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

Liu Lan pointed at herself in surprise: "Me?"

"Mm." Fang Chengxuan nodded and turned to leave.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks: "He Yuzhu is considered absent without leave. Notify the finance department to deduct his salary." After saying that, he strode away.

Liu Lan followed behind, full of doubts: How does he know me?

The kitchen erupted in chaos.

The fat man's face turned red with anger: "Even Master left in anger, are we really going to listen to him?"

Ma Hua scratched his head: "Let's get to work first."

"Ma Hua! Your master has been kicked out and you're still helping him?" the fat man roared.

MCA said in a low voice, "He's right, we can be replaced at any time."

The fat man was speechless, his neck stiff with anger: "I just don't accept it! What makes him qualified to be the manager?"

Everyone was already busy with their own tasks.

-

In the corridor, Fang Chengxuan looked directly at Liu Lan: "I know about you and Director Li."

Liu Lan gasped, looking around in a panic: "You...you're talking nonsense!"

"Don't be nervous." Fang Chengxuan smiled. "I just want to understand how the canteen operates, and I hope Director Li won't make things difficult for me."

Liu Lan bit her lip: "As long as you keep your mouth shut..."

"How is the daily schedule arranged in the cafeteria?"

"The factory has 6,000 employees divided into four canteens, and here..." Liu Lan explained in detail, occasionally stealing glances at the unfathomable new manager.

-

Back in the kitchen, the fat man approached and said, "Manager, the dishes are all ready."

Fang Chengxuan glanced at the vegetable basket: "If you don't want to do it, just say so."

"I clearly followed the rules..."

"Go find your master!" Fang Chengxuan grabbed a kitchen knife, his superb knife skills astonishing the crowd who whispered among themselves.

Ma Hua watched the flashing blades and thought to himself, "This is bad! My position as master is really going to change hands!"

At lunchtime, Fang Chengxuan took over He Yuzhu's work.

After finishing the large pot of stew, he instructed, "Prepare four more dishes for the factory manager."

As the tofu sizzled in the pot, MCA stammered, "Should I...avoid it?"

"Learn from this, your master may not be back." Fang Chengxuan flicked his wrist, and four state banquet dishes were served one after another.

-

An enticing aroma wafted from Director Yang's office.

"This is... Wensi Tofu?" the factory manager exclaimed, staring at the tofu strands as thin as hair.

After taking a bite, he exclaimed excitedly, "I've found a national treasure!"

Fang Chengxuan smiled and said, "Please try this boiled cabbage in clear broth."

"Your skills are really good. Go to the HR department later to complete the formalities. The cafeteria manager's salary is fifty yuan a month. Work hard, and I won't treat you unfairly."

Factory Director Yang said with satisfaction.

"Thank you, Director Yang."

However, He Yuzhu's apprentice in the kitchen was lazy and shirked his duties. He was very dissatisfied with your decision to make me manager, so he left as well.

He Yuzhu is, after all, a genuine level eight chef, so it's understandable that we give him the time of day. Skilled people are bound to have a temper, but his apprentice…”

Fang Chengxuan's words were loaded with hidden meaning.

Factory Director Yang had just tasted He Yuzhu's cooking and found someone who could replace He Yuzhu and was even more disciplined. In a good mood, he immediately made the decision: "Then let him go! The kitchen is short-staffed. You can hire another one. You're going to the personnel department anyway, so take care of this matter while you're at it."

However, the people you brought are only temporary workers and cannot be promoted to permanent positions.

Fang Chengxuan smiled slightly: "I'll do whatever you say."

The menu for that dinner party…

Factory Director Yang thought for a moment: "The leaders who came here prefer strong flavors and like spicy food, so you can make the arrangements accordingly."

"No problem, I'll go take care of my business now. Please enjoy your meal."

Fang Chengxuan nodded in agreement, and seeing Director Yang's signal, he got up and left.

As Fang Chengxuan stepped out of the office, he glanced towards the kitchen and a cold smile crept onto his lips.

Back in the kitchen, after finishing his meal, he figured it was about time and went to the personnel department to register.

Soon, "the fourth canteen finally has a manager."

The news spread like wildfire.

When he returned to the kitchen, everyone looked at him with mixed feelings, especially the fat man, whose eyes were bloodshot and who glared at him fiercely.

"Fang Chengxuan! You want me to clean the toilets? You just wait! When my master gets back, you'll be sorry!"

The fat man gritted his teeth and pointed at Fang Chengxuan. He never expected that in the time it takes to eat a meal, he would be assigned to clean toilets, and if he didn't do it, he would be fired.

Fang Chengxuan chuckled: "As long as I'm here, your master will have to keep a low profile, or he'll end up like you."

