Courtyard Houses: Longevity Since the War of Resistance

When Sha Zhu heard the nickname "Xu Daiyu," he was so amused that he could tell exactly what he had for lunch.

"Xu Daiyu? Oh my, what a terrible name! With her character, Daiyu? No way, I have to go check on her. Is this Miss Xu burying flowers again today?"

He turned off the stove, took off his apron, and was about to go back into the yard. Just as he stepped out of the kitchen, he bumped into Li Feng, who was treating his security colleagues to dinner.

Seeing his excited expression, I asked, "Where are you going?"

"Brother Shan, have you heard? Xu Damao has become Xu Daiyu now! I have to go and give him a piece of my mind," Sha Zhu said, beaming.

Li Feng reached out and stopped him, pulling him back into the house and pressing him down on a stool: "Disgusting? What do you want to say? Laugh at him for crying? Laugh at him for chickening out?"

"What else? He used to be so capable, now he's like a sissy."

"Pillar,"

When the two of them started calling each other that, Sha Zhu completely forgot that he was older than Li Feng.

"Let me ask you, what do you gain by laughing at him, besides a momentary moment of verbal satisfaction? Xu Damao did cry, but he's become a better person. If you go over there now, won't you just end up like the old Xu Damao?"

Sha Zhu didn't say anything.

"If you really want to be a successful Boss He, stop focusing on Xu Damao's trivial matters. Your competitors are all the restaurants in Beijing; they're all about establishing your brand. That's called vision, understand?"

Sha Zhu scratched his head, but he was still a little unclear about what exactly he meant by "structure".

"I just felt relieved."

"There are many ways to vent your anger. Make your restaurant a huge success, so he'll be envious but can't do anything about it. That's real satisfaction." Li Feng patted him on the shoulder. "Alright, hurry up and cook some dishes."

The restaurant has been open for a full month.

After closing time that night, Sha Zhu sent Ma Hua and the two waiters away, then closed the door to settle the accounts. He stared at the last number, pointing at the paper with his finger, counting it over and over again.

"My God," he muttered to himself, his heart pounding. After deducting rent, utilities, materials, wages, and the profit sharing reserved for Li Feng and the old man, he made more money than he would have earned in a year swinging a ladle at the steel rolling mill.

Sha Zhu paced around the room twice, sometimes laughing, sometimes staring blankly.

The next day, he first secretly told an old man, and Yi Zhonghai was quite happy. Then he went to wait for Li Feng to get off work.

"Brother Shan, look! We've struck it rich!"

"Hmm, not bad for the start."

Sha Zhu waited for the praise or shared joy that followed, but Li Feng put down his teacup and changed the subject: "Zhu Zi, do you know how much of this money came from new customers attracted by the 20% discount during the first three days of opening? How much came from repeat customers who came because of your Tan Family Cuisine skills? And how much came from people who felt that He Yuzhu's business was now authentic and were willing to come often?"

"How could I possibly calculate that..."

"That's to be expected." Yi Zhonghai had also arrived at some point. "It's only been a month, and business is good. Half of it is due to discounts and the novelty of opening. Once the discounts stop and the novelty wears off, will other restaurants see your success and follow suit by lowering prices and copying your dishes, or even using other tricks? Will you still be able to retain these customers? The real test will be the long-term operation in the future."

Li Feng nodded: "The old man is right. Zhu Zi, you're like a child who's just learned to walk. Don't rush to run, and don't think you can fly. In the catering industry, reputation is built up day by day, and it can also be gone in an instant. Will someone try to cheat you by selling inferior goods in the future? Will you encounter trouble on the street? Can you stay on your toes and not get carried away? These are more important than how much money you make this month. You still have a lot to learn."

One bucket after another of cold water doused Sha Zhu's initial excitement and elation completely.

He glanced at the tempting figure in the ledger and slowly calmed down. Yes, this is nothing.

The road ahead is still long.

He scratched his head. "Brother Shan, Uncle, I understand now. I misunderstood."

"Knowing how to reflect is progress. Stay calm and take it one step at a time."

Back home, Li Feng looked around the yard. In just over half a year, Sha Zhu was being taught about the world from the back of his ear, while Xu Damao continued his painful and slow transformation.

She continued to go to Li Feng for treatment on time and continued to search for her missing second brother; Xu Daiyu's name became increasingly well-known.

Qin Huairu's changes were more substantial. She became increasingly adept at her work in the Women's Committee, learned more characters, and became more organized in her speech and actions. She was also promoted to a group leader, a junior cadre, and was doing very well at school, with her grades steadily improving.

Just when everything seemed to be going well, shouts and pleas for mercy came from Liu Haizhong's house in the Intermediate People's Court.

"Oops, I got proven wrong."

Such commotion was not uncommon in the Liu family. Liu Haizhong, that old fellow, could not put on airs outside, but at home he displayed the full extent of a feudal patriarch.

His two sons became his outlets for asserting authority and venting his frustrations.

"It seems that this last key target also needs to be put on the agenda." Li Feng sneered inwardly.

"A power-hungry person? I'll give you a break from this monolithic system today."

The next afternoon, before Liu Haizhong returned from the factory, Li Feng ran into the brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, who were walking out dejectedly in the front yard.

