Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Although the couple felt disgusted by Jia Dongxu's practice of giving money as a wedding gift, they didn't take it to heart.

Are you suggesting we go over there and have a fight?

It's really not that bad. To be targeted by Jia Zhangshi is like a toad crawling on your foot—it doesn't bite, but it's disgusting.

The couple didn't care, but the news had already gone viral in the courtyard.

At Lou's Steel Rolling Mill, in the fitter's workshop, during a break, Yi Zhonghai took his apprentice Jia Dongxu outside for a smoke.

Jia Dongxu was very perceptive; he handed Yi Zhonghai tea, took out a cigarette, and lit it in one smooth motion!

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying his apprentice's filial piety. Suddenly, something occurred to him, and he asked:

"By the way, Dongxu, how much did you give as a wedding gift at Jiuzhou's wedding yesterday?"

Jia Dongxu replied with a smile without thinking:

"Twenty thousand, Master. I also gave twenty thousand as a wedding gift to Jiuzhou."

"Are you sure?" Yi Zhonghai's tone became more serious.

Jia Dongxu immediately realized the problem, because his master always believed him and never questioned him.

Suddenly, he thought of his elderly mother. He remembered clearly yesterday that he had watched his wife put 20,000 yuan into a gift box and then gave it to his mother. Could it be...?

"Master, is there a problem?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "When I went to give a gift yesterday, your name was listed first, very conspicuous, and the 10,000 yuan was clearly written!"

"Boom!" Jia Dongxu was struck as if by lightning, his mouth agape.

"Master, I saw my wife slip 20,000 yuan to my mother with my own eyes, there's no mistake!"

Yi Zhonghai let out a long sigh:

"Dongxu, I believe in your character, but your mother..."

Jia Dongxu understood Yi Zhonghai's words perfectly; even a fool could tell it was his own mother's doing.

Jia Dongxu lowered his head, looking helpless, then seemed to remember something and said:

"Master, do you think Jiuzhou will have any objections?"

"Heh..." Yi Zhonghai chuckled coldly and continued:

"Of course they'll have a problem with that. How can you be so stingy? He gave you a 20,000 yuan wedding gift, but you only gave 10,000 yuan."

"Besides, it's not like your family can't afford to eat or is short of money. Isn't this blatantly telling Jiuzhou that Jia Dongxu looks down on him?"

"No, Master, I really didn't mean that, I'm innocent..." Jia Dongxu said anxiously.

Living in a courtyard house, Jia Dongxu is now a married man and no longer has the desire to compare himself with others.

He just wants to work hard to earn money, learn skills, and live a good life; he generally doesn't do things that might offend people.

Yi Zhonghai also figured it out; it must have been Jia Zhangshi who was behind it. His apprentice's mother was quite a character.

People who are greedy for small gains and sometimes lack common sense are quite speechless, even for Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai instructed his apprentice:

"Alright, you need to inform Jiuzhou about this and explain the situation."

"Buy some gifts and visit them to talk things over. They're neighbors, it's not worth making a scene over this."

"Jiuzhou is a reasonable person. You young people should communicate with him more."

Jia Dongxu took Yi Zhonghai's words to heart; this matter was neither a big deal nor a small one.

It mainly depends on whether Li Jiuzhou will take it to heart. If it were him, Jia Dongxu would definitely remember being treated like that by his neighbor.

So this matter needs to be resolved. With that in mind, Jia Dongxu decided to act now and said to Yi Zhonghai:

"Master, I still have some time, so I'd like to go buy some things. Could you please ask for leave for me?"

Yi Zhonghai smiled after hearing this:

"Go ahead, I'll ask for leave for you. Remember to talk to Jiuzhou nicely, so as not to cause any unpleasantness."

"Did you bring any money? If not, I have some, sir."

Jia Dongxu felt a warmth in his heart and smiled:

"With a mentor by my side, you can rest assured that everything will be handled perfectly."

"Okay, go ahead..."

Jia Dongxu quickly bought the gifts, but couldn't help grumbling about his mother.

He felt a pang of heartache looking at the things in his hands; these items were worth more than ten thousand yuan.

He bought a hot water bottle, an enamel basin, a pound of apples, and a carton of cigarettes.

These gifts were truly heartfelt; he bought them entirely according to his own ideas.

As soon as he got home, he saw his wife busy at the sewing machine, while his mother was fast asleep on the kang (a heated brick bed), the sound of the sewing machine not disturbing her at all.

Tong Jie was delighted to see him, and stood up to take the things from his hands, exclaiming in surprise:

"Dongxu, are you leaving get off work early today? Why did you buy so much stuff?"

Madam Jia Zhang was awake now and was listening intently to the young couple's conversation.

Jia Dongxu didn't hide anything and told the whole story in one go.

Tong Jie opened her mouth wide in surprise, speechless for a moment, her gaze fixed on her mother-in-law still lying on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Jia Zhangshi immediately sat up, and looking at the things on the table, she began to feel sorry for them.

Hesitantly, he said:

"Dongxu, it's just a matter of underpaying by 10,000 yuan. It's not that big of a deal. All these things on the table are worth more than 10,000 yuan."

Jia Dongxu sighed:

"Mom, if you keep giving me trouble, I'll do even more next time. Sooner or later, our family will be so broke we won't even be able to afford meat!"

Upon hearing that there would be no meat left, Jia Zhangshi immediately became anxious:

"No, no, no, Dongxu, Mom promises you, I will never cause you any more trouble."

"Let's leave it like this!" Jia Dongxu said casually.

Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted excitedly over the things on the table, and she exclaimed:

"Dongxu, did you manage to get some meat while you were at it? My daughter-in-law's been craving it for ages!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing a look of astonishment in each other's eyes.

Tong Jie was speechless. How did this happen? This is an incredibly unfair way of shifting the blame onto me!

What do you mean I'm craving something?

I was really craving meat, but I didn't say anything, it's ridiculous!

At that moment, Jia Dongxu immediately had an idea and said:

"Mom, you embezzled 10,000 yuan from our family yesterday. Since you want to eat meat, use that 10,000 yuan to buy it."

"Buy it all, don't leave a single penny behind. See how filial your son is!"

Madam Jia wanted to object, but seeing the unyielding look in her son's eyes, she finally agreed.

After getting the money from her room, Jia Zhangshi excitedly went out to buy meat, carrying a cloth bag.

They greet everyone they meet, as if they have some joyous occasion.

After his mother left, Jia Dongxu took his wife and went to Li Jiuzhou's house in the front yard.

At Li Jiuzhou's house, Jia Dongxu and his wife put down the gifts and said very sincerely:

"Jiuzhou, I'm so sorry, my mother was blind and did such a foolish thing."

Li Jiuzhou glanced at the things on the table and understood immediately, then smiled and said:

"Brother Dongxu, I don't care about this anymore, let's not mention it again, it's all in the past."

Jia Dongxu was very happy to hear this, so he started bragging to Li Jiuzhou.

Tong Jie and Bingbing were exchanging ideas about making clothes, and they seemed to be having a good time.

After all, there aren't many young women in this courtyard, and if the two are of similar age, they could become friends.