Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

After learning about Li Jiuzhou from his third uncle, Yang Guangming was very envious. A deputy section chief at 24 years old, that's awesome!

What Yang Guangming envied was not Li Jiuzhou becoming a deputy section chief at the age of 24, but rather the speed of his promotion.

How many years has Ma Decai been working at the steel rolling mill, and he's already a deputy section chief?

Yang Guangming felt that his promotion speed was comparable to that of a rocket, and he felt that without some opportunities and achievements, it would be difficult for him to climb to Li Jiuzhou's position at the same age.

Moreover, according to my third uncle, Li Jiuzhou also attended a night school for cadres to make up for his lack of cultural knowledge.

Night school isn't a literacy class; it teaches real skills, and you can't get in without some ability and connections.

What was taught was precise and practical:

Improve culture

Study policies

Learn Business

This paves the way for future promotions and advancement.

Li Jiuzhou attended classes 2-4 times a week. He had only been there for half a year when he was promoted to deputy section chief, following his second uncle's advice.

Li Jiuzhou's thought at the time was that if he could, he would also like to become a department head...

My second uncle is already a deputy director-general level official. If he works a little harder, he'll be a deputy director-general level official too. He's not even 40 years old yet, so there's a possibility of him becoming a TVB executive in the future.

Moreover, they have a very solid foundation and military achievements, so as long as they work hard, they can go even further.

Li Jiuzhou is no less impressive; how about a second-class merit award?

He installed the sign right in front of his house when it was first issued; it's an honor, and he won't hide it.

Yang Guangming went to the publicity department to report, and the first person he met was Xu Damao.

Xu Damao was a shrewd man. When he saw that it was Yang Ligong's secretary leading the people in, he gave them a very warm welcome.

Xu Damao is now also facing the prospect of being promoted to a permanent position, but his father is not the only projectionist at the steel mill.

There are three of them, and they are very busy, going to the countryside to show movies every few days.

That night, the Xu family was having a family meeting because Xu Fugui was preparing to work at the movie theater. He had been in Beiping for so many years and had a lot of connections and knew a lot of people.

Finding a workstation wouldn't be difficult for him; he might even be allocated an apartment.

Xu Damao panicked when Xu Fugui said he wanted to separate the family property from his son:

"Dad, what am I going to do now that you're all gone? Am I no longer going to be the liaison?"

Xu Fugui sneered:

"What's so great about being a liaison officer? It's all just trivial stuff."

"Besides, you're not a kid anymore. What's wrong with cooking for yourself? If it's really not working out, just eat out."

"Once I start working at the movie theater, you'll get a permanent position and earn 36 yuan a month. You can spend it however you want."

Xu Damao smiled when he heard that he could be promoted to a permanent position, but many doubts remained:

"Then how do we divide the family property?"

Xu Fugui remained calm: "Just separate the household registrations. There's no need to overcomplicate things. If the neighbors ask, just tell them the truth. We haven't done anything wrong."

"This is a job transfer, arranged by my superiors. Even if they are jealous, they can't do anything to harm me."

"And I reckon Yi Zhonghai would love for me to move out."

The Xu family didn't discuss it much. A few days later, Xu Fugui completed the procedures and left the steel rolling mill.

Xu Damao was successfully promoted to a permanent position as a projectionist at the steel rolling mill, earning a monthly salary of 36.5.

Xu Fugui then began preparing to move, but he still needed to inform his neighbors beforehand.

After all, we've lived here for so many years. It would be too embarrassing and shameful to leave without saying a word.

So they decided to invite the other two liaisons in the institute and Li Jiuzhou and other pillars of the younger generation to dinner.

In the morning, Xu Damao went to the kitchen to find Sha Zhu.

"Da Mao, what do you want? I'm busy." Sha Zhu came out carrying a spatula and shouted at the top of his lungs.

