Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

"I'll take all of Flying Dragon from you. You can calculate the price," Li Jiuzhou said.

A single dragon weighs a little over a pound, but normally it's half a pound or seven or eight ounces.

Moreover, since the hair and blood in Da Hu's hands had been removed, the damage was even less.

But those brought all the way from Northeast China are even more precious, and they're sold by the piece, regardless of how many kilograms you get.

It's not expensive, but the stuff is hard to get; even if you have the money, you might not have the connections to buy it.

These are all transported from Northeast China to Beijing, so it's reasonable for them to be sold at a higher price.

When Da Hu heard that his older brother was going to give him money, his face changed, and he waved his hands repeatedly:

"No, no, no, brother, you've helped me so much, it's just a few dragons, don't give me money, if you give me money I'll cut ties with you."

"Hehehe..." Li Jiuzhou liked Da Hu's attitude. It wasn't that he wanted to take advantage of Da Hu, but he admired Da Hu's grateful nature.

"Big Tiger, these aren't for me. I'll keep two for myself and take the rest to the steel mill's kitchen for the leaders to have a treat."

Upon hearing this, Da Hu immediately smiled and said, "Since it's the government that needs it, then just give me the money for three flying dragons."

"The other two are mine, consider them a treat for my sister-in-law and Little Iron Ox."

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you." Li Jiuzhou didn't like to push and pull or pretend to be reserved, so he simply accepted it without hesitation.

"Oh, right, I have something to tell you today."

Upon hearing this, Da Hu sat up straight, poured tea for Li Zhou, and lit a cigarette for him.

Li Jiuzhou took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled a thin mist, then said to Da Hu:

"Big Tiger, how are you doing now? Can you still do business?"

After hearing this, Da Hu hesitated for a few seconds: "Brother, you can do it, but you can't do it openly and honestly."

Li Jiuzhou nodded slightly: "Would you like to work as a purchasing agent at a steel rolling mill? It's 36 yuan a month."

Big Tiger was very surprised:

"Hmm? Well... I think it would be better to let my younger brother Erhu do it."

"As you know, I only earn about a hundred yuan a month, and I've worked hard to find my way in these past few years. It's really hard for me to give up all of this all at once."

"Brother, please don't be angry with me. I really can't bear to part with it; it's all money!"

Li Jiuzhou smiled and pointed at Da Hu with his finger:

"Heh, do you think you're something special? Just because you're a purchasing agent at a steel rolling mill doesn't mean you can do it openly and honestly."

"From now on, all purchases will be supported by the factory's certification. If anyone dares to cause you trouble, just beat them up."

Upon hearing this, Da Hu slapped his forehead heavily, a look of deep surprise spreading across his honest face:

"Bro, I'm such an idiot, how could I not have thought of that? Holy crap!"

"Hehehe..." Li Jiuzhou looked at Da Hu with a smile and didn't say anything.

Having been in business for many years, Da Hu immediately understood and asked the most crucial question:

"Brother, what if I buy too much? Will the factory be able to handle it?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jiuzhou squinted his eyes and exhaled a puff of smoke with a satisfied expression.

"From now on, you will be a formal purchasing agent at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. If the steel rolling mill can't handle the products you purchase, there are other units that can help."

"As long as your identity is legitimate, why worry about losing money?"

Da Hu's face lit up with surprise upon hearing this:

"Brother, I'll do it! I'll report to the steel mill tomorrow!"

Li Jiuzhou revealed an expression that suggested he was a promising student:

"That's right. It doesn't matter where you do business; having an identity makes things much easier."

"Purchasing staff travel all over the place anyway, it won't stop you from going to the countryside to collect wild game."

"Once you're settled in at the steel mill, it's not impossible for you to bring Erhu along... well, you know..."

Upon hearing this, Da Hu excitedly exclaimed:

"I understand, I understand, please stop talking, I understand, brother!"

"You really understand?" Li Jiuzhou looked at him with a skeptical gaze.

Da Hu nodded frantically upon hearing this, lowering his voice to say, "You just meant to arrange something for Er Hu after I've settled down, right? I understand, it's easier to arrange things with family."

"Brother, whatever you say goes. I'll do whatever you say."

Li Jiuzhou smiled wryly:

"I'm telling you to arrange everything for Erhu yourself. If I do everything for you, when will you ever act like a man?"

"As the eldest brother, you need to have the power, otherwise how can you keep the younger ones in check?"

Upon hearing this, Da Hu revealed a slightly arrogant smile:

"Bro, I'm not bragging, but if Erhu dares to misbehave in front of me, I'll beat him to death!"

"If you don't have the ability, don't be a big brother, you said it!"

"Haha, okay, you're good, it's settled then. Come find me at the factory's first canteen tomorrow morning."

"Don't make a fuss about this. Even if you get into the factory, don't say it was my arrangement."

"What would you say if someone asked you?"

Big Tiger looked like he knew everything:

"Some people ask if I bought it with money, but it's not like I can't afford it~"

Li Jiuzhou smiled and waved to Da Hu: "Get lost, I'm going to sleep."

"Alright!" Big Tiger responded, took out two flying dragons from his cloth bag, left some ice, and then left.

Li Jiuzhou moved the two flying dragons to the kitchen for safekeeping; the cool weather would make them easier to preserve.

The next day he got up very early to deal with the flying dragon.

The hazel grouse, also known as the hazel grouse, is edible now, but not in the future.

The method is very simple and doesn't require too much fancy stuff. Since it's frozen, it needs to be blanched to remove the fishy smell.

Then, Li Jiuzhou added some ginseng and simmered it in a clay pot over low heat.

Both were cooked in a large earthenware pot.

After that, I only add a little salt and no other seasonings.

The finished product has a clear broth, tender meat, and a rich, savory flavor.

Li Jiuzhou was very satisfied after tasting the soup; it tasted just right.

We'll start cooking after my wife and kids wake up.

Sha Zhu came over almost as soon as he smelled it:

"What kind of family is this, making ginseng soup so early in the morning?"

Li Jiuzhou pointed to the bowls and chopsticks on the table:

"Take the bowl and try it yourself."

Sha Zhu didn't stand on ceremony. He took a piece of meat and half a bowl of soup, first drinking a sip of soup and then tasting the meat.

He then closed his eyes and tried to recall carefully. He was sure he had eaten this meat before, but he had forgotten what it was called.

If I can't think of anything, I'll just stop thinking about it:

"Senior brother, only you could bring out this flavor so perfectly, it's so fresh."

"But I've forgotten what kind of meat it was."

At this moment, Iron Milk said in a childish voice:

"Uncle, Father says it's dragon meat!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Flying Dragon!"

Li Jiuzhou smiled and nodded.

Sha Zhu immediately grabbed another bowl, ate some, and then happily went home.

This is for his wife to try. This stuff is hard to come by in Beiping, so of course I have to let my wife have a chance to try it.

Being so close to my senior brother, I don't need to worry about anything; there aren't many rules.

Li Jiuzhou's family would never bother with Sha Zhu over a little food.

Both families are used to it, so there's no need to say anything more.

Sha Zhu wouldn't be so foolish as to give the deaf old lady another bowl.

If he were to actually give a bowl to the deaf old lady, it wouldn't just be his senior brother who would beat him up; even his father and master would team up to beat him to death!

People with different relationships cannot enjoy the same treatment; even among those who are familiar with each other, there should be distinctions based on closeness or distance.