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

"Ah, that feels good! I haven't had such a satisfying meal in ages!" He patted his stomach, looking radiant with energy.

Seeing this, Deputy Factory Director Yang quickly went over, his face beaming with joy: "Old Shi, do you like the food?"

"It's more than just to my liking!" Old Shi slapped his thigh. "It's absolutely delicious! Old Yang, your steel rolling mill is truly a place where hidden talents abound! With such skilled craftsmen, why didn't you reveal them sooner?"

Deputy Factory Director Yang was a little embarrassed by the praise. He pulled Director Li next to him and said, "Old Shi, this isn't one of our factory's workers. It's all thanks to Old Li. He specially bought it for you from outside."

"Oh?" Old Shi then turned his gaze to Director Li, nodding approvingly. "Director Li, thank you so much! I haven't had such authentic hometown food in so long!"

"It's our duty, it's our duty to make sure you, Elder Shi, have a good meal."

Director Li spoke modestly, but inwardly he was quite pleased.

You did a great job today. When the factory director and the party secretary come back from the north, they'll definitely give you credit!

Deputy Factory Director Yang pulled Director Li aside, lowered his voice, and asked urgently, "Old Li, tell me quickly, where did you get this spicy chicken? Which restaurant's chef made it?"

He had already made up his mind that no matter the cost, he would poach this master!

Director Li lowered his voice, a hint of excitement and mystery on his face: "Director Yang, you'd never guess! The person who made this dish isn't some seasoned chef from a fancy restaurant at all!"

"Where is that?"

"It's in Nanluoguxiang, a small, unassuming restaurant!" Director Li gestured towards the name. "The cook there is incredibly young! He looks to be in his early twenties! His skills are absolutely amazing!"

"What?!" Deputy Factory Director Yang was also taken aback. "A young man in his early twenties?"

Although their conversation was not loud, Yi Zhonghai, who was standing next to them, and several workers who lived in the same courtyard at No. 95 could hear it clearly.

Nanluoguxiang... a small restaurant... a young man in his early twenties...

The combination of these keywords made Yi Zhonghai's heart skip a beat.

A thought he didn't want to believe suddenly popped into his mind.

No way?

Could it be...?

He muttered incredulously to himself, "Cheng Shuhai's cooking... is that good?"

He could smell the aroma of the spicy chicken himself, and it was indeed incredibly fragrant.

But he just couldn't connect this dish, which even the experts praised, with the enemy who ruined his reputation.

However, his unconscious muttering was overheard by Deputy Factory Director Yang and Director Li, who both have sharp ears.

The two men suddenly turned their heads and stared intently at Yi Zhonghai.

Deputy Factory Director Yang and Director Li's gazes, like two searchlights, immediately fell upon Yi Zhonghai.

"Comrade Yi?"

Deputy Factory Director Yang spoke first. Although he was the deputy factory director, he still remembered some of the veteran workers in the factory. He recognized Yi Zhonghai as a skilled intermediate fitter in the fitter workshop.

"What did you just say? You know the owner of this little restaurant?"

Deputy Factory Director Yang's tone carried a hint of urgency and uncertainty.

Yi Zhonghai's heart sank.

Oh no! I let it slip!

He wanted to slap himself hard.

Why can't he control his mouth?

Now, with two senior leaders in the factory watching him, he can't pretend he didn't say anything anymore.

Several of his coworkers nearby also looked at him curiously.

"Old Yi, you really know him?"

"Yeah, that little restaurant in Nanluoguxiang, isn't it the one near our compound gate?"

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Yi Zhonghai felt a chill run down his spine, but now that things had come to this, he couldn't deny it. There was no need to hide it, and it couldn't be hidden anyway.

He could only force himself to nod and say in a dry voice, "Um... I know him. The owner of that restaurant is called Cheng Shuhai, and... he lives in the same courtyard house as us."

"What?!"

This time, it was Deputy Factory Director Yang and Director Li who were shocked.

They looked at each other and saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

What a coincidence!

Deputy Factory Director Yang slapped his thigh excitedly and immediately said to Yi Zhonghai, "Comrade Yi! That's wonderful! That's absolutely wonderful!"

He grabbed Yi Zhonghai's arm with such force that it hurt Yi Zhonghai.

"Could you...could you help me invite Comrade Cheng Shuhai to our steel rolling mill?"

"Tell him that if he's willing to come, I'll make the decision to put him directly in charge of our factory's third canteen!"

"The salary and benefits will be excellent! He definitely won't be disappointed!"

Deputy Factory Director Yang's eyes lit up, and he couldn't wait to state his terms.

These words caused an uproar among the surrounding workers.

"My God! How much would that cost a month?!"

The workers were talking amongst themselves, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

However, these words were more painful to Yi Zhonghai than a knife piercing his heart.

What?

Should we bring Cheng Shuhai to the steel rolling mill?

If you're also in charge of the third canteen, won't your salary be higher than mine?

Yi Zhonghai's mind went blank, and he almost fainted from anger on the spot.

The image of Cheng Shuhai's calm yet hateful face appeared before his eyes.

This enemy who ruined his reputation, humiliated him in public, and whom he hated to the core, is now being invited in by the factory leaders like a treasure, and is even to sit on equal footing with him.

This is worse than killing him!

No! Absolutely not!

Yi Zhonghai was screaming wildly in his heart.

He didn't want to have to watch over Cheng Shuhai in the courtyard house and then again at the factory! How could he possibly live like that? He'd be driven mad with anger!

A strong sense of resistance welled up inside me.

Almost instinctively, he started to sabotage the matter.

He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and said to Deputy Factory Director Yang, "Factory Director Yang, this... I'm afraid it's unlikely."

"Potentially bad? What do you mean?" Deputy Factory Director Yang frowned.

"Think about it,"

"Cheng Shuhai owns a restaurant, and business is booming."

"How could he possibly be interested in the meager wages offered by our cafeteria and come here to be subject to such constraints?"

Yi Zhonghai began his performance, pretending to be very knowledgeable about the situation.

His words were half true and half false.

It's true that Cheng Shuhai's restaurant is doing well. But how much he makes, he can only guess.

But Deputy Factory Director Yang found these words to make a lot of sense.

Director Li nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, Director Yang, Master Yi is right. When I went there today, I saw it with my own eyes. The small restaurant was packed with people, and business was booming! It's really unlikely that we can invite him here."