Courtyard House: I'm surrounded by celestial beauties on either side.

He Yuzhu looked at him with disdain: "How could a country girl be good enough for me? Xu Damao and Fang Chengxuan both married city women, why should I go to the countryside?"

"You..." The old woman stamped her feet anxiously, "If this continues, your life will be ruined!"

He Yuzhu stood up impatiently: "You don't need to worry about my affairs." He then turned and left.

The old woman watched his retreating figure, then sighed dejectedly, "I can't control you anymore..."

As soon as He Yuzhu stepped outside, he saw Fang Chengxuan and the others still in the yard, and went up to them to question them: "Was it you who persuaded the old lady to send me to the countryside?"

Fang Chengxuan slammed his teacup down: "Try shouting again?"

The gazes of those around them gradually sharpened.

He Yuzhu shrank back, forcing a defiant air: "Hmph! Don't think I'm afraid of you just because there are more of you!"

"Fang Chengxuan, listen to me carefully. No matter what you're plotting, I won't let you succeed! You want me to sign up for the rural service program? No way!"

He finished speaking with a stiff neck, then turned and left.

The crowd stared at his departing figure, exchanging bewildered glances.

"This Sha Zhu used to seem pretty normal, but now he really acts like an idiot," someone couldn't help but mutter.

Yang Yuande scratched his head: "But speaking of which, why did the deaf old lady insist on sending Sha Zhu to the countryside?"

Fang Chengxuan took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure, and sneered, "The old lady has really gone to great lengths for this fool Zhuzi."

"What a pity, rotten mud can't be plastered on a wall!"

Yang Yuande looked puzzled: "Brother Fang, what do you mean by that?"

"He Yuzhu was targeted by Xu Damao in the yard. With his brains, he was no match for Xu Damao at all."

"If I go to the countryside, I can avoid trouble and make a living with my cooking skills."

Country folks are honest and simple; with his qualities, finding a wife shouldn't be difficult.

"Once you're married and have children, you can find a way to transfer back. What a great way out."

"What a pity, such a great plan, but it was all ruined by a blockhead!"

Fang Chengxuan's tone was full of sarcasm.

Yang Yuande clicked his tongue: "The old lady really treats Shazhu like her own grandson!"

"That might not be the case in the future."

Fang Chengxuan glanced at the old lady's room. "She's never caused any trouble before, so she can't tell how stubborn Sha Zhu is."

Now that she's stood up for him time and time again, with the old lady's shrewdness, how could she not see through it?

"Today's kneeling is both a desperate gamble and..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Everyone knew that the old lady had donated all her assets, so they thought she didn't have much left.

But how could the country fail to reward those who have made contributions? Those jade bracelets on the surface are merely the tip of the iceberg.

"From now on, even without He Yuzhu and Xu Damao, there will still be plenty of people in the courtyard trying to curry favor with the old lady!"

These words made Yang Yuande and the others widen their eyes in surprise.

"There's...that's another meaning?"

"Just wait and see, the old lady's room will definitely be lively tomorrow."

However, this old lady of ours is no simpleton; it's still uncertain who will end up with those things.

Fang Chengxuan felt much better after he finished speaking.

The other three, however, fell into deep thought and could not calm down for a long time.

That night, Zhang Yangde and Yang Yuande returned home and told their wives about it. They couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder he can be a manager and marry such a wonderful wife. His brains are better than ten of ours combined!"

the next morning.

Fang Chengxuan's family was having breakfast when they saw the neighbors from the former Zhongyuan Courtyard carrying food into the old lady's house.

Zhang Yangde gasped, "Fang Chengxuan was right!"

As Fang Chengxuan was about to leave after get off work, Ma Hua suddenly called out to him, "Manager Fang..."

"Is there something you need?" Fang Chengxuan asked casually.

After stammering for a while, Ma Hua finally mustered up the courage: "My mentor, He Yuzhu... he injured his hand, and the doctor said he needs to rest for three months..."

"Could we send him back to the kitchen? I can work on the production line for three months!"

After he finished speaking, he looked nervously at Fang Chengxuan.

Fang Chengxuan quietly looked at this usually honest young man: "Ma Hua, He Yuzhu's hand is injured, what can he do back in the kitchen?"

"Everyone in the kitchen is working diligently. Why should they have to do more work just because of your mentor-apprentice relationship?"

"Respecting teachers is a good thing, but why should others pay for your filial piety?"

MCA lowered its head in shame.

Other people in the kitchen also spoke up:

"That's right, Ma Hua, Manager Fang is right."

