Courtyard House: New Life, New Silly Zhu

Chapter 121

"Zhu Zi, let me tell you this: my son Guang Qi got into a vocational school and will become a cadre after graduation, so I'm very happy. Next Sunday, I'm going to set up a nice table in the yard."

Liu Haizhong stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly speaking to He Yuzhu, but actually taking this opportunity to announce the matter in the courtyard.

Sure enough, the others who hadn't received the news came out when they heard Liu Haizhong say that.

"Second Uncle, did your Guangqi really get into a vocational school?"

Hearing someone chime in, Liu Haizhong grinned from ear to ear: "That's right, my Guangqi has made something of himself, he got into a vocational school, so we're having a banquet next Sunday to celebrate, everyone come!"

After Liu Haizhong finished speaking, everyone congratulated him, and Liu Haizhong beamed with joy.

After exchanging a few jokes with everyone, Liu Haizhong spoke to He Yuzhu.

"Zhu Zi, I know your skills from the factory, so I'll have to trouble you to host the banquet next Sunday. You can't refuse," Liu Haizhong said to He Yuzhu.

It didn't matter who he did it for, so He Yuzhu smiled and nodded, saying to Liu Haizhong, "Second Uncle, just watch, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"Okay, it's settled then. I'll head back now." Liu Haizhong laughed and left the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Seeing Liu Haizhong's happy expression, He Yuzhu was also very happy. Judging from Liu Haizhong's posture, this time it was probably not just...

He had to treat everyone in the courtyard to meals, and even people in the steel mill had to be treated.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. All parents in the world are the same. When their own children are successful, they want to tell the whole world.

If his child becomes successful, he'll probably do the same.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, He Yuzhu returned to the steel rolling mill and was immediately called to the canteen director's office.

"Zhu Zi, you're here. Please have a seat." Director Zhang smiled and gestured for He Yuzhu to sit down.

He Yuzhu didn't stand on ceremony, after all, they were already so familiar with each other. He pulled out a chair, sat down, and looked at Director Zhang.

"Director, is it going to be another special treatment? You could have just given the word, why did you have to call me into your office?" He Yuzhu said with a smile.

Last year's surge in production resulted in the steel rolling mill having a lot of unplanned materials. These unplanned materials could be exchanged for a lot of other things.

Therefore, the steel rolling mill's small kitchen will not stop operating for a month before the Lunar New Year.

"Zhu Zi, thank you for your hard work." Director Zhang sighed and took an envelope out of the drawer.

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow, took the envelope, opened it, and to his surprise, found more than a dozen five-yuan bills inside. Without counting them, He Yuzhu asked, "Director Zhang, what's this?"

Seeing He Yuzhu's expression, Director Zhang smiled and said, "This is a reward for you. You know, you were doing a good job as a host."

The class funds can't be accounted for, so I can only give them to you privately. Don't worry, just take them.

Upon hearing Director Zhang's words, He Yuzhu didn't stand on ceremony and stuffed the envelope into his bag.

"Thank you, Director Zhang. I'll accept this. Don't worry, Director Zhang, the factory will provide hospitality. Just give the word and I'll do it without hesitation." He Yuzhu became even more attentive after receiving the money.

Director Zhang waved his hand and laughed, "Hey, it's nothing, this money is what I should get. Zhu Zi, you'll have to work hard these next few days."

He Yuzhu nodded repeatedly. He was overjoyed to have just received such a sum of money, so how could he refuse?

"No problem, Director Zhang, don't worry."

Director Zhang nodded in satisfaction and let He Yuzhu return to the cafeteria.

In the following days, He Yuzhu had to work overtime every night. Only then did he realize why Director Zhang had suddenly given him so many bonuses. It turned out that he was preparing to treat him like a beast of burden.

In order to improve the welfare of the factory, Li Huaide would invite leaders from other factories to eat in the canteen every few days.

They discussed how to distribute these supplies and what they could exchange for. He Yuzhu didn't care much; he had heard that Li Huaide had brought back a lot of meat from the meat processing plant.

It seems that this year's welfare program will allow everyone to get some meat; given how often He Yuzhu is giving special meals, it's more than just...

Meat, and probably other things as well.

They kept busy like this until Sunday.

Early this morning, He Yuzhu got up before dawn, washed up, and went straight to the stove.

"Second Uncle, you're up so early?" As soon as He Yuzhu arrived, he saw Liu Haizhong busy at work.

When Liu Haizhong saw him coming over, he smiled and said, "Zhuzi, good morning too. Today, the feast at my house depends on you."

He Yuzhu smiled and nodded without saying anything more. After seeing that the stove had been built, he went to the place where Liu Haizhong had bought the ingredients.

Liu Haizhong had been out and about a lot this week, preparing a full range of radishes and cabbages, and even mushrooms and wood ear fungus. He Yuzhu nodded, and with these ingredients, He Yuzhu's culinary skills had room to shine.

"Zhu Zi, how are these vegetables? Do you think they're enough? If not, I'll go to the market to buy more now," Liu Haizhong asked as he approached He Yuzhu.

Since it was his eldest son's banquet, Liu Haizhong naturally took it very seriously, fearing that any mishaps would cause him to lose face.

"That's enough, Uncle, that's more than enough. We'll start preparing the dishes once all the aunties and grandmas come out." He Yuzhu noticed that Liu Haizhong was still a little nervous, so he spoke to him with certainty.

Liu Haizhong was finally relieved. This week had exhausted him. In order to collect enough vegetables, he had been going to the pigeon market every day after get off work.

His wife has to go to the market to buy groceries every day before dawn.

After all that fuss, we finally bought enough vegetables—enough for everyone in the compound.

This banquet alone would cost Liu Haizhong at least one or two hundred yuan, which is painful to even think about. Even if every household gives a gift, it still wouldn't be enough.

It can only be said that Liu Haizhong, as a level seven worker in the factory, is indeed rich and willing to spend money.

Of course, this only applies to this year; even if you have the money next year, you won't be able to buy so many things.

As dawn broke, the older women and aunties in the courtyard began to arrive at He Yuzhu's place one after another.

The older women, aunties, and young girls all gathered around, and consciously picked up large basins from their homes to sort and wash the vegetables.

The men weren't idle either; they all brought out tables from their homes.

He Yuzhu pulled out a door panel, poured hot water on it, and began to clean the door panel. Today, this door panel would be used as a cutting board to cut meat and vegetables.

After the women in the courtyard finished washing the vegetables, they moved them in front of He Yuzhu so that he could chop and prepare them.

Of course, He Yuzhu couldn't handle all of these things by himself. They would cut things like radishes and cabbages, while He Yuzhu would take care of the rest.

The courtyard was bustling with activity, as lively as if it were Chinese New Year.