Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Li Jiuzhou and his brother didn't say anything more and entered the courtyard one after the other with Jia Dongxu.

Qin Huairu happened to be visiting Li Jiuzhou's house, but she was actually waiting for her husband to come home from get off work.

A man who gets married and has a family has something to look forward to, let alone a rascal like Sha Zhu.

Seeing Qin Huairu grinning from ear to ear, calling her "wife" this and "wife" that, made Li Jiuzhou's teeth ache.

He started jokingly:

"Hey, hey, hey, don't stick your teeth in my house. If you want to be affectionate, go home."

Qin Huairu blushed slightly, but Sha Zhu didn't seem to mind, and the two leisurely went home.

At the Jia family compound in the Intermediate People's Court, Jia Dongxu was showing concern and care for Tong Jie, and judging from his behavior, he was truly a good husband!

Tong Jie felt a warmth in her heart:

"Dongxu, go take a shower. Take a shower before it gets too late, or you might catch a cold."

Jia Dongxu readily agreed, then changed the subject:

"Honey, could you give me some money? I don't have enough."

Tong Jie frowned slightly upon hearing this:

"Didn't I give it to you the day before yesterday? You've already spent it all?"

"Oh, this is just a get-together with my coworkers after get off work. We can't always let them treat us. It's the exchange that keeps the relationship going, right, honey?" Jia Dongxu said, giving the answer he had prepared in advance.

Jia Zhangshi, who was sewing shoe soles nearby, glanced at her son with some suspicion, feeling that something was wrong, but she didn't say anything.

Seeing her husband's words, Tong Jie softened and asked, "How much do you want?"

"Fifty thousand, that should last a long time," Jia Dongxu said, giving a number.

Tong Jie thought about it and agreed:

"Okay, I'll give it to you before I go to work tomorrow. Go take a shower first!"

"Alright!" Jia Dongxu smiled immediately when he saw his wife agree, praising Tong Jie for being good at managing the household and for charming her so well.

After Jia Dongxu went to take a bath, Jia Zhangshi could no longer hold back and asked Tong Jie:

"Daughter-in-law, how much money did Dongxu ask you for this month?"

After hearing this, Tong Jie silently did the math in her head. She was shocked when she did the math, and she was a little afraid to tell her mother-in-law.

Seeing Tong Jie hesitate, Jia Zhangshi became anxious: "What's wrong? Can't you tell me?"

Tong Jie quickly explained, "Mom, it's not that I can't tell you, I'm just afraid you'll get angry!"

"I'm not angry. Just say it. Anyway, you're the one in charge," said Madam Jia.

"Dongxu asked me for 19 yuan this month!" Tong Jie thought it would be better to tell her mother-in-law.

Madam Jia was stunned when she heard this. She had thought her son just wanted some pocket money, but it turned out he wanted so much.

"What the hell? What kind of alcohol does he drink that costs 19 a month?"

"So, my mother-in-law and I are eating nothing but coarse food at home?"

"How can Dongxu spend so much money?"

Seeing her mother-in-law's agitated state, Tong Jie quickly tried to calm her down:

"Mom, please don't get agitated. How could I refuse Dongxu's money?"

"Even though I'm in charge, he's the one who earns the money!"

Jia Zhangshi was full of complaints:

"You can't spend like that! You only earn 27 a month, and Dongxu spends 19. What kind of 'fairy life' is that?"

Tong Jie also felt that her husband's spending habits were wrong, but for the sake of family harmony, she couldn't be too blunt.

"Mom, it's just that I spent a little more this month. I'll control it after I get paid next month. Please don't make a fuss about it. Dongxu is tired from work, so don't disturb his rest."

Jia Zhangshi pouted: "You, you're just always protecting him!"

"I'm not going to get involved in this anymore. You, as the head of the household, are in charge of handling it."

Tong Jie smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mom, I'll handle it."

Tong Jie handled the relationship between the three members of the Jia family very well. Madam Jia trusted this daughter-in-law very much and was showing a tendency to side with her.

That night, Tong Jie gently advised Jia Dongxu in the room, saying that he didn't earn money easily and should be careful with his spending so that he wouldn't be cheated by those dishonest coworkers.

Jia Dongxu showed no sign of displeasure, patting his chest in agreement, promising to listen to advice, but never actually changing his ways...

