Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Tong Jie became increasingly agitated at home because she felt her son couldn't be worse than others.

Banggeng was the lifeblood of his mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi, and also her beloved son.

The husband, Jia Dongxu, earns 37.5 yuan a month, plus subsidies, which bring his total to just over 40 yuan.

In the last few months of the year, my mother-in-law and I can earn about 20 yuan by making sachima at home.

The Jia family earns a total of about 60 yuan a month, and has more than 1200 yuan in savings. With these conditions, why can't my dog, Bang Geng, drink milk powder and malted milk?

Thinking about this, Tong Jie's spirits rose, and she felt that she had to improve her son's nutrition.

So I told him about it during dinner.

Jia Dongxu thought his wife made a lot of sense; he could easily afford two cans of milk powder for 7 yuan a month.

So he nodded in agreement.

Jia Zhangshi said, "I have no problem with feeding my eldest grandson formula; seven or eight yuan a month isn't much, but where am I going to buy it?"

"Even milk powder and malted milk powder that don't require coupons are selling for seven or eight yuan a can. Two cans a month would cost fifteen or sixteen yuan. Who can afford that?"

"Uh..." Jia Zhangshi's words struck the couple's hearts like a heavy hammer.

It's only seven or eight yuan a month, but I'll pay it for my son.

But fifteen or sixteen yuan a month is not enough; that amount of money is enough for their food expenses for a month.

If we really wanted to drink that, it would cost our family about 30 yuan a month, which would be a huge financial burden.

The money earned from selling Sachima (a type of Chinese pastry) cannot be counted; it can only be done for about two or three months at the end of this year.

Originally, Jia Dongxu earned 41 yuan a month, and Tong Jie could save 20 yuan after deducting household expenses.

Even with the income from sachima (a type of Chinese pastry), I can only save 320 yuan a year.

That's incredibly impressive; Tong Jie's calculations are remarkably accurate.

Therefore, Madam Jia had no objection to her daughter-in-law managing the accounts, because it really did save money.

Jia Dongxu was also reluctant to spend the money on milk powder, so he said to Tong Jie:

"Honey, why don't we just forget about it? Giving our son more meat is better than formula."

"Our family's financial situation is what it is. If you really want to feed your son formula, I have no objection. Anyway, you're in charge of the money in the house."

Jia Dongxu made his stance clear: he didn't care whether he ate or not; not eating would allow him to maintain the status quo, while not eating would allow him to save more money.

Besides, a year or two of formula is enough; Jia Dongxu couldn't even imagine feeding it for several years.

Tong Jie struggled internally, but ultimately she made up her mind:

"Eat up, Li Jia Tie Niu is half a year younger than Jia Bang Geng, and he's even stronger than Bang Geng."

"Isn't it just a matter of what they eat? Let the hamster eat it for a year or two and see how it goes."

"Ten yuan a month won't bankrupt the Jia family. Anyway, my son can't be worse off than others!"

Tong Jie's words were powerful and resounding, leaving Jia Dongxu stunned.

"Clap clap clap clap..." Jia Zhangshi clapped and cheered for Tong Jie with a smile.

"Good, as expected of my Jia family's daughter-in-law, you have such high aspirations. You're right, our Jia family is second to none."

"Eat it. Get two cans of milk powder for my precious grandson every month. If you can't buy it, ask Lao Yi for help. He knows a lot of people and should be able to find a way."

Tong Jie's face flushed slightly from her mother-in-law's praise, but the matter of her son drinking formula was now settled.

Jia Dongxu smiled helplessly, letting his wife do whatever she wanted; he would just focus on making money.

In Beiping, an apprentice's salary could support a family, let alone Dongxu, who was a junior worker in a steel rolling mill, earning 37.5 yuan a month, which he could never spend!

Jia Dongxu is quite confident. His skills have been improving recently, and when he gets a higher level of expertise, the Jia family's standard of living will rise to another level.

Moreover, they also have mentor Yi Zhonghai, so the Jia family is really very confident.

Jia Dongxu gradually realized the benefits of having a powerful backer. His mentor in the courtyard was a liaison officer appointed by the street office, and that was his backer.

At the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, the foreman was also a senior fitter and his biggest supporter.

The factory also values ​​connections; it's extremely difficult to learn a skill without a mentor.

Having a master chef looking after you like Jia Dongxu is simply too wonderful.

Taking advantage of his free time, Jia Dongxu went to visit his master and told Yi Zhonghai about Tong Jie's desire for Bang Geng to eat milk powder or malted milk.

Without the slightest hesitation, Yi Zhonghai nodded and agreed to do it.

Since he doesn't have to spend any money, it's just a matter of using connections to sell things.

He simply couldn't refuse this, especially since it was a good thing.

Yi Zhonghai also wanted to do something to increase the nutrition of the hamster.

People still call him grandpa, and he's willing to pay even a little money from Jia Dongxu.

Yi Zhonghai has his own plans, and when he's willing to spend money, he's more generous than anyone else.

However, Yi Zhonghai was unsure where to begin with malted milk powder and milk powder.

You definitely can't buy it in state-run stores, don't even think about it. Yi Zhonghai has never been to the black market, nor would he dare to.

It's not worth going to the black market to buy some food for the kids; it's not like we can't afford to live.

As Jia Dongxu just mentioned, it was Tong Jie who got the idea to feed Bang Geng these things after seeing that Li Jiuzhou's family had brought a lot of milk powder and malted milk powder.

After thinking it through, Yi Zhonghai said to Jia Dongxu:

"Let's go to Jiuzhou's house and ask. If possible, let's ask him to spare two cans for us."

Jia Dongxu nodded upon hearing this: "Alright, Master, let's go then."

Just as they finished eating, Li Jiuzhou played with his son on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Tie Niu insisted on riding a big horse, so Li Jiuzhou had no choice but to comply.

If his son dares to be unfilial when he grows up, then he will not be left a single penny of his money or property...

Just as the father and son were having a good time, there was a knock on the door, and Bingbing went to open it.

"Uncle Yi, and Brother Dongxu, come inside quickly, it's cold outside."

After greeting the two, Bingbing called Li Jiuzhou into the house:

"Brother Zhou, Uncle Yi and Brother Dongxu are here. Come out quickly, I'm here to see my son."

After settling his son in, Li Jiuzhou came out.

There was hot water in the stove, so I brewed some jasmine tea and poured it for the two of them.

After the tea was served, Li Jiuzhou asked the two of them the purpose of their visit:

"Uncle Yi, Brother Dongxu, is something wrong?"

After exchanging a glance, Jia Dongxu spoke up. After all, it was his business, and it was already quite generous of his master to come with him. He couldn't very well let him speak; that would be too impolite and make it seem like he couldn't handle anything properly.

"Jiuzhou, it's like this, we'd like to give our Banggeng some extra nutrition, and we wanted to ask how much your Tieniu's monthly milk powder costs?"

Li Jiuzhou smiled upon hearing this. As parents themselves, he appreciated Jia Dongxu's kind intentions and felt there was nothing wrong with asking him about it.

Li Jiuzhou was willing to tell him everything.