Courtyard Houses: Starting with the principle of hard work paying off

Chapter 114 On the eve of the joint operation, morale was low (4k)

Time turns.

A month has passed.

As autumn deepens, the weather grows colder day by day, and winter is fast approaching.

For the past month, Li Hongbing has basically maintained a two-point work and life routine between the courtyard house and Fengzeyuan, honing his skills and gaining experience points. He also uses his rest time to go around to stock up on supplies needed for the future in small quantities and at multiple locations.

As for Yi Zhonghai, the Jia family, and the deaf old lady in the courtyard, they were all well-behaved and didn't cause any trouble or make things difficult for themselves.

this day.

When Li Hongbing arrived at Fengzeyuan for work on his bicycle, he noticed something was wrong.

Whether they were waiters in the front of the kitchen or apprentices in the back, they all looked gloomy and preoccupied.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

"Brother Hongbing, have you heard? Our Fengzeyuan is going to be taken over by the higher-ups..."

As soon as Li Hongbing arrived at the kitchen, Wu Jun rushed over, his face full of worry.

"What connection..."

He realized what he was saying halfway through his sentence.

Is this the beginning of a public-private partnership?
No wonder...

He had been wondering why everyone's reaction today was a little different from usual.

Perhaps because of the policies implemented by the authorities regarding some strategic and important industrial enterprises during the liberation period, the news that Fengzeyuan was to be jointly owned by the public and private sectors has given everyone pause for thought.

Li Hongbing didn't know how to comment on this matter.

The news has already spread, and even a junior apprentice like Wu Jun knows that it's likely that Li Luan will soon step down as manager of the academy and become a private manager.

Li Hongbing had no particular thoughts on this matter; it was beyond his control and change, and his words carried no weight. He could only let things take their natural course.

"Don't overthink it. This kind of thing is none of our business. Just do your job."

Seeing Wu Jun's unfounded worries, Li Hongbing couldn't help but offer some advice.

The idea of ​​Fengzeyuan becoming a joint public-private enterprise is not necessarily a bad thing for these young apprentices, especially for Wu Jun, who has no one to teach him cooking skills.

Without the opportunity to become an apprentice like Li Hongbing, Wu Jun wanted to learn a trade, and the public-private partnership became his opportunity.

The people most affected, besides the original shareholders like Luan Xuetang and the Yao family, are the highly paid head chefs and other prominent figures in the kitchen.

After the companies merge, their income will definitely decrease.

Everyone was a little worried about their future, but work still had to continue as usual.

Aside from offering a few words of comfort to Wu Jun, Li Hongbing didn't say anything more.

……

night.

When Li Hongbing got off work, he saw Guo Youzhong waiting for him outside with his bicycle, and subconsciously asked, "Master, you haven't left yet?"

"Would you like to accompany Master for a walk?"

Guo Youzhong did not answer, but instead smiled and said.

"it is good!"

Judging from Guo Youzhong's expression, he clearly had something to say to him, so Li Hongbing nodded.

soon.

The two pushed their bicycles and walked down the street. Li Hongbing waited for Guo Youzhong to speak, but he didn't say a word, as if he really just wanted to take a walk with him.

The area around Fengzeyuan can be described as a bustling and prosperous area.

At this time of day, there are still quite a few people on the streets.

After walking for a while and reaching a less crowded street, Guo Youzhong suddenly spoke up: "You've heard quite a few rumors today, haven't you?"

"Ok!"

Li Hongbing was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized what Guo Youzhong meant by "rumors".

"The morale in the restaurant is low, and no one is working diligently anymore. You seem to be unaffected?"

Seeing Li Hongbing's calm demeanor, Guo Youzhong couldn't help but speak up.

He had actually noticed Li Hongbing's reaction earlier that morning.

Despite knowing that his apprentice, though young, was steady and never impetuous.

But given that this concerns the future of the entire Fengzeyuan Restaurant, including every single one of them, Li Hongbing's calmness seems rather abnormal.

Not to mention the apprentices in the kitchen, even the head chefs who are the backbone of the restaurant were hesitant.

That's why Guo Youzhong couldn't help but want to have a chat with his apprentice.

"These kinds of things are for Manager Luan and the others to worry about. It's not my place to be a nobody like me. I'm just a junior apprentice, so I should just do my job."

