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

Chapter 117 Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!

The reason why Fengzeyuan was chosen as a pilot project for public-private partnership was not only because Fengzeyuan itself was well-known and influential, but also because its problems were obvious and its representativeness was strong.

Before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Fengzeyuan experienced more than one labor dispute, and the situation was once very serious.

The worst incident before liberation occurred when Luan Xuetang and many partners took legal action due to unequal profit distribution among shareholders, which led to the closure of Fengzeyuan for several months and almost caused it to fall apart.

It was during this time that Luan Xuetang introduced many skilled chefs from Fushan, such as Guo Youzhong, which elevated the culinary skills of Fengzeyuan's kitchen team to a new level. This unexpected turn of events further solidified Fengzeyuan's position in Beijing.

And for the same reason.

Last year, with the intervention of higher authorities, a labor union was specifically established in Fengzeyuan, implementing a joint management model between labor and management.

This public-private partnership is yet another intervention from above.

Today, Fengzeyuan Restaurant closed for "rectification," and yesterday several other staff members resigned and moved to other restaurants and eateries. It's hard not to attract attention from the outside world.

Gossip and similar news always spread very quickly.

Many things are not going smoothly, let alone something like altering a poem.

Changing one's word will cause growing pains.

Both the superiors and Gu Jianliang, who was appointed as the general manager, had long been prepared for this.

The departure of a few key figures, coupled with a one-day suspension for assessment, is not a major issue and will not significantly damage Fengzeyuan's vitality.

Today's series of adjustments went smoothly without any major problems, which means that the public-private partnership of Fengzeyuan was already more than half successful.

Joint public-private ownership is an inevitable trend.

Since it is a pilot program, while observing the effects of the reforms, it is also necessary to observe and understand the external reactions. Therefore, the authorities have not deliberately blocked information or interfered with public opinion regarding the developments at Fengzeyuan in the past two days.

Only through discussion and the expression of opinions can we better understand public sentiment.

These commotions inevitably reached Yan Bugui's school, and he brought them back with him.

only.

Instead of getting any gossip from Li Hongbing, Yan Bugui received news that he thought he was hallucinating.

"What?"

Yan Bugui looked completely confused and quickly asked Li Hongbing, "Hongbing, what did you just say? What test did you pass?"

"A junior cook!"

Seeing that Yan Bugui had "taken the initiative" to ask, Li Hongbing proudly took out his brand-new work ID, turned out the contents of the front page to show him, and asked in a "casual" manner, "Uncle Yan, wasn't this the matter you were just asking about?"

"When did I ask about...you..."

Yan Bugui's eyes widened, almost thinking he was seeing things. He subconsciously reached up to adjust his glasses, looked up again, and after a long while, stared at Li Hongbing with disbelief, exclaiming in astonishment, "Hongbing, how come you're a junior cook?"

Li Hongbing's joining Fengzeyuan was common knowledge throughout the entire facility, but how could an apprentice become a junior cook in just a few months...?

soon.

Yan Bugui then became serious and advised Li Hongbing with a solemn expression, "Hongbing, you can't get a fake work permit like this!"

This is not something to joke about.

This time, Yan Bugui was really just trying to be helpful.

There's no grudge or conflict between us, and it doesn't benefit me, so there's no reason for me to wish misfortune upon others.

"Uncle Yan, take another look, it's real! Look at this official seal! Look at our Manager Gu's signature!"

Seeing Yan Bugui's reaction, Li Hongbing didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Didn't you just ask about Fengzeyuan being closed for the day today?"
A new general manager joined our Fengzeyuan restaurant yesterday and made some adjustments to the management.

We are closing today so that we can conduct performance evaluations and ratings for everyone in our kitchen.

And me!

I mustered up my courage and gave it a try, and luckily, I passed the junior cook exam.

Starting tomorrow, I won't have to mooch off the kitchen staff anymore; I'm a food preparation chef now..."

"You really passed the junior cook exam?"

Hearing Li Hongbing's explanation, Yan Bugui felt as if he were listening to gibberish, and his mind couldn't process it for a moment.

I think I can understand it.

But it seems like I didn't understand.

"Replace it if it's fake!"

Seeing Yan Bugui's shocked expression, Li Hongbing finally felt a bit of the thrill of showing off and said to him, "Look, the new work permits have all been issued... You just said that these work permits can't be forged. Do you think I'm that kind of person who doesn't know what's important?"

"But haven't you only been in Fengzeyuan for a few months?"

Yan Bugui was completely baffled.

"What's the matter?"

Seeing this, Li Hongbing appeared completely self-righteous.

"Hongbing, it's not that Uncle Yan doesn't believe you..."

Yan Bugui hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Look, that Sha Zhu learned cooking from his father for so long, then joined the Emei Restaurant last year and became an apprentice. It's been over a year now, and he's still just an apprentice. And you're only..."

"Hey! I've only passed the junior cook exam, but like Sha Zhu, I'm still a beginner! Even though my salary has increased, I'm still learning from my master..."

Li Hongbing waved his hand, "inadvertently" revealing a piece of information.

He is an apprentice now, but he is an apprentice of Guo Youzhong, not an apprentice of Fengzeyuan.

One is identity, the other is job title.

Although it's the same word, the meanings are completely different.

really.

Yan Bugui, whose very nature was shrewd, immediately brightened up at the mention of money, pinpointing the key point and asking with a look of astonishment, "You got a raise?"

"Na!"

Li Hongbing nodded and said in a very "unconcerned" and "modest" manner, "Actually, it's nothing. My monthly salary is only 350,000 yuan, which is less than double what I used to earn."