Another half month passed, and Jia Dongxu kept asking for money in different ways.

Jia Zhangshi felt increasingly uneasy.

I tried to persuade them several times, but I never got the chance.

Tong Jie had her doubts, but she trusted Jia Dongxu too much to consider that possibility.

She usually had a very good impression of Jia Dongxu.

One noon, Li Jiuzhou was busy in the kitchen, supervising the kitchen staff as they prepared the dishes. He would taste the dishes and serve them if they were acceptable; otherwise, he would send them back to be remade.

Just then, Sha Zhu came over carrying a plate of food:

"Senior brother, Second Uncle ordered the stir-fried pork kidneys. Please try them. If you like them, I'll personally deliver them to you!"

After taking a bite, Li Jiuzhou nodded: "Go ahead."

Alright~

After a long while, the kitchen finally finished its work and everyone could take a break. Some drank tea, while others smoked.

Li Jiuzhou was sitting, drinking tea and smoking, when a voice rang out:

"Nine Provinces..."

Li Jiuzhou turned around and saw his second uncle walking unsteadily with a pigeon-toed gait, supported by Sha Zhu.

"Hey, you've had quite a bit to drink, Uncle," Li Jiuzhou said with a smile.

Li Huaide waved his hand: "It's just a little drink. I came to see you, but I'll be back in a bit. I have a mission tonight."

Without even thinking, Sha Zhu blurted out, "What mission, Second Uncle?"

Li Jiuzhou patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder and glared at him: "Don't ask questions you shouldn't!"

"Hehehe, it's nothing, it's nothing. It's not that secret mission, it's fine to tell you."

Li Huaide paused for a moment, then continued, "Tonight we're cracking down on prostitution."

"Listen up, guys, I don't want to run into anyone I know..."

"Ha ha ha ha..."

The kitchen immediately erupted in lewd laughter; they were all men, and those who knew, knew!

One chef joked:

"Don't worry, Director Li, we're law-abiding citizens. If you catch us, we'll definitely confess!"

"If you're wrong, admit it; if you're going to be punished, stand at attention!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Li Huaide was very talkative, and even when he had drunk a little too much, he could still chat endlessly.

Before leaving, he told Li Jiuzhou to come back to the courtyard for dinner the day after tomorrow.

After he left, Sha Zhu pulled Li Jiuzhou aside, handed him a cigarette, and lit it for him in one smooth motion.

At this moment, Sha Zhu said meaningfully:

"Senior brother, do you think Uncle will raid some of our acquaintances tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jiuzhou didn't think carefully and casually replied:

"Tch, Beijing is so big, where would I find so many acquaintances?"

"Senior brother, you've forgotten, Jia Dongxu from the Central Academy a while ago..." Sha Zhu reminded him.

"Phew...hehehe, Dongxu shouldn't be that unlucky, right?" Li Jiuzhou laughed.

Sha Zhu laughed gleefully.

"I think it's unlikely. Jia Dongxu has been coming home quite late lately, sometimes it's almost 11 o'clock."

"It was quite noisy; my wife is a light sleeper and was woken up."

"Senior brother, do you think we should remind Jia Dongxu that his wife is about to give birth?"

Sha Zhu eventually had a change of heart; he was afraid that if Jia Dongxu were arrested, his wife would definitely have some problems.

She's heavily pregnant and about to give birth; if she suffers a blow, the consequences could be quite serious.

Li Jiuzhou frowned upon hearing this; he understood the meaning behind Sha Zhu's words.

There's no need to worry about Jia Dongxu; that bastard deserved to be arrested for what he did.

After thinking for a long time, Li Jiuzhou still shook his head:

"People can't teach you everything, but they can learn something after just one lesson."

"Given Jia Dongxu's personality, reminding him this time won't work. It will only make him feel lucky and he'll definitely do it again next time."

"Tong Jie has a good personality. She's a country girl, and she's also very healthy. She can handle it, so don't worry."

"You should worry about Jia Zhangshi instead of Tong Jie; she's bound to cause trouble..."

Sha Zhu nodded repeatedly after hearing this:

"Then I'll listen to you, senior brother. What if Jia Dongxu doesn't go tonight?"

"Okay, let's go eat."