If another wounded soldier comes in, won't we have to do all the work?

"Think about it, is it reasonable for a normal person to be exchanged for a wounded soldier?"

Liu Lan patted Ma Hua on the shoulder: "Who in the whole factory doesn't know that He Yuzhu and Manager Fang have a grudge? Manager Fang is magnanimous for not holding it against him; you mustn't be ungrateful!"

Fang Chengxuan waved his hand: "Ma Hua, you can't just change your job in the factory whenever you want."

The kitchen will not accept injured people; let's pretend this never happened.

"Of course, if you really want to leave, I won't stop you once you find a receiving unit."

Fang Chengxuan said calmly.

Ma Hua hurriedly waved his hand: "It's not that I don't want to stay in the kitchen anymore, Manager Fang, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought this up."

"Alright, the kitchen is all cleaned up. After you've done a final check, everyone should go home and get some rest."

Fang Chengxuan smiled at everyone, then turned and left.

As soon as he left, the people in the fourth kitchen all looked at Ma Hua and couldn't help but whisper among themselves, "Ma Hua, what are you thinking?"

"Sha Zhu is your mentor, that's true, but Manager Fang has also taught you a lot. How could you suggest bringing He Yuzhu back to disgust Manager Fang?"

"Exactly. Even if we're going to replace him, if Sha Zhu's hand were fine, it would be fine for him to come back to work. But his hand is injured and he can't do anything. What's the point of bringing him in?"

Everyone started talking at once, counting Hua's names.

Overwhelmed with shame, MCA members lowered their heads and remained silent.

After the kitchen was cleaned up, everyone left one after another.

A chubby figure spat at Ma Hua, then walked out of the steel rolling mill and headed towards the courtyard house.

"Fatty, you're here?"

Inside the courtyard, He Yuzhu greeted the fat man warmly as he entered.

The fat man walked in with a smile: "Master's hand is injured and it's inconvenient for him. As his disciple, I was worried about him, so I came to see you, cook for you, and do your laundry."

"Master, have you eaten? If not, I'll get to it right away."

"You haven't eaten yet, you've come at the perfect time."

He Yuzhu said without any politeness.

The fat man's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, but he smiled broadly: "Then let me see what Master has at home, and I'll make something simple."

My skills aren't very good, Master, please give me some pointers.

He Yuzhu readily agreed: "Okay."

While they were cooking, Ma Hua walked in from outside, carrying rice and vegetables.

"Master, I brought some things with me."

"Um."

He Yuzhu gave a curt reply, and after Ma Hua put down his things, he asked directly, "Ma Hua, how did it go? Did Fang Chengxuan agree to the job change?"

Ma Hua shook his head.

He Yuzhu slammed his left hand on the table in anger: "This Fang Chengxuan is deliberately trying to make things difficult for me!"

The fat man next to him added fuel to the fire: "Mahua, our master has been guiding us for so long and has never made any demands."

Now that you've finally asked for help, and you can't even handle this small matter, could it be that you're unwilling?

"Are you afraid that if your master goes back to the kitchen, you won't be able to go back?"

MCA quickly denied it: "I didn't."

"My master injured his hand and couldn't work in the kitchen, and the others didn't agree either. I really had no choice."

He Yuzhu's face darkened: "No way? You're heartless!"

"Back when I had a falling out with Fang Chengxuan and left the kitchen, Fatty went against him without saying a word, but you didn't utter a sound."

I heard Fang Chengxuan even taught you how to cook. Do you not even want to acknowledge me as your teacher anymore?

MCA hurriedly shook his head: "I didn't."

He Yuzhu and the fat man took turns counting Hua.

Ma Hua lowered his head, his face pale, feeling both wronged and guilty.

Yang Yuande from the Intermediate People's Court glanced over here, then quietly squatted down by the door with a plate of peanuts in his hand.

At that moment, He Yuzhu's angry roar came from inside the room: "Ma Hua, do you still acknowledge me as your master? If you do, come with me now to find Fang Chengxuan and make things clear!"

"I refuse to believe that if you're determined to switch, Fang Chengxuan can stop you!"

Yang Yuande, who was outside, heard He Yuzhu's angry roar and then saw him dragging Ma Hua outside.

Seeing Yang Yuande squatting at the door, He Yuzhu glared at him and continued rushing out.

The fat man followed closely behind, his face revealing undisguised schadenfreude.

"Yuande, what's wrong?"