Did you think this was the old days?

The fat man was so angry he almost vomited blood. His eyes were bloodshot, and he stomped his foot angrily: "You just wait!"

After saying that, he turned and ran. He was going to find his master and get rid of this guy!

Fang Chengxuan looked at the fat man's disheveled back and curled his lips in disdain.

Seeing this, the other kitchen staff suppressed their own thoughts—this new manager is not someone to mess with!

"After finishing my work at noon, I'll take a short break and then prepare dinner on time in the afternoon."

Don't try anything funny. You're not He Yuzhu; you don't have his skills.

Fang Chengxuan reprimanded everyone, then looked at Liu Lan: "Liu Lan, the kitchen is short of someone. Find someone who can replace Fatty, but it's just a temporary job, not a permanent position."

Liu Lan was taken aback, then pointed to herself: "Me?"

Fang Chengxuan nodded: "Yes, it's you."

Just then, a head popped out from the kitchen doorway, grinning, "Fang Chengxuan, not bad! I heard you became the cafeteria manager?"

The person who came was Zhang Yangde. Fang Chengxuan walked over with a smile, and the two walked out side by side.

Liu Lan remained standing there, looking confused—she was asked to find someone? What did that mean?

Zhang Yangde patted Fang Chengxuan on the shoulder: "You're something else, kid! You became the cafeteria manager right away!"

Fang Chengxuan waved his hand: "How could it be my skill? He Yuzhu brought this on himself. No one was in charge of the kitchen, so Director Yang had me temporarily fill in."

Zhang Yangde looked on with envy: "You're just lucky! The cafeteria manager only makes fifty yuan a month, and it's a leisurely job."

Fang Chengxuan shook his head: "What's so leisurely about it? He Yuzhu and I don't get along, the kitchen is a complete mess, it's giving me a headache!"

Zhang Yangde wanted to find out how he became a manager, but Fang Chengxuan kept his mouth shut and didn't say a word.

Meanwhile, the fat man ran all the way back to the courtyard house, and as soon as he saw He Yuzhu, he cried out with a mournful face, "Master! You have to do justice for your disciple!"

He Yuzhu was drinking and eating peanuts when he turned around and asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

The fat man gritted his teeth: "That bastard Fang Chengxuan, I just said a few words for you, and he ran off to complain! Director Yang made me clean the toilets! Master, if you don't go back soon, there won't be a place for you in the kitchen!"

He Yuzhu's hand trembled, and the peanuts fell onto the table: "I'm leaving. Is everything alright in the kitchen?"

The fat man shook his head: "There's not a single problem."

He Yuzhu's face darkened, his brows furrowing: "How come Fang Chengxuan is in charge of the kitchen? Who taught him that?"

The fat man thought for a moment: "After you left, he asked Liu Lan to go out for a while. Could it be her...?"

He Yuzhu crushed a peanut and sneered, "No rush. Who is Fang Chengxuan? There's plenty to do in the kitchen. Let's see how long he can last!"

The fat man panicked: "Master, you should go back first! I've been transferred to clean toilets, and without your support, I can't go back!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "Don't worry, with me here, you'll be well taken care of."

"You should do something else for a few days first."

The fat man hesitated, then finally sighed, "Don't forget your apprentice... Ma Hua is still doing just fine!"

He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold: "Don't worry, your master remembers your loyalty."

After the fat man left, He Yuzhu couldn't drink anymore. He suddenly stood up, left the door open, and headed straight for the steel rolling mill.

On the other hand, Liu Lan got the job of selecting people, but the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. When no one was around, she secretly went to see Director Li.

"Old Li, what do you think Fang Chengxuan means by this?"

Liu Lan looked confused.

Factory Director Li put his arm around her and laughed, "Who cares what he means? He's letting you choose people, so just choose."

Liu Lan leaned against him, poking his chest with her finger: "I just don't understand why he asked me to arrange people?"

Factory Director Li kissed her and explained, "The manager of the fourth canteen should have been Sha Zhu, but with his bad temper, he doesn't even respect Factory Director Yang. How could Factory Director Yang let him take the position? Fang Chengxuan knows about your relationship with me, and entrusting the selection of personnel to you is his way of showing goodwill towards me!"

Liu Lan blinked. "There are so many more tricks up your sleeve?"

Factory Director Li leaned down and whispered, "You can't keep secrets, so don't go around talking about it."

On his first day here, Fang Chengxuan figured out that Director Yang needed Sha Zhu to cook for him, and he also knew about our relationship.

This guy is not to be trifled with; be careful you don't get taken advantage of without even realizing it.