Li Hongbing's explanation to Guo Youzhong was similar to his advice to Wu Jun.

This is actually his true thought.

He was confident that this matter wouldn't have a significant impact on him.

"You're quite optimistic..."

Guo Youzhong was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.

For a moment, I felt a mix of emotions.

Having lived for so many years and experienced many ups and downs, I find my mindset is not as composed as that of my youngest apprentice.

If Li Hongbing knew what Guo Youzhong was thinking, he certainly wouldn't think that way.

It's just that they're in different positions.

Guo Youzhong is now a successful and well-known figure, and he earns a high salary at Fengzeyuan. Any major changes would have a huge impact on him.

Pulled around and moved the whole body.

Li Hongbing was just a junior apprentice, so no matter how Fengzeyuan changed, its situation wouldn't be too bad.

The key is.

Guo Youzhong does not possess the ability to predict the future.

Everyone feels uneasy and worried when faced with the unknown.

What's your opinion on this?

Although Li Hongbing is young and inexperienced, he is well-educated and has attended high school. Guo Youzhong knows that he is quite knowledgeable. In addition, young people are more receptive to new things, which is why he asked this question.

"Just let nature take its course!"

Li Hongbing answered casually.

Guo Youzhong appears stern, but he is actually a very caring and loving elder.

Li Hongbing felt very relaxed and pressured being with such a mentor.

only.

This was not the answer Guo Youzhong wanted.

Seeing that no one was around, Guo Youzhong hesitated for a moment before confessing to Li Hongbing, "The night before last, the manager of Dongxinglou came to my house and wanted to invite me back to be the head chef..."

As soon as Guo Youzhong uttered those words, Li Hongbing's expression froze.

The fact that Guo Youzhong could tell me even such a private matter shows how much he trusted his apprentice.

"Master, what are you thinking?"

Li Hongbing couldn't help but probe.

"I can't make up my mind..."

Guo Youzhong sighed. It's said that the older people get, the more afraid they are of death. Right now, the entire Fengzeyuan community is in turmoil, and he hesitated when faced with this choice.

The rumors that only surfaced today at Fengzeyuan were actually heard by the master chefs there several days ago, but no one revealed it.

"Hongbing, you've read a lot of books, can you help your master analyze this and give us some advice?"

Now that he had spoken, Guo Youzhong didn't mince words and said directly.

"Master, I..."

"Don't hesitate, just say what I tell you to say."

"Then shall I speak freely?"

“Speak freely!”

"..."

Although the two had only been master and apprentice for about two months, Li Hongbing could tell that Guo Youzhong treated his apprentice exceptionally well.

Since he had questions and had come to Li Hongbing, Li Hongbing was not going to keep anything to himself.

"Master, do you still remember Lou Bancheng?"

When Li Hongbing suddenly mentioned Lou Bancheng, Guo Youzhong knew there must be a reason, and he definitely had something else to say, so he nodded: "I remember."

"This Lou Bancheng used to own a steel rolling mill, after liberation..."

After giving this example, Li Hongbing said to Guo Youzhong, "Many of my neighbors in the courtyard house now work at this steel rolling mill. They are now state workers... Last year, a document was issued called the 'Labor Insurance Regulations,' you know? It includes workers' medical benefits and also involves a retirement pension system..."

Hearing what Li Hongbing said, Guo Youzhong stopped in his tracks and frowned in thought.

He was aware of some of the situations.

Although Fengzeyuan Restaurant is now privately owned, it has long since established a labor union.

As private sector workers, they can enjoy the same medical benefits, but these benefits are shared by the labor union and Fengzeyuan.

“Master, there are some things I’m only going to say to you today. Once they’re out of my mouth, I won’t acknowledge them.”

"Which is more important, the state or private individuals?"

"Now it's a new society, and the workers and peasants have stood up and become masters of their own destiny."

"To be disrespectful to Manager Luan, Manager Luan and the Yao family behind him are not in the same social class as us."

"From a personal perspective, do you think it's better to be a capitalist's worker or a state worker?"

"..."

Treating Guo Youzhong with sincerity, Li Hongbing genuinely regarded him as an elder, but some things could only be said to this extent.

in history.

The public-private partnership of Fengzeyuan was clearly a very successful case, and there were no major personnel changes.

It was 1952, and Fengzeyuan, as the first pilot project selected by the higher authorities to fully implement the joint public-private ownership, was bound to receive much attention and importance.