Hearing the commotion, Qin Jingru came out of the house and saw He Yuzhu pulling Ma Hua and Fatty behind her. She nudged Yang Yuande.

Yang Yuande curled his lip: "What else could it be? He Yuzhu is causing trouble again!"

The two followed him to the backyard, where they saw He Yuzhu pulling Ma Hua and yelling at Fang Chengxuan, "Fang Chengxuan, why won't you let me switch shifts with Ma Hua?"

The neighbors in the courtyard had already peeked out to watch, and Ma Hua was so stunned by their stares that he didn't dare to lift his head.

"On what grounds?"

"You ask me why?"

Fang Chengxuan glanced indifferently at Ma Hua and the fat man, his eyes slightly cold, and asked, "Which regulation of the steel rolling mill complies with your request to switch jobs?"

He Yuzhu was speechless for a moment, then retorted, "Fang Chengxuan, aren't you just relying on being the kitchen manager and the factory director's favor?"

"But there are precedents for shift changes; what right do you have to stop me?"

He puffed out his chest, looking fierce.

"Job rotations are not uncommon, but I've never heard of replacing someone at a workstation with someone who can't do the work, have I?"

Fang Chengxuan glanced at He Yuzhu indifferently, feeling that this person was becoming more and more unreasonable.

"Can you stop making assumptions?"

"If we move you to the kitchen, what can you do with your injured hand?"

"You can ask anyone to judge this; see if there's a problem with me not agreeing to the job transfer!"

"Alright, stop making a scene here."

Fang Chengxuan waved his hand, too lazy to pay any more attention.

He glanced at the MCA and shook his head inwardly: "The MCA is also unlucky. He Yuzhu not only stumbled himself, but also dragged those around him down with him."

"Stop messing around?"

"Fang Chengxuan, do you really think you're someone important? My swap with MCA was voluntary, so why do you disagree?"

"I'm telling you, you have to change it today, whether you like it or not!"

He Yuzhu was aggressive, his eyes wide with anger, and his chest heaving violently.

What do you mean by taking things for granted?

In his view, it was clearly Fang Chengxuan deliberately making things difficult for him!

He shoved MCA aside: "MCA, tell Fang Chengxuan, did you switch with me voluntarily?!"

"It was consensual between us, so why is he stopping us?"

MCA was pushed and staggered a few steps, "thump."

He knelt down in front of Fang Chengxuan with a thud.

He secretly glanced up and saw the mocking or disdainful looks from the crowd, and he almost burst into tears.

Fang Chengxuan sighed and reached out to help him up.

"Mahua doesn't have the final say on the job change. I'm the kitchen manager, and I have my own arrangements."

If you're not satisfied, go argue with the factory manager.

Fang Chengxuan glanced at He Yuzhu, upon hearing "factory manager".

He Yuzhu's lips twitched at the mention of the two words, clearly indicating he didn't have the guts.

The onlookers started discussing among themselves:

"That idiot Zhu is shameless! His hand is ruined and he still wants to transfer to the kitchen? Isn't that obviously taking advantage?"

"Exactly! Job changes in the factory require approval from the management, and both parties must be in good health."

He's disabled and still wants to be forced into this situation. He goes there, doesn't work, and takes money for nothing. Who does he think he is?

He Yuzhu's face turned ashen. He waved his hand and cursed, "Get out of here! What do you know! How tiring can the kitchen be? Fang Chengxuan is just deliberately making things difficult for me!"

After saying that, he glared fiercely at Fang Chengxuan: "You're changing positions today whether you like it or not!"

"Threatening me?"

Fang Chengxuan spoke calmly.

"So what if I threatened you? Give me a straight answer, are you going to trade or not?"

He Yuzhu shouted, his neck stiff.

Fang Chengxuan looked around: "Everyone heard it, He Yuzhu openly threatened me."

The police will be here shortly; we'll need you all to act as witnesses.

The neighbors, who had come to watch the commotion, immediately chimed in: "We heard it clearly! We'll all testify for you when the police come!"

He Yuzhu's eyes widened as he looked at Fang Chengxuan and then at the crowd: "Fang Chengxuan, you—"

"What do you mean, 'me'?"

Fang Chengxuan's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Either get out of here, or find a leader to pressure me."

If you're not capable, then keep it to yourself! If you cause any more trouble, don't blame me for being impolite!

He Yuzhu was immediately short of breath, but he still refused to back down: "Fine! We'll see!"

After saying that, she grabbed Ma Hua and dragged him out, kicking him as they went: "Useless! Is this how you repay your master?"