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

"Let's have a couple of drinks at noon. I've already spoken to the cafeteria manager."

Li Huaide chimed in, "Why don't we go to a private room in a small restaurant, and chat while we drink?"

The group moved to a private room in the small restaurant. Li Weidong glanced around and saw that the room was indeed quite simple, with a round table and a few chairs. The walls were painted white, but that was about it.

"Old Zhang, tell Sha Zhu to quickly bring up a couple of dishes, let's start drinking."

Li Huaide shouted at the canteen manager. The bald man in his fifties, surnamed Zhang, was in charge of the canteen. Logistics were under Li Huaide's jurisdiction; this place was Li Huaide's territory.

Director Zhang's face showed embarrassment and annoyance: "Director Li, well... as soon as Sha Zhu heard that Chief Engineer Li was invited, he threw down his spoon and ran away."

"They ran away? They ran away?"

Li Huaide's voice suddenly rose.

"That's right, they've vanished without a trace!"

Director Zhang looked displeased and muttered curses under his breath.

Li Huaide's face was so gloomy it could drip water: "Old Yang, if this idiot Zhu continues to be spoiled like this, he'll ruin our factory sooner or later."

If it weren't for Director Yang protecting him, he would have made that guy suffer long ago.

Factory Director Yang was furious: "That bastard must be punished!"

"We'll talk about the punishment later. What are we going to do for lunch right now?"

Li Huaide sighed, "Those MCA guys are okay at cooking simple fare, but when it comes to preparing special meals for guests..."

He shook his head repeatedly as he spoke.

Li Weidong frowned: "I don't believe it. Finding a cook can be this difficult?"

Factory Director Yang chimed in, "That kid has a terrible temper, but his skills are impeccable. It's hard to find someone similar."

Li Huaide curled his lip, clearly unconvinced.

"I'll cook a few dishes myself, so there's no need to eat out."

Li Weidong spoke up.

Li Huaide was taken aback: "Chief Engineer Li, you know this skill too?"

"I used to work when I was studying in Guangzhou, helping out in the kitchen of a restaurant."

Li Weidong touched his nose, "I've thought about a few more dishes myself."

Secretary Zhang, Factory Director Yang, and Li Huaide were all stunned. Based on their previous experience, Li Weidong's actions were always reliable.

"Then I'll have to trouble Chief Engineer Li."

Secretary Zhang said, "Director Zhang, please accompany Chief Engineer Li to the kitchen."

Upon arriving at the kitchen, Director Zhang quickly brought out new aprons, sleeves, and hats.

"Thank you, Director Zhang."

Li Weidong spoke politely and calmly.

"No, no, no, you're too kind. I'm just terrified of what that idiot Zhu has done to me."

Director Zhang looked distressed.

Li Weidong didn't say anything more and reached for the kitchen knife. But a seemingly honest-looking man blocked his way.

"You can't touch this knife; it belongs to my master."

Director Zhang's face immediately turned green: "What are you standing there for? Quickly find another knife for Chief Engineer Li!"

"etc."

Li Weidong asked calmly, "Did Sha Zhu bring this knife from home himself, or did he buy it from the factory?"

"Made in the forging workshop."

Director Zhang replied.

"That's right."

Li Weidong's tone suddenly hardened, "These knives belong to the steel mill. Why can't I touch them?"

He turned to the man: "MCA, right? What do you mean by this?"

"You're a factory worker; the factory pays your salary, not Sha Zhu. Who are you trying to prove your loyalty to?"

Ma Hua's legs were trembling. This label, if not dismissed, would at least leave him severely scarred.

At this moment, a woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties came out smiling and tried to smooth things over: "Chief Engineer Li, please calm down. Ma Hua is just a simple-minded person, Sha Zhu's apprentice, an honest kid."

She introduced herself: "My name is Liu Lan. If you need any help, please let me know, and we'll be happy to assist you."

"OK."