The manager of Dongxinglou thought this was an opportunity to poach Guo Youzhong back, but if Guo Youzhong led the way in defecting and disrupted the progress of the public-private partnership, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction.

As a renowned chef, Guo Youzhong has earned an astronomical sum of money over the years, accumulating considerable wealth. Furthermore, having reached the age of fifty, taking a slightly lower salary in the next few years will not have any significant impact.

The important thing is that the public-private partnership was an inevitable historical trend that no one could shake.

For Guo Youzhong, there's not much more he needs to do next.

If we just let things take their natural course, the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks.

They can also secure a retirement spot with the government.

"I understand what you mean."

After pondering for a long time, Guo Youzhong looked at Li Hongbing again with a more solemn expression.

In fact, Guo Youzhong had already made up his mind about whether or not to switch jobs.

What truly confused him was his inability to see a future for himself and Fengzeyuan.

Guo Youzhong is a man who values ​​relationships.

Over the years at Fengzeyuan, Luan Xuetang treated him well.

As for the former owner of Dongxinglou, he wasn't bad to him. The reason he left was largely to make room for his eldest apprentice, Liang Damin.

At that time, Liang Damin was already skilled enough, but his experience was too limited.

If his master hadn't left, he would have had little chance to stand on his own and wouldn't have become the pillar of Dongxinglou today.

Among their younger generation, Liang Damin has finally made it big.

“Master, I was just saying that. Please take it as just a casual remark and don’t take it too seriously.”

Realizing that what he had said seemed to have made Guo Youzhong feel a little heavy-hearted, Li Hongbing quickly said something.

"No need to be modest!"

Seeing Li Hongbing so nervous, showing the typical demeanor of a young man, Guo Youzhong couldn't help but smile and said with great satisfaction, "Reading more books is indeed beneficial. For us older generation, let alone attending a private school, just being able to recognize a few characters is already quite remarkable."

"Only by reading can you gain knowledge and see through the essence of things. You're so clever and intelligent; it's a pity you couldn't continue your studies and learn a trade from me to become a cook..."

As he spoke, Guo Youzhong couldn't help but feel sorry for Li Hongbing.

In the past few days, he has only seen and considered his own personal situation and, at most, the future of Fengzeyuan.

But Li Hongbing's few words just now revealed a deeper and higher level of understanding, and made Guo Youzhong realize that he had no choice but to accept it.

In his spare time, Guo Youzhong also enjoys reading, but he mostly reads miscellaneous books, especially those about the Three Kingdoms.

It might be related to people saying he looks like Guan Yu from the Three Kingdoms period.

Influenced by these factors, Guo Youzhong, though not considering himself a martial saint, shared some similarities in temperament and conduct.

But no matter what.

Guo Youzhong has a deep understanding of the power of reading to enlighten people and learn a great deal.

Guo Youzhong had heard that Li Hongbing had attended high school and studied for many years, and that there was no one with such a high level of education among the apprentices. This piqued his interest, which is why he had been paying close attention to him.

"Master, what you're saying..."

"What's wrong with being a cook?"

"In every profession, there are top performers!"

"You can succeed as a cook!"

"..."

Li Hongbing has no particular obsession with reading.

He was just an ordinary person with no lofty ambitions or ideals.

In this day and age, his most realistic thought is to make a good living for himself.

Even the idea that "every profession can produce an expert" or "to stand out from the crowd" was just something Li Hongbing said on a whim.

"Ha, you've got guts, kid!"

Hearing his apprentice's ambitious aspirations, Guo Youzhong was filled with pride and couldn't help but laugh.

Although he felt a pang of regret for Li Hongbing just now, Guo Youzhong, as a chef with decades of experience and even a renowned chef, would naturally not look down on his profession and status.

Li Hongbing's "statement" just now was very much to his liking.

If Li Hongbing looked down on himself and the chef profession, then Guo Youzhong would probably be truly disappointed and upset.

He is no longer young, and he has already taken on many disciples. It is estimated that he will find it difficult to find a disciple with the same talent and good character as Li Hongbing in the future, and he will not have the extra energy to discover and cultivate others.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Li Hongbing will be the last apprentice he ever takes on.

According to traditional accounts, this is a closed-door disciple.

(End of this chapter)