Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

"Is the rainwater asleep?"

Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice.

"Yeah, he just fell asleep." Sha Zhu pulled up a stool for Yi Zhonghai. "Uncle Yi, please sit down. Would you like some water? I'll get you some."

"I'm not drinking anymore, let's sit down and talk."

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, gesturing for Sha Zhu to sit down as well.

"Zhu Zi," Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat and spoke, "I'm happy for you today that you received your father's letter."

"Hehe, yes, I feel much more at ease now."

Sha Zhu scratched his head and smiled憨厚ly.

"However," Yi Zhonghai changed the subject, his tone becoming earnest, "there are some things that I'm not sure if I should say."

"Uncle Yi, please speak, I'm listening." Sha Zhu immediately sat up straight.

"Zhu Zi, your father is gone, and now you're the pillar of this family. You have to plan for the future."

Yi Zhonghai sighed and continued, "The ten yuan your father sent seems like a lot, but it's barely enough for you two siblings to make ends meet. Have you thought about what will happen when you get married and Yushui gets married? Both of those things cost money."

"The bride price, the money for building a house, the dowry for rainwater... these are all not small sums."

"Besides, your dad is sending money every month now, but what if one day he has a child over there and can't take care of you anymore? Then the money can just stop."

"What will you two do then? Starve?"

Every word Yi Zhonghai said was like a small hammer, striking Sha Zhu's heart again and again.

Sha Zhu's smile gradually disappeared, replaced by a solemn expression.

He hadn't really thought about that much before.

He thought that as long as he had the money his father sent, and he could bring back some vegetables from time to time while working as an apprentice at Fengzeyuan, he could make ends meet.

But now that Yi Zhonghai has said this, he realizes that there are many problems ahead.

Marrying a wife... marrying off a younger sister...

These are all too distant for him, yet they are all real problems he has to face.

Especially Yi Zhonghai's last sentence, "What if his father doesn't give him the money?"

This possibility is not nonexistent.

Sha Zhu's heart jumped into his throat.

He discovered that he, the "pillar of support," seemed to be quite flimsy at all.

Seeing the change in Sha Zhu's expression, Yi Zhonghai knew that his words had worked.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

Create anxiety first, then offer a solution.

"Zhu Zi, you're an apprentice at Fengzeyuan now, right?"

"Mm." Sha Zhu nodded.

"Fengzeyuan is a good place, a grand hotel. But there are also a lot of talented people there! Think about it, so many apprentices, but only a handful of master chefs. How long do you expect to make it? Ten years? Twenty years?"

"Moreover, apprentices are paid very little, practically none, and the work is exhausting."

Yi Zhonghai shook his head, with an expression that said, "I'm doing this for your own good."

"Sir... then tell me, what should I do?"

Sha Zhu was completely bewildered and looked at Yi Zhonghai with a blank expression, regarding him as his savior.

This is exactly what Yi Zhonghai was waiting for.

He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and extended his "olive branch".

"Zhu Zi, let me show you the way."

"You can quit working at Fengzeyuan and come work at our steel rolling mill!"

"A steel rolling mill?" Sha Zhu was taken aback.

"Yes! It's the canteen at our steel mill. Uncle Yi knows you're a good cook."

"As long as you nod, I'll risk my reputation and talk to the cafeteria manager to get you in. Absolutely no problem!"

Yi Zhonghai patted his chest and solemnly guaranteed.

"Once you're in the steel rolling mill, you'll be a full-fledged worker! A secure job! Your monthly salary will be at least a hundred thousand! Much better than being an apprentice!"

"Besides, the factory has good benefits; they give out gifts during holidays. If you perform well in the future, I'll help you put in a good word for it—a raise, a promotion, it's no problem!"

"Just think about it, being a full-time cook at a steel rolling mill, how prestigious is that! When you're looking for a partner, or a husband for Yushui, you'll have nothing to be as proud of!"

Yi Zhonghai painted an incredibly beautiful picture, which made Sha Zhu's eyes widen in amazement.

A regular worker at the steel rolling mill!

iron rice bowl!

A monthly salary of over 100,000!

This...this is like a windfall!

Sha Zhu's heart was pounding.

He was tempted.