The two brothers still have injuries on their faces.

"Guangtian, Guangfu, where are you going?" Li Feng greeted them.

The two brothers were somewhat reserved when they saw Li Feng. Although Li Feng was young in the courtyard, he held a special position, and even their father had to treat him with respect.

"Section Chief Li..." Liu Guangtian replied in a muffled voice.

Li Feng smiled and said, "It just so happens that Zhuzi Restaurant has launched two new dishes. They invited me to come and try them out and give me some feedback. I can't eat that much by myself, so come on, you two come with me and help me taste them. We'll also help Zhuzi increase its popularity."

The two brothers were stunned, looked at each other, and were somewhat at a loss.

Going to a restaurant?

Or is it He Family Restaurant?

This was a rare thing for them. A look of longing flashed in Liu Guangfu's eyes, but he looked at his brother timidly.

"This isn't appropriate, Section Chief Li, we..." Liu Guangtian hesitated. If his father knew they went to Sha Zhu's place for dinner, he would probably scold them for neglecting their duties and indulging in pleasure.

"What's wrong with that? It's my treat," Li Feng said without waiting for a reply, putting his arm around Liu Guangtian's shoulder. "Let's go, stop dawdling."

The two brothers were half-heartedly taken to He's restaurant by Li Feng.

It wasn't peak mealtime, so the restaurant wasn't crowded. Sha Zhu was a little surprised to see Li Feng bring the Liu brothers, but when Li Feng said they were there to try some new dishes, he warmly invited them to sit down at a quiet table inside. Soon, several hearty dishes were served: braised pork, stir-fried mutton with scallions, and stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, along with a large bowl of rice, all smelling delicious.

Looking at the table full of glistening meat dishes, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu's Adam's apples bobbed involuntarily. At home, except for the New Year, they rarely saw such a hearty meal of meat.

"Don't just stand there, pick up your chopsticks." Li Feng first picked up a piece of braised pork, which was a perfect balance of lean and fat, stewed until tender and melt-in-your-mouth.

"Hmm, Zhu Zi's skills have improved again."

The two brothers then carefully picked up their chopsticks.

With each bite of meat, the rich aroma of meat and the savory flavor of the sauce exploded in Liu Guangfu's mouth. Liu Guangfu ate with his eyes squinting, and Liu Guangtian also ate several mouthfuls in silence before he could catch his breath.

After a few rounds of eating, we felt a bit full, and the atmosphere became a little more lively.

Li Feng put down his chopsticks and casually asked, "Guangtian, Guangfu, judging from the way you two ate just now, do you usually eat like this at home?"

Liu Guangtian paused for a moment, then muttered, "Not bad."

Liu Guangfu was young and couldn't keep his mouth shut. He muttered under his breath, "What's so good about it? Dad said we can't be spoiled. When it comes to meat, it's always my older brother and Dad who get to eat it first."

"Guangfu!" Liu Guangtian glared at his younger brother.

Li Feng waved his hand, indicating that everything was alright.

"Your dad is just strict," he chuckled, then changed the subject, "But I heard he's not just strict with you two, he's practically beating and scolding you? This is a new society now, you can't do that old-fashioned way of the master beating the servant anymore. It's natural for a father to discipline his son, but there has to be a reason and a method, right?"

"Look at the people in the compound now. Qin Huairu, a female comrade, what was she like before? Now she's doing a great job in the Women's Committee. He Yuzhu used to be a reckless brat, but now she owns a restaurant, runs a legitimate business, earns money steadily, and is polite to people. Why? Because she has her own career and confidence."

He looked at the two brothers: "You two aren't young anymore. Guangtian is almost twenty, right? Guangfu is sixteen or seventeen. Just staying at home every day, listening to your father's shouts, enduring unwarranted beatings and scoldings, waiting for him to be in a good mood and treat you well, or waiting for him to arrange some unsatisfactory jobs for you? Don't you have any ambition of your own?"

Liu Guangtian gripped his chopsticks tightly, while Liu Guangfu looked up, his expression a mixture of bewilderment and resentment.

"Section Chief Li, what could we possibly be hoping for? My dad said he'd help us get factory jobs in the future."

"And then what? Continue to be subservient and get scolded?" Li Feng shook his head. "The new country talks about equality and progress. It's the same within the family. You should repay your parents for raising you, but not with unconditional obedience and endurance. If you think things are fine as they are now and you're willing to accept it, then disregard what I said. After this meal, everyone go home."

"But if you also feel aggrieved, and want to live a respectable life, like Qin Huairu and He Yuzhu, earning a living through your own abilities and being respected by others, instead of living in constant fear, then perhaps I can offer you some different kind of help."

The two brothers suddenly looked up at Li Feng.

"Of course, there's no rush. Go back and think it over carefully. Once you've made up your mind, you can come find me anytime." After saying that, Li Feng picked up his chopsticks and called out, "Come and eat, the food's getting cold. We can't waste Zhu Zi's cooking skills."

The sound of chewing returned to the table, but the atmosphere was completely different. Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu's minds were clearly no longer on the food. Li Feng's words were like a pebble thrown into their stagnant lives, creating ripples.

The first step in transforming bangs is to plant the seed.