Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

This thing is extremely rare!

For ordinary families, being able to eat meat twice a year is considered a celebration of the New Year. But here, they're serving up a big pork knuckle right away—that's generous!

Just as I was pondering this, a middle-aged woman entered through the door. Her steps were unhurried, but her eyes revealed a shrewdness.

He Yuzhu looked up and was about to greet them when a sudden thought struck him.

Isn't this the key character in the show?

If she hadn't inadvertently been insulted by him in the kitchen, and then turned around and gossiped with Xu Damao in the living room, which was overheard by the boss as he walked in, Xu Damao wouldn't have been kicked out of the company on the spot for talking about his colleague behind his back!

snort!

Since fate has presented this opportunity to him, he has no intention of playing the role of a saint.

He's no longer a pushover, and his enemies are right under his nose, so what's wrong with kicking them while they're down?

He picked up his teacup, slowly sat down in the chair, crossed his legs, and sat very steadily, looking just like a person in charge who had come to check on things.

as predicted,

The middle-aged woman frowned slightly when she saw his posture, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes, but she didn't say anything. She just looked around, searching for something she could help with.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu reached out and tapped lightly twice on the edge of the table beside him. The sound was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear.

"Hey, ma'am, we're out of sesame paste. Hurry up and run to the street corner to buy some. If the vegetables don't taste like this, everything will be ruined."

"It's urgent, don't delay."

Upon hearing this, the woman nearly choked.

Who is she? She's a regular at the leader's house, and even the factory director treats her with utmost respect. How could someone who cooks and tends the fire have the right to boss her around?

Not to mention this kid in front of me, whose arrogant tone could lift the roof off!

But she managed to control her temper, took a deep breath, and said in a stiff tone, "I understand."

"We hired you to cook Sichuan cuisine this time, so what do you need that sesame paste for?"

"Sichuan cuisine needs this? Are you kidding me?"

"Enough is enough. Don't pry too much into the ins and outs of cooking. Besides, you wouldn't understand even if I explained. Just focus on eating..."

He Yuzhu spoke calmly, yet with an air of neither servility nor arrogance.

There wasn't a trace of respect in his voice.

"you……"

"snort!"

The middle-aged woman's chest heaved with anger. She stared at He Yuzhu and uttered "you" several times. Finally, she sneered, flicked her sleeve, and turned to leave.

If I stay any longer, I'm afraid he'll really make me sick from anger.

It's better to just not see it!

He Yuzhu's words indeed angered the person and drove them away.

As soon as she left, he immediately dropped his nonchalant demeanor and quickly got up to prepare the ingredients. He had clearly put a lot of thought into this meal.

After all, it's about cooking for the top leader.

Fortunately, I'm quite skilled at cooking nowadays.

After the system upgrade, I have a firm grasp on the cooking time, knife skills, and seasoning.

Between tasks, he would occasionally glance out the window, which faced the courtyard gate. If Xu Damao were invited out, he would see him immediately.

It's just unknown whether that person was actually kicked out.

The middle-aged woman came out of the kitchen, seeping several leaders still talking in the hall, and couldn't get a word in edgewise, so she naturally couldn't complain on the spot.

She stood there for a while, then turned and went to the reception room.

As soon as I entered, I saw Xu Damao bending over to adjust the projector, looking focused and neatly dressed. He was a world apart from the stubborn guy in the kitchen.

Her impression of Xu Damao immediately improved.

He stepped forward and asked gently:

"Young man, the manager is coming right away. Is everything alright with the equipment?"

Xu Damao looked up and recognized the man from before. He immediately put on a smile and became very apologetic.

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems!"

"From now on, whenever you want to watch a movie, just let me know. I'll drop everything and come right away, I'll be there whenever you call!"

He really knew how to talk.

as predicted,

The middle-aged woman's eyes crinkled with laughter upon hearing this; she hadn't expected the young man to be so tactful and capable.

She lowered her voice, took two steps closer, and whispered her praise:

"well!"

"You're much better than that chef! Just watching him talk and act, he seemed so clueless, I even started to doubt whether he could even flip a wok properly."

"Um?"

Xu Damao felt a surge of warmth in his heart, as if he had met a kindred spirit, whose words resonated deeply with him.

He immediately replied, with a hint of disdain:

"Hmph!"

"He's hardly a cook. To put it bluntly, he's just the head chef of the factory's communal kitchen. I really don't know how they managed to hire him. If I had known, I would have definitely warned you beforehand..."

He was speaking with great enthusiasm when he suddenly noticed that the surroundings were unusually quiet, and the air seemed to have become heavy.

His heart skipped a beat. He turned around and saw a row of leaders standing at the door, all staring at him with astonishment on their faces.

He didn't know the others, but he would never mistake Director Yang's face: it was ashen, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were like knives, as if he wanted to gouge him out on the spot.

"this……"

Xu Damao's head buzzed, and his heart sank. Oh no, he'd messed up!

The leader at the front only gave him a deep look, said nothing, and then turned and left with his men.

He had barely caught a sliver of hope when, a second later, Secretary Chen quickly caught up, his tone crisp and decisive:

"The movie's canceled. Pack your things and head home."

Xu Damao opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't dare to utter a single word.