These words, though laced with sarcasm, made Yan Bugui feel incredibly uncomfortable. He was just a primary school teacher, earning only a little over thirty yuan a month, even less than Li Hongbing.

Li Hongbing earns 350,000 a month, yet he says such things. How can he save face?
Young people are so wicked!

"Red Soldier, according to you, you are now also workers of the state?"

While Yan Bugui was feeling down and didn't want to talk, Aunt Yan, who had overheard their conversation, couldn't help but come over and ask.

"That's it!"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongbing replied directly, "Now the state is investing and holding a controlling stake, but Manager Luan and his team still retain some shares, just like Second Uncle's steel rolling mill."

Hearing Li Hongbing's explanation and examples, Aunt Yan easily understood, and couldn't help but ask, "Does that mean that in the future, your medical care and retirement will be covered and guaranteed by the state, just like Uncle Er and my husband?"

"That's right!"

Li Hongbing nodded.

"Oh, that's great!"

After learning about these circumstances, Aunt Yan couldn't help but feel envious.

Li Hongbing agreed with Aunt Yan's point of view.

Regardless of whether the public-private partnership was good or bad for Fengzeyuan, it was certainly not a bad thing for them, especially for the apprentices at the bottom.

At least for today, Li Hongbing has directly profited.

Without this opportunity, Li Hongbing's current skill level would certainly not have reached the level of mastery that Guo Youzhong recognized, and he would have continued to receive an apprentice's salary at Fengzeyuan.

before.

Although there are opportunities for promotion within Fengzeyuan, they mainly depend on the recognition of the master chefs in the kitchen, which is extremely difficult.

Gu Jianliang's technical rating and salary assessment for kitchen staff this time is itself an introduction of a clearer assessment and promotion system, opening up a more standardized upward path.

"This Li Hongbing is really amazing. He's only been an apprentice for a short time, and he's already graduated and received a raise..."

"He's not even finished his apprenticeship yet! That's what Hongbing said himself!"

"How can you get a raise before you've even finished your apprenticeship?"

"They only got a raise because they passed the junior cook exam and were reassigned to a different position."

"Haven't you still graduated?"

"Hey! That's not the same thing, I can't explain it to you!"

"..."

Not long after Li Hongbing returned to the house.

The people in the front yard knew that he had received a raise and had been promoted to junior cook, and they quickly started talking about it.

They didn't know how to be envious.

Originally, Li Hongbing was supposed to be studying properly, but instead he went to Fengzeyuan to become a junior apprentice, which everyone secretly laughed at.

As a result, no sooner had he entered Fengzeyuan than he rescued Lou Bancheng's daughter from the moat near Fengzeyuan, earning the Lou family's kindness and generous reward. He was then taken in as an apprentice by Guo Youzhong, the famous chef of Fengzeyuan.

Good luck ends here, but it's not over yet.

Now that Fengzeyuan has been injected with state capital and taken over by the state, Li Hongbing has not only become a state-owned worker, but has also passed the junior cook assessment and received a raise.

How can someone be this lucky?
During this period, Li Hongbing squandered quite a bit of money.

First, there was the expense of preparing a dowry for Li Hongmei, then there was the large expense of repairing the house and applying for running water.

Everyone initially thought that if he continued to squander money like this, he would eventually lose all the family's wealth.

But now, with a monthly salary of 350,000 yuan, can he afford to spend it all by himself?

As the news spread to the intermediate court and the back courtyard, it also caused a stir.

"Li Hongbing now earns 350,000 yuan a month?"

Qin Huairu, who had previously felt fortunate, suddenly felt uneasy after learning about the situation.

In fact, Qin Huairu and Li Hongbing had no relationship at all. They just happened to meet and exchanged a few words when they went on a blind date.

Later, she married into the Jia family. Because of the discord between the Jia family and Li Hongbing, Qin Huairu and Li Hongbing rarely greeted each other when they met in the courtyard, acting like strangers.

It was only because Qin Huairu was attracted to Li Hongbing's qualities that she developed feelings for him.

Although it didn't work out in the end, it left a lingering problem.

Whenever something happens, Qin Huairu can't help but compare him to Jia Dongxu.

Qin Huairu cared so much not because she was still hung up on Li Hongbing, but simply because she wanted to prove that she had married well.

The better Li Hongbing does, the more she feels she missed out on something.

in turn.

Only then can she feel at ease and prove that her "choice" was not wrong.

"What are you thinking? That kid surnamed Li, can he really earn 350,000 a month?"

Seeing her daughter-in-law's reaction, Jia Zhangshi, who didn't believe it at all, immediately sternly reprimanded her: "You believe everything others say? Even if you're from the countryside, you should at least have some knowledge! Don't embarrass our Jia family!"

Qin Huairu's actions make it seem like she's boosting others' morale while diminishing her own.

Jia Zhangshi harbored resentment towards Li Hongbing, but since he wasn't there, she could only vent her anger on her daughter-in-law Qin Huairu, who had "said the wrong thing," habitually bringing up her rural background.

Seeing this, Qin Huairu felt extremely wronged.

Unfortunately, as a daughter-in-law, Qin Huairu dared not argue with her mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi. She could only silently look at her husband, Jia Dongxu, who was eating with his head down, hoping that he would speak up for her.

No matter what.

Jia Dongxu didn't notice her grievance at this moment. Instead, he deeply agreed with his own mother's words, shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth, looked up and echoed, "Mom is right!"
Li Hongbing, a mere apprentice, can earn 350,000 yuan a month?
A junior cook?

You're already dreaming before it even gets dark?

impossible!
That's absolutely impossible!!

(End of this chapter)