The Courtyard House: He Yuzhu, Who Defied Fate

"Mom—, don't say such things carelessly. If my master finds out, and he refuses to teach me the skills, what will happen to our family?"

You know, a bicycle doesn't cost much. If I get good skills, I'll get a permanent position.

I'll earn an extra ten yuan a month, and in two years I can earn enough to buy a bicycle!

"If my master doesn't teach me the skills, how will I get a permanent position!"

Hearing Jia Dongxu's words, Jia Zhangshi was very dissatisfied, but she dared not say anything.

He Yuzhu had almost finished tidying up the room and was about to leave when Yi Zhonghai arrived.

Madam Jia, who lived across the street, also saw it and said to Jia Dongxu:

"Go see what your master wants with Sha Zhu?"

Jia Dongxu heard his mother's words and then said:

"I do not know either!"

Madam Jia was very dissatisfied with her foolish son, knowing that she now knew exactly what Yi Zhonghai was planning.

If Yi Zhonghai abandons his son and lets Sha Zhu take care of him in his old age, then he can't just stop teaching his son his skills in the future.

Therefore, Madam Jia asked Jia Dongxu to go and take a look.

Jia Dongxu had no choice, because if he didn't go, he didn't know what his mother would do.

She had no choice but to go outside. Qin Huairu had learned what kind of person the self-proclaimed mother-in-law was in the past two years, so she dared not provoke her at home and followed her out with her child in her arms.

As soon as I stepped outside, I heard He Yuzhu say:

"Sir, what is it?"

Yi Zhonghai said:

"Zhu Zi, haven't you received your salary yet?"

He Yuzhu said with a smile:

"Uncle, it seems you really don't understand. Go out and ask around, do you know if chefs get paid when they're apprentices?"

However, my master is kind-hearted and gives me 100,000 to 200,000 yuan in pocket money every month!

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, Jia Dongxu was extremely shocked:

"Ten thousand or two hundred thousand, Zhu Zi, that's a lot. You know, an apprentice at a steel rolling mill only earns eighteen yuan a month!"

He Yuzhu said disdainfully:

"My master can easily earn 200,000 yuan for cooking a meal for someone, not even counting the salary paid by Hongbinlou Restaurant."

My master earns two to three million a month!

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, Yi Zhonghai was greatly surprised. No wonder the deaf old lady chose He Yuzhu.

Why not choose the excellent Jia Dongxu?

It seems I need to pay more attention to He Yuzhu. If He Yuzhu's future salary is half of his master's, and he can provide for me in my old age, then my life will be so comfortable.

However, we can't let He Yuzhu continue like this. If he really got his master's true teachings, then he wouldn't be looking for me anymore.

With this in mind, Yi Zhonghai, who had originally planned to give it a try, made up his mind.

So Yi Zhonghai said to He Yuzhu:

"Pillar, are you not cooking yet either?"

He Yuzhu did not answer, then asked:

"what happened?"

Yi Zhonghai said:

"Here's the thing, I found you a job at a steel rolling mill. For the first two years, like you, I didn't get paid."

You'll start as a kitchen helper, but after two years you'll become an apprentice. Once you've mastered cooking for the whole family, you'll be promoted to a full-fledged employee.

But don't worry, if you encounter any difficulties in the next two years, just tell Grandpa, and he'll help you.

"You've been at Hongbinlou for so long, it's not a solution, is it?"

He Yuzhu shook his head:

"No, sir, I'm doing fine at Hongbinlou. Although I don't get paid, my master gives me pocket money every month."

Moreover, Hongbinlou provides food and lodging, not only for me but also for my sister Yu.

That's great, but thank you so much, sir!

When Yi Zhonghai heard He Yuzhu refuse, he didn't care. After all, Yi Zhonghai had thought of this as well.

Yi Zhonghai said with a sense of disappointment:

"Zhu Zi, how can you be so short-sighted? I've heard all the details. A cook's apprenticeship lasts three days, followed by two years of internship, and then three years of service. You won't get paid even after eight years!"