When Xu Damao saw Sha Zhu come out, he quickly took out a cigarette and lit it for him: "Have a smoke first."

Sha Zhu laughed and scolded, "You little rascal, you're always so helpful. If you have something to say, just say it. I'm listening."

Xu Damao smiled smugly:

"Hey bro, I got promoted, now I make 36.5 a month."

Sha Zhu feigned surprise upon hearing this:

"Wow, not bad, that's fast enough, but..."

"But what?" Xu Damao blurted out.

"Hehe..." Sha Zhu chuckled, "But compared to your brother Zhu's salary of 68.5, it's still a long way off, Da Mao. You'd better work harder..."

"Damn it..." Xu Damao was so angry at Sha Zhu's smugness that he gritted his teeth, but since Sha Zhu was his, he held back and helplessly shrugged.

"Your brother Zhu is awesome, okay?!"

"Alright," Sha Zhu said, no longer wanting to tease Xu Damao. "Just tell me what it is."

When serious matters were mentioned, Xu Damao's joking demeanor disappeared:

"My family is having guests tonight, and I've prepared some ingredients. How about you help me cook?" Perhaps afraid that Sha Zhu would refuse, Xu Damao was playing the emotional card.

"I've never asked you for anything, so don't refuse. I'll get you a pack of good cigarettes later."

"Is that all?" Sha Zhu asked.

Xu Damao nodded: "That's it."

Sha Zhu agreed, replying to Xu Damao as he walked towards the kitchen:

"No problem, bring plenty of alcohol, let's drink to our hearts' content tonight."

"Alright~" Xu Damao drawled out.

In the afternoon, Xu Damao's mother had already prepared the ingredients her husband had prepared, and was just waiting for Shazhu to come back and cook.

Everyone in the courtyard, from the old women to the young wives, knew that Xu Damao was going to treat everyone to dinner tonight after his promotion.

But it's not their turn to eat; even if they're hosting, it's the men in their families.

It's impossible to invite everyone; we don't hold big banquets unless it's a major event.

Sha Zhu made his move, and soon the aroma filled the backyard.

Xu Fugui was quite generous; he ordered two roast ducks, two fish, and two chickens and two ducks.

Because there were two tables of people, the head of each household in the courtyard came.

This expense was quite substantial, and everyone was slightly surprised after they sat down.

Yi Zhonghai was even more alarmed, as he knew Xu Fugui all too well as an old neighbor.

He couldn't possibly be treating everyone just because his son got a permanent job; there must be something else going on.

Yi Zhonghai wasn't in a hurry; Xu Fugui would definitely say something, he'd just have to wait and see.

As expected, after everyone sat down and had a round of drinks, Xu Fugui explained the reason.

Now everyone understood. So you were actually leaving. No wonder you did this.

There are several reasons why Xu Fugui treated everyone to a meal.

Firstly, it was truly a farewell to my old neighbors.

My second request is for the neighbors to take better care of Xu Damao, who lives alone in the courtyard.

Thirdly, you're obligated to help someone who's paid for your meal, so don't gossip about it after you leave.

No matter how Xu Fugui operates, he has his own methods.

Xu Fugui did such a good job, what could the neighbors say? They just agreed and wished everyone a happy drinking experience.

Liu Haizhong was overjoyed to learn that Xu Fugui was leaving.

Because once he leaves, a liaison officer's position will become vacant, and if he doesn't seize such a good opportunity, he really won't be able to sleep at night.

Excited, Liu Haizhong blurted out:

"Fugui, what will happen to the liaison officer's job now that you've moved away?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Fugui smiled and looked at Liu Haizhong: "Haizhong, I think you're capable. Why don't you take the position? I'll suggest it to Director Wang when we go to the subdistrict office."

Liu Haizhong was overjoyed upon hearing this and stood up to toast Xu Fugui:

"Wealth and honor, I won't say anything more, it's all in the wine. I'll toast you, I'll drink it all, you can do as you please."