Whose house is this? It's the leader's house! He's just a projectionist, how could he dare to say a word?

They could only silently disassemble the machines and pack them into boxes, leaving the house covered in dust and dirt.

He Yuzhu leaned against the window, watching Xu Damao carry the projector and move unsteadily outside, and couldn't help but smile.

The performance was indeed well done.

Xu Damao walked to the gate of the courtyard, couldn't help but stop and look back at the high walls and deep courtyard.

He wasn't stupid. Although he didn't know exactly who lived there, just by looking at the tight security and the upright guards, he knew that the person living there was no ordinary person.

It must be a high-ranking leader.

Unfortunately, the opportunity slipped through our fingers.

Just as he was feeling annoyed, he suddenly saw someone waving a spatula at him through the window on his left, making exaggerated gestures, clearly mocking him.

"Idiot Zhu?! You just wait, this isn't over!"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth, pointed at He Yuzhu and cursed, then turned and strode away.

Anyway, there's nothing for him to do here, so he might as well hurry back to the factory. Maybe he can still make it to lunch and save a few cents on meal tickets.

Once Xu Damao's figure disappeared, He Yuzhu looked away and buried himself in his work again.

He had cooked in his past life, but he was nowhere near as skilled as he is now.

Now that I possess top-notch culinary skills, these dishes are just something I can easily whip up.

Quick at chopping vegetables, steady at stewing meat, and precise at controlling the heat.

Braised pork hock is simmered in a pot, followed by dishes such as shredded pork with fish-fragrant sauce, twice-cooked pork, Mapo tofu, boiled sliced ​​pork, pickled fish, and Kung Pao chicken, one after another.

These flavors are something most people have never even heard of, let alone tasted, in this day and age.

When they take a bite, they'll be so surprised they won't be able to close their mouths.

Secretary Chen then pushed open the door and entered, speaking as he did so.

"Chef He, is the food ready? The boss is about to start eating."

"Huh? So rushed?"

"That's right! There's really no other way."

"The boss changed his mind at the last minute and decided not to watch the movie. He moved it up two hours and is now urging us to start dinner. If it's Sichuan cuisine, it would be just what I'm looking for."

Secretary Chen smiled knowingly; he knew that the leaders privately preferred spicy and flavorful Sichuan cuisine.

"Secretary Chen, rest assured, what I've served is authentic Sichuan cuisine."

"Quick, quick, lend a hand, carry all of this over there!"

Before He Yuzhu finished speaking, he had already picked up the tray and walked out briskly; Secretary Chen quickly followed. Plates of steaming, glossy dishes, with an enticing aroma, were presented with great care.

As expected of a seasoned chef with many years of experience, he handled everything—heat control, knife skills, and seasoning—with impeccable precision.

"I reckon the next dish will be Dongpo pork knuckle."

As soon as he finished speaking, He Yuzhu lifted the lid, revealing a large, amber-colored, oily pork knuckle placed steadily in front of the main seat, along with several signature new dishes that he had never seen before.

"what?"

The leader was slightly taken aback. He had never seen these dishes before, but just the aroma of the complex spices mixed with the meat filling his nose was enough to whet his appetite.

"Boss, these are some new Sichuan dishes that I've recently come up with. I've adjusted the cooking time and ingredients several times. Please try them and see if they suit your taste."

As they spoke, He Yuzhu and Secretary Chen deftly placed one hot dish after another onto the table: glossy red oil, vibrant green, rich soy sauce... The table was laden with delicious food, steaming hot, and the aromas wafted through the air. Several leaders swallowed hard in unison.

"Hmm, it smells."

The leaders nodded slightly, their expressions much more relaxed.

"Boss, everything's ready. Please enjoy it while it's hot!"

He Yuzhu smiled and took a half step back. These recipes were originally meant to be served at high-end banquets decades later, but now, combined with his culinary skills honed over half a lifetime, the flavors were naturally elevated to an even higher level.

really,

Upon taking the first bite, the leaders' eyes lit up, and they all spoke up:

"This flavor is amazing!"

"It's amazing! Fragrant but not greasy, savory with a hint of sweetness—absolutely delicious!"

"Even more authentic than the old-established restaurants in the city! I never knew Master He had such a hidden skill."

Praises rose and fell, each one coming from the heart.

Not long after, a leader turned to Secretary Chen and nodded, indicating, "Pour Chef He a glass."

He Yuzhu looked up and saw it was Moutai, a brand that is currently a real hard currency.

He paused for a moment, then turned to Factory Director Yang and asked in a low voice, "Director, this wine... can I drink it?"

Factory Director Yang patted him on the shoulder with a smile: "It's a reward from the leader, drink up!"

Just as He Yuzhu took the wine glass, the senior leader raised his own glass and said loudly, "This first glass is for you."

"No, no, no! I should be the one toasting you, thanking you for your trust, leader!"

He held the cup with both hands, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and though he seemed to want more, he gently put the cup down, stood with his hands at his sides. In front of a leader, it's not about how much you say, but about how you behave appropriately.

"Master He, you're too kind."

"By the way, what did you keep calling me?"

"The big boss."

He Yuzhu was puzzled: What is this person's name? He couldn't just call out someone's name randomly, could he? But he didn't dare to ask rashly, and was at a loss for words.