Courtyard House: In this life, I have a new home!

30

"There are precedents for job rotation, but there's no reason to move someone who can't do the work to a new position."

Fang Chengxuan looked at him indifferently, feeling that this person was becoming increasingly clueless.

"Can't you use your brain when you think about things?"

"We're transferring you to the kitchen. What can someone injured like you do?"

"You can ask anyone to judge this matter, but see if I'm unreasonable for not agreeing to the job change."

"Alright, stop making a scene here."

Fang Chengxuan waved his hand, too lazy to pay him any attention.

His gaze fell on Ma Hua, and he shook his head slightly. Ma Hua had really had the worst luck imaginable; He Yuzhu not only dug his own grave, but also dragged those around him down with him.

"Alright, stop fooling around—"

"Fang Chengxuan, don't think you're something special. I agreed to switch posts with MCA, so what right do you have to stop me?"

"I'm telling you now, you have to change it whether you agree or not!"

He Yuzhu raised his voice, his eyes widened, he snorted heavily, and his chest heaved violently.

What? He just takes it for granted?

He felt that Fang Chengxuan was deliberately making things difficult for him.

After saying that, he pushed MCA forward and said, "MCA, tell him whether you voluntarily switched places with me."

Ma Hua was pushed so hard that he stumbled, his knees buckled, and he knelt down directly in front of Fang Chengxuan.

He stole glances at the stares of those around him, feeling utterly humiliated and on the verge of tears.

Fang Chengxuan glanced at him, sighed, and reached out to help him up.

"It's no use discussing this with MCA. I'm the kitchen manager, and I know what I should and shouldn't consider. If you're really capable, don't come to me, go directly to the factory manager."

Fang Chengxuan glanced at He Yuzhu.

When the factory manager was mentioned, He Yuzhu's lips twitched, and he clearly didn't dare to move.

The people around started whispering.

"That idiot Zhu is shameless! His hand is broken, and he still wants to squeeze into the kitchen? Isn't that blatant bullying?"

"Exactly. Job rotations do happen in the factory, but those people are always healthy and get approved by the management. He's the opposite; he's disabled and still wants a job change, then he comes and doesn't do any work. Who can stand that?"

He Yuzhu couldn't stand it anymore, his face turning ashen. He waved them away, saying, "Go away, what do you know? How tiring can the kitchen be? Fang Chengxuan just doesn't like me and is deliberately messing with me."

After saying that, he turned and stared at Fang Chengxuan, gritting his teeth: "Fang Chengxuan, you have to change your post today, whether you like it or not."

"Are you trying to scare me?"

Fang Chengxuan spoke in a detached tone.

He Yuzhu stiffened his neck and raised his voice: "I was just trying to scare you, so what? I'm just asking you one question, are you going to change it or not?"

Fang Chengxuan turned his head and glanced at everyone in the courtyard: "Did everyone hear that? He Yuzhu admitted to threatening me. I'm going to report it to the police later, and you all can be my witnesses."

The onlookers immediately started clamoring: "We heard that! We heard that! When the law enforcement officers arrive, we'll all be your witnesses!"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu's eyes widened. He looked at Fang Chengxuan, then at the people in the courtyard.

"Fang Chengxuan, you..."

"What do you mean, 'me'?"

"If you don't want me to report this to the police, then get out of here. I've said it before, someone who can't do anything else shouldn't even think about working in the kitchen. I don't agree. If you're so capable, get a manager to pressure me. If you're not, then just keep quiet!"

Fang Chengxuan's eyes turned cold, and his entire demeanor changed, as if he would attack if he said another word.

He Yuzhu choked on his breath, not daring to choke any longer.

But he was unconvinced and stubbornly shouted, "Hmph, you think you can just say no and that's it? You wait and see."

Done.

He pulled Ma Hua away.

He kicked as he walked, saying, "You piece of trash, is this how you repay your master?"

Feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of everyone in the academy, Ma Hua lowered his head and whispered, "You are my mentor, of course I hope you are doing well."

