Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Some chefs' dishes are so memorable that you can remember their taste immediately, just like some people only recognize one barber in their entire lives.

No matter how well someone else cuts it, it just doesn't feel right; it just doesn't have the right feel.

The big boss was really craving Sha Zhu's taste, and since it was the end of the year and he was on an inspection tour, he decided to go there.

Yang Ligong was so smug. "You silly Zhu, you weren't happy about it, were you? Now that the leader is here, your private business has become official business. You can hide now, you can hide now!"

The top leader was extremely satisfied with the meal, and afterwards he specially took his secretary to the kitchen.

Seeing Sha Zhu's happy expression as he tidied up the kitchen utensils:

"Master He, you're busy!"

When Sha Zhu turned around and saw that it was the big leader, a smile immediately appeared on his face:

"Hey boss, what brings you to the kitchen? Did you enjoy the food today?"

The high-ranking leader smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Your cooking is just to my liking."

"I came to see you and also to ask you for a favor."

Sha Zhu patted his chest and said:

"You said I would do my best as long as it's within my power."

"How about you cook me a meal on your day off?" the big boss asked, stating his request.

"No problem, I have time on my day off," Shazhu agreed.

If Yang Ligong were to handle personnel matters, he wouldn't bother with it; he just bosses people around without giving them any benefits.

But it's different when the big boss speaks up personally; Sha Zhu still knows his limits.

The big boss smiled, patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder, and said:

"Then it's settled. I'll send a car to pick you up on the afternoon of my rest day."

"Okay, no problem."

After making the appointment with Sha Zhu, the big boss left; he was busy.

Sha Zhu turned around and told his senior brother Li Jiuzhou about it.

Li Jiuzhou was naturally willing to let Sha Zhu befriend the big boss; it was his personal fortune, and there was no need to deliberately stop him.

Tell him to watch what he says; the big boss is not like Yang Ligong.

Sha Zhu agreed very seriously.

Yang Ligong was very unhappy to learn that his superior had secretly gone to see Sha Zhu. He knew perfectly well what his superior wanted to talk to Sha Zhu about.

He was worried about Sha Zhu's mouth, fearing he might say something bad about him at the leader's house, so he panicked a little.

He called Sha Zhu directly to his office, said that he hadn't been paid last time, and gave him an envelope.

They even said that what happened last time was a misunderstanding and told him not to worry about it.

Sha Zhu took the envelope and opened it in front of Yang Ligong. He grinned when he saw what was inside.

There was 68 yuan inside, along with his monthly grain ration coupons.

He thought to himself, "It's not that you don't have money, you just don't want to give it."

He knew perfectly well why Yang Ligong wanted to see him, so Sha Zhu spoke up:

"Yang Factory Manager, if you had done this earlier, none of this would have happened. I'm a simple person; if you hire me to do work, you should pay me."

"I don't want to take advantage of you, but you shouldn't take advantage of me either."

"Let's keep our public and private matters separate and settle things clearly to avoid future trouble."

"Don't worry, I'm very discreet. I know what I should and shouldn't say."

Yang Ligong said with a forced smile, "Alright, that's good to hear. Go back and get back to work."

As soon as Sha Zhu stepped out of the office, Yang Ligong's face returned to normal. Sha Zhu's words weren't without reason; public matters should be kept separate from private ones, and things should be handled as they should be.

Yang Ligong shook his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh, muttering, "Why should I argue with a cook?"

Sha Zhu is not his competitor at all; they have no connection whatsoever. Making things difficult for him would be a thankless task.

Yang Ligong also mentally defined Sha Zhu as someone who was obsessed with money, had a terrible lack of awareness, and could only work as a cook for the rest of his life!

On his day off, Li Jiuzhou didn't want to make breakfast, so the whole family went out to eat braised pork buns.

They happened to see Sha Zhu and his family of three, as well as Xu Damao with his sister.

If you have company, you might as well eat together; Sha Zhu will treat.

No tickets are needed to eat braised pork offal; it's all offal.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group returned to the courtyard. Before they even entered, they could hear a loud commotion coming from the neighboring courtyard.

"Oh no, Old Wang's gone!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jiuzhou and the others immediately rushed into the neighboring courtyard at No. 94.

The corner room was now surrounded by people.

Yi Zhonghai and others also came upon hearing the commotion.

Upon closer inspection, I saw an elderly man in his sixties lying motionless on the bed. Because it was winter, the smell wasn't strong, but that didn't mean there was no smell at all; there was still the stench of a corpse.

Xu Damao's enthusiasm for watching the excitement has gone a bit too far.

He went inside to look at the body. Old Wang's face was bluish-black and there was a foul stench. He quickly covered his mouth and ran out.

As soon as I stepped out of the room, I couldn't help but vomit up the soup and water.

There was also a small piece of braised pork intestine that I hadn't chewed properly!

Xu Damao's vomiting disgusted the onlookers, and many of them were also affected and vomited.

However, this was just a minor incident, and everyone continued talking around Old Wang.

Old Wang had no children, no job, and lived in the back house. The people in courtyard number 94 really didn't know when he died.

When Yi Zhonghai saw Old Wang's miserable state, he felt a chill run through his body.

The big guy could tell how he died. The upper right corner of the roof was broken, letting snow down, and the window paper was torn by the wind. It was obvious that he froze to death in the middle of the night.

Old Wang and Yi Zhonghai were very familiar with each other. They were both down on their luck and had no children, so they naturally had common topics to talk about.

Occasionally, we can get together for a drink and reminisce about the past.

It's only been half a month since I last contacted Old Wang, and he's just suddenly gone?

It seems they froze to death. Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai felt a surge of anger.

He walked up to the three liaison officers of courtyard number 94, pointed at them, and began to hurl insults:

"What the hell kind of liaisons are you? The person's been dead for days, the body was practically rotting before you even found out!"

"It's a huge joke that people can freeze to death right under the nose of the capital. If word gets out, the entire Nanluoguxiang area will lose all face."

Yi Zhonghai's cursing was very loud, and the three liaison officers also looked very grim. This was a huge responsibility.

Although Old Wang had no children, he lived a carefree life. The neighborhood committee provided him with 5 yuan and 25 jin of grain every month, which kept him from starving.

Moreover, Old Wang is not old at over 60 years old; he is in the prime of his life and still collects and sells scraps, earning a little money each month.

Whether Old Wang starved to death or froze to death, that's not the problem. The real problem is that it took several days to be discovered.

First of all, the liaison officer's responsibility must be investigated. How can someone be a liaison officer if they don't even know their neighbor has died?

Before Director Wang even entered the hospital, she heard Yi Zhonghai's angry curses, and she felt that he was right to curse.

The liaison officer number 94 was extremely irresponsible. He was dismissed on the spot after he came in, and they even had to write a self-criticism.

The other neighbors were also scolded; Old Wang hadn't shown up for almost half a month and no one had gone to check on him—it was truly unbelievable.

They're neighbors, for goodness' sake. How could they be so inconsiderate?

Old Wang was taken away and disposed of by people called in by the neighborhood committee; he didn't even get a single incense stick after his death.

Yi Zhonghai's face twitched uncontrollably as he watched, and he really wanted to tell Director Wang to light two candles and a bundle of incense by the bedside!

If possible, Yi Zhonghai would like to let Old Wang leave with dignity.

But Director Wang's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water, and he remained silent.

Not to mention things like smashing pots and burning paper money; that's what happens when you have no children.

Yi Zhonghai spent the day like a walking corpse, listless and dispirited.

Because Old Wang was their ultimate destiny.