Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

Yang Wei tightened his grip on the bicycle handlebars, frowning as he stared at the person in front of him: "Qin Huairu!!"

He didn't want to have a single word to say about this woman anymore; getting involved with her was like having a burr stuck to his trouser leg—he couldn't shake it off. She always used "for the sake of the children and her mother-in-law" as an excuse, a pretext so grand that it was impossible to refute it. You knew she was using it as a pretext, but she said and did it openly, and unless you completely ignored her, she would always find a way to take advantage of the situation.

"Yang Wei, you're back!" Qin Huairu had just sat up on the threshold of the courtyard house when she saw him. Her eyes lit up, and she lied with a straight face, "What a coincidence! I was just about to talk to you, and I didn't expect to run into you here."

Yang Wei was inwardly suspicious: only this widow could fabricate lies without batting an eye! He bluntly exposed her: "Whether it's a coincidence or not, you know perfectly well. So, what brings you here now?"

"It's like this..." Qin Huairu's fair face leaned closer, and with a quick movement of her lips, she uttered words that left Yang Wei speechless, "I'm going to work in the cafeteria tomorrow, and I wanted to ask in advance if there's anything I should be aware of, so I don't make a fool of myself because I don't know the rules. After all, I'm considered one of your people, so making a fool of myself won't embarrass you!"

"What the hell 'my person'?" Yang Wei almost laughed out loud. "I have absolutely nothing to do with you. If you keep talking nonsense, watch out..." He stopped mid-sentence. Watch out for what? He couldn't hit her, he couldn't scold her, he couldn't really push the widow too far. He paused, his tone turning cold: "Whether the cafeteria staff stays or goes is up to me. I only mentioned you to the director because I felt sorry for you. Since you say that, I'll have the director fire you tomorrow. He doesn't need anyone else."

Qin Huairu's biggest fear was going hungry. The cafeteria offered three steamed buns and free stew at lunchtime, while outside, a bun cost five cents and a dish of stew five cents, totaling fifteen cents a meal and four yuan and fifty cents a month—enough to buy half a bag of flour these days. Upon hearing she was going to be fired, her face turned pale, and she quickly explained, "No, Yang Wei! I didn't mean it that way… You're the head chef, and I'm your employee. I was afraid of embarrassing you! I really didn't mean anything by it, believe me!"

Yang Wei, too lazy to listen to her rambling, interrupted her gruffly: "There aren't that many rules in the cafeteria. If you do your job honestly and behave properly, no one will bully you. I have things to do, move aside, I want to go home." The implication was: If you're not upright, don't blame others for bullying you; if you're honest, nothing will happen to you.

Just then, Sha Zhu came out of the yard carrying a soy sauce bottle. Seeing the scene, he immediately confronted Qin Huairu: "Qin Huairu, are you bothering my brother again? Yang Ge is almost being gossiped about because of you! I didn't care when I was single, but now that I'm married to Yang Ge, can't you have any shame?"

Qin Huairu's face froze instantly. Yang Wei was the "long-term meal ticket" she had once hoped to rely on, and Sha Zhu was the "backer" she had fantasized about, but now both of them were married and had completely given up on her. She forced a defense: "I didn't pester Yang Wei, I really went to him when I needed something! Sha Zhu, you can't wrong me!"

Sha Zhu frowned. "Don't call me 'Sha Zhu' anymore. I have a name! Call me Zhu Zi or He Yu Zhu, it's fine. If you call me by those two words again, don't blame me for not being sentimental." He glanced at the yard. "Brother Yang, my wife is waiting to cook. I have to hurry and buy soy sauce!" After saying that, he left in a hurry, leaving Qin Huairu standing there awkwardly.

Yang Weichong raised his chin at her: "Move aside, I want to go home."

Qin Huairu reluctantly stepped aside, and Yang Wei pushed the cart into the courtyard. As he passed the front yard, he caught a glimpse of the Third Aunt's shadow flashing as she disappeared into the house. He felt even more disgusted with the people in this courtyard; they were all people who knew the truth but pretended not to.

"Sooner or later, I'll have to clean up this courtyard house properly," he muttered to himself as he pushed his cart into his house.

When Yang Wei got home, he was too lazy to figure out what Qin Huairu was up to.

"You're back early today! I thought you wouldn't be back until tonight!" Lou Xiao'e said with a hint of complaint as he entered the door. She had been eagerly anticipating the holiday, hoping Yang Wei could spend half a day with her, even just shopping or taking a stroll. But instead, he was gone for the entire day. Although she knew he was cooking for a high-ranking official, a woman always longs for company.

Yang Wei sensed her displeasure and immediately laughed, "Don't be upset, honey! It's all my fault! I promise I'll stay with you next Sunday and we absolutely won't go out!"

