Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Sha Zhu and Factory Director Yang had a very unpleasant argument. During this time, Yang Ligong really wanted to cause trouble for Sha Zhu, but he didn't know where to start.

He works diligently in the canteen and has an excellent reputation among the workers.

Yang Ligong could disregard the workers' treatment of Sha Zhu, but he couldn't disregard the attitudes of the other factory leaders.

He just couldn't get past Li Huaide.

Li Huaide came from the military. It should be noted that after the founding of the People's Republic of China, most places were under military control, and many leaders of local governments and even large factories were demobilized soldiers.

This alone gives you an idea of ​​how powerful Li Huaide's connections are. And this is just Li Huaide's own network of relationships; if you include his father-in-law, it's even more impressive.

What makes Yang Ligong comparable to Li Huaide?

Yes, he is now Li Huaide's superior, but the relationship isn't strong, and it's not impossible for someone else to surpass him.

Yang Ligong still had to pull strings himself. It wasn't that he didn't have connections, but they weren't from the Ministry of Industry, so their influence couldn't reach him.

Yang Ligong was considered the second-in-command in the factory; above him was the Party Secretary.

It's practically impossible to leave the steel rolling mill within the next ten years.

So Yang Ligong felt increasingly aggrieved. "I'm the second-in-command of a factory, a deputy director-level cadre, and I can't even handle a lousy cook?"

He was overthinking it. At this point, as long as the worker didn't make any mistakes in their choices, there was no way to dismiss or severely punish them.

Is it true that Sha Zhu talked back to his superiors?

Who saw it?

Who knows whose side the workers will take after they find out?

If he faces resistance from the workers, he could be removed from office.

Yang Ligong had no choice but to suppress his anger and temporarily put aside the matter of Sha Zhu.

As for Sha Zhu, he's the kind of person who always seeks revenge. Yang Ligong is too strong to be easily bullied, but Sha Zhu still has ways to deal with that Secretary Zhou.

He directly warned in the kitchen that anyone encountering this little brat while getting food should be careful.

"Uncle-Master, didn't you say that the cafeteria doesn't shake the spoon?" You Fulai asked in confusion.

The rest of the kitchen staff also looked at Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu said irritably, "I told you guys to be smarter. When did I say I was going to shake the ladle?"

"We're all chefs, do you think I need to teach you this little trick?"

After hearing Sha Zhu's words, everyone smiled knowingly.

Especially the veteran chefs, they were overjoyed. The kitchen was so boring, they had to find some fun to cheer themselves up once in a while.

Several younger people who didn't quite understand immediately went to ask the experienced masters, who didn't hold back and told them the ins and outs of the trade.

Both canteens received the notification from Sha Zhu and were immediately filled with anticipation.

The next day at lunchtime, Secretary Zhou got his food at the first canteen.

Everyone knows the factory manager's secretary, and people will let him go first in line as a sign of goodwill.

Zhou Derong, on the other hand, felt perfectly justified in queuing up first and even said to the person who gave up their place, "You're a smart kid."

This made the people behind him spit inwardly, thinking, "Who the hell are you? You're just waving a tiger's skin and raising a big flag!"

Soon it was Zhou Derong's turn. He put down his lunchbox and said to the kitchen helper, "Get my rice!"

The kitchen helper glanced at him without saying a word, deftly flipping the spoon and scooping up a full portion.

Zhou Derong's lips curled slightly as he watched, but his smile quickly faded.

A spoonful looks full, but why the hell are you shaking it?

They were all tiny pieces of meat, each the size of a fingernail.

The last three steamed buns were even smaller than the others.

Seeing that he wouldn't leave, the kitchen helper offered a suggestion:

"Next."

"Hey buddy, what do you mean?" Zhou Derong said grimly.

The kitchen helper remained calm and asked in return:

"So what do you mean? Is it not enough? One spoonful of braised pork for each person, and three steamed buns for each person."

"Your lunchbox is full, did I give you too little?"

Hearing the commotion, the workers in line looked over and saw that Zhou Derong's lunchbox was full, with bits of meat floating on top.