Liu Lan sat bolt upright, her eyes wide: "Is Fang Chengxuan really that formidable? He looks only twenty-two, and speaks so gently, he doesn't seem like a ruthless character at all!"

Factory Director Li chuckled: "Would you dare take on the job of canteen manager if you didn't have some skills? If you weren't capable, how could you have kicked Fatty, Sha Zhu's apprentice, out of the kitchen on the very first day?" He snorted coldly, "Just wait and see. As long as Fang Chengxuan is in the steel mill's kitchen, Sha Zhu will be fired sooner or later."

Liu Lan pursed her lips and nodded: "Understood, I'll be more polite to him in the kitchen."

Factory Director Li embraced Liu Lan tenderly for a moment, straightened his collar, and said, "Your brother can be assigned to a temporary kitchen worker position."

"If he works harder and listens to Fang Chengxuan, he might get a permanent position."

"Really? Fang Chengxuan has that ability?" Liu Lan's eyes lit up.

Factory Director Li said confidently, "Fang Chengxuan is now highly regarded by Factory Director Yang, and with my secret push, this matter is sure to succeed."

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the kitchen gradually became lively.

When Fang Chengxuan entered, he saw a shy young man standing next to Liu Lan.

"Manager Fang, this is my younger brother, Liu Yang. He's eighteen years old and hardworking." Liu Lan smiled ingratiatingly, her eyes filled with flattery.

Fang Chengxuan nodded slightly, secretly pleased: "I've secured this manager position." But on the surface, he remained calm: "Take over Fatty's job. If you don't understand anything, ask your sister."

Liu Lan quickly gave her younger brother a push: "Quickly call him Manager Fang! From now on, you must listen to him like you would your master."

"Manager Fang," Liu Yang called out timidly.

The kitchen was bustling with activity in an orderly fashion.

In the alley outside the steel rolling mill, He Yuzhu paced back and forth, constantly looking around: "Tonight we're entertaining our brother factory. Without me in charge of the cooking, let's see how Fang Chengxuan will handle this!" He fantasized about saving the day after Fang Chengxuan messed things up and taking the opportunity to regain his manager position, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hey, isn't this the helpful, silly Zhu?" Xu Damao rode by on his bicycle, saying sarcastically, "I heard you personally put Fang Chengxuan on the manager's seat. You're a real Good Samaritan!"

He Yuzhu raised his fist: "Looking for a beating?"

Xu Damao retorted, "Things aren't like they used to be. If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll send you to jail!"

Before he could finish speaking, He Yuzhu had already grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the car, punching and kicking him, finally kicking Xu Damao hard in the crotch.

"Ah—" Xu Damao screamed in a distorted voice, curling up like a shrimp.

Not long after, Xu Damao returned with law enforcement officers, pointing at the scratches on He Yuzhu's wrist and shouting, "This is the evidence! Either he pays compensation, or he goes to jail!"

"Pay my ass! Go ahead and arrest me if you dare!" He Yuzhu shouted, sticking his neck out.

With a snap, ** locked his wrist.

The law enforcement officer sneered, "As you wish."

Xu Damao added excitedly, "This violent freak also smashed up the neighbor's door and scared the kids; he should be locked up for a few more days!"

He Yuzhu panicked: "Xu Damao started it!"

"Enough with the nonsense!" Xu Damao interrupted fiercely. "This kind of social scum must be severely punished!"

The law enforcement officer nudged He Yuzhu's shoulder: "Besides the injury on your hand, where else are you injured? Tell the truth."

It was the end of the workday at the steel rolling mill, and the workers were leaving the factory one after another.

The first group of workers leaving get off work stopped to watch as He Yuzhu was taken into custody by law enforcement officers.

"What did Sha Zhu do wrong? Why is he handcuffed?" someone asked curiously.

Law enforcement officers took the opportunity to educate the public about the law: "Assaulting someone is illegal and, according to public security regulations, will result in detention for half a month."

Let this serve as a warning; do not act rashly.

Surrounded by onlookers, He Yuzhu blushed and angrily kicked them away, yelling, "What are you looking at! Never seen a fight before? Keep watching and I'll beat you all up!"

The law enforcement officer shouted sternly, "You dare to threaten someone in front of me? It seems you haven't been locked up long enough for half a month!" After saying that, he took He Yuzhu away.

Xu Damao watched He Yuzhu being led away, grinning smugly, but accidentally aggravated his wound, wincing in pain.

He turned and walked toward the steel rolling mill, and news of He Yuzhu's arrest spread quickly.

The fat man heard the news as soon as he got off work, and his eyes widened in shock: "Master was arrested? He's going to be locked up for half a month? Can I still go back to the kitchen?" he muttered in frustration.