Li Weidong listed a few ingredients, saying, "Hurry up and clean these things up."

"How long have MCA been learning from 'Silly Zhu'?"

Li Weidong asked casually.

Before his time travel, he had watched "Birds in the Courtyard" a few times and still remembered Ma Hua.

"Three years exactly."

Liu Lan brought over the washed vegetables.

"Three years and all you can do is make one big pot of stew? That idiot Zhu didn't pass on any of his skills at all."

Li Weidong shook his head. "Alright, I'll take charge of the cooking. You guys stand aside and watch. Ask me if you don't understand anything."

Liu Lan, being quick-witted, immediately replied with a smile: "For the past three years, Sha Zhu has only made Ma Hua chop vegetables and cook large pots of dishes. Even the spice packet used for stewing the large pot was prepared by Sha Zhu himself; Ma Hua knew nothing about it."

"Silly Zhu is really doing something inhuman."

Li Weidong waved his hand, "Ma Hua, come and learn something. Ask if you don't understand. I'll write down the spice recipe for the big pot dish later; it'll definitely be better than Sha Zhu's."

His plan was to cut off Sha Zhu's confidence in acting tough in the factory.

"MCA, quickly thank Chief Engineer Lee!"

A chubby boy suddenly appeared. He was also Sha Zhu's apprentice, but this boy was far worse in character.

Li Weidong casually picked up a kitchen knife and began to explain the knife techniques as he cut, also explaining why each type of vegetable needed to be cut in a particular way.

With all three stoves burning brightly, he quickly and efficiently prepared eight hot dishes, without touching the cold dishes at all.

Eight dishes and a soup were brought into the small private room. Li Weidong pulled off his apron, sleeves, and hat. There was an electric fan in the room, but his forehead was still covered in sweat.

"I haven't tasted it, but just by smelling it, I can tell you're a master chef."

Director Zhang gave a thumbs up.

Li Weidong entered the private room with a smile. Director Yang and the others were already sitting inside waiting, and another level-eight engineer from the factory had also been called over.

"Chief Engineer Li doesn't recognize this person, does he? This is Engineer Hao."

Factory Director Yang gave a brief introduction.

Engineer Hao was not yet fifty, and he wore thick-rimmed glasses on his nose, making him look like a scholar.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Weidong said with a smile, "Everyone, pick up your chopsticks and see if my cooking suits your taste."

On the table were Mapo Tofu, Twice-Cooked Pork, and Sauerkraut Fish that Li Weidong had prepared in advance—a dish that only appeared in later generations.

The dishes included shredded green peppers and potatoes, braised eggplant, and stir-fried gourd with garlic and dried shrimp, along with braised chicken and boiled shredded dried tofu. The side dish contained a soup of pickled mustard greens and shredded pork.

Factory Director Yang and his colleagues were so engrossed in their meal that they didn't have time to talk. It took them a while before Factory Director Yang finally spoke up: "Excellent cooking! With Chief Engineer Li's skill, he wouldn't be out of place at a state banquet."

"This is the first time I've ever eaten this dish."

Li Huaide wiped the sweat from his forehead; the pickled cabbage was incredibly spicy and satisfying.

"I created it myself."

Li Weidong replied without batting an eye.

Everyone present gave a thumbs up.

At lunch the day after tomorrow, Director Yang approached Li Weidong again: "Chief Engineer Li, I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you again. A high-ranking leader is coming to inspect."

Li Weidong's eyes darted around: "Sure, but I need Sha Zhu to help me out, and he has to prepare all the materials in advance."

"That's no problem. He'll be punished first thing tomorrow morning... no, he'll definitely have to come and collect his salary later."

Li Huaide picked up the conversation, "Old Yang, Old Zhang, let's get together and discuss a disciplinary plan."

Factory Director Yang thought for a moment: "Let's reduce it by one level. From thirty-five yuan to twenty-eight yuan. If they still don't repent, send them directly to the workshop as apprentices."

