Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

When Yan Bugui got home, he didn't rest. He processed the two crucian carp, each about the thickness of a finger, that he had caught that afternoon.

He originally wanted to throw it away, thinking that fish soaked in corpse water were disgusting to eat. But then he thought about how he had been fishing at that spot for years and had eaten countless fish. Now it was too late to complain about the disgust.

Yan Bugui was processing the fish, and Jia Zhangshi wanted to see how many fish he had caught, so she pretended to go to the pool to wash her hands.

Upon seeing that there was only one fish, Jia Zhangshi curled her lip and cursed inwardly as a good-for-nothing.

When Yan Bugui saw Jia Zhangshi coming over, a thought immediately crossed his mind, and he smiled. He pretended to casually pour the fish into the pond, then took the empty plate and went back to the front yard.

Knowing Jia Zhangshi's personality, Yan Bugui was certain she would take it, and she definitely would.

Sure enough, after watching Yan Bugui's figure disappear into the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi picked up the cleaned fish and rushed home, not even wanting to linger for a moment. What if Yan Bugui turned around and came back? She wouldn't even bother acting anymore.

Yan Bugui didn't even need to look back; just by listening to the noise, he knew that Jia Zhangshi would definitely take his fish.

Perfect timing! He's disgusted the Jia family and desperately wants revenge!

Tonight, Jia Zhangshi cooked the meal. She fried the fish, and it smelled delicious.

Except for Banggeng, who was too young to eat the fish, all three adults in the family ate it. It was only a small fish, about three or four ounces, just a small treat, but it was still quite tasty.

Madam Jia was willing to use oil, and besides, after Li Jiuzhou's guidance, the women in the courtyard all knew how to use scallions, ginger, and white wine to remove the fishy smell before cooking.

It can be said that the cooking skills of all the women in the No. 95 compound have improved by several levels.

After finishing their meal, the Jia family sat on the steps by the door to rest, looking quite content.

Jia Dongxu suddenly asked Jia Zhangshi, "Mom, who sent us that fish we just ate?"

Jia Dongxu naturally assumed that the fish he ate that night was a gift from his neighbors, since he had received it before.

In a tenement courtyard, it's normal for someone to bring me some vegetables today and for me to bring you some local specialties from my relatives in the countryside tomorrow.

Tong Jie also looked at Jia Zhangshi, wanting to know who had given it to her so she could repay the favor next time.

Good neighbors are those who give and take; those who only try to take advantage of others won't want to be your neighbors.

Sha Zhu had finished eating and was picking his teeth as he went out when he saw Jia Dongxu's family sitting at the door. So he went over, took out a cigarette, and tossed one to Jia Dongxu.

"Hehe, what a pleasant family life! I could smell the fried fish this evening. Who's cooking today?"

Madam Jia was the first to chime in, her tone quite smug: "How's it? Does it taste authentic enough?"

After hearing this, Sha Zhu exaggeratedly flattered Jia Zhangshi, saying, "Oh my, that tastes so authentic! Auntie, you could be a master craftsman at the steel mill."

Jia Zhangshi felt pleased to be praised by a chef as skilled as Sha Zhu.

"Hehe, that's right, Zhu Zi, give me a cigarette too."

Sha Zhu paused for a second upon hearing this, but without thinking much of it, he flicked out a cigarette and handed it to Jia Zhangshi.

Seeing this, Banggeng asked his father for a match and lit it for Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi took a big sip, then patted the stalk of the stick and laughed:

"Hahaha, my good grandson is so sensible. Grandma has done her best to love you."

Bang Geng also showed a satisfied smile.

Sha Zhu casually sat on the steps of the Jia family's house and chatted with them.

Soon people began to gather, some carrying enamel mugs or small stools.

The more people there were, the more lively it became, and Jia Zhangshi immediately became the center of attention because she loved to talk and boast.

Many neighbors don't like to talk, but they love to listen to others brag.

Xu Damao also loved to show off. At this moment, he dropped a bombshell, saying mysteriously:

"Hey everyone, have you heard? This afternoon some fishermen caught a really big camphor wood box in Shichahai Lake. Do you know what's inside?"

The neighbors immediately became interested and started asking questions all at once:

"Da Mao, what's in the box? Tell me quickly."

"Yes, Da Mao, hurry up and tell us."

In the afternoon, Li Jiuzhou, Sha Zhu, and Yan Bugui, the three people involved, exchanged a glance in secret.

They hadn't expected Xu Damao to be so well-informed.

Xu Damao was quite pleased to see his neighbors looking at him. He liked being the center of attention, so he walked back and forth in the middle of the crowd with his hands behind his back.

"Do you know that there was a Japanese soldier's corpse in that box, along with a samurai sword and a Type 38 rifle?"

"It is said that an unsung hero secretly killed this little Japanese soldier, put him in a box, and sank him in Shichahai."

Xu Damao's words had barely finished when he was met with cheers from his neighbors:

"Well done, well done! Those Japanese devils deserve to die."

The neighbors couldn't hide their indignation and deep hatred towards the Japanese devils.

Yan Bugui's eyes darted around. The Jia family had eaten his fish; how could they not pay a price?

So he stepped forward and said, "Everyone, the fisherman that Da Mao just mentioned is me, Jiuzhou, and Zhuzi."

"The box was caught by Jiuzhou."

"Oh my goodness..." The neighbors were surprised and began to ask the three of them for details.

Li Jiuzhou pushed the task to Yan Bugui, since it was Yan who started it anyway.

Yan Bugui, as expected of a schoolteacher, spoke vividly and even recounted the scene of the three men whipping the corpse.

But the neighbors didn't think there was anything wrong with it; they said they would have kicked it a few times too.

At this moment, Qin Huairu suddenly asked Sha Zhu:

"Zhu Zi, you went fishing this afternoon, where are the fish?"

Sha Zhu casually said, "My senior brother and I didn't catch anything, but Teacher Yan caught a fish that was about two fingers thick and weighed three or four ounces."

Then he asked Yan Bugui, "Teacher Yan, where are your fish? You must have thrown them away. It's so disgusting to eat fish that were with a corpse."

Yan Bugui chuckled inwardly after hearing Sha Zhu's words. Finally, they were talking about fish. He then feigned confusion and asked:

"I did bring the fish back, and I processed it in the pond in the middle courtyard. I was planning to go back to get a basin, but when I came back, I found that the fish were gone."

"I wonder if it was carried away by a stray cat."

"I hope the neighbors don't eat it. It's so disgusting to eat fish that mingled with the Japanese..."

After Yan Bugui finished speaking, the Jia family members turned green, feeling their stomachs churning violently.

Jia Dongxu looked terrible. He had almost completely eaten the fish that day, as he had chewed up and swallowed the crispy fried fish head.

It was already rising to the throat, but everyone knows that you can't move when you're on the verge of vomiting; you can only suppress it with willpower.

If you move, you'll definitely throw up.

But at that moment, his son Banggeng climbed onto his back.

How could Jia Dongxu possibly hold back after that? He wanted to get up but was afraid of hurting his son, so he could only cover his mouth, but it was too late.

Juice spurted out from between his fingers, making a squeaking sound, somewhat like diarrhea…