"It's not that I disagree with switching, but switching like this really isn't right. How about you find someone else to fill in for a while, and switch back once your hand is healed?"

The fat man curled his lip and shouted before He Yuzhu could speak, "Ma Hua, what are you saying? Does Master's hand not take three to six months to fully recover?"

He was spitting as he spoke, his voice rising higher and higher: "Someone else has taken my position, and whether I get it back or not is a problem. If things really get out of hand, even my mentor might lose his job. Can you handle that?"

After cursing MCA, the fat man put on a smile and turned to He Yuzhu: "Master, what should we do now? I thought changing positions would be a piece of cake, but who would have thought..."

He paused for a moment, his eyes darting around, then said, "Why don't you go talk to the factory manager? He used to think so highly of you. If you can get him to look up to you again, maybe you can get that kid Fang Chengxuan off the hook."

When the fat man said this, his tone was full of encouragement, but in his heart he wanted to slap himself.

He's squatting in the toilet scrubbing the floor now, his hands are practically raw from scrubbing. If he'd known Fang Chengxuan was so difficult to deal with, he shouldn't have joined He Yuzhu's cause in the first place. He hadn't even figured out Fang Chengxuan's abilities or his temper before placing all his bets on He Yuzhu.

The results of it?

The fat man gritted his teeth, his gums aching, and glanced at Ma Hua, his eyes filled with jealousy. "Go ahead and make trouble, make as much trouble as you want. If I'm not having a good time, none of you will be comfortable either."

The three returned to He Yuzhu's room. The fat man tied on his apron and continued tossing the wok, glancing at He Yuzhu and Ma Hua, and said, "Master, the only one who can keep Fang Chengxuan in check is the factory director."

He Yuzhu slapped his thigh: "That's right. Ma Hua, come with me to find the factory manager."

He didn't know what suddenly came to his mind, but he just walked away.

The fat man smiled and saw him to the door: "Then you can go without worry, Master. I'll look after the house for you."

After the two men walked away, the fat man's face fell, and he snorted. He washed the dishes He Yuzhu had finished eating, muttering, "Does he really think he's some kind of ancestor? He doesn't even call out to anyone when he's eating."

"Having followed a master like you, I haven't learned any skills, but I've only gotten myself into a lot of trouble."

He rummaged through the cupboard, took out the hidden bowl of food, and ate a few mouthfuls. After finishing, he wiped his mouth, picked up the rice and fruit that Ma Hua had brought, and headed towards the backyard.

He wanted to find Fang Chengxuan. He was truly fed up with cleaning this toilet.

Fang Chengxuan was stunned when he saw the fat man.

The fat man, his face beaming with smiles, placed the items on the table and rubbed his hands together. "Manager Fang, I was blind before, I know I was wrong. From now on, whatever you say goes. Even if you ask me to deal with my master, I won't bat an eye."

He paused, licked his lips, and said, "You see, that spot in the kitchen... can I still go back there?"

Fang Chengxuan stared at the fat man, a twitch at the corner of his mouth that looked like a smile but wasn't.

He let out a cold sigh: "Take your things back."

There's no place for you in the kitchen.

Fang Chengxuan didn't want to say more to the fat man. In the original story, this fat man was no good; he gained He Yuzhu's trust but would betray him in the blink of an eye.

At first, the fat man pretended to be supporting He Yuzhu, but in reality, he was just using He Yuzhu as a cover to bully the new manager.

As it turned out, they ran into a tough opponent. They thought that with He Yuzhu backing them up, they could still go back to the kitchen and get a job, but who knew that even Sha Zhu couldn't stand it and was reassigned to the workshop.

The fat man quickly lowered his head and begged for forgiveness: "Manager Fang, I really know I was wrong. As long as you're willing to take me in, I'll follow your orders completely. I'll never be like Ma Hua, who took your favors and then conspired with Sha Zhu to frame you!"