Li Huaide scoffed, "He got off too easy."

No alcohol was consumed at noon, and the meal ended quickly. Li Weidong strolled back to the infirmary, first checking on the patient who was recovering quite well, before returning to his office to sit down.

He opened a medical book, secretly pleased with himself: "I gave that old scoundrel Yi Zhonghai a good beating today. I'll slowly find opportunities to make sure he can never recover. Killing him all at once would be too easy; that wouldn't be fun."

It was almost 3 p.m. when a nurse came running over to say it was time to collect her salary.

Everyone in the infirmary was mobilized. The factory area was in an uproar, with people rushing towards the finance office.

The finance office opened more than a dozen windows to distribute money. Li Weidong and his group arrived relatively early, but there were still more than a dozen people ahead of them in line.

Coincidentally, Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai were right in front of him. Sha Zhu was even a step ahead of those two old men.

Everyone in the factory was talking about the new factory building and how to allocate the hundred job openings. Many people were thinking of getting their relatives in, but those in the know were secretly sneering.

Liu Haizhong, with his large pregnant belly, spoke in a loud voice: "This time it's good, I'll let Guangqi and Guangtian both give it a try. I'm a level seven fitter, how could I not fit my two sons in?"

Sha Zhu curled his lip: "Second Uncle, you're kidding. There are so many job openings, only a hundred. They've already been snapped up by the factory leaders. Everyone has a few poor relatives, right?"

Liu Haizhong refused to believe it: "How could this be? Absolutely impossible! Lao Yi, tell me, can this really work?"

Yi Zhonghai succinctly pointed out: "As long as the people the leaders hire are compliant, what can you say?"

That old man has a really sharp eye.

"He Yuzhu, salary is thirty-five, allowance is two yuan and fifty cents, totaling thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents. Please check!"

An accountant shouted.

Sha Zhu replied, "That's right, that's right. Damn it, next month we'll only have thirty-five cents left."

He turned around and saw Li Weidong, and immediately spat out, "Pah, what bad luck."

Li Weidong's eyes turned cold: "He Yuzhu, who are you calling unlucky? You don't take your work seriously, and you still have the nerve to complain about bad luck? Do you have a problem with the factory leaders? You abandoned your work and ran away, and you expect to be praised?"

All eyes turned to him, and He Yuzhu clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.

Yi Zhonghai grabbed Sha Zhu's waist and said, "Zhu Zi, don't be impulsive!"

If Sha Zhu really fought Li Weidong here, he would definitely lose his job. However, Yi Zhonghai was slow to think, and only now did he realize that Sha Zhu was no match for Li Weidong at all and didn't dare to go looking for trouble.

"Sir, you should go collect your wages first. I'll wait here for you to go home together."

Sha Zhu's tone was surprisingly calm. That's just how he is; when he encounters someone weaker than himself, he explodes at the slightest provocation, his fists beating his brain; but when he meets someone stronger than himself, he becomes frighteningly calm.

"Liu Haizhong, 87 yuan!"

After signing his name, Liu Haizhong took the money and stood to the side counting it one bill at a time.

"Yi Zhonghai, ninety-nine yuan!"

Yi Zhonghai signed the papers with a smile and took the money. He glanced at Li Weidong, feeling somewhat smug—this kid had only been working for a few days? Even counting from the day he reported for duty, how much could his salary possibly be?

"Chief Engineer Li, your salary is four hundred yuan."

The accountant was very polite, and handed over a stack of banknotes after speaking. Li Weidong had just signed the papers.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Sha Zhu stared so hard their eyes almost popped out.

Li Weidong took the money without even counting it, and casually stuffed it into the yellow canvas bag he was wearing across his shoulder. The canvas bag was so faded from washing.

"That's not fair! This is so unfair!"

Sha Zhu started howling at the top of his lungs, just like a donkey.

"Silly Zhu, tell me, where's the unfairness?"