Seeing Sha Zhu's eager expression, Yi Zhonghai knew that the fish was about to take the bait.

He pressed on and increased the stakes.

"Zhu Zi, you're a smart kid, you need to broaden your horizons."

"At Fengzeyuan, you're just a junior apprentice. Above you are the master chefs, and above the master chefs are the head chefs. You have to work your way up level by level, and even if you work your way up until your hair turns white, you might not become the head chef."

"But it's different at the steel rolling mill!" Yi Zhonghai's voice held a tempting edge. "Our factory has tens of thousands of employees, and the canteen is only so big. As long as your skills are excellent, you'll quickly establish yourself. Then, you'll be the factory's Master He! Everyone will treat you with utmost respect!"

"Think about it, on one hand, there's the endless apprenticeship period, and on the other hand, there's a solid, secure job. Don't you know which is more worthwhile?"

Sha Zhu was so excited by Yi Zhonghai's words that he began to imagine himself wearing a white chef's uniform, wielding a large ladle in the steel mill canteen, and receiving the admiring gazes of the workers.

Yes, Grandpa Yi is right!

At Fengzeyuan, I was just a handyman. When the master was in a good mood, he would teach me a few tricks; when he was in a bad mood, I had to read his face.

But if you get into the steel rolling mill, you'll be a regular worker, and you'll be "Master He"!

Their social status is completely different!

"Sir, I..."

Sha Zhu rubbed his hands excitedly, about to agree immediately.

But when the words were on the tip of his tongue, he hesitated.

For some reason, Cheng Shuhai's image suddenly flashed through his mind.

Brother Cheng also raised his younger sister alone, but instead of working for someone else, he opened a small restaurant and became the boss.

Although the restaurant wasn't big, it was thriving. Brother Cheng was living a much more comfortable life than I was.

Moreover, Brother Cheng just reminded me to learn the craft properly.

Fengzeyuan is one of the top restaurants in Beijing. Wouldn't it be a shame to just leave like this?

On one hand, there's the secure job right in front of you; on the other, there's the long-term skill you need.

Sha Zhu's mind is a bit of a mess.

He's a straightforward person, not very quick-witted, and when faced with important decisions like this, he suddenly loses his mind.

"What's wrong? Is there anything else you're worried about?"

Yi Zhonghai noticed his hesitation and felt somewhat displeased, but his face remained amiable.

"N-nothing...nothing..." Sha Zhu stammered, "Grandpa, this is a big deal, I...I need to think about it."

"Want to? What's there to want to think about?" Yi Zhonghai frowned. "Zhu Zi, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Once it's gone, it'll be gone forever! Countless people are eyeing those seats in the canteen! It's only because of you that I'm willing to help you with this!"

He started putting pressure on Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu panicked even more after being urged like that.

He knew that Grandpa Yi was doing it for his own good, and it would be a real shame to miss such a good opportunity.

but……

He always felt that he should discuss this matter with someone.

Who to look for?

The first person he thought of was Cheng Shuhai.

In his view, Cheng Shuhai was resourceful, capable, and had a clearer understanding of things than he did.

For something this big, it's always good to listen to Brother Cheng's opinion.

"Uncle Yi, don't worry." Sha Zhu made up his mind and said to Yi Zhonghai, "Can you give me one night to think about it? Tomorrow, I will definitely give you an answer tomorrow."

He didn't mention going to discuss it with Cheng Shuhai, because he was afraid that Grandpa Yi would be unhappy.

Yi Zhonghai also knew that pushing things too hard would backfire.

Sha Zhu is the kind of person who responds better to gentle persuasion than force. If you push him too far, he might just quit, and all your efforts will be wasted.

"Okay." Yi Zhonghai considered it for a moment, then finally nodded, forcing a smile back onto his face.

"You should really think about it, after all, it's a major event that concerns your entire life."

He stood up, patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Zhu Zi, I'm doing this for your own good. Think about it carefully, is what I'm saying really true?"

"Come find me tomorrow when you've thought it through. I'll go to the factory and get it done for you right away!"

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Yi!"

Sha Zhu quickly got up to see him off.

"Alright, get some rest."

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, turned around and walked out of Sha Zhu's house.