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

When Deputy Factory Director Yang and Director Li brought Old Shi into the small restaurant, the dozen or so workers from the steel rolling mill immediately stood up and greeted them warmly.

"Hello, Deputy Factory Director Yang! Hello, Director Li!"

"Factory manager, director, you've come for lunch too!"

Deputy Factory Director Yang raised his hand and pressed down, a friendly smile on his face: "Sit down, everyone. It's after get off work hours, so there aren't so many rules. We're just ordinary diners who came to try the food."

Upon hearing this, the workers all smiled and sat down again, but their backs were noticeably straighter than before.

Although the leaders spoke politely, they dared not truly regard them as ordinary people.

At this moment, Cheng Ling'er, with her short legs, ran up to the three of them.

She tilted her little face up, her big, bright eyes curiously observing the three people in front of her, then asked in a clear, loud voice, "Grandpa, Uncles, what would you like to eat? My older brother's spicy chicken is the best in the world!"

The grandfather she was referring to was, of course, the white-haired, refined-looking Mr. Shi.

"Hahaha!" Old Shi was amused by the little girl and laughed heartily. He reached out to pat her head, but then thought it inappropriate, so he said with a smile, "What a sweet little girl! Alright, since it's the most delicious food in the world, we definitely have to try it."

Deputy Factory Director Yang and Director Li were also amused by Cheng Ling'er's quirky and clever appearance.

"Yes, we'll listen to our little girl, give us three servings of spicy chicken!"

Director Li said with a smile.

"Okay!" Cheng Ling'er nodded vigorously, then turned and ran towards the kitchen, shouting as she ran, "Big brother! The new grandpa and uncle want three servings of spicy chicken!"

Cheng Shuhai was busy at the stove when he heard his sister's call. He took a moment to glance outside.

When he saw Deputy Factory Director Yang and Director Li standing there, he immediately understood what was going on.

It seems the power of this spicy chicken is greater than I imagined, as it has even attracted Director Yang, the future head of the steel rolling mill.

He didn't say much, just replied "Okay," and his hands moved even faster.

Flames rose in the pot, and the aroma grew even stronger.

……

At the same time, the news spread like wildfire back to the courtyard house at No. 95.

"Have you heard? Deputy Director Yang from the steel rolling mill and Director Li from logistics are having dinner at Cheng Shuhai's little restaurant right now!"

"Really???"

"It's absolutely true! Zhang San from our workshop just came back from there and saw it with his own eyes! He said it was to entertain a big-shot engineer from out of town, and that engineer loves Cheng Shuhai's spicy chicken!"

The news broke as soon as it reached the Intermediate People's Court. Liu Haizhong, who was at home preparing dinner, immediately perked up his ears.

Deputy Factory Director Yang? Director Li?

The cornbread in his hand fell onto the table with a "thud," and his eyes instantly gleamed.

This is a golden opportunity!

If I could go there at this time, become familiar with the leaders, and say a few good words to them, then being promoted to a group leader or something like that would be just around the corner.

He grew increasingly agitated, and suddenly stood up from the stool, shouting to his wife and sons at the dinner table, "Old woman! You all eat first, I have important business to attend to at Cheng Shuhai's place!"

Liu's wife looked completely bewildered: "It's almost time to eat, what are you doing at his place?"

"You don't know anything!" Liu Haizhong glared at her, his mind filled with dreams of becoming an official. "This is for the sake of our family! Once I become an official, you can all just wait to enjoy the good life!"

After saying that, he didn't even have time to wipe his hands. He straightened his fairly clean work clothes and rushed out of the house as if he were going to pick up gold ingots.

Other workers in the compound who worked at the steel rolling mill were also disturbed by the news.

"Hey Lao Wang, what do you think, should we go check it out too?"

"Go for it! Why wouldn't you go! Having a meal with Deputy Factory Director Yang and the others at the same restaurant will make you look good in the factory! What if the leaders take a liking to us? Maybe we'll get a share of the year-end awards and raises!"

"Yes, yes, let's go, let's go together!"

In an instant, several workers in the yard also put down their bowls and chopsticks and hurriedly ran out of the yard.

In the front yard, Yan Bugui's wife, Yang Xiulian, watched the lively scene and nudged Yi Zhonghai, who was standing at the door of her house with a dark face, seemingly lost in thought.

"Hey, Lao Yi, everyone's gone, aren't you going too? You're a factory leader, you should at least say hello."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's face darkened further, and he forced out a few words through gritted teeth: "I just got back from his place, I'm not going!"

Should we send him back to Cheng Shuhai's little restaurant?

To look at Cheng Shuhai's smug face? That would be worse than killing him!

Seeing this, Yan Bugui quickly pulled his wife aside and complained in a low voice, "Why did you bring this up! You know the relationship between Lao Yi and Cheng Shuhai, aren't you just rubbing salt into their wounds?"

Yang Xiulian then realized what was happening, shrugged her head sheepishly, and dared not say another word.

She just asked casually, she never expected so much.

Just then, Sha Zhu returned from outside with his younger sister He Yushui.

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped forward, stopping Sha Zhu and asking, "Sha Zhu, you just came back from outside. Did you pass by Cheng Shuhai's little restaurant? Your master is the head chef of Fengzeyuan Restaurant. You tell me, is his spicy chicken as good as your master's?"

Other people in the courtyard also gathered around out of curiosity.

They all knew that Sha Zhu was an apprentice at Fengzeyuan, and his evaluation carried weight.

Sha Zhu was taken aback by the question and shook his head: "I didn't pass by. I came back via another route. What's wrong, Uncle Yan? Why is the courtyard so lively today?"

"Hey! You don't know yet? That kid Cheng Shuhai's really made it big these days. His cooking has even attracted the leaders of the steel rolling mill!"

One neighbor embellished the story.

"Yes, everyone says his spicy chicken is amazing. You should go see it and tell us just how good his skills are!"

As Sha Zhu listened to everyone's chatter, his curiosity was piqued.

Is Brother Cheng's cooking skill really that amazing? Even the factory leaders were impressed?

He knew very well that his father, He Daqing, who had run away, used to be able to do whatever he wanted in the courtyard because of his cooking skills, but he had never heard of him being able to invite the factory leaders to his home.

"Okay, I'll go check it out right now!" Sha Zhu became increasingly curious, and said to everyone, then took his sister He Yushui's hand, "Yushui, come on, brother will take you to see it. If it's really delicious, brother will buy you some to try!"

With that, he ignored everyone in the courtyard and, with his sister in tow, quickly walked toward Nanluoguxiang.