"I know this little gift is nothing now, but once I get back to the kitchen and receive my salary, I'll give you my entire first month's pay!"

The fat man's eyes turned red with anxiety, and he looked like he was about to cry.

Fang Chengxuan's face remained expressionless as he coldly retorted, "Forget about the kitchen. Get out of here and stop getting in my way. If this gets out of hand, you don't want He Yuzhu to know you came to me for help, do you?"

The fat man's eyes flickered; he looked extremely guilty.

Just then, Yang Yuande rolled up his sleeves and stormed in, cursing, "Damn it, you're never going to stop bullying my brother! Do you really think I, surnamed Yang, am a pushover?"

As he spoke, he grabbed the fat man by the collar.

"Tell me, what do you want with my brother? Are you here to disgust me again?"

The fat man hurriedly waved his hands: "No, no, I'm here to ask Manager Fang for help. I would never dare to cause trouble!"

"What do you want?"

Yang Yuande's eyes darted around, glancing at Fang Chengxuan, whose expression remained unchanged, and then at the pile of things on the table before he finally let go.

"Hey, aren't these the things that MCA gave to Silly Chu?"

He saw it clearly: Ma Hua carried these things into He Yuzhu's house.

His gaze immediately fell on the fat man.

Fang Chengxuan's lips twitched, his smile a little cold: "Fatty, you're quite clever."

Using gifts given to Ho Yu Chu by the MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) as a present, he won't lose out regardless of whether the deal goes through or not. If things escalate to Ho Yu Chu's point of view, he can still claim he's there to plead for him.

The fat man hadn't expected that this secret would be exposed. He felt extremely uncomfortable being stared at by Fang Chengxuan's bright, mocking eyes.

"Get out of here. Don't ever show your disgusting face in front of me again, or you can forget about staying at the steel mill."

Fang Chengxuan's tone was as cold as winter.

The fat man's eyes widened instantly. He wanted to say something but swallowed it back. He picked up the things he had brought and turned away angrily.

He muttered to himself, "Fang Chengxuan is such an annoying person, he can't even back down when things are going his way."

Yang Yuande finally understood and clicked his tongue twice: "Brother Fang, do you think Sha Zhu is really that stupid?"

"Ma Hua is such an honest disciple. He brought things with genuine sincerity, but Ma Hua wouldn't even look at him properly, scolding and chasing him away. He treats Fatty, who's all talk and no action, like a treasure."

"You didn't see it, Fatty went to see Silly Zhu empty-handed. Although he cooked a meal, he ate his fill himself. On the other hand, Ma Hua brought gifts, but didn't eat a single bite and was thoroughly exhausted."

Yang Yuande recounted what he had just witnessed at He Yuzhu's doorstep, sighing and shaking his head: "Ma Hua is really unlucky to have such a mentor."

"I can't be bothered with their business; they won't cause any trouble."

Fang Chengxuan casually replied, glancing at the room where the deaf old lady was.

He Yuzhu made a scene right in front of him today, but the old lady didn't even show up—did she completely abandon all responsibility?

Yang Yuande nodded and asked, "Brother Fang, when are you planning to get married? Jingru and I discussed it, and since we're a bit strapped for cash and can't afford anything expensive, we're thinking of giving you a newly made red quilt cover. What do you think?"

"It's all about the sentiment behind the gift; your sister-in-law and I aren't picky."

Fang Chengxuan spoke casually.

Yang Yuande hummed in agreement, but in his mind he began to make plans.

When he got married, Brother Fang even chipped in to buy him a bicycle. How could he possibly slack off when it was Brother Fang's turn to handle things?

Alright, let's figure out a way to make some money.

Without Fang Ge's help, he would still be a hoodlum wandering the streets.

Fang Chengxuan didn't care what Yang Yuande was thinking. After everyone left, he turned his head and glanced at the three-wheeled and one-revolving items in the room, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved up.

I've been here for half a year now, and I'm slowly getting used to this kind of life.