Courtyard House: New Life, New Silly Zhu

Chapter 94 Issuing a Letter

Although Xu Damao thought that having an extra bicycle at the wedding would be very impressive, he also knew that He Yuzhu's character couldn't possibly be that good.

"Speak up, Sha Zhu, be more open and honest, don't beat around the bush like a woman." Xu Damao looked at He Yuzhu warily.

Hearing himself described as being as indecisive and fussy as a woman, He Yuzhu couldn't help but feel a little itchy to touch her, but he held back: "Silly Mao, I won't lie to you anymore. Our wedding date is so close, so I can borrow your bicycle for my wedding."

Hearing this, Xu Damao looked at He Yuzhu with a smile: "Silly Zhu, silly Zhu, you don't really think I'm a fool, do you?"

"What do you mean?" He Yuzhu asked.

Xu Damao gave He Yuzhu a knowing look and said, "You definitely didn't manage to borrow a bicycle. When it's time for the wedding, you'll use my bicycle to pick up the bride, and I'll just have to swallow this bitter pill. Don't you think so?"

"Hahaha, Xu Damao, you're overthinking it. Let me tell you, we men aren't the type to play these petty tricks," He Yuzhu said decisively.

Xu Damao raised an eyebrow and looked at He Yuzhu with suspicion: "Then tell me, where did you get this bicycle from?"

Don't tell me you borrowed it from Uncle San; he won't let you go pick up the bride.

"I wouldn't dare borrow Uncle San's bicycle. If I ride it too far and break it, I can't afford to pay for it." He Yuzhu paused before telling Xu Damao where he got the bicycle.

"Let me tell you, I borrowed that bicycle from the factory by getting a receipt from the manager," He Yuzhu said.

Xu Damao looked incredulous: "You, the cook? Even I, the projectionist, can't bring myself to speak, and you, the cook, can?"

"Xu Damao, don't underestimate me. Let me tell you, I'm capable too. Don't look down on my current low rank in the factory. It's just that it's not my turn yet. When it's time, I'll take the exam and my rank will rise rapidly."

"Like this bicycle, as long as I ask the director, he will definitely write me a note, you believe it or not?" He Yuzhu said smugly.

He Yuzhu would never have been so smug if he were facing anyone else. It was just that he couldn't resist showing off in front of his former nemesis.

Seeing He Yuzhu's smug look, Xu Damao was unsure whether what he said was true or false.

Putting aside everything else, Xu Damao really knew the situation inside the factory; many factory leaders liked to eat the dishes cooked by He Yuzhu.

When people see the big pot dishes that He Yuzhu makes, they always order his dishes first, and then everyone else's dishes.

Moreover, He Yuzhu's banquet dishes are second to none in Nanluoguxiang, no worse than those of the master chefs, and his prices are cheaper. He can make banquet dishes every Sunday.

However, at this moment, Xu Damao suddenly remembered that since He Yuzhu was able to get a note from the director to borrow a bicycle, could he ask the director to come and attend his wedding?

Thinking of this, Xu Damao suddenly smiled and stepped forward, saying to He Yuzhu, "Brother Zhu, I want to ask, are your relationships with those factory leaders really that good?"

Hearing Xu Damao suddenly ask about the factory leaders, He Yuzhu looked at Xu Damao suspiciously: "Silly Mao, what exactly are you planning to do?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I just wanted to invite those leaders to my wedding, what do you think?" Xu Damao said with a smile.

He Yuzhu thought for a moment, then said, "I don't know about that. After all, those leaders might not give you that kind of face."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao immediately took out a cigarette and handed it to He Yuzhu: "Brother Zhu, could you please help me out? I know you have some influence with the factory leaders, so I'm begging you to help me invite them to my wedding."

"Then why don't you invite them to your wedding? Why do I have to go and tell them?" He Yuzhu retorted.

"Hey, what if I go and they don't participate? Wouldn't I lose face completely?" Xu Damao said, looking at me like I didn't understand.

"Oh, I see. Then I won't do it. If they refuse if I go, I'll lose face too," He Yuzhu refused.

Xu Damao, however, had a different opinion: "Hey, Brother Zhu, you're the cook most valued by the leaders in our factory. You'll definitely be better at speaking than I am, so it's best if you go."

After saying that, he looked at He Yuzhu, but He Yuzhu still wanted to refuse. At this moment, Xu Damao immediately stepped forward and said, "Hey, Brother Zhu, I won't let you help me for nothing. If you help me with this, when I'm making furniture, I'll have someone make a wardrobe for you too, how about that?"

"Xu Damao, are you serious?" He Yuzhu asked, after all, this cabinet wasn't cheap.

Xu Damao immediately nodded and assured him, "Of course, I have to get the furniture today, and I'll definitely make an extra piece for you."

