Courtyard House: New Life, New Silly Zhu

"Rain, go to school early after you finish eating. I'm going to the factory first," He Yuzhu said to his younger sister who was eating a steamed bun.

He Yushui's chopsticks, which were about to pick up food, paused in mid-air. She looked at her brother with some worry: "Brother, do you think you can get the job?"

Hearing this, He Yuzhu, who was tidying up his knives, turned around and gave his sister a dashing smile: "Yushui, don't worry. Don't you know how capable I am?"

After saying that, he seemed to feel that he still couldn't dispel his sister's concerns, so he added, "The steel rolling mill is just a steel mill. I'm a chef with a family tradition, so I can get in no matter what."

Without waiting for his younger sister to ask again, He Yuzhu hurriedly pushed open the door and headed towards the steel rolling mill, facing the rising sun.

The steel rolling mill was Beijing No. 3 Steel Rolling Mill, also known as Dongzhimen Steel Rolling Mill. It was located in Shizipo Brigade, in the area now known as "Chaci Residential Area" and "Donghu Villas". The main gate of the factory faced Dongzhimen Outer Street and was located on the north side of the street.

Slightly different from reality, this steel rolling mill has now become a state-owned enterprise after undergoing a public-private partnership.

The steel rolling mill also grew from an ordinary steel plant into a large factory with thousands of employees.

At the entrance, retired soldiers formed a security team to guard the steel rolling mill.

"Comrade, hello. I was recommended by Director Wang of the Nanluoguxiang Subdistrict Office to work at the steel rolling mill. I'm here today to report." He Yuzhu went straight to a security guard with a gun, introduced himself to him, and showed him the letter of introduction from Director Wang.

The security guard on duty reached out and took the letter of introduction.

He opened the letter, glanced at it from top to bottom, raised his hand, and saluted: "Welcome to our steel rolling mill, new comrade. Please wait here for a moment."

The security personnel's serious demeanor left He Yuzhu somewhat bewildered, and he could only awkwardly raise his hand and offer an inappropriate salute.

The security guard just smiled and turned to walk into the security room.

When they came out, another young security guard was following behind them.

"Comrade He, hello. My surname is Zhang, you can just call me Lao Zhang. The man next to me is Li, from our security department. You can go to the personnel department with him to report for duty."

He Yuzhu quickly put on a smile and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you two comrades."

"No trouble at all. We're comrades now, so we'll need your help when we go to the cafeteria for food," Old Zhang said with a smile.

"Definitely, definitely," He Yuzhu replied politely, and followed the security guard surnamed Li into the factory.

On the way, a security guard surnamed Li introduced the factory's situation and also told He Yuzhu that the man named Lao Zhang was the deputy head of their security department.

Soon the two arrived at the personnel department, where a security guard surnamed Li brought He Yuzhu there before returning to the security department.

He Yuzhu straightened his clothes, knocked on the door, and soon the voice of a personnel department clerk came from inside.

"Name?" the clerk asked.

"He Yuzhu".

"Home address".

"The main house in the north wing of the central courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang."

……

The staff member in the personnel department recorded He Yuzhu's information in the personnel department's file, then got up and took him to the logistics department.

"Comrade He, I'll take you to the logistics department. The steel mill canteen belongs to the logistics department. After I take you there, just follow the logistics staff." The personnel department clerk was very proactive.

Of course, it's also possible that he was just bored. After all, He Yuzhu saw that before he came in, this clerk was eating sunflower seeds in the room.

Before long, He Yuzhu followed the staff member to the logistics department, which was actually just a short distance up or down one floor.

"Sister Wang, a new cook has joined your logistics department's canteen." The clerk said, pointing to He Yuzhu, "That's him, Comrade He Yuzhu."

The woman in the logistics department, Sister Wang, was writing something on her desk when she heard the personnel staff member speaking. She looked up at them.

"Oh, do we have a new employee in our cafeteria? Thank you for your help, Xiao Li." Sister Wang stood up and politely nodded her thanks to the clerk.

"No trouble at all, Sister Wang, I'll be going now." The clerk said and left.

He Yuzhu stood respectfully in front of the woman called Sister Wang.

"Your name is He Yuzhu, right? Don't be nervous, we'll be colleagues from now on, so I'll call you Zhuzi," Sister Wang said with a smile.

"Okay, hello Sister Wang. I'll have to take good care of you in the future," He Yuzhu said hurriedly.

Sister Wang smiled and nodded, saying, "Zhu Zi, you've come at the right time. The factory just implemented an eight-level system. Show your best today. Your future salary will depend on how many levels you pass today."

Upon hearing that there was a certification exam today, He Yuzhu's eyes lit up. He had originally thought that he would have to start as a kitchen helper when he came to the steel rolling mill, but he didn't expect that he could take a certification exam first.

"Sister Wang, you don't need to worry about that. I'm a family chef by trade, and I've worked at Fengzeyuan and Hongbinlou. I can't boast about anything else, but I'm confident in my skills."

When Sister Wang heard that He Yuzhu was a family chef and had even worked at the Eighth Floor Restaurant, her eyes lit up.

Their factory has just been expanded, and nothing is ready yet.

The chefs who cook the large-pot dishes in the cafeteria now are the same ones from before, and the dishes they make just don't have any flavor at all.

"That's great. But before you take the exam, come with me to get your work clothes and lunchbox first." After saying that, Sister Wang got up and led He Yuzhu to the warehouse.

He handed over the inventory list to the warehouse keeper and signed it. He Yuzhu then received his work clothes and two lunch boxes and went to the kitchen.

"Director Zhang, Director Zhang, where are you?" As soon as she arrived at the cafeteria, Sister Wang called out to the cafeteria.

"Coming, coming! What's wrong, Xiao Wang?" A middle-aged man in his thirties or forties ran over quickly, wiping his sweat as he called out.

Seeing the cafeteria manager bustling about, Sister Wang smiled and said, "Director Zhang, you're really going to be busy today."

Upon hearing this, the cafeteria manager smiled wryly and said, "That's right. Today is the grading exam, and everyone in the cafeteria has to participate. But we can't let the exam fall behind, so we're a bit overwhelmed."

After speaking, the cafeteria manager looked at He Yuzhu: "Xiao Wang, who is this?"

He Yuzhu quickly bowed slightly and said, "Hello, Director Zhang, I'm He Yuzhu, the new chef. Please take good care of me!"

"Oh? You're the new cook? That's perfect, we're having a grading exam in the cafeteria today. Come on in, let me try your skills," Director Zhang said warmly.

The cafeteria manager likes cooks; you can always find someone to wash vegetables or move things, but cooks are hard to find.

Seeing that the two of them were about to go in to take the exam, she said goodbye to Director Zhang and then returned to the logistics department.