"Hmph, men's words are deceitful, I don't believe them!" Lou Xiao'e said stubbornly, turning around and walking into the house. But when her back was to him, a smile secretly appeared on her lips. Her anger was fake; she really wanted him to cook.

To please his wife, Yang Weizhen used all his skills that evening, busily washing, chopping, stir-frying, and stewing, and in the blink of an eye, he served six delicious-looking dishes. The aroma wafted out, making the neighbors' mouths water, and Lou Xiao'e's eyes lit up; she couldn't resist any longer.

"Grandma, you're in for a treat today! Your grandson has prepared something delicious for you, let's sit down!" Lou Xiao'e, forcing herself to resist, went to the inner room to help the old lady to the table, set out the bowls and chopsticks, and personally picked up some food before she even started eating. Watching this scene, Yang Wei felt a warm glow in his heart. What do men strive for in their careers? Isn't it just for this moment? Three hot meals a day, a caring wife, a stable home. Later, as desires grow, they give their struggles a grander, more respectable veneer, but their original intentions are nothing more than this.

That night, Yang Wei went to great lengths to please Lou Xiao'e (those who know, know; two hundred words omitted here).

The next day, the sky was clear and the breeze was cool. Yang Wei stood in the courtyard and sighed, "Summer has gone and autumn has come; time really flies." He calculated that almost four months had passed since he arrived in this world. Quite a few things had changed. He had learned skills he didn't have in his previous life, met more people, and broadened his horizons. It was a pity this world had so many limitations; otherwise, he would have thrived even more. After all, only those who are prescient can reap the benefits; those who are slow to react can only pay the price. He was now that "prescient."

After washing up and making breakfast, they woke up Lou Xiao'e, who was still in bed, and helped the old lady get up and eat. Only then did the family of three leave for work.

After parking my bicycle at the factory, I saw the canteen manager waiting with two other people at the entrance. One of them was Qin Huairu, her face beaming with a smile; her fair complexion added to her charm, like a perfectly ripe peach. The other girl was dressed simply, but it couldn't hide her fleshy figure. In those impoverished times, she looked like a small mountain of flesh: she was 089 meters tall and weighed an estimated 023 pounds, looking like a round ball from afar.

"Director, you're here early!" Yang Wei greeted him with a smile.

"It has to be done early, there's just too much to do every day." The director pointed to Qin Huairu, "She doesn't need an introduction, this is Han Rui, she'll be under your supervision from now on." He emphasized the word "under your supervision."

"Don't worry, Director! With He Yuzhu taking office, I'm short of a cook, and I was just thinking of picking someone from the kitchen. Han Rui seems to have potential," Yang Wei replied with a smile.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" The director quickly nudged Han Rui, "Xiao Rui, quickly thank Master Yang!"

Han Rui immediately bent down, but it was more of a head movement than a full bend; her body remained as steady as a mountain, as if nailed to the ground. "Thank you, Master Yang. I will definitely do my best!" Her voice wasn't particularly pleasant, but it was clearly a woman's voice.

Yang Wei nodded slightly, then turned to the director and said, "I'll take her in first, you go ahead with your work." The director repeatedly said "thank you," seemingly indicating that he had a special relationship with Han Rui and had reminded Yang Wei to take care of her several times.

After the director walked away, Yang Wei led the two into the cafeteria. The kitchen staff were surprised to see Qin Huairu and Han Rui following him. Although they knew they needed to hire more people, they hadn't expected Qin Huairu to be there. While they suspected it was Yang Wei's doing, no one said anything. They figured they'd have to be polite to Qin Huairu in the future, out of respect for Yang Wei.

"Stop what you're doing, everyone. Let me introduce them." Yang Wei clapped his hands. "This is Qin Huairu, and this is Han Rui. They'll start as general helpers today, and they'll be responsible for cleaning for the next week. Liu Lan, you'll be mentoring them for now. Help them out if they don't understand something. Remember, the kitchen must be united. No bullying newbies or challenging experienced staff. Be honest and upright, and don't get any funny ideas! Got it?"

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.

"Okay, let's get to work!"

As soon as Yang Wei finished speaking, the cafeteria sprang into action, everyone getting to their places. Qin Huairu and Han Rui changed into their work clothes under Liu Lan's guidance, but Han Rui's figure was so striking that none of the available clothes fit. Liu Lan anxiously looked at Yang Wei.

Yang Wei was both amused and exasperated: "Just tie it on like an apron for now, I'll ask the director to make her a new one later."

"Okay," Liu Lan replied, finding an apron for Han Rui. Han Rui tied it on somewhat embarrassedly, but the apron was narrow and hung in front of her like a small curtain, still not very elegant. People around them saw this and secretly chuckled.

