Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 58 Eight-Level Worker System

In June 1956, the steel rolling mill posted a notice announcing the official implementation of the eight-level worker system.

The bulletin board was crowded with people, workers who had just finished their early shifts packed together, their heads crammed together.

Liu Haizhong was also in the crowd, standing on tiptoe to look ahead. He had been a blacksmith for over ten years, and his skills were impeccable; he wanted to get a level six certification.

Someone nearby muttered, "Old Liu, with your tongue gone, will you pass the theory test?"

Liu Haizhong took out a small notebook from his breast pocket, flipped to the latest page, which was covered with dense writing, and shoved it in front of the man. The man looked at it and fell silent.

Without a tongue, he was forced to learn to read and write. In the past few years, he has learned more new characters than he did in the previous forty years.

He flipped through the notebook, each page filled with notes: operating procedures, technical points, and paragraphs he'd copied from the newspaper. His handwriting was still messy and crooked, but there were few spelling mistakes.

Liu Haizhong pulled the man over and handed him the notebook. He clapped the notebook repeatedly with his other hand, making sounds like, "Ah...ah ah...ah~~ah!"

He looked quite smug, and he dragged out the last two "ah" sounds.

Jia Dongxu stood at the back of the crowd, his right hand in his pocket, not pushing forward. Master Wang passed by him and patted him on the shoulder. "Dongxu, with that hand, you're unlikely to pass the Level 2 exam. A fitter's job relies on a steady hand; without your index finger, you can't even hold a file properly. You'll be lucky to pass Level 2 this time."

Jia Dongxu pulled his right hand out of his pocket, looked down at it, and saw that only a scar remained on his index finger. He rubbed the scar with his left hand, gritting his teeth, his heart filled with hatred for Yi Zhonghai.

The next day, He Yuzhu went to the post office canteen.

Master Luo sat in his recliner drinking from a large mug of tea, and he didn't have to lift a finger to cook the dishes in the big pot.

He Yuzhu explained the content of the chef assessment. The supply and marketing cooperative had received a notice that the commercial system would also be assessed for technical levels, and chefs would be under the jurisdiction of the commercial system.

"Master, let's take the chef certification exams. You can take the exams for the Sichuan, Hunan, and Huaiyang cuisines, and I'll take the exams for the Sichuan, Shandong, and Guangdong cuisines."

Master Luo paused, his teacup still at his lips. "You want me to take the exam for Hunan and Huaiyang cuisine? You want to see your master make a fool of himself?"

"Master, please don't be modest. Haven't you been cooking less Hunan and Huaiyang cuisine these past few years? All the apprentices in the cafeteria say that your Hunan cuisine is even more authentic than Sichuan cuisine."

Master Luo placed the teacup on the stool next to him and chuckled.

He Yuzhu took out a cigarette and lit it for him. "Master, let's set off a big firecracker in Beijing. Master and apprentice will take the exams for all three departments on the same day. Just imagine, who will dare say we only know how to cook Sichuan cuisine after that?"

Master Luo took a drag of his cigarette, his grin widening. "Alright. Let's test you then. This old man will go crazy with you this once in a while."

He Yuzhu added, "Level 2 is enough. Don't bother with Level 1."

Master Luo frowned. "Why?"

"Level one chefs are reserved for state banquets and special supply units. If you get that certificate, you might get transferred. You've finally established yourself at the post office, and I'm happy at the supply and marketing cooperative. We don't want to go to the Great Hall of the People. Level two is just right, respectable but not conspicuous."

Master Luo pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Zhu Zi, you're right. The taller the tree, the more the wind will blow; these days, the more stable the better."

A week later, the chef certification exam for the commercial system was held in the Dongcheng District staff canteen. Two rows of stoves were set up in the exam room, and the chefs taking the exam stood in a row wearing aprons. The senior chefs from the industry sat in the examiners' seats, and a cadre from the Bureau of Commerce sat in the middle.

Master Luo and He Yuzhu stood side by side in the first row; one had gray hair and was balding on top, while the other had a young face. Some people in the examiners' seats recognized them.

