Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Yi Zhonghai was somewhat satisfied that his apprentice was sensible.

All these years of teaching haven't been in vain; at least we can save face.

But for now, we need to gloss over this matter first.

He squinted and pondered for a moment, then suddenly his gaze shifted and landed on Qin Huairu. His lips twitched slightly, and he had an idea.

"Here's what we'll do," he said slowly, "have Huairu apologize to Xu Damao and give him a dollar in compensation."

Kids always have cravings, and everyone has moments when they can't control themselves. I'll bring you five pounds of cornmeal later to make up for it.

Qin Huairu was taken aback, then lowered her head, biting her lip and remaining silent.

Yi Zhonghai's move was brilliant—the pregnant woman appeared weak and pitiful; if Xu Damao still wouldn't let it go, he would be seen as vicious and heartless.

Everyone in the compound said he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia immediately nodded: "That's a good idea! Huairu, you go. If Xu Damao dares to yell at you, just clutch your stomach and fall down. Making him pay fifty yuan wouldn't be too much!"

"Shut up!" Yi Zhonghai's face darkened. "What nonsense are you spouting! Let her go right now, don't cause any more trouble!"

Jia Dongxu hesitated, rubbing his hands. "Master...can you give me a dollar? Can you lower the price? I really can't afford it. How about fifty cents?"

"Five cents?" Jia Zhangshi jumped up again. "How much is that box of leftovers worth? And you want me to pay you a dollar? Isn't that little brat afraid of getting burned holding it?"

Yi Zhonghai was too lazy to listen to their arguing, so he took out a bill from his pocket and slammed it on the table: "I'll pay for it! So you won't embarrass yourselves."

But remember this—next time you let the sticky thing reach out to you, don't blame me for not recognizing you!

Jia Dongxu was about to say thank you, "Thank you, Master, you..."

"What are you thanking me for!" Jia Zhangshi immediately retorted, "That's stealing? Bullshit! That's taking! What's wrong with Xu Damao's things? He deserved to have them taken! Who told him to carry around eating and drinking all day, making everyone drool!"

Yi Zhonghai's temples throbbed with anger, his chest heaved, and he finally managed to utter only one sentence: "Get lost! Let Huairu leave now!"

……

Qin Huairu clutched the lunchbox and a dollar, then pushed open the door and went out.

The sky was overcast, and three old men stood in the courtyard—Xu Damao, the second old man, and the third old man—forming a circle, as if waiting to catch a thief.

Upon seeing her come out, Xu Damao immediately pointed with his finger and raised his voice: "It's this lunchbox! I saw Banggeng sneak out of my kitchen with my own eyes!"

"Xu Damao!" Yi Zhonghai interrupted coldly, "What does a seven-year-old know! He's just starving and looking for something to eat. Is it really necessary to shout and kill him? His wife has already come to apologize, what more do you want?"

Qin Huairu stood at the door, head bowed and eyes trembling slightly. Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Her voice was as soft as a leaf falling in the wind: "Brother Da Mao... it's my fault, I'm a useless mother, I've let my child become so greedy... I'm sorry... this one yuan is compensation, here's the lunchbox back... please... forgive me this time..."

As he finished speaking, his voice trembled, as if he were about to kneel down at any moment.

Xu Damao was stunned.

The woman before me was voluptuous, with a slightly protruding belly, her brows and eyes filled with sorrow and tears, yet she possessed an indescribable allure.

How could a young man who had just broken his cravings withstand such a destructive force?

When I took the lunchbox from her, my fingertips accidentally brushed against her fingers. In that instant, a tingling sensation shot through my brain, and my heart almost pounded wildly.

"Well... alright, alright." He swallowed hard, his tone softening. "I guess I'm just unlucky."

Before the words were even finished, Yi Zhonghai coldly interrupted, "From now on, if you have any issues, consult with us three elders first! You, Xu Damao, just jumped out and made a scene, causing a pregnant woman to miscarry. Can you take responsibility for that? Huh? How many people were gathered around the Jia family's gate today watching the spectacle? What were you after? Showing off?"

The second and third uncles nodded in agreement: "Exactly! Making such a fuss over such a small matter is outrageous!"

Surrounded by three men, Xu Damao was rendered speechless. His face turned pale and then red, and he clutched the lunchbox as if it were a hot potato.

Qin Huairu lowered her head and retreated into the house, her back slender and her steps unsteady, as if she had truly been crushed by this storm.

Only she knows—

That tear, in the end, did not fall.

Yi Zhonghai strode forward, pointed at Xu Damao's nose, and yelled, "You're always causing trouble, and now you've stirred up this mess again!"

Xu Damao's face darkened; he was furious but dared not argue.

He clenched his fists, lowered his head and muttered, "What does this have to do with me? It was my house that was robbed..." Before he could finish speaking, his voice trailed off, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Yi Zhonghai snorted coldly, then turned and swept his gaze like a knife over He Yuzhu, who was still there. He immediately put on a "doing the people a favor" face: "Hey, you silly Zhu, don't stand there so high and mighty! The dishes smell so good, the whole yard smells of them. Isn't that obviously enticing Bang Geng to steal them? Speaking of which, you're also responsible! The Jia family suffered such a big loss, shouldn't you compensate them?"

"Ha—" He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow, almost bursting out laughing. "I say, Yi Zhonghai, you're really good at spouting nonsense! How can you even utter such a twisted argument?"

He put his hands in his pockets, glared at the other man, and said with extreme sarcasm, "According to your logic, could I just barge into your house and take all your wages? After all, you earn so much money, isn't that what makes people envious? After I rob you, you'd have to kowtow to me and say I deserved it, wouldn't you?"