"Uncle Xu, you take a few people to steam the buns," Yang Wei assigned the tasks methodically. "Liu Lan, you take Qin Huairu and Han Rui to prepare the ingredients for the big pot of stew, and cut them up for later use."

Everyone got to work as instructed. Qin Huairu, who often cooked at home, learned the tasks quickly and peeled potatoes under Liu Lan's guidance. Han Rui looked plump, but she worked very efficiently, washing and chopping cabbage with Liu Lan. Her movements were skillful, showing that she was someone who often helped out at home and was not some lazy, chubby girl.

Yang Wei sat to the side, watching the bustling scene in the kitchen. To be honest, besides himself and Sha Zhu, there wasn't a third person in the kitchen who could truly be called a good cook. The others only knew basic tasks; they simply couldn't handle cooking large batches of food. Large-batch cooking was different from home-style stir-fries; it required not only strength but also skill, otherwise it would turn out like pig swill, and if the workers mutinied, there would be huge trouble. Now that Sha Zhu wasn't there, he didn't want to take on everything himself; he needed to find a suitable person to train. Teaching and mentoring would not only give him a sense of accomplishment but also increase his skill points and experience—a win-win situation.

After a busy morning, while cooking lunch, Yang Wei called over a few people he had selected and explained as he cooked: "Don't keep flipping the wok when cooking in a big pot; you have to watch the heat carefully. With so many vegetables, flipping too often will cause them to break. Watch my movements, remember how I do each step!"

As he stir-fried, system notifications sounded one after another:

"Ding! Detected that the host has been taught cooking skills. Skill point +1, experience point +1!"

"Ding! Detected that the host has been taught cooking skills. Skill point +1, experience point +1!"

……

After finishing cooking a pot of vegetables, Yang Wei's skill points and experience points increased by more than 100. He was quite satisfied. It seemed that he should really take on an apprentice in the future. He would have someone to help him and he could also increase his stats. Why not?

The men who were summoned all looked excited. Judging from Yang Wei's demeanor, it was clear he intended to teach them a trade. In those days, learning a trade relied entirely on a master; there were no vocational academies like those of later generations. It took at least one or two years, sometimes three to five, and you'd have to work for free—it was like paying tuition. How could they not be happy to receive guidance from Yang Wei?

"Alright, Liu Lan and Uncle Xu, you two take charge of getting the food. Qin Huairu and Han Rui, go and learn how to serve." Yang Wei instructed, "Make sure the food is served evenly, not too much or too little, otherwise the other workers will cause trouble. Go on!"

After he finished speaking, he returned to his seat, picked up the tea that Liu Lan had poured for him, and took a sip: "It's been a long time since I've cooked a big pot of food. It's really tiring to do it for the first time." He put down the cup and stretched his wrists. Big pot dishes don't need to be stirred much in the early stages, but they need to be stirred frequently when they are almost cooked and ready to be taken out of the pot, otherwise they will burn at the bottom and the taste will be ruined.

Qin Huairu and Han Rui followed Uncle Xu and Liu Lan to the window to get their meals, while the remaining staff in the kitchen cleaned up. There was no banquet at noon; they could eat as soon as they finished. An hour later, Liu Lan and the others returned with their tools. Yang Wei stood up: "Put your things down first, let's eat." "Okay, Chef Yang!" Liu Lan replied with a smile and went to prepare the food. The dishes he saved for himself, although cooked in the same pot, were of higher quality than those given to the workers at the window—fewer potatoes and more cabbage. A chef's skill lies in a flick of the wrist; the quantity and taste of the food can be vastly different. No wonder people say chefs must learn to "shake their hands."

Each person receives three steamed buns and a bowl of stew from a large pot; any leftovers can be taken home. This is a small perk for the canteen staff, and the factory's security department doesn't say much about it, because everyone knows it's part of the canteen's rations. Many people in the factory are desperate to work in the canteen just for this food.

Qin Huairu had been busy all morning, only having cornmeal porridge for breakfast, and was starving. Seeing the snow-white steamed buns, tears welled up in her eyes. Remembering the hardships of the past, and looking at the canteen now, she took a big bite, the sweetness of the white flour hitting her taste buds. "This is what a human life should be like!" she thought to herself.

With only a week left until National Day, Yang Wei accepted the task of preparing for the state banquet and immediately began "skill point grinding" mode. Since returning yesterday, he has been engrossed in cookbooks, even putting aside the antique books given to him by his master, Grandpa Guan. State banquets emphasize the control of heat and seasoning, and knife skills are even more critical. He needs to reach the top level in knife skills before National Day.