"Isn't that Baldy Luo from Fengzeyuan? And who's that young man next to him?"

"It seems to be Luo Tu Zi's apprentice, named He Yuzhu. He was the one who created the new style of Sichuan cuisine a few years ago."

The exam has begun.

Chef Luo first tested Sichuan cuisine, preparing twice-cooked pork and Mapo tofu in one go. Then he tested Hunan cuisine, preparing chopped chili fish head and shredded pork with green peppers. The chilies sizzled as they hit the pan, causing a nearby chef to cough from the fumes, but the examiners all nodded in approval.

Finally, we tested Huaiyang cuisine: Wensi Tofu Stew with Dried Tofu Strips. The tofu was cut so finely it could be threaded through a needle, and after being thickened with cornstarch, it was ready to serve.

The examiners tasted the food with their chopsticks and spoons, then put them all down. No one spoke; there was nothing to say about this level of skill.

He Yuzhu is studying Sichuan cuisine. He makes twice-cooked pork and Mapo tofu, the same dishes as his master, but each has its own unique way of controlling the heat and seasoning.

Kao Lu cuisine features stir-fried mutton with scallions and double crispy fried meat. The mutton is sliced ​​so thinly that it cooks in no time after being tossed in the pan. The aroma of scallions and meat wafts through the air, drawing peeks from the next exam room.

The stir-fried double crisp was cooked to perfection. The pig's stomach and chicken gizzard were scored with cross-shaped cuts, and when they were stir-fried in the oil, they curled up like chrysanthemums. When you bite into them, they make a crunchy sound. The examiner picked one up with his chopsticks, chewed it a couple of times, and was stunned.

The Cantonese cuisine was being tested. The poached chicken and sweet and sour pork were served. The chicken skin was golden and shiny, and the meat was tender and smooth. They were dipped in ginger and scallion oil. The examiners looked at each other and no one touched their chopsticks or spoke.

An older, respected figure muttered to himself, "This apprentice is even more capable than his master."

When the evaluation results came out, both the master and apprentice were rated as Level 2 chefs in the third category. The examiners originally wanted to award Master Luo Level 1 in Sichuan cuisine and He Yuzhu Level 1 in both Shandong and Cantonese cuisine, but both of them declined.

The official from the Commerce Bureau stood up to persuade He Yuzhu, but He Yuzhu shook his head: "Level two is enough, I can't handle level one." Master Luo also chimed in: "I'm too old for that."

The examiners looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally filled in Level 2 for all the chef certificates.

The results were posted on the bulletin board, causing a sensation throughout the examination hall. The apprentice achieved Level 2 in the third department, and the master also achieved Level 2 in the third department; master and apprentice both achieved Level 2 in the fifth department on the same day in the same examination hall.

Such a thing has never happened in Beijing's Qinxing.

He Yuzhu is a monster, and even Luo the Bald can keep up. Who would dare to mess with this master and apprentice pair in the future?

In the evening, He Yuzhu returned to the courtyard, brewed a pot of tea, and sat under the pomegranate tree. The pomegranate flowers were in full bloom, vibrant and beautiful. Yushui went to play with Xu Ling in the backyard; the yard was quiet, with only the rustling of osmanthus leaves in the wind.

There was a knock on the main gate of the courtyard. He Yuzhu opened the door, and Old Sun from the neighborhood committee stood there with a smile on his face, followed by two neighborhood committee members. "Comrade He Yuzhu, excuse me for bothering you."

He Yuzhu didn't move aside, but leaned against the doorframe. "What's up?"

"Here's the thing, our neighborhood committee is currently conducting a housing survey. Your courtyard has twelve rooms, and only you and your sister are living there. Housing is tight right now, and the neighborhood committee wants to help you rent out a few rooms to people in need."

He Yuzhu didn't say anything, and lit a cigarette.

Old Sun rubbed his hands and continued, "We know you built this courtyard yourself, so it's not rented out for free; you pay rent monthly. The main thing is now..."

"Who sent you?" He Yuzhu interrupted him.

Old Sun was taken aback for a moment. "This was arranged by the neighborhood committee."