"Okay, it's settled then. Xu Damao, don't go back on your word," He Yuzhu said.

"Don't worry, I won't go back on my word. A gentleman's word is as good as his bond," Xu Damao said.

On Monday, after finishing his work in the cafeteria at noon, He Yuzhu immediately went to find Director Li.

For the sake of his bicycle and for the cabinet Xu Damao promised, He Yuzhu had to work hard. When He Yuzhu arrived at Director Li's office, he was carrying a bowl of braised pork.

Just as Director Li finished filling out the forms and put the pen in the drawer, he heard a knock on the door.

"Please come in." Director Li's voice contained a hint of dissatisfaction, after all, it was really inappropriate to discuss work during a meal.

As soon as the door opened, Director Li saw He Yuzhu walk in.

What caught Director Li's eye even more was the bowl of braised pork that He Yuzhu was holding.

"Zhu Zi, what are you doing holding this meat?" Director Li asked He Yuzhu before finishing his sentence.

He Yuzhu chuckled: "Director Li, it's nothing, it's just that I feel it's too monotonous to always do the same few things."

So, I made this Mao-style braised pork according to Chairman Mao's taste. Try it.

Director Li looked at He Yuzhu with a cryptic smile, picked up the pair of chopsticks He Yuzhu handed him, and put a piece of meat into his mouth.

"Zhu Zi, your cooking skills are truly exceptional. This braised pork is perfectly balanced between salty and sweet, spicy yet not overly so. It's really excellent." Director Li nodded, genuinely satisfied with the dish.

He Yuzhu smiled slightly after hearing Director Li's words and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Director Li. I'm glad you like it."

Seeing He Yuzhu like this, Li Huaide put his chopsticks on the edge of the bowl, propped himself up on his hand, and looked at him with a smile.

"Zhu Zi, you're part of our logistics department now. If you have something to say, just tell me directly. There's no need for all this fancy stuff," Director Li said.

He Yuzhu deliberately put on an honest and simple appearance, looking at Director Li: "You're really good at being a leader, you saw through my little scheme at a glance."

Li Huaide didn't care about He Yuzhu's flattery at all and gestured for him to continue.

"Hey Director Li, I'm getting married soon, so could you please write me a note? I'd like to borrow a bicycle from the factory."

Hearing that it was just about borrowing a bicycle, Li Huaide didn't care at all, but he didn't directly say that he was going to get a note. Instead, he spoke to He Yuzhu.

"Zhu Zi, sometimes you don't need to go through me to borrow a bicycle," Li Huaide said with a smile, then continued, "We're a socialist country, and mutual assistance is what we value. The factory takes the needs of the working people very seriously, you understand?"

He Yuzhu was confused when he heard Li Huaide say this, and did not understand what he meant.

Seeing He Yuzhu's expression, Li Huaide knew that this matter needed to be explained clearly, so he didn't want He Yuzhu to guess slowly and spoke directly.

"Zhu Zi, although you are a cook, you are also a worker. Since you are a worker, you can go to the union and talk to the union officers to ask them to help you solve the problem." Li Huaide explained it very clearly, and He Yuzhu understood. It turned out that he was told to go to the union.

He Yuzhu suddenly realized that this wasn't the future, where unions were often just for show in factories. But at this time, the union was truly a major force in the factory.

The union really does handle things for working-class people like him, so if he wants to borrow a bicycle to get married, going to the union is actually the easiest thing to do.

Seeing that He Yuzhu understood his meaning, Li Huaide said with a smile, "Zhuzi, sometimes you have to understand that it's reasonable for them to do this, but if I were to write this note, then that would be going through the back door. If it gets caught, even though it can be said to be for the benefit of the working people, people will still gossip about it."

He Yuzhu felt somewhat embarrassed when he heard Li Huaide say that. After all, when he heard Director Zhang say that before, he thought he could just ask Director Li for a note.

He hadn't really considered these intricacies. However, he was genuinely grateful to Li Huaide for explaining things clearly. After bowing to him in thanks, He Yuzhu wanted to open the door and go out to find the union representatives.

Just as he was closing the door, He Yuzhu suddenly remembered Xu Damao's matter.

So, under Li Huaide's surprised gaze, He Yuzhu closed the door and came back in.

"Director Li, there's something I'd like to hear your opinion on," He Yuzhu said.

Li Huaide asked curiously, "What is it? Tell me about it."

"It's like this, Xu Damao is getting married on the third day of the eighth lunar month next month, so we would like to invite you to his wedding."

Li Huaide frowned at He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, since you said Xu Damao is getting married next month, if I remember correctly, didn't you ask me to get a note that you were also getting married? When exactly are you getting married?"