He currently has over 7,000 skill points, just 3,000 short of leveling up. He's been working non-stop, squeezing in time to study, but he only manages to accumulate about 500 points each time – that's his limit. If something goes wrong, and he can't reach 10,000 points before National Day to improve his knife skills, his position as a state banquet chef will be in jeopardy. Yang Wei is determined; he's committed to this job at the state banquet!

As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of the workday, he hopped on his bicycle and headed straight to the neighborhood office. He had to quickly arrange for someone to take care of the old man and make it clear that he wouldn't have time to visit his master for the next week. Otherwise, given the old man's stubborn temper, he would surely be met with a cold shoulder next time he went.

He pedaled quickly to the street office and found Director Wang. In her office sat a woman in her forties, with a decent appearance, chatting with Director Wang. When Yang Wei came in, Director Wang immediately smiled broadly. Recently, Yang Wei had spent a lot of money on decorating Sha Zhu's wedding room and finding someone for the old man: he had given more than 20 kilograms of pork and a bunch of vegetables. He would have to repay the favors later.

"Director!" Yang Wei greeted him with a smile.

"Little Yang's here!" Director Wang waved and pointed to the woman. "This is Xue Hongmei. She can sing a couple of Peking Opera excerpts. She's having financial difficulties and wants to find work. She's quick and efficient, and can cook simple home-style dishes without a problem. Of course, she can't compare to you, a master chef, but she'll do!"

"Hello, Sister Xue, I'm Yang Wei." Yang Wei quickly extended his hand.

"Hello!" Xue Hongmei shook hands awkwardly, her hands were a little cold.

Yang Wei cut to the chase: "The director should tell you this, and I'll emphasize it again: the old man has a bad temper but a kind heart, a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He's usually lazy and likes to have a drink or two. Your job is simple: cook three meals a day. It would be best if you lived there. The monthly salary is twenty, and you can get a raise if you do well. The most important thing is that you can sing some common Peking Opera pieces and get along well with the old man."

"The director already told me!" Xue Hongmei quickly replied, "I used to take care of my in-laws in the village. They've passed away, leaving only their daughter; she has no relatives left. I'm relieved that I can move in here!"

"Alright, let's go then." Yang Wei nodded, then exchanged pleasantries with Director Wang, "Director, no need to thank me. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know!"

"We're all neighbors, I only helped you because I trust your character!" Director Wang waved his hand, "It's time to go home, you can go now!"

Yang Wei took Xue Hongmei back to the courtyard house to greet Lou Xiao'e before heading straight to Grandpa Guan's residence. This time, with Xue Hongmei present, he couldn't access anything from his system space, so he went to a store to buy meat and vegetables, and also brought back two bottles of good wine.

"Master!" Yang Wei called out as soon as he entered the courtyard. Once inside, he saw the old man sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), staring blankly at a small bowl. The moment the porcelain enamel bowl caught his eye, four phrases immediately popped into Yang Wei's mind: "The tea is fragrant, the wine is finished, friends gather, then back to the building!" He had been quite moved when he read this passage in his previous life, and seeing the sadness in the old man's eyes, he didn't dare to utter a sound and stood quietly waiting.

After a while, the old man came to his senses and looked up at Xue Hongmei behind Yang Wei: "Is this the person you found?"

"Yes, Master, let Sister Xue show off her skills so you can have a taste." Yang Wei responded, then said to Xue Hongmei, "Sister Xue, go to the kitchen and cook a couple of dishes. Master and I will have a couple of drinks."

"Okay, I'll go right away!" Xue Hongmei turned around and went into the kitchen briskly, and soon the sound of chopping vegetables could be heard.

Yang Wei placed the wine on the table, stared at the small bowl, and sighed, "Master, this is enamelware used in the imperial court! The colors and glazes are truly exquisite!"

"There were four bowls in total. My three brothers and I each had one, and now only mine is left." The old man held the rim of the bowl, his voice muffled. "The other three are still missing. I don't know if I'll ever see them again in my lifetime..."

Yang Wei knew perfectly well that these four bowls were originally passed down from the descendants of four tax officials from Deshengmen, Chongwenmen, Dongzhimen, and Chaoyangmen. Later, the four brothers became sworn brothers and used the names of the bowls as nicknames: Deshengmen's was "Tea Fragrance," Chongwenmen's was "Gathering Friends," Dongzhimen's was "After the Wine," and Chaoyangmen's was "Back to the Tower." Later, three of them were taken by the father of the ragpicker Hou, leaving only "Gathering Friends" in the old man's hands.

"Don't worry, Master, I'll definitely find the other three for you, so you won't have any regrets!" Yang Wei patted his chest. The three bowls were with Hou Xiao'e, the daughter of the ragpicker Hou. He bought the telescopic pipe from her last time, so he'd have to go there again when he had time.