Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

When He Yuzhu followed Butler Zhou into Lou Bancheng's study, it was already past three o'clock in the afternoon.

He helped tidy up in the kitchen downstairs and chatted with Tan Yali for a long time, so he didn't find the time passing too slowly.

The study is very large, with solid wood bookshelves that reach the ceiling on all four walls, filled with all kinds of books.

Lou Bancheng was reclining on a cushioned rattan chair, a cigarette between his fingers, his brows furrowed, as if he were deep in thought.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw He Yuzhu. He immediately sat up straight, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and gave a warm smile.

"Zhu Zi is here. Come on, sit here." He pointed to the two single sofas opposite the desk.

"Mr. Lou." He Yuzhu walked over as instructed and sat down calmly.

"Stop calling me 'Mr.,' call me Uncle Lou!"

Lou Bancheng waved his hand dismissively, then picked up the purple clay teapot on the table and poured He Yuzhu a cup of hot tea. "You've really worked hard today, you've made me look good. And your Aunt Tan has always been a picky eater, I've never praised anyone like this before."

He Yuzhu accepted the teacup with both hands and thanked him, saying, "Uncle Lou, you're too kind. It's all I should do."

Lou Bancheng looked at He Yuzhu and admired him more and more.

This young man's skills are superb, far surpassing those of his irresponsible father, He Daqing.

"Zhu Zi, let's get straight to the point." Lou Bancheng's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You really impressed all my friends today. Several of them wanted to poach you on the spot!"

He paused, then asked, "I heard you mention before that you were dealing with the Emei Restaurant..."

He Yuzhu knew what he was going to ask and immediately replied, "Uncle Lou, to be honest, I've officially graduated. My master, Chen Baoguo... he feels that with the current situation in Beijing, it's not easy for people in our line of work to stay, so he's planning to go south and try his luck."

Upon hearing this, Lou Bancheng's eyes flashed with understanding and a hint of regret.

He knew Chen Baoguo; he was one of the pillars of the Emei Restaurant. Even someone like him had to flee to the south, which showed how intense the turmoil was.

He pondered for a moment, then looked at He Yuzhu with gentle eyes and asked, "And what about yourself? What are your plans for the future?"

He Yuzhu scratched his head, his face showing a mixture of confusion and distress.

"Uncle Lou, to be honest, if I had any plans, I wouldn't have taken the liberty of coming to you today with my father's letter."

He sighed and continued, "My skills are, to be honest, passable. But given the current situation... even my master, Master Lian Wu, is... I really don't dare to even consider opening my own restaurant. Wouldn't that be like walking into the line of fire?"

"With the example of Emei Restaurant before me, I'm really scared." He Yuzhu's tone was somewhat self-deprecating. "But if I just find any place to fool around, I feel like I'm letting down my skills and my master's teachings."

Lou Bancheng listened quietly; He Yuzhu's words touched his heart and moved him deeply.

He sighed deeply, leaned back in his chair, and his tone became somewhat heavy.

"Sigh, Zhu Zi, it's really not easy for you to think about so many things at such a young age."

"To be honest, if your cooking skills are just average, it'll be easier for me to arrange something. I can easily squeeze someone into the steel mill's canteen or one of my other friends' factories with just a word."

"But...but your cooking skills are just so good!" Lou Bancheng spread his hands, a troubled look on his face. "This puts me in a bit of a bind!"

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the courtyard.

"Sending you to the steel mill canteen would be a waste of your talents. Cooking communal meals every day, your skills will probably go to waste in the long run."

"But my assets..." Lou Bancheng turned around, a helpless bitter smile on his face, "Apart from Lou's Steel Rolling Mill, the rest have all been handed over. I wanted to find you a platform where you could fully utilize your talents, but I'm powerless to do so!"

He Yuzhu nodded silently, indicating his understanding.

Based on his memories of watching dramas in his previous life and his current observations, Lou Bancheng's current situation was pretty much a guess.

This former "half-city" is indeed shrinking its battle lines and seeking survival in a low-key manner.

Silence fell over the study for a moment.

He Yuzhu lowered his head and drank his tea, his mind racing with calculations.

It seems there aren't any particularly suitable positions available in Lou Bancheng right now. Does this mean he really has to work temporarily in the steel mill's canteen?

But when he thought about how He Yuzhu wasted decades in the canteen in the original drama, and although he didn't go hungry, he ultimately didn't achieve much, he felt a little resentful.

Lou Bancheng looked at He Yuzhu's pensive profile and felt a mix of emotions.

He admired the young man's talent, sympathized with his situation, and even felt a sense of shared sorrow.

Think of the owner of Emei Restaurant, Mr. Wu. How prestigious he was back then! He was the one who was personally invited to open a restaurant in the capital. His Sichuan cuisine was incredibly successful, and high-ranking officials and nobles flocked to his restaurant.

But now? It has become the first target of "rectification", and its huge signboard is about to collapse.

Although his own Lou's Steel Rolling Mill is still in operation, the internal dynamics have changed drastically.

"Zhu Zi." Lou Bancheng sat back down in his chair, breaking the silence. "The matter of work can't be rushed. We need to find a suitable opportunity. Don't worry, since Uncle Lou promised your father and ate this meal with you, I will definitely not ignore your matter."

"Recently, I've also asked my friends to inquire around to see if there are any places where I can both utilize my talents and have a stable job."

Looking into Lou Bancheng's sincere gaze, He Yuzhu felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Whether Lou Bancheng's actions stemmed from admiration for his craftsmanship, consideration for the son of an old friend, or other factors, his concern for him was genuine.

He stood up and bowed deeply to Lou Bancheng.

"Uncle Lou, I can't thank you enough. Thank you for your help with the work!"

Lou Bancheng smiled with satisfaction, stood up, and patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder.

"Don't stand on ceremony with me. Remember to come over often when you have time and chat with your Aunt Tan. She's very happy today."

"Yes, I've got it, Uncle Lou," He Yuzhu nodded in response.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, He Yuzhu took his leave and left the study.

Butler Zhou escorted him all the way to the gate of the mansion.

As He Yuzhu walked out of the Lou family mansion, he stood on the bustling street and exhaled a long puff of white breath.

Although the job hadn't been fully finalized, Lou Bancheng's promise gave him a lot more confidence.

"The steel rolling mill..." he muttered to himself, "It's not that I can't go if there's no other way, but it absolutely can't be like the original drama..."

A vague idea began to sprout in his mind.