Although the steamed buns are a bit small, isn't it normal to sometimes have some scraps left over from making them?

The workers have eaten leftover scraps before, and sometimes they need to understand each other with the kitchen staff.

Why are you unhappy about getting the scraps, Secretary Zhou?

Immediately, some people at the back of the line started swearing and cursing:

"Can you hurry up? My lunchbox is already full, what more do you want? Just because you're the factory manager's secretary doesn't mean I should give you more! Hurry up, you idiot!"

Zhou Derong left with a gloomy face, carrying his lunchbox. He didn't have the guts to go against the workers.

He never imagined that Sha Zhu was the one who tripped him up. As the factory director's secretary, he could basically do whatever he wanted in the factory, and everyone respected him.

He had always come to the cafeteria for food before, so the sudden shortage this time made him very unhappy.

As it continued for the next few days, Zhou Derong immediately realized that someone was setting him up.

He's not getting enough to eat, damn it!

The dishes served to him seemed plentiful, but they were mostly soupy and watery, and the steamed buns and cornbread were all the smallest available.

The fact that both canteens treated him this way made Zhou Derong extremely upset.

The worst part is that you can't tell your boss. Reporting such a small thing to your boss would make him look incompetent.

Zhou Derong had a solution: instead of getting his own food, he would ask someone else to get it for him.

There was nothing Sha Zhu could do about Zhou Derong's actions.

The one who was most upset was Yang Ligong, because his boss called and said there was a family dinner and he wanted to invite Sha Zhu to cook.

But the two had already fallen out that day, and Yang Ligong wouldn't lose face by going to find Sha Zhu.

He sent the secretary to find Sha Zhu, but Sha Zhu immediately started cursing at Secretary Zhou and told him to get lost.

Yang Ligong had no choice; the leader had specifically requested Sha Zhu to do it, and he had to handle it perfectly.

So he went to Li Jiuzhou and asked him to persuade Sha Zhu.

"Factory manager, there are some things I feel I need to make clear to you."

Yang Ligong frowned slightly and said, "Go on."

Li Jiuzhou said, "The pay for our side jobs is quite high."

"If it's the factory's hospitality, we have nothing to say, we'll definitely do a great job."

"There are standards for how well you do freelance work. We won't sell our skills cheaply if there isn't a suitable price."

Yang Ligong said, "Going to cook for a leader's family and getting to know important people is such a rare opportunity, why don't you cherish it?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jiuzhou smiled faintly and said, "Factory manager, not everyone wants to meet important people. We have a rule in our industry: we don't ask about the guests, we just focus on cooking."

"As long as the pay is right, we don't care whether you're a leader or a beggar."

Factory Director Yang remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "He Yuzhu isn't going, so what about you?"

"You're his senior in the same field, and your cooking skills are even better than his. Making a Sichuan meal should be a piece of cake for you, right?"

"Hehe..." Li Jiuzhou laughed directly:

"If my junior brother doesn't even want this kind of work, then naturally I, as the senior brother, would look down on it even less. Don't I have any pride?"

"Here's a suggestion: Emei Restaurant has many Sichuan cuisine chefs; you could consider hiring them there."

Li Jiuzhou had made it very clear in his words that the two brothers had no complaints about the work at the factory, and they would do it if there was any hospitality involved.

If you're asking for side jobs, I'm sorry, I can't do any of them!

Yang Ligong left in a huff, angry that Li Jiuzhou didn't know what was good for him, but there was nothing he could do about it.

You have to consider whether someone is willing to cook for you, it's not like it's factory work.

Yang Ligong had no choice but to call his superior and say that Sha Zhu was unavailable today. That was all he could say.

The leader could only say it was a pity; he didn't know the details and wouldn't bother with such matters, so he could only try to find another solution.

Does that mean I'll have to eat hairy pigs if He Yuzhu isn't around?

Soon the leader found a Sichuan chef in Beiping, but the taste of his cooking was still not quite up to par.

It's obvious that He Yuzhu's cooking skills are better and suit his taste better.