jiuzhou looked around with his hands behind his back; the number 95 hadn't been put on the front door yet.

We will only begin to investigate household registrations and plan housing after our army has completely liberated the entire country.

So he replied:

"Not bad, not bad at all, as expected of the residence of high-ranking officials and nobles."

"That's right, senior brother, let me invite you to come in and have a look."

"OK..."

There were hardly any people in the courtyard at the moment; most of them were women or children, and there weren't many households living there yet.

No one lives in the front yard, and there's a big lock hanging on the west wing.

The Yan family hasn't moved here yet.

Upon entering the central courtyard, I saw a mother and son sitting at the entrance of the west wing.

The woman was middle-aged and looked quite well-off, but the blood-stained gauze wrapped around her forehead looked rather strange.

The young man next to him looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, and was quite fair-skinned.

Li Jiuzhou thought to himself, "This is undoubtedly Jia Zhangshi, and the remaining one is Jia Dongxu, who was hanging on the wall at the beginning."

As expected, He Yuzhu greeted him:

"Auntie, Dongxu, have you eaten yet?"

Jia Dongxu smiled:

"Hehe, Zhu Zi, your aunt and I have already eaten. This is food for Yu Shui, isn't it?"

"Yes, by the way, let me introduce you. This is my senior apprentice, Li Jiuzhou. He and I both studied cooking at Fengzeyuan."

"I'll bring my senior brother to my house for a visit."

Upon hearing He Yuzhu introduce himself, Li Jiuzhou also greeted him:

"Auntie, Brother Dongxu, hello."

"Hello, hello, young man, you look very handsome." The mother and daughter complimented Li Jiuzhou.

The main reason is that they are not familiar with each other, and since He Yuzhu brought in the guests, they would not want to offend him.

As long as no random people enter the hospital, there shouldn't be any problems.

Just two steps ahead is the main house of He Yuzhu's family.

He Yuzhu was showing off, bragging a lot, which was basically just saying how awesome his house was.

Li Jiuzhou didn't care; that's just He Yuzhu's personality.

Meanwhile, the Jia family mother and son, who were not far away, were in a bad mood after hearing He Yuzhu's boasting.

Although there was a smile on her lips, it was a cold smile, a naked display of jealousy...