Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

As evening approached, preparations for the dinner began.

Today's banquet is a standard one, with six cold dishes, eight hot dishes, and two soups. He Yuzhu is mainly responsible for three of the hot dishes.

He worked efficiently and quickly finished his part.

Master Chen watched from the side, nodding repeatedly: "Zhu Zi, your speed is equivalent to that of two experienced masters."

"Master Chen, you flatter me," He Yuzhu said as he arranged the plates.

"Excessive humility is arrogance," Chef Chen laughed. "Alright, your dishes are all ready. Go and rest for a while, and leave the rest to the others."

"Okay." He Yuzhu replied and sat down in the rest area next door.

He had just sat down when Wang Jianguo brought over a cup of hot water: "Master He, have some water."

"Thanks." He Yuzhu took the cup and took a sip.

"Master He, you really made us young people proud today," Wang Jianguo said in a low voice as he sat down next to him.

"You didn't see it, those old masters looked at you like they'd seen a ghost."

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "It's not that exaggerated."

"Really!" Wang Jianguo said seriously, "Let me tell you, those senior chefs in the kitchen are usually very arrogant, always saying that we young people are no good."

"After what you did today, let's see if they still dare to look down on us young people!"

He Yuzhu shook his head: "Good or bad skills don't depend on age. Some master craftsmen have been doing this for half their lives and have a wealth of experience. We still need to learn what we need to learn."

"Master He, your awareness is truly remarkable," Wang Jianguo said admiringly.

As the two were talking, Li Weidong also came over: "Master He, even Deputy Director Zheng praised you. From now on, you're going to be a star in our restaurant."

"Whether it's popular or not isn't important; making good food is what really matters," He Yuzhu said helplessly.

These two were really bad at flattering me. I realized that my own skills were the only thing worth their enthusiastic praise.

Chef Chen happened to walk over and overheard this, then chimed in, "That's right, Zhu Zi is right! For us chefs, skill is fundamental. If our skills aren't up to par, no matter how much the leaders value us, it's useless."

He looked at He Yuzhu and said, "Zhuzi, there's a training session organized by the city next Monday. Key chefs from various restaurants will be going to learn and exchange ideas. Director Zhao asked me to ask you if you'd like to go."

"Training?" He Yuzhu was taken aback. "Is it appropriate for me to go? I just arrived..."

"What's wrong with that?" Master Chen waved his hand. "Go and learn, broaden your horizons, it'll do you good."

He Yuzhu thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go."

"Okay, then meet at the hotel entrance at eight o'clock on Monday morning. Someone will take you there," Master Chen instructed.

"Understood, thank you, Master Chen."

"Don't mention it." Master Chen patted him on the shoulder. "Keep up the good work, I have faith in you."

After Master Chen left, Wang Jianguo said enviously, "Master He, you're so lucky! You got to go to the city for training so soon after you arrived!"

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "Work hard, and you'll have opportunities in the future."

"Sigh, we don't have your skills..." Li Weidong sighed.

"Skills are learned through practice, not innate," He Yuzhu stated bluntly. "If you're willing, I can teach you some basics when I have time in the future."

"Really?" Wang Jianguo and Li Weidong's eyes lit up.

"Of course, as long as you're willing to learn," He Yuzhu nodded.

"They're willing to learn, they're willing to learn!" The two nodded repeatedly.

Looking at their excited expressions, He Yuzhu shook his head. "It's so good to be young; all your thoughts are written on your face."

However, having a few good colleagues in the kitchen will make things much easier in the future.

It's a bit difficult to win over those veteran workers, but winning over these young people is a piece of cake!

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Around 7 p.m., the banquet ended, and the kitchen began to clean up.

He Yuzhu cleaned up the area he was responsible for, and helped several kitchen helpers put the large tools back in their places before changing out of his chef's uniform and getting ready to leave work.

By the time I left the Oriental Hotel, it was completely dark.

Qianmen Street was brightly lit and bustling with pedestrians.

He Yuzhu tightened his cotton-padded coat and walked towards Nanluoguxiang.

As he was walking, he suddenly heard someone calling him.

"Zhu Zi? He Yuzhu?"

He Yuzhu turned around and saw that it was Xu Dahai.

Xu Dahai was riding a 28-inch bicycle with a cloth bag hanging from the handlebars, looking like he had just finished get off work.

"Uncle Xu, what a coincidence!" He Yuzhu greeted him with a smile.

Xu Dahai slammed on the brakes, braced himself with one foot on the ground, and looked He Yuzhu up and down, exclaiming in surprise, "You...you just came from the Oriental Hotel, could it be...?"

He Yuzhu admitted, "Yes, I just started working here today."

"Good lad!" Xu Dahai gave him a thumbs up. "The Oriental Hotel is a great place; you're doing even better than your dad now!"

He Yuzhu touched his nose and laughed, "Hey, I've only just started working here, but Uncle Xu, you have to keep this a secret for me."

Xu Dahai was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Hey, when other people join the Oriental Hotel, they can't wait for the whole world to know. But you, kid, are hiding it."

He Yuzhu lied, saying, "I'm not a head chef yet. I'll have more face when people talk about it after I become a head chef!"

Xu Dahai patted the back seat and said, "Alright, get in, Uncle will take you back."

He Yuzhu immediately jumped into the car and said, "Thank you, Uncle Xu!"

By the time I returned to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, it was completely dark.

The front yard was quiet, with only the dim light shining from the Yan family's window.

As soon as He Yuzhu entered the courtyard, he heard voices coming from inside the Jia family's house.

I could faintly hear Yi Zhonghai saying something.

He Yuzhu shook his head, too lazy to pay attention, and went straight back to his house.

After cooking a simple meal, He Yuzhu took out his master's Sichuan cuisine notes and began to read them by the light of a kerosene lamp.

Just as I was engrossed in reading, I suddenly heard a series of urgent knocks on the door.

"Pillar! Is Pillar home?"

It was Aunt Qian's voice; she sounded very anxious.

He Yuzhu put down his notebook, got up and opened the door.

Outside the door, Aunt Qian, her face ashen, cried anxiously, "Zhu Zi, go quickly and see! Da Niu... Da Niu is fighting with someone!"

He Yuzhu was taken aback and asked, "Who did Brother Da Niu fight with? Where?"

"He's right at the alley entrance!" Aunt Qian stamped her feet anxiously. "He's with that little rascal! Your Uncle Qian is away on a business trip, please go check on him for me!"

Without saying a word, He Yuzhu put on his cotton-padded coat and went outside.

Aunt Qian followed behind, saying as she walked, "I don't know what happened. Da Niu was fine when he came home from get off work today. After dinner, he said he was going out for a walk, but a little while later someone came back and said that he got into a fight with Xiao Laizi..."

The two walked quickly to the entrance of the alley and saw a group of people gathered there from afar.

He Yuzhu pushed through the crowd and saw Qian Daniu being beaten by several thugs.

At this moment, Qian Daniu was curled up on the ground, being beaten by them, and his cotton-padded coat was torn.

As he hit him, Xiao Laizi cursed, "Qian Daniu, you dare to lay a hand on me? You're asking for trouble!"