But it's different if you go to a steel rolling mill. You work hard for two years, and then you start getting paid.

Besides, you'll still be a worker then, which sounds better, doesn't it?

You know perfectly well what the status of workers and farmers is like now!

Jia Dongxu nodded in agreement upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's words.

"Yes, Zhu Zi, it's not easy for you to take care of your sister by yourself. You went to the steel mill, but you can still come back every day."

That way, we can look out for each other. Over there, if anything happens, there's no one to rely on!

He Yuzhu said:

"I know, but my master is there, so don't worry. Besides, I've been saving the money my master gave me over the past two years."

Now that Yu is in school, I won't go to the steel mill anymore. Although the old man is right, and I know that, how are Yu and I supposed to survive without income for two years?

"No, no, but I still have to thank that old man!"

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, Yi Zhonghai said:

"You're worried about Yu going to school? That's easy. I'll cover Yu's school expenses for the next two years."

"Don't worry, you'll pay me back when you earn money. After all, I'm a senior figure in this compound; do you think I'd just watch you two kids starve to death?"

He Yuzhu felt utterly disgusted by Yi Zhonghai's hypocrisy, but he had no desire to have anything to do with him right now. Nevertheless, he still spoke politely:

"Uncle, thank you for this, but I won't go. There are so many unemployed kids in our compound, you should let them have it."

Besides, it's just a job. If my master wanted to find one for me, he would have done so already.

"I'm not going. I haven't learned much yet. If I can't find a job after I've mastered cooking, I'll just have to bother that old man again!"

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, Yi Zhonghai knew he couldn't say anything more; otherwise, the matter would backfire.

After all, nobody's stupid, and everyone wants a job, but not everyone can just have one.

Just as Yi Zhonghai was figuring out how to get out, Yan Bugui's words came over...

Chapter 72: Jia Dongxu's Backstabbing

"Uncle, why didn't you tell me about such a good thing? If Zhuzi doesn't want it, I will. My Jiecheng doesn't have a job yet."

"How about letting my family go? We didn't get paid for the past two years, so what!"

Upon hearing Yan Bugui's words, Yi Zhonghai felt utterly helpless. How could there be no salary? What if Lou Qingshan found out that there was no salary?

He couldn't eat for himself. You should know that He Yuzhu wasn't without a salary. It was just that Yi Zhonghai and the canteen director had agreed that Yi Zhonghai would help collect He Yuzhu's salary.

All we need to do is discipline He Yuzhu properly. He Yuzhu has no family, but Yan Bugui's family is a different story.

If Yan Bugui knew this, he would be no Yan Bugui if he didn't suffer a great loss himself.

So Yi Zhonghai said with a smile:

"Isn't this because I haven't done it yet? That's why I came here to ask Zhu Zi. I'll proceed with the operation once Zhu Zi agrees."

Now Zhu Zi disagrees, doesn't he? When He Daqing left, he entrusted me to take care of Zhu Zi and Yu.

That's why I came over to ask. After all, Zhuzi will be eighteen by the Lunar New Year and will be able to work.

"The previous pillar wasn't even eighteen yet, so I didn't say anything, did I?"

Having heard Yi Zhonghai's words, how could He Yuzhu not know what Yi Zhonghai was planning? However, He Yuzhu was not the kind of person who would swallow a loss.

He Yuzhu said:

"Uncle, since you have this ability, why don't you help Uncle San? Uncle San's salary alone is not enough to support such a large family."

"Then Uncle San will definitely thank you, Uncle Yi!"

Yan Bugui hadn't expected He Yuzhu to say that, so Yi Zhonghai quickly said:

"Yes, yes, don't worry, sir! I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life!"

Upon hearing Yan Bugui's words, Yi Zhonghai cursed inwardly.

Yi Zhonghai is perfectly clear that he remembers your kindness, but that's all.

There was nothing else, and Yi Zhonghai was also complaining to He Yuzhu about why he was bringing this up at this time.