Yi Zhonghai's face immediately turned a deep shade of liver: "Idiot Zhu! Who are you calling?!"

"What's wrong with calling you Yi Zhonghai?" He Yuzhu sneered. "You call me 'Silly Zhu, Silly Zhu' every day. Don't you know my surname? Have I been calling you that for nothing? If I respect you, you're just a memorial tablet; if you're unreasonable, you're not even worth a fart! A real master? Bah!"

After saying this, He Yuzhu turned around and pushed the door shut with a loud bang, shaking the window frame.

Yi Zhonghai was so angry that he was trembling all over. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to chase after them and bang on the door.

Qin Huairu grabbed his sleeve and urged him urgently, "Grandpa, forget it! It's not worth getting angry over someone like that!"

……

That night, Yi Zhonghai slumped onto the edge of his kang (a heated brick bed), his chest heaving, gritting his teeth: "That damned idiot Zhu! I'll get you sooner or later!"

An older woman brought over a glass of water and said with concern, "Are you arguing with Sha Zhu again? That guy is just a hothead. You should just avoid him."

"Such a woman's view!" Yi Zhonghai slammed his fist on the table. "Today I can let him shit on my head, tomorrow Dongxu and Banggeng will dare to turn the world upside down! Who will respect an old man like me? Who will I rely on for my retirement? That bastard with a mouth sharper than a knife? I'll be so angry I'll vomit blood on my first day of retirement!"

He took a few breaths, his eyes darkened, and he whispered to the old woman, "Tomorrow, take your meat coupons to buy half a pound of meat. Invite the deaf old lady over tonight for a proper meal. I need to have a heart-to-heart talk with her."

Although the old lady had said before that she would still have to rely on Sha Zhu for her old age, Jia Dongxu didn't seem very reliable.

But Yi Zhonghai didn't believe it at all—how obedient was Dongxu? He was filial and knew his place, and he was also his own disciple, listening to his teachings every day. In every way, he was better than that lawless fool Zhu.

As for Sha Zhu? One word from him and he's gone.

Expecting that kid to provide for you in your old age? He'll probably be dead by the time he retires!

But right now, there's really nothing we can do about him.

After much thought, I decided to talk to the old lady—even though she was hard of hearing, she was still of a certain generation and her words carried some weight.

The next morning.

Li Huaide had already arranged leave for him, so He Yuzhu didn't need to return to Fengzeyuan.

He made a bowl of hot egg noodles for his younger sister, He Yushui, at home. After watching her put on her schoolbag and leave for school, he sat down and flipped through some medical books. When he estimated that it was about time, he rode his bicycle straight to the steel mill.

At the factory gate, he took out his work ID and registered with the gatekeeper.

After the security guard called Li Huaide to confirm, he nodded and let him through.

He Yuzhu had been here several times before, so he knew the way well and went straight to the kitchen and canteen.

From afar, he could see Li Huaide standing at the door, looking around. As soon as he saw him, he immediately came to greet him: "Zhu Zi is here! Come on, I'll take you into the kitchen. I've arranged all the ingredients. Just let me know if you need anything, and the purchasing department will get it right away!"

He Yuzhu grinned: "As long as the ingredients are all there, I brought my own seasonings, don't worry."

Upon entering the kitchen, Li Huaide raised his hand and called out to the busy figures inside, "Stop for a moment! This is He Yuzhu, the specially hired chef from Fengzeyuan! He will be in charge of today's lunch reception! Chef Zhang, please make room for two stoves, and you workers can move your meals to the side."

Mr. Zhang, whose name was called upon, quickly wiped his hands and replied, "Yes, Director Li, I understand!"

Ever since He Daqing left the steel rolling mill, no decent chef has emerged from here.

The most outstanding one right now is Chef Zhang, a level nine cook.

Unfortunately, he came from an unorthodox background, relying on decades of stewing large pots of food to reach his current level. In terms of skill, he is far from being a true master.

As soon as Li Huaide left, He Yuzhu stepped forward with a smile and extended his hand: "Hello, Master Zhang, I am He Yuzhu, He Daqing's son. I am now the head chef at Fengzeyuan. Thank you for your cooperation today."

Upon hearing the name "He Daqing," Master Zhang's eyes lit up instantly: "Oh my! You're Old He's son? No wonder Director Li personally invited you! My apologies for not recognizing you!"

Many people in the kitchen who were busy working turned their heads when they heard this name.

Who didn't eat He Daqing's cooking back then? His braised pork knuckle and braised chicken wings are still mouthwatering to this day.

Now that the son has arrived, and he's from Fengzeyuan Restaurant, plus the father's prestigious reputation—this isn't just hiring a chef, it's like hiring the Kitchen God!

In the culinary profession, true skill matters, not background or connections. If your skills are excellent, you will naturally be able to establish yourself.

He Yuzhu's culinary skills were not only impressive, but they completely stunned everyone present.

Master Zhang watched helplessly as his stove was borrowed, but instead of uttering a single complaint, he obediently stepped aside, rolled up his sleeves, and went to help stir-fry the large pot of vegetables.

Before long, the canteen manager sent someone to deliver all the ingredients for the lunch reception.

He Yuzhu rolled up his sleeves, glanced at the pile of ingredients, and already knew what he was looking for.

With ten people, including six guests and four factory leaders, he immediately ordered twelve main dishes—six Cantonese dishes and six Shanghainese dishes, catering to both northern and southern tastes, with distinct flavor profiles.